Blessed Christmastime!

Friends, it has been an incredible year! As we have just finished celebrating Christmas and look forward to what the New Year has in store, we are again and again reminded of what we have been brought through this past year. Here's a brief update as to what our Christmas was like:
- Aaron arrived home late on the 18th, as we were sharing a "family" evening with Chris' girlfriends' parents and extended family - a great start to the holiday time! SOOO good to have him home again! (He is doing very well in college, and is not having too much pain in his back at this time - PTL!!)
- I was privileged to be included in a luncheon for the staff that I worked with at the orthodontic office where I worked for 10 years up until the accident - they are still so supportive and encouraging!
- Christmas Eve was shared at home with our sons and Chris and Jason's girlfriends - a wonderful, quiet, peaceful and joyful time!
- Christmas Day was a relaxing day of good company, good food and a good nap!
- Sunday we had an amazing time of worship and sharing the goodness of our Lord this past year.
- Monday dear friends of mine from the arts community - my 'sisters' on the stage and in life - had an incredible birthday dinner for me!
- Tuesday Ben planned a lovely surprise birthday party for me! Even though I found out about it (he accidentally emailed the invitation to me as well!) it was still a fantastic evening. My sister and her husband and my mother came up from the coast for a few days, and it has been so wonderful having them here!!

I have to honestly say that I have never enjoyed a Christmas more than this past one, at least that not that I can remember. And I have never been so happy to celebrate a birthday - my 50th at that!! The only word that I can use to describe how this whole season of celebration has been is "thankful"! I am so grateful to my Lord and Saviour for allowing me to still be here and celebrate with my family and friends what He has accomplished in and through us this year. Although the stiffness/soreness are still there, and there have been times where I felt myself getting frustrated, mostly I've been able to keep my sights where they should be, and look to the good things that are a part of my life now. Because of the accident, I've been able to relinquish all of my outside commitments, and focus on that which is most important right now, resulting in the quietest pre-Christmas season in the last few decades! I thought I would miss the concerts, recitals, programs and all the rest, but I found it so relaxing! I was even able to do a few things that I have been wanting to do for a very long time - like making new Christmas stockings for the family, and some beaded snowflakes for the windows.  These projects and the wonderful food and other things that are part of our 'traditions' have all made this a very memorable end for a very memorable year!! Our hearts are full of thankfulness and praise to our Lord Jesus for His incredible gift, and most of all, for life!! I trust all of you have been able to experience the same, and that you will continue to look to Jesus for the joy of the season all year through!

Almost Christmastime!

Hey, friends and family! Sorry I let the Friday deadline come and go this week - with Aaron coming home, and in all the excitement for Christmas, it kinda slipped away! But what a weekend we've had already! It's so good to have all the boys home, and Chris and Jason's girlfriends as well. The tree is finally decorated, the new stockings are almost finished, and now we just need to plan and shop for the food! Our celebrations always include lots of good food - at least we think it's good!

It's been an interesting Christmas season. Usually this time of year I am very busy with concerts, recitals, programs, parties and so on. But this year there has been very little of that, and it's been good. There has been time to do things with my kids and husband, time to read and have coffee, time to sleep (!!) and just relax. Yes, we're still busy, but not hectically so. It's somewhat a forced quiet Christmas, but we're really appreciating it for what it's truly worth.

Today we enjoyed attending a performance of the Nutcracker, which was truly beautiful. I keep waiting for the time when I'll feel resentful or frustrated that I can't participate in productions like that any more, but it hasn't come!! I'm so thankful for what I do have, and for the many other things that I can do, that the other stuff just doesn't matter - honestly! I so enjoyed playing keyboards in church for the worship team again this morning - that is something that I find so fulfilling, and have great joy in serving that way, that I don't miss being able to sing. But I'm still working at it!

So as you all go into this week before the big day, may you also find peace, joy, love and a lot of good times with family and friends. And if you can't find it where you are, let me know when you'll be arriving here!!!

Much love, and Merry Christmas! May Jesus be the Reason for your Season!

Once more, home again!

Greetings from the cold north! Sorry that I haven't been able to post while we were away, but the internet connections were VERY slow, and quite expensive. So I had to make you all wait! But we have had an awesome trip, and a very enjoyable time with my siblings and their spouses in Cuba! Even though my luggage didn't arrive until 5 days after we got there, we didn't let anything spoil our trip. We had a great time of relaxing and resting, reading, snorkeling, and just having fun! We celebrated the fact that we were all alive and well, our anniversaries, and they even had the staff at one dinner sing me "happy birthday" and bring out a cake! Trust my siblings not to forget!! But it was also more than just a vacation - my sister called it "a vacation with a purpose". We were able to deliver medical and practical supplies to two doctors, an orphanage and 2 churches! We were also able to attend one of the churches, and shared an amazing time of worship and fellowship with them, even though we understood very few of the words being spoken. The pastor's wife translated for us, but the meaning and spirit of the service was more than clear! To see God at work transcends language barriers!

After arriving in Vancouver, I spent 2 days there having appointments again. I met with the urologist, the voice clinic, my physiotherapist from GF Strong, and the neuro-ophthalmologist. The urologist wants to run some more tests on me, so I'll be back for that in January. The doctors at the voice clinic noted that my voice has improved a lot, and that I am doing what I need to do to keep improving. The best news came from the neuro-ophthalmologist. My eyes have improved as much as they are going to, and so now he wants to have me see a specialist that will schedule surgery to correct them completely! We had hoped that they would improve on their own, but that's okay - the surgery will set everything back to normal. The success rate is 90 - 95 %, so that sounds great to me! It's day surgery done under local anesthetic, so it won't even be that bad. That will be scheduled for sometime next spring.

So we're back at home, relaxed, refreshed and ready to get into Christmas. Things were just starting to show up in the stores before we left (except at Costco, which has Christmas stuff out in August!), but things are sure in full swing now! Usually we are able to ease into the season - this year I feel like I've been hit with a Christmas sledgehammer!! But it will be a meaningful celebration this year, that's for sure. Aaron will be coming home next week Friday, and it will be so good to be back together as a family again. It should be the most restful Christmas that we've had in a while, as I am not involved in anything at all! Usually this time of year is so busy with concerts, recitals, church programs to prepare and be involved in, but not this year! So it should actually be a time of doing what we should be doing - celebrating the birth of our dear Saviour and Lord, and enjoying our family!!

We trust that this season will be as meaningful for you as it will be for us! May you find the time you need to focus on what is important, and to treasure the ones you love!

Bye for now!!

Just a quick post before we leave for our holidays! We are off to Cuba for 2 weeks!! We are taking some things down (medical supplies, school supplies, toiletries, etc.) plus some specific things that the church has requested. PLEASE PRAY that everything makes it down safely, and that the customs officials will not confiscate any of the items. We are really looking forward to visiting the church in Veradero that my sister and her husband have been in contact with. We pray that even there we will be able to be a blessing and a help to the local people.

So I won't be able to post for a few weeks, but once we're back I'll give a full report!\

Enjoy the snow for us!!

Home again...for now!

Once again we made the trip back from the coast today - well, today was only the drive from Williams Lake where we stopped to share the evening (our anniversary!) with friends and spend the night. Breaking the trip up this way sure was a welcome break!

We had a good week - Ben completed the work he needed to do on the file he was working on, and I had a great time playing! I even got to go shopping in Bellingham, Washington, for a day - boy, did I sleep good that night! We were even able to get together with my siblings and their spouses for a super (as always!) dinner at my mom's. All of us were married in November, so we had an anniversary celebration, leading up to the big celebration coming up next week when we leave for Cuba with the same siblings and spouses! It's going to be an awesome time that we are all looking forward to very much. It's been a difficult year, and somehow that makes it seem justifiable! But just to make sure, we're making this more than just a holiday. We're taking down some badly needed items that will be distributed to the local people through a church contact. Pray with us that all the items get through safely, and that there will be no difficulty at customs. And that we will have a safe, healthy holiday!

Back to our trip of this past week - I thought I should share that the drive from Hope to Williams Lake yesterday was a bit difficult because of the snow and ice on the road. We passed 5 vehicles that were on their side in the ditch and 2 accident scenes. After one of them, we simply had to pull over to the side of the road for a few moments to pull ourselves together. It's not easy to witness tragedy in any form. But again we focus on what God has done, the miracles He has performed in our lives, and how we may yet continue to give Him the glory. We know that He isn't finished with us yet! And for that we are so thankful!! So all in all, it was a good week, in spite of challenges. The upcoming week will be a busy one, getting everything ready for the big trip. Pray that our focus will not be deterred from what God wants to accomplish in our lives. May we never, ever be too busy for His work to be done!

