Hello family and friends - is anyone still here? I know it’s been a long time since my last update. Dan’s progress in recovery has slowed, but it’s still coming along. The intensive speech therapy session was exhausting but beneficial. Dan was able to master several sounds that had been giving him trouble, making his speech much clearer. On the last day he read a speech out loud that he had prepared with his therapist   What a joy to hear him speak for a prolonged time!

I am thrilled to report that as of last week Dan is no longer using his cane to get around the house! His walking is getting so smooth and fast. We are even able to get back to walking on the trail near our house, which we did daily before the stroke. It feels so good to be back. Dan doesn’t use his cane on the trail either, but he holds my hand pretty tightly! While we walk I ask him all kinds of questions to get him talking. Walking and talking at the same time is a new skill for Dan just in the last two weeks. It’s fun to talk about his childhood and our memories together. 
As of this week Dan is officially retired. It was a stressful process! We are thankful that he had a job he loved that supported our family for so long, and we are thankful for the retirement benefits. Dan is hoping to make it back to work some day in the future. We are praying for God to make a clear path for him. 

Thank you all for your love, support and prayers through this process. Six months is a long time, but Dan has so much further to go. The time passing has not diminished my overwhelming gratitude that Dan survived his stroke and retained his sense of self. We are thankful for every day together, and for every one of you. This six months has grown our faith in the Lord more than anything else in life. Our confidence is in Him each step of the way.