I want to share a quick story of one of those sweet reminders of Philip, one that I didn’t even know I needed. The Sunday after Philip’s funeral, a friend at church handed me a gift card for a jeweler she had received in the mail. At the time, I was thankful but didn’t know what to look for to use it. Then, it was as if the Lord prompted me to check their website for a necklace with Philip’s birthstone. Once the thought was born, I knew this was a reminder my heart needed--a gift from the Lord himself (because He knows what I need more than I do). Ben and I made it to the store last week and I was able to get a simple necklace with a beautiful setting of Philip’s birthstone. It is such a precious thing to me now. God knew I needed that.
Some friends also recently got me a windchime with the medallion at the bottom inscribed, “Philip Nathanael Logue, Braveheart.” What a beautiful gift. Here in Oklahoma, you can hear outside wind chimes almost all the time and every time I hear it, there will be a beautiful reminder of Philip.
Joyanna finished her first full week of school August 13-17. She had a pretty good week but I’m pretty sure she picked up a virus while at school. On Saturday, August 18, she started running a fever. It was not a typical virus for her because she had little to no symptoms but a very high fever just in the middle of the night. Each day I would think it was over and she was on the mend then that night between midnight and 4 am she would start running a fever of 104-105. This went on for 7 days. This was the week when we made all the changes for Philip. Joy was still sick and under friends and family care while we stayed at TCC much of the time with Philip. But even aspects of Joy’s sickness prepared the way for logistical planning we didn’t know we would need during his passing. Joy’s fever broke, in fact, during the same night that Philip passed away. The week of the visitation and funeral she did seem better but was still regaining strength. Honestly, the virus hit her pretty hard…for her. Usually she either doesn’t get sick at all or has 2 days max with a virus. Finally, she returned to school on Monday, September 3, and her teacher said she felt like she had seen the real Joyanna for the first time this school year. Since then, she has done very well. She has been alert, active and vocal. Her teacher has let us know that she seems to be intentionally moving her hands to push her assistive technology button at school. She has grasped certain objects with her hands. I have seen her give a decided effort to clap three or four times over the last month; others have seen it as well and agree it is intentional though slow. She will move her mouth to say words but cannot produce the sounds. She vocalizes with vowels often. She can still say Hi. She is receiving her infusion now and unlike other days has been awake the whole time today. She is watching Little Bear on the iPad so maybe she just loves it that much or maybe she slept really well last night. Even though she is awake, she is very still which is wonderful. Please pray for Joyanna if God truly plans for her to gain some of these small steps in skills. She is definitely in need of His grace and strength.
Ethan is growing and learning so quickly. In fact, I think he’s in a growth spurt right now. He had many questions about Philip going to heaven but you could tell he accepted the truth in child-like faith. He also made sure to let others know that Philip is in heaven and he can walk, talk, run and SEE. He has SO MUCH energy and we are working specifically on focusing and sitting still with some preschool work at home so he can be ready for school. Everything Ethan does is full tilt and he gets distracted VERY easily. ALL BOY!!!! It’s a challenge to get all that energy directed in a positive direction but we pray that is what God allows us to do through his training. In some ways, being a parent to Ethan is WAY more challenging than being a parent to my other children. Their care needs are simple—to be fed, cleaned, loved on, medical needs addressed, etc. Ethan is so complicated--discerning attitudes, actions and how to shape the direction of those. God’s grace is needed for all of it.
We are loving the interaction we get to have with the married students within Ben’s new role at the college. These families are so wonderful and we consider it a privilege to spend time with each one. We look forward to more and more involvement with them as the job progresses.
There can be no doubt that we are loved. We have received support from every direction in various forms—cards, gifts, words of encouragement, hugs, tears, and most of all, prayers. Thank you is certainly not effective enough but it is all we can say.
Helping Hands
God knew we needed a helping hand
So he gave us your hands to accomplish the task.
He wanted to show His great love for us
So He gave us friends far above what we could ask.
Your hands became His hands
As you helped us our burden to bear.
He is the source of the love that you’ve shown.
Among God’s greatest blessings are the friends that we’ve known.
Jesus, the Savior, our example on Earth
Gave Himself for us all on Calvary.
He is our friend. You are like Him,
As you gave up yourself unselfishly.
Your hands became His hands
As you helped us our burden to bear.
He is the source of the love that you’ve shown.
Among God’s greatest blessings are the friends that we’ve known.