Remember Olivia

As you may know, Ryan has spent a total of three weeks in the hospital over the course of the last three months. They were three weeks full of questions, some answered and some not. Three weeks full of my kids wondering why their dad is sick. Three weeks full of thinking "this just isn't fair" and "why does this keep happening." Three weeks full of not being able to make any plans.

But it was also three weeks full of text messages, prayer chains, and phone calls. Three weeks full of friends and family arranging their schedules to help in any way possible. And three weeks full of reminders about how lucky we really are.

I struggled a lot with keeping myself in check. Through the toughest days of those three weeks, I had to remind myself that some people are in far worse situations. And it is hard to remember that during tough times, especially as holidays approach.

But God works to put us in situations that will give us a lesson. I had lunch with my mom last Friday. She had been at a tire shop that morning and was talking to an employee. He mentioned he had a 5-year-old daughter who had been diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year. He said they'd be spending Christmas with her but that their celebration would be at the hospital.

My heart sank. Allison is 5 years old. And I cannot imagine having to see her in that kind of pain, wondering constantly if and when we could bring her home again and if she would be cured. And in that moment, I was reminded of the many blessings we have. Hearing this little girl's story was enough to encourage me to just keep trusting and praying that everything would be okay.

I remember the few days leading up to Christmas and on Christmas day seeing social media posts full of stacks of gifts and tons of decorations. People seemed so happy. And then afterwards I started seeing posts about how awful the day was for some - a family member said/did something I didn't like, I didn't get what I wanted, etc. And I just thought some of the holiday celebrations we are all complaining about are the very same ones other people are hoping to have.

So as you enjoy - or don't enjoy - sitting in your house on a sofa under a warm blanket with family and friends playing on your smart phone or tablet, remember Olivia. She just wants to be home.