Hello faithful family, friends, and followers. Thank you, once again, for joining us here. This week we wanted to try something a bit different for our update. Since our blog is titled “The Life With Joy,” we thought it important to share with you some of the Life with Joy, “joys,” we have experienced during our week, along with the inevitable moments of discouragement thrown in for good measure. 😊
Here are just a few ot the hings that brought us joy this week:
Friday 11/8:
Beautiful sunshine, visit to piercing parlor to re-open Joy's ear piercings, new earrings, special time and lunch with Alyx, a beautiful sunny ride in the car, going for a walk, receiving encouraging words from a friend, and (Joy insisted on including this one), cleaning the bathrooms. (I have to admit I really struggled with including that last one, but Joy insisted, saying she was so thankful she had the strength and ability to do that). So, as you clean your toilets this week, think, “This brings me joy because I have the strength to do this!” And if you doubt that, you could be paralyzed in a long term care facility, like we were concerned Joy may be, but now have the privilege and capability of “cleaning the bathroom!” Perspective is everything!!
Saturday 11/9:
Cleaning house together (remember the bathrooms from yesterday), Joy’s clear improvement on the Tactus Aphasia app, encouragement from Joni Eareckson Tada devotional (see below), baking together but with Joy taking the lead, discovering so many socks Joy did not remember she had, and sorting clothes for donation.
Sunday 11/10:
Although not with them in person, celebrating a dear friend’s birthday (we will be in person on the 17th), breakfast of blueberry pancakes and sausage, today’s church sermon offered encouraging perspective, conversation with our son Marc, and just a special day together at home.
Monday 11/11:
Thankfulness for our veterans and remembering Grandpa Hanson a veteran of both WWII and the Korean Conflict, an encouraging occupational therapy session, Joy’s going on her own (with me, Gary, driving her) to the Knitting Grandma’s group, while Joy was at Knitting Grandma’s, I dropped some things at Marc and Caitlyn’s and got many hugs and kisses from grandson Revan. While the day had been very positive, Joy’s mental exhaustion overwhelmed her in the early evening which lead to a time of tears and discouragement, however, later that evening Joy got an unexpected call from her mom in which it was clear she is feeling much better, which led to a renewed sense of joy and hopefulness.
Tuesday 11/12:
Thankfulness for another beautiful sunny day, I, Gary, “graduated” from physical therapy for my back which is feeling much better, Joy received an encouraging note from a friend, Joy also wrote on, addressed, and sent a get-well card to a friend, and per our speech therapist’s encouragement, Joy played the piano while we both sang along. Joy being able to not only read the notes, but to read and sing the song, is a great cognitive exercise which she, once again, excelled at! 🥰
Wednesday 11/13
Joy reconnected with a former work colleague which thrilled her to have re-established the relationship, we shared a joint video call with friends from out-of-state that was very encouraging (hopefully for all of us), and while Joy nearly ended our speech homework time in frustration and tears, she persevered and went on to have a very positive lesson. We then ended the evening with another piano hymn sing together.
Thursday 11/14
Joy graduated from Speech therapy with tearful gratefulness from both Joy and the therapist, (the formal assessment wrapping up the process showed Joy having made remarkable gains in her time in speech therapy which we knew subjectively, but it was very validating to have the objective measures as well), Joy then had two separate meetings with former work colleagues, again, a tremendous encouragement for her, we received medical billing from two different providers that was actually correct on the first bill, and we enjoyed our favorite pizza for supper. 😋
So, there you have a glimpse of our “Joyful” week and the moments of discouragement experienced. Looking back at all the joys, I continue to marvel at how precious life can look now when contrasted against the potential long-lasting devastation we thought we may face in the days and weeks immediately following the accident. We once again, thank you for your faithful and steadfast prayers and God for his matchless grace and mercy. I referenced earlier, a devotional by Joni Eareckson Tada Joy reads each morning after she reads the Psalms. I’ll close with the entry for November 9th that resonated with both of us.
“I remember the time when my friend Charlie, who has cerebral palsy, asked me a tough question. Looking down at his twisted arms and legs in his wheelchair, he said, “What possible purpose could there be in my suffering?” I told Charlie his question couldn’t be answered in a single conversation—or even in a book. That’s because God’s answers and purposes have to be lived out in order to understand them. And that takes time and trust. Today’s Scripture (Ecclesiastes 3:1) tells us there is a time for everything—and that includes understanding. If you have questions about suffering, or about why things have happened as they have, remember these two words: time and trust. Keep trusting in God, friend. Believe His promises. Act on His Word. Live out your faith. And in time, or perhaps beyond time, you will understand the heart of God in every one of your hardships.” (A Spectacle of Glory Copyright © 2016 by Joni Eareckson Tada)