Almost forgot!

Friday came and went, and I didn't post - sorry! Things are just about the same here, although I just got a phone call that my great-niece was born last night...the first great-grandbaby in our family!! So welcome to the world, Kayla!! It's a pretty wonderful place for now!

We are all doing fairly well, and rehab continues. Some days are still frustrating, but on the whole progress is still coming along. My workouts at the gym are now concentrating on making my gait (the way I walk) better and smoother. I've had some problems with the jerkiness of my walk, and am concerned that when the snow comes that it will be even harder to get around. So that is my focus right now.

An update on Break Forth - they have decided that we will not be able to share this year, due to lack of time in the schedule. Hopefully another year, though!

Ben and I will be heading to the coast for the coming week - business for him, some unscheduled time with my family for me! It will be so nice to be down there with no doctor's appointments to go to!! We are planning on being home next Saturday, so I'll let you know how it went at that time. Blessings for your coming week!!

Blessings...

Today I was sent a link to another blogsite, that of a gentleman who had a biking accident in August. He has a C2 fracture, and has just been moved to GF Strong. He is a quad and on a ventilator, but is confident that God is working out His purposes for him. What a faith! I was so challenged as I read his story. Right from the start he was strong and holding onto the strength he found through scripture and prayer. I felt almost chastised as I remembered my weaknesses and doubts. But I know that each of us takes different ways to get to where God wants us to be. I'm just so thankful that my Lord and my God was patient with me and surrounded me with people who encouraged me (especially my precious family!) to keep looking to Him to get us through. And Praise God, He is!! Pray for John as he transitions into life at GFS, that he will find the patience that he will need as they determine his treatment goals, find him his "rhythm", and adapts to life in the ward. There will be so many things that he will need to learn, and my prayer for him is that he will be a testimony to the many others on that ward that have so little hope!
This has been a good week for me - although Ben has been gone, and I haven't slept as well as I would have liked to, but I feel stronger again today. There are so many little challenges to overcome each day, but still the biggest one is to stay in the Word. I was again reminded as I read John's blog of how much I depended on my Lord and Savior in the beginning, because there was no other option. Now that I am again more or less self sufficient, it is so easy to go back to depending on myself. But it is not in my own strength that I can live this life, regardless of how well my body works or doesn't work. It is only through His power and His sustaining grace that I get through each day in a way that will bring Him glory, and that's what I'm here for! Lord, may I never forget that! Thank You for that reminder today!
Find your strength in Him today!! Hang in there! Judy (Ben comes home today!!!!! YAY!)

A Quiet Week

Not too much new and exciting - had a couple of "down" days this week. Sometimes I still get tired for no reason, but still don't sleep well. I know it's all part of the healing process, but I tend to forget that now and again. So many things feel almost normal, well, more normal than a few months ago anyway! And then my body doesn't want to cooperate. Oh well, so it goes! I'm still WAY thankful for each day, and for so many blessings all around me. I can do what needs to be done, and that's enough for now!

Ben and I are looking forward to having a 2 week holiday in Cuba in the end of November!! We will be going with my sister and her husband, and my brother and his wife. All of our anniversaries are in November (no, that was not planned that way!) and so it will be a great time of relaxing and celebration. Right now, I think Ben needs this even more than I do! The stresses and struggles at work have really been hard on him. He has to be out of town for a week next week, then back home for a week, then away again for a week! Then one more week and we leave! It will be an interesting month! Oh, and for a piece of trivia for you - when Ben got the confirmation that he is going out of town for the 2nd week, it made it that we will have been apart this year more than we've been together! Not the greatest of statistics, but at least we're together!! That's more important than anything! We've made it through this, by the grace of God alone, and we've got a lot more to go!! PTL!!

This week in PG...

Not much exciting happening around here, which is, I suppose, a good thing. We made it home safely from Grande Prairie, saw my little boy (Aaron!) who says he doesn't miss home at all (?), had a good visit with family, won a chili cook-off contest, and generally had a great time! This week I've been focusing on getting into a schedule, especially with my sleep. I find that if I don't sleep well, my whole day is shot. So that is my focus.

Ben has had some relief from the stresses at work, and is doing better. Chris and Jason are doing what they do, and we are sure enjoying have their girlfriends around!! Jason has written a few midterms already, and is coming through quite well.

Just looking outside at the wind blowing all the leaves off the trees - winter is coming, and I'm not too sure how much I'm looking forward to that. Oh well, it's part of the life cycle, and we should be thankful for every season, right? Right!

Keep in prayer for the leaders of Break Forth 2010 - I was notified that they had received my testimony, and will be considering how and where or if it should be used. I am also the coordinator for the registrations for our church, as well as working with other churches to possibly get a bus full together - I do not want to be driving that road again!!

Have a great week - keep being thankful in all things!!

I promised!

Well, I said I'd be back before Friday, and I made it! This will be just a quick note to let you all know what's up for this weekend.

Ben and I will be leaving tomorrow morning for Grande Prairie, Alberta, to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. A bonus to the weekend is that Aaron will be joining us! He is coming from Edmonton with his cousin. Chris and Jason will be staying home, but will have company in the form of their special friends :)!  We will celebrate Thanksgiving together as a family later this month, which is not a bad thing - any excuse to have lots of people over and cook (and eat!) really good food is fine with me!

Speaking of which, we had a houseful here last Sunday for Chris' 24th birthday. It was an opportunity for me to try out a new recipe - Paella, a spanish-inspired rice dish with lots of seasonings and seafood. What a blessing to be able to do this! I am finding a lot of pleasure in being able to cook and bake again, with time for rest in between. My sleep schedule is still wonky sometimes, but it is getting better.

May this Thanksgiving weekend be truly meaningful for you and all those who surround you. May you experience the Father's grace, peace and joy in whatever you undertake. May the true Spirit of thankfulness and praise inhabit all that you do, and may your relationship with Jesus become deeper and richer as you ponder what you are truly thankful for.

Blessings! Judy

Forgot the picture...!

October already!

Okay, folks, I really didn't mean to go this long without a post! I hereby make a promise that I will post something at least once a week, just to let you know that we are doing okay if nothing else!!

But this week I did have something special - I passed my driver's reexamination!! Which means that I am now free to drive myself wherever I would like instead of always bothering my kids or having to call a taxi. So freedom has taken on a new meaning!! The driver's rehab course in Vancouver really helped, and I'm so glad that I didn't have to do the exam there. The timing all worked out just fine, as God usually has it!

An update on the rest of the family
- Chris is home from BCIT and has successfully completed his 3rd year of apprenticeship in Joinery. For his project he made a beautiful basket which he gave to my mom! (I'll try to include a picture of it here.) It's his birthday this Sunday, and we're going to have a great party!
- Jason is doing fine so far in his studies - linear algebra, and two difficult chemistry courses that I forget the name of. He has 2 midterms next Wednesday (Oct. 7th) for which I know he would appreciate prayer. He still struggles somewhat with focus and concentration, but continues plugging away. He works at Starbucks, as well as leads a group of teen guys in a Bible Study.
- Aaron is enjoying his studies in NAIT, and occasionally asks for a recipe from me, but is doing well fending for himself. The troubles with his back are not over, and he still has pain if he sits or walks wrong. He's learning to compensate and be careful, and is coping fairly well emotionally. Although he won't admit it, I think he's a bit homesick...at least for his friends! He has found a church to attend on Wednesday nights (he doesn't have a car, and the buses don't get him there on Sunday) and is trying to find Christian friends.
- Ben is also still having some pain in his foot, but has found that heat relieves it somewhat. Unfortunately, his work is giving him some stress, and he has some difficult decisions to make regarding how to handle things. Without going into too much detail, please pray for him that he would have wisdom to respond to the situation in such a way that will bring God glory and release him from his stress. Thanks!

I am continuing on in my physiotherapy, as is Ben. My range of motion in my arms has really improved, and they are starting to work on my neck a bit to loosen things up. I find satisfaction in being able to be at home and do what I can to keep things going here. I have been able to play either the keyboard or piano in church almost every Sunday, and this gives me great joy! I have also started (re-started!) studying for my music history exam. So I have enough to keep me busy for now!

One last thing - as always, we have prayed for opportunities to share our story. God led me last week to call the office of Breakforth, the worship conference that we were going to when the accident happened. I have spoken to the director's wife regarding being able to share next year at the conference! Ben and I have compiled our testimonies, and will be sending this to the director to see if God would have us share in front of the thousands that will be there!!! The coolest thing is that the day after I called, I ran into a friend who wanted to tell me that she felt that I should do exactly that! So we believe that if God wants us to, we will be able to share our story next January in Edmonton! Pray that His will be done in this matter. It would be an amazing opportunity, not to showcase ourselves, but to give Him the glory for what He has done!!

