We are still here....

      Hi Everyone! I realize that it has been over a month since I last posted and I apologize; but nothing interesting has been going on really! Scilla is doing well and she still has her good days and bad days. She did come to my mom's house on Easter and thanks to one of my mom's co-workers, Mrs. Clovia, we were able to get her in the house. Mrs. Clovia let my mom borrow her steel ramps that made it possible for us to get Scilla in my mom's house. Overall Scilla had an okay Easter; she wasn't feeling well and was in bed most of the day! :(

      On another note, God is still blessing and he is still doing things we don't expect. Scilla was having a rough day on Tuesday (5/10) and bumping heads with everyone, including her daughter Shakelle (who holds most of the care taking responsibility for her mom). The two of them got into a small spat; so Scilla's friend, Step, suggested that they pray. So after the three of them prayed, we got a call from Scilla (whom we could tell had been crying) with a request to be put on speaker phone and for my mom and I to gather around the phone. So, as I walked to the phone she began to tell us what had happened and said that after the prayer, she just felt like she was getting ready to walk! So she was sitting in the car and Step was at the window and

SCILLA WAS MOVING HER KNEE; NOT SPASMS, BUT WILLINGLY SENDING THE SIGNAL FROM HER BRAIN TO HER KNEE TO MOVE!

I couldn't believe it! I questioned her and was in awe about what I was hearing! I don't know what God is doing and I will never question his motives, but I hope that what is happening with the toe, foot and now, knee movement is a sign that she will be able to walk again; I have very strong faith, but I don't want to give her,her husband, her kids,  my mom, or anyone in my family false hope, so I hope that God is really making these things happen and that we are not having our hearts, faith and emotions toyed with.

So I encourage everyone to continue praying for Scilla's health, happiness and healing. Please remember to also keep baby Emma lifted in prayer.

"Walking in Faith..."

having a good time

    Recently, my mother had to move in with me for almost two weeks. I really enjoyed having my mom at my house. Who wouldn't love coming home to dinner ready and all household chores done? In addition to my family and I enjoying her company, Scilla enjoyed her even more! Currently, my mom's home is not accessible; so Scilla took full advantage of the opportunity to spend time with my mom and enjoy her great cooking during this time. Scilla would come over and spend hours every night, until about 9:30 pm. Here a few pictures of her at my house:

Smiling for the camera, sitting in the chair in my living room

watching TV with all her gadgets...lol

Being silly

Our baby sis, Angelic, sitting in Prissy's chair while talking on the phone!

Please continue to keep my two girls, Scilla and Emma in your prayers.

"Walking in Faith..."

She says she can move her toe...

      Tonight I received some very pixelated cell phone video of Prissy moving her big toe! She says she is concentrating and

willfully moving it; that it is not just nerves or muscle spasms! So let's see what God is doing, we all know that he is a miracle

worker. Please continue to be in prayer her and Baby Emma's health and healing.

"Walking in Faith..."

A second entry for One year Later...

   This is entry is a note that Scilla wrote on face book and I wanted to post it here, as written by her;  for those who are not on face book. It is her personal reflection on the 1 year anniversary of  her accident:
                                                                                GOD MIRACLE BLESSING
GOOD MORNING TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY: JOHN 5:8 JESUS SAID TAKE UP YOU BED AND WALK. I AM TRUSTING AND BELIEVING HIM FOR THAT BLESSING. I WANT TO SAY DON'T BE SAD! YEA IT HAS BEEN A YEAR SINCE I HAD MY LIFE CHANGING EVENT.JUST KNOW THAT I LOVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,HE HAS SHINED ON ME.I HAVE NO REGRETS.SOMETIMES GOD HAS TO SLOW YOU DOWN IN ORDER FOR US TO LISTEN TO HIM. WHEN GOD BLESSES YOU WITH MANY OF HIS POWERS, IT CAN BE SCARY.BUT BEING THE PERSON OF GOD, YOU ARE YOU HANDLE IT.KEEP YOU EAR TO GOD.

Here are some comments on her note:
Carolyn Choice -U are truly a blessing an I thank god for having the pleasure of u being my friend:-)

Robin J. Gonzales-Sullivan - Like I said, over 2 decade you have been my friend/sister....that's a blessing, when you took me in, you made sure your whole family took me in, keep your eye on the prize because a "storm", is just that. I know you are so strong and most o...f all you are a woman of God, just hang in there, like you have been doing, GOD is gracefully guiding you and your victory is in Jesus Christ, our savior, the one who died so we could live, I know he lives in you, you had a heck of a year but you kept your faith, you are a strong woman, God is amazing, he has something for you, go ahead and get ready to receive it.  Ily ♥Ivory Jackson - God still works miracles! Trust and believe! Luv ya sista-n-law



Cheryl Watson  -I just shared with Marie on Monday...I dreamed Cilla was walking. And one thing I KNOW God don't let me dream and remember for Nothing. A miracle is on it's way....HE WILL GET ALL THE GLORY!! I love you girl! Stay encouraged


Jacquie Irby Duckett Be blessed and not stressed........

