PICTURE: Thank you everyone who wished my husband a happy birthday! His brother decided to be funny and brought him a balloon bouquet all with pink Disney princess birthday images all over them lol  Everyone had a good laugh.

Joshua is still in an in-patient rehab facility, but he's coming home this week! I will post an update when he does. We miss him so much and it will be SO GOOD to have him home again.

His nausea has gotten more under control, but he still isn't eating a lot which is mainly due to the abdominal surgery he had to save his life. The digestive system was basically reconfigured and it's taking time to adjust. Looking forward to getting him home so he can have REAL food because, let's face it, hospital food isn't the best.

Due to his paralysis, he is basically having to relearn how to balance, sit, reach for things, etc. This is all part of his therapy. But each day he gets a bit stronger and more confident in his movements.

While I can't thank everyone enough for your donations of money, time, and food, the one thing we need more than anything is PRAYER.

Joshua has a LONG journey ahead of him. His official medical diagnosis for his paralysis is an ASIA-A which means full paralysis (for him it is from his waist down) with very little chance of ever walking again. His neurosurgeons have no plans for any type of surgery.

I still am clinging to faith that God is going to completely heal him and that he will walk again - all for God's glory. Within the first few days of the shooting, I was at a crossroads where I felt pulled to step out in faith and make a decision - believe that God would heal him or not. And I chose to believe God will heal him completely. Because He can. Because God will receive all the glory. And I am unable to let that go.

Specifically here is what we ask you pray for:
1) Complete healing of Joshua's paralysis.

2) His broken bones to heal. Bullets broke the T12 vertebrae and fractured his sacrum and S1. Because these bones need to heal, he is on major weight bearing and weight lifting restrictions. This limits his rehabilitation. Even if he was feeling his legs completely, he wouldn't be allowed to walk with these restrictions. When all restrictions are lifted, we plan on sending him back to in-patient rehab.

3) His pain. Joshua is in constant pain. So much that it affects his sleep and is very physically draining. Bullets didn't just cause his spinal injury but also broke bones, damaged tissue, and damaged nerves. The doctors are doing their best to get his pain under control, but it's still a lot. Please pray for pain relief and that this amount of pain is not permanent.

4) We are trying to get second opinions, but this has proven difficult. Other neurosurgeons want an MRI, but his neurosurgeon is not wanting to do that due to bullets inside of him. We have to somehow prove the bullets inside of him are not magnetic, therefore, not dangerous in an MRI. We pray for wisdom and guidance in this area.

5) A van that will fit the entire family (big feat) plus the modifications we need so we can transport Joshua. Also, just the finances in general to pay for all the things we know we have to pay for and all the things we don't even know are coming up.

6) Our family. The separation has been the hardest for us. We are always together and we have never been apart like this before. Please pray for us as we embark on this major adjustment to our lives. I have no idea what the future holds for us, but I am looking forward to having the whole family back together again or, as my mother always put it, "having her chicks all back in the nest." As a homemaker, not having everyone safe at HOME as been very hard.

7) The investigation. On top of my husband being shot multiple times and having to navigate all of that, we also have to navigate the investigative side as well. Thankfully, the man who shot my husband has remained in jail and will remain with no bond. But there are many unknowns about the future. I 100% believe my family is not safe if he gets out. Please pray for the investigators, prosecutor, etc. and us during this time. Specifically for wisdom and guidance as we also navigate this case. I also pray that justice will be served and that the Lord will keep my family safe.

For all of those who have donated - THANK YOU.

For all of those who have brought us food - THANK YOU.

To all of the people who have had a hand in watching my children, keeping them safe, taking care of them - y'all are angels. May the Lord bless you beyond anything because I could not do this without y'all.

And for all of you who have prayed and are still praying - THANK YOU. More than anything I covet your prayers. I know we serve a God who listens to His children.

May the Lord continue to receive honor and glory through this entire situation. I thank Him every day for the grace, mercy, and strength He has given both to me and Joshua to get through each and every day. Great is His faithfulness.

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 
- Lamentations 3: 22 - 23 KJV