Hope - the greatest gift ever given to us.
We have HOPE in our Salvation through the work Jesus.
We have HOPE in healing through the blood of Jesus.
We have HOPE for a better tomorrow - the sunrise will start a new day.
But how the heck to you keep HOPE alive? Somedays, the reality of the today, tomorrow and the next; the list of decisions we must make; the prognosis of doctors; the diagnosis of specialists; the reality of where we live in this fast continuum of space and time - all defeat that little spark of HOPE!
I don't have an answer today. I'm not discouraged. I'm just wandering.
I do hurt today. Hurt for my child who heard me say the same lesson 5 different ways over 2 days and still didn't get it. Hurt for her frustration. Making tough decisions - must she know a predicate nominative? What in her future will require that knowledge? If she writes correctly and descriptively, what does it matter if she can name every part of speech in one of de Tocqueville's 500 word, grammatically correct sentences?
Probably doesn't. Not at all.
Lord, give me the words to keep HOPE alive in my child's heart. When she sees only the wall, let me show her the staircase. When she sees only the failure, let me show her success. When she hurts, let me show her healing.
Thanks God.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Home Again, Home Again
We returned yesterday from 9 days in Florida. Beautiful.
We so needed the rest!
And I truly believe, on family enjoys each other as much as we do. We laugh and giggle together. We talk about God openly. And we talk about our pain and hopes as well.
It was a hard trip for Ashley. She will NOT use an assistive device. So she walked every DW park, keeping up with us. At night, her ankle was swollen and required ice. But she did not complain.
One evening, she and I were alone in the Magic Kingdom, doing our own thing - shopping. She told me she loved the trip but it was physically and emotionally hard on her.
Physically I understood. But emotionally?
"Yes, I see the kids my age and how they can walk and move and I can't do that. It hurts my heart."
This momma hurt too. I walked through the park in tears, so thankful for the darkness. She held my hand and we watched the theatre show, "Wishes do come true."
Her wishes have not come true - cerebral palsy still there. Myoclonus dystonia still plagues her body. Toes are better, and we are so thankful. But the hand surgery seemed to make things worse. Pain is a huge problem.
But we keep going.
Tonight? She has dance.
Tomorrow? Gym time; a good workout followed by a steam and hot top.
Friday night? Cast Member for the Daddy Daughter Dance.
And we keep going. And going. And going.
And God's grace keeps growing. And growing. And growing.
We so needed the rest!
And I truly believe, on family enjoys each other as much as we do. We laugh and giggle together. We talk about God openly. And we talk about our pain and hopes as well.
It was a hard trip for Ashley. She will NOT use an assistive device. So she walked every DW park, keeping up with us. At night, her ankle was swollen and required ice. But she did not complain.
One evening, she and I were alone in the Magic Kingdom, doing our own thing - shopping. She told me she loved the trip but it was physically and emotionally hard on her.
Physically I understood. But emotionally?
"Yes, I see the kids my age and how they can walk and move and I can't do that. It hurts my heart."
This momma hurt too. I walked through the park in tears, so thankful for the darkness. She held my hand and we watched the theatre show, "Wishes do come true."
Her wishes have not come true - cerebral palsy still there. Myoclonus dystonia still plagues her body. Toes are better, and we are so thankful. But the hand surgery seemed to make things worse. Pain is a huge problem.
But we keep going.
Tonight? She has dance.
Tomorrow? Gym time; a good workout followed by a steam and hot top.
Friday night? Cast Member for the Daddy Daughter Dance.
And we keep going. And going. And going.
And God's grace keeps growing. And growing. And growing.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Enjoy the Music
Her surgery went very well this week. She is up and walking - recently going on a scavanger hunt since her brother hid her crutches!
Our friend Marilyn had flown in from Big Spring, TX and driven to surgery with us. We walked Ashley into the operating room, getting dressed in our Blue Evening Gowns.
Our friend Marilyn had flown in from Big Spring, TX and driven to surgery with us. We walked Ashley into the operating room, getting dressed in our Blue Evening Gowns.
Monday, October 17, 2011
# 7
This is prep week.
Housecleaning. Cooking. Packing. Finding insurance forms. Flu shots. Arguing with wheelchair companies. Scheduling follow-ups. Soccer Game. Dance class.
