Encouragement to all...

One of my brothers received this word from the Lord for all of us and I thought that I would pass it along! Be encouraged by it, I know that I was!!

The Lord gave me this a few days ago and ever since I have received considerable peace and want to offer it you for consideration. I believe this word will allow you along with everyone that has been praying for Ben a greater sense of personal connection and also an avenue of how God has used every prayer warrior the opportunity to be a vessel for countless miracles in Ben.
The Lord showed me that each time a person prays for Ben a miracle has taken place. What the Lord showed me was with each prayer a new connection point was being formed in Ben’s mind (brain). When the accident happened countless connection points were disturbed or disconnected. Now when a person prays for Ben a connection point is restored, thus the miracle. I believe that there have been thousands of connection points restored with all of the prayers from around the world. So my encouragement for everyone is to not be discouraged or feel like your prayers are not significant. Each and every prayer is producing a miracle and is restoring a new connection point in Ben’s brain. Each person that pray’s, plays a part of the miracle of Ben’s recovery. We don’t know how many more connection points need to be restored, but that is not our issue. Our responsibility is to pray when the Lord puts Ben on our mind and when we pray, take time to thank the Lord for the opportunity to be a part of another miracle in Ben’s life.
So to you Katie and others. Stay strong, stay confident, be unmovable, because each person’s prayer is valuable, effective, and life changing!

Midweek update...

"And the arms that hold the universe are holding you tonight
You can rest inside it’s gonna be alright!
And the voice that calmed the raging sea is calling you His child
So be still and know He’s in control He will never let you go."

These are some words that I have been clinging to this past week! I have been blasting this song in Ben's big truck!! It has fed my soul and spirit and brought me peace!

I got up here to see Ben yesterday (Tues) and had a good afternoon/evening with him. I had a romantic dinner of Chick-Fil-A and was loathing for some chocolate but had none! Ben was a little drowsy because they have been switching and changing up his medications. They took some away, added one and boosted the dose of another...all of this makes it very confusing on his body! Our anniversary night was definitley memorable! I snuggled up in his bed beside him and read the Bible over him and then watched the Biggest Loser. He fell asleep by 8pm! I have a great photo that I will treasure always! (sorry not posting photos of Ben to protect his privacy) It was a restful night and it felt good to be close to him!

Today he had a much better day. His speech therapist asked me to have Ben do 10 things (close your eyes, stick out your tongue, show me one finger and so on.) She wanted him to get 8/10. Ben did awesome and got 7/10!!! That is 20% better then what he had been doing a few days before! Ben's dad was here for the day so he got to see all of Ben's accomplishments and that made him happy!

Prayer points:
1. Doing things within 10 seconds with 80% accuracy
2. Body strength...holding torso, moving all extremities
3. Head alignment...he tends to push his head forward but they need him to hold it back.
4. My therapy for my arm starts Friday...it is alot less painful but pray that things start loosening up and my bones heal up as I twist and move them.
5. 100% healing for both of us!
6. That people would be drawn to Jesus for the first time or get closer through Ben's testimony!

PS...There were some trick-or-treaters that came by tonight but they were passing out candy!! I GOT ME SOME CHOCOLATE!! :)

To the one that I love...

Two years ago I married the man of my dreams! Two years ago Jesus joined us as one and we took vows that would go with us until the Lord took us to heaven.
I can still remember the day that I met Ben! I got all gussied up to meet this man that I knew little about but of course I had to look my best. The first glimpse of him I thought to myself....he is cute! He had this boyish grin on his face and was so gentle in his words and actions. As I "ran" into him over the next few weeks I was drawn to his kindness, gentleness, love for the outdoors, HIS LOOKS and the way that he treated me. He was then taken from me to deploy so the next 4 months we communicated by e-mail and phone calls. With each call and e-mail I fell more and more in love with him. He then returned and I was able to tell him that I loved him with all my heart! A few months later we were engaged and then again he was deployed. During this deployment we were able to know each other even more spiritually and emotionally. God brought us so close in these times of separation. Two weeks before our wedding Ben came home! He arrived at 1am at my doorstep and I was so excited to see him!
Our wedding day was everything we both could dream of and desire! He looked handsome in his tux and he was able to lead me through that day with a calmness that I loved.
Since that wedding day life has been amazing! We have had our separations (due to schools), hardships, laughing moments, passion, learning moments and now today tragic moments. I would not trade it for anything because Ben is my husband and my man! God has put in my life a man who knows how to have fun, bring on the adventure, love his wife unconditionally, spiritually lead our familiy, humbly give his life for our country, and live his life for his Jesus.
Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve such a man as my Ben but Jesus tells me I do deserve him and that I have been faithful to the Lord and He wants to give me the desires of my heart!
In spite of these last few months and all that has taken place I still know in my heart that God brought Ben and I together for a reason. He didn't just bring us together for 2 years to have Ben end up in a bed. Jesus has plans for us and wants to use Ben to reach out to those young men that Jesus puts in his path. Just like we said in sickness and in health...this is a time of sickness for us. It hurts my heart and tears me apart to see my Ben how he is, trapped in his own body, but through it all I have grown to love him. He works hard everyday to bring his body out and I know he is doing it for me. Ben is trying so hard! God is working on his body both in a spiritual sense and physical sense!
Where some people in life would choose to walk away from their loved one in sickness because it is hard and maybe to much to handle I CHOOSE to stand by Ben and love him because Jesus gave him to me! I don't walk in front of him or behind him but I walk right beside Ben! Yes, it is hard and sometimes I just want to throw in the towel but I know that I can run to Jesus and lean on Him! Jesus holds Ben and I in his hands and is on this journey with us.
So, Ben you are the love of my life! You are in my heart always. You are a wonderful husband who puts your needs aside and serves me. You have a very humble heart and you amaze me with your strength and honor! I will never stop loving you and know that I am falling in love with you more and more each day!
Happy Anniversary to you my husband, love and best friend!
I love you my Benny Boo Boo Boo.....to those of you who know Ben as this!

