2025...finally

If it is any indication of what kind of a year we had, it took us nearly to the end of February 2026 to post this update. 

2025 began with our home renovation project still underway, and only a tiny little light visible at the end of that tunnel. Not going to lie, this project was painful. It took so much much more time and money than we ever imagined. But we’re in it. We did it. We sold our other home in May and made the move.

Kansas winter did its thing, and the kids at least made the best of it by turning our Lenexa front yard into a neighborhood snow park.

They also joined their cousins in Houston for the Houston Marathon. Before January was over, Aimee had also visited Costa Rica to scout for the Impact staff retreat later in the year.

The Wonder Project is progressing nicely, and that meant a trip for Aimee and Reagan to the House of David Season 1 premiere. Reagan had already met “Jesus”…now she adds “David” to the list.

Spring brought Track and Field, and all three kids participated this year, with Reagan taking up shot put and discus. Liam decided this was going to be his last year playing competitive soccer, and his TOCA team made it memorable with numerous tournament wins. They even won the Kansas President’s Cup and advanced to the regional in St. Louis.

May 1 was the day we finally moved into our newly renovated house, and by the end of the month we were swimming in the pool. Andy also qualified for the state track and field championships in Wichita.

In June, Reagan took a tumble and broke her leg, a huge setback to her enjoyment of the pool and summer in general. It did give her more time to spend on other things she loves, like arts and crafts and baking. Reagan is also a supreme gift-giver. She loves to bless others.

Andy and Marshall took a trip to DC for Andy to get some counsel on his future. While there, we checked out the Mall and Arlington National Cemetery.

Come July, it was time for Marshall and Liam to finally take his “13 yr old” father-son trip. He had graciously waited another year, as life was just too busy to make it happen in 2024. We set out for Zion NP and Grand Canyon North Rim, but a horrible wildfire closed the North Rim indefinitely just days before our arrival. But Zion didn’t disappoint. Among our many hikes was Angel’s Landing.

Later in July, we all headed to Colorado Springs for cross country team training. Aimee spent days in advance prepping meals for nearly 30 people.

In August, Marshall went to Birmingham to pay respects to Samantha, the wife of his A-School friend John. Sam passed away after a long battle with cancer. This was a terrible loss, but Samantha so richly lived her life for Jesus that this gathering was joyful, with no shred of doubt about where she is now.

September was really busy. XC was well underway. Liam, now a Freshman, was able to run with Andy in competition for the first time. 

Andy and Marshall made another trip to Wichita, this time for Andy to interview with Senator Moran for a nod to the military academies. As we write, Andy is now waiting on responses from Air Force, West Point and Naval Academies. 

Marshall, Aimee, Reagan, and Mary Lou went to the Gathering at The Breakers in Palm Beach. It was once again a great time of fellowship and worship and learning.

And Marshall and Aimee attended the House of David Season 2 premier, in Nashville.

October brought KCC Homecoming, and Andy was crowned King by his classmates. It has not been an easy year for Andy, as hopes of revival at his school have seemingly evaporated. But he is a good leader, and this was one way that his classmates seemed to acknowledge his efforts.

Aimee and Marshall went to Costa Rica for the annual Impact staff retreat. While there, we were awoken in the night to an earthquake centered just 7km from our location and measuring over 6.0. It was a scary scene, and not something we ever care to experience again!

By the end of October, the boys had won their conference in cross country, and then went on to place 2nd at the state championship. Andy personally also finished 2nd.

Come November, it was time for the big Nike NXR meet in Sioux Falls, but this year only Liam would run it because Andy was scheduled to go to Jamaica with his fellow seniors on their mission trip.

Also in November, Mary Lou hurt her back and moved in with us, along with Sally's friend Rocko. Mary Lou has been through a lot since, but for us it is a joy having her around.

As the holidays arrived, we couldn’t help but be filled with gratitude that we could spend it in the comfort of our new home!

Oh, and Andy turned 18! The reality of him possibly leaving our nest soon has not yet sunk in.

All in all, 2025 was full of blessing. Things don't always seem to go our way, but they always go God's way, and He is perfect in all of his ways.

