claim your promises...

"Come on...! We have seen that the land is very good! Aren't you going to do something? Don't hesitate to go there and take it over...God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing whatever!" (Judges 18:9-10)
"Come on! This command indicates that there is something definite for us to do and that nothing is ours unless we take it! We need to have appropriating faith when it comes to God's promises and should make His Word our own personal possession. A child was once asked what appropriating faith was, and he answered, "It is taking a pencil and underlining every me, my and mine in the Bible!" Pick any word you want that He has spoken and say, "That word is my word!" Put your finger on a promise and say, "It is mine!" How much of God's Word have you received and endorsed, and how much have you been able to say, "this has been done in my life?" By how many of His promises have you signed your name and said, "this has been fulfilled in me?" "My son,...you are always with me, and everything I have is yours!" Do not miss your own inheritance through your own neglect!"
"When faith goes to the market, it always takes a basket."
{streams in the desert}

I read this last night with Ben and was very humbled by the words that I was reading! Starting with the scripture in Judges! The "land" that the Lord has put us in a this time may not be what we wanted but it is good! But what are we going to do about it? Am I going to complain? Am I going to settle? Am I going to sit back and allow the enemy to take over a place in my heart that the Lord should have? That is not what the Lord instructs me to do...He tells me not to hesitate but to go forward and claim the goodness that He has promised Ben and I!
I love the response that this young child gave to underline every me, my and mine in the Bible! Why...because God's promises are our promises too! Every promise He made to those in the Bible are also ours to be had! But the catch is that we have to reach out and "take it over!" This applies not only to Ben's healing but our day to day life, feelings, emotions, dreams and desires! I have been challanged now to read the Word with a different look on the promises of the Lord!
For some reason this morning I woke up with a lightened heart, one of feeling more free. I don't know when the change came but it sure feels nice and the Lord is to be praised! He is enabling Ben and I to continue in this journey with more faith, strength, security in Him and together as a couple! I don't want to always look back and remember what "was" but what is to come and yes, the best is yet to come! Ben and I have created memories before the accident but we continue to build memories now that are just as important!
So, His Word is our Word, His promises are our promises, His dreams and desires for our lives are ours too! He did not come to destroy us but to build us up! He has a plan for our lives and that plan is perfect, perfected by Him!

When Ben was resting today I was laying next to him (the only way he will rest sometimes) and he said, "you are not going to leave me are you?" I asked him why he would think that and his response was, "there are people out there looking for love." My heart about broke but I also know that he was just double checking! We have had chats about trust and both of us being so in love with each other! I reassured Ben that I was not going anywhere (besides errands and at night to my room)and that I would love him with my whole heart for the rest of my life! He paused for a bit and then said in one full, loud sentence, "I love you with my whole heart, soul and mind...you deserve it!" Ben knows how to get to my heart and today he did! I don't know what I would ever do without him and him the same!

Ben has had a few productive days! He works hard in everything he does and comes back to his room sweating! It takes alot for Ben to sweat and has not really sweat that much before coming here! Today he had speech, neuro psych testing (which he said was bad because it was a test), PT in which he walked a ton and got on the foot bike, treadmill practice for an hour (actual time walking was 12 min...longest time yet) and currently in OT to work on his feeding skills! Full day and still not yet done! His goal is to work hard to go home!
In his testing in neuro psych Ben was asked to draw a circle and then put the numbers in where they should be. He was then asked to draw the hands at 9 o'clock. This is the first time he has been asked to do this and this is how it came out...

{he corrected his 9 because it was at the 8 first!}

Here are a few more random photos I forgot to include in previous posts...

