Special thanks to each of you for your outpouring of kindness toward our only blue-eyed one of the bunch.  It means so much to know so many of you care, are praying and lifting her up around the world.  You guys are the best!

The spinal tap revealed that it is not intracranial pressure causing the loss of vision. Of course they are testing the spinal fluid for various things.  The day after the spinal tap she had another MRI and Monday Autumn went for yet more blood work.

Yesterday afternoon we met with Stuart again. Every test has come back without revealing anything that would cause her to lose her vision.  (A few test results are still pending however, preliminary findings are of no consequence.)

Yesterday Stuart spoke some very somber words, “In medicine we say ‘Life threatening or sight threatening…. and Autumn this is sight threatening and it’s very serious.”  He is looking at all possibilities, is extremely brilliant and no doubt loves our blue-eyed girl and is researching everything!  In the meantime, next week she has an appointment with another specialist he has recommended her to see.   Stuart said to plan on at least another month here in Phoenix.

I’ll be honest, the situation with Autumn’s eyes has thrown me for a loop.  I didn’t see it coming and living so far away I didn’t realize just how bad her headaches have been.  Karl works evenings and most nights I would call to talk to my girl and she would say, “Mom, my head feels like someone is cracking it open.  I just got the kids in bed, I’m climbing in too.”  I began to get concerned when this happened night after night but none of us realized how her vision was being affected until that day in Stuart’s office.

As a mom we just don’t picture our 29-year-old losing their vision seemingly with no warning, for reasons yet undiscovered and obviously there is no way to prepare for it. The other day the enormity of Autumn’s situation hit me like a ton of bricks.  I have walked through many difficult situations in my life but somehow this one has just knocked the wind out of me!  Dw was at work and called to see how our day was going and I went into our room and poured out my heart through tears.  He spoke with such calm, “Linny. Go to the family room and stare at our Memorial Box and look at all God has done.  You know what God has done for us!  You have to know He is working!”  He spoke such truth, powerful wisdom and quiet assurance – just what I needed.  So yes, I have stared at our Memorial Box and I have chosen to remember.  I cannot cave to fear of the unknown.  I will not!  The Lord has never failed me, not even once and He again will be astoundingly faithful. 

In fact this past summer I gave our Memorial Box a makeover and the other day (yes, I am painfully slow) while putting the symbols and trinkets back in the freshly painted Memorial Box I have been reminded of so many stories that I had completely forgotten – big ones as well as little ones. I have now been sharing them with the kids  – what a beautiful reminder!

And I am reading again The Memorial Box (the book I wrote and published) – ha!  Nothing like using The Memorial Box to remind me again of God’s presence in this very real time of need.

There are several who have asked how they can help.  Autumn’s best friend, Tara, set up a Go Fund Me for them.  Honestly friends, Karl and Autumn tithe, live very frugally, Karl works two jobs and Autumn has a little in-home business but no one in their twenties expects serious medical needs like this one!  If you are so inclined to help I can assure you any GO Fund Me money raised has been and will be wisely used for medical bills and deductibles and, Lord willing, to get Karl here for a little visit (they all miss each other so much!)!  Thank you so much in advance!

In the midst of all this I am reminded that, no doubt, there are some of you who are struggling with something too. Maybe a  job loss, a sudden death, the betrayal of a spouse or friend, a curve ball you didn’t see coming, a health issue that took you by surprise and friends here’s Lauren Daigle’s worship song that I have on repeat:

Listen to it! May the powerful truths contained in it minister to your soul as it ministers to ours also.  My favorite line:  There’s not a place where I’ll go that you’ve not already stood!  And that means there is not one single place that you, Autumn or any of us will go that He’s not already stood looking to see what we will need and providing for every single detail.  He is completely trustworthy!  And yes, sometimes I have to remind myself of that!

Actually I just noticed that all three of our current worship songs are on the link.  So there you go!  These three songs are the ones we  have been worshipping with lately.  Normally we change the songs daily, but I just need these three most right now and so we are playing them over and over.

And lastly, I do have a really exciting video of Ruby to share next because in the midst of heartache there always will be sweet reminders from the Lord that He does work the miraculous…and as we call Him – He is our miracle-working, mountain-moving, awe-inspiring, gasp-giving God and Ruby is living proof!  Wait till you hear what she’s been up to!  Sharing soon!  PS And yes, I intended to share the story a few weeks back.  Chalk it up to wild and unexpected days in our home.