Get a little Mud on the tires

Can you believe that it is 2010? Seems like I just got use to writing 09 on my checks.

I hope that this finds you all doing well. It is such a stressful time of year, just after Christmas, and taxes looming on the horizon. I have been wondering why we all get so stressed this time of year.

Then, I look at my Jaque. My sweet, larger than life child that seems to take a breath and put things in perspective so well.

She has had a wonderful Christmas vacation. She has been to the movies, partying with friends, running around with Payton, and most of all---MUDDING!!!!! Yes, you read it right. She, Payton, Justin, and Heather from her Vipers team loaded up and got to go mudding! She was so excited and happy about the great time that they had. She honestly had mud between her toes. She got wet and it was sooo cold, but I think that it was so worth it. Just to see that smile on her face ---- God is good.

For Christmas she got a punching bag. Funny gift I know, but she tells me that when she use to get mad before, she would just get out there and pitch. And so I guess the mystery of the 60 MPH ball is revealed? lol. She said that she could pitch or run out her emotions before, but what does she have to do now? So, it was a logical choice for Eddie and Sassy to give her for Christmas. She got clothes, money, and a dart board from her grandma's. They are so great. She also got jewelry from Payton. Yes, he did a good job picking it out.

This week we are trying to get her enrolled in Idabel and the college here. It will be less miles, and many of her friends have come home to go there, so we are trusting that God is guiding us in the right direction.

She is still working hard at therapy and having fun in the process. It is very time consuming but anything worth doing is.

It was two years ago today that we saw the sun rise in Little Rock, and all of our family was arriving. She had the accident on January 3, and our family was there just as fast as they could make it. How they all made it was a miracle in itself.

I commented on my facebook that God showed us a first miracle in that she survived. Dr McCarthy said that no one he knew had ever survived a break that bad. I said they just did not know Jaque, nor our God.

On January 6, 2008 - Chris and I had a big decision to make. Her stats were dropping quickly, and they had told us to get ALL our family to the hospital. I don't think they realized how many that included. But security let them in....and they came. They told Chris to wake me and get me to her room. She was fading....and fading quickly. If they did not get her stabilized, well..you know. So before everyone arrived, we prayed with her. We said that she was in so much pain, that she needed to understand that God's will would take care of her. That regardless of what happened, we loved her. We told her that we would be ok, and to fight hard, but that if God needed her, to go with him. Then our family showed up, and I told them what was going on. Chris stayed with Jaque. I remember stopping outside the room and taking a big breath and saying, pleading that God give me strength. He did. So they let us go ahead and let family members go back. As with Noah and the Ark - two by two they went. Her O2 was way low. And had to come up. As our family, our rock, came in and laid hands on her and prayed, the number rose. As if she was just wanting to get them out of bed and reward each of them a little with O2 rising.

Of course when the number got back stable, it seemed like a moment and they doctors and nurses were shaking their heads in awh. I am not sure how much time had elapsed, but that wonderful family we have did not stop until they kicked them out that night.

I told them, over and over, you do not understand that this is my Jaque. She is a conqueror. She is the one that keeps pitching at 3 am because everyone else is worn out. She is the one that wants the bat with the game tied. Now she is the one who is your friend when all are against you. She is the one when you do not know how to get your life in order, telling you to buy the Love Dare book. She is the one that looks at me and tells me how much she admires her dad and hope that the man she marries is just like him.

What we all thought might have been the worst day of her life, was not. She is getting better every day. She is growing better every day, She is too strong to let the ol' devil get her down.

I know that she must have bad days, and bad moments. But you know what - we all do. And I say all the time that she sure is enjoying life a LOT more than 99 % of people walking around.

Today, please pray for God's continuing healing in her body and in her life. our prayer, JER 30:17. Young people, not just Jaque, need our prayers all the time. Let God use her imperfect life to witness to those who need guidance, and along the way continue to show her the path she must take. She is by no means perfect, but only Jesus is.

Paved of concrete or Gold, that would be great...but if her road must be a little muddy and slippery....get ready...she will not see that as an obstacle, she will just see it as having more fun along the way. She has 4 wheel drive and is on standby. And as she always tells Chris, the mess is always worth it.

Thank you for keeping our family in your prayers. Love you all. Much love to our bro's and sis's and Thank you all for being there for us in any time of need.