'Tis So Sweet

As I look back on everything our little family has been through, I am just blown away by the goodness and faithfulness of God. He has protected us through and from so many things. He has specifically protected R from major complications as a result of surgery. He has provided for us in so many ways, and I am (almost) speechless as I consider His care for us.

This picture was taken almost exactly three years ago at UW Hospital in Madison. I honestly thought that we might never really get to stay away from the hospital for very long because Christmas, 2006 was in the middle of a 8 month in and out of the hospital cycle. The revolving front door of the hospital seemed to turn endless for us both welcoming us (again!) and sending us back home again to worry and wait and pray. I honestly could not have made it through without knowing without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was Someone I could trust with my long-awaited, precious, and very sick little boy.

We are coming up on almost three years since R has his last surgery (well, February, 2010, will be three years), and I am reminded of the hymn I sang to him as a baby. I would sit beside his little crib and sing late at night when I knew we were moving from Tennessee to Wisconsin, but I had no idea that the move to the midwest was really the least of the "hardships" we would be going through.

It truly is so sweet to trust in Jesus.

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word.

Just to rest upon His promise; just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!

I'm so glad I learned to trust Him, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me, Will be with me to the end.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!

(And yes, for those of you who are purists, I only put vs. 1 and 4 in this note because those are the two verses I seem to know from memory and, therefore, would sing to R.)

Adorenaments

One Advent season tradition we have as a family is our Adorenament ornaments that we hang throughout the month. Every night or two, we take one out of the box, read about it, talk about it, then hang it on the tree. These simple board book style cardboard ornaments each have a picture representing a name of Jesus on the outside with a verse and short description of His name on the inside. Family Life used to produce these, but I can't seem to find them anywhere anymore. I say this because I don't want you all to think this is a plug for something I'd recommend you go buy because I could only find one new set on Amazon, retailing for over $150 dollars!!

But, I digress....

These Adorenaments are one of our favorite family traditions, and I love that each year we are reminded of the names and therefore the nature of Jesus. I love that we are reminded of who He is and why He came.

We have allowed R to pick the "ornaments" in whatever order he chose to this point. He has some that he is wanting to save to the end, for whatever reason. Anyway, the other night he picked two...The Vine and The Shepherd.

The ornaments all open up like a little board book with a description of each. So, The Vine talked about Jesus being The True Vine and we His branches (John 15:5). We talked about how branches need to stay connected to the vine to live and produce grapes. Then, we talked about Jesus as The Good Shepherd and we are His sheep (John 10:11). We talked about how Jesus cares for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep, even if one wanders away.

Then R blew me away when he stated what took over 25 years for me to learn...

Well, mom, I guess our job is just to stay close to our shepherd or our vine, Jesus. We are just supposed to stay close to Him and let Him take care of the rest, right?

Yes, right, my son. (choked up tears!)

Thank you, God, that you are already teaching R about You and what it means to depend on You.

Low Tone and Low Temperatures

Personally, I have always deep-down dreaded winter. Those who know me know that I am a moments notcie from packing up and moving south. I'm not a fan of snow, ice, or dark evenings. I am especially not a fan of cold, heavy coats, and my cold hands. Winters in Tennessee were bearable because the snow was limited and the winters were short, but winters in Wisconsin are just so long...and dark...and cold. But, who am I to complain? Just as I started feeling sorry for myself that we are beginning yet another winter in Wisconsin, my son...

As many know, R has low muscle tone (hypotonia) as a result of his hydrocephalus. I have been told that his muscles have to work twice as hard to accomplish the same things as those without low tone. Metaphorically, he constantly feels as though he is "moving through mud" as he walks and runs through life. Honestly, R never complains about this, and I am so very proud of him. Summers are especially hard on him as the heat seems exhaust him, but I forget just how hard the summers are for him until winter comes.


Winter officially came this last week, and R seemed to come alive. His energy has been through the roof since the temperature dropped. Truly, through the roof! His therapists have told me in the past that the cold gives his muscles a little extra tone and tightening, but this winter we have seen it the most. The following are simply a sampling of comments we have heard since the temperature dropped...


"Feel my muscles; I am so strong."

"I LOVE winter, mom! Why don't you love winter?"

"Let's go outside and play!" (it was 6 degrees when he said this)

"Why do you say it is too cold to play outside?"

"No, I'm not cold...I'm strong!"

"The snow is brilliant!"

"I hope it stays winter forever."


So, God obviously did have yet another reason to move us north to the bitterly cold midwest. He has shown me so many reasons that R and his health are better off in the midwest, I guess I need to just embrace the weather. In honor of this new goal for myself, I voluntarily got out in the snow with him to play and build our best snow fort yet.


Remind me of this newfound positive attitude come below zero weather in February when the daffodils are blooming in Tennessee, please. Remind me of this a little bit louder and more forcefully in March when Wisconsin still has many, many inches of snow still on the ground and many cold weeks ahead while Tennessee has dogwoods and tulips blooming. Yes, seriously, please.