{arts and crafts}

{grrrr faces}

{Ben getting our fire fighter friend Dante for picking on him}

Prayer requests:
1. Ben's memory!
2. Ben to initiate more...ask questions, ask for things, respond to people more.
3. Muscle loosening...to his neck, shoulders, arms, legs and every on in between
4. Coordination of his brain to his body...he knows how to do everything
5. ADL's (activities of daily living)...feeding, grooming, dressing...all the things that are in our daily life! The more Ben gets these down the easier it will be for me to take care of him at home!!
6. Mood continue to be up!

sickness, sister, storm, sadness,,,,

{our buddies from GA}

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”Eph. 3:20


The four words for the title of this blog have been our 5 days! Oh my goodness what a busy time it has been these last few days!
This past Thursday I woke up with a sore throat, stuffy nose, headache and sore muscles! I was thinking, no this cannot be happening to me right now! Well, it didn't get better until Monday morning! I had to spend the whole holiday weekend having sneeze attacks and feeling like crud! I couldn't even wear my contacts most of the time because my eyes would just burn...I took them off to take photos though!
Thursday evening Ben's sister and bro-in-law came in from PA! They were here to spend Christmas with us! What a priviledge it was to spend with them! We had a quick visit that night and then we all took off to get some rest!
Friday morning we all met back up at the rehab center to cheer Ben on in his therapies! He was walking so well!! Here is a lil video from the backside this time...





We hung out at Kessler the rest of the day and were just there for Ben! After he was done we all climbed in our swanky van and went out to dinner! All Ben had been talking about and wanting was enchiladas! So we found this quaint little Mexican restuarant in a neighboring town for dinner!! It was so much fun! They greeted us warmly as we entered through the back door! The other door had 7 steps up to it and this entry only one so we opted to sneek in the back door!! It was quite with Christmas music and we really had a good time! Back to Kessler we went to get Ben in bed...he was exausted but he told us he had a great time getting out and his food...cleared his plate!!

Christmas day!! What a fun day we had! No therapies for Ben and fun for us all! Again we met up at Kessler and swooped Ben into his chair and out the door! We were off to my hotel room for Christmas morning! Coffee in hand and Ben in a regular chair and not his wheelchair Matt, our bro-in-law read to us the Christmas story and it was just good to sit there and have it run through our ears and sink into our hearts!
Next it was opening our gifts! Of course ben got to go first! Last year he could barely open his gifts and this year he was tearing off the paper by the hand fulls! It was amazing to see....and brought tears to my eyes! He opened one gift and he said, "something from REI?" His eyes were huge and his hands hasty to open the box! You see...REI is his favorite store! "A North Face vest?" Was the next thing out of his voice! He went on to the next box and said after he took off the wrapping, "another one from REI?" Again big ole eyes with a slight smile! He was in heaven! Ben also got a shooting game from his sister! He was ready to do some damage with those things!
Following the gift opening Ben took a nap in my bed! He must have been so comfortable because when I went to get him up he was out of it! I knew we needed to get up and get going but I just couldn't wake him so I gave him a few more minutes!!
I finally woke him up and when I told him he needed to get up he gave me a loud, "NO!" Oh my! When I asked him why he said, "I am to comfortable!" I went on to tell him that we needed to get on the road to have Christmas dinner at Dante's mom's house! That got him moving!
We headed down the road for about 30 minutes and got to the home we needed to be at...without getting lost! They lifted Ben up two stairs...wheelchair and all and into the house!
What a wonderful family we got to be with! They accepted us, fed us like we had never eaten before, chatted with us and send us home with mass amounts of cookies, hats and scarfs! What a blessing it was for us and such a gracious invitation!
{my camera ran out of memory so Ben's sister will be sending them to me of our new friends!}

