My son got a "buy one, get one free" coupon for the circus in Fort Collins in his backpack at school earlier this week. "The El Jebel Shriner's Circus 2010! Come one, come all!" So, we decided to take them up on their offer, as Christian hadn't yet been to a circus in all of his five year old life. As we headed west toward the foothills we pulled up to Colorado State University's Equine Center. I never knew that was there, but there it was....a world of wonder and delight waiting just inside those red brick walls. It was not the traditional striped tent, but a circus fairyland nonetheless, filled with cotton candy, popcorn, animals and manure (which was, by the way, being given away for free - the manure, that is - for folks who wanted it for gardening. Not a bad souvenir, I guess).

Speaking of animals and manure...when I was little I wanted to be a veterinarian. I wanted to be a veterinarian so much that I used to visit our local vet's office every day after school. My Mom lined that little "gig" up for me and for my best friend Amy Carter. My job was to pet the animals. I would go from cage to cage and just pet, pet, pet. I was in heaven. I clearly remember the desperate feeling I had, in that I wanted them all to be able to get out of their cages and be free. They looked so very sad, or at least I imagined they were. This was not the way a cat or a dog was meant to live! But the vet gave me a gracious "no," and so I had to squeeze my 6 or 7 year old hand through the wire cages in order to reach their fluffy fur. To this day visiting the zoo or the circus is always a bit bittersweet. I just want to run up and pet the animals and then let them all loose, which is probably still not such a great idea.

The equine center is a rather smallish building, so we had really good seats close to where the action was. We saw acrobats climb up to the ceiling with only a thin red rope tied to their ankle. We witnessed tigers jump through fire hoops, an elephant carry a girl by his trunk and poodles ride in cars and pose for pictures. At intermission I took Christian down for a pony ride and we got a red snow cone for him and a blue one for Daddy. As cute and entertaining as everything was, I couldn't help but look at the faces of each circus performer...the human beings this time - as they danced, jumped or risked their life for our applause. I wondered what brought them here to this crazy circus world. What on earth was their story? Are they fulfilling a lifelong dream or are they running away from a life that still haunts them? Do they tire of going from town to town setting up those same three rings day after day? Are they married? Do they have a family or friends waiting for them at home? Or do they have nothing left at all, which is why they are here...now. I'll never know, but I still wonder. And with that wonder comes a little bit of an ache.

It was then and there, in that three-ring frenzy, that I realized that my life, too, is sometimes like a circus. In one ring, I am juggling. Juggling all the crazy things that life seems to throw my way...good things, hard things, unexpected things, God things. I seem to keep gaining more bowling pins and forget that, perhaps, I should lay one or two down so that I don't have to continuously pick up speed and give less and less time and attention to each. In another ring I am dressed like a clown, trying to make the world laugh, smiling on the outside, while on the inside I am tired and I just want to run home and let the tears stream down my happy, white make-up. In the third ring, I am a graceful acrobat in a purple and gold sparkling outfit, climbing and twirling with ease, taking each moment in stride. I am grace personified. I am unafraid because someone waits below to catch me in case I should misstep and fall. It is in this ring I am most free. And what about those cages? Well, I still find myself reaching my now thirty-something year old hand through their wires. Only this time I am sitting inside the cage rather than on the outside gazing in. And I see a Lion pacing just beyond the wires peering in at me, longing for me to break free of whatever fear or unbelief has caged me in this time. He reaches His paw in as far as my sturdy cage will let Him and I stroke it lovingly, knowing there is so much more to Him than I allow myself to embrace.

OK...so maybe this is way too analytical after going to a perfectly innocent circus. But I think the Holy Spirit can speak to our hearts anywhere. I just want to make sure that I slow down this "circus-like" existence long enough to imagine what someone else's story might be and dare to leap into it. I want to lay down a few of these bowling pins I juggle because they keep me constantly distracted. Or maybe at times it's not about my "ring" at all, and I need to stop juggling altogether, so that I can jump into another ring to assist. And for heaven's sake, I want to stop stuffing my face with popcorn or snow cones, or whatever, and work on getting myself out of this wire cage. Because the truth is, all this child has ever wanted is to snuggle with the Lion.

Just an afternoon at the circus.

