“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil 4:13

One year….365 days….8,760 hours…….since our world turned upside down March 5, 2022.  Philippines 4:13 was the first verse Doug and I ran to when our world fell apart.  I can do ALL things; the hard things; the scary things along with the good things when we put our trust and faith in Jesus. We praise Him from our mountain top just as we praised Him in our dark valley.  I promise you do not want to walk through the fire without faith. Faith found in the promises of the living words of the Bible and faith in the saving grace of Jesus who is in the fire with you; protecting you and cooling the embers in your path as you walk through. 

I remember after Hanna had her seizure like “episode” after her shunt replacement surgery on this date and coded with respiratory failure. I kept telling myself as the days wore on, “one year from now we will be good. I have faith and just know we will.”  Looking back at all the long days (116 total) of fear, anxiety and uncertainty, I can honestly say one year later we are good! God is good and God is faithful. He provides what we need just when we need it and offers so much hope when we place our faith in the saving grace of Jesus…even when tested beyond what we think we can bare. 

Max Lacado said it best in his book You’ll Get Through This:

“You'll get through this.  It won't be painless.  It won't be quick.  But God will use this mess for good. Don't be foolish or naive. But don't despair either. With God's help, you'll get through this.”

So we praise God today for this past year. We have both grown leaps and bounds in our faith.  He has taught us so much with so much more to learn.  He has shown us blessing after blessing. What an amazing God we have. 

We wanted to update you all on Hanna’s recovery. It’s going very well, her physician follow ups have all been positive. She is off all medications and is walking now with guidance. Her memory and cognitive issues have all resolved. (She doesn’t remember a lot about her hospital stay - God’s grace). Her inflamed facial nerve is healing. The ETV procedure, which replaces the need for a shunt, seems to be working well. We have been in outpatient physical therapy and will start pool therapy this month. 

We have added two pictures almost one year apart.  Lots to praise God for. 

We want to thank everyone who has asked about Hanna’s progress, encouraged and prayed for us on this journey to full recovery. The one thing we can say for sure is prayer is a mighty healing tool.  We are overwhelmed by those who stop to stay “we have prayed for Hanna since this all started.”  

God has used this mess for good! 

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