Seven

Seven.  I've always liked the number 7.  What's not to like?  You have...Seven Wonders of the World, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Seventh Day of Creation, Seven Jeans, Seven Layer Dip, and my birthday's on the 7th.  Seven was the magic number. (I guess there are the 7 deadly sins but that's another post.)

I've always had in my mind that seven would be THE age.  During her seventh year Grace would walk.  Oh I wasn't expecting full-on wind sprints, but I was convinced she would be able to walk only with a little help from her canes.  We had done everything right.  Therapies, conductive education, surgeries, botox, e-stim, gyrostim and more therapies (we even did craniosacral...not a fan) and I can probably tell you about every neuro-specialist in the DFW area.   You name it, we have done it or at least researched it extensively.  We didn't have anything in writing from "an expert", but it had been hinted that seven might be the time and I took that suggestion and held on tightly.

Well Grace is seven, actually almost seven 3/4.  She will be eight in August.  Seven has been good in so many ways...a great year a school, new friends, song leader at church, and much more.  But I have to admit I've had a bit of wind taken out of my sail and I've had to be more realistic about things.  I've had to come to terms that there was never really a magic number and that walking may never really happen.  However, I will never stop hoping... and praying...maybe the number is 8.

Be strong and take heart, all you who Hope in the Lord.  Psalm 31:24

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  Romans 5:5 

Remember to Be Thankful

I have had a very strong desire to try to start blogging again.  My apprehension was lying in the part of me that just wanted to complain, vent, lament.  I don't want my blog to be just about that...although at times it is quite cathartic.

I have had several email messages lately from people who have found my blog and my old (very old) entries regarding PERCS, SDR, therapies, and just lamenting.  Some want specifics on procedures and outcomes, and others just have had a CP diagnosis for their child and just need to reach out to someone that understands.  Because you see, while there are so many that don't understand, there are some of us that do.  Sometimes it just takes a little vulnerability and nothing has made me more vulnerable than the past 7 years.

So, as I attempt to come back to blogging, I want to focus on gratitude.  My focus this morning was changed from lamentations to thankfulness.  Thank you God for putting the sermon Ross spoke out before me when I really needed it..."a focus on thanksgiving pushes out complaining...brings us a steadfastness of hope...a perseverance no matter what".  My perseverance was faltering at best.  I had lost hope and focus and needed a re-start.

So today I am thankful, and I have so much to be thankful for.

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, And His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100