The Hugans - Through the Years

November 10, 1990

 

2011 (18/15)

2012 (19/16)

2013 (20/17/1)

2014 (21/18/2)

2015 (22/19/3)

2016 (23/20/4)

May 6, 2017

2017 (24/21/5)

July 7, 2018

December 2018 (25/22/6)

October 2019

October 2020

November 2015 Pictures

Thanks For The Shadow!

“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers” Proverbs 17:6

As I think of my father today on his birthday, my mind goes to a snippet of my memory when, as a boy, I remember noticing his shadow on the ground. I remember noticing how long his shadow was and how that when I stepped into it, I disappeared. Today that memory makes me think of that shadow as a pattern, a model. Yes, a shadow isn’t the same as the real person; it is only a representation. Shadows easily hide the frailties and the blemishes of the real person. However, it depicts what the real person is like and gives us a starting point; a reference if you will.  More importantly, the shadow tells me the real person is there.

Then there is the spiritual representation in the shadow. As I think of my dad, these thoughts fit in his influence on me:

First, it speaks to me of the importance of walking in the light. One cannot possess a shadow if he is not near the light. Jesus is the Light of the world. I am thankful to know that my dad’s influence on me was based on his close relationship with Christ.

Secondly, in order for his shadow to be accessible to me, he had to be near me. Influence comes from the same root word as influenza. You catch influenza or the flu by being close to someone who has it. I am grateful for so many memories of my dad (and mom) BEING THERE. One of the greatest things I am thankful for is going to church as a family. I am so thankful for being brought up in church. I laugh at people when they say, “I used to go to church when I was a kid.” As if to say that now that they are grown up, they don’t need it. What a joke! No one ever outgrows going to church – no one ever outgrows the Bible! What an absurd concept! The truth is, it is a Godless concept. So I’m thankful for the spiritual guidance of my dad (of course my mom also)! And even though we are now separated geographically, his shadow still touches me!

So this year on my dad's birthday I center on the gratitude for a father who knew the importance of his shadow – physically, emotionally, and most of all spiritually!  Dad, your shadow (influence) has impacted what I will do and what I will not do, what I say and what I won’t say, where I go and where I won’t go, and basically, who I am – especially who I am for the glory of God.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! And thanks for the shadow!

Love you!

Katie Graduating High School

Well, it is hard to believe, but the time has come that our daughter, Katie, is graduating from high school. It doesn’t seem that long ago, as we were renovating the church auditorium – fastening down the last few church pews to finish – that on the next Sunday morning, Sandra would give birth to our second child, a little girl we named Katelyn Nicole.

So many events have filled the time between that Sunday in 1996 and the Spring of 2014 – many great times, many fun times, many happy times, and a few hard times. I’m thankful that Katie has some great memories of big events as well as small ones.  Small things like the foam disc wars our family would have with those battery-operated shooters, the rubber band fights in the living room, running cars down the basement steps on the home-made ramps or the hot wheel tracks. She had just as much interest and just as much fun as her big brother, Michael. Of course none of us will ever forget the good times we had with Buddy, our Black Lab. 

And none of our family members will ever forget the development of a star softball pitcher or the lightening serve of a volleyball.

It was exciting to see an 8^th grader pitch a 45 mph “drop ball” (equivalent to 60 mph in baseball) on the varsity team to help bring home the regional trophy...

then do it again the following year, only as a 9^th grader, bringing the heat with a 55 mph pitch (80 mph in baseball).

  Our elation was equally matched with sadness for her high school career to be cut short due to having MDI (multi-directional instability) – a fancy name for a loose shoulder.  With hopes of diminishing the pain, she chose to try surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery didn’t help. A surgery that paled in comparison to what she experienced through her journey and God-given victory over a brain tumor at the age of 10 (http://www.katiehealth.blogspot.com). Thankfully, she doesn’t remember most of the details surrounding that event. However, she does know that the Lord worked a mighty miracle in her body and she gives Him the glory for that victory.

Now she has come to the end of this segment in her life’s journey, with the eagerness as well as the excitement of the unknown details of the segment to come. I pray that as she enters this portion of her life that she keeps in mind: #1-She is loved eternally by her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and that He has a perfect plan for her life. I pray that she will love Him with all her heart and soul and mind, and that she will serve Him with her whole heart her entire life. #2-The love her mom and dad have for her is second only to the love God has for her, and we are here for her to give her continued love, support, encouragement, and Biblical counsel.  We look forward to sharing in the joy of God’s future blessings. #3-Her big brother, setting aside the entire “big brother” nuance, loves her and will always be willing to step into the role of “body guard” and/or confidant. #4-We owe Katie much thanks for being a fantastic big sister to God’s extra gift to our family, Abbie.

And yes, Michael has been an awesome big brother. We know those two wanted another dog, but we have to admit, this was another one of those times that the Lord exceeded – WAY EXCEEDED our expectations! And the Lord used Katie’s experience with being a BIG help with Abbie to turn her to a desire to care for children. As soon as Katie graduates, she will begin working as a full time Nanny; caring for the children of a very nice family. I know she will do well.

Of course, Katie will continue to live here at home for as long as the Lord wills. In fact, her mother and I will be fine with her living at home until the Lord brings her to the place where she gets married.  Of course that will happen after her and her fiancé receive a few years of pre-marital counseling. (JK) Well, after the Lord reveals who that fiancé is, then a courting period, then the pre-marital counseling (really it only lasts a few months). In the mean time, she will continue to serve the Lord here in our church family at FRMBC through music and singing, as well as prayerfully developing other gifts and abilities the Lord has blessed her with.

Katie – we love you and we are so thankful for the young lady you have become. Keep growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our prayer and desire for you is found in two Scripture passages:

Proverbs 3:5-6 ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Romans 12:1-2 ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren [Katie], by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies [body] a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  (bold = my emphasis)

We love you Katie, and we are very proud of you!