Thankful

I realize I haven't been keeping up very well with William's blog and, for those of you who diligently check on his progress, I apologize. Thank you for the calls on his behalf.
As I sit to write this post, I am reflecting on how very much I have to be thankful for. Where do I possibly begin? Of course, there are the usual things...family, my sweet husband, our dear children, a warm house, plenty of food, my salvation, etc. All things that I truly am grateful for. But at this time of year, when everyone is focusing on thankfulness, I wonder, do many stop to think about WHO they are thankful to? Are we thankful to our boss for giving us a job? Are we thankful to ourselves for figuring out how to manage our finances in such a way to buy that great house? Are we thankful to random chance that we have health and happiness?
Let us not forget that it is God who ordains and directs all things and it is to Him alone that we should give our thanks. He gives and He takes away; all for a purpose much higher than ourselves and for His own glory. This year, though I am truly thankful to God for all of the aforementioned items, I am even more thankful for the hard times we've had. While that may sound weird, allow me to explain.
I am thankful for our insurance company, who denied the $15,000 payment of William's life-saving airway clearance vest as "investigational" because he does not have cystic fibrosis. Why? Because I found myself relying too heavily on them and not on God. I was beginning to place my trust in them to meet all of William's needs, forgetting the Creator who made him and loves him and meets every single one of his needs, even when I don't know they exist yet. I know that it is God who provides and trust that He will do so, even when man fails us and we don't see a way.
I am thankful that the School for the Blind refused to help us. Again, I was looking for guidance from a State run institution. The command to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but unto God what is God's" could easily have been cast aside here, but for God's restraining hand of protection.
I am thankful, not for the abundance this year, but for the lack thereof; for in it God has increased my contentment and I am more joyful for it. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit has not left me to dwell in my sinful flesh, but moves on my heart with compassion and places within me a longing for Him, a trusting of Him, and a reliance on Him, not my own weak powers and not on what this world has to offer.
And, just so you can join in our thankfulness, here is a recent picture of our little man:






He is standing unassisted whenever he is asked to now AND he can hold it for at least 3 minutes! He is also taking up to 2 steps (while in control of his body). He made it up to 4 one day, but we've yet to repeat it. I know he will, though.
This last week he's been tracking things better with his eyes, his depth perception seems better as we play little games with him and he hits his target on the first try, which he never used to do, and he is using more and more words without prompting. It's a very exciting time in our household! Oh, and the best part of all? He's had 8 months with no hospital, no pneumonias, and no "scary" illness!

"Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness." Psalm 97:12

- Posted from my iPhone

Sweet Blessings

Life has been somewhat frustrating lately, to say the least. However, in the midst of these difficult times, God has blessed me with many precious, sweet moments like this:
Wallace has a beloved Teddy. He drags it everywhere and sleeps with it every night. William never really clung to anything that way until last April when the hospital gave him a stuffed "Woody" doll. I really don't know what made him fall in love with that particular item because he knows nothing of the whole "Toy Story" thing, but, nonetheless, it became his particular special item. One day last week, Wallace's special Teddy went missing. We looked everywhere for it. Finally Wallace announced that Ron (our Great Dane) had eaten his Teddy. While I doubted the truth of this (even though Ron eats everything else under the sun and nothing is sacred to him), there was a sufficient lack of evidence to prove the case. However, Wallace seemed convinced. So as bedtime approached, the face grew forlorn. As Michael and I gathered to sing and pray with the boys, Wallace asked again for his Teddy. Not having it, I asked William if he would be willing to let Wallace sleep with something from his bed. You see, William sleeps with a stuffed dog and a stuffed bear at the foot of his bed, but Woody has a special place right beside him. I figured that Wallace would be happy with William's bear for the night and we could continue the search for his the next day. Sounds reasonable, right? Well, as William was crawling over to his bed to get a toy for Wallace, Wallace said, "I want Woody." William didn't miss a beat. He picked up the beloved doll, crawled straight over to Wallace, handed it to him, and patted him on the back, as if to comfort him. Wallace promptly responded with, "Thank you, William," in his tiny, 2-year-old voice. Michael and I both teared up as we cuddled these two precious children, so unselfish, so considerate of the other, so sweet and tender. We often watch special moments where Wallace "takes care" of William, though he is the younger brother. He is very protective and conscientious of William.
Life is precious, life is special. Life is difficult, life is hard. We must take the time to recognize the meaningful things that happen on a daily basis. And this moment was a much needed reminder to Michael and me that "it's all good."

When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2

- Posted from my iPhone

Good Things

This is a typical morning in our home: the boys are almost always the first of the children up and they are most often up within 10 minutes of one another. On this particular day Michael was also home and we got to enjoy the sunrise together. The picture of sweetness:



Does it get any better?

"Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me...". Nehemiah 2:18

- Posted from my iPhone

Deaf-Blind

William is doing really well with his Loftstrand crutches. He has the strength and ability to use them, it's just building up the confidence and endurance. He'll get there...

On a different note, I was telling a friend that it's been hard to post lately. I've been thinking of the old "Thumper" saying, "If you can't say somethin' nice, then don't say nothin' at all." Honestly, it's been kind of hard to see the positives and I have been struggling. It seems like one thing has just piled on top of another between orthotics issues, dealing with insurance on the Vest and now therapies being maxed out, compression suit trouble, coming to grips with the term "blind," and remodeling. Whew! William finally got his evaluation at the School for the Blind...the one we've waited for since March. Quite frankly, it was depressing. I may give more details on it when I'm in a better state of mind, but the long and the short of it is this: William is a blind child. He will lose his eyesight completely and even with what residual eyesight he has now, it is not functional for the purposes of reading. He will never read print, but will go straight to Braille. I can't explain why this is so difficult for me to swallow. Finding out about his deafness was not difficult. It was just something we took in stride. To be hit with both is somewhat more difficult. I know God is in control and everything will be fine...God will turn my sorrow to joy. At the same time that I am grieving the things he will miss out on, I am so thankful that he is here with me. I realize things could be much worse. It is just hard to know he will always have to struggle for everything, that things will always be harder for him. But the truth of the matter is: hearing, sight, even our very breath are all gifts from the Lord that none of us are guaranteed, promised, or even entitled to. Praise the Lord for the 10 precious blessings He has given me and gives me life to enjoy them!

In searching, I found this verse quite interesting:

"Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better." Ecclesiastes 7:3

Aquatic Therapy

William also really enjoys Aquatic Therapy. Mike has been taking him and they have a great time together! It's so fun to watch him grow and change...this little boy used to be deathly afraid of water!

William is getting so much stronger and more confident. I truly believe he will walk unassisted one day!

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help. My help comes from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keeps thee will not slumber." Psalm 121:1-3