Abby update - March 18

It was another beautiful day in Wimberley--a day that makes you glad to be alive. And we were glad.

For the most part, the kids and I enjoyed a day around home. Our one excursion, besides Abby's violin lesson, was to visit our friends, the Carlsons, at Straight Arrows Ranch. The Carlsons, like we, are big golden retriever fans, and they had invited the kids out to see their seven little fluffy 6-week-old golden retriever puppies. There's nothing like "puppy therapy," and we enjoyed visiting their miniature donkeys, chickens, cats, and even corn snake as well. I checked behind the kids' backs before leaving--just to make sure no extra animals were making the trip home with us...

We saw the Carlsons at the violin recital last weekend (their younger sons are also students of Paula's), but I couldn't help but think of the previous time we saw them all together as a family. They came to visit Abby in Warm Springs on November 1. Each one of them was so thoughtful in speaking to Abby, but Abby couldn't respond. At that point in time each of us was speaking to her in faith that she knew who we were, that she understood what we were saying, that one day she would be able to communicate back with us and with her dog again... Some days I didn't know if that faith was big enough, but, thank God, our mustard seed grew, and today Abby walked and talked and played with puppies!

We're thankful for all of you who, like the Carlsons, walked in faith with us all that long way...
-Abby & the Linams