Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Sisters

I need my sisters.

Julie, Betsy and I are sisters. We lie on our beds and talk. We make sure Betsy's outfit matches on Sunday morning. We read Pride and Prejudice out-loud and then watch the movie version--all six hours of it. We bake cookies together and when something goes wrong we fix it.

I feel like my sisters are miles and miles away and I am waiting for them to return so that we can fix the problem. But they are not miles away. They are stuck in beds on two different floors of the hospital and I go up and down from one sister to the other, wishing I could fix the problem.

I want my sisters back.

So, thank-you to everyone who has been my "sister"--to those of you who've prayed, held my brother and sisters' hands, sat with my mother, fed me soup and let us cry.

I needed you.

Update:

We feel the love of hundreds and hundreds of people from neighbors to friends on other continents. Every need has been met, and beyond. We have enough food that we could have a potlock! If you would like to help but haven't had a chance yet, don't worry. After we measure time in minutes we will begin measuring it in hours and then days and then weeks and then months.

It will be days before Julie is able to leave her bed to go to the bathroom. Aaron and Betsy are still in ICU. Everyone else is recovering "at home." Naomi has a gash in her elbow that will have to be examined to see if there is foreign material still lodged inside. My Mom is feeling better--she feels like she's eighty-years-old instead of the hundred that she felt earlier.

I returned home yesterday afternoon after almost continually staying with one of my siblings from the moment I arrived at the first hospital mid-day yesterday. I meant to sleep a few hours and return to the hospital to stay with Betsy for the night. But Dad and LIbby were able to stay and God granted me much needed rest at home.

I have been living in a cloud of prayers. I didn't even need words Monday and I couldn't verbalize my prayers--I was living them. But I felt hundreds of people lifting my family to God. Monday as I held Aaron's hand moments before they wheeled him to surgery all I could pray was, "Lord Jesus please watch over Aaron during surgery." I would have come unglued had more been necessary. Our friends and family did the rest of the praying for me during the first twenty-four hours.

Tuesday highlights:
~Betsy is wearing a pair of multi-color socks. Hospital walls are drab, regulations can be strict and Betsy loves color.
~Betsy's neck collar was removed and she's been able to suck on ice chips.
~A positive report that Betsy may not have to have surgery for her kidney.
~Mom's friends have cared for her and the younger children at home.
~We found the cell phone that was momentarily lost under the car seat.
~Naomi was able to get a liquid antibiotic so she didn't have to struggle to swallow pills.
~Julie's friends, three daughters of the missionaries with whom she spent two months in Africa this summer, called and made her feel loved.

Requests:
~God will send Betsy color that the nurses approve and appreciate.
~God will give Aaron a bit of pleasure today (yesterday morning was tough and in the afternoon he was highly drugged because of the pain).
~God will give Julie peace as she thinks about the future.
~It sounds silly, but I would like to take some pictures today. It's my therapy along with writing.
~Joel and his family and all my aunts and uncles and cousins. We wish they were here.
~The important things like whether Betsy needs surgery for her kidney and relief from pain and clearness of mind and...
~The other person who was involved in the accident. We don't know anything except he also was transported to a hospital.
~Strength and wisdom and God-honoring relationships with everyone we contact.

Thank you.

13 comments:

  1. Amy...we have been praying continually for you and your family. Special prayers were lifted up when Logan called last night. When you can, give me an update regarding that call.

    ~ Your loving sister in Christ ~ Betsy O.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your prayers were answered. I was at home when I got a call about 2 a.m. By the time we got to the hospital, every one was resting better. They had a tough night.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you, Amy, for your response--and praise the Lord for His protection over them! This morning, I took a prayer walk and asked the Lord to give you all strength and energy to minister to one another, despite how physically gruelling this has been for you. His strength is amazing, Amy...keep leaning!

    ~ Love you ~ Betsy O.

    ReplyDelete
  4. We're continuing to pray. It's on our church pray list and I know people are praying for your family. We love you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. One other thing, Amy...I sent information about the other driver to Julie's email...I noticed she had Betsy's laptop yesterday.

    ~ Love, Betsy O.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love you guys. I might be up again today if I can get homework done.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ...hugging you in my thoughts and prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  8. We just heard about your family's accident. We send our loving thoughts and prayers. Thank you for sharing your heart on your blog; we didn't know it existed. God is being glorified. Thank you. Much love from the Schulzs.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you, Jo, for a much-needed laugh in these circumstances. We've known Amy's heart existed for quite some time now...as well as her blog.:-)

    Seriously, thank you for unknowingly bringing a little lightness where it is needed.

    ~ Love, Betsy O.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Amy, Glad you are being taken care of. When, the food need arises...give me a call. If you want Jerry to do chores or anything, please let us know.

    Prayers for you all.

    Dawn for Jerry and the rest

    ReplyDelete
  11. praying for your family -priscilla friend of judith's

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was so very sorry to hear about the accident, Amy! What a terribly difficult time these past few days must have been for you and your family! I will be praying for you all. May the Lord's peace and strength be yours during this time.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Amy,
    Thanks for posting these updates on your blog. I've given many people this web address so they would know how to pray for you all specifically each day. There are people praying who don't even know you.... how awesome to know that we have brothers and sisters in Christ who we haven't even met yet! "When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be..."!

    Tell Aaron, Julie, and Betsy to hang in there! I know they're all in a lot of pain.... and probably tired of being stuck in bed.

    Love and Prayers to you all..... and of course BIG HUGS!
    Joni

    ReplyDelete