DAY 200

Well everybody, today marks the 200th day we've been waiting

on the lung transplant list. We praise God that Kenny has been healthy while waiting and life has been relatively normal

(whatever that is)!

I ran into an old friend yesterday...

(Hi Jenny!)

It got me thinking about my life...

The ways my life has changed for the better and for the ways my life

has become, let's say more challenging.

Do you want to know something funny?

I am more happy now, at this more challenging stage of my life,

than I was 7-8 years ago, WITHOUT the same struggles.

Sure, my overall volume level is MUCH higher, my dramas are a bit MORE dramatic, the sickness is definately MORE sick...

but not everywhere or everything. It was very encouraging to me to think how I was as a person years ago, when this friend knew me well, and think how vastly more healthy and stronger I am today than I was then. Even in the re-telling of the various hardships my family had to endure, I knew I was discussing

'weighty' material, and I was okay taking that little trip down

memory lane, without the pain, emotion or heartache attached to it.

I don't doubt that this 'holding pattern' we are in right now is

buffering much of the stress and strain, but I still feel greater strength. Not only in myself but in Kenny, our marriage and our parenting and even the kids on individual levels. It is truly a blessing and a lot like opening a present you found hiding behind the tree weeks after Christmas.

Anyway, just a "Dawn of Redeeming Grace" from my heart to yours.