I will PRAISE You in this storm....

I was sure by now, God, that You would have reached down and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say amen and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.
Chorus: And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried You hold in your hand You never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm!
....this is part of a song that has been going through my head this week. I wrote in my journal, "when is it going to end? When will I get Ben back?" Sometimes I don't know how long I can go on. I ask why won't Jesus take this away? I know that He can just touch Ben and heal him so why does He not do it? In these times just like the song says I can barely hear Him whisper through the rain, "I am with you!" It may be weak but I can hear it! As soon as I put my doubts and fears to the side and allow Jesus to love on me I can hear it loud and clear...I AM WITH YOU! Oh how He loves me!
Of course Jesus is faithful to answer my question...when are you going to bring back to me by Him taking steps in Ben's healing this week!
Some of the things Ben did/accomplish...
~ Like I mentioned in the last update Ben's trach is out and he has had no respiratory issues since!
~ He played catch with Mary and I for a long time...he was consistant with it.
~ When I asked Ben if he wanted a blanket Ben mouthed NO with a lil air/voice with it
~ After I wrote a letter on a piece of paper Ben wrote it too...of course it was my name that I had him write!
~ Ben got his last cast off!
~ He stood up with the Physical therapist....she supported him quite a bit but he stretched out his back, lifted his head and stood tall!
~ Ben had 2 really good last few days with the speech therapist! She was really happy with what she saw and that he was finally showing off to her and not just the other therapists.
~ He was put on a pedal machine that stimulates his muscles in his legs and he was pedaling 10-15% on his own and his Physical therapists said that is the BEST she has ever seen any patient do it on that level of injury. Ben went steady for 30 min and he had concentration and determination on his face!

He has been twitching a bit in his head and right arm so they did an EEG and found that he had slight seizure activity. The doctor said this is not uncommon for patients to get that are on the neuro stimulant drugs. They don't want to lower his stimulant drugs to decrease what he is doing but they cannot allow the seizure activity. They put him on a small dose of seizure medication and took an MRI but the results of the MRI are not in yet.

He has a new goal date of Nov 18! In one of my last blogs I put that he needs to do things in 10 sec with 80% accuracy. He needs to accomplish these things by then if not before to get in the big 6 wk rehab program! He is well on his way but he has a long way to go! I am so proud of what he has done! Ben is an amazing strong man who loves his Jesus! Jesus knows what He is doing in Ben's body and brain. Jesus is taking his time with Ben to show him that He is in control and that He is going to heal him but it takes time for the brain to heal!

Prayer requests:
1. Put Nov. 18th in your mind...pray over the time before that date that Ben will get to where he needs to be!
2. Pray the seizures will be GONE in Jesus name and that they will not get in the way of what Ben needs to do!
3. That Ben will continue to be consistant in what he is doing...within 10 sec and with 80% accuracy!
4. Torso strength so that he can do more physical things that would need his torso
5. Strength, patience, love, peace, security....from my Jesus to me while I am on this journey without Ben.

Love you all and thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers and support!!

Just a quick one....

Just going to write a quick few words and then I will get another one out hopefully by tomorrow! He is sleeping now so I can get a lil one in!
Ben is doing well. A HUGE praise report is that he is TRACH FREE!! He got his trach out Tuesday after I kept asking to see when they were going to take it out! Finally it came out! I got to take him outside for the first time in 7 weeks! We went into a garden area that sits by the road. He was looking all around and watching the cars pass by. I am sure it felt good to him to get a good breath of fresh air!
I will be back soon to write a longer update on what Ben has done this week as soon as I can! Pray for me....I will be driving back home today (by myself) from Atlanta! I am confident I will be fine but it will be boring!
Please continue to pray for him and his 100% healing! I am believing for it!

Oh the smell...

As I sit and type this out I am soaking in the aroma of homemade chocolate chip cookies coming from my kitchen! Yes folks my sister Mary is hear and I ordered her to make me some! No way was she going to leave my house without whipping some up! I had tried many times to make grand, chewy soft c.chip cookies but to no avail! Awwww, I have just tasted one! So good...melting in my mouth!
Another mini update on Ben! It was a short few days with him due to my own doctors appointments and needing to get back home to take care of things here. I will try not to repeat myself from the last blog!