Sunday morning Ben's sister and husband had to leave...we were sad to see them go! They had to get going to get back to work in the morning and beat the storm aka blizzard!
Ummm, I have seen snow before but not this much before! Ok, well I have seen it but only on TV! It all started around 11am and didn't stop until the next day! The wind was howling up to 50 miles and hour and the snow was coming down by the buckets! I had to leave Kessler before 4 because I was warned that if I didn't leave then I would be staying the night at Kessler! I didn't like leaving Ben so early in the day but I knew that the wise decision would be to start making my way back!
Well, Monday I woke up to 2 feet of snow and the wind still howling! I got called at 6am by the fire department saying that if I wanted a drive in that they were on their way to get me! They wanted to get me to Ben before the crazy and yes they were CRAZY drivers came out! So, I was up and at em and on my way to Ben! Because of the snow many of the therapists were not able to get in to start therapy but they rescheduled Ben for the afternoon from 1-4pm! Yup, 3 straight hours of therapy! He did really well but was pooped out by the end! I spent the day with him and even got a nap in...still was not feeling good all day and it was much needed! The fire department gave me a ride back that evening and I was out!!





Tuesday, today was back to the normal schedule! The roads were clear so I was able to drive! Mountains of snow plowed roads were everywhere! Some towering 10 feet! My parents were to be flying in today! I knew that there were issues at the airports and thousands of flights were canceled going out...so here is the sadness! My parents had to cancel their whole trip coming out here! They got to SeaTac in Seattle because the airlines was not giving out any info except that it was delayed 20 min! Well, it ended up being canceled and when they went to get another flight on another day and possibly into another airport it was to no avail! No flights until next week!!
It was hard for me and I was sad but I am slowly getting used to the idea! Hopefully they will be able to make the trip out soon!
The rest of the week will be filled with rest and just being with Ben! He needs me around and I am so happy to be there with him!

and one more biking video...when you see him making a kissy face I had given him one behind the camera! This is all his super, powerful legs...no machine help!

merry christmas...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
May peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!

{half of our Christmas card this year}

We have alot to be Merry about this year! Ben and I have been blessed, healed, nurtured, taught, humbled and so many other things by the Lord this year!
I thought alot of where we were last year at this time and have been talking to Ben about it! I asked him today what he was able to do last year at Christmas and he said, "nothing, I was just laying there!" This is so true! Last year Ben could not walk, talk, process, swim, bike on his own, sit up longer then an hour in his chair and so many more things! Yesterday he did 30 push-ups, walked to his room two times while talking and did other things in his 1.5 PT session! Wow HE is amazing!
So, yes depite that we have been in a hospital/rehab setting for almost 1.5 years the Lord has brought us so far and will continue to take us even further!
I am excited to see where we are next Christmas!!!

Today we (Ben, me, his sister and her husband) get the priviledge of going to a local fire-fighters mom's house for Christmas!! This will be our first experince to enjoy an East Coast Italian dinner! Dante, the firefighter, told me that I cannot be shy when it comes to eating because it goes something like this...
-appetizers
-big pan of lasanga
-clean that up
-turkey, fixing, veggies
-clean that up
-coffee and desserts....
...oh my goodness!! We are super excited to go, meet some new people and celebrate Jesus' birth! If it takes me a few days to get on here with photos and updates just know that I am ok but quite possibly in a food coma!!

Blessings to you all and a very Merry Christmas!!

before the morning...

Do you wonder why you have to
Feel the things that hurt you
If there’s a God who loves you where is He now
Maybe there are things you can’t see
And all those things are happening
To bring a better ending
Someday somehow you’ll see you’ll see

Would you dare would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming
So hold on you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

My friend you know how this all ends
You know where you’re going
You just don’t know how you’ll get there
So say a prayer and hold on cause there’s
good for those who love God
But life is not a snapshot
It might take a little time but you’ll
see the bigger picture

Once you feel the weight of glory
All your pain will fade to memory
It’s just the hurt before the healing
Oh the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

{Josh Wilson}

I have heard this song several times but really never listened to the words! When I was driving this morning in my swanky van this song came on again! The words are powerful and full of life for the things to come! I cannot see Ben and my future, I cannot see what is happening in the heavenlys and I cannot see the big picture in it all but I can know that if I allow it the joy of the Lord will come in the morning! There may be hurt before the healing but the promise is there is GOOD for those who LOVE God!

Be blessed today!

quick update...

