Update Monday night 9/12

Well, it was definitely Monday today!  Dale seemed tired and somewhat "off" all day.  He didn't actively rebel; he just didn't fully participate in some of his therapy classes.  I think this is partly due to Sunday being such a lazy day and partly due to his digestive tract acting up.  (Read what you will into that!)

Speech went well, though.  Dale's therapist had a few computer games for him to try.  Whoo-hoo!  These games are set up to respond to Dale's voice only; he had to make the effort to speak into the microphone in order to get the characters to move.  What a brilliant and fun idea!  Dale really liked doing this, even to the point of sustaining his voice through a long sound ("aaaahhhhh") and increasing the volume ("AAAHHHH") while trying to move the character to win the game.  Ever since we got here, Dale has been trying to get to a computer to play some games; it's been comical to watch him grab at a mouse or try to type on the keyboard (which is key-code locked).  Today, he got his wish---and loved it!

PT was pretty uplifting, too, because the therapist had Dale practice getting into our van.  We were unsure how Dale would do climbing into the van and adjusting his seatbelt.  How silly of us!!!  Dale climbed right in, settled himself in the seat, and looked at us.  You could almost hear him thinking, "Was this some kind of test?"  We then instructed him to fasten his seatbelt which he did with ease.  I had to quickly remind him that this was just practice because he looked so expectant.  He is sooooo ready to go home.  We keep counting down the days---8 more to go!

The van practice time also assured me that getting Dale home and in his natural environment is definitely the next, right step in his rehabilitation.  I believe that, once Dale is home and surrounded by familiar things, he will progress so much the more.  I can't wait!  Having said that, I pray daily that the Lord will help me be patient and trust Him and His timing.  Not only are we here at Good Sam for Dale's sake, but God may have us here for someone else's sake.  I do not have the time or space to tell you of all the people whom we have had tell us that they have been praying for Dale and our family---not knowing us, but having seen his story on TV or in the papers.  Just today during PT, we were walking down the hall and a lady on her phone started to pass us.  She stopped, told the caller to hang on, and said to me, "I just want you to know that we are praying for you."  I had never seen her before and may never again, but she blessed my heart with her words.  The other day in the PT gym, one of the therapists told us that an outpatient had seen Dale in the gym earlier in the week and wanted to do something special for him.  This person made some (excellent!) baklava for us and left it with the other therapist to give to us.  How incredibly kind!  We enjoyed every bite of their thoughtfulness!

Wherever we are, whatever we encounter, we are in God's hands---and there's no safer place to be.

Ephesians 3:20 - 21  "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen."