Wordless Wednesday

Answered prayers

I noticed something yesterday. And I'm trying to figure out how I didn't notice it sooner.

Ryan was sleeping and I was looking at him. Really looking at him. (How often do you get a chance to look at your sleeping husband?) And I noticed something important.

His eyes.

They were closed.

Completely closed.

From corner to corner. Top lid and bottom lid touching.

Not with effort.

Closed completely in peace.

In June 2007, I started asking people to pray for Ryan's eyes. Specifically that his eyes would be able to close. Ryan has had seven corrective surgeries on his eyelids, most recently August 18, 2009. He gets focused medical massage on his face and eyelids to improve circulation and elasticity. And he's had laser treatments designed to resurface his scars.

But yesterday, was the first time I saw it.

The answer to my prayers.

The answer to your prayers.

And I knew I had to tell you. Because you brought us here. Your prayers and God's power.

So, now I want to ask for another prayer. You've been so faithful to us. I hope you will consider adding another family to your prayer list.

My dear friend Lisa has inoperable brain cancer. She has been valiantly fighting it for a year and a half. A few months ago, they found another tumor. And for all the progress she's made, this new tumor has knocked her back quite a few paces. She is a wife to Sean and a mother to Mia and Ella. She is 27-years-old.

Will you pray for her? For her healing. For her strength. For her peace. For her family.

I only ask you to do this because I know it works. I was reminded of that yesterday.

Child's Play

In Maya's own words....

I broke my leg, and it fell off.

Now I get to jump!

Perspective is a funny thing.

Wordless Wednesday

What is surgery?

A lot of people will ask us how many surgeries Ryan has had. And the truth is, I've lost count. I feel like it's something I should know when people ask me. I've been there for every single one.

But I'm having a hard time defining what is a surgery and what isn't. Is it cutting into Ryan's body to remove, repair, or reposition something? Does it require general anesthesia? An overnight hospital stay? A combination of these things? Is it not a surgery if they use a laser, but he was under general anesthesia? Is it not a surgery if they use local anesthetic, cut away at a part of his body, but he sleeps through it and walks away feeling fine? It's getting complicated to define "surgery".

All I know is Ryan has had a number of "procedures" this summer since the time I posted about his eyebrow transplant. (Was that a surgery? Local anesthesia, cutting and stitching, drove himself home?) In July, he had a graft to his right palm and releases in the tendons in his fingers. (General anesthesia, cutting and stitching, home that day.....surgery, check!) A couple weeks later he had laser resurfacing of his face and left arm. (General anesthesia, no cutting and stitching, home that same day.......surgery?) On his birthday in August, he had skin cut away from the titanium posts on the sides of his head in preparation for his prosthetic ears. (Local anesthesia, cutting and stitching, went to other appointments that same day and drove himself home....surgery?) And on August 18th, he had another eyelid release to both of his lower eyelids. (General anesthesia, cutting and stitching, overnight hospital stay....surgery, check!)

I don't exactly know how to define surgery and it doesn't REALLY matter. I just kind of wish I had an answer to the question when someone asks me how many surgeries Ryan has had. I guess being in our community that question comes up more often than you would think. Regardless, Ryan's having another procedure tomorrow. General anesthesia. Laser. Home. Call it what you want.

Wordless Wednesday

Camping at Canyon Lake

Wordless Wednesday