Prayer / Update: Sept. 2014

Dear Family & Friends,

Greetings! What a GORGEOUS SEPTEMBER! Every day - A GIFT FROM GOD!

We celebrate and give thanks to God for the joys of our home - simply being together in our home is a continued blessing.

Tim & Work

We give thanks to God that Tim has been able to return to his job as a machine salesman at Quality Machine & Automation in Holland. This is where he was working before the accident, and we are amazed to report that he has been working there at full-time status since June 1. We are grateful for Tim's employer, for Tim's co-workers, who picked up Tim's duties when he was unable to work, and who are patient as Tim continues to heal. 





Tim & Farming

Although chores take longer for Tim to accomplish, we give thanks to God that Tim is able to do chores daily, and the help of especially our older boys, Caleb and Joel. Here is a picture of the boys between gate-change manure duties... (Joel - left - 5th grade; Caleb - right - 7th grade).

 

 

Saturday, Sept. 6 - butchered 6 steer

Grinding feed and spreading manure took place in Sept., as these "bigger" chores take place every month.

Saturday., Sept. 20, was the first time that Tim spread manure since the accident. He spread manure in our front field at home, which is not the field where Tim was hurt. Although Tim has been around the equipment many times since the accident, this was the first time he spread manure with the equipment.  We give thanks to God for bringing Tim this far, and we trust God Almighty to continue to provide strength as we move forward.

Upcoming:

Saturday, Oct. 4 - Butcher 6 steer

Spreading manure, grinding feed & harvesting are all coming up as well.




Tim & Doctors/Medical

Tim met with all 3 surgeons this month: Dr. Do (reconstructive), Dr. Ringler (orthopedic), and Dr. Anderson (foot and ankle).

We give thanks to God that this month, Dr. Anderson, foot and ankle, discharged Tim from his care.

Tim's pain is under control. Although Tim lives with pain, we give thanks to God that Lyrica (nerve-pain med) helps control the nerve pain. Before, the vibrations from people simply walking near Tim would send him through the roof screaming. Tim is able to sleep well at night, and we give thanks to God that he is able to rest.

Dr. Ringler has ordered for Tim to be fitted for an AFO (Ankle/Foot Orthosis) brace-type-device to help support Tim's strides, to prevent drop-foot, and to perhaps help Tim walk at a more stable/quicker pace than what he is currently walking. The fitting will occur in October.

Tim continues to wear the compression stocking. It is custom-fit to his flap/leg to provide support, to promote circulation, and to prevent swelling in his lower left leg, ankle & foot. Tim will continue to wear this stocking for the long-term.

When doing chores, Tim wears his leg brace to provide additional stability as he works on unstable surfaces such as ladders, steps up and down tractors, and in manure. He has tried to wear his farm boot on the injured leg, but the leg/ankle/foot ended up swelling to the point that the boot became stuck on his leg. It took a few of us to wrestle if off his leg without having to cut the boot off.

I continue to monitor Tim's leg, ankle and foot as it heals. Because Tim does not have full motion/control of his foot/ankle, I clean between his toes, making sure skin is healthy and dry. The skin graft over the free flap on Tim's leg and ankle continues to heal, so we make sure it also stays in good condition. The harvest site of the skin graft is healing well, and Tim's head wound is closed and the skin is healing well.

We give thanks to God that Tim remains infection-free.



Tim & Public Speaking

Friday, Oct. 3 - Tim speaks @ South Olive Christian School Chapel (10:50 am)

Thursday, Oct. 16 - Tim speaks @ Hudsonville Christian Midde School Chapel (7:55 am)

Saturday, Nov. 9 - Tim speaks @ Fellowship Reformed @ 8 am.

Wednesday, Dec. 3 - Tim speaks @ MOB Night (Overisel Old Township Hall)





Other...

The other day, we saw one of Tim's several ambucab drivers in a Holland grocery store. The last time we saw her was when she drove Tim to and from a doc appt. while Tim was a patient at Mary Free Bed. Then, Tim was in a wheelchair. The hydraulics on the ambucab, which helped lift and lower Tim's chair, were very slow due to the cold temps. I remember the wheels of the ambucab spinning over the icy, hilly GR roads. Tim didn't recognize her, but she recognized us, and I recognized her. We give thanks to God for reuniting us with those who have helped us. What a blessing to experience God's faithfulness...all Glory to Him!
We are grateful to God for providing a job for me this spring and summer at The Spot in Borculo. It will soon close for the winter season, but it reopens in the spring.

I give thanks to be able to continue to work at The City Deli, on 8th St. downtown Holland. It is crazy fun!

I am also grateful to be able to lead Body & Soul Fitness Cardio Strength & Flexibility classes at local churches.

Mostly, I deeply cherish time at home with Tim and our children.

As the one-year date (Dec. 7) approaches, we continue to claim God's promises and give Him glory. He is Faithful Redeemer, Healer, Provider.

We give thanks to God for for your continued love, prayers & support!

With Our Love & Prayers,

Tim and Teresa

Psalm 116

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“Lord, save me!”

The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the unwary;
when I was brought low, he saved me.

Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.

For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

I trusted in the Lord when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”;
in my alarm I said,
“Everyone is a liar.”

What shall I return to the Lord
for all his goodness to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants.
Truly I am your servant, Lord;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,

in the courts of the house of the Lord—
in your midst, Jerusalem.

 

Praise the Lord.