It's Been A Long Journey...

But I have been blessed!

We love that song and sing it with our pastor's family often.  Walking with Jesus, I have no regrets.  The only regrets I have are when He calls me to follow and I question or dig in my heels, which happens more often than I would like to admit (take blogging for instance... I haven't done it in awhile...).

Currently in Sunday School, we are working through Created to be God's Friend-Lessons from the Life of Abraham (How God Shapes Those He Loves) by Henry Blackaby & Kerry L. Skinner.  The statement that resonated with me was this one: What a person does when encountered by God reveals what he believes about God. Oy!

I believe God put my children in my life to be a witness and testimony to Him.  So, I have obediently taken the steps God has asked me to take with their health, their lives, their therapy etc.  And he has been so faithful and blessed us so abundantly!

We've all been called to a higher calling and purpose, once saved.  The question is, are we up to the challenge He sets before us?  Are we stepping out on faith?  Are we truly trusting and obeying (for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, right?)?  I have to say there are really times in my life when I (by my actions) tell the Lord that I know better, and I can do it on my own.  I forget that I am supposed to lean on Him, and so He is so faithful to rebuke me and put me back in my place!  I am so thankful for that.  I trust that God has an amazing plan in place for our family, and an eventual place in the ministry.  Until then... I trust and obey...

On another note... Dylan is doing great.  He has truly been a sport in all of this.  I don't know how in the world he has managed to be (dare I say it?) joyful in his circumstances.  I am so grateful that he shows me that you really can be happy in times of trial.  I can only imagine how cumbersome he must feel in that horrid cast, but when I talk to him, do his care, etc, he smiles that sweet boy smile of his, and I know if HE can be okay, so can I.  I know whom I have believed... and am persuaded that He is able...

One day (in the near future, I promise!) I will share the wonders of the surgery itself... but I hear laundry and dinner (and a walk if  I am lucky!) calling my name....

Until then sweet friends!
Amanda    

April Prayer Journal Page!

Sorry I am late!  April's prayer journal page is available for download now!

Dylan's surgery went amazing... and he is healthy (small bout of pneumonia) and will only be in a cast for four weeks according to his surgeon.

I will do a more in depth update for tomorrow to share.  I just wanted to get the prayer journal page out!

One Word-March

Ahh... focus.  How you elude me.  Not really.  We are on the end of the first leg of a destination, so to speak.  Picture a clock.  We have our minute hand at about the 28 minute mark.  

At the 30 minute mark, Dylan's surgery starts, and then we start the slow journey back up to the 60 minute mark. Clear as mud, right?

Cold and flu season has been alot of work.  We had to keep Dylan healthy enough to be viable for hip/leg surgery.  We did it! YAY!  

But, that is only half the journey, you see.  Once we get him to the surgery, we've only fought half the battle.  The eight weeks after that will mean body casts, and all that goes with it.  My peace is in the fact that we know this is what is best for Dylan.  He is in so much pain when we try to stand him up in his standing frame. He has one dislocated hip, and another trying to get that way.  They have to reconstruct part of the dislocated hip.  And they have to go in and clip tendons, muscles, and aductors.  But it will be worth it. 

I know hard times will come.  I know my house will look horrible most likely.  I know I won't get much homeschool paperwork done (and the joy of it is, I don't have to until I have time to because we don't report to anyone), but I am so grateful they can watch their lessons and do their work anyway, and if they need me, I am here.  We are facing it together.  

And then there is rehab... but I am so spun I can't think about that right now! 

So for now... I will focus on the tasks in front of me.  And pray for what is coming in the next few weeks, and feel peace knowing it is all in God's hands.  

T-Minus 14 Days... And Counting..

Fourteen Days.

Time has gone by so quickly, I find myself having minor chest pains when I think about how unprepared *I THINK* I am.

Deep Breath.

Then I remember that I claimed peace long ago. Ahhh... there it is... relief.

Don't get me wrong.  I have some anxiety.  I mean, when the doctors tell you they are going to do a complete lower limb over haul on your little boy, and then send him home 2-3 days later, that can cause some fear to creep in.  But I know it could be, and has been, so much worse.

The doctor we are using is the *rock star* of pediatric orthopedic surgery in Oklahoma. Hands down.  It is good to remind yourself of these things when you think about someone re-arranging your child's legs.  And hips.

We will get to pray with his team before surgery in the holding area.  Big relief.  Not that I will be able to utter much of anything, but my husband (God bless his sweet, strong soul) will be there with me.  He will be praying.  I will be the one bawling my eyes out.

The Lord's timing is so good, and perfect.  I love that he preached on distracted disciples out of John Chapter 6.  The miracles are great there, but the disciples and people who had followed Jesus (the 5,000 He fed with the "biscuits and pickled sardines" as our pastor put it.. haha) got distracted by the circumstances of the situation instead of taking heed to what God was going to do, and the miracles Jesus was going to work there.  I can't get distracted in the details.  I have to stay focused on being the best testimony of one of His children, and I have to keep myself assured in the fact that He is going to use this for our good, and for His glory.

We are so blessed.  I see the blessings every day when I go to church, and when I look around my home and see my children "set apart" from this world so that they can be better prepared down the road.  I see it in God's timing, and in his love and infinite mercy.  I see it in missionaries who accept God's call, and reap the reward of being obedient to God.  I see it in all the families that I know that serve God every day.  I see it with every breath we breath, and every beat of our hearts.

So... back to 14 days. :)

Please pray for my little boy, and for the team of doctors that will be repairing his little body, and for our family (including our church family) as we prepare to embark on this journey with Dylan.  To God, Be The Glory, Great things HE HATH DONE!

Until Next Time,
Amanda

March Prayer Journal Page

It's that time!  I can't believe it's almost March!

Here is March's prayer journal page, and I hope you are finding them helping your prayer life.

March will be filled with warmer weather, outside fun time, and working on our Garden! I can't wait to share it with all of you!