One of my favorite passages in all of Scripture is found in Psalm 84. There is something about it that makes my heart beat faster and my spirit resound with a hearty "Yes!" & "Amen!" I was reading a chunk of it this morning and my eyes landed on verses 5-7..."Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion."

As pilgrims headed toward the heart of God and the new Jerusalem, what a perilous, winding, sorrowful path we often tread in the natural. Certainly, if we focused on what our human eyes alone can see - the frailty of it all - we would collapse in our Valley of Baca, lose sight of our destination & die in our misery. But there is something miraculous about coming to our "end." The end of our rope - so to speak. The end of our strength. The end of our human wisdom. The end of our own bright ideas & solutions. Our end becomes His beginning. God steps in. And when He does, our resources become immense, immeasurable and invigorating! The dry place becomes alive and verdant and, suddenly, that which we thought would drain us of all life and any reason to go on, becomes a pool of refreshing springing up around our feet. He nourishes us, He cares for us, He waters us...and we grow. From strength to strength. It is in the "setting of our hearts" that we gain this treasure. The Valley of Baca will remain just that - a place of weeping and no more - if the eyes of our hearts don't peer through our tears into the horizon of our eventual destination. Ah, yes...strength comes in the setting of our hearts in the midst of these tears. I am learning.

This has been my prayer during Mark's recovery and I've been seeing it come to pass before my very eyes - not only in the spirit, but also in the natural. The last time I wrote, Mark had just begun weight bearing with his walker and doing his pool therapy. A slow process, but a sure one. The title of the book by Eugene Peterson "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" rings true. Every day and every step, Mark is getting stronger, but it is a long "obedience," of sorts, getting up each day and learning to walk again, not able to see much beyond this "valley," but knowing that what awaits us is well worth the obedience.

On a practical note, we went to visit Mark's surgeon, Dr. Rusnak, last Tuesday and he continues to rave about the speed of Mark's recovery! It's been 4 1/2 months now, since his accident, but Dr. R. said he's about 3 months ahead of where he might have expected Mark to be. Thank You, Lord! As I sat in the hallway, waiting for Mark to finish his fresh set of x-rays, I giggled to myself at the photographs of motorcyclists and rodeo stars lining the halls of the waiting area - all autographed by the "star" with "thank-you's" for putting them back together again. OK...so now we know what NOT to do if you don't want to land in THIS surgeon's office too many times. :) Thanks for the tip! Maybe we'll have to send an autographed picture of Mark, sitting in front of his laptop, with a hearty "thanks!" for putting the pieces back together again, even for this Business Analyst.

Anyway! Mark's visit to the Dr. was positive in many ways. Healing of the bones is progressing marvelously and Dr. R. will continue to watch those joint areas and the circulation to the tissue for probably the next year or so. So far, so good. There is one area of concern, and that is an area on the outside of the leg just above Mark's knee injury where the nerves and the muscles don't seem to be engaging. They just aren't contracting properly and the Dr. can't quite figure out any explanation for it, based on his injury and surgery sites. So, in September, we have to have a nerve study done on that portion of his leg. I would love if you would pray along with us for total restoration of that leg and for wisdom for the Dr's as they investigate and, possibly, treat this! Thank you!

Each week Mark is walking more and more, mostly with his walker, but even more and more without it! The first week he started trying to walk without it, we laughed because he pretty much waddled like a penguin. So, leave it to Mark, to flap his arms together and make penguin sounds as well! Might as well make the most of the moment! He still has to measure his strength each day and not overdo it, lest he end up really sore and exhausted the next day. But each week he is going from "strength to strength"- there's no doubt about it. Last weekend, we went with friends from Woodmen Valley Chapel down to Territorial Correctional Facility in Canon City and visited the guys down there. I've been there quite a few times before, but this was Mark's first time. The guys had been praying hard for Mark and it was awesome for them to see the "fruit of their labor" as Mark shared his testimony with them about his healing. Then, this weekend, believe it or not, Mark even traveled home to Michigan, via airplane, to go to a reunion of friends and to visit his family. It wasn't good timing for all three of us to go, so he jet-setted across America with his wheelchair and walker! We will pick him up on Tuesday morning!