So, I promise that before next Friday I will be back here! Thank you to all of you who faithfully check day after day, even when I haven't posted anything. We covet your prayers and your encouragement, and are trying to pass it on! God bless!!

Sunday

I've meant to post that I was doing this, but forgot, sorry! I was able to tell our story as part of our service this past Sunday morning. This was such an encouraging experience, and one that went far better than I had hoped. Yes, I still got all choked up, but I was able to stand and give God the glory for bringing us to where we are at today. Our pastor began a new sermon series on the book of James, and thought it would be fitting for us to share how we feel that we can "consider it all joy" regarding our trials of this year. Ben was able to share at the men's prayer breakfast on Saturday morning, and as I said, I shared on Sunday. If you are interested in hearing the sermon and my testimony, it is available as a free podcast through iTunes. If you don't have iTunes, you can download it free through apple.com. Then all you do is go to the music store in iTunes, click on the tab for podcasts, search for College Heights Baptist Church, and then subscribe. It will automatically start downloading the most recent sermon. Hopefully this will work for you!

Judy

September already!

It amazes me that time is going by so quickly, when I'm not really doing much of anything! I just looked at the list of previous posts, and each month I post less and less. Sorry about that! It is not my intent to abandon this project, but there just doesn't seem to be enough time these days, which is no excuse, but there it is. At any rate, I am glad to be back home again after 12 days down at the coast. Here's a quick summary of what happened there:

- Completed the driver's rehab program, but was unable to do the road test due to the fact that Motor Vehicles decided that I needed prism glasses before I could drive. (Wish I had known that a week earlier!)
- Had an appointment (last minute!) with the orthoptics department and got the prism for my glasses! Booked the road test to be done here in PG on Sep. 29th.
- Saw the plastic surgeon, who will be sending in a medical/legal report to the lawyer. Looking to the possibility of surgery next spring sometime to repair the seat belt damage to my lower abdomen.
- Saw the vocal specialists, who informed me that my vocal chords are in fairly good shape, but might have some scarring on one side due to the intubation. I have some exercises to do which should help with the nerve damage, and I'm to see them again in December. The coolest part is that I got a video clip of my vocal chords as they were working with me!
- Saw the spine doctor, who told me that things are healing very well, and that I can expect to continue to increase my range of motion in my neck somewhat, but that there will always be limitation, which I expected. He checked over the nerve damage throughout my body, and was pleased with the improvement that continues. I won't need to see him again.
- Spent some quality time with Christopher, who is in Vancouver attending his 3rd year of apprentice school at BCIT. We had a fun afternoon with Jim & Ellie and Harold & Dorothy (my siblings and their spouses) at the PNE. I hadn't been there since high school!
- Took my mom to see a movie (Julie & Julia - highly recommend seeing it!) which was a ton of fun!
- Had a great time with family again, including a shower for my nephew and his wife who are expecting their first child!

In general, it was a very productive trip, but I'm glad to be home again. Now I really feel like I need to schedule my time wisely, and prioritize what needs to get done. While I was gone, Ben took Aaron to Edmonton to settle him in for school. He is happy in his home, and is so excited for the studies ahead. Jason has also started his courses at the university, so everyone around me is busy getting on with their lives. So I guess I have to, too!

One of the things that I want to continue working on is the compiling of the events of this past year into written format. Whether or not it will actually become a book is yet to be seen. For now I want to put as much of my thoughts and experiences into words so that I never forget what I've learned. Ben is sharing his testimony this Saturday morning at a men's breakfast, and I will be sharing this Sunday morning in church. We pray that the words that we speak will encourage and uplift, and that they will also give God the glory for what He has done in us and through us. I'll let you know how it goes!

Judy

A reminder

It's early (6:30)  and I can't sleep (been up 2 hours already!). Life still hasn't worked out all its problems yet, and I guess that I still have a ways to go, but oh well, it's a good morning to communicate!

We are still receiving so much encouragement and support, for which we are still very thankful, but we are realizing that people are moving on. Others are out there who are also in great need, and one can only give so much for so long to so many. I read recently about a family who was in a car crash, and only the wife survived. Her husband and young daughter were killed instantly when their van crossed into the path of a semi.They were missionaries on furlough. We pray for this woman, and the extended family, as we also keep praying for the family of the girls that were killed in January. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don't think of and pray for the loss this family has endured. At our family reunion I learned that this same family lost 2 other siblings, cousins to these girls, also in an accident. This is incomprehensible to me, and my heart grieves and aches for this whole family, and for the many others that experience tragic loss in this way. I can only imagine their pain. We pray that God will continue to uphold them, comfort them, and surround them with people to carry them in the days and years ahead.

Sunday at church friends of ours were there to witness the baptism that morning. These friends from way back are a great couple, and the husband, Marty is truly a special guy. Marty has spent the past 18 years in a wheelchair also as the result of an accident.  He  has such a great attitude, laugh and the coolest tattoo you've ever seen! As we talked, again my thoughts went to the question, not "Why, Lord?", but "Why not, Lord?" Why was I spared? Why were we all spared? For what purpose was I allowed to learn to walk again? What is it that I am now meant to do? I wonder and pray that as I seek to adapt in this 'new normal', if I will ever be able to understand what I am to learn, or if I will find my 'new purpose'. It was a very good reminder to not slip back into complacency, or just go along with the routine of physio and other therapy, healing the physical but forgetting the spiritual. I'm so glad that my Lord and Saviour doesn't set projects aside!

Judy

New Family Photo

Hey everyone! Just thought I would share our new family photo with you! Not a formal shot, but then again, that's just not us. So here we are, thankful and happy! Hope you are, too!

Holiday Update

Wow this took a lot longer than I thought it would, sorry! Seems I'm busy all the time, but getting very little done. But I've noted that people are still checking in on the blog site here, so I figured I'd better do this!

Our holiday began like many of our holidays have, with the car piled full, Tim Hortons in hand, and a prayer for safety as always. I must confess that this time I had a bit more apprehension than previously, as we were traveling again with Ben and Aaron in the front of his Jetta, and me in the back. Very similar to our last trip, and traveling the same road! But a word of prayer and some positive self-talk, and the anxiety left. I read, slept and relaxed all the way to Jasper! We didn't find the accident site, and that's okay. We now feel like we can leave that behind us and move on!

We spent the first night with friends in Cochrane, and enjoyed the time greatly. The next day we headed out to Taber, where we met up with the first batch of Wiebe's at Ben's brother's place. After a super dinner, we drove the rest of the way to his sister's farm just outside of Vauxhall. Many were already there, with many more to come. The weekend was packed with fun, food and fellowship, as well as much celebration, prayer and rejoicing. One special highlight was the presentation of a quilt that was made for me by Ben's sister Gertrude and others. On the quilt are 20 blocks, stitched by family members with words of encouragement and love! What a special surprise!! It is a treasure that will be displayed with pride! I was very overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and care again, what a blessing!

During the weekend we had two big storms, the first of which gave us quite the scare. It was a wind storm unlike anything I'd ever seen before, and hit like a brick wall on Saturday night. All 120 of us packed into the basement of the home, with stuff flying everywhere outside. We thank God that no one was seriously injured, as not too far away a woman was killed as a result of the same storm. A few of the tents were destroyed, but nothing more. The next night there was an amazing lightning storm, with wind and hail that damaged crops and homes in nearby areas, but again the damage to us was minimal. In spite of it all, we had a blessed time together, and are already planning the next reunion in 4 years!

We continued from there to Calgary for a couple of days, seeing more friends and family, and spending some time relaxing and shopping as well. Wednesday we traveled to Edmonton. This was a time for healing as well, as we went to the hospital where I spent 6 weeks after the accident. We didn't get to see all the staff that we had hoped to, but those we did meet were amazed that I was walking and finished my rehab. It was difficult to go into the ICU area, of which I have very little memory, but it was good to put that time into perspective, and actually see what it was like. We also shared time with friends who had been there for us during that time, and it was so great to be able to thank them in person! Another purpose in Edmonton was to find Aaron a place to live in the fall when he returns there for school. We were able to help him secure a room in a house with 2 other young men, which was really exciting for him. He can hardly wait to get there! We came home with no further incidents, which was welcome! All in all, it was a super time, and we thank everyone for their prayers that covered us over the many miles.

