The Christmas Season is once again upon us - the stockings are hung, the tree is trimmed and the wonderful smell of cheesecakes baking has already floated through the house while Christmas carols played quietly in the background. O.k., sounds like a Currier and Ives setting but most of it is true for us this year.
Much has happened since last Christmas that we are truly enjoying the peace and serenity of our farm and appreciating the smallest of things in our lives. For the past 9 years at the beginning of Advent, I have prayed for a Christmas miracle - big or small not knowing what will happen but believing for great things to change our lives. One of my constant prayer is for our youngest son, Stuart, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 9 months old and is wheelchair and caregiver dependent. I pray that he will walk and talk like any child his age. But each Christmas has passed without that happening. Disappointed? No, because each Christmas has come and gone with a miracle - answered prayers and sometimes answers to things not prayed for but talked about - God has heard and has answered on His Time.
Last year was no different. We marked Thanksgiving with my family in North Canton and we remembered and shared the many things to be thankful for - family, love, our health, our home, our friends, etc. We then stepped into Advent - me praying for my Christmas miracle, decorating the tree and the house, each night our family reading the Advent story - Jotham's Journey, shopping and spending time together as a family, baking and sewing special gifts for the kids.
But something unexpected happened that changed our world 5 days before Christmas. While I was upstairs sewing, Trevor (age 14) collapsed in our downstairs half bathroom (at about 2:30 pm). I heard intermittent banging and thought the kids were going in and out of the back door and allowing it to slam. I even walked over to the window to see who was doing it. Then Morgan came into my room and asked me about the banging. I told him I thought it was him or the others doing it and he told me no one had gone outside. So I went downstairs looking for the source. We heard the bang and realized it was coming from the bathroom. I knocked without an answer and opened the door. There was Trevor lying in the small space of the floor.
Long story short ... Trevor was non-responsive verbally but conscious. We called 911 and ended up at the local hospital and then later transferred to the Cleveland Clinic. As I have reflected back on Trevor's journey, I am certain of several things - Trevor was my Christmas miracle I had prayed for. Even the staff at the Cleveland Clinic called him their Christmas miracle. I know also that God put key individuals (doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians, specialists) in place that day which made everything work out for us to see Him.
After 2 different hospital stays (1 week in December and again another week in January), an ER visit on New Year's Eve, numerous ultrasounds and MRI's, 2 different angiograms, blood thinner shots for 6 months afterwards, appointment after appointment over the last year. We remembering that Christmas Eve morning at 7:00 am during doctor's rounds being told (for the second time in our life) that our son had deep brain tissue damage from the clots that let go and had traveled further into his brain. They gave us no conclusion as to why it happened, even to this day.
But I sit here today and write telling you that I know he is our miracle - will always be our miracle. Because when you see him, he talks and plays and interacts like all 15 year-olds do. Eric and I may have had to stand and be told once again that another one of our sons had had some brain damage but we know that we serve a great God who knows our pain and was already working on our behalf to take care of all of us.
Eric, Diane, Morgan, Trevor, Stuart, Makayla, Katelyn and Lydia
P.S. We are still taking orders for cheesecakes for Christmas and New Year's. They make a wonderful dessert to take to your holiday parties. Not sure which one you want, order The Four Temptations. One cheesecake with 4 different toppings, sliced in 16 pieces. Pictured below flavors include Blackberry, Candy Cane Kisses and Chocolate, Chocolate Caramel and Toffee Caramel Crunch.
As I like to say "Throw Out the Fruitcake and Order a Cheesecake". Below are 2 new flavors as well our favorites for this time of year.
Much has happened since last Christmas that we are truly enjoying the peace and serenity of our farm and appreciating the smallest of things in our lives. For the past 9 years at the beginning of Advent, I have prayed for a Christmas miracle - big or small not knowing what will happen but believing for great things to change our lives. One of my constant prayer is for our youngest son, Stuart, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 9 months old and is wheelchair and caregiver dependent. I pray that he will walk and talk like any child his age. But each Christmas has passed without that happening. Disappointed? No, because each Christmas has come and gone with a miracle - answered prayers and sometimes answers to things not prayed for but talked about - God has heard and has answered on His Time.
Last year was no different. We marked Thanksgiving with my family in North Canton and we remembered and shared the many things to be thankful for - family, love, our health, our home, our friends, etc. We then stepped into Advent - me praying for my Christmas miracle, decorating the tree and the house, each night our family reading the Advent story - Jotham's Journey, shopping and spending time together as a family, baking and sewing special gifts for the kids.
But something unexpected happened that changed our world 5 days before Christmas. While I was upstairs sewing, Trevor (age 14) collapsed in our downstairs half bathroom (at about 2:30 pm). I heard intermittent banging and thought the kids were going in and out of the back door and allowing it to slam. I even walked over to the window to see who was doing it. Then Morgan came into my room and asked me about the banging. I told him I thought it was him or the others doing it and he told me no one had gone outside. So I went downstairs looking for the source. We heard the bang and realized it was coming from the bathroom. I knocked without an answer and opened the door. There was Trevor lying in the small space of the floor.
Long story short ... Trevor was non-responsive verbally but conscious. We called 911 and ended up at the local hospital and then later transferred to the Cleveland Clinic. As I have reflected back on Trevor's journey, I am certain of several things - Trevor was my Christmas miracle I had prayed for. Even the staff at the Cleveland Clinic called him their Christmas miracle. I know also that God put key individuals (doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians, specialists) in place that day which made everything work out for us to see Him.
After 2 different hospital stays (1 week in December and again another week in January), an ER visit on New Year's Eve, numerous ultrasounds and MRI's, 2 different angiograms, blood thinner shots for 6 months afterwards, appointment after appointment over the last year. We remembering that Christmas Eve morning at 7:00 am during doctor's rounds being told (for the second time in our life) that our son had deep brain tissue damage from the clots that let go and had traveled further into his brain. They gave us no conclusion as to why it happened, even to this day.
But I sit here today and write telling you that I know he is our miracle - will always be our miracle. Because when you see him, he talks and plays and interacts like all 15 year-olds do. Eric and I may have had to stand and be told once again that another one of our sons had had some brain damage but we know that we serve a great God who knows our pain and was already working on our behalf to take care of all of us.
So as we reflect on this Advent Season - we are claiming it to be Our Season of Joy. We are joyful for so many things including everyone who has graced our lives with their love and support and prayers. From the bottom of our heart thank you and may your Christmas be blessed and your New Year be truly graced filled.
Love and peace from The Frantz Family
Eric, Diane, Morgan, Trevor, Stuart, Makayla, Katelyn and Lydia
P.S. We are still taking orders for cheesecakes for Christmas and New Year's. They make a wonderful dessert to take to your holiday parties. Not sure which one you want, order The Four Temptations. One cheesecake with 4 different toppings, sliced in 16 pieces. Pictured below flavors include Blackberry, Candy Cane Kisses and Chocolate, Chocolate Caramel and Toffee Caramel Crunch.
As I like to say "Throw Out the Fruitcake and Order a Cheesecake". Below are 2 new flavors as well our favorites for this time of year.
Seasonal Favorites
Mint Truffle
Chocolate Haystack
Caramel Gingerbread
Chocolate Covered Cherry
Stuart's Turtle
Trevor's Buckeye
White Chocolate Raspberry
 |
| White Chocolate Raspberry |
 |
| Mint Truffle |
 |
| Caramel Gingerbread |
 |
| Trevor's Buckeye |
 |
| The Four Temptations |
