Merry Thanksgiving and a Happy Christmas!

This holiday season has brought so many blessings! In the last few weeks (okay, months) a lot has been happening with our Jamie girl.  She has passed the cognitive skills test at CNS that all residents are to complete.  It consists of 26 different levels/tasks that test and exhibit various levels of cognitive function.  Some of the tasks involve categorizing things and go from simple to more complex.  From what I can understand, it also involves recognizing what items perform what functions and how different objects relate to us and each other.  It is a huge deal at CNS and is a big deal in marking the healing of a TBI patient.  When Jamie finished all 26 levels, she had to go up to the front desk and announce it over the loud speaker for the whole clinic to hear. (totally her favorite thing...okay, maybe not.)  At any rate, it is a big sign to us that Jamie continues to heal and get better as each week passes. 

Jamie has moved into her own apartment at CNS and needs less supervision.  She only has an aid a few hours a day while she's not in clinic, which is a push to let her be more independent.  They are also working on independence at the clinic - having her do more and more on her own with less supervision.  We are pretty sure that Jamie is nearing (if not already at) the end of the program that CNS has to offer.  With her progress, independence and passing the cognitive skills test, she has pretty much progressed to the extent that CNS can help her. 

With that being said, we are pretty confident that Jamie's next step will be to come home to San Carlos! As God has done throughout the last year, He has already provided so much for her return home.  He provided a place in downtown San Carlos for her to live, with an affordable rent that is within walking distance to pretty much anything she needs.  It literally got plopped in our laps without having to look for it. She is also pretty set with the big furniture items (except a dining/kitchen table, so if you've got an extra, send it over!)

Thanksgiving was a great treat - J got to come home for about a week and we crammed in lots of family and friend time.  We were able to resume our Thanksgiving tradition of doing a little Morris baking the Wednesday before.  This year Ron and Jamie took care of the pies (as per usual), but Ron handed over the reins of the Morris Rolls to Jamie and yours truly.  We had to do 4 batches of a dozen - Jamie managed 2 and I managed 2.  Mine were awesome.  (okay so were Jamie's, but I so rarely get to brag about myself on here.) What a blessing to be together - doing normal family things on a family holiday that we love.  What struck me that weekend is that Thanksgiving was when Jamie was scheduled to come home from the Peace Corps.  I am so thankful (no pun intended) that God brought our girl home for the very holiday that we had been looking forward to for over 2 years.  What a sweet God. 

Christmas has come and gone at the Morris homestead, and it was a good time had by all.  Jamie got her hair done at the salon for the first time in ages, and I think we were all a little shocked at how long its gotten! She has worn it curly since its been short, so its been difficult to gauge the length, but the hairdresser blew it out and its on its way to her shoulders.  It was really cute - I'll have to find some pics to show you all.  Christmas came with more family traditions - Christmas Eve Dim Sum at the Fenechs house and orange cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.  We also got to celebrate Christmas dinner with Kathy's side of the family.  There may have been some Peppermint Cosmos that livened up the evening...but that's all I'll say on that.  :) There were more than a few teary prayers at our different Christmas events, but one thing seemed to be the consensus - Jamie was our best present this holiday season.  God saved her life last January so that He could do great things in her healing, so that He could make Himself known to us by the miracles He has worked in her life.  Her life, her healing, her progress are the most cherished gifts that any of us have received. 

So with that, I usher you into 2011.  May it be a year of milestones and celebrations, of victories big and small.  Wishing you all a Merry (belated) Christmas and Happy New Year filled with amazing adventures and blessings. 

love, us.