Happy Birthday Brian!

Okay, so this is just one of those days that will probably never be the same for me again--at least not this year so I just wanted to quickly post--

Today is Brian's birthday.

Dare I tell how old you are, little brother? Well, of course, I'm the big (albeit older, yes I know) sister...

Happy 30th Birthday, Brian!

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).

Again, I just have to say that it's one of those days where I am reminded of how fortunate I am to even have the possible opportunity to annoy you with this post (assuming someone tells you I did it in the first place).

We almost lost you last year. We should have--by vehicle extrication and emergency hospital standards. I remember a Christmas Eve nurse assigned to you on the trauma intensive care unit who told us she was also in the emergency room the night they brought you in. She, too, remembered thinking that she didn't expect you to make it. She also told us, as a traveling nurse who usually worked with patients with spinal cord injuries, that she'd seen many a God-given miracle that doctors just couldn't explain.

Speaking of--look at you now...alive, moving one step closer to full independence, & wholeheartedly committed, with excitement even, to the upcoming months of an intensive, grueling physical therapy quest to make some gains to what you have lost.

I thank God for having you here with us, Brian. For inspiring me not only in your determination but in being a daily living example that our God is a loving God who does, in His perfect timing, answer prayers.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

We love you so much and are so strongly reminded, as we were when He spared you on December 14th, 2008, that as you continue to commit this journey to Jesus Christ, He will bless you & He will keep you.

So, little brother, Happy Birthday...