So, ladies and gentlemen - as we Christ-followers all are - the Wexelberg's are on a pilgrimage. This is just one "leg" of our journey, and we're bound and determined to keep our hearts set on the ultimate destination, tapping into the riches of Him who has redeemed us and is calling us Homeward. And in this moment, I thank God for friends and family like you with whom we can share the journey, bearing one another's burden, when it becomes unbearable on our own. Thank you so much for your continued prayers for Mark's healing, for lifting me up as a wife & Mom, for believing with me for the songs that have been and are yet to be written for this project I am tackling in the Fall, & especially "thank you" for just "being" here. Fellow pilgrims. Dancing in the pools of His refreshing. Heading home.

From a Grateful Heart,
Shannon

Greetings one and all & Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are enjoying the days of Summer and taking some time to soak them in.

It's been a long, busy & eventful month for us Wexelberg's and a month since I last wrote an update on how Mark and the Wexelberg clan are doing! So, on this here day of freedom, I thought I'd take some time to reflect on these last few weeks as they've brought more freedom to our lives as well.

We were off to a running, errrr, walking,...ummm, actually...a STANDING start the first week of June, when I posted the picture of Mark with a big ol' smile, standing with his walker for the first time in two months! What an amazing victory. What we did not realize was that this victory would continue to come in baby steps, not giant leaps! But it's been great!

As the last weeks have progressed, Mark has had some great days and a few really tough days. Usually, the tough days follow the really, REALLY great days, because we are so excited that the day is going so great that we probably do TOO many things! But, according to Mark, the good days, which keep getting progressively better, are the days that make him excited and hopeful for the continued road of recovery. Marks attitude and spirit continue to amaze and inspire me and make it easy to love & serve him and work with him toward wholeness.

As for the home front, in the last month we have also relocated from my Mom's house (for those of you just now joining this broadcast, we had sold our house, in preparation for moving, when Mark had his accident. So, everything went into storage and we stayed with my Mom for about 7 weeks), and we rented and moved into a handicap accessible home up in Fort Collins for the time being. We found it on Craig's List, as we perused the rental listings, and it couldn't have been better timing! Because Mark is still in his wheelchair a great deal of the time, it makes it really nice for him to be able to get around to every portion of the house, out the front door and back patio without being lifted. We are grateful for this provision! And we're still close to all his Dr's as well, which is great.

As for Mark's rehab process...it is going really well. He has progressed from having physical therapy at home to beginning outpatient therapy beginning next week. His surgeon has an office in Fort Collins (The Orthopaedic Center of the Rockies) and they have pool therapy! (no, not billiards! An actual swimming pool! Ha!) So, Mark's going to begin that in a week, probably about three times per week. This will help him strengthen all the muscles that have atrophied, without putting so much pressure on his joints, which is part of what wears him out so much when he is up.

Speaking of "up!"...Mark is able to get up several times a day and take walks around the house with his walker. He stands up as much as he can in the shower and while he shaves, and has walked to the car with his walker several times. Our new favorite outing is going to Wal-Mart near us. While Mark and Christian wait in the car, I go in and get the electric cart and ride it out to him and then he rides it around the store with Christian sitting with him, while we grocery shop. Yes, life is simple right now, and I'm loving it, actually. And for those of you who know how I feel about Wal-Mart, you know the fact that I'm bonding with it is a feat in and of itself. But we won't get into that right now... :)

We had another appointment with Dr. Rusnak - Mark's surgeon - last Monday, and it was terrific. They did x-rays, like they do every time, and everything is healing perfectly! PRAISE GOD! Even a spot Dr. R. was concerned with last time is showing major healing, so we are super grateful. Dr. Rusnak said that Mark seems to be 2 or 3 months AHEAD in his speed of recovery, so that's awesome news too. All of this is encouraging for Mark to hear, especially on the days he feels like he's moving at a snail's pace and feels stiff as a board.

The cutest thing that happened recently was when, after we moved out of my Mom's, my Grandma came home to my Mom's house once again. (My Grandma had gone to visit her other daughter in Flagstaff while Mark used her bedroom at my Mom's house). We came over to visit and my Grandma got up with her walker and Mark walked up the ramp with his walker and they hugged and kissed side by side in their walkers. THE cutest moment EVER! My Mom and I weren't sure whether to laugh or to cry, so we did both! (I've attached a picture, just to prove how cute it was...) My Grandma is 94 and she is such a sweetie. I thank God for her!

