Update 12/28/09 Day 50

Dear friends,

Today's short hop to Walmart was much less eventful than the infamous "Drano" nightmare. It was afternoon, first of all, and there were plenty of cashiers and no crying babies on board. I had to pick up a microwaveable heating pad for Stephen's occupational therapy. He needs to heat up his elbow/hinge prior to stretching it out. The home therapist really helped him reduce the angle on that arm with some stretching exercises involving jump ropes and pulleys over doors. Don't ask. If you visit my house plan to trip over wheelchair legs, slide boards, shower chairs and lots and lots of pillows. The left side of my bathroom closet is entirely devoted to wound cleanser, gauze pads, bandages, xeroform (cool stuff!) and ace bandages. I will be swimming in room once the man is completely healed. How great is it that we live in a time when all this stuff is available as a help to us? I think of those poor men at Gettysburg, lying on the ground without any pain killer or antiseptic or bandages. Those of you who long for the "Little House on the Prairie" days, think again.

Tomorrow Hannah goes for her 3 hour neuro psychology exam at Sunnyview. Dr. Hess will look at where she is compared to where she was 4 weeks ago. He will then create a report to send to Columbia High, recommending accommodations she might need. She really has rocketed through the stages of recovery from brain injury! There are definitely things not completely fixed, but praise God she is only 7 weeks out on a 12-18 month road to full recovery. I'm still asking the Great One for "double for her trouble". She can hardly wait to get back to school. She won't be taking gym for a little while (her left side was somewhat impacted by the bleed), but she can use that period to continue the catch up process from her absence. She'll need prayers for the transition back. There is a lot going on in a big public high school, and sometimes TBI patients underestimate the effect of all that stimulation. We'll just continue to take it one day at a time, with her and with everything else.

There was another beauty of a sunset today. The sky had the color of light caramel, and then there was a hole in the center of a cloud with a blazing yellow border around it, as if God got out his best crayon and pressed down hard. It was cold outside, but I couldn't tear myself away for quite a while. I remembered the last time I commented on a sunset on this blog. I was driving to Sunnyview and could only take a brief look at the wonder. Today I lingered. Today I absorbed it. Not even Renoir can come close to imitating those colors!

I chased hard after my alone time today, and got it. After supper I shut the bedroom door and sat on my Mary Beth cushions, in my Cathy Rose corner, and listened as best as I could to what the Dearest and Best had to say to me today. Listen to this verse from "The Message"version of the Bible: "Trust God from the bottom of your heart. Don't try to figure everything out on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go..." Proverbs 3:5-6. That simple message is the key for me in navigating the cliffs of change. I usually prefer the NIV translation, but the proletarian paraphrase of The Message so fits the every-dayness of my climb on the travellers road. I'm thinking a few of you reading this post are feeling the same way. I'm so glad we were put together at the same time in history to trek alongside of one another. Let's hold up the ones who are staggering, pick up the ones who are fallen, and encourage the ones who are trucking up that hill. In the words of Tiny Tim, God Bless Us, Every One.

A ride back to Sunnyview tomorrow, and a script in hand for Stephen to begin outpatient therapy around the second week of January. Before we know it the daffodils will be rising. Before we know it, Troy's Garden Center will be busting at the seems. Grass will be growing. And the Miracle Man will walk. It's cold outside, and I don't want to miss the beauty of winter in the pursuit of spring. All great things take time. The journey itself is part of the joy.

Don't forget to check out those early sunsets. And don't forget to send me your favorite book titles. Thank you for continuing to send the love. You've been faithful friends.

Your friend on the pilgrim road,

Loriann