Monday, September 29, 2008

A Post at Last

The last several nights I have gone to bed with sleep taking precedence over posting. I'm pretty tired tonight too, but after thirty minutes of tossing and turning I thought: I can either lie here awake here at 11:30 and not post or I could post. I thought I'd rather post.

As for Jess, she hasn't posted because she has been zapped. She finished up radiation last week. Her hair started falling out in clumps so I buzzed it. Not only does she need more help transferring (for example wheelchair to recliner) but the part she plays in transferring wears her out. She never ceases to amaze me. This is without a doubt the weakest I have ever seen her but in her weakness she shows strength. She is the strongest weak person I have ever seen, and for those of you that have seen her out and about lately with a smile on her face you will know what I mean.

She gets her stitches taken out tomorrow from her hip surgery and will see Dr. Haley in about two weeks. I think she'll have scans about 6 weeks after that.

I think a common thing people tell Jess and I is that they are amazed by us. Ha! It is we are amazed by you. How many times have we asked ourselves, how can we do this? Then a meal gets brought, our laundry is washed, money is given, and our family is prayed for and then it is just enough. Just enough to get through the day. Today for example, my car died in the middle of the road before school, so someone helped me push it to the side of the road and then jump-start it. It didn't die again until I reached our house. I looked over and saw a friend of ours praying for us in her car outside of our house like she is in the habit of doing. It gave me a visual of all the people praying for us and supporting us and I thought I can do this (my car's fixed now thank you Cornerstone Automotive).

Let me leave you with a story about Jadyn this past week. We were driving back from soccer practice and she started asking me about all the cold places people live at. The reason she was asking this is that the heat in Texas even this late in September is African hot (my apologies to my cousin Kate who actually is in Africa right now and probably has a better idea of what hot really is) and she was pretty miserable since my car hadn't cooled down from the a/c yet. When I tried telling her that it's not pleasant being really cold either, Jadyn turned to me and said, "If it's cold, all you have to do is drink hot cocoa."

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update Jake and allowing us into your lives!

Thinking and praying for you.

Love, Janette

Anonymous said...

You guys are constantly in my thoughts & prayers.

Jake, you guys ARE amazing. Not in and of yourselves, but the unwavering faith that shines in you. There are many people who gain strength from watching your family persevere where many of us would have given up and given in. Your faith is like that of a mustard seed - it moves mountains!

I have to agree with Jadyn. If you are cold, you can always add another layer, but you can take off all you can dare to and still be HOT! Bring on winter! And, bring on the hot chocolate!

Anonymous said...

Out of the mouths of babes. Life really is more simple than we make it.
Thank you for updating Jake - We continue to love you all and pray for you all. Not living close, I am blessed in word when I read of all that is being done for you all but also know that you have loved others and that love is being reciprocated.
Chris Basden

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the update. Even though I know most of us would like an update just know that we would rather you get some sleep - sweet sleep. I will pray for this specifically for you and Jess.
We are blessed to know and love you.
Terre Coble

lori gentry said...

hi jessica hi jake,
you guys totally amaze me. you're in my prayers. love ya lots,

lori gentry

Anonymous said...

Hi Jake! No apologies necessary - it's actually quite lovely in Kenya these days :) But just wait until January!!

Thanks for the updates - you should know that there are lots of people wishing you and Jess well from here on the other side of the world!

Love, Kate

Anonymous said...

Sweet Kaylors....this prayer came from Ed Laymance today. I think Jesus sent these words to us through Ed. I love you guys....Heaven and back a gajillion times over.

Holy Father, your grace is enough; it is all we need. Your strength comes into its own in our weakness. May our focus be you and not our weaknesses and limitations. May we in all things and in all ways and at all times chose to just let you take over, so that we experience your strength in ways we never knew possible!

Love you,
Aunt Sandy

Anonymous said...

" My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size - abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become."
(2 Corinthians 11: 9-10 The Message)

Well, I see your Aunt Sandy and I have been reading the same emails! This is the scripture that Ed used with his prayer Sandy shared in the comment above. It had been on my heart all day to share with you. The Message version of this familar verse, seems to perfectly capture in words the miracle you are living in Christ's strength each day.


So glad we all share this piece of earth together.

Goodness and Mercy,

Wendy Smith