Chris to Receive HBOT Treatment

at Miracle Mountain, NC

July 19-August 10, 2009

We would like to invite all our friends and family to join us in praying for Chris while he is at Miracle Mountain in North Carolina for three weeks receiving Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatment.

As some of you may already know, Chris was in a car accident (hit-and-run) last December, which set off a whole series of new and debilitating MS symptoms. In March, Chris tried prednisone therapy, which not only did not help him, but made things much worse. He just hasn't recovered from these incidents except in very small degrees.

Thus the interest in trying Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy. At the last minute, he was able to get an opening at the clinic. We are praying this treatment will be successful in helping stop the progression of the MS and perhaps restore some of what he has lost.

If you are interested in finding out more about his treatment, as well as be kept apprised of prayer needs & praise reports, you can visit Chris' health blog through Caring Bridge website:

www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisklicka

Thank you for your friendship and your prayers!

Thoughts from Talk at FPEA--"When Jesus Waits...What Can We Learn From His Silence?"

My secret desire in speaking at homeschool conventions is to be able to get up and share the secret of my "success", or give the talk that starts with "How to...". That certainly didn't happen this past weekend in Florida. Rather, I distinctly felt God tugging on my heart by His Spirit, to speak openly and honestly about some of our challenges, so great at times, it really does seem that Jesus is silent.

Luke 24 reminds us, though, that while Jesus' death prevailed in the minds of His followers and He was kept from being recognized by them on the road to Emmaus, it didn't change the reality that Jesus was right there with them. He had triumphed over the grave, and at just the right moment, He chose to reveal Himself to His followers as the risen, victorious Lord.

Over the years, the Lord has had a different plan for me when speaking to homeschoolers at the state conventions I've been at. Instead of showing homeschooling moms how to do it all, He's asked me to be a model of brokenness and dependency on Him.

This is a good place to be, mind you, for I firmly believe that God receives glory when we make much of Him, rather than much of ourselves. His trustworthiness is so great that I can't help but glory in Him. That doesn't mean, however, that the path He leads us on is going to be easy. Rather, He often chooses to build our trust in His trustworthiness by letting us feel our inadequacy, our need, our desperation for His help and sustaining power at times to show us just how much He truly can be depended upon.

I would rather be tossed about in a small boat in the midst of a storm if Jesus is with me there, than bask in the summer sunshine by the side of a refreshing pool on my recliner while sipping cold lemonade.

That takes courage for me to say, because there are days when I say, "O Lord, I sure would love the latter right about now." Help me not to believe for a single moment that there is any better place to be than with You--Your love, Your grace, Your presence mean more to me than ANY other place without You!

Tracy to Speak at the FPEA Convention, May 22-23, 2009

In conjunction with doing two workshops on parenting teens, I put together a list of recommended reading for parents to assist them in this high calling from the Lord.

Our primary goal as parents of teens isn't to control outward behavior, but to draw out the hearts of our young people and help them see God's standards and where they may have strayed; to encourage them to follow His Word and ways, and to affirm expressions of genuine faith and trust in the Lord.

When we take the time to listen well, ask good questions, and pursue our children out of our love for them, they will be more inclined to hear what we have to say as we point them to God's Word.

There are some really excellent books that can help us with this task. Below are a few we highly recommend:

1. Age of Opportunity, Paul David Tripp
2. Lies Young Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free, Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh
3. The Five Love Languages of Teenagers, Gary Chapman
4. Preparing for Adolescence, Dr. James Dobson
5. Discover Your Children's Gifts, Don and Katie Fortune
6. Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, Paul David Tripp
7. Not Even a Hint, Joshua Harris
8. The Ministry of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson
9. Speaking Truth in Love, David Powlison
10. I Kissed Dating Good-bye, Joshua Harris
11. Girl Talk--Mother/Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood, Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole Mahaney Whitacre
12. Relationships, A Mess Worth Making, Timothy Lane and Paul David Tripp
13. Idols of the Heart, Learning to Long for God Alone, Elyse Fitzpatrick
14. Worldliness, Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World, edited by C.J. Mahaney
15. Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper

We believe all of the above books are not only relevant to raising teens, but offer sound biblical wisdom and insight into the power of the gospel to transform our hearts and sustain us as believers to run the race of faith in a way that brings glory to God! God bless you!

Updates on Our Family, Episode Three--Our First Wedding!

Bethany & Ben
Arnold-Bik,
August 30, 2008



It was one of the best days of our lives...the years of praying for God to bring His perfect mate for your child, and seeing it come to pass. God is so good!!!

Their wedding was a celebration of God's love and faithfulness, the blessing of family, the gift of friends, and the joy that comes from knowing Christ Jesus as Lord. He is the center of Ben & Bethany's union and life together. He is the One who has redeemed them and brought them together. He is the One that will give them the grace to live lives that are pleasing to Him. We know they desire to glorify God in their marriage, and that His Word is true and trustworthy. Their joy in each other is surpassed only by their joy in God.

