This blog is such a source of inspiration for me.  And a source of connection.  My cyber friend Valerie, who lives in Gig Harbor, Wa...emailed me this after she read of my account at the playground.  How fun that she's involved in such an amazing project!  I don't have the time in this season to take this on, but maybe other might try to do something similar in their area!  It is so healthy for healthy children to play side by side with disabled kids - healthy all the way around.  I love this!

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Hi Shawna,

I read your blog today and thought immediately of this project.  Click here: The Penmet Foundation: The Boundless Playground Project    
A friend of mine is on the steering committee and this project just excites me.  My husband and I have been sponsoring the playground through numerous fundraisers.  I think every community should be required to have a playground such as this.  The one I loved was the swing and sway (may not be exact name) it is a swinging toy in which kids in wheelchairs are strapped in and then sway.  So cool.  I want my kids so be on playgrounds with kids of all special needs, whether visible or hidden.

I have so many friends that have chilren with special needs and so when we invested in this playground I thought of Joey, Micah, Hudson, Cody and so many others who can't play on the same playground as their siblings so I pray this will be a wonderful gathering place.  You should look at organizing one on the Eastside ( I know you just have so much idle time LOL).  There isn't even one anywhere else in the state.  So crazy but so exciting that our little community is looking at making this kind of investmet.

Hugs to you for such a fun day and here is to many more.  Valerie

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On another note, I was reflecting today on a coffee date I had with my friend Kim.  I was adamently talking about how I pray for Cody to be healed daily.  Not just of seizures - of everything.  Don does too.  We know God could do it - in the blink of an eye.  God snaps his fingers; Cody's healed.  I told Kim, "can you imagine how much glory that would bring the Lord?  And how people's faith would increase after seeing that?" 

Then I had to stop myself.  I got an email 2 weeks ago from a mom who said something to this effect:  "my daughter had infantile spasms and was one of the worst cases the dr's had seen.  But miraculously, the first drug she took removed the seizures and we've never seen one since!  I never felt closer to the Lord.  I'm so happy we got our miracle."  Of course my instant thought was "where's MY miracle?  Why did YOU get one and not ME?"  And my next thought was, "I hope I never hear from her again!"  Haha.  I laugh - but seriously - it hurts to hear that story.  I am THRILLED for this mom and daughter, don't get me wrong.  But as a mom who is still in it...still fighting for her son...I probably wouldn't see the need to keep an ongoing dialogue with the "miracle mom."  For one, it would hurt to hear about her child's continous progress - and to hear about the amazing relationship the mom has with the Lord since her daughter's seizures went away.  I would much rather hear from another mom who's further down the line from me and finding victory in the trenches.  I love hearing from mom's of older kids who say "it's going to be okay, promise!"  "I've survived - you will too!"  "here's what I've learned spiritually through this"...stuff like that. 

So I guess I have to say I'm torn - which would show God's glory more:  1) Completely healing Cody, or 2) Being an example that even in the midst of crushing life circumstance - He is faithful, He is able, He is trustworthy.  Probably a toss up.  I'll still continue to pray, daily, for that miracle that releases Cody from the prison of seizures and retardation.  And I will pray it with every fiber of my being - hoping and counting on our miracle.  And in the meantime, I will proceed with choice #2 - reaching out to those who are newer to this - for whom the pain is more fresh - and trying to be that example of a survivor.  And trying to be a witness in the Dr's offices, hospitals, therapy centers -- that abundant life IS possible even when you are facing overwhelming and horrible life circumstances. 

Some days I'm a way better example than others!  :)   But that's the way it goes.  And that's okay. 

with love,

Shawna