How great thou Art!

What a wonderful January we have had. In started with Jaque getting registered at Eastern college at Idabel and ended with mudding with friends in the Jeep.

January was a busy month. Jaque turned 19. WOW. We surprised her with dinner with friends at Papa's. She tells people that I joke about how she is almost not a teenager any more. There have been many exciting things going on in our lives, but I am led to share two stories with you all.

On a rare occasion, I have the opportunity to go to Chances this week. Monday found everyone smiling as she came in. As I walked behind her, I heard many "Glad to see you" "Been a while" and "where have you been" comments. Everyone there it seemed knew my Jaque and had sincerely missed her. A young preacher man.....who Jaque aggravated from the minute she rolled in, and he was dishing back. The older couple whom the wife had recently had knee surgery. He was watching over her (in a way that I much admired) and she was doing little, but it was all she could do. The faithful lady, who at close to 50 has had 80+ surgeries. And the young boy who seemed, like most boys, blushing as soon as he laid eyes on our girl.

They all watched and listened as Jaque and Chance stretched. Just like they were all our family, they were listening to where she had been and what all she had been doing. And like all of you, they smiled as they watched. I was truly touched by the warmth that I felt in those that surrounded her. Chance (her therapist) and his two helpers are really the best I have ever seen. They get that it is more than just working out. God has sent her to them. And he has sent them to hear her.

On Wednesday, I got to go again. All of the above were there. Jaque strapped on her braces and off she and Chance went. It had been awhile, so she was working hard for every swing, every step. Chance thought that the new sizing on the braces worked much better. On her way back across the room, she passed the man and his wife. He looked at her and his eyes filled with tears. He said, she is so tough, she is beautiful. Wow, she is so tough. And he looked at his wife, their smiles could have provided light for the entire room. Touched they were, and I am sure that she is now on their prayer list...and they are spreading the word. The young man just watched her and as she walked the room, each time she moved her walker, he got more determined on his bike. I wish that I could bottle how he looked at her. If she could see that each morning, no day would be bad. Of course, she is oblivious to the Ora that she releases as she strolled across the room.

And the older woman with so many surgeries, so many obstacles herself...she was just enjoying jaques chatty attitude. Ash she grabbed her own walker and struggled to walk out of Chance's, she turned to Jaque and said you are doing great girl, great.

What better testimony can a mom have? What better way to see the glory of God working but through your child.

One last story. We ran by Chances at lunch today. Jaque wanted to tan, so in we went. It is raining like crazy!! When we finally made it in, Chance and jaque were chatting over a young man that was there working out. Jaque said that he was in her reading class. This boy is a little slow. Not really in the mind, but in getting the words formed and out. As they talked about him, Chance shared that his mom takes him to the movies on Saturday's, so the boys mother can have a break. Jaque said that they were grading papers in class, and she asked him if he wanted her to grade his paper. So she did. She said that she took it to the teacher and told the teacher that she did not count any wrong (not sure exact wording, but follow me) because she was not quite sure how to grade it.

Then, she surprised even me. She said, you know, because even if he did not have it answered did not mean that he did not know it, he could have just not been able to get it down on paper. Wow. This to me speaks much of Jaque and Chance both.

Some people go through life living on the surface, others always seem to live a little deeper, and use every layer that they have.

Everyone keeps asking her what she is going to do with her life. She says she doesn't know.....but what she doesn't know is that she is doing it. She is fulfilling the purpose and the will of God with each person that comes in contact with her. Many of her friends are not ready for that type of burden. Not the burden of a chair, or her accident.. not that at all, it is not a burden, mealy a different way of doing things. The burden is in knowing that what you do and say affect people. Knowing that even those that do not know you, know of you and are praying.

A girl that Jaque played upward basketball with is in OK heart hospital. Without going into detail, she is in need of our prayers. Her illness have brought those around me to me with questions about while they DR had Jaque sleeping. I think it is really not about him leading them to me for questions, but leading them to me for me to show my UNWAVERING FAITH IN HIS HEALING. He says to be specific when we pray, so HEAR this and REPEAT this. God, while Katie Hamilton is sleeping, while you have her still, let her and her family not be afraid. Let them feel your presence, let them feel your love surround them. Your healing hands need to cover her body and touch where she might be hurting, in need of your mighty powers. God, do your will in her life. Let this young, 21 year old child of yours know that you are with her, let her hear the love of family and the words of emails from friends. Let the information that they get from the doctors who are worldly be driven by you that are ALL MIGHTY. Let the faith in you guide the healing, the recovery. Let this family know that no matter what news they hear YOU ARE IN CHARGE. YOU ARE THE MIRACLE WORKER. All things are possible through you, dear Jesus.

Jesus, you saved my Jaque. You preformed miracles in her life. Each day you bring her the possibility of passing your word to others. I ask that you, the same God that brought back jaque to me, seek out Katie in her time of need. Meet her needs. Amen.

Thank you to all family that will pray for Katie. And thank you to all of you that keep up the prayers for little ol' Jaque.

She is our miracle girl. Her attitude and love of life is far more that I ever expected. Eddie and Sassy sure do help too! she is on facebook, for those of you that have not found her yet.

Love you all. Carol