Making It Better

This past week has been all about trying to make Gracie feel better.  Even though she was feeling a smidge better, and was able to sit up without too much pain, she was still a sad little pickle.  

I decided to test a theory I have. I dressed Grace in a new sundress I had just purchased.  I brushed her hair and put it in a ponytail.  I got out her stroller, brought her out on the back patio with me while the boys played, and painted her finger nails and toe nails.  When I was all done fancying her up she was like a brand new girl.  Her mood had lightened.  My theory worked.  Sometimes pampering yourself, and fixing yourself up, makes you feel so much better.  

Grace was even brave enough to try her swing.  She was so happy to be out of the house, off the couch, playing with her brothers again. 

And it didn't even hurt her leg!  She went higher and higher on her swing, enjoying the breeze through her hair.

When the excitement of the swing wore off we decided to take a walk.  We put Grace in her stroller (I am so thankful we hadn't given it away yet, like we had planned), put on the new hat that she got from grandma, and away we went.

We walked to one of our favorite spots, the cemetery, and enjoyed going up and down the big hills and watching Molly run and play.  We told fun stories about grandpa as we watered his flowers (and my sister's flowers too), and then walked to great grandma's and great grandpa's graves to water their flowers as well.

We had a lovely time at our beautiful cemetery.  It turned out to be a much longer walk than we had planned and we were all kind of pooped out by the time we got home.

Still, it was a turning point for Grace.  Since then she has been happier knowing that there are still some things she can do and enjoy.  We were even able to get out on Saturday and take the kids to a movie.  Good times.

Yesterday was a bittersweet day, as I'm sure most of you would expect.  While the kids were well behaved at church, and we had a lovely time at Todd's folks' house, there was an underlying sadness for me.  I really missed my dad yesterday.  More than I anticipated.  And there were other things too.  The fact that Todd's dad is rapidly declining, for one, and many other little sadnesses that I won't get into.  Bittersweet.

This morning at 5 a.m. I woke up to booming thunder and pounding rain.  Though I love my sleep I was content to lie awake listening to the storm.  Listen as it soothed the dry grass.  Listen and it slapped against the roof.  Listen as it shook the windows.  Listen as it made everything clean.  Made everything better.

Now the storm is gone.  The sun is shining.  The windows are open.  Warm winds drift through the house.  And in my head I think of plans to make today better.