One other thing that I will share here - due to the encouragement of many people, I have started compiling my thoughts regarding the past 6 months into a format that may someday actually be a book! It's not an easy process, and I have no clue how to go about actually doing this, but it has to start somewhere, and so during our trip I pecked away on my laptop. It was a good way to pass the time and keep me distracted and not thinking about what-if's or what-could-be's. So who knows how long it could take, but at least I've started! I'm open to any suggestions or ideas...just let me know what you would like included!! I'd appreciate any help!

Day to day life here continues without much incident, other than that we finally bought another vehicle! I'm looking forward to being able to drive again after I do my driver's rehab in September. At least now we have something for me to drive! I'm learning to schedule my time carefully, and not take on too much at once. Physio continues for Ben and me, and I hope to soon add in water therapy at the pool. I have a new occupational therapist in town, and he seems very helpful and supportive.

Anyway, life goes on, and we are thankful for that! I'm still committed to posting as often as new developments occur, so keep this page bookmarked! We thank God daily for all of you, and now are looking for ways that we can pass on the gifts of support and encouragement that we have been given. Keep serving Him, for He alone is worthy!! Praise, glory and honour to our Lord, Jesus Christ, who gives us the strength to live each day for Him alone.

Judy

Home Again!

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts as we traveled to Alberta and back. The trip was exciting and wonderful, but it is so good to be home! I wanted to just check in and let you all know that I will be posting a summary of our trip later this weekend, but for now I thought I should let you know that we didn't find the accident site, and that is okay. We stopped at the side of the road on the way home today after we realized that we had gone past any possibility of finding the site, and had a word of prayer. It was a final piece of this part of the journey. But we know there is more to come! So check back in a few days and I will update you as to the rest of the trip...it had some incredible moments!

Judy

One more thing...

Sorry, folks, I forgot in the last post to give you the update on the news story. This was part two of the story that began on Saturday. It focuses more on the time I spent in GF Strong, and interviewed one of the doctors there. I hope you enjoy it, and that God will continue to use this story however He can!

http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20090726204464/local/news/walking-wonder.html

Six months later...

Well, it's time to check in again, and let you know where things are at. We are continually learning how to adapt to all things "new". Monday was another difficult day, as we had to put our dog, Ginger, down. We've had her for almost 15 years, and she just simply got too old to carry on. She fell a few times on Sunday, and hadn't eaten for 5 days. We are leaving tomorrow for 10 days, and didn't feel it would be right for Jason to have to deal with that during that time. It was hard to do, but we were all together, and actually had a neat time together as a family, sharing memories and thankful for the good times with our special, loyal friend.

Which brings me to the next thing - we have a prayer request for tomorrow. On Wednesday, we (Ben, Aaron and I) will be heading out for the Wiebe family reunion in southern Alberta. In order to get there, we will be traveling the same road that we took almost 6 months ago when we had the accident. Please pray that we will have peace and healing as we take time to stop and consider where we've come from and what we've been through. It will be a tough day, but one that needs to happen. We covet your prayers for not only our safety for travel, but also for mental and emotional healing. Thank you so much in advance!!  I'll keep you informed if I can, as I plan on taking our laptop along.

It will be so wonderful to be with Ben's family for the weekend, and to enjoy their fellowship! This will be the first family reunion without Ben's parents, so that will also be somewhat difficult. We are so looking forward to seeing everyone, though, and having some time to relax and unwind.

Thank you again for keeping up with us! We treasure each of you dearly and cherish your prayers. God is still working great things, and we know each day that it is a gift from Him!! Give Him glory!

Judy

It made the paper!

Well, the article hit the papers yesterday, and it was much more than we thought it would be! Paste the link below into your browser, or click on it (if it works). If not, just type in www.princegeorgecitizen.com and follow the links. We continue to pray that God will receive the praise for what He has done in our lives!

We also want to thank everyone for either coming out to the open house, or for the many well-wishes for this afternoon. It was a lovely time, and a wonderful chance to see so many people! The only bad thing was that it was so hot no one was hungry, so I have lots of leftovers!! Oh, well, more for the boys!

Have a great Monday everyone!
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/20090724204268/local/news/hanging-by-a-thread.html

Oops!

Forgot to give you our address, just in case you don't know where we live. We are at 3009 Vista Ridge Drive in College Heights in Prince George. Here is the link to a map for it:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3009+Vista+Ridge+Dr,+Prince+George,+BC,+Canada&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.176833,79.013672&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=A

If you need further help, feel free to give us a call at 250-964-2216. See you Sunday!

Open House!

Just a quick reminder about the open house for this Sunday, July 26th. We'd love it if you could stop in sometime between 2 and 5 for us to thank you in person for your support and care. We'll have some goodies for you to snack on, and looking at the weather forecast, lots of lemonade and water!! Please take time to come if you can. See you then!

Ben, Judy, Chris, Jason and Aaron

Two Weeks...

Today it has been two weeks since coming home, and it feels so good! There are still plenty of adjustments to be made, but it seems to be working okay. I go to physio 3 times a week, Ben and Aaron go twice.  Plans are being worked on to have me go to the pool for more therapy, and for continuing to build my strength at a gym.  I have help with the housework, and my guys have been great helping out in the kitchen and with shopping. In general, things are going very well. I even went to practice with our worship team, but unfortunately wasn't able to be at church on Sunday morning. I have good days and bad days, but there are more good than bad. It seems I still need to pace myself and not take on too much at a time, surprise, surprise! That was to be expected, I know, but it is still hard to just relax and let others do what I was used to doing myself. Then there's the occasional night that I have trouble sleeping, which makes for a lousy next day. But all in all things are going fairly well. Being home is so good, and being with my family, friends and church family is so fantastic! Everyone has been so encouraging and supportive, and I am still overwhelmed by the love and support we are still getting. So slowly but surely, we are all adjusting to having me home, and that's the best part!

We wanted to let everyone know that we are planning on an open house on Sunday, July the 26th from 2:00-5:00 here at the house. Everyone is welcome, but please don't bring any gifts! We would just like to see as many people as can come, and share some time with you. Please spread the word, no need to RSVP. We want this to be a time of celebration and fellowship, so come and enjoy!

One of the exciting things that has happened since coming home is that we were contacted by a friend who is a reporter for our local paper. He wants to do a story to let the community know that I'm home again. He did the initial stories when the accident happened, which were really thoughtfully written and presented. We spent almost 2 hours with him on Sunday afternoon, and felt that it went well. We're looking forward to reading the article when it comes out, and will let you know when it does. If I can, I'll post the link here for you all to read.

In the past few months, several times I've been asked if I would put our story into book form. This is not something I have ever thought about doing before, but now am seriously considering. I'm not what I would consider a writer, and I'd need some help, but there is definitely some attraction to the idea. I have time now, and lots of encouragement, so with the advice from a few trained people, I am going to try! Like my reporter friend suggested, at first all I should do is "vomit" words out, and format it later! It's an interesting concept! So if anyone has any further advice, or is interested in helping me in this process, I'd love to hear from you. I am open to any ideas or suggestions!

We are really looking forward to going to Ben's family reunion in Taber, Alberta for the long weekend in August.  If you are in the southern Alberta area and have time for us to drop in and say hi, please let us know. We'll also be heading up toward Edmonton after, to help Aaron find a place to live when he goes to school in fall. Please pray with us as we plan this trip.We will be traveling past the accident site on our way there, which will be an ordeal in itself. We plan to stop and have a time of reflection and prayer, and trust that this will help us to all overcome the emotional trauma that still comes from time to time. Also being in a vehicle for that length of time will be difficult physically for all of us, so we covet your prayers for that as well.

In the meantime, I'll keep on posting here as I can, even though there won't be much that happens from day to day. The healing progress continues, although much slower than before. We are all getting stronger slower but surely, and we thank God and give Him the glory for that. God is so good, and we are continuing to be so thankful for His grace that covers us each day.

I'm Home!

Okay, everyone...I'm finally checking in again, and want to let you all know that I am home! I came home on Tuesday afternoon, and is it ever fantastic!! I was greeted at the airport by about 25 of our friends from our Bible study and church, and my loving family. I couldn't stop crying at first, it was so amazing and overwhelming to finally be here and to be surrounded by so many who have loved and carried us through the last 5 months (to the day, by the way!).

Since Tuesday, I have been busy surprising people! Wednesday we went to Fort George Park for the Canada Day celebration, where we met so many friends, even some from long ago. Thursday morning we went to Lo and Elliott's, where I have worked for the past 10 years. Friday we showed up at a rehearsal for the production of "Tommy" to see many of my theatre friends. Today we will be having dinner with some more good friend, and tomorrow I am looking forward to celebrating with our church family! We are so blessed to be surrounded and uplifted by people who share our joy with us and give God the glory for what He has brought us through.  Even people who aren't 'church-going' acknowledge God's work in our lives. I pray that we will continue to have opportunities to give Him the recognition He deserves.

