She is skiing!

After a couple of weeks filled with the most incredible memories...Haley's college graduation, a trip to Arkansas as Amanda, Abby, Caleb, Anna, my mother & I helped Matt and Haley prepare their new apartment, a very special Christmas Eve and Christmas with us all gathered together around the fattest Christmas tree, and then the most beautiful and special wedding as Haley and Matt were married. What a time of celebration and awe as we watched our children come down the isle as bridesmaids and groomsmen - including Amanda reaching her goal of walking down the isle with her new leg - and then standing united together as Matt and Haley said their vows. It is a time I will never forget...

and then, just two days later, I headed off to Houston with Caleb and Amanda. As some of you may know, MD Anderson utilizes the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah as a rehabilitation site for any of their pediatric cancer patients who must face amputation in the course of their treatment. Amanda was invited to attend this very special opportunity.

Each patient is completely outfitted and all costs covered for 8 days of skiing/rehab in Utah. This center is where the para-olympic skiers train. Amanda is given her own specially trained ski coach plus a volunteer who assists as well and she is taught balance and core strengthening as she learns to ski. Not only that, each patient is allowed one companion who also receives all of the complementary equipment and ski time. As a special surprise, we chose Caleb to travel with Amanda on this trip. He was so very excited and we believe this will be a very special time for the two of them to share together.

We traveled to Houston a day early so that Amanda could have labs and a pre-ski check up done. I am thankful to report that her lab counts were excellent and Dr. Anderson (who is also on the trip with the kids) was very excited that she was attending. New Year's Eve found the three of us watching the clock and toasting in 2009 with sparkly grape juice in our hotel. Alarms then went off at 4:40 a.m. as we gathered their luggage and met up with the rest of the group at 5:30 a.m. Following lots of hugs and a picture, I waved good-bye as the shuttles headed for the airport.

Amanda called tonight, the excitement coming through the phone loud and clear as she described how thrilling it was for her to ski. She told me she is using a "three track" system which means that she has a ski on her right leg and a small ski on the bottom of each of her poles. She said that it was hard work finding her balance but she loved it and was doing so well that they let her try the ski lifts and tomorrow she is going to begin going down some of the bigger hills. She said Caleb was also having a great time and they couldn't wait to go back again tomorrow.

Wow. She walked the isle, beautiful in her olivine dress and carrying white roses, we cheered as we watched another year become a memory of triumph and a new year was welcomed in, and today she is on the ski slopes of Utah. This holiday season, could there have been any greater gift given to me...I think not.

Blessed.