3.25.2021
There is nothing I would love more than to celebrate this special day with him. The kids and I would make him all his favorite foods. We would spoil him with gifts and handmade cards. We would tell him how much we love him. We would wrap our arms around him and never let him go.
photo taken on Galin's 35th birthday
1.24.2021
I am still here, taking it one day at a time :)
The holidays felt so heavy without Galin. We decided it would be easier if we spent Christmas away from home, so we rented an Airbnb.
I got to spend Christmas Day with all my kids and JACK. We played games, made personal pizzas, and had a cookie decorating contest. God gave us a beautiful day together.
Jaxson wrote his first letter to me. He gave it to me a few days before Christmas because he was too anxious to wait.
Dear Mom, I love you huge. I love you to the moon and back so much. xoxo God loves you outrageously. I know you are sad. I’m sad sometimes. We are happy sometimes. Jaxson
9.6.2019
shared at Galin’s funeral.
Dear Daddy,
No matter what trial or terrible tragedy you faced, you never once had a negative view about any of it and never uttered a word of complaint to anyone. In fact, in the midst of the most devastating events life could throw your way, you somehow still maintained a positive view about everything. You only saw the best in every situation and every person — even when they didn’t see the good in themselves. You had the most positive outlook possible in life — it simply was not natural.
You were a man of integrity to the core; nothing — absolutely nothing — could shake that. You were the most consistent, dependable, steadfast, & unwavering man. You were my steady rock through all of life’s crazy turns & changes. You were the greatest peacemaker. You were my go-to for wisdom & advice for all of my crazy questions & ideas. You really were not interested in any personal interests or hobbies — everyone else’s were your own. No matter what I was passionate about, you were just as invested & interested as I was. You were my encourager through all of the difficult & trying times.
Your dying wish was for as many people as possible to experience the overwhelming love & joy that you experienced. You showed exceptional strength & constantly demonstrated selfless love to everyone around you and it was only possible because of Jesus. You would love it more than anything else for others to know the all-surpassing joy, strength, & love that you came to know so intimately.
Life was cut short way too soon for you but you ran the race set before you with incredible vigor, determination, endurance, and passion. I know that the moment you met your Maker, He said to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant”. You trod the path so well for me to follow and I intend to run tirelessly in your footsteps to meet you soon.
I love you more than words could ever express.
Your son,
Matt
A memory that will always stand out to me about my Dad was when I had just gotten my license and he let me drive his truck around. One day I accidentally scraped a big dent into the side of the truck when backing out and called him crying. He laughed a little and told me something along the lines of, “Britt, it’s okay. I’m not mad or upset. I have no emotional attachment to vehicles or possessions. I could care less about that as long as nobody is hurt and you’re okay.” He taught me from a young age to hold things loosely and hold people tightly and I will always be thankful for that. - Brittany
Dear Daddy,
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! My brain is going a million miles per hour thinking of this new life, things I wish I would have done, and things happening in the future. One of my first thoughts was that you will not be able to walk Brittany, Lily, and I down the aisle at our weddings.
You have helped me through so many hard times. Your advice and wisdom blew me away sometimes. I will miss all your analogies and corny jokes. I want to give you so many more hugs. I want to hear your voice so badly. I want to pick up my phone and talk to you. My heart yearns for a little while longer with you. I wanted so badly for you to get better. I begged God to heal you, but His answer was no, and that is ok. God is still good. I have you and Momma to thank for teaching me that. You have shown me what it means to be a Christian. Your unwavering faith and optimism was astounding. You were the best dad ever. Every single memory of you is positive. How many people can say that? Thank you for showing me what a father and husband should look like. Thank you for loving God and our family so much.
I love you beyond the moon and back.
Kayla
I loved going to father/ daughter dances with you. I especially loved our dances together.
I love you so much.
Lily
I got to ride trucks with him. I got to ride tractors with him. I got to be with him for his birthday. We got to sing happy birthday to him and have family time. Daddy loved me so much. - Jaxson
xox
Charla
8.10.2019
We have moved into a rental house. Our insurance company furnished the house and had boxes filled with everything we needed to set up house. Having our own space again is such a blessing.
