Christmas Eve

Our best gift is already realized. Our family will celebrate Christmas together at home this year.

We are also fortunate that the worse ice storm we have experienced only affected our power briefly last Friday. There are still thousands of homes in Fort Wayne without power and heat and we had single digit low temperatures this week.

This week we found out about another girl (the same age as Ashley when she was struck) that has been in a coma for a month due to ADEM. Please add Jessica and her family to your prayers that she will emerge from her coma and recover and that her family finds peace.

A few days ago Mary was putting rollers in Ashley’s hair. Standing behind Ashley, she would ask Ashley for a roller when she needed it and Ashley would grab one and hand it back to her. This got us talking about how many ‘simple’ things we take for granted in our daily lives. Ashley smiled and nodded ‘yes’. We knew that behind that smile was a lot of humble confidence.

With the Christmas Break Ashley has already had several friends over. She glows brighter than the Christmas tree when interacting with her friends. Listening to her laugh and seeing her direct eye contact around the room as the conversation flows is priceless.

Since we see Ashley everyday the changes are so subtle. Seeing her pass hair rollers and watching her interact with friends illustrates to us that Ashley is making monumental strides.

A year ago at Christmas time we were excited (and very thankful) because Ashley was consistent in using her ‘Yes’ button so we could finally communicate with her. We have certainly come a long way in a year. With all the pray support and the fact that Ashley continues to put everything she has into striving for a full recovery we have faith that she will get there, on God’s time.

We all have our challenges and crosses to bear. Christmas is a time for all of us to remember that our living Savior is here. This excerpt from Margaret Fishback Powers’ version of Footprints has always helped me keep my bearings, "Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don't understand why, when I need You most, You leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."

Merry Christmas!