One year ago, after spending almost 7 months away from home, we arrived in West Plains to the grandest, most amazing homecoming one could ever imagine!  The drive from Willow Springs to our front door was so full of wonder that I can hardly believe it was real.  This morning I re-read the Caring Bridge posts from that day and I am again filled with awe for this amazing community.  There are no words to express the emotions in my heart for that day and for all of you who welcomed us here and who welcomed us home from afar.

Thinking of that homecoming, I can still remember November 30, 2018 and the words of the respiratory therapist as he tried to explain how Mark’s brain was shutting down and the nurse who shared how so many like Mark went on to live a life in a facility kept alive by a machine and I remember the doctor who wept as he stood over Mark’s bed and told me that it didn’t look good.  But, God, had other plans.  He heard the fervent prayers of so many and Mark woke up. 

I also remember the questions we had while in Denver, “Will Mark walk? Will he be able to use his left arm/hand?  Will his vision improve?”  The answers were vague.  “We don’t know.”  “Possibly, but we aren’t sure.”  Mark came home walking, talking, using his arm and hand.  He was better than we could have ever hoped.

After we came home, we had more questions.  We wondered if he would always be so tired and sleep so much, if he would learn to lace his boots as we went over it time after time, if the impulsivity we saw in him would remain, if he would take more interest in the farm and so many more questions.  We struggled as a family to rebuild and to figure out how to live with this new Dad.  We had teenagers providing care and parenting Dad and a Dad trying to parent them.  It has been tough and painful, but also good and sometimes great.  Throughout this year, I have been amazed by Mark’s incredible attitude, his emotional resiliency, and his thankfulness to be home.  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t hear him say, “I’m so glad to be home or I’m so glad I’m not in Denver.”  I also hear, “I’m so glad I’m alive.” 

Throughout the year Mark improved and then would seem to plateau and I would wonder, “Is this it?”  “Is this what we have?”  Each time, we would suddenly see a jump in improvement and it was so exciting.  Improvements seem to slow in April again and about a month ago, I can clearly remembering wondering how we would make things work here on the farm and then over the last 2 or 3 weeks, we saw a lot of improvements.  It has been so wonderful to see him working on the farm, planning, and executing in ways we hadn’t seen.  I just want to shout “Hallelujah!  Thank you God!” 

Mark is operating most of the equipment on the farm and has worked some long days.  He has been disking, mowing, raking, baling, and so many other things.  He is loving it.  He laughs a lot and I think he is enjoying his life.  He takes such delight in all of his kids and grand kids.  He loves to talk to Misty and Natalie on the phone and hear their stories and tell them his.  He’s been teaching Ruby to drive a stick shift, coming up with ideas for fun like loading up the canoe and sending me and Ruby down the creek between the water gates, farming with Clint, talking trucks, tractors, and dirt bikes with Clint, and constantly expressing the blessing of getting to watch and help Clint and Ruby grow up.  Quarantine was good for us.  It gave us more time together.

Thinking about the farm, I can’t help but think of the guys who work with us on the farm.  They have been and continue to be such a blessing.  They have been right here with us, watching over, caring about us, and working.

Another cause for celebration were the results of Mark’s last eye exam a few weeks ago.  As you may remember, Mark lost some vision on his left side of each eye.  We were not given much hope for improvement there, but guess what?  The tests showed quite an improvement over the tests completed a year ago.   I cried.  I felt so happy for Mark.

I am so thankful for all of you that continue to pray for Mark’s recovery and for our family. Thank you for the cards and letters we still receive.  I want to thank Bill and Judy from Oklahoma.  I do not know your last name or your address and very little about you, but your faithfulness in praying and your cards have been a great blessing.  I would love to know your name and address.

Mark reminded me the other day about something he first said while we were in Denver.  We were talking about something he isn’t able to do right now.  He said, “Well, I learned to do it the first time and I can learn to do it again.” 

While I want so much to see Mark have the fullest recovery possible, I am frequently reminded that God is enough and that he is providing us with what we need each day and that our trust is not in Mark's recovery but in Him.  Yes, sometimes I forget.  I am grateful for your continued prayers for Mark and our family.

Thanking all of you so very much!

Gail