First and foremost, thank you again. Thank you friends and family and neighbors and even to those we haven't met that have been so incredibly encouraging these past 27 weeks. Thank you for praying for us, for driving Josh to doctor's appointments, for feeding us amazing dinners and bringing us fruit to fill our fridge. Thank you for loving on our children, for bringing me coffee, for spending time with Josh playing cards and just listening to him. Thank you for mowing our grass and helping me set up for a garage sale. Thank you for helping me tear down the sale. Thank you for hugging me and telling me that we are not alone. Thank you for the amazing community that has worked tirelessly to keep our family functioning these past many many months. We are eternally grateful.
My husband Josh was diagnosed with Bilateral Vestibular Dysfunction with Complete Vestibular Failure. He will never fully recover from this condition and will most likely struggle from setbacks periodically. He has been unable to work since April.
We have many PRAISES to report.
Josh most days is able to drive a car. He knows also when it isn't a good idea.
Josh has been able to attend church with our family for the past 4 weeks. Using an earplug and headphones during the service, and avoiding worship (too loud and overstimulating) he has been able to come into the service just as Pastor Troy begins to speak and leave right after the closing prayer.
Josh is able to do a prayer walk every morning. (very important that remains physically active.) He tries to go on a short bike ride (three wheeled bike) everyday or every other day. This physical activity helps with resuming every day life activities and is very encouraging to Josh.
Today Josh mowed our lawn for the first time! He was smiling ear to ear when I arrived home with Lily. He was so proud and excited that he was able to do. He was exhausted and needed to rest after. But he did it. His Vestibular Rehab Specialist believes by this winter he will also be able to snowblow our driveway and sidewalks. She wants him to invest in a self propelled snow blower to make the job a bit easier on him.
Josh was able to go out to eat twice this week. This is a big deal. We had to sit outside with no one around us the first time, but the second time, we sat indoors with the kids and placed him facing away from people. We ate quickly and exited quickly, but he did it.
Josh will be leading 2nd Sunday Prayer tonight at church. This isn't something he has been able to do since last year.
Josh will attend his 2nd Elder Meeting since January at church this Thursday.
Josh continues to work on his eye hand coordination and putts golf balls in the dining room and has even taken Zach to the driving range twice. This is something he was told may not ever be possible.
Josh has been approved to return to work tomorrow part time from home. He will train two half days this week in the office and then work three half days from home. This is fantastic news! Josh's employer has been amazing and so accommodating. Because he will never be able to work in the stores again any time soon, Lund's & Byerly's has created a fantastic position in Corporate Recruiting. Josh is excited about this position and the fact that there is a job that he can do from home. He may need to take rests throughout the day, but the way they have formatted this job, he will be able to do just that. Josh doesn't need to return to full time work until the end of October. (26 weeks of short term disability) However, he and his rehab specialist believe a full time schedule is in the very near future.
What do all of these PRAISES attest to? God's Faithfulness. God is Faithful and True and Reliable. He is Never Changing. He has never forsaken us or abandoned us through this trial! This is why we continue to PRAISE HIM. He is WORTHY.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,
Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
For nothing will be impossible with God.”
But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.
Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.”
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.
The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy.
“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
For our God is a consuming fire.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
These verses, of which there are many, many more, are biblical truth of which I am compelled to share with each of you. It is absolutely true that a testimony of God's Faithfulness can be formed even in difficult times. And this is exactly what has happened.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
I promise to keep you updated as we approach the next 27 weeks of Praise and Thankfulness!
