It is usually known as a deathtrap, a place where broken bones, sprained ankles, and tweaked backs usually are born, but for us it has amazing magical qualities. It is a place where Grace goes everyday to jump and exercise, from the house or the front yard or the neighbors yard you can hear her sweet laughter and pure joy in her voice as she jumps forgetting about what has now become common place inside our house. It is a place where Tanner and I can play soccer and laugh until we cannot stand, it is a place where our entire family congregates and plays pass, or dead man, or poison ball. It is a place where Kim, T, and Grace jump like pencils and chase eachother. And now it is the place where Eva finally learned to walk. We never pictured the tramp as such a big part of our lives, but for some reason every night we are out there playing, talking, and enjoying one another. Thank you Grandma, Grandpa, Nick, Max, and Sam for this amazing daily retreat.
Thank you Grandma GiGi and Grandpa Gill for these great "Gracie" T shirts. The kids love them and I know they help Gracie know how much support is behind her.
Five is a magical age. It can be full of bliss, endless possibility, and simplistic joys. All of Grace's magic is embodied in that precious smile and her shining eyes. So, to see those little eyes dulled by potent medicine and her energies usurped by this illness it difficult. Grace's life still contains magic, just dilluted a bit by her realities. She has had a few hard days. She wants so badly to do so many things, but her mind is far more energized than her body. Thursday was picture day. She wanted to go, but couldn't muster the energy to leave bed in the morning. JR is an optimist and very proactive. So that she wouldn't be so sad about missing pictures, he phoned the photo company, took a few pictures-and made sure she would have a Kindergarten picture. Today was one of the harder days. She was angry, and refused to even try to go to school. It leaves us wondering just exactly what we should be doing. When should we push and insist that she try things? When should we just relax and let her find her way? We want so badly just to do things right for her. I think the unknown is the challenge. But, we continue to believe that we are never left without divine assistance. Maybe, at the end of all this, we will understand the gift of childhood a little better. Maybe we will understand that life is more about the pleasure of small moments, discovery, kindness, and relationships. Grace, Tanner, and Eva are teaching us small lessons daily and for that we are grateful!
