Rainbows

Today was a good day. (#446) I was feeling a bit down because I wasn't strong enough to go to church and then a graduation party but then God used three separate things to encourage me.   First before Angelica arrived home from church and the celebration, ML asked me for a ride to C. (#447) It means a lot to me that ML felt the freedom to ask for my help.  I told her I couldn't drive her because I was too weak today but I would ask A when she arrived home.  Of course, Angelica said yes. (#448) Second, since Miracle is in C working as a nanny, I rode along and we had the chance to visit with her. (#449) Third, I arrived home and found an email from a new *friend* and in it she had mentioned two verses, both of which an encouragement to me. (#450)

2 Cor 4:16

Therefore, we do not give up, but even if the man we are outside is wasting away, certainly the man we are inside is being renewed from day to day.

Hebrews 6:10

"For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones."

The verse in 2 Corinthians is a needed reminder that no matter the state of my outward body, my spirit is constantly being made new by the grace of God. (#451) Hebrews reminds me that even though I am not strong enough to physically serve in the church anymore that God has not forgotten all I have done for Him these past 20 years. (#452) It also reminded me of a conversation I had with a pastor friend years ago when he said that it is always easy to replace the acts of service done by the younger crowd - tangible things like scrubbing toilets - but the loss of an older servant who no longer serves in tangible ways but instead prays without ceasing was always felt and impossible to replace - that people don't stop serving the church but rather graduate to a more important form of service. (#453)

Plus, on the way home I saw this:

(#454)

It's not the best picture I know but you can just barely make out the faintest rainbow. Rainbows of course remind me of the promise God made that He would never again flood the entire earth at one time but more than that they remind me that God keeps His promises - ALL OF THEM. (#455) So today was definitely a good day.  :)

Updates

When I hurt my hand last week, the doctor was concerned that I had fractured a bone, but they couldn't tell because of the swelling. The swelling is mostly down now and they re-evaluated it today. Thankfully, it is not broken. It still feels it. This is because I have begun to develop CRPS in my hand. The good news is that we caught it before it has fully developed and with occupational therapy, it can quite possibly be prevented. Last year, when I broke my foot, I developed it in my foot. The doctor then explained to me that often with CRPS it is "use it or lose it." So, even on the days that my foot still hurts and swells like it is broken, I do not pamper it. Instead, I go outside and kick a soccer ball with the girls. Since I know my hand is not truly hurt, even though it hurts, I will do the same. I also wear a patch on my foot that significantly reduces the symptoms. There are no other medications that treat this condition that I would be willing to take because the risks outweigh the benefits. Please pray that my hand heals with the occupational therapy.

A few days ago, Butterfly remembered things and people from late 2003. She is still not quite where she was when I began blogging back in April and no where near where she was immediately before her last re-injury. But I do not measure things that way. I only measure gains as compared to her lowest point following her latest setback. Therefore, this is a gain of about 6-9 months in her memory as well as abilities. She thinks, acts, feels, and responds like an 8 1/2 year old. Just last week, it was more like 7 years and 11 months. There is so much more there to explain, but I am so overwhelmed that I am not sure how to put it into words. Except that this is hope in a concrete form. Her brain will get better. Her brain is getting better.

FigNewTon is also doing better. I don't often mention her struggles here, mostly out of respect for her. She is and always has been a very private person. But I am so proud of her growth. Last night, she asked me to tell her what I thought of her and I compared her to a diamond. A month ago, I would have called her a diamond in the rough. She is shining a brilliant hue now.

I am not sure I could ask for a better life. God is good to me on all counts. Each of us is making progress. Any forward movement is good and proof of the goodness and mercy of God.

It's

kinda
hard
to
blog
when
it's
hard
to
type
and
it's
kinda
hard
to
type
with
this!