NieNie.... Nied I say more...

Today was the day that so many of us have waited for. Whether we were long time followers or, like me, someone who happened upon her sight, by way of those button's I kept seeing on everyone else's sight,,,, we have all been waiting, praying, waiting and praying some more... All of us wanting more informaiton than we are really due. All feeling like we have a vested interest in this families recovery....

I don't know about you,,, But after Cjane told us that she and Stephanie had decided that it was time for the 'big return' I started counting down. Now,,,, I'm in the midst of starting a new job,,, so the days have a tendancy to run together,,, but I remembered the 16th,,, most days,,, I have been waking up early lately (6:30-7:00) and working for an hour or so from home before getting ready for work... Today I just didn't want to... Hit the snooze button twice... Then it hit me... TODAY WAS THE 16th !!!!!!

I (1)got out of bed,,, (2)went and got my morning jug of diet coke and ice, ice, ice.... (3)settled down on the couch,,, (4)typed in the password, and (5)waited.... Times like this make me realize why I shouldn't be pilfering my wireless off my unsuspecting neighbors, but actually invest the 30$ a month for fast service.... This morning alone would have been worth paying for years of pilfering.... (6)But, i'm finally in... go to favorites,,, click,,,, wait, wait, wait....

The disappointment was tremendous,,, no post yet ( it is only 4 or 5 in the morning, I guess someone recovering from burns is due a litte sleeping in)... but really,,, she couldn't have known we'd all be checking??? !! So, I be grudgingly started working... until about 6:30 this evening, when I got home and virtually repeated steps 2-6...

The anticipation, hope, excitement,,, and then all of the sudden a touch of fear... as I realized that a picture was filling in on the screen (that's how it happenss when you pilfer wireless).... I looked away,,, grabbed a piece of thick paper and actually put it across the left side of my screen... I had been waiting and waiting,,, I all of the sudden had to question whether or not I wanted to see what I had been waiting for,,, I guess I hadn't really thought there would be a picture,, but how many of us hope to see that dear sweet smiling face??? Many, I would guess...

I swallowed deeply,,, and it struck me,,, when has there ever been anything in the posts on her page that haven't in some way made my day better... and if Stephanie could have the courage to post it,, shouldn't I have the courage to read/view it??? And true to form,,, there it was,,, this lovely, simple picture of her hands... They're pink, they're alive,,, but boy did it look like it must have been painful for her to peck out that lovely message to us...a glimpse, ever so slight, into her world... the door isn't open as wide as it previously was,,, but she is graciously still letting us see in... I can only imagine, she is being as gentle with us as she has had to be on herself.... adjusting to her new reality... adjusting to the 'new Nie'....

Nie,,,, we'll adjust right along with you... we will continue to pray for you and your family... we will continue to delight in every accomplishment along the way... But for me,,, I will continue to thank you... You have and continue to be an example of faith, truth and light... and your witness(and that of your family) has helped me tremendously...

Today,, my bad hair day was put in to perspective,, not so bad after all...