Hawaii

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Brisk breeze.  Warm sunlight.  Gray clouds chasing each other across the sky.  In the distance, I hear waves crashing.  Sharp rays of light reflect from teal water, piercing my eyes.  White foam tips the crest of incoming waves.  That's where I'm going, to the beach!

Grasping Noel's left arm with both of my arms, I straighten my back and fix my eyes on the ocean.  I'd like to say that I walked 300 yards to the beach with ease.  That's not the case.  I can't stand on my left leg anymore.  My left foot droops and drags over the grass.  As I attempt to bear weight through my left leg, my knee wants to collapse and my hip gives out.  With every step of my left leg, I lean into Noel so that he can bear my weight.  Going uphill, Noel leads first so that he can physically drag me along behind him.  As soon as we hit the sandy beach, huffing and puffing, I point to the sand at my feet and demand Noel set up right there.  I'm not moving another step (actually, my legs are shaking so bad I can't walk any further).

Sprawling on the beach mat with a friends' tent providing shade, I stare at the world around me.  This world is amazing.  The ocean changes color by it's depth.  Palm trees rustle in the wind.  Birds sing.  Surging water swirls against the shore.  Cream sand tumble over and over in ever smaller specks.  Clear little crabs scuttle across sand and dig holes to hide.

Here I am, on the beach in Hawaii.  This is a dream come true thanks to all the prayer support!  My body continues to act up in new ways, new problems.  However, I believe that because so many people are praying for me, I can still move.  I can walk household distances with a limp.  I can still, if barely, step up 14 steps while leaning on the rail.  I can now stand almost upright with the use of pain medicine.  I can still use my sight so that as my numb left foot shuffles over the ground, I can avoid tripping.  Even as my body continues to break down, I see the power of prayer and rejoice in watching God step in to provide when I need it most.

Thank you all for your amazing support!  I know I am blessed by your friendship, your love, your prayers, your physical and financial support, your words of encouragement.  Because of all of you out there, I can strongly face my disabilities, seek God first, and fight my way onwards.

May all of you be blessed to see God's unwavering love and faithfulness clearly in action in your life and the lives of those around you.  Be blessed with unconditional joy, deep peace, and the overflowing love of Christ.

See you in my next blog post!

Love,

Kristy