Update 12/9/09 Day 31

Dear friends,

Proverbs 4:10 puts it this way: "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Thank you for all the friendly visits to see Stephen in the hospital. Tonite the faithful Jim kept Steve up to date on the business of the day. Mark the Lion Hearted, Brian the Thoughtful and Gary the Profound made his day as an entourage of encouragement. Brian the Thoughtful actually called the Mets corporate offices, told them of Stephen's challenge, and asked what they might be able to do for him. Well, he got a Mets hat, tee shirt, K-Rod bobble head, mini model of Citi Field, a David Wright bag, and the icing on the cake: a baseball signed by David Wright himself. I am so grateful for all of you who have shlepped up to Sunnyview in the uncharted territory of Schenectady to bring some cheer to my husband's rather restricted life. Your name may not be on this list, but you know who you are, and so does the Great One. You have been those Proverbs friends who have helped their friend get up. And there's more getting up to do. Literally.

Today the man hopped with his contraption for 10 feet. Then he hopped another 13! Let's hear it for the boy! In OT, the therapist littered the floor with laundry, and made Steve wheel himself with his 1 good arm and steer with his left leg to pick up all the clothes. He did it. It was exhausting, but it got done. When he comes home I'll be glad to give him all the laundry therapy he wants....

Hannah is lined up to see the neuro psychologist tomorrow at Sunnyview. They will continue to evaluate her progress as we travel through time. It's so hard on her not being in school. She is very frustrated and understandably impatient. The doctors are all looking to protect her, but it's hard to see that when you're 14. Some things I simply can't share here, but I ask for lots of prayer for Hannah right now. And me. And our relationship.

Meanwhile, Cosette, the world's best cat, has gone mad. She was so attention starved while we were in the hospital that I think she flipped her feline lid. She is all over us all the time. I try to type at the computer, she's practically laying on the keyboard. I sit at the table, she's up on it (a new and unacceptable habit). And while I'm sleeping on the couch (so the bedroom can be prepared for the darling husband) she's taking up half my space. I love my lap cat, but this is a bit ridiculous! Hannah wants to get a kitten. I think now is not the time...NOT the time. I'll try to post a photo of the great Cosette, as soon as I can get someone to show me how. I guess Cozy got a little traumatized too during this whole thing. Still, to be a cat and sleep most of the day....

I put the manger scene up today. It's so peaceful, with the white lights around it. But think about it, was it really all that peaceful in real life? Unmarried pregnant girl (a punishable offense in those days), young man trying to explain the unexplainable, exhausted from travelling, getting a place to stay by the skin of their teeth, in a crowded, backwoods town, giving birth in a place fit for animals, no earthly help, no running water, no hospital. Sounds like stress to me. Jesus came to a world that was a mess. He came to forgive the sins of broken fallen people like me. I am so incredibly grateful He wasn't looking for good people, but for lost people. "The people living in darkness have seen a great light..." He entered into my mess these past 31 days, and has been faithful through it all.

Time to restore the brain cells with one of Pastor Greg's favorite pastimes: SLEEP! I'm jonesin' for 8 hours. If I get 6 I'll be ok. One of these days I'm going for a whole afternoon of nothing but slumber. Thank you all for everything. I know you love me, and I hope you feel it coming right back at you.

Your friend on the pilgrim road,

Loriann