Anyway....all THAT to say, the Wexelberg's are doing well. Christian is doing awesome and enjoying having Daddy come back to life a day at a time! I am enjoying the ability to "nest" again, and the chance to be able to go in my own little space downstairs and write! YES! This house is a ranch, but has ONE finished bedroom downstairs, which is perfect for a songwriting & worship nook. I'm slated to begin recording a new worship project in the Fall, so this chic needs to be receiving some serious songs from the Lord! You can pray for me for that too!

The best part of all of this is how much grace has covered this season of our lives. It's hard to explain, but I know you all know what I'm talking about. "His grace is sufficient..." "His strength is made perfect in our weakness..." Not IN SPITE OF our weakness, but BECAUSE OF our weakness. Now, that should make the front page news! These are not empty promises! There is something supernatural that occurs when we surrender and just allow Him the room to pour His grace and strength into us, confessing our weakness and dependence. His Spirit comes...and there is liberty and freedom in the face of incredible dependence. I LOVE THAT!

So, on this Day of Freedom, let's celebrate the freedom we have found in the act of surrendering to Jesus Christ - in knowing that He will fight for us, He will complete the work He has begun in us, and He will NEVER abandon the work of His hands. Now that's something to shout about! And if you haven't surrendered to Him yet, do it today and let the fireworks begin!

Happy Freedom Day!
Love and blessings to you from us,
Shannon

Greetings this fine Sunday afternoon!

I've had people saying to me this week..."Hey, Shannon! It's been a while since your last update...when's it comin'?" I must say that my schedule as a nurse has been plum full lately! :) Ha! Actually, I've needed and wanted to do an update for some time, but life has been crazy busy this last week or so...full of good stuff, but busy nonetheless.

On Thursday, May 7th, we celebrated Mark's birthday, and what a celebration it was. Not that it was elaborate. Actually, it was quite simple and understated right here at home. We grilled salmon & ate asparagus on the back porch and enjoyed THE best chocolate torte from Schmidt's Bakery here in Loveland. YUMMY!!!!!!!! And we praised God in an extra special way for the fact that my sweet hubby was around to celebrate his special day. "Thank you!" to each of you who sent him a special birthday note, either via Facebook or e-mail. He has them all in a special little book (that his dorky, organizational wife made for him) that also contains his x-rays, other prayers, cards and special notes.

On Monday, May 11th (following a very special Mother's Day with my Mom, step-Dad & my guys on Sunday), we took another trip to the surgeon's office for a check-up. They did some more x-rays to check the progression of the healing, and then we met with the surgeon for a while. Dr. Rusnak said that things are progressing well, but that he is keeping an eye on the left knee, in particular, because these types of injuries tend to want to heal kind of "bowed." We are going to the hospital for a CT Scan tomorrow morning so Dr. Rusnak can get a closer look at it. If you would agree with us in prayer that the knee would heal STRAIGHT and align properly, and that the bones would not begin to bow at all. If it did heal improperly, it would mean more surgery ( and obviously another healing process), in order to avoid arthritis in that knee and ankle later in life. Please agree with us for perfect healing for the knee, if you would!

The other injuries are healing well. Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made! It's really neat to look at the x-rays and to actually be able to see the bone reforming before our very eyes, particularly in the femurs, where the breaks are so severe. God is SO COOL!!!! What a creative and amazing physician He is. Dr. Rusnak is still amazed at how little pain medication Mark is taking, as well as how positive and peppy he is (the light of Jesus shining through him, no doubt). So, hooray for that! Answers to prayer, all around.

From a timing perspective, Dr. Rusnak told Mark that he will continue to be NON-weight bearing for another 4 weeks, at which time he may be allowed to begin putting weight on the right leg (ankle injury side), using a walker or perhaps some crutches. So, we're pretty excited about that adventure coming up! I'm not sure when he'll be cleared to weight bear some on the left leg, but I think Dr. Rusnak wants to keep an eye on that knee a bit more first.

