The goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.

ten months

This week we celebrate something wonderful and amazing.

It has been ten months of no seizures!


This is such an incredible marker.  The month's timing coincided with a visit to our neurologist today.
It was, perhaps, the most cursory visit we have had yet.  Cursory simply because Luke is not actively experiencing seizure activity.  Thorough, however.

His blood tests all returned with great results.  Liver function is excellent.  His body is tolerating well his medicine.  We have not yet seen any of the side effects that can happen with this medication.  Thanks be to God.  His load level of the medicine in his blood stream was in a good range, too.  And his hemoglobin levels are all great.  No medication changes!

Luke and I left, and in the hallway I turned to him with tears in my eyes and a huge smile on my face.
He leaped into my arms and we both just hugged one another so hard!

I tried to take a photograph with my heart of the moment.  

His next visit?  A year from now.

Seriously!

We will monitor his blood levels on a regular basis, and those reports will go to the neurologist.  And he has a neuro-psych exam in August to evaluate how his seizure activity is affecting learning.  We also will, obviously, be in close contact with our doctor if there is any noticeable seizure activity.

Will we make it a year?  I have no idea.

What I do know is how momentous it was today to even have that option as a possibility.

There was a time not long ago that I was calling out neurologist almost daily.

And we were paperchasing to bring Emma Kate home.

I was working part-time and Jim had just taken a new job.

I remember I really and truly did not breathe from my chest for almost a year.  I only felt like I took breath in from the neck up.

And God carried us.

So well.

Looking back, all the ways He consoled us with His presence in and through the storms of that time bring sweetness to mind.  Faithfulness.  Steadfastness.

He was good then, and He is good now.


Today, we savor the sweetness of His goodness in a time of rest and celebration.
And celebrate we did!

On the way home, I rallied the troops and we all met up for an impromptu lunch at Luke's favorite restaurant, Chipotle.  He downed his burrito smiling all the while.

Psalm 27 was such balm to me then.  And it still is now.
¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation— 
   whom shall I fear? 
The LORD is the stronghold of my life— 
   of whom shall I be afraid?


Even in the darkest days
 Though an army besiege me,
   my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
   even then I will be confident.


To whom we belong, brought solace.  We sought the only One.  And still do.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
   Your face, LORD, I will seek. 


And we knew that we knew that we knew, that regardless of what was to come
no matter what happened
even if it rained and rained, we could trust Him.
With Luke, and with Emma Kate, and with us all.


I truly felt God promise me this, not knowing exactly what was meant by it, but knowing that I knew {and I know} He is good.
I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.


Over and over again, we did see His goodness.  
And now again, we see it in a new way meant just for today.  
Our hearts are truly humbled.
And grateful.
In awe and worship of One who crafts life so magnificently in both the calm and the storm.
Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.


Lord, we take great heart today in your loving-kindness to us.
To our Luke.
For the day that is today and the blessing of walking out of that office this time.
For what we have seen and for the scary places we've trod.  We know we never walked alone.  Not one single second.
For what has been and for what is and what might come.  


In it all, we chose you, God. We still choose you who chose us first.
And today we rejoice mightily for the goodness of health.
For healing.
For Luke right where he is right now.


How sweet the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.