A Day of Celebration!

TMV©2011

About this time last year I received a call from Maggie saying that Jonathan was really sick and she was heading to the hospital with him. From that moment on my life changed. Today we celebrate our year anniversary of God sparing Jonathan’s life and Chuck’s the following day. In many ways I can’t believe it has been year!

It is strange to think back at what your emotions and thoughts were as they raced through your mind. Such fear and anxiety filled my heart thinking that I wouldn’t be able to see my son again. The following day seeing my husband strapped to a bed with tons of tubes attached to him sucked out what breath I had left.

As we raced to find a flight to get out there, God was moving on so many hearts to help us.  One thing I can say about this entire ordeal was how amazing God’s love was as it moved through his people.  Unbelievable love and grace poured out through family, Facebook friends, school families, church families, writing friends, homeschool families, strangers, and many new friends.

Tomorrow we don’t just celebrate Chuck’s birthday but that he too, was spared from his serious car accident. 

A year later and they are doing great.

Jonathan loves his freshman year at college. It is such a joy to hear him share with such enthusiasm how much he loves what he is studying.  Yesterday when I saw him, I couldn’t help but give him lots of kisses. He tolerated my joy pretty well. One of the residual affects I see is that his appetite never came back. Other than that, he is doing fantastic.

Chuck recovery has been miraculous. To go from struggling to walk to going to college full time is absolutely amazing. The doctors tell us it will be at least one more year before we really know what lasting problems Chuck might have. I admire his determination throughout this ordeal. Brain injuries play by their own rules.

The gift God has given me by not taking my son and husband is indescribable. The journey has been long and filled with detours along the way. I know that we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the prayers of so many. Even today we get people telling us that they still pray for us. I can’t express how much that means to me.  I feel like we have lived off of the love and prayers of so many. Thank you for you love and support.

Today is a day of joy and gratitude for me. We have walked through the valley of the shadow of death and God has been our healer and guide throughout.