My Beautiful Granddaughter

Doesn't your heart just begin to throb? Little Miss is crawling and pulling up. Her voice is so precious. I love hearing her in the background when I'm on the phone with her mommy. Lord willing, we will get to see her in person in July-just in time for her birthday. Can hardly wait!

Copy Cat

Okay, my sister did this on her blog, and I wondered how she did it, so I investigated and, voila!! Now it's on my blog too. Superwoman! What a funny outcome that was. Maybe next time you see me I'll be flying over your head with a cape billowing out behind me=)

Sometimes One Needs to Be Reminded...

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all. And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me." Philippians 2:12-18

And

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me...And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:13, 19

And so I end the day telling myself these things again and again and again...

Recent Diagnosis

I told someone that I would put an update here if I ever got a diagnosis of my months long problem. She had some great ideas for how I might share, and she can laugh and laugh remembering=) I decided, however, to play it safe for my own dignity (what's that, right?) and for your own potentially tender sensibilities. Finally, after many months and several labs, I have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. It is the third auto-immune disorder to show up in my life. Apparently, that is common. In fact, having Type I Diabetes, also an auto-immune disorder, significantly increases the chance of having CD .

John has a co-worker with Celiac, so she has provided reading material and food items because living gluten free forever is essential. What a treasure that is!! I spent a long time tonight reading through the pamphlets and book she sent. It all sure fascinates me. There are so many pieces of this recent puzzle that I have been able to put in place. The ramifications of not strictly working the diet are pretty serious.

We are slowly getting well. Really, I don't have much to complain about when I consider a week ago, but I am tiring of the ongoing symptoms. Oh well, it shall pass, Lord willing.

The Sick and the Healing

This is the picture of influenza. Phoenix hospitals are full of people - especially elderly - who are ravaged by this naughty strain of influenza. Many of the infected are immunized, but news reports are saying that this year's flu shot is not much effectual.

At our house the tiny creatures which perpetrate this disease seem to drop a load of bricks in one sudden and well aimed move. James, the first victim, after beginning his pummeling a week and half ago, is only now rid of the cough. Aided by breathing treatments he is likely to be the least flattened from the deluge. Joshua, the second casualty, still looks pale and coughs frequently, though he feels much better. Jacob, who appears third on the list, is in bed with a fever again and a new earache, after a whole twenty-four hours of feeling better - six full days since onset. Jason, tied with Jared for fourth place, is full of enough antibiotics to sink (or float?) a battle ship. (That was for your benefit, Elizabeth=) Of course, influenza is viral, but Jason is missing the mechanism that allows his Eustachian tubes to function, making ear drainage impossible. He is recovering well from a profoundly serious double ear infection, secondary to the influenza. He is still coughing a wheezy cough, but is eating normally and also fever free. Jared is undergoing the same fateful perpetuation as Jacob. It reminds me of the stand up punching bags that you knock down only for them to pop back up again. He is also in bed with fever anew. Sadly, I am on the roster too. After forty-eight hours of misery mid-week I am doing much, much better=) Nancy is overcome by nastiness too. Sadly (and sometimes gratingly) she is not coping well emotionally with her physical symptoms. She utterly melts, then spews with greater frequency and regularity than Old Faithful. That leaves Joseph, Josiah and John. When one finds himself well after so many days and in the midst of such obvious contagion, he is tempted to smirk at Ol' Mr. Influenza with smug strutting of soul and body, but The Enemy sends his vast army out to stomp out that false notion. Joseph and Josiah are right now wearing the blush of fever and sporting the wardrobe of the down trodden: multiple blankets to calm the body's involuntary trembling. (I must say that Josiah is a Weeble at heart. Two whole rooms of the house have order now where none existed this morning because of his stout will to kick this illness in the teeth. It is with a salute to his stamina and intestinal fortitude that this parenthetical thought is dedicated.) If you are keeping track John alone is left. I call him the lame wolf because he is surely destined to fall along with his brave comrades, though he staunchly clings to "lone wolf." The poor man is delusional=) I am profoundly and sincerely sorry for him, because, thinking back over the day, I can recall several complaints from him that seem to indicate a certainty of the accuracy with which those diabolical germies can chuck a mass of bricks.

Influenza

Most of us are sick with influenza. Joshua and Jason went to the dr. today which is how we know exactly what we have. Jason's ears were awful. They gave him a shot of strong antibiotic as well as a prescription for an oral one. Joshua was okay, though he still worries me. I am quite sick too, but will have to take Jason back to the dr. tomorrow. John can't because he and Josiah have eye appts. Please pray for all of us that we would be well soon (they're saying 1-2 weeks) and able to do all that needs to be done in the circumstances. Thank you!

Sober Anniversary

I must remember today with a sort of homage. Homage is always due to God. Always. There are times, however, when we see His worthiness more clearly because of some generosity or goodness specifically toward us.

A year ago today - at this time - I was going about a normal school day with my children. John W. had been at school and had a test to be completed at home. I was helping him. And then I had to leave. He was not done yet, but I had to move on to the regular errands of the day.

About an hour or so after I left the house John W. left too. A friend had asked him to help pick up his truck from the shop. On the way back to his friend's house, John W., who was driving a borrowed car seemed to disappear for a time. When discovered he was sitting, nearly incoherent, butted up against a tree in a mangled red sports car. He was stuck. Rescue workers labored for a long time to gain his freedom from the wreckage.

Meanwhile I sat, with increasing nervousness and agitation in a parking lot, 30 minutes from the accident scene. I knew I was closer than John - who was with John W. at the site not even 3 miles from our home - to whatever hospital they took him. I wanted to soar, to miraculously transfer my anxious person to the scene. But then I would be far from the hospital. And they were going to fly him by helicopter. I never could beat the helicopter to the hospital from the accident site. I sat. And sat. I prayed. I made key phone calls. My mind raced.

It was many hours later that we finally knew what John W.'s injuries were. I cried when I heard. His neck was broken. A rescue worker told us that he was really lucky to be alive. I knew better. I had - and have - this profound feeling that God was merciful because He wanted John W. to accomplish more with his life than up to that point. Gratitude washed over me in wave after solemn wave - and still does periodically.

Today I am remembering. I am deeply, unspeakably grateful. And still I mourn sometimes. I am so glad to still have him here. However, I grieve for what was lost that day. There was an innocence and youthfulness that left John W. with all the scattering car parts. The ability to wake up fresh for a new day -without pain - fleeted away too. For all of his physical life he will know what happened that day even though his mind cannot recall. It's okay. It has made and will continue to make him a better person. But sometimes maturity comes at a high price that isn't payed out in one lone installment. Sometimes the price is perpetual, like an ever existent loan payment.

I have been prayerful today. I am thanking God again and again. I think I always will. I met so many people over the last year who have lost children to the skirmishes of life on a sin laden planet. I have not yet joined their ranks. However, I stood at the door of their grief a year ago, wondering if I was soon to know what was beyond. Ignorance is bliss. Pure bliss.

Thinking

I just wanted to say hi to you all. There is so much blogging I haven't done, but it is going to wait a bit longer. I am just pensive tonight. There is so much on my mind - joyous, exhilarating things, troubling things, stressful things, sad things, shallow things and practical things. They all linger and linger and linger. Engulfing it all, though, is the comforting and humbling thought that God rules and will always do so.

Grandpa and Haelley at Thanksgiving (look for his accident! lol)

James discovered this video on his computer. I couldn't resist putting it here! John may disown me later, but you all can put in a good word for me=)