If you're following along with the 2017 Scripture Memory / Dwell Richly printable, here's the verse for week 8:
The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. Deuteronomy 32:4
june 26, 2017
It's been a long day of pokes and prodding for this little girl but she's been a champion through it all. So proud of this brave little girl! Pre-op testing seemed to be successful and we'll be going in tomorrow to get her precious little skull fixed.
I also wanted to share my heart from the night before surgery. Leading up to that night, our hearts were steady. Seeking Christ and trusting in everything He was doing. But it hit hard the night leading up to her surgery...
Loved. That is the best word I can use to describe how we've felt the past two weeks. Friends have given us baskets of snacks, everything we needed for the hospital stay and a special package that we were told not to open until the day of surgery (I'll get to that in a bit). The night before surgery, we were hanging out with our family in the hotel lobby. I tried to keep it together all day but it just hit. Hard. The emotions knocked me down like a crashing wave. I looked at JD and said, "I need some time. I'm going to head on up to the room." I walked into the hotel room alone and crumbled. Quick. I've never cried so hard in my life. It was the absolute definition of weeping. I couldn't tell you why or what I was even thinking. It was simply an overflow of my heart. All I could think was, "Jesus. Jesus. Jesus." It wasn't "why her?" or "help us!!" It was simply, "Jesus." Romans 8:26 played out so sweetly: "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." And then I started fizzling. I needed scripture. I needed Truth.
I texted a couple of my closest friends, basically saying, "I need Truth. Send me scripture." After sending a few verses, these texts came through from Katy Jo and Julie...
KJ: Also we talked and we want y'all to open that package tonight. We love you so so so much friend.
Julie: Yes. Agreed. Y'all should open it tonight. I think you are supposed to.
KJ: yes. We both agree - we think now is the time.
So JD and I opened the package and pulled out the most amazingly beautiful, thick journal. We turned to the first page, finding a sweet note from the McDaniel family, turned the page to find the perfect drawing from MK's little bestie, Ella Reese. The next page was a letter written from our neighbor... Then another neighbor... Then another... Ending with a final note from the Hardins. There were letters, prayers, cards and drawings from so many of our Huntsville friends. Friends from our new small group, old small groups, neighbors, Supper Club girlfriends, the list goes on and on. We read each page - me, balling my eyes out, and JD smiling ear to ear. We felt covered. Encouraged. Hopeful. At peace. Deeply loved.
During recovery, we've read that journal to Mia Kai when she gets fussy. We know the medicine helps but she calms down when we read her the letters and scripture from our friends. We know, that somehow, it brings her just as much as peace as we've received from it.
We look forward to the day we'll get to sit down with her and read through this journal when she gets older and understands the meaning behind it. We know so many people have been praying for us, more than we could ever imagine. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has walked this tough but victorious journey with us!
We went to Chuy's in Nashville for dinner with our family the night before surgery. We were so incredibly grateful to have each of them with us! If you go to The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, we recommend staying at the Embassy Suites. The staff was incredibly accommodating and friendly! It's close to the hospital and you get a free delicious breakfast. We were able to stay on Hilton points that we've accrued through JD's travels, just another way that God provided and showed us that He made a way for us.