We finally made it back to Kessler today! It was a smooth transition and for that I am grateful! Tomorrow brings back therapies and getting Ben back on a "normal" schedule! Everyone was very concerned about Ben and wanted to check in on him when we got back!
I got behind on my Christmas shopping and have not even bought Ben anything! I told him that I needed to go and get something! He said he didn't want anything! When I asked him why he said all he wanted was, "you (as in me) and my memory back!)I asked him what he was going to get me and he said nothing! I asked him why again and said that since he couldn't go out to get me anything that he wasn't getting me anything! Stinks for both of us! :)

On the way back to Kessler the medics who transporting him back to Kessler they asked if Ben was ok and he said, "no!"

They asked him why and he said, "I just want to be normal again! Please pray for Ben's spirits! They need a bit of lifting to fulfill

this mission that is set before him!
Blessings!

good reports...

Thank you all for your prayers! It was a long 24 hours but we made it though!
Ben was quite confused and agitated up until about 8:30 last night. One minute he would ask for snuggles and the next be kicking me away from him! He would just stare and then the next moment beat the padding on his bed. He would want food and then not, want a drink and then shove it away! Ben also had a temprature which probably didn't help. He started calming down and falling asleep!
I took off after 9pm and headed to my room! The nurses here were super nice so I felt like I could leave and Ben would be in good hands!
I was anxious to get to Ben today and see how he was doing! When I got there he was getting some meds! I said hello and he responded, "HI, how are you?" Right back to his old self! I felt so relieved! I asked him if he had a good sleep and was feeling better and he said yes!! Praise the Lord! I am sure he was just exausted after the prior events and all the meds!
I asked Ben if he remembered anything from the day before and he said no. I told him what had happened and he responded, "oh, that is bad!" I asked him if he remembered anything else and he said, "I fell!" Yes, Ben you did fall but that is ok! Ben said, "no it is not!" I asked him why and he said, "I am too strong for that!"
We waited until after lunch today to see a doc but he had good reports so it was okay!! Ben was SEIZURE FREE all night long! Whoohoo praise Jesus! He is going to hold Ben over one more night just to monitor him! I am okay with this too...rather be safe then sorry! Ben actually tried to get up today and wanted to do therapies! He said, "I am ready to get out of here!"
Thank you again for all of your prayers for both Ben and I! They were/are needed and much appreciated! I will keep you updated as to when we get out of this hospital and back to Kessler!

{getting his leads on and not looking enthused!}

{finished product...with a nice cap!}

{many wires!}

{today Ben wanted nothing to do with his cap or gown!}

the dreaded phone calls...

Oh my goodnes what a whirlwind the last almost 24 hours have been! Yesterday I was able to take Ben for a quick Panera Bread stop and then the rest of the afternoon was spent hanging out im my room! We snuggled, slept and watched Christmas movies together! I took him back to the hospital where I fed him dinner and then got him up to the bathroom. After I was done getting Ben to the bathroom I took of to my room for the night. Sometimes I come back and sometimes like last night I just go back to get to bed early. Last night was one of those nights...until the dreaded phone call! Around 9:15pm the hospital number popped up on my phone! I knew something was wrong to get a phone call at this time of the night. It was a weekend doc calling to let me know that Ben had fallen and hit his head on the potty chair while being transfered. They did several neuro checks on him and he was fine. Ben complained of some head pain so they gave him Tylenol. When they checked on him soon after he said he didn't have any more pain. I got dressed very quickly and was on my way to go and check things out. I got there and gave him hugs and kisses. I asked if he was ok and he said yes. I then asked him if he remembered what happened and he said, "I fell and hit my head!" I asked if he was in pain and he said no. I then asked him if he got any pain meds (to check his memory) and he said, "they gave me tylenol." I asked him a few more orientation questions and he was just dandy. After that I asked if he needed anything and he said, "check to see if I have both my feets and toes!" Oh my I thought! Me-"did you hurt your feet when you fell?" Ben-"no, just make sure they are there!" I counted them all for him and he was content! :) I snuggled with him for a bit and he was out!

