Recovery update. 

It's been over 7 months since Ryan's accident. We have been home for over 2 months. We celebrated Ryan's 40th birthday with friends and family yesterday. We are settling into home and work and therapy and figuring out life day by day. Our transition home in January served as a physical representation on our transition from crisis mode to recovery mode. 

Philippians 4:8 "... whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praise worthy- think about such things." Overall our transition home has gone very well.  Ryan's therapies are going well and he continues to make great progress in regaining independence. Ryan and I both returned to work full time and have enjoyed being back in our home being able to be an active part of our girls lives and being able to play with and snuggle with our dog Thor. Our home environment is peaceful and filled with so much positivity, love, and laughter. These are the things we choose to focus on.

 Life is not easy. Life is not fair. Nothing about any of this is fair, however, we weren't promised an easy or fair life. Everyone has struggles in life and seasons of hardship. Right now, sometimes our days and weeks are incredibly hard. Ryan has been getting reoccurring infections and when this happens he has increased care needs randomly during the day and more frequently at night. Increased care needs means interruptions in both of our work days, decrease in sleep at night, increased physical and mental demands on both of us.  Our daily routines and lifestyle are completely different from what they were pre-accident and this is hard not only for us but for our friends and family to understand. I am trying to balance being a mother with meeting the care needs of my husband, this is an area I fail at over and over. Our girls have had to sacrifice so much as the needs in our household are constantly changing. This has been incredibly humbling and heartbreaking.  We are trying to figure this thing out day by day and moment by moment. Galatians 6:9 says "and let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up."  When life is tough day after day and this season of hardship drags on it takes everything in us to not grow weary.  So, if you ask how I'm doing and I say, "I am ok," please accept that as good enough, because sometimes when you are walking through a dark valley with no end in sight, ok is good enough. Just choosing to show up in life another day is enough. We get to make the choice every day wether we are going to show up or shut down in life. We make a conscience decision to focus on the many blessings we have received and are surrounded with in this life. This is what keeps us anchored in hope. Hope is the confident assurance that good things are coming! God is good and we trust He has good plans for our family. 

James 1:12 "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterwards they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." We could choose to give into the temptation to dwell in self-pity and complaining but we are in a season of patiently enduring.  We are incredibly grateful for the love and support of so many people. Please understand, what we need right now more than anything is just extra grace as we continue to try to patiently endure as we navigate this difficult season in life. 

We are richly blessed and have so much to be grateful for. God is so good and so gracious. Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement as we continue to lean into all God has for us in this season. Good things are coming!