Joyanna is receiving her infusion today. She has been much sleepier than normal but maybe she will just sleep through whole thing and wake up feeling better. She is doing things daily that are amazing me with her strength. It's so amazing it really must be His strength. Last night, she rolled over so quickly and pulled her knees up under her so confidently that I wouldn't have been surprised if she had just pushed up with her arms to sitting. Who knows? If this continues, it may be just around the corner. She does not want to lay back. She is working to pull herself forward in almost every waking moment. This morning, when I turned her to her back when she woke up, she pulled up with such might, she raised her torso off of the bed about 45 degrees--all by herself. I wasn't even holding her hands then. If I hold her hands, she sits almost all the way up. She is gaining neck strength but she still can't hold her head up for long periods of time. So she'll let it rest for a few seconds and then try again. I think in doing that often she will have to get stronger. I've always known Joy is a go-getter. She has a spirit and determination like her Daddy. She has his blue eyes, too...but a lot of curly hair he doesn't have. :) It's exciting to see her doing so much and trying so hard. Please pray we have wisdom to help her. She's a precious girl!
She loves Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl from Toy Story 2. So, we've listened to Jessie's song on YouTube for a long time. I sing it to her as well. The song starts out, "I was born in Oklahoma..." I always tell Joy that she was born in Oklahoma just like Jessie. So, a few months ago, I wrote Joy's version of that song!
Joy's Song
She was born in Oklahoma, in Oklahoma City
And her daddy and her mommy loved her right from the beginning.
Her brothers and her family, they all loved her too.
But God loves her the most and has a special thing to do.
Her name is Joy, a sweet little girl.
She loves Nemo and Dory.
She loves to read a story.
Yes, she's Joy, a sweet little girl.
She's getting strong and listens to songs from dawn to dusk to dawn.
Well, there you have it! But yesterday, after her bath, I was singing both versions of the song and she was "singing" with me. I give a try at yodeling during Jessie's song and Joyanna joined me. No joke! She yodeled...a couple of different times. There were no words of course but she made the vocal switches clear for a few notes each time. Ha ha! She can say, "Ow" and yodel!!!! What a girl!
So His strength is perfect daily for Philip, perfect daily for Joy, and perfect daily for Ben, Ethan and I. It's perfect for you too if you'll lean on Him! Thanks for your love and your prayers!
His Strength Is Perfect
I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me
No great success to show
No glory of my own
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He'll carry us when we can't carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect
We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end
He hears our humble cry and proves again
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He'll carry us when we can't carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.