Dad has now been home for over two weeks. He continues to make progress in his recovery. The progress is steady, even if it isn't nearly as fast as he would like it to be. He still gets frustrated at times when his mind doesn't work like he's used to. But, just in the time since he first returned home from the hospital on the 24th of June, he has made very clear progress. Some of the simple things that he was unable to do at first, he can now do some of, even if not as quickly and completely as he would like to be able to. Some of those things are using the TV remote to operate the television, and even find some of his past recordings of his favorite shows, like "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp". He can also use his cell phone a little bit to make or return a call, find and use the app that allows him to track the airplanes he hears and sees flying overhead in the sky--something he's always enjoyed doing. He loves to see where the plane came from and where it's headed to. And, yesterday he was able to use the app that controls the sprinkler system to turn on the zone that waters the flowers in their back yard. These are all things he has not been able to do until just recently.

One of the home health nurses that came yesterday asked him if there were things he would like to do that he cannot yet do. Dad told her that he wanted to be able to mow the lawn himself. He also gets frustrated with still not being able to see with his left eye, as it limits his field of vision quite a bit and makes it hard for him to see things on his left side, whether people, food on the table, or objects in his path when he's walking that he bumps or runs into. His left eye isn't blind, but they said his brain is just not able to process the signals from his left eye. He has an appointment to see a neuro-ophthalmologist (eye doctor who specializes in vision issues due to brain injuries or diseases). Dad will soon resume some physical and occupational therapy to help him make continued progress towards his maximum recovery.

We, as a family, are very pleased with where dad is today. He certainly has moments of uncertainty, fear and frustration as he continues to deal with his limitations and the challenges they bring. It affects his self-confidence to realize his limitations. But, considering how close we came to losing him only a few weeks ago, we are so grateful for each and every day we get to have him here with us and count it both a miracle that he is alive, and a gracious mercy that he is doing as well as he is given what he has gone through. We all recognize these things are gifts from a loving father in heaven. Dad frequently says how grateful he is for another day of life, and an opportunity to be with those he loves. He gives all the credit to God.

This experience has had such a wild swing of emotions and experiences, from fearing we were going to lose him, to the pure joy of seeing him make the small steps in his recovery. We have all learned so many lessons over the last few weeks since Friday, May 21st when this journey all began with an extreme headache. We have felt the sustaining power of love and friendship from all of you who know and love both dad and mom. Your encouraging thoughts, words, deeds, prayers, fasting, and united faith on dad's, and our, behalves, has meant more than we can express in words. We have certainly had miracles to be where we are today. We know that they come from God. We also recognize that there are often many others who have prayed, fasted, and exercised tremendous faith in asking for miracle to be granted for themselves, or one of their loved ones, and the hoped for blessing wasn't granted. We know that God is in charge of times and seasons of our lives. We realized during those most trying early days that we had to place dad in the care of competent medical professionals to do what they thought was best to save his life, and that in the end, God was the one who was ultimately in charge of the timing of dad's life. Clearly there are so very many others who have been just as earnest, faithful, and deserving of having their prayers answered in the way they hoped and it didn't happen.

We acknowledge that we do not know the reason why dad has been spared, and our prayers, thus far, have been mostly answered in accordance with our desires that dad be allowed to live and remain here with us in mortality for a season more. It most certainly is not because dad, or us as his family, are any more deserving of having things work out according to our wills, than the scores of others who have prayed for God to intervene and grant the same desire for themselves, or their loved ones; and it wasn't granted. So, we humbly acknowledge God is in charge. We don't have all the answers as to all the specific trials and circumstances of this mortal life. We feel to echo the words of Nephi, in the Book of Mormon when he replied to the question he was asked by an angel, "Knowest thou the condescension of God?". Nephi responded, "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (1 Nephi 11:17)

We cherish every moment of precious time we get with dad. This experience has taught all of us so many things. It has brought us closer together as a family. We have been tested and stretched to the point of feeling like we couldn't take any more--especially when watching dad suffer so much and thinking we would lose him. We know the time we have together as a family is precious and we have a deeper love and appreciation for each other because of this experience. We also have strengthened our faith and trust in God, and his timing and will for dad, as well as each us individually. We don't know why we've been blessed to have our prayers answered, and to witness the miracles and tender mercies that have spared dad's life, when so many others have not been granted that same blessing. What we do know is no matter how short or long our lives are on this earth; no matter what are called to pass through and experience--God loves ALL of his children. We know that regardless of the widely varied circumstances, opportunities, trials, and outcomes of our earthly life; the eternal potential and outcomes of every individual child of God is equal. Our worth, our eternal potentials, and eternal outcomes are all equally the same because of God's love and his perfect, merciful plan for all of his children. It is all made possible because of love, the love of God and his atoning, redeeming son, Jesus Christ. That all-encompassing, perfect love of God and Christ ensures a bright and glorious future of all those who follow their plan. Even if dad's left eyesight and other abilities do not return in this life, the loss is only a temporary one. He who spent his mortal life, giving sight to the blind, healing disease, raising the dead, and giving hope to the downtrodden has already ensured the gift of a perfect, immortal body for dad and all of God's children.

So, as dad, and we his family, continue to take one day at a time in dad's, as well as our own, continuing progression; we give thanks to God for the priceless knowledge we have that this life is not the end. It's really just a beginning chapter in our eternal lives; eternal lives that--because of Jesus Christ--are chock-full of hope, promise, potential, joy, and most of all love.