Good morning ya'll!
And happy tax day to you! Actually, it's also my birthday today, so I figure it can't be ALL bad! They say (not sure who, but someone did) that the two things that are certain in life are "death and taxes." But on this April 15th, I am certain of the faithfulness of the Living God. He is faithful in the valley of the shadow of death and in every other moment we could ever imagine, along with those we can't imagine. He is the ONE who rules and reigns over all things and holds us in the palm of His hand. Nothing can pluck us out. We belong to Him, if we have surrendered our hearts and lives to the Savior. Now, I'd say that is something to celebrate this fine Tax Day - the certainly of His faithfulness. :)

I realized yesterday that it had been quite some time since I had written an update on Mark, let alone journaled for myself. So, I figured this morning was the perfect time - before the sun rises and I hear little feet pitter-pattering. To say it's been a "wild ride" the last few weeks would be putting it mildly!

This last Saturday, Mark got transferred from the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, CO to Northern Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, CO to begin the rehab portion of his hospital stay. Last Saturday just happened to be the day that we were scheduled to move out of our house as well! (the new folks move in today!) So, let's just say it was a big moving day in general! After Mark spending about 4 days in his regular hospital room in Loveland following 9 or 10 in ICU, they told us Saturday morning that he would be moved THAT day to Greeley! Surprise!

So, I headed to my house to meet the moving team and get them going, and then got the call about an hour later that the ambulance would be arriving to pick Mark up and shuttle him over to Greeley at 11:30 AM Saturday. So...I got back to his room around 10:30 to pack up all his stuff, cards, plants, flowers, misc. junk, and wheeled them down to our car. Guess they don't want all that stuff in the ambulance jostling around. :) Ha! And I followed the ambulance over to Greeley to get him all set up there.

Thankfully, in the mean time, Mark's friend John was already at our house supervising the move, as I galavanted around town chasing ambulances, as I never made it back to our house. So, pretty much our entire house is now stored in a 10 x 30ish storage space somewhere in Loveland, CO. It is in that moment you realize just how very little "stuff" you really need to get by. Brings a little perspective, I think.

Anyway...so, I got Mark settled there and spent the day with him in his new digs. The staff there are very, very sweet and extremely helpful and we've had some real breakthroughs even since arriving there.

Mark began his physical therapy and occupational therapy right away that day. No time to just lay around! About four times each day he has therapy, whether it be actual strengthening and movement exercises or learning how to get from here to there. (reminds me of an old Sesame Street song..."how do you get from here to there? What do you do?" Remember that one?) I digress...(hey, it's early!) Anyway, he's doing great and each day he is feeling a bit stronger and a bit more flexible at the various sites where he now has LOTS of metal implanted and screwed into his body.

Because he only has one "good limb" at this point (due to the obvious injuries to both legs, plus the flailed chest and broken scapula), it's tough doing the transfers they are wanting him to do at this point. So, they've been using a lift, which is pretty funny. He's wrapped and strapped into this huge green nylon sling, which makes him look like a big pea pod, and then is lifted by a machine into whatever spot they want him. Hopefully, in a couple more weeks things will heal up on that arm/side, so he can scoot himself around on the slide boards, so he's not to be confused with a food group.

So...now comes the tough part, I think. Coming home. They are saying possibly one week from yesterday Mark will come home! It will be an INCREDIBLE thing to have my man home, and I count the days. I can take him on walks on the trails near my Mom's house, sit out on the patio and enjoy the mountains. At the same time, it is overwhelming imagining being able to care for him in a way that meets his needs and doesn't make us both wind up back in rehab! :) (can they do two to a room?) But I trust the Lord with that, as well as those who will train me on all the equipment and various things we'll be doing. And, they do plan to have a home health aide as well as therapists come in several times a week, as well, which will help in the interim.

With regard to how you can help, there are definitely a few things to pray for at this point in recovery. First and foremost, continued healing! Also, pray for a quick recovery and renewed strength, as he does the therapy. Pray for Mark, as he has struggled to sleep well since he woke up from his third surgery. It's hard to sleep on your back for the entire night, especially if you struggle with any sleep issues to begin with. So, we would love continued prayer for his sleep to be sweet. Mark has an extremely positive and patient attitude and his pain has been very well-managed, so this is a major praise report. Also, he has shown no signs of infection where the open fracture was at the knee, and is also showing great circulation in his feet as well, which was a concern. (the circulation will continue to be watched over the next 6 or 9 months) I can tell he is mentally tired, and of course the meds don't help with that, nor does sleep deprivation, so I pray that his mind and heart might be refreshed and invigorated as well.

As for me, you can pray for sanity! :) Not really, but you can pray for mental and emotional peace, as I trust the Lord with all the details of how life will look. I am a detailed person and generally like to have all my ducks in a row. Well, you just really have to completely let go when something like this happens, which is actually good for me! But, it's not easy. Working through getting us moved, juggling schedules with Christian, making sure Mark has an advocate and his wife by his side, along with all the other stuff of life, has left this girl a bit frazzled and dare I say a bit grumpy from time to time. :)

I know whenever God allows us to walk through these valleys, it is not wasted time. There are always purposes that are woven throughout the journey and I SO trust Him with that. So many times, when we are facing a trial, we see it as a "hang-up" or a "delay" - stopping us from getting to the really good stuff of our destiny. I've changed my opinion over the years. I believe God is as much "in the waiting" seasons and in the every day challenges of our lives, as He is in what we would consider the mountain-tops. And so, in my heart, while I do want this season to be passed in many ways (I don't want my husband in pain and unable to get around, and be away from us, etc...), I also want to savor it. Not savor the pain, but savor who GOD is to us in the midst of the pain. I don't want to miss that. Lord, help me.

Well, anyway. It's time to get up, get going and get this fine day underway. I pray you have a wonderful day, trusting God as your ultimate provision in every area of your life. His grace is and will continue to be sufficient for US! Thank you for your continued prayers!!!!

Love & tax day blessings,
Shannon