mish mash...

{fishing derby 2012}

Ok blogger has a whole new layout since the last time I blogged so I hope this comes out right! I am typing and hoping to see what I have written and the pictures to all get listed. If things seem a bit wonky then just bear with me on this as I try and figure it out...

We have been on the go, alot! Something almost every single day and by the end of the day Ben and I are pooped! Tonight as I was sitting next to Ben on the couch I looked over at the dishes and asked Ben if he could do them tonight. He of course said that he would and started to put his feet of his recliner down. I stopped him, knowing that it would be difficult for him, and said thank you for even wanting to do them. I drug myself off the couch and got them done but was sooooo pooped out. Long day = snuggles!

A bunch of random phone photos for you again! Some new activities that were really fun!

I put Ben to work the other day putting away the silverware and plastic dishes. He is pretty good at holding on to the counters and moving slowly down them and then leaning on them when he needs to do something. I usually stand at his side or behind him to show him that I am there but I don't want to hover...

We have been doing some flower planting in pots and it has been fun doing that again. We don't plant alot in the ground because we are renting and what I plant I want to take when we move. For some reason Ben and I have never owned a wheel barrel...maybe that is because he has always had massive muscles so I just asked Ben! Well, I got this huge bag home and of course I wanted to not hurt myself I found the next best thing...

It's official...my sister and lil bro's girlfriend convinced me to change my 5 mile run registration to a half marathon. Holy batman running I think I made the wrong decision! No turning back now...I must run on. Here's to May 20th, yes of this year...

and because of that I have been trying to eat some more nutricious food. This is fitness bread with almond butter and sprouts, invented by my dad years ago! Don't knock it til you have tried it...

...and by the time I am done with my day all i want to do is wear my scrubs and slippers!

Ben had an assignment last Tuesday in Speech and that was to write 3 things down that he would get at the grocery store and memorize what his ST, me and him would want at Starbucks so he could order them for us. He wrote on his list steak, cheese and bread. I was not surprised by this at all. Ben could live off of these three things! We went to the store on Thurs and when I asked him that morning what we were getting he remembered all three with out looking or hints. The man knows what he wants!

When we got to the store it was his job to find and direct us to the 3 different departments to find his picks. Ben had never been to this store before so it was going to be a challange. It was a bit but he did way better then what we thought he would do. Next was to get in line to pay...except we skipped that just went to the self checkout line. Again, Ben started right up and pretty much all we did was push the buttons on the screen. If he would have been standing he would have done it all! I was so proud of him! Soon I will be able to send him on his way with my list...

This past Thursday was also Botox day. Ben was supposed to have it done the week before but they scheduled him with the wrong doc even after I told them the one we needed. Anyways, we finally got him in. Let's just say Ben would rather have the doc work on him the whole time then the resident doc. Warning pics below show needles...

Ben got a massage after his botox. Unfortunately he didn't let me have any of his botox or his massage. Geesh way to share Ben! ;) His massage therapist had him do some back and neck stretches and I was amazed at the muscle that Ben has built back up. His muscle memory is amazing...wish I had the muscle memory problem...

This past Saturday we were off to my parents for some opening day fishing. My parents moved into a lake house last summer and wanted to do an annual fishing family derby and breakfast. We of course didn't get there at the fishing time of 6am but a tad later. We had a great time. Nothin was caught by us but 3 kids caught one and I think the winning fish was 11.5 in. Ben caught a swedish fish and ate it...

So, as you can see we have been busy! I love the time that I get with Ben. It may not be what we ever imagined but we still get to build memories together and be with each other. The other day I snuck up to the mall to do some hunting. I started crying in the Nordstroms parking lot. It wasn't because I had spent to much but it was because I missed Ben. I miss doing what we normally did together. You may think that it is petty and wanting to go to Nordstroms with my man but some of our first memories were built in that store. I get to do things with him now but things are different. I think this but then I have to remember how much we have and the memories that we are continuing to build despite where we are. We have love and we have each other. Ben and I will continue to build new memories and love each other. Days may be hard but we will continue to move forward...we have the Lord on our side and each other...

a year goes by...

"Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment, all you have is all you need."

Today it has been a year since our med flight touched down in WA...home! Ben was going to be home for good and hopefully never going to go back to a hospital. We had been in a hospital for over a year and a half and it was time to come back. Ben was ready, I was ready.

Ben would be home, in a house. He would no longer have to be in a hospital bed, surrounded by white, bland hospital walls. He wouldn't have to endure anymore hospital food but now my cooking...hey it's not that bad! Ben would no longer have to sleep alone! I had never been able to spend the night with him in the hospital because of my injuries initially and also if I did I knew I would not be good for him the few days following. He could get up and go with me anywhere anytime. We had the freedom once home to get back to as much normalcy as we could but knowing that it was not what our normal used to be. No longer would Ben be alone.

I no longer had to stay in a seperate apartment, house, hotel anymore. I think in 1.5years I had slept in like 10 different beds in all the places that I was housed and I really longed for my bed. Now Ben hogs it all so I don't know which is better! Ha!
No longer would I have to go down two floors to do laundry or put quarters in a washing machine at the hotel. Awww, a kitchen! I actually got to unpack all of our things that had been in storage and bake and cook! These are little things but like Ben I no longer had to be alone.