We leave for Denver on Thursday AM. Surgery is Friday at 2:45.
Her best li'l Buddy Katrina is having the same surgery on Wednesday in Salt Lake City, Utah.
I know two girls and two families who'd love your prayers!
Housecleaning. Cooking. Packing. Finding insurance forms. Flu shots. Arguing with wheelchair companies. Scheduling follow-ups. Soccer Game. Dance class.
We leave for Denver on Thursday AM. Surgery is Friday at 2:45.
Her best li'l Buddy Katrina is having the same surgery on Wednesday in Salt Lake City, Utah.
I know two girls and two families who'd love your prayers!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Plan, Occupy and Go Where He Leads
The best laid plans are just jokes to God!
This week did not go as I had planned.
Proverbs 16:9 tells us, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
Lately, there have been many posts on FB about the imminent return of Christ. And I believe it's closer than we can imagine while further away than we would want. We keep planning our course in this life and God will keep directing our steps towards Him. Towards the day he returns.
But now it's Thursday, so I can breathe a bit. I'm just plannin', God's directing.
Luke 19:13 reminds us to stay busy at the Lord's work. "Engage in business until I come." One version says "occupy." That means be about the business the Lord has laid for you. Marry. Raise children. Love one another. Make disciples. Train for the future. Prepare your hearts for today. Plan your way!
God showed another miracle of his today - it snowed! I love that! The earth becomes covered in a warm blanket of grace that hides our confusion and covers us with peace. Peace - he's got it all under control.
We were all tucked in together. Watched a movie and did school later in the day. Chris is getting ready for soccer and we're getting the house ready for my Dad and Mama Mike to visit for the weekend. And it's peaceful in our house.
Love it.
This week did not go as I had planned.
Proverbs 16:9 tells us, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
Lately, there have been many posts on FB about the imminent return of Christ. And I believe it's closer than we can imagine while further away than we would want. We keep planning our course in this life and God will keep directing our steps towards Him. Towards the day he returns.
But now it's Thursday, so I can breathe a bit. I'm just plannin', God's directing.
Luke 19:13 reminds us to stay busy at the Lord's work. "Engage in business until I come." One version says "occupy." That means be about the business the Lord has laid for you. Marry. Raise children. Love one another. Make disciples. Train for the future. Prepare your hearts for today. Plan your way!
God showed another miracle of his today - it snowed! I love that! The earth becomes covered in a warm blanket of grace that hides our confusion and covers us with peace. Peace - he's got it all under control.
We were all tucked in together. Watched a movie and did school later in the day. Chris is getting ready for soccer and we're getting the house ready for my Dad and Mama Mike to visit for the weekend. And it's peaceful in our house.
Love it.
Monday, September 26, 2011
No.
The hardest word for us to hear.
The words of diagnosis may not be understandable. The words of a prognosis fall on deaf ears.
But when we ask a question, with a heart full of hope and expectation and the answer comes back in the form of two little letters, we are overwhelmed.
God sometimes says No.
That's the truth of it.
This side of Heaven, we may never know why.
And that's the hard part.
That's where our Faith meets the road.
No.
The words of diagnosis may not be understandable. The words of a prognosis fall on deaf ears.
But when we ask a question, with a heart full of hope and expectation and the answer comes back in the form of two little letters, we are overwhelmed.
God sometimes says No.
That's the truth of it.
This side of Heaven, we may never know why.
And that's the hard part.
That's where our Faith meets the road.
No.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Yes, He Hears - And Answers!
Ever doubt God hears our prayers?
That he answers?
Our little friend went to San Fran for surgery this week. Two tumors - one behind each year.
Quite a serious situation. The CT showed tumors that needed to come out, like, yesterday.
Folks all over the world have been praying - the right doctors, the right hospital, divine healing.
Operated today - NO TUMORS!
Only God.
Read more -
http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/
That he answers?
Our little friend went to San Fran for surgery this week. Two tumors - one behind each year.
Quite a serious situation. The CT showed tumors that needed to come out, like, yesterday.
Folks all over the world have been praying - the right doctors, the right hospital, divine healing.
Operated today - NO TUMORS!
Only God.
Read more -
http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/
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