Oh my! When I log in, I am shocked by how long it's been since my last post.
Life was slower in February. After the little boys left, we adjusted to a simpler life with just the big kids and their activities. Both Kailee's and Benjamin's soccer teams won their championships.
They then moved on to softball and baseball season which was fun but always much warmer than soccer season. We finished up our school year by putting together a lapbook about the history of America. That was a lot of fun and a nice way to wrap up two years of school. I even had time to start sewing a duvet cover for our new master bed.
Life seemed easy. I knew I shouldn't complain about the slowness and easiness of it because that can change in a second. But I also knew I had extra time on my hands, so I went ahead and took a step on my own and said "yes" to helping out with VBS at church. They needed help and I thought I had the time. Then the first phone call to do respite for a newborn. Okay, God I can still do VBS I thought. Then while caring for the baby, we got another phone call to take placement of an ittybitty baby and possibly his big sister. Well, that is when life got busy for forty-eight hours. I now have a new empathy for moms of twins. We all survived that couple of days and were really enjoying the cuddles with our new placement.
We had put a vacation on hold waiting to hear when big sister might come and once we realized that would take longer than originally thought, we decided to go ahead with our yearly trip to Arizona to visit my parents. At the last second, we found respite for our foster baby and we were on our way.
I was looking forward to catching up on sleep after caring for newborns for four weeks and we all just wanted to relax and have a good time with the family.
What better way to have fun than drive a few golf balls after dinner or so I thought. The kids were begging to have their own turns, so I saved the last two balls for them, one each. As the sun was going down, there was just enough light to attempt to show Benjamin how to hold the club. I just wasn't fast enough for his "let's just do it now" speed and whack, my face was in the wrong place at the wrong time. This was a week and a half ago. Amazing how quickly plans change. But as I look back, it's amazing how God has directed every detail of this whole situation.
As we were racing off to the ER in the pouring rain, I kept thinking through my tears and pain, "Why didn't you warn me God. Why didn't you just prompt me to duck or move?" I was confused why He would allow this to happen, not just to me, but to Benjamin (my little-big worrier) as well. A fractured zygoma was the diagnosis which sounds simple enough, but my deformed face looked worse. Instructions to find a specialist when we returned to Dallas seemed simple enough, but this season of our life is not about simplicity I guess. The surgeon had to back out because there was no room in the OR for my little zygomatic arch. That started the race to find a new surgeon who could fix my broken face and fast because the bone was already starting to heal in the wrong position.
I remember waiting in the parking lot since I had arrived early. It had been the first time I felt alone since the accident, just me and God. I didn't question him any more, but just pleaded with Him to do what needed to be done so that I could be healed. I even asked Him to have someone cancel so they can fit me in the schedule. Then all of a sudden I felt like He was saying, "Get out of the van now." So I got out and walked into the building at the same time as another lady who had scrubs on. Wouldn't you know that she worked for this doctor and we got to chat on our way up. I remember thanking God for the chance to meet her so that I wasn't just another patient to them. Then more good news for me, a doctor who knew she had to squeeze me in the very next day and then I heard the assistant say, "Somebody just cancelled. That will work." Oh how wonderful God is! I drove home in tears of praise that He would answer my prayers so specifically.
Now looking back, instead of questioning why He allowed this to happen, I am thankful for how He has directed all the moments of this whole situation. The golf club landed perfectly between my eye and my ear; neither was damaged. The bone was not shattered nor was my cheekbone damaged which would have been a more difficult repair. I was led to the right doctor at just the right time. My mom was able to come back with us and help out SO MUCH! Ozzie has been able to take the time here and there off work after a whole week off to get me where I needed to be. And I am thankful for tongue depressors and tape. You know you can't put a cast on a broken face. But you can tape two tongue depressors on the side of your face to create a buffer zone. Who knew that God can use such simple everyday objects in such a neat way!
