The Road of Recovery and Victory

I'm so sorry for not updating as often as I'd like. In the rare moments that I get to just sit and breath, I like to actually enjoy it and be able to sit and breath.

Jarrod has made MAJOR progress since I last wrote which was about a week ago. Since then he has been changing his own clothes, he's been moving himself from his bed to his wheelchair or comode WITHOUT the slideboard, a few days ago they used special tools and machines to help him stand, yesterday he lifted his legs one at a time while standing with a walker, and today he took 3 sets of 6 steps with the walker!!! The physical therapists and nurses are so encouraged by him, not only because of his amazing progress but also because of his amazing attitude and determination. He's doing so well in fact that they moved him to the furthest room on the floor. He's becoming more independent that he doesn't need to be so close to the nurses now. His new room is actually quite nice. You could fit two beds in there, a recliner, and some chairs. He even has his own private bathroom. He has the "deluxe suite." That first week was incredibly rough. We went through so many moments of agony and defeat but now we're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It feels like it has been forever but when you really look at it that dark tunnel was actually not that long. We're not finished going through it yet but at least we can see the light which tells us that there will be an end to this dark tunnel. We are so ECSTATIC! We still are aware that this will be a long road but we are rejoicing in these awesome moments of victory. Hand us the loin cloths 'cause we're gonna dance like David! (For those of you that don't know that Bible story, David was a man of God who rejoiced like a maniac in his "linen ephod" when the ark of the Lord came to him 2 Samuel 6:1-23).

We have to give all glory and honor to Jesus Christ for these awesome accomplishments. We could have easily fallen into the pit of despair which would have kept us from trying and progressing. For a short while, things were not looking so great. We could have given up, thrown a pity party, and just let the nurses and pain killers do the work. There are many people who fall into that. God had a different plan in mind. Our wonderful neighbor Lynda had a great idea of asking people for verses of encouragement so that we could print them and paste them all over Jarrod's room. They were all awesome and encouraging verses but there are two that stood out the most and has helped us get through those challenging times. The first one is Psalm 4:1 "Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer." The second is Isaiah 40:29-31"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  We've clung to those verses as one would cling to a lifesaver in the middle of an ocean.

I just wrote an email to someone saying that as much as I hate going through trials I can say at the same time I love them because of what God does in them. It's amazing to not only see His hand at work but to feel it and experience it for myself. You always hear and read "Jesus loves you" so much that it almost loses it's meaning. I can honestly say that even I can get annoyed when someone says that to me because it's become so cheesy. It's so much different when you are going through a difficult time and you actually EXPERIENCE Christ's love coming through for you.  We have totally been experiencing His love just embracing us and carrying us through this time through other people, through the comfort of His perfect Word (the Bible), through victories and accomplishments, and through simple ways like a stranger ahead of me in the Starbuck's drive thru paying for my order. God is shaping for us an amazing testimony. It's a great thing but a scary thing as well because that means we have to be faithful in sharing that testimony. Jarrod's already starting. He plans to wheel around the 4th floor to every room tomorrow, listen to people's problems, and share with them the love of Christ. GOSH, I love him! I can't tell you enough what a blessed girl I am to have him as my best friend AND husband. As difficult as this time is, I'm so happy that it's me God chose to share this with him. I can tell you one thing, our marriage and relationship has grown so much stronger and has matured through all of this. So many couples go through life just...going through life. As time passes, they lose that excitement and that "mushy gush" you had when you were dating. It's normal. Life happens. But WHOOOOAH BABY, when God's got the reigns, hold on tight because He'll take you through adventures that not only make you cling to Him but cling to your spouse--your best friend and lover and sparks fly and babies are made! ;)