Over the past few weeks Victoria has had the opportunity to participate in the Lake Macquarie Library's BaRK program. BarK - Building Reading confidence for Kids involves reading each week for 15 minutes to a dog, provided by Delta Society, over an 8 week period. The aim is to build children's confidence with reading.
Victoria has enjoyed reading to Zac, a trained therapy dog. The Delta Society is the group that also provides the therapy dogs that Victoria met during her hospital stays. It never ceases to amaze me the many many ways people are helping others and being so generous with their time, gifts and talents.
Riding continues to be part of Victoria's therapy program too. Last week she had the opportunity to do some grooming with her left hand.
This week was a little chillier, so had to pull out the warm jackets. Victoria had to navigate some of the natural 'hazards' when riding outside this week.
Alexandra, one of Victoria's most loyal supporters, had some fun in the mud this week at RDA. I praise God that He bought Alexandra into our lives, when we thought with 3 children our family was complete. Alexandra brings so much joy and laughter to our family. She has resilience and maturity well beyond her years. Alexandra Fay you are a blessing to us all! Our Heavenly Father always knows best.
Over the past few weeks I have been participating in a Redkite counselling telegroup, designed to help parents transitioning from having a child on treatment, to moving to a 'new' normal life. As life never returns to how it was before the child's diagnosis. The discussions have been very emotional and encouraging. Emotional, as we talk about what we have been through, the impacts on our children, marriages and families. Encouraging, as we realise how resourceful and resilient we have become.
For me, these therapy sessions have taken on another aspect too. As Victoria continues to live with the tumour, from a medical perspective, the prospect of more treatment is inevitable. We continue to trust God regarding the necessity and timing of further treatment. However, should further treatment be necessary, these therapy sessions have helped me to evaluate the various strategies we used before and formulate some different strategies should they be needed in the future.
These Redkite therapy sessions have also reminded me how much closer I have drawn to God over these past three years. I have written a bit about that journey on my latest God Girl blog entry if you are interested in reading more about that, just click on this link. His word has truly become my life's blood. This scripture sums up where I am today in my walk with Jesus. I hope it encourages you to.
I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.
I remember it all - oh, how well I remember -
the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there's one other thing I remember,
and remembering, I keep a grip on hope.
God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with GOD (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left.
GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It's a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hop for help from GOD.
It's a good thing when you're young
to stick it out through the hard times.
When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions.
Wait for hope to appear.
Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The "worst" is never the worst.
Lamentations 3:19-30 MSG
Thank you again to everyone who continues to stand with us in prayer and support us in so many practical ways.