One Year Later...

      So here we are, March 15, 2011; one year later! One year ago today, Scilla's life was forever changed. She was blessed in so many ways, although her life was forever changed. On March 15, 2010, she got out her bed, got dressed and walked out her house and got into car and drove to her destination; but almost 3 months later, she left the hospital in a wheelchair, with a completely severed spinal cord and metal rods in her back; paralyzed. The past year has a been a year of learning and adapting to a new way of life. There has been good days and God knows there has been bad! There has been days filled with sadness, depression, and self pity; but out of the slumps there has arisen days of laughter, happiness, and acceptance. I have know idea of what my sister has been through; but I know the road has not been easy and honestly I COULD NEVER walk a mile in her shoes.
         In spite of everything the she been through; all the complications and surgeries, one thing has remained the same: her unwavering FAITH and COMMITMENT to God. Her faith, my faith, the faith of our family and friends has sustained her. To everyone that has prayed for her and who continues to keep her in their prayers, Thank you. For everyone who has stayed the night, brought a meal over, called or came by, encouraged her,  helped transport her or helped out in way, Thank you! We will never be able to say thank you enough to everyone, but please know we appreciate EVERYTHING.
        Please continue to pray for her health, strength, and faith as she continues on this journey that God placed her on. Not everyone could travel the road she is traveling; but God selects special people to take on special tasks and this is the task he gave to her; to overcome a life changing event (test) in order to be a testimony to others. I pray that at some point in the past year something has been written or said to inspire someone that is traveling on their on journey to keep fighting and believing that God will do the things he promised.
       Also please continue to pray for baby Emma who will turning ONE on March 16, 2011; my does time fly when you have a little angel in your presence.

"Walking in Faith"

Her and Greg (March 6, 2011)

At the hotel on her laptop (ATL; 3/6/2011)

 The beautiful smile we remember and missed so much in the past year. Glad to see its return. (3/6/2011)

this feels so good...

    Hello Everyone!  Scilla is doing VERY well. She has started to get out more and even enjoyed her first overnight trip this past weekend! She had a great time in Atlanta with her husband and daughter. Last week she came to visit me at work and got her hair colored at the Barber school where I work. Because our shampoo bowls are attached to the chairs, two of the male students had to lift her from her wheelchair into the shampoo bowl/chair. Once in the chair, she remarked "this feels so good!" I smiled and told her that she needs to find a chair where she can sit upright and straight more often because in the bed and wheel chair she slumps ( as most people do) when they do not have firm back support.  Also while sitting in the chair, her daughter said "you look normal", to which I said "she is normal".  We all knew what she meant and it did not offend her mother; so we just chuckled about it!

     I would like to say thank you to Crestin, Jermaine, and Randy for your assistance in transferring her from her wheelchair to the shampoo bowl and back. I really do appreciate you going above and beyond your duties to make it possible for her to get her hair colored.

Here are some pictures from her visit:

     In 14 days we will celebrate the 1 year  anniversary of Scilla's accident. I am not sure how or if we will celebrate it; but I just know that it is a blessing that God allowed her to still grace the earth with her presence and although the past year has been filled with trials and tribulations, she has grown to accept her disability and recognizes that it is by God's grace and mercy that she has made the progress that she has. 

      Also in 15 days baby Emma will celebrate her 1st birthday! Emma is doing great; she has master rolling to one side, gotten new shoes that fit her AFO's and will be getting her very own stander in the next few months.

God definitely has his angels surrounding these two beautiful girls!

Walking in Faith.                                                                                                                                                                                   

Happy Valentine's day!

         I know it has been far too long since I last posted; I promise to do better! On Sunday we celebrated the 1st birthday's of my niece and nephew and while there Scilla surprised everyone with a speech that went like this: "We would like to thank everyone for coming to the party and as you all know, I was in an accident last March; which is why I am in a wheelchair. My husband, Greg, could have left me, but he didn't and  I just wanted to tell my husband, Greg, thank you for taking care of me and being there for me whenever I need you." And then she gave him a gift...

Giving her speech

                                                         Hug and Thank you baby!

The new bling (i.e. the gift she got for him)

                                                                           The Hightower's

     The special moment shared between Scilla and Greg was an emotional one that left smiles upon the faces of everyone. Their love reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13, which says: Love is patient; love is kind

and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offense.
There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, and endurance. In a word, there are three
things that last forever: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of them all is love. Their faith has been tested; their love has been tried, but because their faith has no limit and there is nothing their love can't face; they have fought and prayed and God is continuing to bless them and to keep their marriage strong. Oh how great it is to be loved by YOU!

"Walking in FAITH and LOVE..."