June 6th-Laura Story's "Blessings" and Hogle Zoo

We just got back from spending the day at Hogle Zoo with my friend Whit (We grew up together and have known each other since birth) and her cute kids. It always feels so refreshing to do a "normal" activity. Although I don't really know what's normal about pushing Abby in a wheelchair, carrying around her oxygen and checking it occassionally to make sure we're not running out (stop laughing those of you that think I'm OCD about "checking" on Abby), and having to leave because she's pooped! But, we did have a sweet day! Brock was a good sport and all the little kids and not so little kids loved him! I don't think Abby even cared that people were looking at her.....we don't even notice anymore. I would be posting pictures, but of course I screwed that up. I brought the camera, but forgot the memory card, I just can't seem to do things right lately, ughhhhh! I guess I needed Britt here to help me out with that. Thank you whit, it was a good day! When we got home, it was awesome to see that my mom had made us dinner and set the table before she headed back to St. George! It was a great thing to come home to, I haven't had to cook in 3 weeks, why start now? It was fun having my mom here for the past 3 days, she helped to take care of Abby and get us moved in. Now it's just Brock, Abby, and I here. Weird huh? I sure miss Britt though. All of this traveling back and forth and figuring out who's going to be here when and how to get everyone where they need to be, is really wearing on me. I feel like I can't plan anything more than a day in advance, my kids feel the same way. It's just not how we are, Abby just looks at me and says, "Why can't we just go with the flow for a while, mom?" Good advice, once again, from my 12-year-old!

Last night was spent at a get together with some friends from the neighborhood I grew up in. It was fun to see and just sit and talk to everyone. Brock and Abby loved going back to where my parents used to live and I grew up, I told them lots of good stories. Being there reminded that I have support in so many places right now, I am truly blessed.

Abby is doing okay today. We now have a new problem though. She says that at night she can't keep her legs still, they are very restless. So, she spends a lot of the night walking around the house and trying to get comfortable.....and I thought I wasn't sleeping before! I found her last night on the living room floor with a blanket pulled up over her head. It scared the crap out of me, but I got her to go back into her bed for a couple of hours. Do you think it's possible to live on 2-3 hours of broken sleep a night? It's going to have to be. I do expect anyone that sees me in St. George on Saturday just to tell me how fresh and amazing I look....you're not allowed to tell me that I look tired. I haven't figured out how to cure Abby's problem, I wish I could tell her to go running before bed, but that's not going to work....we'll figure something out though.

There's something I've been trying to find and haven't had any luck with, if any of you find it, will you pick some up for Abby and get it to us or let me know where to look and I will pay you back. We've been looking for some coloring books or posters for kids Abby's age. Not little coloring books, but something with designs or I remember coloring big posters that had tons of pictures on them. We've been looking but haven't had any luck. Just let me know.

If you get the chance, go to youtube and search "Laura Story's Blessings." It's a beautiful song with awesome and appropriate lyrics. My friend Ann Bany heard it and thought of my family, thanks Ann, if I knew how I would add it to the music on the blog-another thing for Britt to do! The lyrics go like this:

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Something to think about anyway, the song is awesome too. I'm grateful today that we don't have to go back to PCMC until Friday, that I have friends like Ann and Whit that are thinking about us, that Mama Thacker and Mama Cozz took Britt out to lunch today (She'll be there all week so take good care of her St. George friends), and that Abby is still feeling healthy and strong.