This past weekend Bill & the kids treated me to a mini-vacation with 5 of my BFF's at Miss Pam's Ocean Shores retreat. Two days of R&R was just what the doctor ordered, and I do feel refreshed. Bill is the ultimate bomb of a husband as far as I am concerned, and I want to hear a round of applause for him taking good care of little Miss Barf-a-lot while I was gone. She doesn't seem any the less for wear, but I know Bill is happy to be back at the office this morning--
So, I had to multi-task rest with productivity, and thought it might be a good weekend to make a rag quilt for Annie. I've wanted to make one for a few years, ever since the one my neice, Lorraine, made for her when Annie was a baby got a little threadbare--but never had the gumption to start the thing. So I went to the fabric store last week, bought too much flannel, lugged it down to Ocean Shores, and--after a couple of stops at some cool nurseries with Andrea--dumped the bundle out in front of my quilter friends. Pam set up a production line of cutting out squares of fabric, then we all gathered around to arrange and rearrange the blocks til we came up with a pretty pattern. After I got the thing sewed up, Nancy & Margo cut the fringe and Pam sewed the top binding, while I took lots of breaks to watch Cindy quilt on her project. Many hands do make light work, and the results of our team effort are now snuggled around Annalee this morning, who is stirring in her bed. Gotta go.
I'll post a picture soon.
Jean
A good friend is like a warm quilt wrapped around the heart.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
It's Finally Spring!
Has this been the longest winter ever or what? And today, the 2nd official day of spring, it's a balmy 34 degrees outside--with a nice layer of ice on my van windshield.
And speaking of vans, I have a couple of prayer requests. We need some clear direction as to when and whether to buy a wheelchair van for Annie. She's about 47 lbs. now, and lifting her in and out of the van isn't impossible...AND, if she continues to progress to walking and being able to stand and help get in and out of car, it's possible we'd never need a wheelchair van. Wouldn't that be cool? But for now, she is big, and my back is old. So should we get a wheelchair van or ??
We also need some direction regarding our house--we live in a split-level...should we move to a house with all the living space on one level, and Annie's bedroom on the first floor? These are practical issues of everyday life that we are trying to make decisions about. And in our new economy, these decisions are even more challenging. Anyway--you were looking for new things to pray about, so let me help you out. ;)
Meanwhile, if it's warm in your neighborhood today, go out and enjoy the spring flowers!
Jean
The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke
And speaking of vans, I have a couple of prayer requests. We need some clear direction as to when and whether to buy a wheelchair van for Annie. She's about 47 lbs. now, and lifting her in and out of the van isn't impossible...AND, if she continues to progress to walking and being able to stand and help get in and out of car, it's possible we'd never need a wheelchair van. Wouldn't that be cool? But for now, she is big, and my back is old. So should we get a wheelchair van or ??
We also need some direction regarding our house--we live in a split-level...should we move to a house with all the living space on one level, and Annie's bedroom on the first floor? These are practical issues of everyday life that we are trying to make decisions about. And in our new economy, these decisions are even more challenging. Anyway--you were looking for new things to pray about, so let me help you out. ;)
Meanwhile, if it's warm in your neighborhood today, go out and enjoy the spring flowers!
Jean
The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Dreams--2nd edition
Often in the morning, before Annie wakes up to get ready for school, I sit down and check out the news on the internet. So a few days ago, I was reading about the paraplegic guy who had been bitten by a spider, and subsequently (I forget why) is now able to walk, using a walker. Did you guys see that? I thought it was pretty amazing. He hadn't walked in 21 years, I think, after he had lost the use of his legs in a motorcycle accident. Now he walks with a walker. So after I watched that, I thought, "Hmm, I guess Annie walking again isn't that great of a stretch after all."
Later that morning, I picked up Annie after school and while I was lifting her into the van, her nurse mentioned to me that one of the OT's had a dream about Annie. In her dream, Annie was walking with a walker.
Jean
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Isaiah 40:29
Later that morning, I picked up Annie after school and while I was lifting her into the van, her nurse mentioned to me that one of the OT's had a dream about Annie. In her dream, Annie was walking with a walker.
