January 25 - I got the stomach flu.
January 26 - Jonathan got the stomach flu.
January 29 - Josie got the stomach flu.
January 30 - I missed work again to nurse Josie to keep her from getting dehydrated...she continues to refuse bottles for Jonathan!
January 31 - My visiting parents got the stomach flu.
February 11 - Jackson diagnosed with double ear infection when brought to doctor for cough he'd had for 6 weeks.
February 19 - Josie had severe reaction to lotion and was red from head to toe. Diagnosed with chronic eczema.
February 20 - I received a warning at work concerning the amount of missed work, informing me that consequences would follow if I unexpectedly missed again.
February 26 - Suggested at Josie's well baby visit that she start 6 months of antihistamines to manage eczema. Thus began my search for an alternative and holistic/natural remedy since medication (with sedating side effects) isn't my first choice to place her body through.
February 22 - Jonathan is plagued by terrifying nightmares that alert us that much of what you are reading is Spiritual Warfare that we are experiencing and we begin to seek out scripture and guidance to battle this.
February 27 - Jackson begins to scream out in pain claiming his ear hurts and his behavior becomes inconsolable. We take him to a pediatric urgent care to find that his ear infection has persisted, no surprises there.
February 28 - I woke up with neck pain that took away my ability to move my head from side to side or up and down. 2 weeks of Chiropractic therapy continues to help my neck slowly heal.
March 9 - Jackson screams for 2 hours with abdominal pain that is suspicious of an appendix rupture. A trip to the doctor (narrowly missing an ER visit) reveals nothing but gas pain....thank goodness!
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
1 Peter 5:8 "Be of sober spirit, be on alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
I do not list these things to complain or ask for pity. Actually it is quite the opposite. Jonathan and I are daily claiming the "full armor of God, so that you [we] will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." Ephesians 6:11 Without seeing the raging waves around us we would be unable to experience the calm and still waters that He delivers to us. I had just dropped Jackson off at MDO this morning and was in Target when a severe storm hit. We decided to wait it out in Starbucks with coffee and a muffin. A forced moment of rest was much needed. I looked out the window and then back at the sweet face of my little girl. She was hungry, I know, and yet content to wait, trusting that I would not fail her. I was overwhelmed with emotion as I reflected at our life over the last few months. None of the illnesses or struggles we have faced have been tragedies, but the relentless of them have felt like a storm that wouldn't let up. I hunger for relief, but I wait patiently trusting my God will not fail me. We have been hunkered down, asking and trusting our Lord and Saviour to fight the war around us, for us. We know that Jesus has already won the battle and we claim that victory! We have even begun to laugh and ask what will be next?! Laughing, however, has been a way only to cover the surges of frustration, fear, and exhaustion. When the storm let up today, we loaded our car with groceries and drove home. A steady rain persisted but off to my right the sun was coming out and blue skies appeared. I could only think of my children and that without some of the struggles that they come with, I would never get to gaze on the beauty of their faces. This is a picture of Josie this morning when I finally got her home to feed her and the others are of Jackson yesterday playing at the park in a mud puddle :). Oh how his mercies are new every morning. Please join us in prayer as we seek rest and relief. Please also join us in celebrating all the beauty of the victory we have to claim in Christ.
