Thursday, August 23, 2012

Scriptures and promises keep washing over us, like the flood of blessings we are experiencing.
Romans 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Tears of gratitude and hope are overflowing in this household!

Isaiah 43:19  I am amking a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Streams being made in the desert are making this new land lush and beautiful. 

2 Cor 9:15  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.
It feels at times that our hearts can't keep pace with the wonder and beauty of the gifts we are receiving.  Lydia is progressing, and amazing us hourly.  It used to be that we would cling to one moment in a long day or week, and find hope and joy in it.  In the past week, the moments have been so many that we can't remember them all.  Indescribable. 
We will share two moments from today.  When we say to Lydia, "I love you", she smiles and says, "I love you too" and loves to hold up two fingers when she says the two.  She likes holding up fingers for numbers!
At supper time, we asked Lydia how we should give thanks, and she said Johnny appleseed.  We began to sing slowly, and she joined us, pointing heartily to herself, as she said "Oh the Lord is good to ME, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the appleseed, the Lord is good to ME"!  What incredible joy and beauty in the heart of one who has lost so much, and is working hard to gain it back. She seems, to both of us, to exude a sense of  divine joy which amazes us. There has been deep pain on this journey, but right now there is extraordinary joy !
Lydia has continued to talk today - full sentences at times, and sometimes words with 4 or 5 syllables!  She talked so much with her therapy support worker this morning that she was cognitively exhausted by lunch. 
This evening, some close friends came to share some music with Lydia.  She sat in her wheelchair with a big smile on her face as they sang, and played worship songs for her.  She joined in on Jesus Loves Me, and robustly pointed to herself on the me.  We close with the following chorus that they sang that resonated with our hearts. 
How deep the Father's love for me
How vast, beyond all measure ...