As for me, I took my first "out of town" adventure in a long while, when I traveled down to Colorado Springs with my friend Kris to minister at "Still Waters for Her" at Woodmen Valley Chapel last Tuesday night. I've been leading worship there the last couple of years, but this is the first time for me to SPEAK at Still Waters (actually, I led worship, spoke and sang...nope, didn't juggle though). I felt God's presence, grace and strength in a mighty way (I was nervous, especially because I've been mentally pretty taxed lately) and it was a special time with these precious ladies that I've grown to love so dearly. The theme, which was set last year sometime, was "the faithfulness of God." It couldn't have been more appropriate, as I was able to not only share our story of infertility and adoption, but also the recent chapters of Mark's accident and how I continue to marvel at God's faithfulness!! In fact, the Scripture I chose for the inside of the program for Still Waters was from Psalms 89, which says:

"Your love, God, is my song, and I'll sing it! I'm forever telling everyone how faithful You are. I'll never quit telling the story of Your love - how You built the cosmos and guaranteed everything in it. Your love has always been our lives' foundation. Your fidelity has been the roof over our world...God! Let the cosmos praise Your wonderful ways, the choir of holy angels sing anthems to Your faithful ways! Search high and low, scan skies and land, You'll find nothing and no one quite like God. The holy angels are in awe before Him; He looms immense and august over everyone around Him. God of the Angel Armies, who is like You? You are powerful and faithful from every angle!" (The Message)

I LOVE that last line. "God of the Angel Armies, who is like You? You are powerful and faithful from EVERY ANGLE!" I am convinced today, more than ever before, that NO MATTER what situation or circumstance we find ourselves in, when we turn our eyes upon Jesus and look HIS direction, we will see His faithfulness. Faithfulness surrounds Him on all sides and there is no angle from which He is any less faithful. But I think we can miss it, if we're not looking for it - if we're staring at ourselves and our problems. When we gaze upon Him through the lens of worship and gratefulness, it is then we are able to discover & see His faithfulness more clearly and we'll begin to be able to identify His faithful ways. That doesn't mean everything in our lives suddenly makes sense - it probably won't - but every promise He's ever made about who He is and who we are in Him is "yes and AMEN" in Christ Jesus. We need only rest in that and keep looking His way. He is 100% faithful.

Thank you for your continued prayers as Mark, Christian and I tackle each new chapter of this journey together. If there are ways we can be praying for you, please let us know as well. We feel a deep sense that God is doing a new thing in our family. We're really not sure what that is yet, but I received a card in the mail recently with a Scripture written inside that sums it up. It is for all of us who are Christ-followers, and especially for those who might find ourselves staring into the "unknown."

"In paths they do not know, I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do. I will not leave them undone." (Isaiah 42:16)

May the God of peace cause every heart who knows Him to rest in the knowledge that HE is is faithful. King of the Angel Armies. Faithful from every angle.

Love to you all,
Shannon

Hey there friends & family,

I actually sat down yesterday morning and wrote a nice, detailed update on all things "Wexelberg," only to have Facebook eat it! The nerve! By the time that happened, my "spare time" was spent, so I closed the ol' laptop and started the day. So, I'm going to try again tonight, hoping Facebook isn't hungry again. :)

It's been a wild ride this last 10 days, since Mark came home from the hospital! I shared with you the story of his first day home - the crazy lift not working, the Sponge Bob bedding, and the Nurse Bob visit. I continue to stand amazed at God's gracious hand in all of this, and I want to share a little bit about how Mark's been doing this last week or so.

First, after 3 days home, Mark was able to wean himself off of the lift - finally feeling like his scapula and flailed chest were coming around enough to do the transfers with the slide board instead. Can we say "hallelujah?" Yes, this victory which seems so small actually saves us about 15 minutes per transfer and enables Mark much more independence while he waits for permission to use his legs again! BIG, HUGE BLESSING!

That same day Mark got to take his very first REAL shower in a month. I'm certain he must've felt like a brand new man! My Mom, whose home is handicapped accessible, has a wheel-in shower, and it worked perfectly! So, hooray for showers! It's the little things that mean a lot.

Then, this last Monday Mark had his first trip in the car. We didn't intend on taking the car, but we soon discovered that finding handicapped accessible transportation is not as easy as calling a shuttle to the airport. So, in a last ditch effort to make Mark's appointment with the surgeon, we decided to give it a try. Whallah! Mark was able to transfer with the slide board from his wheelchair into our car. It wasn't easy, but another victory!