A few things that Ben did on Thurs and Fri was that they put his right arm in a sling type hoist to lift his arm up so that he could move it more easily. He was able to follow some commands, comb his hair and when asked to grab a pen. Right when he grabbed the pen he automatically found the clicker at the end of the pen and continually pushed it to open and close it! No one had to help him with that pen! If I had a piece of paper at the time I would have put it in front of him and seen if he would jot anything down! I guess it will be homework for both of this next week! He also got his cast changed on his right foot which will hopefully be his last one! Before they put his new cast on the put him on his stomach for "tummy time." This helps him to relax his back, shoulders and arms and force his strong muscles to relax. He was able to show off his A,E,I,O,U mouthing abilities that we had been working on to his speech therapist and she was very happy with what he did. Then she had Ben show off to me some of the things that she and Ben had been working on! We had quite the competition going on and it was fun!
I had a meeting with his therapists on Thursday and here are a few things that they would like to see in Ben in the next few weeks:

1. Consistancy in commands 85% of the time

2. Yes/No questions answered within 10 sec with 80% accuracy

3. One step commands (ex. Ben, pick up the brush, Ben raise your right arm) within 10 seconds with 80% accuracy

4. Distinguish between 3 functional objects and use them (brush, toothbrush, razor, pencil, etc.) Needs 80% accuracy

5. Assessing to see if he can tolerate 3 hours of intense therapy a day.

(he is about 50% in all of these things right now.....he is so close!!)

These are for sure prayer requests and things that will help his therapists and doctors evaluate his progress and what to do next! He is on the right path but don't want him to get stuck in a certain spot....need him to continue moving forward like he has been!

A few more prayer requests....
~ He would get more function in his body. His torso is weak and they want him to start supporting himself more. His right side is stronger then his left so pray that his left side will catch up!

~ Talking!! He is mouthing some things minimally but not to where it can be clearly understood or heard.

~My broken arm! It is still stiff and sore...it is slowly loosening up.

~ 100% HEALING for Ben! We are trusting our healer Jesus for that!!

PRAISE REPORT....hopefully taking place tomorrow! Hopefully tomorrow Ben will be trach free!! They should be taking it out and stitching up his opening!! After this takes place I can take him outside! He has not been outside (besides being transfered) in almost 8 weeks! Ben is an outdoors person so I am sure that getting a breath of fresh air will do him some good!!

We head back up tomorrow and will be staying until Friday so I should be blogging some good things! Please continue to pray for Ben! Your prayers are working and it is so amzing to see Jesus working miracles right in front of me!!

Quick update...

Hi Ya'll!
Just a quick update for you while Ben is taking a snooze! I made it back to Atlanta with the help of two guys from Ben's work driving me up! They are a blessing! This is my first time to type with two hands (barely) since getting my cast off yesterday!! It is stiff and sore but I will take it because now I get to shower without it and do my hair!! Whoohoo! I also get to wear my wedding ring which has been off for 7 weeks! Now comes the pain that comes with Occupational therapy!
When I got here Ben was in the rehab room and they were finishing up with him and that therapy. We took him back to his room for a bit where we visited with him and he shook hands with the guys. He then went back to the rehab room for PT and they put him in a bike type pushing machine. They showed him how to do it and he was a bit slow at first. Ben started doing it slowly on his own. His face showed alot of frustation as he tried to push and pull the machine as hard as he could. He did his best and that is what they look for! He was trying so hard but his body wasn't following his brain and that made it a bit tough on him! I am so proud of what he did do and his attempt!
I again brought Ben back to his room and gave him a shave! He did a bit himself and then when I tried to help him he pushed my hand away and tried again! I did have to bribe him with kisses to allow me to help him!! After that I worked on vowel sounds with him...saying them. He was not able to voice them but he mouthed them for me several times!! I then tried to get him to say my name...he moved his lips so I will give him credit! We played another game of thumb wrestling and I think he let me win one time because all the rest he put up a fight! I told him that I love him very much (like I always do) and he puckered his lips for a kiss...I didn't even have to ask him for one!! For now I will take it as him saying he loves me back!!
Good news...this is his first official day of having his trach buttoned!! This means they took out the tubing from his throat, the straps that held it there and put in a button/plug type device! If he tolerates this for about a week or longer then they will be closing up his trach opening!!
I will post more as the week comes to an end but wanted to give you a quick update on what I have seen just today!!

Prayer requests:
1. Alot from last blog posting! He needs to talk or show some type of yes/no responses!!
2. Hi body will be strengthened...hold his head correctly, more use of both sides of body but mainly his left, ability to use his torso and arm strengthing!
3. He will tolerate the button to remove the trach!
4. Healing for my arm!
5. Complete healing for both of us!

I am still BELIEVING, HOPING and TRUSTING Jesus for 100% healing in Ben! He is up to something good and excited I can be apart of it and also have yall to share it with!
Please pray, pray, pray and pray hard! He needs some more good weeks! I thank Jesus in advance for them!!

Love you all!!

(You try eating a burrito with a massive cast!!)

(cast is off!!)