Grandma and Lydia had a very busy day together.  Lydia has had her first set of casts removed, and then a shower, with many tangles to comb out of her hair from her restless head turning, some physio on her neck, and then new casts on her legs, toe to knees again.  They are serial casting Lydia's legs, which means that she gets a series of casts, new ones every week, to rest her calves and keep her feet flexed, so the muscles are not strained or shortened.  Lydia also had some speech therapy today, although, that sounds misleading, because the therapist is working to coax Lydia to be able to make sounds.  She is silent.  We are a long way from actual speech!  Our once articulate girl, is going to have to learn to talk again.  How we miss her chatter!  

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.  (Ecclesiastes 3:1)  When her time comes, she will speak. Or maybe she won't and she will communicate in other ways.  She has always been a good communicator, so I trust that she will find her way again.  It is clear that Lydia recognizes voices.  My mom reported that when her physiotherapist entered her hospital room today, and said hi to Lydia, her eyes popped open as she recognized his voice.  Ryan often makes Lydia work hard, so whether she was happy to see him, or dismayed at his arrival, we don't know, but she responded to his voice!  She sometimes has smiles for familiar voices of friends and family, even before something funny is shared, she smiles.  We are grateful again, for this gift of smiles.

At home, we are thankful for the rain to water the soil, and cool the air.  We are thankful for our able bodied, active sons, and their resilience.  We are thankful for the daily offers of help, cards, meals, and gifts for Lydia.  We are thankful for family business, and the generosity of our families to do more in our absence, in an already intense season.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.

Thank you for your prayers.