His appointment with the orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Rusnak, went great that day. It lasted almost three hours, which was a bit much for Mark. But he got his cast off the leg with the dislocated and fractured ankle, and they put a removable boot on it instead. He also got a whole new set of x-rays done - not a fun process, but necessary to keep tabs on his progress. And then we had a really good meeting with his surgeon, who was very patient, detailed and informative. He said the healing process seems to be going perfectly. He's keeping a careful watch on the knee and the ankle yet. (the femurs and pelvis usually heal, no problem) He said we should be past the point of being concerned about infection in the knee, where the open fracture was. But he said he's keeping an eye on it for shifting bone, which he noted a bit. Very minute (two millimeters), but something to watch. He said the ankle is looking good and healthy, but we'll continue to watch that over the course of the next 6 to 9 months, in order to keep an eye on the health of the tissue surrounding the area that was dislocated. Definitely something to continue to pray about, if you would!

Dr. Rusnak was amazed at how well Mark is doing. He was stunned at how little pain meds Mark is taking. And Mark isn't trying to be a tough guy, trying to get by on fewer drugs. His pain has truly been managed by a third of the pain medication the Dr. prescribed. The surgeon said that many people with lesser injuries than Mark often take much more medication than Mark is taking even at the four month mark. And Mark's only a month into this. So, we consider this a GREAT answer to prayer, because there is no other explanation. We have another post-op appointment in 2 weeks and pray for more great reports.

Mark and I have had some great times of connection since he's come home. We're able to chat in the evenings once I put Christian down to bed, and it's been a sweet time. He's doing a lot of reflection now, a lot of thanking God, and a lot of praying about what God has next. He has shared with me that he remembers the accident - remembers the girl's truck running right in front of him, when she ran the stop sign, remembers the impact and landing on the ground knowing his legs were really mangled. He remembers people above him telling him not to move, and the young girl who ran the stop sign sobbing and crying nearby. (she was uninjured, thankfully)

Tonight he shared with me that he remembers the immense feeling of vulnerability in the hospital and how he kept apologizing to all the nurses in the ICU for all the duties they had to perform for him. He felt like he was imposing on them and kept saying how sorry he was. Finally, one nurse told him..."Mark, you need to stop saying you're sorry. You have nothing to be sorry about. We know your condition, we see your brokenness and that is why we are here. Please, don't feel ashamed that you are in great need. Just let us help you."

Mark said that at the moment the nurse spoke those words, he was able to rest and release his sense of shame and receive the care that he so needed. God showed him that this is the same posture with which we so often approach the Lord. We don't want to feel vulnerable. We don't want to admit our brokenness or our utter desperation. We apologize for coming to Him mangled and so messed up, with a whole litany of needs, or we don't come at all. We feel ashamed and pitiful. But God says and wants us to hear, "Child, I know Your condition. I see Your brokenness and I'm fully aware of your sinful state. I know you are in desperate need of me and that is why I am here. That is why I died. Please do not feel ashamed in my presence or embarrassed by what I must accomplish on your behalf. Rest. And just let me help you..."

I love that. Don't we so often come to the Lord with our Sunday best on? No stains on our clothes, freshly repented, prayed up, great attitude and our shoes shined. Somehow we feel worthy of His love in that moment - as if we have it all together. But all we can really show for ourselves are filthy rags - the rest is an illusion. And He says to us..."Just let me help you..."

"O, great God. How we do need you...every day, every hour, every moment. Sweet Savior, I will not be ashamed and try to conceal my lowly state....for that is why You came. So, I spread out my brokenness before You, knowing You alone can bring healing and make sense of the pieces of my life. I love You, my Savior..."

-Shannon

Hello All! My guys (Christian & Mark) are down for a nap, and before I do the same, I thought I'd give you an update from the Wexelberg home front.

As I awakened this morning, I Peter 1: 6-9 quickly leapt off the pages of my Bible and into my heart. I have always loved this Scripture, but this morning it came alive in a special way. Here it is...

