H is for Help

"I lift my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from?"

"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

Last Wednesday was a busy day for Lauren and me. She had a pulmonology appointment early that morning and then two pre-op appointments that afternoon. It was time for her annual heart cath procedure -- her first one with our new doctors and at our new hospital.

That morning I noticed the mountains and once again thought of how I should never doubt that God is taking care of us. The same God that created the beautiful mountains that surround our city is the same God that put our family here. With mountains on all four sides, it seems as if God has built a shelter of protection around us.

As we went through our busy day, I noticed how God must have reached down and provided an extra measure of help when I needed it.

All of our appointments went well, and Lauren was amazingly calm about the prospect of yet another heart cath. She got a bit teary while talking to the cardiologist about the procedure, but she is one amazingly brave little girl.

As we left the hospital that afternoon, I was a bit worn out from the busy day and knew that we still had Bible classes at church that night. I nearly cried with relief when a friend from church called to check with me about ingredients for that night's Fellowship meal. I usually pack a dinner for Lauren so that she can have something safe for her food restrictions, but she was able to eat what they were serving that night. They even set aside some corn without butter so that she could have some of that. What a relief not to worry about fixing a meal that night.

I picked up the big kids to go to church, and we were all treated to a gorgeous sunset.

"Have you ever looked at the sunset with the sky mellowing red, and the clouds suspended like feathers... then I say you've seen Jesus my Lord." I'm thankful for children that remind me of songs that touch my spirit and for children that notice when God is working in our lives.

Early Thursday morning, Tim and I headed to the hospital with Lauren. When we were a few blocks away from the University, the radio started playing Matt Redman's "You Never Let Go." That's always been one of Lauren's songs, and I was smiling as I heard her loudly singing along.

I could not have asked for a more encouraging sign from God than to hear my little girl singing at the top of her lungs. Even though we "walk through the valley of the storms of July," I know that God is near. (I love Lauren's version of the lyrics.)

Thank you, God, for the help I needed last week.

I'm linking this post up with Marcy at Ben and Me as my contribution to this week's Blogging through the Alphabet challenge.

As for the cath itself, everything looked great in the cath lab, and the final biopsy results will be back in another couple days.