1. Bill--he seems to know just the right time to say, "You're due for a break. I'll watch Annie and you go out and do something fun."
2. Annie's nurse at school. A perfect combination of nanny-nurse-therapist-advocate-teacher-mom. What a gift she is to me & to Annie.
3. My kids--each one unique; each one a blessing to me.
4. Sleep
5. Coffee
6. The turkey thawing in the fridge.
7. The roof over our heads...(and gasoline for less than $2.00 a gallon!)
8. People who pray for Annie.
9. Christmas music in November.
10.My friend Jesus--I don't know what I would do if I didn't know Him, the comfort He gives me every day, the freedom from guilt, the hope that this life isn't all there is...I am so thankful for the meaning and purpose He brings to every circumstance. He's cool.
Jean
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Once upon a time...
There was a little girl who loved to read books. Then she had a brain injury and didn't like books so much anymore. Her mind couldn't settle down enough to look at the pictures on the pages. Her body was too fidgity to sit still on her mother's lap. This made her mother very sad.
After many months, her mother tried to read to her little girl again. She opened a book about farm animals that made noises. This caught the little girl's attention. She looked at the pictures, and heard the noises and laughed. Books suddenly seemed more interesting to the little girl.
Then one day, the mother read the girl a book that didn't make noise. The little girl looked at the pictures and followed along with the story, and laughed at the story, even though the book didn't make any noise. Then the mother read a few more of the books that the little girl used to like to read before her brain injury. The little girl loved every story, and looked at all the pictures and laughed at all the funny parts. This made the mother very happy.
That night, when the mother tucked the little girl into bed, she thanked the Lord for healing the little girl's brain just a little bit more.
The End.
After many months, her mother tried to read to her little girl again. She opened a book about farm animals that made noises. This caught the little girl's attention. She looked at the pictures, and heard the noises and laughed. Books suddenly seemed more interesting to the little girl.
Then one day, the mother read the girl a book that didn't make noise. The little girl looked at the pictures and followed along with the story, and laughed at the story, even though the book didn't make any noise. Then the mother read a few more of the books that the little girl used to like to read before her brain injury. The little girl loved every story, and looked at all the pictures and laughed at all the funny parts. This made the mother very happy.
That night, when the mother tucked the little girl into bed, she thanked the Lord for healing the little girl's brain just a little bit more.
The End.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
It's Here!
After a wait of only about 5 weeks, we've finally put the new video up--click on the link "Annie's new video" and check it out.
So this evening while Bill was nursing his cold and putting the video up on YouTube, I took the opportunity of the break in the torrential downpours of the last few days to rake leaves out in the front yard. This was after Gretchen, her son, David, & I filled my green waste bin on Thursday. And here two days later, we had another foot and a half of yellow maple leaves in the front yard. But after seven years of this annual leaf-raking marathon--that my children detest--I revel in the opportunity to be out in the crisp fall air. My kids probably think my brain is under a pile of leaves. But I know that some autumn day when they're old, they'll pick up their rakes and head outside.
Jean
Why is it that so many of us persist in thinking that autumn is a sad season? Nature has merely fallen asleep, and her dreams must be beautiful if we are to judge by her countenance. (Samuel Taylor Coleridge)
So this evening while Bill was nursing his cold and putting the video up on YouTube, I took the opportunity of the break in the torrential downpours of the last few days to rake leaves out in the front yard. This was after Gretchen, her son, David, & I filled my green waste bin on Thursday. And here two days later, we had another foot and a half of yellow maple leaves in the front yard. But after seven years of this annual leaf-raking marathon--that my children detest--I revel in the opportunity to be out in the crisp fall air. My kids probably think my brain is under a pile of leaves. But I know that some autumn day when they're old, they'll pick up their rakes and head outside.
Jean
Why is it that so many of us persist in thinking that autumn is a sad season? Nature has merely fallen asleep, and her dreams must be beautiful if we are to judge by her countenance. (Samuel Taylor Coleridge)
Prayer for Presidents
Prayer is a common theme in this blog--usually I'm hogging all the prayers I can get for Annie. But the recent presidential election is a reminder to pray for "all who are in authority" in our country--especially now for President-elect Obama, as he has inherited a truckload of domestic and global problems. It is beyond the capacity of any human being to figure this all out. We have a responsibility to appeal to the wisdom of God on behalf of our country, and our new leader.
I'll return to the Annie Chronicles later this week. But until then, the Reader's Digest version is: cold is still hanging on, seizures are down to (almost) nil.
Jean
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:1-6
I'll return to the Annie Chronicles later this week. But until then, the Reader's Digest version is: cold is still hanging on, seizures are down to (almost) nil.
Jean
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:1-6
Monday, November 3, 2008
Election Eve
I have one comment about the election tomorrow: I'd like Tina Fey to have steady work for the next four years.
But enough politics. Check out the new pictures of Annie that I took on Halloween. She was a princess, and she dressed up like one too. She didn't get any candy that night--Bill and I pretty much ate whatever the neighbor kids didn't take--but she did catch the cold that is going around our house. This morning I thought she sounded like she was talking through her nose, and when she sneezed I had a visual confirmation of the sinus blockage. Now we're back on stress doses of hydrocortisone.
She's also been having a few little seizures that I wasn't going to say anything about, because if I don't talk about them, then they really didn't happen you know. But they've been brewing for a couple of weeks, and Annie's doc recommended going up on a couple of her seizure meds, so they're back undercover for now. That's the nature of seizures I guess--always right under the surface. Stealth seizures.
Anyway, go vote if you haven't already. And may God continue to bless America through leadership that honors Him.
Jean
The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. Daniel 4:32b
But enough politics. Check out the new pictures of Annie that I took on Halloween. She was a princess, and she dressed up like one too. She didn't get any candy that night--Bill and I pretty much ate whatever the neighbor kids didn't take--but she did catch the cold that is going around our house. This morning I thought she sounded like she was talking through her nose, and when she sneezed I had a visual confirmation of the sinus blockage. Now we're back on stress doses of hydrocortisone.
She's also been having a few little seizures that I wasn't going to say anything about, because if I don't talk about them, then they really didn't happen you know. But they've been brewing for a couple of weeks, and Annie's doc recommended going up on a couple of her seizure meds, so they're back undercover for now. That's the nature of seizures I guess--always right under the surface. Stealth seizures.
Anyway, go vote if you haven't already. And may God continue to bless America through leadership that honors Him.
Jean
The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. Daniel 4:32b
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)