Joyanna is in her last cast for the serial casting experience. The therapist feels that we have accomplished as much as we can for now. She has been moving her foot position back to neutral in the casting position for the last two weeks. There is improvement in her flexibility outside of her casts but unfortunately due to the fact of muscle disuse and contracture, her muscles cannot keep a neutral angle on their own. So, we have given her a good stretch and there is no reason to continue casting her for a couple more weeks. Also, her therapist preferred for her not to have to travel in a cast and be in it for two weeks. So, on Monday she will have her green cast cut off and can begin to use her new AFO braces. In the end, it will accomplish the purpose we intended—to alleviate painful cramping in a couple of years. If we didn’t address it at all this could happen. She is back to moving her legs all around so she’s probably had a good bit of muscle strengthening, due to “lifting weights.” Those feet are really going to be flying when she gets the casts off. Watch out everybody!
We are headed to Kentucky for Christmas. This is the year when all of my siblings are at my parents’ house together. We are looking forward to the trip. We already have some fun things planned and we also have some time unplanned. I praise the Lord regularly for both Ben’s and my family. We are so blessed! Joyanna should do well traveling and Ethan is very excited.
It’s been busy but we recently were afforded the opportunity to pause and reflect. The Children’s Center hosted a new memorial service open to those parents and guardians who have lost a child. We didn’t realize this was the first of its kind but we received the invitation and decided to go. It was a good decision. I was able to grieve there in a real way and I think I needed that. Ben and I have spent a few other times just reflecting, not so much about how we wish Philip was here, but just about how we miss him and wish we could see him as he is now. We’ve also had times to remember Christmases past and how our sweet boy would light up the room with his excited smiles, spinning and flapping, with mouth wide open laughing. Oh, that contagious laughter. Oh, the tears when I realize I can’t hear it anymore right now. But, I believe I will again. I eagerly await that day!!! Then, the tears when I realize I am sometimes too busy now to appreciate Joyanna’s giggles. Lord, please let there be time to pause…to reflect, to cherish, to love, to thank you for each day and what it brings.
All of the things we choose to do in these holiday seasons are mostly rooted in love for others. We want to acknowledge all the people we love by attending parties, by shopping for and giving gifts, by church activities that spread the gospel to those who don’t know Christ. It makes it busy but well worth it. Hopefully, you can take some time to pause, even daily to acknowledge gifts from the Father: life itself, salvation only provided by the Son, grace, peace, mercy, family, friends, eternity that will outshine any gift this earth has to offer, and much more. It’s good for us to think of serving others at this time of year, but let’s not forget that we’re doing all that to serve the King of Kings. I find it’s easy to focus on what I can do for Him at this time of the year and then end up completely leaving Him out of it. Lord, help us all to continue to walk with You in the realization that every day is given by You. Amen.
It's About the Cross
It's not just about the manger
Where the baby lay
It's not all about the angels
Who sang for him that day
It's not just about the shepherds
Or the bright and shining star
It's not all about the wise men
Who traveled from afar
Chorus:
It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
It's about the cross
It's about the cross
Verse 2:
It's not all about the good things
In this life I've done
It’s not all about the treasures
Or the trophies that I've won
It’s not about the righteousness
That I find within
It’s about His precious blood
That saves me from my sin
Repeat Chorus
Bridge:
The beginning of the story is wonderful and great
But it's the ending that can save you and that's why we celebrate
It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It's about God's love
Nailed to a tree
It's about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me
It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
It's about the cross