Better Days

Despite getting the autopsy on Monday, which was hard for both Norm & I (& we burned it so none of our children would come across it and read) we have had some better days. Jayson & Benjamin are still sleeping upstairs on the couches, but I think we all have been sleeping better, including me. For me it's been almost a week that I have not laid awake for hours trying to fall asleep. That has really helped in being able to function better throughout the day. We have been doing more school work and reading, which has helped the children be in more of a schedule and have things to do. I like to make the popular fun fur scarves, and have gotten some orders to make them, and am making some for gifts, so that keeps my fidgety hands busy. :) Someone also gave our kids some puzzles which was a great idea and they have had fun putting those together.

Both Stephen & Jayson are feeling MUCH better from the accident. Stephen went back to work this week (at a horse stable), and though he still tires easily, and will take a nap in the afternoon after his automotive class, he is doing much better. His headaches are gone for the most part. He is still having problems with his jaw clicking when he eats, but it seems a little better. Jayson's back is feeling better too, though it does ache some in the mornings (maybe from sleeping on the couch?). He got the staples out of his head and stiches out of his leg last week. The one on his head seems to have healed well, but on his leg, that has been a little infected, but seems to be getting better. We are continually reminded of how much we have to be thankful for. The truck is in our driveway, and is a daily reminder of how much they were protected and how much worse it could have been.

Norm & I have been talking some on what to do with Matthew's gravestone. Norm use to work for his uncle at a place that made them when we were first married, and his uncle still does some business with it, and a cousin designs them. So, we are coming up with ideas. One of Matthew's favorite songs was by MercyMe, I Can Only Imagine. If you never heard this song (or even if you have) click that link for the song. The words are there, along with a real neat picture. Anyway, we may use a couple lines from the song, "Surrounded by God's Glory - Forever Worshipping Him". On Angela's gravestone we also used a line from Jesus Loves Me song, and have "Little Ones to Him Belong". Matthew loved music, and loved this song so much. As one of the children have said though, he does not have to "imagine" anymore - we do though!

We still have a lot to do and even get motivated to do. Norm has not done much recently with the bathroom downstairs. We are still talking about switching bedrooms around and trying to figure that all out. So, we have a long ways to go as far as making the physical new starts.

Thank you for the many notes again, and for your prayers. We know it's what is getting us through these days. The song that was sung at Angela's funeral was "Life is Hard, But God is Good" and seems to still be appropriate for these days.

~~Loni