Call number 2, yes number 2 came this morning about 0730!! What the heck! It was another doc saying that they thought that Ben had a seizure and that they were sending him to another hospitals ER (Ben is in a rehab center so they are not equipped for this stuff) to have him checked out. They said that he had possilbly bit his tongue and that his arms were shaking for 5 min! They said that I could meet him at the ER. So, on went my clothes from the night before along with a hat! I grabbed some coffee from the hotel because I knew that ER visits are not short!
I got to Ben and my heart about dropped! Poor guy looked horrible! I tried to ask him questions and he was trying to answer but no words would come out! He grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go! He looked so sedated and out of it! I had forgotten that we give Ativan to patients with seizures and was totally freaked out by his reactions and how he was not able to respond. After I was told he was given Ativan my heart slowed down! They came in and did blood work, an EEG and a few neuro tests followed by the long awaited CT scan. During this time Ben started to come to more. At one point he got my attention and said, "I want to touch your face!" Bless him! I let him touch away as he put a hand to each of my cheeks and stroked them! I was grateful I had my ipod with me because I was able to put on some hymns for Ben. At one point I looked over and he was mouthing the words to one of the hymns! Again, bless this man! I knew Ben was starting to feel better when he said he was hungry, thirsty and wanted to brush his teeth!
With no results yet on the CT and 5 hours in the ER the doc decided to admit Ben and do seizure monitoring on him overnight just to be on the safe side. So, we are in another hospital, in another room with all new people! Oh man! I was able to sneak away after Ben at lunch (after 2pm) and get some things for him and myself.
While I write this Ben is FINALLY sleeping (he didn't sleep the whole day) and I am sipping on a Starbucks! I might pay for it later tonight but I don't care, it tastes so good!
I have often wondered why I might have been in the accident with Ben and today I found out another reason...the dread that came over my heart and soul to see my man suffering was almost more then I could take! In a way the Lord saved me from alot of that by having me be in the car with him that night. I also questioned today why the Lord would allow Ben to go through a fall with banging his head and seizure issues today when he has already been through so much! I don't know why but I am praying that some good will come out of this visit to another hospital. Maybe they will be able to pinpoint exactly where his seizures are coming from and get him on the right meds. Maybe this is what he needed for his healing process, some say that seizures bring healing. I have no idea! What I can say is that I don't want to go through this ever again!!
One of the hardest things about this is that I know nobody here! I wanted so desperatley someone to drive over and sit with Ben and I! I got mass love and encouragement through texts and phone calls and for that I am grateful!! It is hard being away but this is a season in our lives that we are called to be away...again for some reason that the Lord has!

Please, please, please continue to lift Ben up in your prayers! Pray for good results on his seizure monitoring sessions, the doctors wisdom and strength for Ben and I!

6pm...after I wrote this blog...Ben just woke up from his nap and he is VERY confused! He cannot answer any of my questions that he normally answers. He can tell me who I am but nothing else. He also doesn't want to eat or do anything. I am sure that there will be more tests to follow. My emotions are everywhere! Please pray for us!

{the only way i could get ben to sleep!}

Blessings to you all!!

fa la la la la...

"In the famous lace shops in Brussels, there are special rooms devoted to the spinning of the world's finest lace, all with the most delicate of patterns. The rooms are kept completely dark, except for the light that falls directly on the developing pattern, from one very small window. Only one person sits in each small room, where the narrow rays of light fall upon the threads he is weaving, for lace is always more beautifully and delicately woven when the weaver himself is in the dark, with only his work in the light. Sometimes the darkness in our lives is worse, because we cannot see the web we are weaving or understand what we are doing. Therefore we are unable to see any of the beauty or any possible good arising from our experience. Yet, if we are faithful to forge ahead and if we do not give up someday we will know that the most exquisite work of our lives was done during those days when it was the darkest. If you seem to be living in deep darkness because God is working in strange and mysterious ways, do not be afraid. Simply go forward in faith and in love, never doubting Him! He is watching and will bring goodness and beauty from all your pain and tears!" {Streams In the Desert}

