Lea remembered today that I had previously shown her the robe given to her by a friend last weekend. I had been showing it to her each morning, as though it was a new gift, to test how good her short-term memory was. Today, for the first time, she remembered that she had seen it, and from whom it had come. 🙂
One of the things that was really funny about the robe was that it was wrapped in a crème colored gift paper with pastel butterflies of all colors. The first time Lea saw the paper it was obvious that she liked it a whole lot, so I kept it, and made it a part of showing her the robe each day. Yesterday, I took a large piece of that paper and framed it, and now display the “picture” where she can see it.
Each morning I have been pulling a bedside table over her bed, and one at a time show her each of the gifts she has received, and I remind her of who sent each of them. It has been fun seeing her reactions to each of the gifts each day, but it is immeasurably more satisfying to realize that our Father has chosen to return her to us with all of her mental capacity. Glory to God!
His power is undeniable, and His goodness is manifest in the many miracles He has been working through Lea. I continue to pray for her miraculous healing as we enter many weeks of recovery and rehabilitation, and give Him my thanks for His mercy and blessings as He has brought Lea through her many trials.
Your support and prayers have richly blessed us during each of our daily struggles here, and I trust you have been blessed to some degree by what we have experienced. We have rejoiced as we received each email message that talked of someone getting closer to their family and other loved ones, and walking closer to God, as they followed Lea’s hour-by-hour battle for survival.
Lea is not out of the woods yet, but we definitely can see daylight ahead! It is the glow of God’s promise to love and protect His children, and the prayers you have provided for her have helped bring us to this point. Thank you! Lea is now going through a period of depression. She doesn’t want to exercise. She doesn’t want to smile. She doesn’t want anything good to enter her life right now. And, I have to say, I really can’t blame her.
She wanted to see her wound today during the dressing change. Not because she wanted to see what it was like, to confirm her suspicions that everybody should REALLY feel sorry for her, because it is HUGE, AND UGLY! So, we allowed her to see it for the first time, and she slipped into a deep, quiet period. I can understand her feeling of deep remorse. Her body is permanently disfigured, and we can never go back to where we were. She will come around in her own time. She just has to adjust.
But, it’s okay. In the end I am going to take her home with me, and I am going to love her as much as I possibly can, because we have been given some more time to be together. I’m going to make it as special as I can, and, I have a little secret that is going to help us through her psychological adjustment to that scar. It’s that discovery I made while she was asleep for so many weeks, and we were unsure whether medically “she” was still in that body.
The little revelation so many never experience: It isn’t the body I’m in love with; It’s the spirit that lives in that body that won my heart and has held it captive for so many years; the spirit that turns that smile on to brighten the day of all who see it; the spirit that has touched so many lives during her years prior to this illness, and has inspired these nightly letters of devotion that have reached the souls of so many folks around the globe. Praise God!
Some timely insight from a loved one in Christ: “I just wanted to take a moment and tell you . . . I too have had my tummy opened 2 times and those scars will heal. Not that you will never be the same, but you can cover it up and be thankful you are able to see it every day. God Bless all of you, I will continue to keep you in my prayers.”
Surviving God's Woodshed 
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June 15, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Prayers
FROM: Jean
Oct 8 @ 2:23 AM
Hello Peonie!
Your ole name has been stuck in my head this past week. I can’t for the life of me remember my ole nick name, can you. Pam’s was Panna-soup, yours Peonie, what was mine?
Anyway, just wanted to wish you a joy filled day. I am so proud of you! I know it must be hard to continue to keep those muscles working when you don’t “feel” like it, but I know YOU WILL OVERCOME this time of being down! I love you!
FROM: Gracie
Oct 8 @ 5:53 AM
I agree with you for I also see our lives acted out like on a stage, each of us playing a different role.
I use to think our lives were already destined and every choice made was the only one available and God’s will be done! Now I feel all paths lead home. We may take detours or the back roads, take a more scenic few or rougher traveling but we get where we were headed in the end. And there to greet us is our Heavenly Father’s waiting with open, welcoming arms.(So to speak). For I do not see Him in this bodily form, He is Spirit and in All.
You have taken us along a very emotional, gut wrenching, tear jerking story line, (true story). And we the audience have sat spell bound, hanging on your every word. I for one had to keep up with this true story, trauma, comedy, and all. I marvelled at the beautiful touching reports from those who also observed and watched and how your true story effected their lives.
This plot has had a unbelievable soul searching effect on so many lives and most certainly yours’, for I feel you have grown by leaps and bounds spiritually. You’ve made positive, conscious choices to continue to Trust God and to accept His decision come what may.
And Awe sweet sweet Lea, I marvel at her. Even through all this, her spunky, adorable personality shines through. Wow how her circumstances changed, it seems like over night she just woke up, and Oh I am so thrilled. She’s so bright and her mind’s alert and quick! I find you both precious souls.
FROM: Jean
Oct 8 @ 8:04 AM
I’m not sure what all you read to Lea, but I thought that this would be something interesting for you to ad lib occasionally. Isn’t it wonderful that she has reached the “down days”? Not that it is good for her or you, but, seeing as how we were all afraid she wouldn’t reach this stage, it is great. And, being the fighter that she is, she won’t stay there long!
“Don’t Break The Elastic!!”
”In a television show appearance on her 70+ birthday, Maya Angelou was asked what she thought of growing older. And, she replied, “exciting.”
Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day…like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first! The audience laughed so hard they cried.
”She also shared these tidbits of wisdom:
“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”
“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.”
“I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.”
“I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as “making a life.”
“I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.”
“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.”
“I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”
“I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.”
“I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.”
“I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.”
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
FROM: Dallas
Oct 8 @ 8:14 AM
The Joy of the Lord is my strength…In HIS word, I find Him there. Sharing His Gospel to those who cannot read…let them HEAR the truth, for it will set the captives free. The devil hates a miracle that would give Glory to Our sovereign Lord God Almighty and his Only Begotten Son, Lord Jesus Christ.
The swords of Super-natural warfare is within His Word…draw forth one and slay the destroyer with the living Word …IN JESUS’ NAME I come against the spirit of depression that has gripped my sister Leona Marie Vaughn, I command the spirit to release her now by the power of the Blood of Christ and standing firmly on the truth of the Scars of His sacrificial payment for our sickness .
I boldly claim victory and healing, physical and emotional and psychological , the whole of her being is under HIS commandments and HIS sovereign authority, IN JESUS’ NAME…Be strong and daily encouraged by HIS graces and love for us. renewing our minds and hearts daily in the word. drawing nigh to HiM , He will always be near to us. In Christian Love, Glory be to God.