The WORD for Wednesday

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"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations,
knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
and perseverance, proven character;
and proven character, hope;
and hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out
within our hearts through the Holy Spirit
who was given to us."

Romans 5:3-5 NASB

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Tuesday's To Do List...

The To-Do List for today:

• plan evening meals for the rest of the week
• clear my bathroom counter ...again
• update David's 3 medical record sheets for Thursday's visit to his rehab doctor
• make calls and pay two bills for David's healthcare products
• restock David's bathroom "pantry" with incontinent supplies that arrived LAST week.
• laundry

Today is a short day for me, hence the very short list. My physical therapy session today is from 1-2PM, and from there I drive to pick David up by 2:45pm. Although I will be home again around 3:45 or so, the types of chores I can accomplish while David is with me are quite different type than what I can do alone. So, I'll probably save the laundry for this time period.

Monday flew by. It feels good to start another day!

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior,
not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine,
teaching what is good, so that they may encourage
the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
to be sensible, pure, workers at home,
kind, being subject to their own husbands,
so that the word of God will not be dishonored."


Titus 2: 3-5 NASB

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Monday Musings...

Things I like …in no particular order

♥ ~flowers ~ good friends~the color pink, particularly rose-pink~ my hubby ~ fluffy pillows~ puzzles ~hand-crafted greeting cards ~crepe myrtles ~ scent of vanilla extract ~all sorts of music~ creaky rocking chairs ~ folding clothes ~ little girl's hairbows ~beautiful papers ~soft cuddly blankets or throws~ my camera ~ cinnamon toast ~my grandbabies ~handwritten personal letters ~warm fuzzy socks~ art museums ~ coffee ~lilies and irises~ comfy sweaters~family heirloom china~special old greeting cards ~ well written books ~the smell of freshly laundered sheets~ roses ~ brownies ~Mexican food ~ colorful scrapbooking papers ~ reading ~traditional furniture ~children’s books ~ ceiling fans ~ big hugs ~textured things ~old afghans made by my Grannies ~scenic paintings ~videos of Austin and Megan ~bookshelves~ vintage family quilts ~the sound of the wind in the trees ~ words ~the crinkled pages in my Bible at my favorite verses ~ hot tea ~ photographs of my grandbabies ~ labels on things ~journals ~shady pathways ~ shades of pink ~gazing into another’s eyes ~ two wonderful women who are my sons’ wives ~ Thanksgiving ~old books ~3/4 length sleeves ~ computer communications~ sensible shoes ~family meals ~ good conversation ~ peonies ~Christmas ornaments ~VBS ~my three grown sons~ fonts ~ homemade banana bread ~ my grandbabies (Did I mention that?) ~my family photos children’s smiles~old porch swings~bare feet~ ♥ a loving God, Jesus my Savior and Lord, and the Word of God ♥

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Sunday Rest...

Resting has taken on a lot of different meanings to me this year. Right now, the rest that I need is both physical and spiritual. I find physical rest by taking a break from some of the routine chores of the household. I find spiritual rest in reading God's Word... and in listening for His voice.

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:29-30
(NASB)

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Friday Free Time

For over a month, I haven't really had a lot of "free time". We've been busy at our house... just with everyday normal things, but also with recoveries from an ER trip for David, and now the beginnings of physical therapy to get my aching back into shape again. Of course I have to mention the BIG event of the month - my two grandchildren have their first birthdays this month, too!

AUSTIN had his first birthday party last Saturday in Houston and we drove out there for that. Oh, what fun - pinata and all! His actual birthday was this Wednesday, and I heard they had a fun day then as well. AUSTIN is such a cutie... with a slew of priceless expressions which he parades across his precious face! Austin was quieter this trip, but still got his message across whenever he wanted to with both jabbering and facial expressions. He loves to move, and can really move FAST! He continues to show signs of athleticism which of course pleases the

Granddaddy in this family!

MEGAN will turn one tomorrow! We drove from Houston to Weatherford to see her last Saturday night after the big party for her cousin. We celebrated a little before the actual birthday, but she didn't seem to mind. At least it wasn't a belated birthday celebration! She will have her actual birthday party with family on her birthday this Saturday. MEGAN is a busy little girl who shows determination... she is chatty now with lots of sounds and babbling, and even able to use some sign language. She is loving her Mommy a lot right now and really wants to be with her. She is just a little bit shy although she can sure flirt with her Granddaddy! She has him wrapped around her little finger, just like she does her Daddy!

