Thursday, December 10, 2009

Update 12/10/09 Day 32

Dear friends,

I forgot to mention this from yesterday. It was quite the sight, and just another vignette from the movie version of this wild ride. I asked Joseph if he would snow blow the driveway. He said he kind of remembered what to do, so he gave it a whirl. Well, things weren't going so well, when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Mark C., delivering a meal from the Our Savior's family, wearing his nice suit and coat and hardly dressed for snow blowing. But snow blow he did. He instructed Joseph in the finer points, but he himself did the "hard part". Thank you brother Mark! It seems God keeps sending me people at just the right time, but apparently they don't get the memo about dress code!

Stephen hopped 28 feet today. Then, I watched him do his pivot and stand and the very difficult strengthening exercises required to help him recover. As my friend Jackie would say, good gravy! I didn't realize until I witnessed it how much work this is for Steve. It's like a full time job to go through all the daily therapies. He really is beat at the end of the day, but no less determined to do it better tomorrow. I am in awe of the way God put the human body and soul together. They heal, they strengthen and they grow in endurance through exercise. You've got to work the thing, whether it's a muscle or your faith, if you want it to get strong. The raw material is a gift, but you've got to move it. How many times I haven't! That's where His grace and mercy are are like the physical therapists; encouraging, stretching, engaging us to go further. OK, enough with the analogies...

Hannah is playing the piano right now, making up her own beautiful tune. Music is so therapeutic for some people, especially creative ones like her. I could cry just listening to the longing in the melody she is playing. I can't help but believe too, that music is medicine for the brain. It certainly is for the spirit.

Tomorrow we plan to buy pizza and visit Steve in the evening, and watch a couple of Christmas specials with him. I can't wait to see Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck and the great Sydney Greenstreet. That one may have to wait since it's a little long for a hospital room viewing. We'll probably stick with The Claymation Christmas (a family favorite) and The Year Without a Santa Claus, (that's the one with Heat Miser and Cold Miser). It would be more comfy in our own living room, but we'll all be together and I can sit in the Mets chair. Hannah can bring her lap quilt made by the kind Mrs. W., and perhaps we could smuggle in Cosette for the added coziness factor...(only kidding Sunnyview friends!)

So tonight, with great joy in my heart for my living, breathing kin, and astonishment over the stunning work of God through these past 32 days, and with endless thanksgiving for each one of you, I leave you with a Christmas quote by a most important fellow:

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more..." ~Dr. Seuss

It certainly does, Mr. Grinch.

Your friend on the pilgrim road,

Loriann

7 comments:

pam letendre said...

Dear Loriann,
You have such a beautiful gift in the way you express yourself. I see a book in the making.My mom fell yesterday and has broken her hip. As we were in the emergency room with her in extreme pain, she asked how you and your family were doing. She always offers up all of her suffering for others. She had surgery today and hopefully she will recover with no complications. Do know we are all continuing our prayers each day for you and yours.
Much love and many prayers,
Pam

Steve and Hannah said...

Dear Pam,
Dearest Auntie Evie and Steve, both with pelvic fractures! Tell her it's our turn to pray for her. Love to all of you.

From the pilgrim road,
Loriann

Unknown said...

Dear Loriann
I must echo the comment of Pam. You have a great gift for writing.It is the first thing I do in the morning...click on the Smith blog to read the next chapter. It inspires me, and of course the prayers continue for all of you.
Love, Barbara

Steve and Hannah said...

Dear Barbara,

Keep those prayers coming! They are powerful as we have witnessed first hand.

Your friend on the pilgrim road,

Loriann

Terri R said...

I have been more than blessed by reading the blog every day. At some point you should put this all in a book. What an encouragement that would be for others going through traumatic experiences. You are right, as is Dr. Seuss, Christmas means so much more when we realize all the important gifts that are already ours.

We like to watch White Christmas this time of the year. Corny, but I cry every time I see it.

Anonymous said...

Loriann, Uncle Dick fowarded this site today. I will catch up on your pilgrim road progress. We have been praying for all of you and continued healing. HOpe of Christmas to you all.
The passmores

jojo said...

Loriann, after a long tiring day of caring for my 4 kids I read your blog and just sat and thanked God for all his many blessings. With a renewed sense of thanks I helped my husband put them to bed. Know that you have our continual prayers and that the impact of how you're all walking thru this trial (being real and trusting God for his strength)encourages many in more ways then one. Sarah for the Keparutises