As we look to the near future, I will be spending most of my time just adjusting and adapting to 'regular' life, and going to physio appointments. Ben is back to work as usual on Monday, having taken Thursday and Friday off to spend with me. Aaron is back at work as well, and still doing physio. Ben finally has a requisition from the doctor to do physio, too. We plan to go to Ben's family reunion in Taber, Alberta, for the long weekend in August, and then travel through Edmonton and see some of the doctors and nurses who took care of us in the beginning, and also check in with some more very good friends!

I'll still take time to write here in the blog now and then, so do keep checking back. Our journey is far from over, and the lessons that we have learned now need to be put into practice. My prayer is that we will never forget where we have been, and what God has taught us. Each day is a new challenge, and an opportunity to give God the glory and rightful place in our lives that He deserves. We thank God for each of you who have followed us and carried us in your prayers, and pray that you will also know His presence in your lives.

This is not goodbye! Please stay in touch!!
Judy

Last post from GFS!

It's just about that time to pack up the laptop and the rest of my things, so I'll post once more quick before I do...although I'm still not saying exactly when I will be leaving!! I love surprises so much!

What a fantastic weekend I had - first, a relaxing Friday night with my mom, then a wonderful Saturday afternoon with a sister-in-law at the beach in White Rock; then on Sunday mom and I had brunch with my nephew and his wife; after which mom took me back to GFS, and then into Kitsilano, where I met up with a "sister" (theatre friend!) from PG! We enjoyed a sushi supper, then an amazing performance of "The Comedy of Errors" at Bard on the Beach. If you live in Vancouver, or plan to visit, and enjoy Shakespeare, or even if you don't, this is truly worth taking in!! It was so well done, and so funny!

But the weekend ended, and I'm back here for a little while longer...and can't sleep! So my thoughts turn to all the things that I've experienced over the last 5 months, and how so much has changed. I know I'm not the same person as I was before, and I pray that God will continue to change and mold me into the person that He has started making me into, even though I know I have a long way to go until I'm there. Even with all the miracles I've experienced personally and the closeness of His presence in my life, I still find myself putting me first, not Him. Will I ever learn? What else will it take for me to finally get it? My prayer is that as I move back into "normal" life, that I won't forget the lessons that have been part of this whole process. Perhaps those of you who follow this blog regularly will help to keep me accountable!

Thank you all once again so much for all your support, encouragement, prayers and love shown to all of us. We could never have made it through without you or without our marvelous, incredible, awesome Lord!! Back in March, I claimed the verse from 1 Peter 5: 10 - "And the God of grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself make you strong, firm and steadfast."  Ben printed out this verse for me in large letters, and it has been on my wall ever since. This verse has been fulfilled! He has made me strong, firm and steadfast, not only physically, but also emotionally. He's still working on me spiritually! But I close with verse 11 - "To Him be the power (and the glory!) for ever and ever."

I'll write again soon, once I'm home. For now, I'll just leave you hanging, and wondering...!!!! Till soon!

Quick note...

Just wanted to let everyone know...my ticket home is booked! Now I'm just trying to decide if I should tell you all what day I'm coming home - there are a few people I'd like to surprise! I'll keep you posted...!

 

Also, today marks a final victory - I finally passed the swallowing assessment, which means NO MORE MINCED FOOD! I can eat whatever I want, but the speech therapist still recommends nothing dry and crumbly - I can live with that! So PTL!!!

 

As I look forward to going home, please pray with me that I don't lose focus on what God may still want to do in and through me. I know He can use any moment, anywhere. Let's all be ready for His purposes!

 

I will still keep posting, and keep you informed as to what God does next...it will always be an adventure to live for Him! But for tonight, that's all, and I'll write more soon!

 

I'M GOING HOME SOON!!!!!!!!

Thoughts and revelations...

This morning I woke quite early, and couldn't sleep. I read some, prayed some, tried to go back to sleep, but couldn't, and then had quite the revelation. I thought you might like to know that I came to the conclusion that I'm finally ready to go home!!  As strange as that may sound, it did take some time for me to be able to come to that place. Here are some of the thoughts that have gone through my head this morning – hopefully they will give you insight as to how I came to be where I am now. I have not shared much about my feelings, for various reasons, but I feel that I can now express some of what I have felt and experienced with you.

 

Life in the past few months has not been normal, that we all know. First we had to deal with simply surviving, then coping with the pain and limitations that we were faced with. The various changes in surroundings sometimes were good, sometimes not so good. Please understand that we know that we were overwhelmingly surrounded by so much support and care as we simply tried to make it through each day, and for that we will be forever grateful. Then came the transfer to G F Strong. That was the biggest step toward major recovery. It was a safe place to be, a place where I knew I could heal and get better. It was also where I knew God wanted me to be as I learned more and more to depend on Him for the strength for each day. I learned to walk again, among other things. But more importantly, I learned to look past myself and my own hurts to the needs of others. I knew from the beginning that we had all been spared, but during the initial stages of physical healing, it was hard to look past the pain. But God was patient, kind and loving, keeping us focused on what needed to be done at the time. Looking ahead was something that I wasn't ready to do. For the 3 short hours that I was able to be in my own home on Easter Sunday, as wonderful as it was, it made me very aware of my injuries, and my inability to cope in a normal setting. It was very difficult at the time, and I put the experience behind me, knowing that someday I would again need to face going home.

 

For a long time, I was afraid that I wouldn't be ready when the time came to leave here. Afraid of being surrounded by the familiar and not knowing what to do; afraid of being made more aware of what I am limited with; afraid of not being able to cope; afraid of not feeling normal ever again. Over the past week or so, each time I leave here to go to my mom's or my sister's homes, I have started to feel less and less afraid. More like I can fit in, feel "normal". More like I can cope, take on responsibility again, and concentrate on getting on with life. For so long, I have been focused on getting better – well, I am now better. I know that I still have a ways to go to get back my strength and endurance, but I can function now like I couldn't a few weeks ago. I can go out in public and not look that different from everyone else. Now I need to start the process of emotional and mental healing, and for that, I feel like I need my family and my home. I walked down the empty hallway this morning around 3, and just had an overwhelming sense that I am finished here. I want to go home. I need to go back to where we left off, and start life in the "new normal", as my sister fondly named it. I truly sense that my job here is finished. There are still things that I need to do here, appointments and exercises, physio and speech therapy, and more. But now I feel that it is time to wrap things up, do what needs to be done, and move on.

 

It's quite amazing the confidence that has come with this revelation. I so clearly remember thinking that it would be so scary to leave the routine that has developed over the past 4 ½ months, the safety of being taken care of, and the knowledge that I was in a place surrounded by people just like me. That has changed. God has done miracles, and I am now no longer like the people around me. Sure, I still have and will always have a spinal cord injury, but praise God, He has allowed me to be strong, firm, and steadfast, making my steps sure as it says in the verse that we claimed back in February. The impact of this knowledge is so great, and I worship and praise my Lord for restoring me! It's time to go home!

...and here we go...!

Hey everyone! Thanks for your patience! It has been an incredible 2 weeks, and it might take too long to update you on everything that has happened, but I'll try to fill you in on at least some of the highlights!

It has been such a blessing to be with Ben each evening (not to mention eating out almost every night!), and to share some semi-normal time together. Yes, Ben had to work, but at least we were able to see each other every evening.On the weekend, Jason and Dani came down, always enjoyable! Shopping, crib, and more shopping...really great. We even got to see some other family and friends while Ben was here - the evening at Spanish Banks was a real highlight (thanks, John and Helen!) watching the sunset and listening to a group of about 40 people with various ethnic drums just enjoying the rhythms! Another special night was the final night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where we shared the evening with a roomful of people at Moxie's - thankfully we were almost all cheering for the same team!  The 2 who were cheering for the "other" guys left after the 2nd period!!  Sadly, Ben left for home on Saturday, but it hopefully won't be too long until I'm on my way there, too!