We love Ben and his family, and are so thankful to be entering with them into this new season of our children's marriage.



A few highlights from the day:

• many relatives could be there, including all the grandparents
• so many friends came and rejoiced with us
• God provided many, many friends to help make the day so beautiful
• all the details for the day were faithfully carried out by our loving God; even with the little glitches that came up, God worked everything out wonderfully
• worshiping together during the service seemed the most natural way to thank our great God for His lovingkindness
• our joy was so full, we could barely contain it!

Some funny moments:

• At the beginning of the ceremony, Cindy and I couldn't get our candles lit with the adult-proof torches; we almost burst out laughing when we finally got them to work
• Ben trying to light the unity candle with the torch instead of the family candle; Bethany had to tap Ben's hand to let him know he needed to grab the lit candle instead
• Bethany getting swatted on the backside by the Marines who announced their marriage at the reception
• Jesse hiding in the back of Ben's SUV and as Bethany and Ben started driving away, opened the back window and waved good-bye to everybody

Some touching moments:

• During the bridesmaids processional, Susanna, who was the last to enter, was quite overcome with emotion and was fighting back the tears; that got Tracy, grandmas, and twins Charity and Amy teary-eyed then
• Because Chris couldn't walk Bethany in during the processional, she asked her brother Jesse if he could escort her in; it was a sweet moment to see that proud brother hand her to her father waiting up front



• Bethany asked Tracy to sing during the Unity Candle lighting, and at one moment, she got kind of choked up singing about God's faithfulness; He has been so faithful!
• Bethany and Ben dancing their first dance to Martina McBride's "My Valentine", a special song she picked out because Ben's birthday is on Valentine's Day


• Since Chris was unable to dance with Bethany for the Father/Daughter dance, Bethany picked out a special song, "I Loved Her First", and our videographer put video footage and photos of Bethany and her dad over the years together as a special presentation at the wedding reception; there wasn't a dry eye in the whole hall! Shortly after, our dear friend Rick Boyer wrote a poem for Chris about his Father/Daughter dance with Bethany and the legacy of His life being lived for the Lord through much hardship with MS

We wanted to bless Ben & Bethany in a special way, so we set up a "Blessing Tree" where family and friends could share their prayers, wishes and Scripture verses with the couple. And from the wedding program, a couple of verses Bethany and Ben picked out to share:

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;

With my mouth I will make known

Your faithfulness to all generations.

For I have said, 'Mercy shall be built up forever;

Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.' "

~Psalm 89:1-2

We are so happy for Ben and Bethany and the future He has in store for them. It's all good because of Jesus!

Updates on our Family, Episode Two--Bethany Goes for the Gold!

This past June, our oldest daughter Bethany received a much-earned award for four years of diligent, hard work--The Congressional Award, receiving the highest honor of Gold Medal. The Congressional Award program, started by Congress and partnering with the private sector, acknowledges students who have excelled through their activities and efforts in the areas of service, initiative, and achievement.

Bethany engaged in over 200 hours each of Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Exploration. From taking a two-week trip to a working cattle ranch in northern New Mexico building fences, moving cattle, cleaning stalls and the like, to putting together care packages for soldiers overseas and volunteering at a local school library, to improving her creative writing skills by authoring four children's books, Bethany has learned much about persistence, the joys of a job well done, and has blessed many people she has served.

While we are so proud of Bethany for earning the gold Congressional Award, we give even greater thanks for the way she acknowledged the Lord in everything she was doing. Her desire was to bring God glory in the various activities she was engaged in, and she sought to build friendships with the people whose lives intertwined with hers during those four years. God has blessed her greatly by helping her form a deep bond with her Congressional Award advisor and the family she stayed with in New Mexico. She has also been keeping in touch with the soldiers to whom she has written and sent care packages.

Updates on Our Family, Episode One--Megan Graduates & Heads Off to Liberty University!

Megan was determined to graduate a year early, since we started homeschooling her a year early, so this past June, she did just that. She was actually part of two graduation services, one locally with our homeschool group (her dad was sorry to be out of town for this). She shared at the ceremony both in a moving speech and a song giving tribute to God's faithfulness in her life.

Taking part in another, larger graduation at the HEAV homeschool convention gave her dad (and our whole family) an opportunity to be there and celebrate with Megan the successful completion of her homeschooling years. We give all the glory to God!

The event was extra special because Tracy got to sing the National Anthem and special music for the graduation service for almost two hundred students. Because it was the 25th Anniversary of HEAV this year, Tracy also got to direct her homeschool choir of over 20 students in two choral pieces as part of the ceremonies. It is amazing to look back and truly see God's faithful hand guiding the homeschool movement these past 25 years in Virginia! God is good!!!

