Swimming

The swimming adventure went well. A bit sobering for Mike. He was so sure he would be able to just swim like he always has in the past.  He started out on his back and looked like he was struggling a little to keep his head above the water. Hugh and I stayed beside him to about the 5 ft. deep area and then we asked him to turn around. He did and tried to swim on his stomach and his body just wouldn't cooperate with what his mind knew he could do. He drank a little pool water and looked wide-eyed, but didn't say anything or panic. Thankfully they had swim noodles there, so I asked if he wanted one. He did and the rest of the time there, he swam with a noodle under his arms or head and did well. I encouraged him that he would get better as we continue to work out at Johnny's and get his shoulders and ankles loosened and flexible again. He said it also didn't help to have "sinking legs". I wonder how much the rods and plate weigh and what effect they do have on his legs. Anyway, he enjoyed the outing and I guess we would be OK there by ourselves, but I think I would still prefer to have someone else with us for a few more times.

Today is our 30th anniversary. We had planned to go out, but it has been sleeting and snowing, so we'll postpone the outing. We're just hanging out together at home. He's been repeating more yesterday and today, maybe it's the weather. We walked with a Leslie Sansone DVD this morning and then did some exercises and stretches on our mats. As we were laying out the mats, I wasn't watching Mike and evidently he tried to get down on the mat bottom first, every time he tries to get down this way, he just sort of crash lands. Johnny and I keep telling him to get down on his hands and knees, because he can go down more gently that way. Anyway, I heard a loud !SMACK! and flipped around to see him on the floor and sitting up from hitting his head on the chest of drawers. OUCH!  He turned around on the mat, rested a few minutes, and then started doing his sit-ups. He has a bump on the back of his head, but seems fine otherwise. He read and I made donut dough, we ate lunch and now he is resting. 

James 1:2-4
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

I read the above verses one day last week and find it a challenge to "consider it pure joy" when faced with these trials of living with brain injury. I have definitely lost my focus several times in the past few weeks when days were rough; however, this lack of focus only intensifies the rough days. I am working on daily, moment by moment, keeping my focus on Jesus and the joy that He gives even in the midst of difficulties and trials. When I focus on the perseverating, or wild behavior, I become anxious and immature and definitely lacking in self-control. I don't want to be that way and don't like myself when I am that way, plus it causes more anxiety in Mike. Obviously, perseverance has not finished it's work in me yet. I am still striving to be "mature and complete, not lacking anything" plus being joyful always.