So now I'm back here at my "one-star all-inclusive" (as Ben nicknamed GFS!).  Today was supposed to be back to normal, but I started the day with a migraine, and threw up, so that did me in for the morning. This afternoon, I went to my session for Driver Rehab, which I was looking forward to. After several different tests, the examiner was saying that I should be fine with a couple sessions with the instructor to prepare to do a road test, and I should be fine. I only had to complete a 40 question multiple choice test from a video. I did the test questions, and thought all was going great. But when the 3rd scenario came up, it was a picture of a crash site, and I started to shake - I didn't even see the question. The 4th scenario was a video of a car being rear ended, and I realized that I was getting nauseous. I stood up and left the room, and found the examiner, informing him of what happened. I was surprised at the intensity of my reaction, but realized that I am not ready to drive. I'll be coming back sometime in September for other appointments, so I'll do the sessions with the instructor then, as well as see the driver rehab psycologist. By that time, I should be able and ready to deal with whatever residual feelings and emotions that may still be hiding. So the healing process continues...!

On a more positive note, my eyesight is getting progressively better! I don't wear a patch any more, which forces my eyes to work together better. I also passed the balance test which allows me to be independant in the complex. In other words, NO MORE WHEELCHAIR, AND NO MORE WALKER! I can even do the stairs, too!  So that's a real milestone! The work that I am doing since then in physio is for fine tuning and improving balance and posture. I have to admit...some of the things I'm working on, I couldn't even do before the accident! I'm also enjoying the pool time, which is a great chance to feel "normal" - until I start swimming, that is! (Sigh!) But in all areas, improvement is coming! Ben's limp is also better, and his foot doesn't swell as much. Aaron will be going back to work this week, but still has some pain in his ankles. The physiotherapy seems to have helped somewhat. He and Jason managed quite well on their own, and according to Jason, "ate like kings"! Oh well, we'll deal with the budget later!!

Many have asked about how things were going with my roommate, Claudia.  She is coping better, and I have really been blessed to be able to pray with her through several difficulties. God has placed me here for a specific reasons, and I'm confident that she is one of them. It has been such a priviledge to be here for her, and to help her when she's experiencing some of the same difficulties that I've been carried through. God is so good, and I can now say what I have thought that I would be able one day to say - that I am thankful for the accident and for where it has brought me in my life. We have learned so much, and have grown in ways that we had not thought possible. We know the journey isn't finished yet, and can hardly wait to see what else God has in store for us, and the lessons that will yet come for us to learn. For sure, we have experienced that in our weakness, He is strong. We give God the glory for the grace that He has shown us, and for the mercy to have a second chance at living life the way He wants us to. We're far from perfect, and have a long way to go, but we're looking forward to the journey!

By the way, anytime you'd like to come visit, I'm more than up to having visitors in the evening, as I still have a few weeks left. I should find out tomorrow for sure when they are going to let me go home, but there's always the possibility that I may have to stay longer for extra physio. I'll keep you posted!

So now it's time to get some extra sleep, and I'll try to be more faithful with posts! Keep praying for us to learn and listen, and be ready when God wants to use us, and we'll pray the same for you!!

With gratefulness for many blessings,

Judy

...and again...

Sorry, folks! Today I ended up having too much fun with my sister and mom...and now I have to pack to go back to (as Ben has fondly named GFS) my one-star all-inclusive! There's just too much to do when I'm here in Abbotsford - I'm going to miss that when I go home! My family has drawn so close together during the past 4 months, and it's a wonderful thing. But home is still where I would rather be.

 

Until then, I still have to work at getting as better as I can get! So it's back in to Vancouver tomorrow.  I have nothing planned for the evening Monday, so I'll make sure to take time to let you all in on the past two weeks...promise! Have a great Monday!

 

Judy

Oh My!

How time flies when one is having fun...and I've had so much fun the past 2 weeks! It has been so good to see Ben everyday, to go for walks, talk about everyday stuff (not just the accident and our recovery!), to spend time doing nothing, and to eat out every night!!! So I apologize for not having posted for so long! But to defend myself somewhat...I did try 3 times this past week to get online to post, and I couldn't get an internet connection.  Seems my computer isn't always able to pick up a signal. I tried!! So now I'm at my mom's for the weekend, and I promise that I will spend time tomorrow on a good long post. For tonight this will have to suffice - I'm tired!! (Too much done in too little time, with too many late nights!) So until then, have a great Sunday, and I'll 'talk' to you all tomorrow.

 

Judy

God is so good!

God is so good! Can we ever say it often enough or give Him praise enough to express this to it's fullest? Some days I wake up with such gratefulness in my heart, and today it one of those days. I guess it sounds like I'm trying to be impressive, or super-spiritual, but those of you who know me well know that that's not me! I want only to be real, so I'll admit that there are days that I really don't seem to care as much about being thankful.  I try to report about all the good things that God is doing in our lives, but I admit there are still days that I don't think you want to know about. It's hard being away from home and my family for so long, and sometimes the treatment and recuperation process is tough and painful. But I pray that my focus won't get lost, and so I choose to be thankful for every little thing that I can find. And when I choose to look, that's when I see my Lord at work in my life, for which I will always be thankful!

It's been a special week with Ben being able to be here in the evenings, and he'll be here all next week, too! We've had some awesome times together, and with the fantastic weather we've had, it's been even better! On Wednesday night we were able to go to the Jericho Sailing Club for dinner (fish and chips! So much better than minced meatballs!) and last night we walked (hobbled, limped!) from his hotel down to English Bay for gelato! It was worth the walk! And today we get to share with good friends from PG! Jason and his girlfriend are coming for the weekend, too, so all in all, I'm in high spirits this morning, as you may be able to tell!

In the meantime, therapy continues, and although the advances are no longer huge, I still am progressing.  My balance is improving, my vision is as well, and there are more appointments with more specialists to take care of more of the injuries. Little by little, bit by bit, as my physiotherapist likes to say! I am now also able to be in the pool (my peg tube is out and healed over - it looks like a second belly button now!) and this is helping the range of motion in my shoulders to improve. The doctor injected cortisteroids into my shoulders to allow them to move better, and it seems to be helping some. Ben's leg still swells up when he is on his feet too much, but the pain is decreasing, and that is a good thing. Aaron has been taken off work for 2 weeks, but was sent to physiotherapy finally! His back and legs are still bothering him quite a bit, so we hope and pray that the exercises will strengthen and help him. 

And so another day begins. I trust you will find joy today in whatever you do, and that you will also find reason to choose to be thankful!

Judy

Catch up time!

As always, we had a wonderful weekend! Ben arrived on Friday just before lunch, and after taking his things to the Vancouver office, Mom, Ben and I headed out for my cousin's daughter's wedding, just south of Seattle.  On Friday evening we were able to connect with a couple that we met on our cruise 1 1/2 years ago - great to see them again over a phenomenal dinner (yes, I ate in a restaurant!).  The wedding on Saturday was just lovely - God-honoring, elegant and yet informal at the same time.  I admit, by the end of the day I was pooped, but I'm so glad we went! We also were part of the worship service the families of the bride and groom held on Sunday in the hotel where we stayed. What an amazing time of fellowship, sharing and singing.  It's such a blessing to know that the extended families of the couple can worship together in such harmony, just a small foretaste of what will be in glory!!

And then it was back to rehab - another team/family meeting on Monday, and more good news. They will be setting me up to self-medicate (in other words, I won't be given meds by the nurses, rather the pharmacy will give me the meds directly, and then I am responsible to administer them at the appropriate time - more like it will be at home). They will also be weaning me off of the neuropathic pain meds, and decreasing the dosages for the mood-stabilizing ones as well.  Hopefully that will all work well, and I won't change into a crazed idiot! (Read - PMS, Perimenopause, Mood swings, etc!) The date for my discharge is still July 2, with the possibility of staying until the 14th if they feel they need the extra time for further improvement. I'm okay with 2 more weeks - what's another couple weeks after 5 months!! In the meantime, physio and occupational therapy are doing all they can to help me learn what I will need to know in order to function somewhat normally once I get home.  I made an omelette the other day - spinach, feta cheese and sundried tomatoes (thanks for the idea, Jason!), and it turned out great!! Today, I tried playing badminton with my physiotherapist - just a little tough with the double vision! Which, by the way, seems to be getting better! I haven't been wearing the patch over my eye as often, and the muscles seem to be getting back to normal  - at least things don't look as far apart as they used to, for which I am very thankful!  We also had an appointment with and ENT last Thursday, and got to see my vocal chords.  They are in fine shape, no scarring or nodules, so I can start working on rebuilding my range and decreasing the nasality in my voice.  My speech therapist has requested that I have an appointment with a voice specialist, which would be really cool!  It might take awhile to get in to see her, as there is only one in BC, but being so close by, they have put me on a cancellation list for the chance to get in sooner. I still maintain that if I don't get my voice back to the way it was, I have lost very little.  But if there is a chance to improve what I can, I am glad to be able to do whatever is needed!  As always, I praise God for each little victory, and know that He is still in control!

