Day 85

R continues to make progress. His feeds through his tube are increasing and the TPN or nourishment through his central line is decreasing! The goal is to stop the TPN completely and have the formula as his nutrition. He is also moving around more and has been very social. His smiles are contagious, his raspberries are hilarious, and he is proving that he knows what he likes and dislikes by shaking his head, "no, no, no" and kicking his foot towards the hands of the nurses! We love the time with him. We pray for continued healing physically. We have started to pray for him emotionally as well. As you know, he is a ward of the state and has a very complicated familial history. As he begins the journey toward physical wellness, his emotional journey also begins.

Through this entire journey, (since we are speaking of them) I have learned something so wonderful. It is to trust God through everything. I know... I know... this is such a cliche'. But when the going gets tough, you really find out how deep your convictions are. To be in the center of a crisis, or a painful situation, or something new, may be exactly where God wants you to be. For me, I want to always be in the center of God's will. Sometimes this puts me in places where I'm uncomfortable. But I trust HIM to use me and change me anyway that HE wants to so that I can glorify HIM. The phrase that God is more concerned about our character than our comfort is so true! There were and still are so many times of uncertainty, fear, frustration, etc. etc. At many of these moments in the beginning of this journey I would ask God, "Why?" I am learning to state more quickly now, "I trust You, Lord." "Use this time to change me for You." Look at your life. Ask yourself, am I in the center of God's will? Am I allowing the circumstances to mold me and shape me the way God wants me to be? I am convinced that in any circumstance, when one is open to the Holy Spirit comforming him/her closer to Christ, then he/she is in the center of God's will. If you are reading this and you want to know more about having a personal relationship with Jesus, please feel free to email me personally and I will share about the most rewarding relationship that you will ever know or have. HE is that amazing, and that worthy, and that REAL. This isn't a "religious" blurp. This is about life and death. R was very close to physical death. This is spiritual and eternal life and death.

Because many of you have followed this personal story for so long and have continued to support us and R, I wanted to use this as an opportunity to share with you God's incredible love and plan for all of us to be with HIM now on earth and then forever. God bless you and keep you.

With love,
j

jenbowes@cox.net