Matt and Jerusha’s first baby was due last month. I will never forget the day they came over to tell Galin and me they were expecting. Our hearts were filled with joy which soon turned to sadness when they had a miscarriage. Now it brings me comfort to think about baby Shiloh being in heaven with Galin. I found out the day Galin died that they are expecting another baby and it is due in January. I can hardly wait to hold this little gift from heaven in my arms.
photo by Brittany 8/2019
Brittany is getting married! Her fiance, Clint, asked her to marry him in April and we were busy making wedding plans when Galin died. Her wedding is in November. Clint is the perfect addition to this family. He brings the fun and it makes my heart happy to hear my children laughing.
Kayla put her life on hold to help take care of Lily and Jaxson while our lives were filled with doctor appointments and hospital stays. She loved and served us so well. She just got back from vacation. One of Galin’s brothers surprised her by taking her on an Alaskan cruise with his family! She is planning on getting a job soon.
photo by Brittany 6/2018
Out of all of my children, Lily seems to be struggling the most. She was such a Daddy’s girl. She came to the hospital to tell him goodbye and it was traumatic for her seeing him hooked up to all the machines and being unresponsive. She started a journal where she writes letters to him and I think that is helping her.
photo 2/2019
Jaxson has had so much to deal with in his short life. It makes my heart break to think about it but he is still his talkative and happy little self. He starts kindergarten soon and he can hardly wait.
photo 2/2019
It feels like Galin went on the most amazing trip and left me here. For the last 26 years we experienced everything together and now he is experiencing things I can’t even comprehend. When I feel like I can’t go on, I try to start thanking God for His blessings. There are too many to count and my children are at the top of that list. From the time I was little my greatest desire was to be a wife and mother and God was so good to give me the desire of my heart. I am thankful for the gift of adoption and for these two little kids to raise. They are the reason I get out of bed each morning. God knew how much I needed them.
photo 2/2019
I hope you are having a beautiful weekend. Thank you for being here and following along on our journey.
xox
Charla
12.25.2018
We had such a lovely day with all our children celebrating the birth of our Savior. We played games, made sugar cookies, and stayed in our pjs all day. I didn't want the day to end!
Luke 2:1-20
Jaxson said it was his first time decorating gingerbread houses.
Jaxson fell in love with our elf, Oliver. He talked about him to anyone who would listen and played with him all day long. He was pretty upset when Christmas was over and Oliver had to leave until next year.
Lily's favorite Christmas gift was a pink robe and Jaxson's favorite was a stuffed dog he named Rifle.
making breakfast Christmas morning
on our way to look at Christmas lights
Have I ever told you that Galin asked me to marry him on Christmas day? I was 17 and he was 18! We were driving down a country road in his little red car when out of the blue, he asked, "Are you ready for me to ask you a really big question...will you be my wife?" I happily said yes and I would say yes all over again a million times. I love being his girl.
xox
Charla
5.25.2018
How have you been? So much has been going on around here since I last posted. Lily finished 3rd grade, Kayla graduated from high school, Brittany celebrated her 21st birthday, Jerusha graduated from nursing school, and we became foster parents to a precious little boy.
I have been struggling trying to keep up with everything, but I'm loving this time in my life. Being a mom is one of my greatest joys. I love raising children and I love teaching them about God. My prayer is that I will be intentional with the time God gives me.
Have the best day and know I appreciate each and every one of you!
xox
Charla
4.13.2018
Look at my babies! This photo was taken in 2002 and I can’t get over their cute little faces.
12.29.2017
I could hardly wait for Christmas this year. Especially when Matt and Jerusha said they were going to spend the night on Christmas Eve. Having all my kids at home is one of my favorite things and it was such a gift.
This little girl was so excited about opening her gifts. Her favorite gift was a cd player along with a collection of Adventures in Odyssey cds. She has been listening to them non stop!
Wearing the new Christmas pjs she wanted so badly.
reading the Christmas story
Luke 2:1-20
Looking at the book I gave them for Christmas. I’ve been busy working on books for each one of my kids that include their first five years. I finished Matt’s just in time for Christmas.
The beautiful flowers Matt and Jerusha brought me on Matt’s 23rd birthday! He was born a few days after Christmas.
I hope you had a very Merry Christmas!
xox
Charla