Looking up

I have heard all of my life that you have to be knocked completely on your back to look up and accept God for who He is.  I am a living testimony to the fact that this works, but I don't think it has to be that way.  God is there and if we accept that with childlike faith, we will have someone holding us up during hard times. 
That being said, this last month has been hard.  We learned that our dear Papa has bone cancer.  For two weeks, he went back and forth to the Dr. and every time, he got worse news.  I do not like the reality that as we get older, news such as this comes much more frequent, but it does.  I am happy to say that Papa is taking radiation and chemo treatments and is feeling much better.  He has the most beautiful spirit of anyone I know and he is a fighter with an amazing faith.  I am thankful to have him in our lives and most thankful that my little boy has the opportunity to know and learn from him.  He is a gift, and I fully expect a miracle to allow us to have him for many years to come.

In the midst of that news, we had to make the decision to put Will in daycare.  Before this, he stayed with a beautiful family of girls three days a week and Memaw and Papa the other two.  This was a devastating decision for me, even though I knew he would be fine, I was heartbroken.  He went a whole day and a half before he became terribly sick (not from the daycare).  He fights infant reflux and it had flared up, making his whole stomach and esophagus and throat raw and irritable where he would not eat or drink.  (FYI - Will weighed 24 lbs) We started medicating for that and he spiked a fever, which turned into the croup.  Three Dr.'s appointments in one week, lots of tests, and parents who were exhausted and worried filled our week.  BUT, he is better.  We re-started daycare on Monday and so far so good.  He seems to like it and has adjusted without near the trauma that Mama has had.  The little guy has taught me so many lessons about being joyful all the time, no matter how you feel.  Even on his worse day last week, he would try so hard to laugh and play.  He is a gift, he will do just fine in daycare, where he is loved and learning every day and I will get used to it.

Also last week, my sweet neighbor's sister had something go terribly wrong in her brain and is in a devastating situation. She has two children and they expect her to meet the Lord soon. Summer, my neighbor, is being very brave in the face of this, but my heart hurts for her.  She is a rock of faith and I know they are leaning on God and He will provide.  What happen to the days when we were 14 and we heard about this stuff, but never close to home!

So, lost of things going on in our lives . . . but that is why I chose to title this "Looking up".  I will lift my eyes to the Lord, where my help comes from.  He is my refuge and fortress in times of trouble.  He will carry me.  Even in the midst of storms, times of uncertainty and sadness and the horrible things that this fallen world has to offer, there is beauty and hope in Jesus.