March 11.1, 2008

March 11.1

Garrett has had a really great day physically. He had some discomfort through the night but nothing a little Children's Tylenol couldn't handle. Today we took our first big adventure as a family. We can't be near other folks, so a bag of burgers and a trip to a local lake made for a perfect picnic opportunity. The weather was fantastic and Garrett took about a 20 minute walk near the shore.

He and Jessi made archaeological discoveries of a goose feather and a couple of fresh water shells. He pooped out pretty quick, but the fresh air and sunshine did him, and us, a world of good. He and I finally discussed the baseball season today. He took it pretty hard when he found out he can't play this year. As the tears filled his eyes, I was really proud of his competitive spirit. After all he has been through lately, he was genuinely disappointed and surprised that I had the audacity to think he won't be up to swinging the bat and running the bases. I assured him that he is only on injured reserve like a lot of the pros, and that next year will be a new season full of promise. Through a cracking voice, he wanted to know if he'd still get a jersey this year and feel like he was a part of the team. He also asked if we would be home in time for him to help out at practice.

God, I love this boy. I don't know what else to expect from a kids whose already shown he's tougher than boot leather. The discussion about baseball brought the inevitable subject of 'home'. Since we are no longer in crisis mode where waiting to see what each hour might bring fills our every thought, discussions of home and "normalness" are becoming more routine. Both kids miss their animals a great deal. Jessi and Garrett both have cried over wanting to be with their dogs, cats and horses. It brought Garrett a great deal of comfort to know that his buddy Daniel is taking great care of his horse and that his uncle and Aunt are making sure the cats and dogs have plenty of people time in our absence. It doesn't create a fix, but it beats thinking their critters have to hunt down a jack rabbit every other day just to survive.

Back to the hotel room later and after a good rest, Garrett wanted to take another walk. We strolled along a service road near the hotel and adjacent to the large grass pasture when we crossed a manhole cover. Garrett had never seen one before, and it never dawned on me. Because we live in the country, the kids are not used to seeing these kinds of things.

Out of every challenge comes all sorts of learning opportunities. I'm not sure a sewer pipe will lend to any great discoveries, but it was a learning opportunity just the same. I guess the moral might be that as long as we're walking over it and not falling in it, life 'aint so bad.

As I jot these notes every day or so, it makes me wonder if I write too much. While it serves as a great way to communicate with so many of you who hold Garrett up in prayer and want to know his progress, it also acts as a diary of sorts for me. I hope you all don't mind, but I am basically a lazy person and don't want to do more than I have to in order to capture the days as they drift by. There may come a time when Garrett and Jessi will want to read these and reflect. If it gets to be too much, there is a pretty neat "spam" button on most e-mail accounts. I won't be offended.

Tomorrow promises to have more adventure in store, and we also have another meeting with the father of the donor child. He is back in town briefly, and has asked to meet Garrett. If Garrett is up to it we'll let it happen as he has been asking a lot about Darren. Please keep that meeting in your thoughts and prayers. It will be brief, but Garrett really wants to do it.

I hope your tomorrow finds you all safe. We're starting to get homesick on the front end of what will likely be a long field trip away, but I guess that will make the homecoming that much sweeter. We are already so blessed, it makes me feel selfish to even "want" anything more that what He has already given.

"The Lord will provide...and He does"

In Him,

JD