April 25, 2026 - Perspective: Seeing the Good Through the Hard
The first week of recovery is officially behind me… and while it hasn’t been easy, it’s been… strangely… enjoyable. If that even makes sense.
I’ve hardly been alone. In fact, I can count on one hand the times I have… the quiet moments, and even those didn’t last long. I’ve been surrounded by caretakers, my very own family who anticipated my needs before I even realized I had them. My med alarms go off… and instantly, they are up getting what I need. And in between the meds, the ice packs, and the patience of helping me, there’s been something unexpected… conversation and connection.
The conversations have been the best part.
I think I’ve talked to my mom nonstop since she got here Monday. The kind of talking you don’t always make time for in the busy of everyday life. We’ve had some of the best heart- to-heart conversations, laughing until it hurts (which, isn’t always the smartest choice right now). Sharing stories we’ve told before, but somehow still feel new. Doing all the things moms and daughters do… just in a quieter, more intentional way.
And this morning, it hits me… this isn’t new for her. Just fifty years ago, my mom was doing everything she could to take care of me… and she’s been doing it her entire life!
At just 16 years old, she married my dad… and nine months and ten days later, I arrived. Not just their first baby, but a baby who came with some extra challenges. I was born with congenital hip dysplasia, and the hospital quickly became a familiar place for all of us… especially my mom. So really, she’s been taking care of me for a very long time. And if you ask her, I’m sure she’ll just shrug it off and say, “That’s what moms do.” But sitting here now, I see it differently… I feel it differently.
This season… this quiet pause, this forced stillness… has reminded me just how much timing matters. Right now, life has aligned in a way that allows for this kind of care. I’m not tied to a full-time job. My mom is retired and able to be here. Alivia is in grad school becoming a physical therapist, already one of the best caregivers I know and was able to be by my side the first few days. Maci off at drill last weekend, is on the brink of her own adventures… always… but not ones that require all hands on deck at home.
Because of the support around me, Louis has been able to go to work without carrying everything alone. And even with everything going on… especially with Maci being a senior, there’s this rhythm to everything that somehow works.
If this had happened a year ago? I can’t even imagine. It wouldn’t look like this. It wouldn’t feel like this.
And that’s where the perspective shifts.
Because while this week has come with pain, limitations, and moments of frustration… it’s also come with laughter, connection, and a deep sense of gratitude.
God’s timing. Not always easy. Not always understood in the moment… but sometimes, when you sit still long enough to see it… you realize just how much has been placed exactly where it needs to be.
And one thing I know for certain? No matter the season, no matter the circumstance… Momma is always just a phone call away.
