momma slept!

Thank you all for praying for my being able to rest. I think last night I got about 10 hours of (much needed!) sleep, altogether. Ethan fell asleep around 6:30 in the evening, so I decided to take a nap as well. He didn't wake up until 10:30pm, which was wonderful, because I had slept the entire time as well. He fell back to sleep soon after, and we both slept again until 4:00 ish this morning. Truly a blessing. Sleep... it does a body (mind, soul, spirit) good! Thank you, Lord for the answered prayer of rest....

I am continually amazed at how well Ethan has been doing. The hives are starting to heal, so he has these dark red "bruises" all over his face, but they can't cover up that adorable smile or his sparkling blue eyes! And he doesn't seem to be bothered by them much today. Other than that, he is still VERY MUCH himself. It is truly amazing.... and I don't say that in a non-chalant kind of way, either. It is amazing. He's still rolling over both ways, playing with his toys, smiling and babbling.... AND.... he still has quite the appetite (though he does throw up about once a day). That part has been very shocking to the docs and nurses (the eating, not the vomiting)! We thought for sure that he'd have lost his appetite by now with sores or something developing, and that he'd have to be fed intravenously, but nope! This little boy is eating like crazy! I am so very happy about that. I know it would be normal for him to have to start being fed via an injection of protein, calories and electrolytes, but I just LOVE that we haven't had to go that direction yet. He's getting much more calories than anyone here thought he would, by his formula alone. No additional "help" needed. What a sweet blessing, thank you again, Lord...

I wanted to tell you all how much your comments, emails and cards have meant to me. I greatly appreciate the encouragement, even if I'm not able to let you know directly.

I was reading in my devotion this morning and there was so much of it that I wanted to share with you, then I realized I was basically wanting to share the whole thing... so I decided that I would....

"Thou couldst have no other power at all against me, except it were given thee from above." (John 19:11)

"Nothing that is not God's will can come into the life of one who trusts and obeys God. This fact is enough to make our life one of ceaseless thanksgiving and joy. For 'God's will is the one hopeful, glad and glorious thing in the world'; and it is working in the omnipotence for us all the time, with nothing to prevent it if we are surrendered and believing. One who was passing through deep waters of affliction wrote to a friend, 'Is it not a glorious thing to know that, [it makes] no difference how unjust a thing may be, or how absolutely it may seem to be from satan, by the time it reaches us it is God's will for us, and will work for good to us? For all things work together for good to us who love God. And even of the betrayal, Christ said, 'The cup which my Father gave me, shall I not drink it?' We live charmed lives if we are living in the center of God's will. All the attacks that satan, through others' sin, can hurl against us are not only powerless to harm us, but are turned into blessings on the way." -- H.W.S, August 14 excerpt from Streams in the Desert, Cowman.

There is so much I could say about these words, but I will let it stand alone.

Lord, please give me this joy and perspective in abundance...