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