Yes, we are still here - Praise God!!!!  Hope you are, too.  Joshua has been home for a couple of weeks and it has been absolutely insane.  I'm having trouble finding a routine (that's not a new problem, though) and I have been more physically active that at any time in the past 10 years.  There is a constant stream of traffic at the house - therapists, sometimes two or three visits a day.  I have tried to rest when Joshua is supposed to but he doesn't rest.  He is excited to be home and we are spending a lot of time talking.  I finally told him the other day that I was initiating "Quiet Time".  It lasted about 15 minutes.

Larrie and I are taking a few days off and heading for the Bible College at Murrieta.  Crystal and Scott will be staying here with Joshua and the rest of the kids will be on hand as well.  It will be strange but we'll try to relax.  Visiting Angels will be coming in on a daily basis to take care of some of his needs which will help with some of the load while Crystal is here.  They have hired me to be Joshua's personal care assistant (which is what I thought I'd been doing) and I actually have a time card to fill out and turn in!

We also have our first visit with a new primary care physician tomorrow and will be planning for outpatient rehab services after we get back from our vacation. 

We are praying that the time away will be refreshing and that we will not be anxious.  I am especially praying that I will come back ready for the challenge of full-time caregiving and a greater ability to balance my day - I think I've been flying by the seat of my pants for the last couple of weeks.

You know, I've been telling the women for a long time that their personal time with the Lord is the most important thing they can do.  I have been reminded how the demands of our daily lives can draw us away, deceiving us into thinking we will get around to it later in the day.  You and I both know we won't.  Over the last couple of weeks, it has been a struggle to find quiet time with the Lord and going before Him with an undivided heart.  All kinds of things fly through my head when I try to pray and the Scriptures make me think of items I need from the grocery store (especially when I read the lists of genealogies) or what I'm going to fix for dinner (I just recently read, "My peace I leave with you," which reminded me of pizza which made me hungry so I headed to the refrigerator instead of staying on my knees!).  It takes a tremendous effort to grab Him first thing in the morning (Okay, I confess, I've slept in a few days!)  - But IT CAN BE DONE!!! 

So - no more excuses...let's do it.  Let's make our First Love our first priority, the One we can't wait to seek and the Reason we arise in the morning.

Larrie and Rhonda