Family Update

Hi, Everyone,

Things are not changing as rapidly as they have been for the past few weeks. With Mason being home now, things seems a tiny but more "normal" but it will never feel the same. Last night we had dinner together as family (well, without Hannah and Marshall of course) for the first time in a really, really long time. I like routine, and having meals together at home really refreshes me.

Madison's school is letting him off for the rest of the month! It was hard for him to focus on school and we would love to have him home.

Mason is doing well. Mom does his dressing changes in the morning. He goes to outpatient on Saturday. He still can't put any weight on his right foot, but he is getting proficient with his crutches. He went up and down the stairs twice yesterday!

I have been trying to be faithful with my school work; Derek has been a huge help and supporter to me in that. I took a performance exam yesterday, I have a final tomorrow, a make-up test on Friday, and then my last final is next Tuesday, the 19th. Sometimes it is hard to focus on studying, but I really want to get this semester over with so I can move on and have my Christmas break.

Hannah has called frequently and is really busy with catching up in school and work. I can't wait to see her when she comes back to Austin for Christmas! I miss her so much.

Mom is starting to cook and clean and do her mom things again ... when she made my lunch for me last week I knew she was doing well. :-) Christmas has been a huge issue to work through ... none of us felt like we wanted to have Christmas this year. But after talking about it together, we decided to try to do things as normally as possible. I offered to help Mom with Christmas decorations and such ... I think Derek and I are going to try to get a tree on Friday. It is hard to go on, but I think doing at least some of our Christmas traditions this year as family will help in the healing process. Plus, we don't want to skip out on celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Dad is glad he doesn't have to work for the rest of the year. He has a long to-do list but he is so faithful to do the tasks set before him. Mom said to us kids yesterday, "You guys don't even realize how most guys are not like this." Dad always called it the "do-it-now principle" and he lives his life by it.

Thank you all for your continued prayers, notes, calls, and gifts. God is faithful and He continues to sustain us.

Love,
Heidi


P.S. If you have any questions, or want me to update you on something specific, just make a comment to this post or email me or something. :-)