“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”​—HEB. 12:1.

It has been a long time since my last post. The days have been challenging, busy and long. But God is good and has answered many prayers. Jonathan continues to improve. His determination is inspiring. With help and encouragement he is communicating more and more every week and is gaining strength and movement. He has gained more sensation on the left side and with great effort some movement with the left leg and arm. He is standing up more and with assistance and with lots of effort can take steps. He continues to work hard in physical, occupational, speech and water therapies. Jonathan very much wants to go to college and swim again and can get frustrated at times with his current limitations, difficulty with memory and comprehension of his current condition. However, Jonathan has come a long way and his progress is impressive. He is and we are determined to continue this journey of recovery. Please send encouragement his way and continue to pray believing with us knowing that God has Big plans for Jonathan’s future and that his plans are good. His personal goals for the month of October are speaking in a voice that is loud enough to be heard, standing up tall and keeping a positive outlook.

Blessings and Thank You’s: Thank you for the continued support of our family and friends, our church family, the schools, the community and local businesses. We now have a very nice accessible van which makes transportation easier and safer for everyone. Jonathan now has a self adjusting mattress so that we can all get a better nights sleep. I have been able to take some time away from teaching so that I can assist Jonathan with his recovery and Steve and I are starting a new business (Jo.Nathan’s Coffee). We hope that this new business will be a blessing to the community as well as to our family. We now have an awesome aid who comes four times a week during the day to assist with Jonathan’s needs and therapies. She is talented, positive and is genuinely invested in Jonathan’s recovery. Ashley has been a blessing to Jonathan and to us. Thank you to the Rouitan Club and the YMCA in the purchase of a new water walker for the YMCA pool water theripy program and continued support with membership dues and theripy and to swim coach and transition Theripist Ricki Furlong. We are thankful for her dedication, expertise, commitment and support every week. Thank you to our pastors for steadfast support and prayers, for taking time to personally meet with Jon, listen to his heart, his concerns and pray with him. (It’s pastor appreciation month and you are appreciated more than we can say) Thank you to Tod from HRCC who upon hearing our AC was out came straight over and had it up and running on a Sunday morning and still made it to church. That’s impressive! Thank you to Robin Pierce with Hickory Ridge farms for her assistance and advice with getting our new business off the ground and to her husband, John for lifting Jonathan up into the wagon for a Hayride around the farm. Thank you to our neighbors for just being awesome and all the rides to and from sports practice! Thank you to Chase and Amanda Mclaughlin for shopping to keep Jonathan looking and feeling his best and that steady friendship that he can trust and count on. Thank you to Interiors by H & M our new accessible bathroom has a beautiful and workable floor and shower as well as a new wood floor in Jonathan’s bedroom for his wheelchair to be able to wheel on. Thank you to Chris Daily, the bathroom and bedroom are almost completed and looking good! Can’t wait to move Jon back into his own room.

Prayer Requests:
-speaking out loud enough to be heard
-continued improvement with left side
-standing up tall
-care taker for early morning
-increasing visual field
-increased independence with eating
-decreased shaking & greater fine motor coordination
-emotional health & encouragement
-short term memory
-finding the right doctor
-support group
-success of our new coffee business

#Jonathan 100%