today & tomorrow

i thought i would drop a quick note.  it seems like the more life we live, the busier things get and the less time i feel like i have to actually sit down and write.  tonight the kids are in bed next to us in the hotel.  elizabeth mitchell is singing "you are my sunshine" on pandora for a little "night-time" lullaby music. 

we are in Grand Rapids tonight with an 8 hour appointment slated for tomorrow that is a check-up for lilly.  things have been REALLY good lately, and we see some positive changes for lilly.  her lack of any REAL infection for months has been an odd change for the better.  Her 1st four years of life it would be safe to say that she didn't go more than a month without being on SOME type of antibiotic.  Now, in years five and six... we find her having not been on more than 2 or 3 during this last two year time spread.  Some of that would come from her being older and smarter with where she puts her hands, and some of it, we believe, is a WONDERFUL mix of God's provisions through science and doctors as well as His beautiful & protective hand on her life and body.  

mindy and i have talked very recently of the journey this all has been so far.  i can remember like it was YESTERDAY the phone call/ the free-fall of fear my heart, mind, and body went through when we were hit with the diagnosis/ streams of tears/ the hands and bodies of friends and family holding us tightly and just letting us cry.  i'm not sure any of us could have imagined how this would all play out.  we still don't.  but in a real maturing in my faith i have come to understand a few things:  at the end of the day, the great God of the universe loved us so much that he gave lilly to us... exactly as she is.  none of this has caught Him by surprise.  all things pass through His hands.  All things.  this is hard for us to process some times because we think  things are supposed to be "fair."  God is good and so is His plan.  lilly is a part of that plan and so are we... through all of our questions, fears, and triumphs.  may God have the glory especially through the brokenness of this world. 

lastly: everything we have is on loan from us.  everything.  my daughter included.  how much of a blessing and a gift has every day been so far.  i would rather have these last six years with the journey, as it has been, and have it all end tomorrow than not have had it at all.  maybe that sounds silly or simplistic or naive.  to us... it just makes sense.

thank you all for your prayers, encouragement, and love. pray that tomorrow goes quickly.  these days can be long for lilly & mindy.

love wins,

lane, mindy, lilly, wills