Jean
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Isaiah 40:29
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Dreams
How do you know when a dream is a message from God, or just bad pizza? If you survey the Bible, people had dreams all the time about important stuff in their lives. Joseph had prophetic dreams when he was a young guy, King Nebuchadnezzar had weird dreams about the future of his kingdom, and Daniel had dreams about the end of the world. Joseph, Jesus' earthly father, had dreams just about every night it seems. The first one was to tell him it was okay to marry his (miraculously) pregnant fiancee, the next one was to tell him to get out of town before King Herod killed baby Jesus, and then he had another one after that to let him know that it was okay to go back home. Then there were the wise men, and all their dreams. Lots of dreams.
I don't dream much myself. And I've been debating over the last few weeks about even bringing this subject up, because it's a loaded one. But this morning, when someone told me about a dream that another person had about Annie, I thought, okay, I'll run this up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes.
So, if you ever have a dream about Annie that you think is appropriate to share, please do--and we'll try to discern together if it is a message from God to encourage and build our faith, or just...bad pizza. And in the meantime, I'll ask the person who dreamed about Annie if I can share it with you.
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17
I don't dream much myself. And I've been debating over the last few weeks about even bringing this subject up, because it's a loaded one. But this morning, when someone told me about a dream that another person had about Annie, I thought, okay, I'll run this up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes.
So, if you ever have a dream about Annie that you think is appropriate to share, please do--and we'll try to discern together if it is a message from God to encourage and build our faith, or just...bad pizza. And in the meantime, I'll ask the person who dreamed about Annie if I can share it with you.
Jean
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Acknowledgement
ac·knowl·edg·ment or ac·knowl·edge·ment (āk-nŏl'ĭj-mənt) n. An expression of thanks or a token of appreciation.
Today let's talk about YOU, and allow me to thank you for keeping up with this blog, and for praying for Annie. I can't say too often how much I appreciate your interest, your love, and your prayers for us, and in particular, Annalee. We are humbled by your faithfulness in praying for her, because really, it's hard work. And you don't see the day-to-day answers to your prayers. But let me say emphatically that she would not be where she is today without God's specific answers to your prayers, and I will continue to try to describe those answers so you know God hears you and He acts!
So, thank you Gretchen, Sue, Tanya, Terri, Teena, Rebecca, Jeff, Pam, Dan, Jacque, Debbie C., Lisa C., Vern & Audrey, Kathy C., Janice O., Janice M., Judi, Cindy, Paulette, Kim, Vickie, Kathy D., Susan & Van M., Grandmommie, Susie, Janet, Sharon, Suzy, Kendra, Barbara, Marilyn, Jennifer M., Mary B., Andrea, Maurita, Linda, Callie, Taylor, Patti, Peter, Andy, Beth H., Kathy OT, Rebecca G., Lynn and all Annie's other friends who check in here regularly to see how little Miss Muffet is doing. You are official members of Team Annie, and deserve a big hug today for your part in her recovery. And if I missed your name, post a comment and let me know you're here!
Jean
Today let's talk about YOU, and allow me to thank you for keeping up with this blog, and for praying for Annie. I can't say too often how much I appreciate your interest, your love, and your prayers for us, and in particular, Annalee. We are humbled by your faithfulness in praying for her, because really, it's hard work. And you don't see the day-to-day answers to your prayers. But let me say emphatically that she would not be where she is today without God's specific answers to your prayers, and I will continue to try to describe those answers so you know God hears you and He acts!
So, thank you Gretchen, Sue, Tanya, Terri, Teena, Rebecca, Jeff, Pam, Dan, Jacque, Debbie C., Lisa C., Vern & Audrey, Kathy C., Janice O., Janice M., Judi, Cindy, Paulette, Kim, Vickie, Kathy D., Susan & Van M., Grandmommie, Susie, Janet, Sharon, Suzy, Kendra, Barbara, Marilyn, Jennifer M., Mary B., Andrea, Maurita, Linda, Callie, Taylor, Patti, Peter, Andy, Beth H., Kathy OT, Rebecca G., Lynn and all Annie's other friends who check in here regularly to see how little Miss Muffet is doing. You are official members of Team Annie, and deserve a big hug today for your part in her recovery. And if I missed your name, post a comment and let me know you're here!
Jean
He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:10-11
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Annie Taking a Stroll!
We're trying something new here. Click on the video above to see Annie taking a walk at school in her Gait Trainer. Step by step, she's making a little progress every day.
- Bill.
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