Alot has happened this past year and alot has not happened. Although Ben's progress be slow, it is progress! Some may think that he has not accomplished that much since we have been home but I live with the man and boy has he accomplished! His memory has improved, his speech, stabily, walking, balancing, eating, function, interacting and so much more. In the brain injury world they say that the most progress comes in the first 6-12 months after injury...well this is not the case with Ben. The Lord has instilled in this man a determination to never quit, to be strong, to go up against anything that may be in his way! Ben at times has said he doesn't know how much longer he can do this and doesn't know how he can make it through another day but then always follows it with but I will fight on and I will beat this brain injury. He has a Healer on his side, he has an encourager and strengthener on his side...he has Jesus.

Ben and I never imagined that we would ever be where we are today but we are. No body ever does but they are going through trials too. We still have alot of questions and we both ask God why us. We are still human and still have to work with the pain, disappointments, hurt, shattered hearts and so many more deep, deep feeling and emotions. God has been faithful. God has been on our side. God has never left our side. God has healed. God is there when we were not. Bottom line in all of our anger, frustrations, lonliness, joy, love, craziness, guilt and all of it...HE IS THERE!

So, one year later we are home and the feeling is good. Ben and I are as happy as we can be right now. We have each other and we have love. I love Ben and he loves me...

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

Love endures all things...

"{may 2011}


{april 2012}


**prayers again please. just 1.5 weeks after bens grandpa passed away his grandma went home to be with Jesus last night. when you have been married that long and so in love i am sure her heart missed him. please be praying for ben and his family during this difficult time of losing both amazing people.**

randomy random part ???...

Hmmm, not much to open with on this one so I will just let the photos and brief descriotions speak for themselves!

Ben was on the treadmill at the gym while I was working out and when I told him I was checking him out the whole time he gave me this smirk...


Well, my sis and lil bro girlfriend took me on my first 5 mile run outside! It has been awhile since I have ran outside but since we are running in a 5 miler (ok they are trying to get me to say yes to the half...) the end of May I needed to get outside! It went well but somewhere between then and 2 days later my foot has been out of wack. I rested it for about a week and last week tried it out again. I can spin until I am blue in the face but cannot run that long! :( Hopefully getting it checked this week...uhg! In spite of that I decided that I needed some new running shoes and after Ben's blessing I have some on their way!



Ben has been doing more chores...


The day before Easter my lil bro came over to help Ben and I clean up the front yard! Holy batman all day workage! We started at 9am, my lil bro had to leave for work at 1230 and Ben and I came inside at 330! All this time was spent in the front yard and most of it was clean up from that snow.ice.flood storm! I really didn't think that it would take that long! We had 11 bags of leaves and two truck loads of branches to burn! I wish I had before and after photos because it looks so much better! Yup, and I got stuck in the back seat while the boys took the front...







Ben was pooped after his therapy session and he opted to just lay on his tummy for a nap...


One day this last week I was out of it...i just sat for like a whole two minutes...


Spring in our backyard...


Last Tuesday we took Diesel to a trainer for 3 weeks...yes he is going to be gone that long and we already miss him! On the way there he decided to jump out the back of the truck while I was going like 55 mph! I saw the whole thing and my heart was beating for a few good days! He has never done this before and has been on several rides. He regretted that jump. I put him in the cab part in the back of the truck and the next thing I knew he was on Ben's lap and then mine. He settled on mine and tucked his head under my arm. Needless to say when we showed up at the trainers there was blood and mud all over the truck and us. We looked like a hot mess! Diesel is fine, we did a full exam on him. He came out with a few scrapes on his legs. Ben has been wanting to call and see how he is doing but were going to put it off for a few days. This patch we cannot get out of the seats...i will try again soon!


We both started on this nasty, dirt tasting fiber...


New recipe! Balsamic roasted veggies and chicken. Lil vinegary but good...


getting my sweat on the spin bike...


Beautiful sunset the other night...


Sometimes how I feel...


Maybe you would like to memorize this verse with Ben. It is one of his new speech assignments...
"But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."


***Please be praying for Ben and his family. His grandpa passed away last Tuesday morning and they will be having a memorial tomorrow. We were not able to go but will be going down to meet up with the rest of his family in July to spend some time together.

easter...

This is what we thought of and are grateful for today...

He Lives...
I serve a risen Saviour; He's in the world today.
I know that He is living, whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him He's always near.

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary I never will despair.
I know that He is leading, thro' all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing will come at last.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian! Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.

"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth." Isa 53:3-9

We had a great day today! I love Easter sunday...just alot of memories! Any of you get put in matching dresses with your sisters with straw hats! Ha, oh those were the days! Ones I will never forget though!

Our morning started out getting up early to go to church. After church we ran to Starbucks for a lil boost after getting up early for church and then we took off to my parents house. Can I say that it was a beautiful day! We reached 70! It felt so good to be outside and enjoy the sunshine! We found a few big kid eggs and then hung out a bit before we ate some yummy food. Photos were a must so we had some fun with that...







I had a few golf lessons and hit some balls into the lake! The first photo should explain how much of a golfer I am not! Ha, more lessons to come if this girl ever wanted to go pro...






My parents have a swing in their back yard and Ben and I sat on that for a bit and swang away. It was so peaceful...





I just wanted to share where we were the past two Easters since the accident and show you just how far Ben has come and how God continues to heal him...

April 2010 in California...


April 2011 at the hospital in WA but just back from NJ 3 days before...


and smiles for being home and able to attend Easter service and family fun...


**Please be praying for Ben's family as his grandpa is close to going to heaven. This has been a rough year for us in sickness and death for our families. We will keep you posted on his grandpa...we may be heading down to Cali soon.