Uncle Dave and the Grandparents really love these two little ones, and are excited about Austin's baby sister Sophie who will soon join the family! We are so thankful to have them in our lives!

Monday Musings...

Mondays are often dreaded - but I usually enjoy them. I tell people that I like Mondays since they signal a new beginning. New beginnings are great motivators! Starting the day with a clean slate and increased energy (created by resting on the day before!) can lead to a wonderful and exciting day.

We sure had some excitement today! Our son David had a FLURRY of break-through seizures this morning while he was attending UCP-Birmingham's LINCPoint day hab program. This led to a trip to the ER, as his seizures continued one after the other. His break-through seizures occurred in the process of our neurologist's attempts to manage his many seizure medications.

People who have seizure disorders or epilepsy depend upon medications to increase the threshold at which their seizures occur. Everyone's threshold is different, and everyone's seizure disorder is different. Most neurologists aim to: achieve the least number of seizures ... using the least amount of medicine ...with the least amount of side effects, including loss of alertness or sedation.

This is the direction our neurologist was going when we were told to reduce a drug that turned out to be a necessity for our son. Balancing seizure medications is a very complicated task, especially when you factor in that every person's chemical makeup is different, and their reactions to changes in medications vary so drastically. The tenacity with which our son's personal seizure disorder "sticks in there" also makes the balancing of the goals of fewer seizures, least amount of drugs and side effects VERY difficult. It has always been this way for him, ever since the onset of seizures at 7.5 months of age.

David's seizures today were complex-partial, which is the typical presentation of seizures for him... one part of his body jerks rhythmically while he loses most of his consciousness. It's not pretty. Over the years he has had multiple types of seizures, and has had more seizures than we cared to keep a count of since they topped 3500 back in 1990. They occur MUCH less frequently nowadays, ever since the FDA gave approval in the early 90's for more drug studies in children with epilepsy. Without those "new" drugs, many of which included our son David in their drug studies, David's life would be an entirely different picture. We are SO THANKFUL that the pharmaceutical companies were given opportunity to prove that there were drugs that could help children with seizure disorders. And those same drugs were first made available to the adult population - one which David has now joined.

Life with a child with an intractable(uncontrollable) seizure disorder is never boring, but of course has its ups and downs. Today was definitely not boring... yet our son made it through the overwhelming challenges yet again. He is recovering. What a trooper!

Throughout his life, our son's experiences have pointed out the ways in which the rest of us are really the disabled ones. How many of us could constantly get up and face everyday peacefully and even cheerfully if we had these seizures to deal with? How many of us (who consider ourselves normal) could remain as calm toward those who make remarks or judgment calls toward us because of our differences? How many of us... the questions go on and on endlessly in my head. Whose accomplishments are the greatest - those of a person with much physical strength and mental power... or those with very much less? Can we really view ourselves as better because we can achieve more or "bigger" things... when persons with special needs put forth so very much energy in just achieving the taking of a breath, or the whisper of a word, or the completion of another difficult task. Are any us, deemed to be "normal", proving ourselves to be anything MORE than ... lazy, irresponsible, or ... disabled ?? I think we have a LOT to learn from those we label as disabled.

So today marks another chance for a new beginning. Let's begin today as one who is responsible, as one who is not lazy, as one who makes the most of every opportunity.

"From everyone who has been given much,
much will be required."

Luke 12:48 NAS

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Sunday... Resting and Reading...

Sundays at our house are for resting. We pare down our schedules, and cut out the work load and to-do lists. Not even our son with special needs requires a reminder. It's just what we do.

Attending church, napping, reading and quiet times together... these make up our Sundays.

Even in a restful day it is important to focus on one thing at a time. And today's one important thing is God's word to us, the Bible.

"Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk. "

Psalm 119:105 (CEV)

Thankful List, on Saturday...

Life was hectic this week at our house... and I almost forgot to post my weekly Thankful List. Can't get away with that!!!!

So, in addition to the major grattitudes I've posted before... THIS WEEK, I'm so thankful for...