Often I have found myself in times of darkness and wondering what the Lord could be thinking to put us through what we are going through. So many times I ask why us, when is this going to end and what the end result will be. This is the darkest part of my life I have ever lived out! No, I am not depressed but there are dark periods that I have lived. This analogy was so good for me to read the other day. It shows me that God has put us in this "special room" (journey) of darkness not to get us down, wallow in my sorrow or to give up. I may be in a dark room but in that room God shines His light on us and intricately patterns our life into a complete master piece. I cannot see what He is doing but I can trust that He is forming our lives and our situation into something way better then we could ever ask for! Does this mean that I don't doubt, cry, fear, and get anxious about Ben and my future...of course not! Those feelings and emotions are real but it is what we do with them! I choose to move forward in faith, knowing that our lives and future are in His control!

Ben has been doing good! He continues to fight through this battle although at times he says he doesn't want to go to therapies! I tell continue to tell him that this is his job now, to get better! His Ranger bosses are paying him to do rehab so that he can get better and go back to work! I sneak in the fact that if he doesn't go to work/therapies they are not going to pay for it anymore! Ben always then says, "ok." Ben goes and continues to work so very hard! Due to his memory issues it is still hard for him to see how far he has come. This is frustrating for Ben and difficult for him to process!
Ben has made progress since he has been here! They may seem small but to us they are HUGE! I have been trying to write them down so that I remember. Here are a few of those things:
1. Initiates in asking for things: (all comes from ben and not me asking anything)
-Take my socks off
-I don't want the tv on
-Turn the tv off before you go
-Stay with me
-"I want to go to bed!" Me-why? Ben-"I am tired because I had a brain injury!"
-I don't want the nasty zuccini...you like that stuff!
2. Initiating in asking questions:
-Is it cold out?
-Why can't I go?
-While watching a show Ben asks who do you think is going to win, who do you
think will win the reward?
-Where did you go? where were you?
3. Remembering names and places:
-Remembering therapists names (he only needs help with a few)
-Remembering kids names of those he has not seen or heard of in a long time
-When his buddy was here he quizzed Ben on steps to loading/unloading his boat,
jump master stuff, Ranger Creed, mountain climbing...and Ben did great
-starting to remember some day to day stuff or things that I have told him we are
going to do.
4. ADL's (actiivties of daily living)
-puts his shirt on to his neck (working on getting it over his head)
-he can pretty much put on and take of his shorts while laying down
-works his toothbrush and brushes teeth (just needs help rinsing)
-drinking from a cup and not always a straw (he is almost on thin liquids!)
5. Vison (biggest report this week!)
-Ben has no issues with his vision! 20/20 on the RT and 20/25 on the LFT with
slight astigmatism. Doc was not concerned about this at all.
-Has issues with eye movements (eyes jump at times instead of move smoothly)
-No issues tracking!
-Has some difficulties with following the finger to bring eyes together
(cross-eyed type)
-Therapies to help with eye movement to come!

So, over all Ben is coming along! We have a loooooonnnnnggggg ways to go but like I have been telling Ben and myself it takes many baby steps to form a big step! Please continue to lift Ben up in your prayers! Obviously PRAYER and JESUS changes things!

Here is a video of Ben walking on Wed! They did a little hip and leg manipulation and after that Ben walked the fastest and best he ever has! No one even needed to remind him to keep his head up! He was walking so fast that his walker was going everywhere at some points!

{will and ben}

merry christmas...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
May peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!

