Ways to Pray!

Matt's two and a half hour therapy (PT, OT, and Speech) sessions started today.  They sent him home with homework and exercises!  His leg brace was fitted really poorly and we will go to get a new one on Friday.  So starts the hard work of relearning how to talk and move normally.  You can pray for endurance--this is definitely a marathon not a sprint.  You can pray that the clot continues to dissolve and that his speech continues to return at this rapid pace.  Finally you can pray for patience with himself and us.

We are always appreciative of your prayers!

So Encouraged!

As we have settled in, life has become more challenging!  I am barely keeping up with insurance claims, bills, numerous phone calls, thank yous, three children, a muy loco basset puppy, and keeping Matt busy.  But, today we received a lovely card from Greenwood Christian Academy (students) with a check from a fundraiser, some very practical help from Mr. Boyer with our insurance (he spent at least 45 minutes with me out of his busy day!), and a gift from Oakland Christian Church.  God knows what we need and provides it--not only physical needs but also emotional.

Thank you to all of you who helped us out today!  Thanks for "breathing" life into me.  

A Good Day!

Matt glued hundreds of envelopes at Shepherd this morning.  We volunteered with another young man and helped to get donation receipts ready to go.  We also went to the grocery store which was a lot of walking for Matt.  He did well.  I'm so proud of how hard he works and how helpful he is.  He is even starting to do the evening dishes again!  Have a great start to your weekend!!

Doing Well!

Matt is doing well!  He had his outpatient evaluations and will be going to therapy twice a week.  With some help, we are starting to get some of the insurance/hospital bills sorted out!
Now if we could just get the extreme cold and snow to cooperate!  I've only been able to work two days this week--the kids are enjoying the late starts.

We're very thankful for ALL OF YOU that let us know you are praying--you make our day brighter!

I Saw This Today...

as I entered Matt's room.  Tomorrow he is free!  He also got a t-shirt at his graduation :)

I took him to the surgeon and we found out that they got all the bad blood vessels.  The brain appears to have redirected the blood flow properly--so NO MORE SURGERY needed.  The last time the surgeon saw him there was no speech and no movement on the right side--so the progress looked good to him.  (Matt really moved his thumb a lot today--more than I've ever see it move.) This scan did not show how much the clot has dissolved, BUT I don't think we need any more radiation going into his brain :)

Yeah!  I like happy days.  

Matt's Home Visit

The weekend before you're scheduled to be the rehab. hospital lets you go home for a couple of hours.  You practice all the hard stuff--like going up stairs, getting into your bathtub, not getting knocked down by an enthusiastic puppy, and walking farther than you're used to.  Matt did really well and even strolled all the way back into the hospital!  We're so thankful that this trial run was so positive.

We headed back home in the snow and saw four major wrecks.  But  made it home safely and hunkered down for the rest of the afternoon.

We have an appointment with the surgeon on Monday so that he can confirm all the malformed blood vessels were removed during surgery.

Thanks for your prayers!

In honor of MLK day:

I Like This Quote...

When in South America (Ecuador) I saw ladies carrying enormous bundles of sticks solely using a strap on their forehead.  In India I saw ladies carry huge baskets of dirt on their head much like the lady below.

There are "best" ways of carrying heavy things.  I'm under a pretty heavy load right now myself.  One thing I've been asking is, "Do I need to carry all these worries/concerns/problems around?" NO!!! If your stress level is super high--give it to God.  If you need to be in three places at once--ask for wisdom.  If you have problems you don't have the solutions to--wait on Him.  

Its kind of like that old hymn that says...

Turn your eyes upon Jesus and ...

Have a Marvelous Day!!