Ben is down here in Vancouver working for the next 2 weeks, so I'm looking forward to spending at least a few evenings with him.  His foot still swells quite easily, and he needs to keep it up as much as possible.  Aaron has been taken off work completely for the next 2 weeks, and has been sent to do physio every day, for which I am very glad! I've said all along that he needed to go, and finally the doctor thinks so too! So we are all still slowly recuperating and progressing along, and giving thanks for each new day and the strength to get through it!

You are all such a blessing to us, and to know that so many are still upholding us in prayer is daily a humbling experience.  To know that we are right where God wants us to be keeps us at His feet in gratitude, and I never want to forget how gracious and merciful He is, has been, and will be. May you also experience His greatness in some new way today as you keep your faces turned to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, as it is through Him alone that we can live this life with courage and face this fight with success!

Judy

Correction

Sorry everyone! It has been brought to my attention that I gave some incorrect information in my last post.  I said that I have been allowed to walk independently, and I should have said that I have been allowed to walk independently with my walker.  So yes, the wheelchair is gone, and I no longer need to have someone walking right beside me, but I still need the walker for stability. But I'm working on it! my balance is getting so much better, but it's still not good enough to be independent totally.

Again, I apologize for misleading anyone!

Judy

More Victories!

Hey, Happy Tuesday, everyone! I am very pleased to report that I just returned from this morning's physio session, and my physiotherapist told me that I am no longer required to use my wheelchair, and that I may walk unassisted in the facility here!!! I have been waiting for that for so long, and am so excited! This is a huge victory, and a major step in my rehab! I still have the power wheelchair if I want it for longer outings, or if I'm going outside unassisted. So YAY! She was waiting for me at the elevator with pom-poms in hand, which mom and I had made for her over the weekend - she always said that she would be my biggest cheerleader when I was finally ready to go independent - her way of saying to wait and be patient!

Yesterday was also a special day - my feeding tube was removed! It didn't even hurt much - just pulled a bit, and now I have a hole in my stomach! It will close soon, and then I'll be able to get into the pool for water therapy! More YAY! PTL for answers to prayer, and advances in my recovery!

Last post, I mentioned my new roommate, Claudia. I found out yesterday (it was really a great day!) that she was raised in a Christian home, and that her parents are strong believers! Both her dad and her step-mom took time to thank me and the Lord for putting Claudia in this room! She is really still struggling to accept what has happened. Usually they don't place people in this facility until they are emotionally ready to deal with the pressures of rehab. But she's here, and so I pray that I will be able to help her learn to cope.  She knows that I have been where she is, and has expressed her appreciation for that. I am able to help in ways that others cannot.  So again, I am so grateful to God for letting me be here. I am filled with such joy to know that I am right where He wants me to be! To be in the center of His will makes it so much easier to deal with the day to day requirements of therapy, and the occasional sleepless night due to the shoulder pain that is still there. It all pales in light of the privilege to serve my Lord!

Btw, the weekend with my mom was super again, but I had to go see the dietitian to get back on track with losing more weight! My family feeds me so well! We had such a fantastic Saturday - manicure and pedicure in the morning (strictly therapeutic, mind you!), and then a wonderful lunch with my sister (quiche and a nice light white wine!), and finally the afternoon in the sun on her deck, helping make hanging baskets for her railing (I helped by staying out of the way - I kill plants!). It's so good to be with my family, and sometimes hard to come back here Monday mornings, but it's all worth it in the end!

Keep praying for God to be glorified in all our lives, that I will be sensitive to the urgings of the Holy Spirit in my life, and that I will be a testimony to Claudia and her partner, Craig.  They are really a special couple, and I know that God is already working in their hearts!  I can hardly wait to see what He's going to do next!

With joy,
Judy

Aaron here

Hey, I was informed that people are still interested in how I'm doing, so here is an update on the status of my recovery. So far, I'm back to work, however I'm only able to do 4 hours at a time as walking and standing that much makes me very sore, so far, no noticeable improvement over 2 weeks. In general though, I can lift bigger and better things now, up to 10 kg! (5kg from floor to waste); I still cant run, or jump, or do anything abrupt with my legs like kicking or dropping as it makes my knees hurt quite badly, kneeling and bending over are alright, I just have to go slow, and I prefer to avoid it if i can.

I have a roommate!

Good morning, everyone! It finally happened - yesterday morning a stretcher was wheeled into my room, and Claudia moved in. She is a lovely woman with injuries similar to mine, but her accident (a biking accident) was only 16 days ago. She is finding the limitations difficult to cope with, as she was a nurse and an avid outdoor enthusiast and very fit! Claudia has movement and feeling in her legs, but her arms and hands are still numb and tingly. She has younger children (13 and 16) whom she is finding it very difficult to be away from. But she has a good support system (her mom and stepmom are also nurses!), and I really hope to make her feel comfortable and more hopeful for the future.  It was so cool last night - I actually listened and obeyed the prompting of the Lord, and prayed out loud for her before we went to sleep last night.  That was a victory for me, because that is something that I would not have done before! I am really looking forward to being a light and testimony to her, and so far, we seem to get along well, so pray with me that she will be receptive to the hope that only Jesus can give!

I'll be going home to my mom's for the weekend again, and so I will report in again after then...OH MY! The doctor just came in and told me that on Monday morning I will be getting the feeding tube TAKEN OUT! YAY!!! One more victory! What a blessing for the day! PTL!!!

I pray for a good day and weekend for all of you, and may you feel as blessed as I do each day!

Judy

Another great weekend!

Greetings again, friends and followers of the Wiebe saga!
I
 had a wonderful weekend at my mom's and my sister's places, with Ben and Chris coming down to celebrate Ben's birthday. Another achievement for me: climbing the stairs to the upstairs room in my sister's house! I made sure there was someone right behind me, but the climb was no problem! I had practiced on a small flight of 4 stairs in the gym here, but wasn't sure if I could manage a whole flight. So Ben didn't know that I would be there when they arrived at 2 in the morning - the look on his face was priceless! Surprises are always fun! My sister and I also did some shopping, which was a lot of fun, and we also enjoyed a salmon dinner with my whole family on Saturday night.  Most special was the time of prayer that we shared together, as we have learned to appreciate each other and support each others needs in this way. All of us have our own burdens, and it was so cool to lift each other up and be renewed as we came before our Lord as a family. Ben and Chris returned safely home on Sunday, and I slept most of Monday away at my mom's!

Back at GFS, life goes on, and the focus continues to strengthen limbs and improve balance. Each day is a challenge, but exciting. I am especially excited about the work that is happening with my speech therapist.  I will be going to see the ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist next week, and then there might be a possibility to meet with a voice specialist! In the past, I have said (and still mean it!) that if my voice is the only thing that I lose in this whole process, then I have lost very little. But if there is possibility to restore at least some of my normal vocal quality, even for my speaking voice, then I am very interested in doing what I can to pursue that. I had my speech therapist call my voicemail on my cell just to hear what my voice used to sound like - she was floored at the difference! Right now my voice is very nasal and flat sounding, so I would really like to get it somewhat more pleasing to the ear.

Ben is doing fairly well, and is working toward spending the first two weeks of June here in Vancouver, doing a couple of files in the area.  We are also planning on going to my cousin's daughter's  wedding in the Seattle area the last weekend in May, another exciting prospect and goal to work toward. Aaron is back to work for a few hours a week, and is starting to look forward to college in the fall, but I'll let him post more about that if he wants to!

A prayer request above and beyond the ones that we continue to have - that I can be a testimony to my neighbour here, Doreen. She is leaving here in 2 weeks, and is fearful of going home alone. At 78, she is frail and overly cautious, and isn't sure how she will manage on her own. She has a belief in God, but does not have a personal relationship with Him. Pray that I will be able to show her Jesus, who can be her comfort and give her confidence as she learns to rest in His presence.

Just a note on the side - I met Rick Hanson just outside my door this afternoon! He was very personable, and not at all pretentious, unlike some celebrities that I have met! Here, we are all the same as we deal with our disabilities together.  That was a cool highlight for the day!

Judy

Sorry!

Wow, time has passed quickly this week! I am so sorry for not having posted sooner. And this will have to be a quick one - I'm on my way out of here shortly to spend the weekend at my mom's again. And even better, Ben and Chris are coming down! So I know I'm going to have another great weekend!

Things are continuing to progress well, and God continues to pour strength into my muscles and veins every day.  I am amazed at His goodness and mercy each new day, and am able to work hard to do what the physiotherapist demands of me. She is trying to get me up on my hands and knees - sounds easy, but when you have limited movement and little strength in your arms, it's pretty difficult! Balance exercises are also a big part of my time, and it is slowly improving. Oh, and minced food is way better than puréed!

