In the Meanwhile...


Graysen and I left the doctor's office, got in the car, and didn't say much.  We just needed to be.  Just to think.  To process it all.

I called Tim and told him what we had heard, with me trying to remember all the details of the appointment.  He didn't say much either - he mostly just listened.  Of course, Tim being his usual "glass half-full" self, did say not to expect the worst and not to panic.  He was right, of course.  I tend to think worst case scenario and he tends to think bright side - we balance somewhere in the middle.  This is how we make it work:)  I was already just clicking off all the "what if's" in my head and that slippery slope of guilt and fear had me.  Tim was solid - he does't really do the worry thing so much.  It's all about the facts for him - and faith.

There was nothing to do except wait six months.  And pray.

We prayed, and we asked our family and friends to pray very specifically that the curve would not progress.  We thought if it didn't progress past 39 degrees, then she wouldn't even be a candidate for surgery.  Graysen did not want to have this surgery.  Tim and I did not want her to have this surgery.  Her brother and sister did not want it, nor did her grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, etc., etc.  It's not what we had dreamed for our little girl, to say the least.

In the meanwhile, we put our worry on a shelf.  We talked very little about what was going on with the crooked back.   We had our prayer warriors praying and we went on with life as usual. Graysen's back pain was getting worse and she kept that heating pad close by, but she didn't slow down.

A lot of you have said to us that you had no idea of all that I have shared recently.  No idea that Graysen battled with feeling ill for almost a year, no idea that she had scoliosis and was in pain, no idea of the stress the idea of surgery was causing us.  From the outside looking in everything looked normal, great, picture-perfect.  Well, there was a lot that was exactly those things and that's where we put our focus, what we talked about, and how we proceeded.  In the midst of all that was wrong, there was a whole lot that was right!  Our blessings outweigh our hardships and heartaches, and we have more to be thankful for than we could ever list!



A couple weeks after her appointment, Graysen and I went on a short mother/daughter cruise with two of her best friends from childhood (Bri and Kat) and their moms (my dear friends - Laurie and Tracey), who had moved away to two different states.  We had so much fun catching up and the girls loved every minute together - like they had never missed a beat.  It was the perfect get-away to get all the yucky stuff off our minds and to just celebrate life and the gift of friendship.

In April, Graysen had a great time going to two proms with handsome Lane!   She got to double-date for one of them with her twin cousin, Hope,  and had a great time with her besties for the other.

In May, we celebrated Tim's 50th birthday at his favorite place, the lake.

Graysen had the week of her life when she went to Windy Gap with Young Life in June.  Her crooked back didn't slow her down a bit!  She lived life in every way that week.  She was challenged physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  She has the most amazing leaders (Sara and Lindsay) and campaigner group in the world.  These ladies are one of the biggest blessings in Graysen's life!  Their zeal for life and their passionate love for Christ are life and heart-changing!  Blessings upon blessings...

Back from Windy Gap, Graysen and her MHS squad attended UCA cheer camp at UT, where she received an All American Cheerleader award!

We finished the summer with a most wonderful family trip to Hawaii to celebrate with our dear friends, the Millers,  as their daughter got married!  We had the best time and made awesome memories.  Jeff and Tim have been friends for 30+ years and we were so honored when Katelyn asked Graysen to sing at the wedding!  There is no substitute for true, time-tested friendship:)

We went home from Hawaii to start a new school year.  Graysen was so excited to begin her Senior year in high school!  It was time to study, cheer, hang out with her friends, go to Young Life, meet with her precious campaigner group, and finish high school in a big, fun way:)  

And it was time for our six month visit to take another look at that crooked back of hers.

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."   Psalm 118:24