Hello from the Wootens!
Hope all of you had a great summer and are settling into your fall schedules. We want to update you on Smith. He has been released completely! He's now cleared by Dr. Kogon to do WHATEVER he wants to do!! More importantly he's been cleared for baseball and that has him smiling big! Ayers and Prather are excited to have their "wrestle mania" partner back on the trampoline, and Josh and Smith were out already tonight tossing the baseball! All of this means he can also help take out the trash and bring in groceries again, which has Haley very happy. 😉 TWICE this summer she went to the grocery store to grab a few essentials and got home only to forget about the milk and eggs in back of the car. Upon discovering the spoiled groceries the next day in the hot car, we all realized just how much of a help Smith is to us everyday!
Smith asked Dr. Kogon if he was released to slide head first. He replied ,"You are cleared to do that, but I can't figure out why anyone would ever want to do that. That's just crazy." Smith replied, "Well, no offense but you cut into people by choice for a living so I don't know if I am the crazy one." 😆
Smith has handled this journey so well, and the Lord has used it to mature and grow him in many ways. We are thankful for his progress and healing. We are looking forward to him doing normal things again...like playing outside, riding in the front seat, and even DRIVING now!! Thank you so much for the encouragement and support you have shown us. The Lord has answered the prayers of so so many!! We are blessed to have such amazing friends who care so deeply for us. Thank you seems so simple, but really-from the bottom of our hearts we are beyond grateful for the prayers and concern everyone has shown- not just for Smith, but for our entire family during this period. As nuts as this sounds, Smith's surgery has grown our family closer to each other this summer. We bonded in a deeper way, and we witnessed once again that God uses ALL things to work for our good.
We are signing off now to polish our cowbells in preparation for Mississippi State's first home game of the season tomorrow! Of course, kickoff is smack dab in the middle of a heat advisory. Would we expect anything less for football season in the South?
"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!"
Psalm 126:3
"I thank my God every time I remember you."
Philippians 1:3
