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Originally published July 14, 2011

I walked with a friend today who witnessed her child having a seizure for the first (and hopefully only) time.  It brought back alot of memories for me.  The panic, the fear, the ER visit, worried friends and family, and all the tests.  My heart went out to her.  She kept saying to me, “I don’t know how you do this”.  But experiencing one for the first time is an entirely different world than the world I live in.  It was a million times harder for her today than it is for me when Shelby has a seizure.  The main difference is familiarity.  I am quite accustomed to seeing seizures.  I still hate them and the havoc they wreck on Shelby and our family, but the extreme panic and fear are no longer there.  Unfortunately, after only one seizure, it is often times impossible to pinpoint the reason for the episode or predict whether or not it will happen again.  The anxiety can be excruciating.  We may not know what will happen tomorrow, but we can count on the promises of God.  “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8  

My first prayer for this little girl is that she would be well and that she would never experience another seizure.  But even for Shelby I have the hope and promise of wholeness.  “For I will restore you to health and I will heal you of your wounds,’ declares the Lord,” Jeremiah 30:17a  If not in this life, then in the next, her brain will work exactly like it should.  She will be able to dance in the presence of Jesus and sing and shout her praises.  And I will be there to witness it.  Oh glorious day!  

My second prayer for my sweet friends is rest.  Emotions are high.  Bodies running on adrenaline have trouble relaxing.  But God can comfort and bring tranquility where there was turmoil.  My prayer tonight for all my friends dealing with seizures is Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” 

Originally published July 9, 2011

Last night I enjoyed dinner and a movie.  Sounds like many of the dates I go on with my husband, but this time, I was with a girlfriend.  We went to see “The Green Lantern”.  Silly movie and time to linger over dinner and talk.  It was perfect.  We laughed, we talked about serious things, we caught up on each others’ families.  Just what I needed.  I have learned the last several years how important breaks are.  It can be hard sometimes, with the difficult medical issues Shelby has, to feel confident leaving her with anyone else.  But I HAVE to.  I have to laugh, play, talk, and be someone other than the mom of a special needs child for a while. So Chuck and I nurture our marriage with frequent date nights.  They provide rest for us and help keep the home fires burning.  And often these dates are as simple as dinner and a show.  We are so blessed to have family who do a great job caring for her as well as a slew of great babysitters that we trust.  And that trust is imperative if we want to be able to relax and enjoy ourselves.  

In addition to the company of my husband, I need time with girlfriends.  My husband is sweet enough to spell me for these times because he knows I need someone I can talk to that isn’t in the trenches with me.  I need a viewpoint outside of our family.  And I need someone who knows what it’s like to be a girl!  I am so thankful for my girlfriends – friends here that I go to church with and do life with on a daily basis, and friends I grew up with that I don’t see very often, yet feel like home when I do.  And these relationships are God ordained.  “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17 He intends us to be in relationship with others to keep growning personally.  My friends help me to be a better mom, a better wife, a better person.  The moral of this blog is:  time away with spouse and friends = good.  Good for my marriage, good for my kids, good for me!