Monday’s post on Friday

[bl]M[/bl]y little Tessa has thrown up over 25 times today (Thursday). She’s the third child to get the stomach virus this week. My welcome home gift. Monday’s post of thankfulness never happened because I was traveling. I need it today. Fast.

This sweet girl has gracious received her first stomach sickness. She has laid on the couch, all pale and pitiful. Asking how the other sick ones in the household are doing. Claiming that the vomiting is “hurting her feelings.” And whispering funny little comments like, “This popsicle is good. Seriously, it’s furlicious.” All while throwing up every 30-40 minutes. I’ve never seen anything like it. And she never complained.

It’s midnight and she stirs from sleeping three hours without her stomach waking her. Asking for water. Praise God! Three sips. Five sips. Her body receives the fluid and we are thankful. I give God all the glory for keeping her hydrated while everything in her was spilling out.

I’ve learned to wait on God during days like this. Fevers in Uganda had me sleepless, waiting, watching, worried. There was really no where to turn. My only true and safe option was prayer, crying out to the one who knows my child and knows my fears. Thoughts of Malaria would haunt me. Fear would rise and irrational thoughts would fill my mind. For the first time in my life I was unable to limit risk for my children in a way that seemed responsible. Those moments when fevers rose and snakes appeared I learned to trust. When my boy stopped walking and my daughter laid listless, I learned to trust. And every single time the car pulled out of our driveway, I learned to trust instead of fear.

Let me state that more honestly: I feared, and then I trusted.

I now have countless opportunities and resources available to me to help me care for my children. They are wonderful, and I feel privileged to live in a place where safety and health are actually attainable. But I pray that I will never forget to turn to God. To ask him first for healing. To fully believe that he alone can protect, comfort, and restore.

Today, this three year old darling proclaimed, “God has fealed (healed) me!” From the lips of children God has ordained praise!

#14 Sweet reunions

#15 Coming back home

#16 Snuggles on the couch amidst the stomach flu

#17 Bananas and ice chips that finally stay down

#18 Homemade biscuits

#19 A husband who trusts my father

#20 Vulnerable friends

#21 Feather comforters

#22 A mom who wants to be my neighbor

#23 A sister who cares for my sick children while teaching my well children

#24 Forgiveness asked in the morning

#25 Books to read

#26 Chores for children

#27 A boy who pours out his heart

#28 New snow

#29 A husband who cooks real food for his children when the wife is away

#30 A new friend I’ve never met who understands

#31 One more jam from last summer hidden in the freezer