Samuel on Tuesday morning at Childrens
I could spend quite some time writing about my worries right now, and stresses, and fears. I really could. But, as I was driving from ballet to Trader Joes (again) the song - Here I am to Worship - came on the radio. And I realized that even though I have that ginormous list of hard things that there are even more good and beautiful things in my life. And that I was to worship in the midst of a storm.
With a heart that aches, I can still praise. Give thanks.
So here's my list of all the amazing things that I can praise and give thanks for this last week. There was so much good interwoven with the hard -- beauty that needs to be shared.
:: Samuel. Thank you for Samuel.
:: Amy. Thank you to my friend Amy for praying for Samuel. For sitting next to me. Listening.
:: Amy's father in law -- a pediatrician. Thank you for caring, listening, and loving Sam.
:: Amy's pediatrician, who is now Samuel's pediatrician. Thank you for telling me to go the hospital right away.
:: My nurses in the ER - Steph and Bonnie. Thank you for believing and fighting for Samuel.
:: Dr. Rhodes - for listening to me, admitting Samuel, and truly caring.
:: Dr. Aru - the GI Doc. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
:: Thank you for labs. Blood work. Medicine. How I forget to thank for these things.
:: Thank you to the lab techs who analyzed Samuel's blood.
:: Thank you for all the toys donated to the 7th Floor Children's Hospital Toy Room
:: Thank you for the volunteers who clean those toys.
:: Thank you to the Surgery Nurses, the Anesthesia Team and the volunteers.
:: Thank you to the doctor who smiled at me as they put me in scrubs in the surgery center. I needed his encouraging look.
:: Thank you to the anesthesia nurse, Beth, for caring for Samuel. Thank you for your hug.
:: Thank you to the receptionist at the Surgery Center for playing Christian Music. And for your smile and laughter in such a hard place.
:: Thank you for my friends. For the calls, and the emails, and the gifts.
:: Thank you for my tulips from my friend Lori. They make me smile.
:: Thank you to my blogging friends. Every SINGLE comment has meant the world to me.
:: Thank you even more for the PRAYERS. I am humbled.
:: Thank you to blogger for providing this platform.
:: Thank you for writing.
:: Thank you to the countless people who have emailed with advice and encouragement.
:: Thank you that the hospital served Starbucks coffee.
:: Thank you to my husband for encouraging me to go to the hospital. For managing the home with sick children. For providing for me. For letting me cry.
:: Thank you to my other children -- Hannah, Chloe, Grace, Brennan, Caleb and Elijah for loving Samuel so much and for having patience as we transition our lives.
:: Thank you, Elijah, for guarding your wheat toast in the morning. Thanks for building the barricade and sounding your own sweet alarm when Sammy got close.
:: Thank you for vehicles that started in -21 degree temperature.
:: Thank you for facebook.
:: Thank you for peace even in the midst of worry.
:: Thank you for Trader Joes. For the employees who listen and really help. Who care.
:: Thank you for after hour care calls.
:: Thank you for the resources to buy new food, a new toaster, and new dishes for Samuel.
:: Thank you for all the manufacturers who make gluten free products.
:: Thank you for making gluten free food taste amazing.
:: Thank you to the Mayo Clinic lab techs who are right now examining Samuel's biopsy.
:: Thank you for the ability to cope even with little sleep.
:: Thank you for hope even when my heart is heavy.
:: Thank you for joy even when there is sadness.
:: Thank you for the happiness it brings to watch Samuel eat.
:: Thank you for Larabars, and marsala lentil dip, and veggie chips and blueberries.
:: Thank you for Celiac support groups.
:: Thank you for dvr.
:: Thank you for insurance.
:: Thank you for my amazing parents. Supportive, caring and fighters.
:: Thank you, Jesus, for being my strength. Even when I had none.
:: Thank you for Philippians 4:12-13.
:: Thank you for always being true Jesus.
:: Thank you for wanting the children to come to you.
:: Thank you for creating Samuel, for caring for him, and loving him.
:: Thank you, Jesus. I am blessed.
Blessed be your name.
