Abby update - January 7

We enjoyed a couple of wonderful worship services with Abby today. First, at our own church, where Abby opted to sit with Mom & Dad "near" the teens. She's happy to be back among our church family and her friends there, but she definitely has a strengthened attachment to me and Gordon since the accident. I can only imagine how the world still seems a little confusing and overwhelming to her at times, so I'm glad to treasure these moments when she still wants us near--believing that, all too soon, she's be back to her nearly-teen independent phase!

This evening we all attended a wonderful music and worship program that was a fund-raiser for a mission effort at a hospital in Mozambique sponsored by San Marcos United Methodist Church and Wesley United Methodist Church in Austin. It was quite the diverse experience--with a touch of gospel, jazz, and bagpipes (!), but what really touched me were the images they showed of mothers and children there. I felt an empathy for the heartache of mothers with sick children and sadness to know that so many of them may fail to find hope. If you're looking for a wonderful way to help change a small piece of the world, take a look at http://www.fumcsm.org/missions.asp. (It has not yet been updated from 2006, but a trip is planned again in 2007 to build housing for visiting doctors.)

But, my dear daughter will be looking for me in the morning, and Gordon heads back to the world of work, so I'd best be off to bed now...
Love,
-the Linams