Today is my mom’s birthday. I am so grateful I got to text her this morning and receive a text back from her- crazy how a week doesn’t go as expected and you can be left reeling in the muddle of “what if”. She had been feeling a bit sick, her energy low, weird low grade fever off and on, but after delaying their anticipated trip to NY to see my sister, they decided to go. As the week progressed, so did her weakness and health. A trip to the ER ended up with her being admitted where they found out she has Lyme disease and Babesia. Her particular case was severe, and has affected her lungs and heart. We all prayed as we watched her walk through the valley of the shadow of death. It’s not an easy place to be. You want to run into the sunshine and tear your eyes away from the darkness and feelings of separation.

Praise God- He is not finished with her yet! She is growing stronger every day. Her bloodwork is looking fine. She is responding well to treatment. I am “behind” in my Bible reading (whatever that means… it’s not a competition!) and yet I was exactly where I needed to be, in Psalm 41:

Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
    In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
² the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
    he is called blessed in the land;
    you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
³ The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
    in his illness you restore him to full health.

I celebrate her today! The hours she has spent caring for her children, her grandchildren, and many many more. She has a way of loving and noticing and knowing just what to say. I rise up and call her blessed. Happy birthday, Marmee!