Bubble Wrap and Helmets

I wish someone had reminded me that bad things happen in THREES! Our oldest son's injury was #1 (you can read about it at www.brickeys.net, newsletters, November), but his dad and brother were soon to follow with #2 and #3. We had a great Thanksgiving weekend visiting family, but came home to absolute chaos. On November 29th, a Wednesday night, we were at church and Justin got a concussion while playing football with the high school guys. We went to the ER and he was okay, but his memory was pretty rattled. The next day his memory was coming back, but short term stuff was a little fuzzy. Being forgetful, he left a steak knife out on the table, and our three year-old son got ahold of it and managed to stab his hand. We went to urgent care, but he didn't need any stitches. It was a pretty deep puncture wound, so we had to watch it for infection, but that was it. Praise God! Justin has recovered well, and is now back to normal. Our youngest son's cut is now just a faint line on his hand. And our oldest son (the one who hit his head on a rock while camping) is long recovered.
My New Mantra: I'm going to wrap them all up in bubble wrap and helmets.

Thinking about the year...
Father,
The year began with wonder
If we would arrive where you have called us.
You said, "Wait my children. I am not done."

We stressed, we waited, and still we wait,
But our stress has been lifted
As we see your present work.

Thank you for giving time to heal our children.
What a gift to watch our oldest run and jump,
and our youngest speak.
When a year ago, they couldn't.

Thank you for giving us time to grow.
We were trying to do this on our own strength,
Now we're learning to lean on you.

Thank you for the friendships
That continue to deepen.
They are a foundation for our journey.

Thank you for bridging the gap
between our denomination and our call.
It's a humbling honor to work in the body of Christ.

Thank you for visions of the field,
of the ministry and life we will begin...
What does it mean? What will it hold?

You are not done, and we continue to wait,
But now we see what you have started to do...
You're making us truly YOURS.

Thank You.