Life in the Saunders house has been crazy over the last six weeks, and that is why I have been a terrible blogger.
School started. Will is in first grade and Cate is in pre-k. Both kids are doing well. Will has the same teacher and therapists and several of the same classmates as last year. He loves school, and I love that! Cate started at Abundant Life School, a small private Christian school, and is doing wonderfully. She loves school and is learning so much. Not that I'm biased in the least, but she really is a smart girl. She is learning lots of book stuff but also, more importantly, she's learning the Word of God. She learns a Bible verse every week and tells me about Isaac, Adam and Eve, Noah, etc. I love it! When she thinks we're not listening, I hear her teaching her big brother about the Bible stories she is learning. So proud!
Jeremiah has been on the job hunt but hasn't found anything yet. He's in the process of applying to be a substitute teacher for North Little Rock schools. Hopefully it will work out and he can work at least some. Now that both kids are in school, we really need for him to be working. money is tight, and some breathing room sure would be nice.
My job is going great! I love what I do and for the most part, love everyone I work with. Taking care of kids with special needs is what I was made to do. I'm in the second year of my three year fellowship and am starting to have to think about what I'm going to do when I grow up. I really didn't think it would happen so soon, but it is. So, I am praying and trying to stay focused on God's will for my life, not my will. There is a lot tugging at us to keep us here in Arkansas. While I know that wouldn't thrill my family, I have to remind them that Arkansas is not nearly as far away as Papua New Guinea or China (where I have friends who are missionaries), so it could be much worse.
Will is doing okay medically. His seizures seem to be stable. His increasing lower extremity tone is probably still progressing, but if so, it is doing so slowly. His MRI showed that the syrinx on his spinal cord has only grown a tiny bit and is still too small to operate on. The test for neurotransmitter disorders he had came back normal, which didn't surprise me. It's good that it was normal but doesn't explain why his tone is getting worse. I'm going to do my best not to worry about it though. I can't change it. All I can do is love my boy and provide the most love and best care he can get. And after attending the funeral of a child from his class at church this week, I am reminded of how lucky we are and how much worse things could be.
I know this hasn't been the inspirational or encouraging post I often try to write, but I just don't feel very inspirational right now. I'm praying for strength, peace, and provision for my family. I'm praying for physical health and healing for my son, my niece and nephew, my friend from work and many others. I'm praying for wisdom and guidance regarding the decision I'll have to make about work. And I'm praying for rest and renewal, for my mind, body, and spirit. I hope everyone reading this is doing well, and I hope to have an uplifting post for you to read soon. Until then...