Megan had applied to two schools, Grove City College and Liberty University. She was considering a double major of Biblical Studies and Psychology at GCC, and a major of Nursing at Liberty. After much deliberation, she decided to try the Nursing program at Liberty. She's been adjusting to 13,000 on-campus students, but has been making friends and is enjoying her classes so far. God is good.

Once Upon a Time...

God Writes Her Story--

Our oldest daughter Bethany, from early on, has loved to tell stories. At three, she could prattle on about some animal getting lost in the forest, and finding friends along the way to help him home. We loved to sit and listen to her imagination play out as she shared her lively, engaging tales. And all the while she was making up her stories, God was writing her story. She has grown up into a beautiful, godly woman, whose heart for Jesus is revealed in her devotion to His Word, her faithfulness in listening to Him speak into her life, and in her gentle, gracious love for others. Her life thus far has been a beautiful story of God's grace.

And now, God is writing a new chapter in her story. We rejoice to share the story of how God has brought Bethany's fiancee, Ben Arnold-Bik into her life. Yes, Bethany is engaged, and God is good!

How They Met

Ben and Bethany met just over a year ago at the March, 2007 Bluemont Contra Dance in Purcellville. I believe it was some friends of Bethany's who introduced Ben to her. Well, Ben took an immediate interest in her, but it was just an initial meeting. (He was the last guy of several to wait for the girl God had for him; the rest of his friends were already married or engaged).

Jesse begged Bethany to bring him to the April contradance and so Ben saw Bethany again (neither of them had been regularly attending, but God brought both of them two months in a row; His hand was clearly orchestrating things). They still didn't have a lot of time to talk that night and get to know each other, but Ben knew that he wanted to date Bethany and asked her if he could take her out sometime, to which she easily replied, “Yes!”

Getting to Know You

Things didn’t work out for them to get together until a couple weeks later when we had Ben over for the twins' birthday lunch so we could all meet him. I’m sure we overwhelmed him with our chattering, animated family of nine! Chris and I both took an immediate liking to him, so later that same week, we let Ben take Bethany out to dinner so they could just talk and get to know one another. And then Saturday of that week, Ben took Bethany to a formal contradance at our old church. This would be the last time they would get to see each other for awhile for the next day, he had to fly out to FL because he is in the Marines. (Ben had attended Bible college for a year, then got his four-year aeronautical engineering degree from Embry-Riddle and was now signed up for a 10-yr. commitment in the Marines; he just turned 27 on Valentine's Day).

So Ben took off the next day and Bethany and Ben just emailed and IM-ed each other for the next 3 months, after which time Ben knew he wanted to fly Bethany down for a week to spend some time with her in person getting to know her more. She went down in Aug. for a week before starting her first semester at PHC, and stayed with a married couple, good friends of Ben's.

In November, Bethany flew down for a week again, staying with Greg and Amanda, and then shortly after that, Ben asked us (we'd been in touch with him throughout the fall) if he could ask us in person at Christmastime for our blessing on his proposing to Bethany. So he was home for about 10 days and at the end of that time, asked each of us independently if he had our blessing (he didn't just want to email us and ask for that!)

Will You Marry Me?

So during her spring break last week, Bethany flew down and Ben proposed. Bethany very quickly said, “Yes!!!”

Ben is a wonderful, godly man, who loves Bethany very much, is humble, hard working (he's training with the Marines to fly jets), desires to please the Lord, and has a long list of things in common with Bethany (a big one being that they are both very interested in missions, Ben esp. in becoming a missions pilot). God is so good, and it has been very easy for us to grow to love Ben as we've gotten to know him more and more. We really do look forward to him becoming a part of our family, and Bethany a part of Ben's godly family (he has one sister a few years younger than him, plus his mom and dad).

We are especially grateful that, although they will be living in other states for some years while Ben fulfills his commitment with the Marines (we will be in much prayer for Ben's deployment to Iraq, mostly likely sometime in 2009), his family lives nearby in Lovettsville. We are so thankful that their visits home to see family home will not have to be a choice between his family and ours, but they'll be able to see us both!

Thank you for praying with us

We would so appreciate your prayers for Ben's training period, Bethany's continuing and completion of her college degree (she has officially declared herself as a Government major, and desires to specialize in Strategic Intelligence--in other words, spy research!) We still don't know when the wedding will be; sometime between the end of the summer and this Christmas (we're kind of hoping Bethany will be able to complete another semester on campus at PHC this fall and get married at Christmas time, but it's their wedding, so we'll see!)

Thank you for praying for them as the Lord brings them to mind. We give much thanks to the Lord for His great love and goodness in bringing them together!