So I (John) shared a couple weeks ago that I didn't think there'd be many more updates, but the last week has been sort of a combination of events of celebration related to different things but they were all near something major related to my recovery process, so while I didn't plan any of this, I have to brag on God and acknowledge how cool it all was.

To begin and relating to the injury, last Thursday, Sept 29, was one year since I came home from the hospital. It was meaningful, and we acknowledged it as a family within the house but didn't do anything outside of "normal" because we're trying to just live life now.

On Friday, I went to the office and went out for a lunch with my teammates. It was my last day to officially be in that role, and the lunch was just one last time for us to go out together as a team. It was an absolute blast, a humbling experience, and an opportunity for me to (yet again) tell them all thank you for the support over the last year.

Friday night and Saturday was a really cool opportunity to reconnect with former teammates at an Auburn swimming and diving alumni weekend. The focus of the weekend was the 20 year anniversary of the Women's team winning the first women's national title for Auburn in any sport, which was awesome. It also gave me an opportunity to see former coaches and teammates, catch up with them, show them I am doing well, and thank them for the support over the last year. I think a number were surprised to see me. The various teammates who I overlapped timing wise saw me and had some sort of reaction. Some were very careful, gave me a hug or handshake, and asked generally how I was and didn't press, which I totally respect and was totally fine with; others were excited to see me and would ask a lot of questions and dig for details, and I'd answer as best I remember things, and I was completely fine with this approach also. I just enjoyed seeing them and getting to interact and tell them thank you for the support.

Monday, I started my new role at work. Monday was also the 10 year anniversary of me adopting Jackson, and while he's always been mine, he became mine legally at that point in time. (That's a whole different story.) Anyway, that combination of items at the end of the weekend and after what Thursday represented was just cool. While none of it was intended to be related to the one year of me returning home, it was sort of an acknowledgement of the restart I've been working on post accident, and also a reminder of who God has put around me and how He's helped me with so many things in life. Jeremiah 29:11 states "I know the plans for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." That's been a verse I've held onto for 20+ years that started when I was trying to figure out where to go to college and if swimming in college would be an opportunity. There's been highs and lows along the way, but God has delivered on the promise in that verse, and it was just a humbling 5 days to see so many pieces come together in a 5 day window.

Thanks again for the support over the last year+.

-John