We so appreciate those who continue to pray for and ask about Andrew. He is still slated to go to Duke July 10. He has one more appointment scheduled with the neurologist there in June, so we hope to get more information just before we go. His medication has increased and seems to really affect him. He is not himself when he takes the newest medication at night, so he takes it right before bed. The increase in one of the other medications has been getting to him some days. He is just not himself. One day I told him that we just had to pray our way to July. I know he is tired of all of this. He does not usually get down, so it's hard to see some tough days. But on other days, he just plows through as usual. He is set to graduate in May.
We will miss The Bear, since we will all be at Duke that week. And Andrew and I will miss helping with the Grandfather Mountain Marathon. That is one of our favorite volunteer times, but we hope to pick it up again next year. I need to remember to tell Coach!
Once again, God has been providing; and we just need to look around when we feel overwhelmed. Laura has offered to help with Sam during the time we are at Duke, and that is huge. She is the only one I really feel comfortable with taking care of him at night. The other boys can do it during the day, but the nights are always scariest for me. Peter took a job near Charlotte, and Will is always working. I hope Will will be the one to take care of the house and dogs! So Laura's offer really helps more than she knows. I hope a couple of people will be brave enough to help us with Andrew in his room, in case Pete needs to come home for a day or so. I am thankful for those who have mentioned it, and I know Andrew feels comfortable having them see him in such a state.
I have a new friend at work who has been through all of this with her husband. Her husband is doing well now. She is going to go over some things with me too. And I have another contact I need to make. I am working my way down my long list. July seemed far away, but now it's coming faster!
As I think about what this year still holds, I think about what has already happened. And what is happening right now. I see some of my precious friends who are sick. I see some who are hurting and heartbroken. I see people struggling. And I am trying to let the things that don't matter fall away and not take up time or energy. And I pray. I pray a lot.
One of my most precious friends was having a hard time walking on Easter. She came to lunch at Boulder Look. As I pushed the office chair over to the door to get her, another friend picked her up and carried her the last steps and up the steps. She was grateful and was talking about the friends who let their paralyzed friend down through the roof to get to Jesus. She was comparing us to those friends! She could have been crying and feeling sorry for herself (like I probably would have), but she chose to be thankful and see God's provision. It was clear as day to her. And I will remember that.
I turned 50 in March. That was a tough time for our family still, and my family gave me a low key "surprise" party, as we had Pete's mom with us (and they were being sensitive to her). We had steak and potatoes and salad and my favorite birthday cake. I have not opened gifts in front of people in years! We celebrated Pete too - and Sarah, whose birthday was in in February on the day of Pop's funeral. I got to see friends and family at that time and Easter that I knew God was letting me see and spend time with in anticipation of this summer. I have not dreaded summer like this ever!
My friend Susan send me an audible book by Laura Story - When God Doesn't Fix It. There is a Bible study that goes with it. She wrote the song Blessings. I knew a little of her story, but I had no idea of the twists and turns and ongoing struggles her family has had. The book was such a blessing, because it doesn't end the way a lot of books end. It is all in how Laura Story sees her circumstances. She has given her life and family over to God and trusts Him to work everything out. And that is what I want to do. Then my sister-in-law Cindy (Susan's sister) called me weeks later to tell me I had to read that book! She was so happy I already was! And a friend was doing the Bible study and had told me about it even before! So it's a book worth sharing! I had to buy the paper copy!
Sam has a new endocrinologist as his retired. It went better than I thought it would. And his a1c was down .6! That's huge! And he is taking over more and more. Because of his learning issues, he cannot do everything, but he is coming along. We still go to reading at ASU.
Our new church is a blessing. And people there treat us like they have known and loved us forever. We still see some people from our other churches, and we could not be more thankful for all of those God has brought into our lives.
We are so thankful for God's provision. As we work towards July, we have lots of things to get done and get done well. We appreciate prayers. We want to show others what God does. I would never want anyone to think things will go well, because I was organized or prepared or on top of things. If any of that happens, it will only be because God worked it out. I am trying to get ready the best I can, but I know it's going to be a battle and am trying to get to the point where I am anxious in a good way to see how God works.
Thanks again for praying!
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Isaiah 43:2
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