A year in the life….. of the Craigs!
2010 has been quite an adventure! From Harrogate to Crossville; school books to operating rooms; mental health to hospice; apartment to townhome; cats to dogs; and everything in between!
As the Nichole Nordeman song, “Every Season,” explains of winter:
“everything in time and under heaven finally falls asleep, wrapped in blankets white, all creation shivers underneath, and still I notice you.”
Our winter began and ended in such a way. In November 2009, Patrick lost his grandmother, Mama Nancy, to cancer. She fought cancer with everything inside of her, and we feel humbly honored and blessed that the Lord allowed her this last year on earth to see ourselves and her other grandchild, Tyler (to Brooke), start marriages and new journeys together. We miss her terribly this season and always, but we have peace in knowing she is where there is no cancer or suffering. The beginning of March brought more snow in the Cumberland Gap and more sadness in our lives– Jamie’s Pop lost his life to leukemia at her parent’s home in Wilmington. He created many legacies in his life as an orphan– a proud orphan, we should say– and was buried at Barium Springs Home for Children, where he was raised and found “a place” in love, family, and the Lord. If you are ever close to Barium Springs, the largest magnolia tree on the property was Pop’s favorite, even as a child, and was dedicated in his honor by the Barium Alumni Association.
“and what was frozen through is newly purposed, turning all things green, so it is with you, and how you make me new with every season’s change.”
Spring brought with it God’s promises for hope and a future in our lives. Patrick was given the amazing opportunity to serve the people of Haiti on a medical mission trip in March following the devastating earthquake. He and a team of medical students, doctors, and community members from TN and KY spent a week in Jimani, Dominican Republic, working in a mobile clinic between the DR and Haiti. Jamie continued to work at Cumberland River Comprehensive Care Center in Middlesboro, KY with adults with severe and chronic mental illness. A few nights a week, she enjoyed slinging coffee at a local coffee shop owned by a medical student and her husband. In our precious spare time, we also played on the DCOM softball team, participated in creating the first community garden in Harrogate, and, of course, Patrick studied. A lot. His hard work definitely paid off as National Board testing approached, and rotation assignments were given for the upcoming semester. By May, we moved to Crossville, TN, where Patrick will spend the next 2 years rotating in and out of specialties in order to decide which he will pursue for residency.
“every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder, you are summer.”
We were blessed in early July as Jamie was offered a job as a medical social worker with Odyssey Hospice in Cookeville, TN. At first, this decision was emotionally difficult considering her personal tie to Hospice in the recent loss of her grandfather, but God had a greater will, and His plans proved sovereign as Jamie fell in love with her new position, her patients, and the entire Hospice mission. As summer continued, Patrick and Jamie travelled to 10 weddings of wonderful friends and family from TN to NC to SC. Not many weekends were spared, but it was worth it to be a part of what God was doing in your lives, and we are blessed to have you all in our hearts and miss you daily. Jamie’s niece, Elisa, had a third hip surgery in August, and we are happy to report that, by the grace of God, she is already walking again and starting physical therapy.
“and so it will be, as you are recreating me, summer, autumn, winter, spring.”
Molly, our brown-eyed girl, was adopted in November from the dean of the medical school, and we love having her around— though we can’t say the same for the cats, but Little Cat doesn’t mind her much. Life in Crossville is great, and we are enjoying our walks in the park in our backyard, plays at the theatre, and, recently, the quick return of a snowy winter. We appreciate all your prayers and well-wishes as we continue our journey together, and thank our Lord each time we think of each and every one of you.
We wish you all the Merriest of Christmases and a Happy New Year!
Patrick and Jamie