• doctors for David and the ability to be SEEN by them when we need to
• a husband with whom to share life's ups and downs
• sons... And wives for our sons!
• the amazing JOY in having grandchildren!
• options in life, and choices to make
• the overwhelming truth that... Jesus loved me enough to die on the cross, covering my sins with His righteousness! Truly there aren't any words to fully describe that!

"Beyond all these things put on love,
which is the perfect bond of unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in one body;
and be thankful."

Colossians 3: 14-15 NAS

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Monday Musings...

You know how sometimes you get something stuck in your mind and it keeps going round and round... like the lyrics of a song, or the tune itself, or... the last rude thing someone said to you, or vice-versa? Well, this past week I've had a thought that keeps reappearing in my mind, and have finally decided to just deal with it. Sometimes the best way to handle a nagging thought is to just deal with it.

There's a saying from some in my collection of family and friends that goes like this,
"Be where you're at".
I've also heard this thought stated another way,
"Where ever you are, be there".

This thought has been relentless, lately... popping up at various times and in various situations. I have to admit that thinking about it leads me to the desire to make everything in every moment COUNT.

To BE WITH whom I'm with... to LISTEN to the person speaking... to LOOK at who is looking at me... to ENCOURAGE the one who came to me for encouragement... to APPLAUD the one who came deserving recognition or attention... to BE INVOLVED where I am at the moment... to PARTICIPATE in my surroundings. Sounds like a given, but it can be so easy to fall into the rut of "getting things done".

I'm now inclined to reserve the actions of THINKING (as in studying), READING, RECORDING MY THOUGHTS, PLANNING, and ANALYZING things... for those times when I'm alone in the place I have designed for doing these things.

I want to invest my time in the lives of other people when the opportunities arise. Instead of being or appearing preoccupied in the presence of others, I want to BE WITH those I'm with. I want to interact with them, and to encourage them, and to invest in their lives, and to enjoy communication with them.

I want to FOCUS on making an impact, investing my time, right where I am and with whom I am... particularly, and especially, when I want to be somewhere else. Did I just admit that I don't always want to be "where I am"? I think so! And I don't think I'm alone in this either.

A friend of mine brought up the subject today in reference to the fact that, as parents of children with special needs, we have the opportunities to go places and be with people that we never would have been able to go and to be - were it not for our children and their activities relating to their special needs. She's right. We, and our children, are given the opportunities to communicate with and to relate to people whom we (or our children) would never have had the opportunity to meet, otherwise. Rather than chance meetings, interruptions, or hurdles - these opportunities are found to be "divine appointments", indications that God is able and willing to use us in the lives of others.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the reason
for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect,"

1 Peter 3:15 NIV

Anyway...I think there is a lot of good counsel in the statement that popped in and out of my thoughts for days. Though it's not exactly good grammar, it's definitely a statement worth reflection.

"BE where you're at!"

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Restfulness is not laziness...

Sometimes in today's world, we walk a fine line... or think we may. We say we know of the value of a day of rest, but we fear that we are teetering towards laziness if we take more than a few hours "off". Most parents find there is no time to spare or waste, and we as parents of children and adults with special needs find it particularly true. Our experience is that the world has been rewarding hard work and focus while penalizing laziness (or sloth) for a very long time. We may fear that our restfulness is to be treated as slothfulness, and find ourselves juggling responsible work with the need of rest.

I ran across this from Dr. James D. Hegedus, and find it helps put things into perspective...

"Sloth is not restfulness…There is a difference between laziness and restfulness. In the world in which we live restfulness or what the Bible calls “sabbath” is a very healthy necessity. Sloth is not lingering long over lunch with a friend, or strolling aimlessly through the woods with the person we love, or spending a day doing nothing because the demands of your job are about to do you in, or moving through a weekend without the fret of hurry, purpose, or chore, or spending an hour watching a sunset or listening to the sounds of nature, or spending whatever time alone in silence to quiet your spirit and get back in tune with God."

So let's try to remember...

Sloth is laziness...
restfulness is not.

My prayer today is that you find time to spend in rest and silence... to quiet your spirit and get back in tune with God.

"For he that is entered into his rest,
he also hath ceased
from his own works,
as God [did] from his."

Hbr 4:10

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