It has been two weeks since we last updated, and we continue to be so very BLESSED by friends and family, and by the Lord.  We are overwhelmed, and so grateful……

Charley's pain is completely gone now!  (Thank You, Lord!!) (And thank you all for praying!) And the tingling in his arm and hand has diminished to only a couple of fingers – and is very slight.  :-)  He is off all his meds now, and is having a bit more energy and feeling better.  He still experiences tiredness and gets worn out much more easily than he would like, but he is accepting that as a temporary condition. 

He is ready to give away his “horse collar” to anyone who would like to relieve him of it (- in fact, he’ll pay you for it!  ;-), however, he is grateful for its protection, and has pretty much accepted having to wear it for the next 7 or 8 weeks.  Actually, it may be a little longer, as he will have to wean off of it gradually since his neck muscles will not be used to holding up his head!

We spend many of our evenings remembering or reciting what happened the day of the accident and the next 10 days at the hospital (since Charley remembers almost none of it) and the days since.  He is always amazed and touched as we discuss the outpouring of love and prayers that came - and continue to come.

First was the immediate and caring help that came at the accident scene, and the cleanup that followed. 

Then came the generous outpouring of help to do Charley’s many weeks of work in a matter of days.  We are now aware of the selfless sacrifice that people (and their families) made, setting aside their own obligations and work and leisure time, beginning July 12, to give their time and energy and resources to us.  This involved hours and hours of administration, coordination, communication, and carrying out of hard work to haul all of our remaining grain and to help with the spraying.  We are humbly and exceedingly indebted and grateful.  We would like to name names here, but are sure we would forget someone, and you are all special to us.

We have been surprised and so touched at the showering of cards, calls, texts, and messages on CaringBridge; visits, and loving refrains from visits; thoughtful help and offers of help of all kinds - at the hospital, at home, and on the farm; generous gifts, food, groceries & supplies; compassionate sympathy, support, and celebration.  So much love and kindness! 

And then there have been the prayers.  Charley says with emotion that he knows he was covered in prayer from the first moments after the accident.  So many people have said they were praying.  It is overwhelming to us, and we again have no words to express our gratefulness.  We hear repeatedly from the medical personnel that his initial condition and rapid progression and healing are amazing and even unexplainable. We know without a doubt that we have been recipients of God’s miraculous protection and healing.  Thank you, again, for your many and fervent prayers.

It is as if each act of prayer and kindness has been part of the fabric of a blanket of love that has wrapped us up in these last five weeks.  We thank you wholeheartedly.  And we sincerely thank God.  :-)