I'll try to drop a note over the weekend,  but I won't promise anything! I trust you will all have a safe and blessed long weekend as well.

Judy

What a great weekend!

What a fantastic opportunity I had this weekend to spend the time at my mother's place! Aaron (whose 19th birthday was on Saturday), Jason and his girlfriend (I love being able to say that!) Dani made it down for Mother's Day, a very special treat! The whole weekend was wonderful, including being able to attend church at Central Heights (my mom's church) and share God's blessings and praise Him as they gave me an opportunity to share in her Sunday School class.  And in the worship service, it felt like the pastor was preaching from the last 3 months of my life as he taught from Psalm 40, telling how God brings us out of the pits of despair and sets our feet firmly on solid ground.  We've experienced some deep pits, but God has really given us stability and security in His love and grace as He's carried us through.  All glory is His!

Today it was back to GFS, and back to the routine.  Today was also the swallowing test under X-ray, which went okay - I have been upgraded to minced, which is a very good thing, but I still had some trouble with some textures, not being able to swallow properly.  There is still some food particles that are getting into my esophagus, which of course is not good, so I passed, but only partially.  It's still a praise item, and I am thankful for the small step forward.  The test will be repeated in about a month, and so solid food will have to wait for awhile longer.

Ben and Aaron continue in their healing process as well, although Ben has had some more swelling in his foot.  Pray that he will be patient and allow his foot the time to heal that it needs. He is planning on being able to work on 2 files down here the first 2 weeks of June, and I am so looking forward to that! Aaron  still suffers from back pain and fatigue, too, but is back to work for 4 hour shifts a few days per week.  With him turning 19 this weekend, it seems he is suddenly all grown up! It was certainly a pleasure to share this weekend with him!

As usual, I want to thank all of you who faithfully follow this site, and uphold us as we continue on this journey. I love reading your comments and thank you all for your support, in whatever form it is given.  God is good...all the time!
Judy

Just a quick note...

A very thoughtful and generous cousin of mine recently visited me and left me 10 gifts that I could open when I achieved goals that I had to set.  So far I have been able to open 4 of the gifts - the first one for walking around the gym (without too much assistance!) more than 4 times, the second for completing a successful car transfer (which means that I may ride in a car, not just the wheelchair taxi!), the third for being able to take off my TED's (disgustingly tight white tights that are used to prevent blood clots by compression), and the most recent for being able to not wear my collar anymore!!! The x-ray done on Tuesday showed that the surgery site has healed well, so I am no longer required to wear the uncomfortable thing! YEAH! And this weekend I get to go to my Mom's place, which I am very excited about.

I truly have so much to be thankful for, and every day new achievements are being made, if not physically, then sometimes mentally, emotionally or spiritually - and I know that I have so much more learning to do! So thank you for your continued prayers and praise to our great God as our family learns what we need to learn during this time.  We thank God for all of you daily!

In His arms of love,
Judy

Great Weekend!

It was so good to be back together with my hubby again, just hanging out, walking (well, he sort of walks with his crutches, and I power along in my wheelchair!), talking, and just sharing joy in being with each other! It went far too fast, but it was good all the same!  Ben plans on coming down again for the last week of May and the first week of June.  It can't come too soon!

As for an update as to how things are coming along for me...as I've said before, it's all good! I continue to gain strength in my legs, and mobility in my arms. It has been determined that there is damage to the tendons in both shoulders, and a tear in one of them in the right arm. They are considering treatment with shots to freeze the tendon, and if that goes well, possibly cortisone shots. In the meantime, I continue to work on strengthening and stretching as much as I can.

We had our first team/family meeting on Monday morning. Present were the doctor, a nurse, my physiotherapist, my speech pathologist, a rep from ICBC, the liaison for ICBC, my social worker, my occupational therapist, and then my family - Ben, my mom, my sister and my sister-in-law! It was quite the roomful! We also had our lawyer and his team on conference call!  It went very well, and as each member of the GFS team made a report as to my progress, several of them mentioned my faith as something that has helped me have a good attitude and make the progress that I have! PRAISE GOD that it is coming through me and they know it! That meant so much to me to know that God is being recognized in my life by people who may not even acknowledge His existence!  Keep praying that my witness will be strong and focused on giving Him all the glory for what He has done and will do in my life!

For your information, my tentative discharge date is July 2nd, but we hope that it will be bumped up to sometime in mid-June. It all depends on how quickly I progress, and how far they think they can take me. 

Upcoming appointments include the neuro-ophtamologist this Friday, another swallowing assessment done with xray on Monday, a follow-up appointment with the spine doctor to go over the results of today's xray (which will determine when I lose the collar!), and an appointment with an ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist) to determine if there is any permanent damage to my vocal chords.  I am especially excited about that one! He will be using a camera to go into my vocal chords (which I'm sure won't be fun!) and seeing how they are doing - I've actually always wanted to do that! I also have added speech therapy to my list of classes, and today she told me that she has some exercises for me to do (once we have clearance that my vocal chords are okay) that should help with the nasality of my voice. I've frequently said that if all I lose through this accident is my singing ability, I have lost very little. But now with this new hope of regaining at least my speaking voice and perhaps some vocal tone and range, I am very excited! She also determined that my soft palate only lifts on one side, also adding to the change in my tone, which again she has exercises for! So I am very pleased to add this all to my schedule! Unfortunately, my music therapist is taking the rest of May off, so I won't be able to work with her for now. But with my keyboard in my room, I'll keep practising until she gets back!

Thank you as ever for all your prayers for our family.  They are a treasure and a solace for all of us.  God is working in us and through us, and it is such a privilege!

Because He Lives!
Judy

The gift...

I've promised for 2 days now to tell you about the special gift that my sister made for me, and it's period break in the game, so now seems like a good time!

 

You all know that in the accident I suffered an incomplete fracture between the vertebra called C1 and C2, the top of the spinal column, which hold the skull on the neck.  My memory of the first few weeks is very muddled due to pain, medication and the concussion.  I assumed, and had told the doctors, that the surgery to fuse them together was done within days of the accident. It wasn't until the night my brother and sister-in-law were here shortly after my arrival at GF Strong that they told me what really happened.  It wasn't until 7days after the accident, after doing an MRI to determine why my arms and legs weren't moving, that they found the fracture. My brother and his wife were there the next day, immediately after the surgery.  They talked  to the doctor who did the surgery and were told that all that held my head onto my neck was 1 mm of tissue,  and that I was very "lucky" to be alive. To top this off, keep in mind that the nurses had stopped log-rolling my head when I was being turned (in other words, holding my head and neck together when turning my body). They were just turning my body, and my head was being held by God's hands alone!!! This news really made me stop and again be so grateful to be alive! It also made me realize how little I remember from those first 2 - 3 weeks.  So for those of  you who visited me during my time in ICU, thank you for your patience with me as I sort out my memories from my fantasies!

 

Now back to my sister - (Ellie has given me permission to share this story) - she was working in her craft room one night, re-stringing a bracelet that had broken (thrifty girl!).  The cord wasn't quite the right size, so she looked in her supplies to see what other sizes she had in there.  She picked up a spool of clear elastic cord, and looked to see what size it was.  Upon seeing the diameter of 1 mm marked on the spool, her mind and heart immediately thought of the 1 mm of stretchy, clear ligament that held my head for those 7 days.  She told me that she froze on the spot, and spent the next 30 minutes or so just feeling that slender cord, tears streaming down her face, praising God for His mercy and goodness, and for sparing my life.  Then she had an idea - to make me (and my family) bracelets to remind us of that gift from God.  She put on that cord one single, imperfect pearl, also as a reminder that God isn't finished with me yet!  She came out on Monday just to bring it out to me, and to share what it meant to her.  I wear that cord with joy, and it has already allowed me the opportunity to share my story and God's part in it with several people!  I love that gift, and my sister for creating it, and thank God for giving her that moment. Go find a ruler and look how big 1 mm is - you might be surprised! I know I was!

 

Just to let you all know, I am very excited that Ben will be arriving here for the weekend tomorrow morning! He's coming down for our first team/family planning meeting (which is on Monday at 11), and for some time with me! So don't bother checking back here for a few days...I won't be posting till Monday night at the earliest!  And if you live in the Vancouver area and have been wanting to see us, just give a quick call to make sure we're in (you can call GF Strong direct, and they'll give me a message to call you).  He'll be here until Monday afternoon. 

 

Oh, one other thing quickly - I did stairs today!

 

Praising God daily, love, Judy

Judy Wiebe 
Take Note Vocal Studio