(Picture: Our new van!!! )

I know I have been HORRIBLE at providing updates, so buckle up, Buttercup, because I have a ton of updates for y'all!

1) As pictured, many thanks to y'all we have a new van AND we now have the adaptive equipment we need to get Joshua in the van. This is such a huge blessing to us to be able to transport him ourselves as well as the entire family.

Our first outing was going to the flea market! He was so happy to be going somewhere other than doctor appointments.

This past Sunday we were able to attend a local church we visit for the very first time since Joshua was shot and it was WONDERFUL to see everyone.  (Mt. Nebo family, we love y'all and are so grateful for the love and generosity y'all have shown us these past many months)! We also have been able to attend a bible study we haven't been able to go to since this all happened and it was wonderful seeing everyone there too! 

I cannot thank all of y'all for your prayers and donations to reach this goal!

2) We have been blown away by God's provision throughout this entire ordeal. Again, thanks to so many of y'alls generosity Joshua has some needed equipment here at home for his rehab. This includes a standing frame that allows him to stand up. This is needed to make sure his bones don't get brittle and to help his circulation.

We also now have an FES bike as well. This is a machine that straps electric pads to certain muscles in his legs and then we strap his feet into bike pedals. The bike pedals for him while electrically stimulating his leg muscles. This helps his muscle tone but, hopefully, maybe it'll help him regain movement as well. It's also great exercise to help his heart and circulation.

4-5 days out of the week, Joshua spends time in his standing frame, lifts weights to help strengthen his upper body, and uses his FES bike. Not only does this give him something productive to do, but this is much needed physical therapy that some people have to wait a few years to get!

Praise the Lord for His goodness!

Those are the updates, now for the prayer requests!

1) Joshua is in chronic pain every single day. He does his best to push through it, but he still cannot fully ignore the constant pain and some days are just plain bad. Please pray the Lord will ease His pain and also to give us wisdom regarding the best way to help him. 

2) Speaking of pain, Joshua will be having an upcoming surgery to remove one of the bullets that we have confirmed is part of what's causing his pain. This isn't a high risk surgery, BUT removing bullets can be difficult. Please pray there are no complications from surgery and that his surgeon is able to remove the bullet as easily as possible. 

We're also trying to see if we can have the other 2 bullets removed as well, but his surgeon isn't interested in doing that. So we'll see what happens. 

3) After his surgery and recovery, Joshua will be starting his outpatient rehab. This is twice a week and where we have to go is about an hour away. Please pray that everything goes well with his rehab!

4) Please pray for the investigation. Joshua has been scheduled for depositions in September. Please pray that God gives him the words to say and to just be with him as he will have to recount the entire ordeal of being shot multiple times and all the trauma that has resulted from that. 

5) As always, I still ask for prayer that Joshua will walk again. Doctors have basically said it's not going to happen, but who knows what the future holds and I know we serve a God who is the Healer! 

Again - we thank y'all SO MUCH for all of your generosity, kindness, and, of course, your prayers. Joshua and I both have been so humbled for all the people who have reached out to us, prayed for us, brought us food, watched our kids, and coming before the throne of God asking for a miracle every single day. 

We love y'all!