Update Saturday afternoon 4/28

Praise be to God!  Dale has reached a new milestone.......four full weeks without a seizure!  Isn't that wonderful?  His previous record had been three weeks and six days (one day shy of four weeks).  I was on the phone with my mom this morning and was telling her just how long it has been since Dale's last seizure; since I wasn't exactly sure of the time frame, I checked my daily planner, and, sure enough, it has been four weeks.  Wow.  Who'd have thunk it?!  We believe the medication Dale takes has helped his brain fight off the seizure reflex, but we give our amazing God the credit for continuing to heal Dale's brain.  If Dale should have another seizure, so be it; we will still celebrate this wondrous event.  If God wills that Dale never suffer another seizure in his life, we will thank Him and praise Him as always.  Our God knows what is best.  I'm just thankful we have this particular reason to be glad!

I mentioned I was on the phone with my mother this morning.  She was asked to write an article for a Christian ladies' magazine, Christian Womanhood, about Dale's drowning, rescue, and recovery.  (This magazine is an excellent resource that helps Christian teens and ladies grow as godly women.  I don't believe you can view their articles online, but you can order just a single subscription if you desire.  Their web address is christianwomanhood.org.)  Her article was included in the May (Mothers' Day) edition of the magazine, and we just received it in the mail today.  When I read what she had written, I cried.  I hadn't visited those particular memories in a few months, and her account of those first few weeks brought back vividly just how dark those first days seemed and just how far God has brought Dale---and us.  She even brought out a few details about Dale's miraculous fight for life that showed just much prayer was being offered for our son and just how big our God showed Himself to be.  I know this magazine is read by hundreds of Christian ladies all over the U.S. and around the world, and I'm glad Dale's God's story will be used to show how strong His mighty hand of healing truly is.

My second youngest daughter, Ashley, and I were talking this afternoon in the car when she said, "You know, Mom, God has really blessed us a lot.  I mean, He has done so much for us."  I readily agreed with her, knowing our Father has, indeed, showered us with blessings.  We were listening to a CD by a group of sisters who have seen their own share of heartaches, faith testing, and God's grace.  One of the songs was about having faith no bigger than a mustard seed.  Ashley asked, "Is a mustard seed big?"  I replied, "No, a mustard seed is small---about the size of a sesame seed on a hamburger bun."  (If my analogy is a bit off, please forgive me!)  I reminded Ashley that Jesus had said that, if we have faith as big as a mustard seed, we could move mountains.  I continued, "We might not need a mountain moved, but, if that is what we could do with a little faith, imagine what God can do if we have a lot of faith!"  Her eyes got wide as she digested this information.  And it's true.......God is only limited by our faith in Him.  We look at a blind man and think, "He'll be like that forever."  Jesus says, "A little mud will take care of that."  We look at a dead person (Dale) and think, "What a tragedy."  God says, "Wait and see what I can do!!!"  We have a big God----as the song says, "Bigger than all our problems, bigger than all our fears, God is bigger than any mountains that we can or cannot see."  He is, after all, omnipotent which means "all powerful."  He is just waiting to help us with our needs, big or small, if we will but ask.

Dale sees the neurologist on Wednesday for a check-up.  I'm assuming the doctor just wants to see how Dale's doing, if he needs his meds adjusted, and if there are any new complications or issues.  Poor Dale.  He has this neuro appointment at 8:00 a.m., then SP at 11:00, followed by PT at 12:30 p.m.  By the time he's done, he'll probably be ready for a long nap!  (I know I will!)  He has PT on Monday morning as well; we moved SP from Friday to Wednesday due to a scheduling conflict his SP teacher has on Friday.  And then there's school as usual to deal with, so we will undoubtedly be quite busy.

To demonstrate Dale's goofy sense of humor:  Just now in the tub, Dale asked for help with the shampoo.  It's getting to the bottom of the bottle, so it's difficult to squeeze the shampoo out.  I helped, squirting the shampoo all over his hair and accidentally getting some down his back.  We laughed about this, and I instructed him to go ahead and rub it in.  Dale immediately reached around and began rubbing his back, saying, "I'm rubbing it in, Mom!" and we laughed again.  I'm so glad God allowed Dale to keep his funny bone; it's a heartwarming feeling that spreads all over me when I get to interact with Dale just as I used to.  Sometimes we need to slow down and repeat instructions or a punch line to Dale, as we do with other people as well; these times don't come very often and only serve to remind us how very blessed our family is to remain whole.

In His service, the Ostrander family---still seven strong!

Matthew 17: 19 - 21  "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said,  Why could we not cast him out?  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief:  for verily I say unto you,  If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,  Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."