As always, see more photos on the sidebar, or click here.

2024

Still waiting for the after. But grateful. These words describe our year.

In January, after waiting 18 months for a lot of things to resolve, we finally broke ground on a house renovation. At one point we hoped to be in by the start of school this past fall. Then our goal was "by Christmas". And now…well we just shouldn't say. We almost gave up on this project, twice, before it even began. We proceeded only after feeling God’s nudge that He was in this. And so we declare it is all His, including the timing of it. All that we are, and all that we have, are His.

We’ll just say that…we didn’t send Christmas cards this year, hoping instead that we can send “we’ve moved” cards soon in 2025.

We somehow still found time to do some interesting travel. In the spring, Aimee had a speaking engagement in Ft Lauderdale, and so we couldn’t resist all going, including Mary Lou. We found a house to rent in the old neighborhood next to Mary Lou’s old condo.

Then Aimee and Marshall were gifted a weekend at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee. Unfamiliar with the place, Aimee asked around and was told “drop everything and get on a plane”. And boy was that good advice. What a special place it is, and thank you God that Aimee and Marshall got to do this alone.

In June, Andy joined a group from KCC to visit Krakow in Poland, where they helped our Ukrainian friends, the Kravstov’s, run an FCA camp. Among other things, Andy was moved by a visit to Auschwitz, where his great grandfather was sent in early 1945 to gather intel shortly after it was liberated.

Independence Day saw us return to a familiar favorite, St Charles, MO. The river was so high and rising they had to pack up the carnival a day early.

In late July, both Andy and Liam joined the KCC XC team for high altitude training in Colorado Springs, while Marshall and Reagan joined Aimee for a work trip to Atlanta. While in Atlanta we took in a match between Chelsea and Club América at another familiar place, Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Andy (now 11th grade) and Liam (now 8th grade) each voluntarily did “75 hard” over the summer. 75 days of highly disciplined training involving cold showers, no sugar, limits on screen time, lots of sleep, and generally no fun (hah!). By fall they were both quite ready for cross country, and Liam for soccer as well. Speaking of Liam, he got a well-deserved promotion to the next team in TOCA.

Reagan (now 7th grade), had a blast once again playing volleyball. She can often be found at the kitchen table creating some new artwork or baking delicious treats, all of which she shares so generously, much to our delight.

In September, the annual Impact staff retreat was held in San Miguel de Allende. It is a beautiful and historic city, but the real joy of this trip was once again the time spent with the great people who make up Impact Foundation. It really is a blessing to us that Aimee is surrounded by such a wonderful team.

September also brought The Gathering, this year in Austin. Texas didn’t disappoint. And in October, an NCF event in Scottsdale. It actually rained! But all of these events that we get to attend thanks to Aimee’s work connect us with people doing really cool things for God’s kingdom.

Back home, all of the kids’ athletic seasons were successful and, for Andy and Liam, ended with another trip to Sioux Falls for the Nike NXR meet. 

We end the year still plugging along on the renovation. We're tired of the before, and can't wait for the after. It takes more of Marshall’s time than he ever imagined, and being simultaneously an architect and a client has been an awkward challenge. We don’t know how or when we’re going to finish, but we strive to be content in the waiting. 

And, we are grateful to be in this together, with God.

Blessings to you,

Marshall, Aimee, Andy, Liam and Reagan

 

(and of course Sally)

P.S. Some other updates...

• Liam now is driving on a Learner's Permit!
• In the early part of spring track, Andy injured his heel and could not run for weeks, so he went out and got his first job working at Family Tree Nursery (landscape, not childcare!) for their busy spring season. But speaking of childcare, Andy was the teacher-helper for a second grade class at KCC, and the kids absolutely fell in love with him. He earned the nickname G.O.A.T.
• And speaking of injuries, Marshall dropped a concrete splashblock on his foot a couple weeks ago and broke his toe.
• Impact Foundation published a coffee table book, and Aimee's story is featured in another book written by our friends Bill and Dana coming out in March.
• And here's an update on The Wonder Project (going live in 2025).
• 2024 is the year Marshall gave in and started wearing reading glasses--they're all over the place now.
• (see more photos here)