Silly musings about flying

Sometimes I just want to fly – but I’m grounded. I’m grounded by responsibility. I’m grounded by disability. I’m grounded by lack of vision, purpose. I’m grounded by a small heart closed up in my small world of caring for my small children.

But Anne’s not small. Her heart is large. She loves. She laughs. And she longs. She’s grounded too. Yet she flies. How does she do that?

In my years of being a Christian, all I’ve ever wanted is for my life to count for something larger than myself. To multiply my small efforts and make a difference in this world. I’ve longed for purpose. I want to matter.

I look back at my life – and I’ve tried to fly. I’ve pursued things that seemed to matter. But God always pushes me back down to earth – back to my home – back to my family – back to sitting with Anne. The Anne who can’t walk – who is absolutely dependent for every significant movement. This Anne. This life. Does it matter? I think God wants to show me that it does. I think He’s trying to teach me. I think I’m a slow learner.

Somehow, I need to learn to fly while grounded. For now, I’ll ask for help to obey in the moment. And maybe one day, I’ll look back and see that each step of obedience was a slow ascent to flight. And I’ll laugh. And so will Anne. And we will fly together.

Pray for Anne…

June 2013’s prayer requests:

Please pray for Anne…

  1. For stamina for me to care for Anne over the summer, and stamina for Anne to work hard during therapy this summer,
  2. For our insurance to approve additional therapy visits to cover TheraSuit Therapy,
  3. For Canon and Kate to surrender to the sacrifice necessary to help me care for Anne, and
  4. For the eradication of seizures, the balance and strength to walk, and the focus necessary to read!!!!

Thank you!

Yeah for Summer!

i-TXWc6Dc-XLAhhh… Summer. It’s been a wonderfully relaxing week – especially compared to the craziness that surrounds the last month of school.

Part of that craziness involved me dealing with medical providers and insurance to work out Anne’s therapy schedule for the summer. As is typical, God worked it all out perfectly – but just the opposite of how I had planned! God always knows best.

So Anne will do another round of TheraSuit therapy in June. And then she will have serial casting done in July & August.

Anne is doing GREAT! I don’t know how to describe her improvements… I just know she’s better. She’s less impulsive, more relaxed, less agitated, more focused. Eric and I are both extremely grateful for our Anne’s progress.

Anne’s Orthopedically Impaired Special Ed. class had an awards ceremony at the end of the year. Anne won several awards! I think she won four… “Most Improved in Writing,” “Outstanding Work in Phonics & Reading,” “Outstanding Work in Sight Word Recognition,” and the one I’m most proud of was “Most Improved Student in Primary Grades.” Woo Hoo!!! Anne had a fantastic year, and we are so proud of her!

So Proud!

So Sweet!

So Sweet!

So Proud!

We love our Anne!

We love our Anne!

And the best news we received at the end of the year was that Anne’s AMAZING Para-pro will be returning next year! I’m so thankful for Mrs. Bush :)

Anne loves Mrs. Bush!

Anne loves Mrs. Bush!

Happy Summer! I’ll post updates during TheraSuit Therapy. Thank you so much for your prayers for Anne!

Pray for Anne…

May 2013’s prayer requests:

Please pray for Anne…

  1. As we look forward to summer, that we would be able to schedule activities and therapies that would prevent Anne from regressing both physically and cognitively,
  2. For our family to be an encouragement to Anne while we are at home together this summer. Anne has been sad more lately.
  3. For the eradication of seizures, the balance and strength to walk, and the focus necessary to read!!!!

Thank you!

The wisdom of Gandalf

Eric and I were watching The Hobbit tonight. My favorite parts of both the movies and Tolkien’s books are the scenes with the elves. The land, the respite, the wisdom, the peace. Every time the characters leave the elven city of Rivendell, I am sad. I long to stay.

Rivendell is the setting for our favorite scene from The Hobbit. Gandalf’s words resonated with both of us. I think because they echo the way of God’s Kingdom…

Sauron believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I’ve found that it’s the small things, the every day deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I’m afraid. And he gives me courage.

In many ways, Anne gives us courage. Her simple smile. Her sweet laugh and quirky wit. They keep us going. And just as Galadriel assures Gandalf… we know we are not alone. God is our helper. He is our Rescuer. He upholds our very life!

Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of my life (Psalm 54:4).

Milestones

A friend kindly wrote to me today… “Thinking of you this week.”

I had to stop and think about what she could mean… And then I remembered, “Ahhh. Saturday is the day.”

Yes, Saturday will mark three years since Anne’s accident. April 13th becomes easier with each passing year. The pain of losing Anne becomes more dull, and the joy of gaining Anne becomes more evident. God is good!

I’m actually hostessing a baby shower on April 13th. I can’t think of a better way to spend the day than surrounded by friends celebrating a new life. God’s mercies are new every morning!

And while we’re on the subject of milestones, I just published my 100th post on my bible:365 blog. If I taught kindergarten, I would do something fun like… string together 100 paperclips or eat 100 M&M’s (ugh). But I’m not a kindergarten teacher, so I just had a cookie ;)

Happy 100 posts to me! And more importantly… Happy 3 years of enjoying our new Anne!

Hangin' with the boys

Hangin’ with the boys

Face painting with Canon, Kate and cousin Isabella!

Face painting with Canon, Kate and cousin Isabella!

A picnic in the front yard!

A picnic in the front yard!

We love our Anne!

We love our Anne!

Pray for Anne…

April 2013’s prayer requests:

Please pray for Anne…

  1. For the ability to control her emotions and inhibit her impulses,
  2. For her to depend on the Holy Spirit to help her make good choices and to give her self control,
  3. For the eradication of seizures, the balance and strength to walk, and the focus necessary to read.

Thank you!

A more meaningful Easter

Our family wheeled Anne through the crowded sanctuary. We hadn’t gotten there as early as we had planned. Our usual spot was taken over by the crowds on Easter. We were forced to the front. As we filled the empty chairs, Anne squealed, “Miss Debbie! Miss Debbie!”

Other than family, Miss Debbie is one of the few constants in Anne’s life. Their relationship is the same as it was before the accident when Anne was in her 3-year-old Sunday school class. We haven’t seen Miss Debbie in months. But God let us find her today. Continue reading

A good friday for Anne…

My sweet Anne.

She didn’t use her words. All she had to say was… “Please stop touching me.” But she stuck her pencil up the little girl’s nose instead. That poor sweet girl. Anne hurt her feelings – and then something remarkable happened.

Anne felt remorse.

She told me later, “I wish I hadn’t done it. I want to take it back.  …And I want to give my brain injury back too.” Well, that last part wasn’t remorseful, but it was honest! …Sweet, precious Anne.

I’ve been struck by something powerful as I’ve been blogging through the bible… God always gives the sinner a chance to repent. And when true heart-repentance occurs, God is merciful.

Anne pleased God today. She was repentant. And that makes heaven rejoice!

In spite of her rash actions, it was a Good Friday for Anne. It has been for me too :)

Happy Good Friday, and Happy, Happy Easter!

Pray for Anne…

March 2013’s prayer requests:

Please pray for Anne…

  1. We still do not have her seizures under control. Please pray for continued adjustments in her medication to eradicate her seizures.
  2. For Anne to work hard in school and to persevere when school is difficult,
  3. For self control and a Spirit-empowered hunger and thirst to do what is best and right, and
  4. Finally, pray for God to show us his great, great love and goodness to Anne.

Thank you!