Laughter is such good medicine...music so healing.

If there is one thing our family is known for, it's the ability to laugh!  We laugh when no one knows why we are laughing, we laugh when it probably inappropriate, we laugh till we cry sometimes and our Mom has been know to laugh (uncontrollably) in CHURCH!  We keep praying for her! *winks* 
This week was one of those weeks, we spent time together at the centre laughing hysterically and then our brother Glen showed up and we were slayed!  I'm pretty sure the moment we reach that point is the moment Mike wonders how he ever got himself into this mess...but then we just laugh at him!

One of those Hysterical moments

Devoted Mommy & Daddy

Just missing our big brother Robbie

We love to laugh!  I am reminded that the week of Sandra's accident one of the nurses named Rachel (not assigned to Sandra) came into her room one day to thank her for the light that was coming from Sandra's room and she shared a verse with us, "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."~ Job 8:21
This promise has been been proven to be true many times for us through this process.  We have been given the gift of laughter to lift our spirits and sooth our wounds and help us keep a clear perspective. I believe that our family was blessed with the ability to laugh together for this reason.
Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
This reminds me that we still have a choice in all this.  My sister and her husband have clearly chosen joy and its infectious.  There is joy in this journey and hope for the future.  We are praying unceasingly that God will make Sandra walk again...and nothing else!  A dear, wise friend reminded us that we must cry out to God for our hearts desire...not doublemindedly either.  So we are praying BELIEVING and ask you to do so with us.
We as a family had the privilege of attending the Johnson Family Concert last night at the Gladstone Theatre.  This was Sandra's second major outing but the first one without her neck brace.  She informed me when it was off that she has the most beautiful neck and she is right!  Never seen one more beautiful!  The Johnson family if you don't know them, is one of the most ridiculously talented families ever!  They have a beautiful way of sharing their God-given talents mixed in with sweet humour...so we laughed some more and sang along. "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” ~ Psalms 126:2 
I have been camping in the Proverbs these days and amazed by the nuggets we can uncover for each stage of our lives each time we re-read God's word!
So as we head into this long weekend and celebrate our freedom in this Nation may we remember to celbrate the freedom we have to choose Joy in the journey as we live out this blip on the time-line of eternity...looking forward to continued Grace from God's hand and seeing my Buddy walk again! 

Believing...
Carla

Great night

Last night we (all 4 of us) made it out to the Gladstone to see the Johnson family in concert. Had a wonderful time and again nice to get out and enjoy some time with family and friends. Some things are still a learning curve. I found a place to park on the road but when It was time to get sandra out the curb was in the way. As I have learned to biggest advantage of a handicap spot is the width of the spot. Before this journey I assumed everyone with a spinal cord injury had no feeling in their legs, this is not the case. Sandra like others has some sensations in her legs, it is changing maybe not daily but certainly every 4-5 days. We are praying that the changes continue and at some point they lead to voluntary movement not reflex etc... I continue to do her range of motions so she doesn't stiffen up and her body will to walk when her spine is ready. We are off to the cottage for the weekend to enjoy Canada day. Continue to pray for healing, what our next rehab options are, Sandra to get into the drivers hand control course so she can drive, Most likely minimal blogs over the weekend, everyone have a great weekend Mike

Sandra has a good neck

Just minutes ago Sandra was allowed to take off her C-collar for her neck. Wow what freedom she now has. It will be off and on as her neck gains strength. She is very happy and appears to have good movement,and it isn't stiff.
Mike

we are back, waiting for results

Well the x-ray is complete, just waiting on the Dr to read it. It is amazing how timing has all worked. I was supposed to be at work this morning but things came up and I had to be there tonight. So I was able to come this morning and be with Sandra for her x-ray. He is in control !!!
Mike

Good Day but frustrating

Sandra had a good day yesterday, her swelling in her legs and abdomen are going down and she is feeling less bloated. The body continues to amaze me, at the scene of the accident I noticed the swelling  starting and it was just protecting her organs now that she is stable the body knows to let the swelling reduce. This is more proof that their has to be a creator and it would be impossible for us to evolve to this complex being. The spinal cord is about the size of your pinky finger. It is amazing the information that travels up and down it. One Doctor I spoke to said the brain and the spinal cord "freak him out" because of the complexity and that we only know a small portion of what is going on in there.
Yesterday Sandra was to have an x-ray to hopefully get clearance to remove her neck brace. We were told 4-6 weeks and it was 6 weeks on Sunday. Unfortunatally the X-ray was only ordered yesterday so we have to wait for an opening, not sure on how long this will take but we are praying for a quick turnaround as she is tired of it. Wow God answers because I have to go she is on her was for an X-ray see ya Mike

Great graduation and party

We had a great time at Julia's grad, plus had her class come up to the cottage after. Thanks to my mom and dad, and others for making this happen. I think her class had a great time, the weather was perfect. Sandra was able to attend both for which we are thankful. It has been difficult for her to have things done for her as this is not her nature, she is typically the doer. The simple things we do everyday are proofing to be difficult and very time consuming, however we are both learning new "systems" to make life easier. Tomorrow Sandra has an x-ray scheduled for her neck to see how it is healing. She has been wearing the neck brace 24/7 since the accident and has just about had enough of it. Once the neck brace comes off her shoulder can properly be evaluated. Please pray for the doctors wisdom and that Sandra can get the neck brace off. Mike

Yahoo summer is here

Kids done school today, and I don't have to make a lunch they don't want to eat until September!!!
Mike