What A Day

Last night my parents, Burns and I sat down and talked specifics about what it will look like for us when Shelton is discharged from rehab.  We all have millions of questions.  However, we kept coming back to one major focus point, making sure Shelton independently decides where he wants to go when it is time to go home.  We all know that his road will be long.  We know that he will need support.  Just the right amount of support, assuring that he isn't being held back by too much help that he will never be able to live on his own.  The reality is that he is 18, and has a huge future ahead of him.  He needs to decide where he has the best chance for success AND realize what that looks like for himself.  He knows the reality of living both here and at his mom's house.  One thing we all know for sure is that no matter where he goes, he will be taken care of and loved.  He also knows, however, that the expectations will differ greatly depending on the home he chooses.  If he is going to be living with high expectations, he needs to have decided for himself that high expectations are exactly what he needs.  Lots of prayers were lifted up last night as we all laid down to rest.

Today, Burns spent a full day at the rehabilitation center with Shelton.  He went through his therapy sessions with him, spoke with doctors and had a great conversation with the case worker.  The best part of the day though was a conversation he had with Shelton.  They "got real" and had the best conversation the two have ever had.  Burns told him that while we would love for him to come to our house, we want most of all for him to choose the place where he wants to go when he is ready to leave the hospital. Shelton opened up and from the bottom of his heart said that he knows coming here is exactly what he needs.  What a blessing for him and us.  Now, while the prayer list opens w-i-d-e up from here, we will spend just this evening thanking God for the ways he is working in Shelton's heart.

There is more to be said about that, but for now I leave you with this...God still hears our prayers and answers them in His time.  What a comfort this is to us, and hopefully you as well!

Evidence of miracles (quick anecdote) - You may have seen the commercial lately of the 5 guys all playing wheelchair basketball.  At the end of the commercial, 4 of the guys get up and walk out of the gym, while high-fiving their one friend left sitting in his.  Burns asked Shelton if he would ever like for him and some guys he knows to do that with him.  After thinking about it for a few minutes, he said that it would mean a lot to him.  Being fresh in Burns' mind, he decided to stop by a little thrift store near the hospital on the way home to see if he could find an inexpensive wheelchair to have here for just such occasions that he can use.  After finding nothing he walked out of the store and on the way out met a nice gentleman looking for directions.  It turned out that the gentleman was looking for a medical supply store so that he could sell a wheelchair that he was needing to get some money for.  It's a nice chair and was a great deal.  Does God meet us right where we are, or what?  We have much to be thankful for, over and over again!