{half of our Christmas card this year}

We have alot to be Merry about this year! Ben and I have been blessed, healed, nurtured, taught, humbled and so many other things by the Lord this year!
I thought alot of where we were last year at this time and have been talking to Ben about it! I asked him today what he was able to do last year at Christmas and he said, "nothing, I was just laying there!" This is so true! Last year Ben could not walk, talk, process, swim, bike on his own, sit up longer then an hour in his chair and so many more things! Yesterday he did 30 push-ups, walked to his room two times while talking and did other things in his 1.5 PT session! Wow HE is amazing!
So, yes depite that we have been in a hospital/rehab setting for almost 1.5 years the Lord has brought us so far and will continue to take us even further!
I am excited to see where we are next Christmas!!!

Today we (Ben, me, his sister and her husband) get the priviledge of going to a local fire-fighters mom's house for Christmas!! This will be our first experince to enjoy an East Coast Italian dinner! Dante, the firefighter, told me that I cannot be shy when it comes to eating because it goes something like this...
-appetizers
-big pan of lasanga
-clean that up
-turkey, fixing, veggies
-clean that up
-coffee and desserts....
...oh my goodness!! We are super excited to go, meet some new people and celebrate Jesus' birth! If it takes me a few days to get on here with photos and updates just know that I am ok but quite possibly in a food coma!!

Blessings to you all and a very Merry Christmas!!

photos part II...

In hope to get a good update in on BEN this weekend and the things that he is doing! Until then you get to see some more photos of when my sister and nephew came to visit! We were also able to hook up with some of our great friends from GA for the day!! We went to NY on a Friday and it was in the low 20's with winds and then went back on Sunday and it was in the upper 40's and raining!

{NY style pizza!}

{Julie and I}

{sister mary and lukas}

{the gang at m&m world}

{the tree and skaters at rockafeller}

{santa at macy's!}



{royal guard james bond style}

{3d needed for the first scene at radio city!}







{live nativity with real camels, sheep and donkeys!}

a christmas wish and photos galore...

Christmas Wish:

I have a special prayer request for you all! I have asked Ben several times what he would life for Christmas this year! He has never asked for anything materialistic but has only said, "I just want my memory!" I wish that I could buy that for him but I cannot! He has alot of long term memory but lacks the every day to day short term memory! I wrote a bit of his progress below but he has a long ways to go! Please pray for Ben and his memory...that it be fully restored and that his mind be sharp!!

Ok, I have a mass amount of photos for ya'lls enjoyment! They go back to a when one of Ben's buddies from NC drove up with his wife and girls, then our van came and a much needed visit from my mom to rescue me from my lonliness!! I will be posting more on my sister and nephews visit soon! Whenever I would tell Ben that I was going somewhere new he would say, "that's not fair!" When I asked him why he says, "because I cannot go!" I just have to keep telling him that I am checking out the places for him! After some training tomorrow I will be getting Ben out and about!! Enjoy!

Erick, Claudia, Victoria and Olivia visit...

Our swanky swagger wagon...

Mom visits...

Ben continues to do well! He is still working so hard! I find that I have to remind him less on things and for the first time I have noticed that just after a few weeks here he is catching on to many people's names! Many times I don't even have to remind them who they are...he already knows there names! Ben and I have only known some of these people and dogs for a few weeks and Ben is remembering their names!! This is huge! His therapies are challanging him and I think he is really responding well to it! He told me the other day that he was tired and wanted to take a nap! I asked him why and he said, "I had a brain injury and so I am tired!" He is realizing more things about what is going on himself!
Oh the joy and happiness that fills my heart to see these things taking place in this amazing husband of mine!
We will get there! Time is what we have and we will use all of it to get us where the Lord wants us to be!! Little strides equal HUGE steps!!

Sayings by Ben...I came in on Sunday morning to see that his call light was on! I went inside and found Ben crooked in Ben and looking like he was trying to get out of bed. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I am going to the service!" Me-"what service?" Ben responded, "the one they just talked about!" OH MY GOODNESS! I had read the day before that they were going to have a church service...Ben heard the annoucement they had on the loud speaker and wanted to go! Thank goodness he didn't fall to the floor and thank goodness he was comprehending the fact that there was a church service and he was on a mission to go!!