The Christmas Card

This week I received a very nondescript envelope and assumed it was some generic Christmas card from a business or insurance company. However, when I opened it, this is what I saw - a beautiful wintry, country scene with a female Cardinal and a red bow.  The real gift was inside. Click on the image of the card and you will see the special surprise that awaited me. If the video doesn't work, you can scroll down to the bottom to see the inside of the card. 

The last time I visited Mike, we sat in the sun room and watched as the staff decorated their tree. Mike was having a good day and we were able to enjoy Subway sandwiches and play Yahtzee and Sequence. Sequence was a challenge since the blue and green chips have disappeared and we only had red, but we just worked together to get our chips in a row.  Mike was a little bit more talkative, but still is not walking. I will be going up there Christmas morning after spending a little time here with Mom and Dad. I am anxious to see Mike. 

It's been 3 weeks, because I went to see  his Mom in Ohio. We all missed having Mike and the rest of the family with us, but did enjoy an early Christmas with Keegan, Amy and the girls, plus seeing Mike's brother and his family. It was COLD in Ohio. We had dustings of snow a couple of times and then a really nice fluffy flakes snow all day on Tuesday. It was beautiful to look at and fun to play in. Aria loved it! Keegan enjoyed showing Amy some of his favorite places and we enjoyed time just being together. 

My writing is very sporadic so far, but I want to share with you the one I posted today. It's actually a post that I started writing several months ago, but with a few changes, I felt it was something that might be of help to someone "out there" who has also struggled with unmet expectations, especially during special occasions. Here's the link: https://lookingforbrightspots.blogspot.com/. 

Tomorrow is Christmas!  I am very excited to celebrate Jesus, to be here with Mom and Dad, and then to be with Mike. I hope each of you have a very joyous celebration and amid the gifts, laughter, and family, remember that we are celebrating the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

It's been a very long time since I have seen Mike write
his name. What a precious gift and wonderful surprise
to open the card and find his signature. It almost looks
like it did pre-accident.  Oh, what joy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Lots of Thanks Giving

1 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV)

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    for his steadfast love endures forever!

Mike is doing so much better since Dr. B cut his medication in more than half. It is making a big difference compared to how he was a couple of months ago. While there on Thanksgiving day, he could move from the wheelchair to a chair or bed with assistance and was talking more also. What I really noticed was he could drink thin liquids without choking.

We watched some of the Macy's parade and then some of the Vikings football game. Mike was cheering for his team and wore his Vikings jacket in support. He and I enjoyed a private Thanksgiving dinner in The Parlor which is at the end of the hall with a TV where I can control the volume. (Very important to me!) We enjoyed a delicious traditional meal all prepared right there at The Harbor. They really do eat well. After we ate, the med tech came to give Mike his medication and said the kitchen staff had forgotten to put mashed potatoes on the plates! I had not even noticed. I really like stuffing, so hadn't missed them at all. Mike still tends to gorge so I fed him and me. He ate everything on his plate and since I eat slower I had to share mine too so that we finished at the same time. :-) There was a lot of food on the plate and way more than I could eat anyway. Then pumpkin pie arrived too. We were full, very full.

Keegan, Amy and the girls arrived about 3. Mike did hold Riley for a little bit and later we had a family coloring time with Aria. The highlight was when we were leaving and Mike said "I love you, Riley. I love you, Aria." It was very sweet and we thank the Lord that he was having such a good day when they were all there. Something that would not have been possible just a few weeks ago or even on certain days.

I'm glad to say that restaurants around the area were all closed in celebration of Thanksgiving day, but we were also thankful that Sheetz was open. After getting settled in the hotel, we ordered food from there. It worked out perfectly. Keegan picked up the food and we had supper in the privacy of the hotel breakfast area where Aria could be free to roam and Riley could kick and squirm on a blanket on the floor. They had been cooped up in tight car seats most of the day and needed the freedom. I am so thankful they made the trip and it truly was a very Happy Thanksgiving. 

Friday we returned to spend time with Mike, but it was an off day. He really had a difficult time breaking out of the oh/hum which is a little frightening for Aria and makes it hard to interact with him so we didn't stay long. It made us all the more thankful for the day before. After having lunch, we came back to the farm where Mom and Dad met Riley for the first time and enjoyed the rest of the weekend here. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving time with family and friends while counting your many blessings. I Timothy 6:8 says: "But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." I know I for one have way more than food and clothing, so there is much to be thankful for and no reason not to be content.  

I love you and am so thankful for each of you and your love and prayers. May God bless you all.