500 Miles

On Thursday, at 6:09 PM, I reached 500 miles on my wheelchair, Svante the Svede. 

Mile #498 was spent visiting the house of a brand new friend, whom I like to call Beatrice. You will get to learn more about her in upcoming posts. 

Mile #499 was spent with some of our beautiful girls in the African butterfly exhibit at the Botanical Conservatory downtown... very cool. 

And then I was outside the conservatory, in the gorgeous 75 degree sunshine, surrounded by bright and happy tulips and daffodils (of course daffodils - my favorite!)... and I looked down just in time to see the mile marker on Svante's screen click over to 5-0-0. "Hannah!" I squealed across the garden. "Hannah, come quick! It just happened!"  

Svante is not aging well. He has lost more small plastic bits and has gotten a more loose around the nuts and bolts in these first 500 miles than either of us care to admit. However, I have had an amazing 500 miles, thanks to his help... I have been to all sorts of interesting and wonderful places. Some of my favorites may seem common, but to me they are precious and full of memories: my mom and dad's house, the deck over the lake at Lakeside Park, our neighbor's house, the New Ground coffee shop, the downtown Allen County library, 4th Street in downtown Winston-Salem, the Lowe's garden center, the Botanical Conservatory, International Teams headquarters...

The next 500 miles with Svante will be even better, I'm sure. I wonder where we will go, and what moments we'll share together. Praying for adventure, beauty, and joy to fill our path!

Birthday worship

Below is a video link to my current favorite song by Rend Collective Experiment, reminding me of the gift God has given me - countless second chances found only at the cross of Jesus. God, thank you for giving me another birthday to celebrate and testify to your mercy and faithfulness. I have no idea of the hardships and blessings I will experience this year, but I pray that my life will bring all honor and glory to You.

Kevan

Dear Kevan,

Thanks for being my friend. When I want to despair and give up, you won't let me. When I don't believe I'm doing anything good or helpful or useful in the world, you tell me that I am. When I think I'm awkward and clumsy and lumpy and crippled, you make me feel beautiful. When I am shy and insecure, you introduce me to all sorts of cool new friends. When I freak out over things that don't matter, you help me gain perspective. When I am amazed and confounded by how creative and wise you are, you say that I played some part in it. I'm challenged by you, encouraged and comforted and inspired by you. I love when we get to talk, and I love when we just sit in our wheelchairs next to each other without saying a word. I'm almost 30 years old, and I know I would not have made it this far without your strength and joy and hope. So again, thanks for being my friend... for seeing the best and worst of me, and loving me just the same.

Love,
your sis