"In this you GREATLY rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

On Tuesday afternoon, Mark came home from the hospital! Hooray! What a relief for him and for us to have him home (my Mom's house, that is). There's no place like home, really. For most people, it is a place of refuge, comfort & familiarity. He slept better the last two nights than he has the whole month in the hospital (no surprise there with all the pokes and prods and noises). We got all his RX's filled and his equipment delivered on Tuesday morning and afternoon, which was a major endeavor in and of itself! The guys from the healthcare equipment company (who shall remain nameless!) spent over THREE hours (yes, I said three hours) trying to get the lift to work - the one that puts Mark in the big sling and lifts him from destination to destination, until he has more than one working limb. I was the guinea pig, and was hanging in the sling myself as they experimented with how in the world it was supposed to work. (aren't they supposed to know?) It was laughable for about the first hour and a half. Then, this wife (that would be me), who knew her husband was in the van on the way home, was not GREATLY REJOICING - as I Peter 1 mentions I should. :) But at long last, after they called in reinforcements from headquarters, the three of them got it figured out, and I & Mark survived the incident unscathed. :) At that moment a "Hallelujah" rang out from West Loveland! (& my Mom continues to sing the old Easter hymn, "Up from the Grave He Arose!" every time Mark goes up in the lift. She is a living soundtrack. :)

Yesterday, Mark's assigned nurse came to visit. His name is Bob. Nurse Bob said, when he read the notes on Mark's case prior to coming, he told his supervisor, "I don't think I want to have this patient - his injuries are too much work!" (he was kidding, kind of) Mark had a list of 20 injuries, and Bob said they rarely ever see anyone with this many injuries. For most patients, it's a broken hip or at most a few broken bones or incisions from a surgery. Nevertheless, Bob bravely came and after assessing Mark and talking with us, he said, "Mark, you are WAY better in person than you look on paper!" And by the end of the visit, he determined that Mark does not even need a nurse to come in on a regular basis. He was so pleased with Mark's overall condition and care! Praise GOD!

When Bob said that Mark is "way better in person than on paper" and that they rarely ever see all these injuries in one person, I thought of two things immediately. First, I thought of the miracle that God performed on Mark's behalf by sparing and protecting Mark in this accident. (I think the reason they rarely see all these injuries in one person is probably because, generally speaking, the person would not have normally survived). So, we "greatly rejoiced" that Mark is a living testimony to the grace of God and that he lived and will live to tell of the salvation of God!

The second thing I thought when Nurse Bob said that Mark looked "way better in person than on paper" was a bit of a stretch when it comes to parallels. But my mind went there nevertheless, when he said it. The Scripture I mentioned earlier says, "though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you are filled with an inexpressible joy..." I can not help but venture to say that our God is incredibly amazing "on paper" (the Word of God experienced and expressed in & through our earthly lives). He is living and moving, precious & powerful, & intimately involved in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. But can you imagine with me the joy and amazement we will experience when, at long last, we behold Him face to face - not "unseen" but "seen"? No longer will we see through a glass dimly. No longer we will have the limp of life to contend with. No longer will we sift through the hazy fog of our circumstances and trials. But we shall behold Him IN PERSON and I know we will be floored!

I don't draw this parallel to diminish in any way the wonder of God's Word or His complete power in our lives today in the here and now. But I draw the parallel because it is WE who are limited and WE who are "injured" and WE who see dimly now. The fact that we see this way does not make God any less amazing, it just means that we can not fully absorb how amazing He is until we bow before Him one day - our interpretations of Him finally cast aside - worshipping at His feet. WAY BETTER IN PERSON!!!! We will be HOME!

Well, until then, today is another day here on this earth and I want to GREATLY rejoice. Lord, help me! Help us! Not a wimpy rejoicing. Not a "when I feel like it" rejoicing. But a rejoicing that comes from deep within because each of us who follow Jesus Christ are "receiving the goal of our faith - the salvation of our souls!" with every trial we face. I want to be proved "genuine." Praise His wonderful name! So, as we begin the in-home rehab & occupational therapy and we both want to scream in moments of frustration or exhaustion (I had one of those moments last night already!), if we can press into Christ as we face these trials, (& as you face your own), we are receiving great treasure that will last. Hooray!

Oh, and on a completely silly note, I also wanted to share with you the bedding that awaited Mark on his twin hospital bed when he arrived home. (photo included) "Today is the BEST DAY EVER!" And it is.

WIth love and ramblings & great thanks to God and to you for your prayers!
Shannon