During this week, there were no “bad” days or days void of news. Definitely, a positive week for Laura! In general, she is doing many of the same things with a basic increase in attentiveness and overall alertness. She has done a few specific actions that haven’t gone unnoticed. Laura is desperately trying to communicate, we believe. She has increased her incidents of vocalizations (still moaning type noises), but coordinating those noises with significant lip movements. The other day, we noticed Laura lifting her right arm from the elbow, upwards toward her face. This movement was the first witnessed of this magnitude and surely must be a sign for future progress.

After enduring through this process for nine long months, we would like to extend our warmest and deepest expressions of gratitude to all of you. We have been thoroughly blessed by your love and commitment to our life struggle. Unfortunately, these email messages are the only reasonable way to display our appreciation. This road has been long and appears to have only begun. Please, continue loving, continue praying, and continue following our living miracle. As we grow and mature in our faith walk, the rewards will surely materialize.

Short message today on maintaining proper perspective and fixing your eyes outward upon God! When our lives are seemingly running well, do we give God the glory? Oftentimes, we forget the true source of our abilities and successes. We distance ourselves from Him and lose the all important, eternal perspective. Then, when challenges of all kinds arrive, what do we do? Frequently, we quickly seek Him out and may even blame or challenge Him. Our responsibility is not to forget about God during good times and run to Him to rescue us when needed. That is a selfish relationship, in which your expectation to be rewarded is unrealistic at best. After all, if eternity is an important focus for your earthly life, we pose this question to you: What will ultimately provide you more of an opportunity to prepare for eternal life and develop character, calm waters or rough seas?

YOU HAVE ALWAYS PUT A WALL OF PROTECTION AROUND HIM AND HIS HOME AND HIS PROPERTY. YOU HAVE MADE HIM PROSPER IN EVERYTHING HE DOES. LOOK HOW RICH HE IS! BUT REACH OUT AND TAKE EVERYTHING HE HAS, AND HE WILL SURELY CURSE YOU TO YOUR FACE! (Job 1: 10-11)

We love you,
Jeff and Laura Laughlin