Prayer / Update: July 2014

"First you take it minute by minute. Then hour by hour. Then day by day. Then week by week. Then month by month. Then quarter by quarter. Then year by year." - Dr. Ringler.

 

We give thanks to continue to live life, day by day, in the love and grace of God.

 

We will continue to post monthly. Thank you for your faithful prayers and support!

 

 

Tim's Favorite Hymn

 

"When Peace Like a River"

 

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought—
My sin—not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
 

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
 

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so—it is well with my soul.

 

Tim's Doc Appointments

Tim met with Dr. Ringler, trauma and orthopedic surgeon, and with Dr. Do, reconstructive surgeon, this month. Both surgeons are pleased with Tim's progress thus far.

Tim is weaned off all narcotics. Open wounds are almost completely healed.

Tim's meets with Dr. Anderson, foot and ankle surgeon, and Dr. Ringler in September. 

Tim meets with Dr. Do in October. 


Tim's Outpatient Physical Therapy

We give thanks to God that Tim completed outpatient physical therapy this month. He is to continue his stretching and other exercises at home, and he is to move as much as possible in day-to-day living in order to build strength, flexibility & endurance.


Tim's Life, Day to Day

We give thanks to God for providing returning strength daily for Tim. He is driving, and he is working at Quality Machine & Automation daily. Tim is also farming again, doing chores and other duties with help from many others, carefully & simply taking the time he needs. 

As you can understand, muscle does not grow back, so the muscle that was torn from Tim's leg in the accident will not return. Although Tim's lower left leg was reconstructed using soft tissue/abdominal muscle, this muscle does not reconnect leg muscle to ankle and foot. The connecting & healthy muscles that remain are doing their best to help the leg, ankle and foot function. In most situations, Tim gets around without a cane, wearing regular shoes. He wears his boot when doing any work outside, where there are uneven surfaces. 

Tim now walks the way the docs described he would...with a "peg leg" motion. You can imagine how this affects his knee, hip, back, etc. Stretching is imperative. This is all a part of our new normal. Daily, we give thanks to God that Tim is doing as well as he is, that he is alive and well here at home. We are living in a different reality than we were before. We are adjusting as we go, and we covet and thank you for your continued prayers.

The Farm

The time for baling of straw and hay has arrived. We give thanks to God for Cousin Keith Nienhuis and sons, Jacob, Lucas, Jaden & Josiah, for baling hay and straw; for Uncle Glenn for helping rake; for Brothers Brent & Doug Vander Zwaag; Friends Tom Zwagerman; Shane Headley & son Austin; Rob Overway & son Colton; Nolan Brinks; and Mitch & Matt Wynia for helping unload & stack bales.

We give thanks to God for Brother Brent Vander Zwaag, who once again helped Tim grind feed.

Upcoming farm duties, in addition to daily chores: unload corn, spread manure, brush hog the front field & prepare for reseeding of hay in the front field. Next butcher date is Sat., Aug. 9.

Fourth of July Weekend

Thursday, July 3: We give thanks to God that we were able to enjoy a Whitecaps game. After the game ended, we slowly made our way to the van. As the eager crowd hurried out of the park, we heard: "Don't run over the cripple!" and... "How did I get stuck walking behind THIS guy?" Makes you laugh, right?

Since our eldest's wheelchair experience, we are learning to better understand and empathize with others who live life hearing comments like this, and being treated differently by others. We give thanks to God for safety and His grace when we encounter situations like these.

Friday, July 4: We give thanks to God that our family was a part of The Graafschap Summer Celebration, a BEAUTIFUL event! THANK YOU to all who organized, volunteered and who participated in this special day!

Sunday, July 6: Tim gave testimony of God's faithfulness in his life at an outdoor evening worship service at Spring Grove Park, where several congregations gathered for an outdoor worship service.

In Other News

On Thursday, July 17, we welcomed a puppy, Willow, into our family. A German Short-Hair, she is an adorable addition to our family, and she will help Tim with pheasant hunting.

 

A representative from Spectrum Patient Family Advisory Council met with Tim and me in our home, and invited us to be a part of 2 councils, the trauma/orthopedic council and the continuing care council. Being a part of these councils helps improve the overall care that Spectrum provides to its patients. We are prayerfully considering this invitation and commitment.

We give thanks to God that our family members are currently castless.

On July 11, Tim and I celebrated our 16th anniversary. Throughout the day, these words rang in my heart: "This sweet 16th brought to you by God's Grace Alone."



We also celebrated our second son, Joel's, 11th birthday this month. A few days after his birthday, he got his cast off. We give thanks to God for providing healing. 

 

 

Family picture taken on our home farm  - June 2014 (left to right): Lilly - 9; Teresa - 38; Tim - 39; Joel - 10 (almost 11); Luke - 6; Caleb - 12

 

 

As for me, Teresa, I have several journals full of words that address the age-old question: "How are you doing, Teresa?"

 

Off the cuff, I give thanks to God that I am able to work at The Spot in Borculo, and will soon start working at the City Deli on 8th St. in Holland. I am truly honored to work at these places. I give thanks to God for who I work with, side by side. I pray that we radiate Christ's love to those we serve. Not only while at work, but throughout all of our life.

 

I give thanks to God that I am able to continue leading classes at Borculo CRC (Body and Soul Fitness Cardio Strength & Flexibility with Pilates, lately adding a splash of outdoor boot camp). This weekend, our Body & Soul Fitness instructors and choreographers are gathered from all corners of the earth, including our west MI girls, in Laurel, MD, to learn  Fall '14 routines. I do not believe that God was calling me to leave the nest this summer to join them, but I thank these dedicated ladies for every bit of support and prayer they continue to provide. I give thanks to God that I am able to remain current with my fitness certifications: Red Cross CPR/AED training & ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification/continuing education courses.

 

On a deeper level, as life goes on, I admit that I continue to "spin," living one day at a time. I hold fast to Jesus Christ. I trust God. I believe Him. He wil never let us go.  

 

Giving thanks to God for your continued prayers and support!

 

Continuing to give all glory & honor to God,

 

Tim & Teresa

 

 

But He said to me,

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

I Corinthians 12:9