Sweet friends and family,
I feel as if I can now breathe again, as it feels like we have left the absolutely critical stage of keeping Steve alive and can now look more to his rehabilitation! Praise God that my man is determined and ready to have a goal and beat it! He told his brother yesterday that this was his path and God was going to use it for his glory. I cannot tell you how I admire his courage, even as he is still in intensive care, hooked up to multiple tubes and with a fresh surgery wound in the back of his neck! My next prayer for Steve is that he is able to move out of the ICU and into a normal room in the hospital. There we can freely come and go, and I am hoping to find a small cot or mattress and spend the night!
I have not mentioned the children often. That is because God has taken such supernaturally good care of them. When I talk to them on the phone they are full of stories of beach life – jumping waves, finding crabs and playing video games with friends and cousins. While I have not spoken to Zephyr, I have heard his voice in the background, chattering away cheerfully. As I had predicted, he has picked one person to bond with in particular, in this case his Uncle Mark who shares his sense of humor (yes, Zephyr already has one!) and is wonderful with children. I am delighting in the knowledge that they are having a wonderful time surrounded by loved ones and with little sense of the severity of what has happened to their papa. On Saturday they will be passing through town and spending the night. This will be my precious time with them and I will begin to explain in the simplest of terms what is happening with Steve. I plan to engage them in his care in fun ways – wheelchair rides, massaging papa’s feet and trying to see how strong they are by lifting his legs, etc! Please pray for their little spirits. God has been taking such good care of them thus far and I pray that it merely continues.
We continue with plans for Seattle. Please pray that God will be in the details, from transfer to insurance coverage. Not all of the pieces are in place, but we are getting confirmation with each step. Much still needs to be arranged, however, and we covet your prayers, especially on the financial side.
I wish you could see Steve when he is relatively lucid and with us. He is cracking jokes about how he will make platinum look good (that is apparently what his hardware is made of!), and taking care of us even through the excruciating pain. I have not seen him yet this morning, but I am hoping to report answered prayers as far as his sleep and his new pain medication.
God keeps giving me such beautiful verses. My verse for this morning comes from psalm 30:1-5: “I will extol you oh Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. Oh Lord my God, I cried to you for help and you have healed me. Oh Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheoul; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the Lord, oh you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Love to you all,
Michelle