Graysen's BackStory: One Step at a Time

"Just put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking cross the floor. Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking out the door!".

This little song kept running through my head today as Graysen got up and walked through the house, and then out the front door and down to the stop sign!

It's from "Santa Clause is Coming to Town", my all-time favorite childhood Christmas special. You remember - it's some sort of special animation used to tell the story of Kris Kringle. It's called something - animonics or something like that. Anyway, it's the best. I watch it every year and I make my kids watch it with me. It's a must-see, as far as I'm concerned. Of course, animation has come a long way since this 1970's classic was made and my kids make fun of the old animation, but they are at least kind enough to indulge me and watch with me every year.

Anyway, as I was saying, it's the perfect Christmas movie and I'm gonna tell you why. It has all the important elements - explaining every Christmas tradition. Kris Kringle is an orphan, raised by the elves in the North Pole. He grows up with a big, caring, happy heart and wants to make the world a better place by giving toys to children. He runs into opposition when he gets to Sombertown and finds that the BurgerMeister has banned toys in all of the town. Kris meets the sweet, pretty school teacher, Miss Jessica, and he continues to find various ways of getting toys to the children. He decides that sneaking in through the chimneys and hiding the toys in the children's stockings is the way to go. He and Jessica fall in love and get married (Mrs. Clause). He softens the ice-cold heart of the Winter Warlock by just being a nice guy, and helping the Warlock to realize that he could be a nice guy too. He and Jessica get married in the forest with all the animals around, and decorate the first Christmas tree. And, most importantly, and the reason I love this movie, is that Kris tells everyone to remember the real meaning of Christmas. He proceeds to tell the story of the birth of Jesus and how that's what Christmas is really all about. Other than Charlie Brown's Christmas, when Linus drops his blanket and quotes Luke 2, it's one of the only children's Christmas movies that tells the story of Jesus. You should watch it. Your kids should watch it with you.

The songs are catchy and they stick with you at the most unexpected moments.

So, back to my girl.

Graysen. She's quite amazing and she has handled this whole ordeal with a ton of grace, determination, and moxie. She's tough. She's sweet. She's loving and appreciative. She's thankful and she's working hard to get better every day.

We are finally past the terrible, devastating pain - thanks to wonderful meds given every three hours on the dot. We are past the horrible sickness and nausea. She is moving a little better, getting out of bed more frequently, and sitting in a chair for short periods of time a couple times a day.

She is enjoying messages by text and on Facebook. She is thrilled when the mail comes and she receives cards and gifts from sweet, sweet, thoughtful friends. (There are really no words to express the gratitude we feel for such thoughtfulness). She loves to have the blog read to her and to hear the encouraging messages sent by so many who care about her and are praying for her. She asks us to read her Jesus Calling to her as she goes to bed each night.

She is improving each day. Little by little.

Tonight we ate a yummy dinner sent to us by our good friend, Mark Russell and his family and desert sent by our dear friends, the Ingrams. What a treat!

Graysen sat in the chair and wrote in her journal and then wrote some thank you notes.

Then, we went for a walk.

She put one foot in front of the other and walked across the floor. She continued to put one foot in front of the other, and walked out the front door. And down the sidewalk. To the end of the street. To the corner of Carlisle and Treadwell.

And then she walked back.

It was big. It was huge. We were so excited.

One step at a time, Graysen is getting there.