Continuing on

On this cool and gray afternoon, I am sitting near Amanda as she rests. The hospital bed that has now become a part of our front room has helped to give us more options as we seek to find ways to help keep Amanda resting comfortably; for that we are grateful.

We actually tried as hard as possible to delay bringing this bed in...Amanda was concerned that it would change the whole feel or focus of the room once we did. Now that it has been here for a few days, she was kinda right that it did change the room some, the new furniture arrangement though actually works very well (thanks to the decorating talents of Haley and her "moving crew") but the feeling and the focus has remained the same. We continue to...

1) celebrate that we have two seniors in the house. Making decisions, sorting through pictures for their slide show and encouraging Caleb as the demands of the end of the school year mount, is now a regular part of each of our days. We are so very proud of both him and Amanda and this very special time in their lives.

2) enjoy our time together as a family. Abby is home from her first year of college and the four sisters are so happy to be together again. Each night, Abby and Amanda again share the big bed they used when they were younger (Amanda still likes to sleep in her own bed at night) and their quiet, nighttime whispers are balm for their hearts and mine. That just leaves us one child shy of our complete group...now if only China weren't so far away.... :-{

3) laugh and sing badly. On a night that we were together in the front room, helping Caleb and Amanda choose their background music for their senior slide show, an impromptu concert broke out as we couldn't resist joining in as we sampled different show tunes and old time favorites. A new definition for family may be those people who don't leave the room when everyone chooses their own key to sing in!

4) talk quietly, remember special moments softly, dream of eternity, and sometimes wonder about things that we don't yet know. But every conversation, every tear, every shared moment binds us with memories and love that can't be changed by physical presence.

5) be grateful. For family, friends and neighbors who continue to show us love and support. Their gifts, their visits, their support of our entire family means more to us than we can ever say.

And so, it is true, there is now a hospital bed in our front room. It looks beautiful; Amanda has received many incredible quilts throughout her journey and we love to use them all. Today it is covered by a gorgeous soft pink and green, antique looking quilt sent to Amanda from a dear friend of mine from high school. Amanda rests against a small pillow with the word "JOY" stitched across the front. There is no wonder that word, that name, is so descriptive of her...

I want to end with one other decision that Caleb and Amanda had to make. Each senior is asked to choose a verse to be printed by their senior picture in the yearbook. I thought I would share with you Amanda's choice.

Psalms 16:8 - I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Amanda said this about her choice....

Through the challenges that I have faced over the past few years, the words of this verse have been a constant reassurance to me. To know that God has already gone before me...preparing my way and yet He stays close enough beside me to hold my hand; continually I am reminded - what do I have to fear?

And so, even with the changes we continue to face, there is one other thing we continue to do...to follow Amanda's lead and learn from her.

What a teacher, what a lesson.