Hello All!
Oh, I pray this weekend has enabled each one of you to get some rest & helped to renew your focus once again for the week to come. It did me, and while it was wall to wall busy, I was able to pause and reflect on God's mercies, new again each morning.

Three weeks ago today was the afternoon of Mark's accident. In some ways it feels like much longer than that, but in many ways it feels like yesterday. Mark said today that, in some ways, it feels like a dream he hasn't awakened from yet. I think this week was really the first week that we got through "crisis mode" and actually got to absorb the impact of what actually happened, as well as what didn't happen. We both looked at each other this afternoon so grateful that our family is still intact, that his life was spared, and that his head and spine were not affected. Had the girl run the stop sign a half second later, Mark probably would not have survived. Even still, it is a miracle he is with us today. I have dear, dear Godly friends whose stories did not end the same way - who were left planning memorial services, rather than planning a way to get their husband from his bed to a wheelchair while he recovers. My heart aches for the path they have walked, and yet I have seen God's faithfulness shining in their lives as well. It's the stuff of life that we'll never understand this side of heaven, as well as the very stuff of life that makes us cling to Him more tightly and transforms our vision. No matter what we face - past, present or future - He surrounds us.

I don't know if you're like me, but I often save favorite cards, notes, & e-mails from friends or family members - the ones that are especially encouraging or that made me smile or cry a good cry. I've also been known to save certain voice mails Mark leaves me, until I'm forced to delete them due to lack of space on my cell phone. Occasionally, I've saved voice mails from my Mom or Dad just because I wonder if I would forget their voice, if they were suddenly gone. Weird, maybe...but it's just me. Yesterday, I was driving to the hospital, when I realized how much I love to listen to Mark's voice and how I did not have any saved voicemails on my phone any more. I don't know why, but it hit me hard alone in my car, and I started to sob. (it also gave me some great ideas for a great country song lyric) Those things that we so often take for granted - the sound of a loved one's voice, the way they say your name, even the things that normally might bug you - they all become irreplaceable and cherished when the idea of them being gone is considered.

I'm not trying to be melancholy or overly introspective, but in light of the deep gratefulness we feel, these emotions are flooding us as well. Also, the reality that our life truly is like a vapor. I've always been one that wants to make life count, but even more so now, Mark and I feel the weightiness and wooing of God's Spirit upon our lives. We want to hear Him, wait for Him, just be with Him, and know we are living, breathing sacrifices...not holding back for the sake of comfort or convenience. I've always had that desire, but it burns more brightly now.

OK, OK...I didn't mean to ramble on so and really want to give you an update on Mark's physical condition as well. So, here goes!

Mark is scheduled to come home on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. He will have a hospital bed, a lift, a wheelchair, and other miscellaneous equipment delivered to my Mom's house, where we are staying, and we will become the hospital away from the hospital! I am feeling pretty good about things overall. I'm super excited to have him home with me and Christian, able to be close and also enjoy the great outdoors that surrounds my Mom's home. They live right at the base of the mountains, just down the way from Estes Park, so it's a beautiful area. They have a nice deck and lots of trails, so if I can manage the wheelchair out there, I am envisioning lots of nice walks.

He has 6 more weeks of non-weight bearing therapy and healing time. So, this is really going to be the most challenging period of time, in that, he can't put weight on his feet at all! So, we will utilize the lift, and then when his broken ribs and scapula heal up a bit more, he'll be able to use the slide board. Then after 6 weeks, he'll progress to some limited weight-bearing with a walker, as tolerated. He's very motivated and has a great attitude, so I anticipate he may progress more quickly than expected. At least that's my hope! :)

So, if you could be praying about anything, it would be this next transition home. This is brand new to us, and while I've learned a lot by observation in the hospital, it's a big learning curve. I definitely need an extra measure of strength, wisdom and patience, as will Mark! Thankfully, my Mom is here, so she can help when needed. I am grateful for that BIG time! You can also continue to be praying for Mark's right ankle. Obviously, Mark's whole body is still in the healing process, but the ankle is probably the most critical injury at this point, as far as really having to keep an eye on it for circulation and health of the tissue. Thank you for agreeing with us that he will require no more surgery and that everything will mend back together perfectly as it heals, enabling proper blood flow to all the tissues.

You know, growing up, before I realized I was called to music ministry, I wanted to be either a veterinarian or a nurse. One of my best friends in 3rd grade and I used to go to a vet's office after school each day and our job was to pet the animals. Yep, we were the official animal petters. OK, so now I get to do the nurse part, at least for a few months! Should be quite an adventure. Seriously, life with God is always an adventure. Discovering who He is on each new page of our journey is pretty amazing, dontcha think? With each trial we face we begin to experience a deeper knowledge of just how deep and how wide the love of Christ is. Oh, how He loves us. Really truly loves us. And we begin to have our hearts expanded. We begin to feel deeper compassion and love for those who have walked, are walking or will walk a similar journey. We will be able to comfort others with the comfort we have been given. We serve an amazing God and He is love itself. Love at its very deepest, purest, fullest & richest. Ponder that anew tonight....

Thanks for letting me ramble. There's a lot of processing going on in this heart o' mine.
Blessings, dear ones,
Shannon