Hospital News Briefing (30 minutes)
New Channel 9 Story
News Channel 5 Story
The hospital has their own segment that may be released soon. We will receive a copy of it. We have enjoyed working with the hospital employees who are responsible for the PR. It is a husband/wife team. He does the camera work and she does the reporting/hosting. They have been really sweet. In fact, she mentioned last week that since we’ve seen each other three times now, she feels as if she has been included in our journey. Certainly she has. We are thankful for each person God has brought us into contact with.
Joyanna has been stronger and more vocal. You’ll be able to tell the vocal part in the 30-minute video if you’re able to watch. She was pretty chatty. She’s continued with that into this week. She has been holding her head up again and seems more alert. What a blessing! Maybe she was excited about her birthday which was Monday. She turned 6. We celebrated with a family friend whose birthday is on the same day. She is Filipino and made some yummy Filipino food for dinner. I made purple cupcakes with aqua icing (my favorite colors for Joy to wear). She smiled at the Happy Birthday song and then proceeded to fling her arm to the side and knock a cupcake into the floor, icing side down of course. She even ate a little of a cupcake and icing without any choking. I’ve got to tell you a story about something she got last week. Our friend, Heidi, came from New York to visit her kids in Oklahoma. She attends Ben’s home church in Syracuse. She wanted to visit Philip while she was here so Ethan and I met her at TCC one morning while Joy was in school. She had brought gifts for the kids. Talking Toy Story dolls—Woody for Philip, Jessie for Joyanna and Buzz for Ethan. What a surprise!!! What she didn’t know was that I had in mind to try to get a Jessie doll for Joyanna for her birthday. I had researched what was out there and loved the Disney store one the best. That Jessie yodels and says “yee haw” which Joy loves. But, we just weren’t able to get it right now. So, I found a different, more feasible option and moved on. Then, Heidi brought the dolls and it was the Jessie I had wanted to get. That’s so awesome. That gift was from Heidi and her husband but I say it was from God and He gives the best birthday presents! I love those little stories of how God shows His care in the little things.
Philip has had a few more seizures increasing but is still calm overall which is good. For the last few days, he has not had to be on oxygen but is keeping his saturation up breathing room air. I was surprised by that. The worst of allergy season must be over. He has been moved from a bed with crib rails to a regular-sized hospital bed. It is nicer to be able to get to him, especially for Ethan. Philip is getting very tall so the bed will be a better fit for him.
Today (Wednesday) is our first threat of severe weather so we know we’ve arrived in May here in Oklahoma. I’m glad God is sovereign.
Our next few weeks are busy so I’m not sure if I will be able to post two weeks from now as I normally do. Bear with me if it’s silent for a while. Thanks for your prayers.
Here's the lyrics to a song I have written and will hopefully sing soon at church. There is some fine-tuning to be done on it still. As you will see, it is born out of our journey and thus the title even goes with the blog title. Glory to His Name!
His Way is Perfect
Esther was a captive Jewish maid.
Living life in Persia were not plans the Jews had made.
She had lost her mother, father, lost everything.
She was chosen to be a bride for a sinful, pagan king.
Esther could have dwelt on all she missed,
But God chose her devotion for "such a time as this."
Chorus
As for God, His way is perfect.
Though you've trod a path you never thought you'd see,
But as you walk it, He is working
Out a plan that will span all of eternity.
You and I are on this journey of life.
If we could choose our way, we never would choose strife.
But God knows in the easy times we may drift away from Him.
He always knows what's best for us,
Knows the beginning from the end.
When your way looks different than you planned,
Trust our Heavenly Father.
He wants to use you and He can.
Chorus
Think of David who didn't know He would be king.
Think of Job who lost everything.
Think of Joseph who was mistreated and despised.
Think of Mary who watched her Son crucified.
They didn't know from their point of view
What God in His sovereignty was going to do.
Maybe you find yourself in that same place.
Remember these words as you seek the Father's face:
Chorus
Keep on walking; He is working
Out His plan that will span all of eternity.