August 7, 2012

What a difference a year can make!  I have spent the day reflecting on this past year.  There is really not much to say except God has been faithful to us.  He has answered our prayers.  Brittany continues her PT twice a week.  I would like to see her gain some more strength and balance, but she is doing great.

Brittany will be in her Senior Year. (Still has a little catching up to do didn't get as much accomplished this summer as we hoped, but I know she will do it).  Brianna will be starting High School.  Donald and Erika will be in the 6th grade.  This past week we got unexpected news that Don is going to be transferred to Soldotna, AK down on the Kenai Peninsula.  This has been another blow to the kids, but they are strong and will adjust (with some groaning and moaning).  I've told myself that after this past year moving doesn't really matter after what we have been through although the idea of moving again is a little overwhelming.  Don will move September 1st.  Right now the kids and I plan to stay in Fairbanks for the next year.  It will probably take some time to sell our house and we would like Brittany to finish her senior year here. 

The trial has been moved to November.  The reality is there may never be a trial and if there is it will probably drag out for awhile.  I am coming to terms with this and giving it to God because He is in control not me.

I have decided that as part of my healing and moving on I wont be blogging anymore.

Thank you for your prayers, love, and support over this past year and for continued prayers.

Love,
Jennifer

Its been 2 months since I've blogged anything.  First trouble logging in and then tonight I had written my blog hit a wrong button and gone!  Wondering if I should still blog?  It just seems like I should share more news about God's blessings.

We are so proud of Brittany, Brianna, Donald, and Erika.  They have all risen to the challenge and finished their school year March 18th with wonderful grades reflecting their hard work.  Brittany would say at least Brianna, Donald, and Erika have finished.  Brittany is taking 2 online classes, completing summer work for her fall AP art class, finishing her driving class, and studying to take the ACT and SAT tests.  She feels like she's been robbed a bit of her summer, but she is working diligently to finish all of this so she will be on track to graduate with her class.  She continues pt 2x's a week.

Erika continues to swim and is building endurance.

Brianna will travel next week to Anchorage for her first comp soccer tournament.  I thought I was going to have a pretty easy summer, but both Donald and Erika decided they want to play soccer.  (If you need to talk to us we'll be at the soccer fields)

Tomorrow the 6 of us are going to drive down to Healy (accident site).  I hope this can be one more part of the healing and moving on process.  Like the expression of getting back in the saddle we have to be able to get back on the Parks Hwy!  We will have some reflection on the past year and thanksgiving for all our heavenly father has and continues to bless us with.

I thank you again for all the prayers and love bestowed upon us over the past 9 months.  I'm not really going to say much, but there will be a trial in August regarding the accident.  Please pray for all involved.  My prayer is that God will provide healing and understanding.

Jennifer

Saturday, March 10,2012

God is truly amazing.  He continues to bless our family.  We still have lots of bumps in the road, but we are moving forward.  This past Tuesday night we put Brittany on the plane to attend Camp Adventure in Lubbock, Texas.  This is part of the AIM (Adventures in Missions) program run by Sunset School of Preaching.  Brittany was so excited to go.  Mom and Dad actually handled it pretty well too!!  Brittany will be totally exhausted when she gets home as I'm sure  they will be on the go the 10 days she is gone, but it will be a good tired.  Brittany is still going to physical therapy twice a week.  I hope she can continue to gain more from this. 

Please pray for everyone involved in the  accident.  We are now in the process of starting to settle everything and this has been emotionally draining.

Over the last 7 months while sometimes it has seemed like forever I am reminded by professionals that although it seems like a very long time that for the extent of injuries the girls had it has actually not been that long in their road to recovery.  The Great Physician has truly intervened.

Love,
Jennifer

February 10, 2012

Brittany has completed one month of school.   She is doing amazingly well.  She tires easy, but is keeping up with her classes and working very hard.  She continues with her physical therapy and is progressing.

Erika tried out for a swim team she basically made the team, but he wants her to have some private lessons before she actually starts (build some endurance).  She has met 2x's with one of the assistants high school student.  Yesterday she swam 6 laps!!!  This will be good for her because of the injuries she sustained.

Brianna is having fun with her competitive soccer.

The exciting news this week was that Donald finished his Fast ForWord program at school.  He was the very 1st student to start the program when he was in 3rd grade.  Quite a few students have finished before him, but he has worked diligently the last 2 years going to school early.  This program computer based and designed to help struggling readers and addressed some of the auditory problems he has.  They say steady wins the race and I am so proud of him.

We've had a rough (cold) January, but February has started off nice.

Jennifer

Thursday, January 12, 2012

It has been a little over 5 months since the car accident.  God has been so good to us!!! We had a nice Christmas with Don's parents here.  I think the visit was therapeutic for them to be able to see Brittany and Erika doing better.

 The big news is Brittany returned to school full time on January 9.  She was excited to do this.  She has missed her normal routine and of course all her friends.  It is a long day for Brittany and she is tired, but it is a good tired. Pray that she will be able to keep up.  Brittany continues physical therapy 2x's a week and continues to get stronger.  Next on her agenda is to start driving again, take the driving course and get her license that she had planned to get last August.

Erika is doing wonderful.  She finished her physical therapy in December.  She can do anything in gym class!!
The wound on Erika's head continues to heal, but not at the rate we would like.  She wants to hit the pool so we are working diligently to get this healed.

Donald and Brianna continue to be troopers. 

As our family has healed physically I ask that you continue to pray for our emotional well being.  Pray that each of us can adapt and accept the changes that have occurred as a result of the accident.  No matter how subtle change is hard to accept. 

I ask specifically that you pray for me.  I think the stress of it all has hit my body (specifically my neck and back).  I'm trying some physical therapy myself.  I also am working hard to let the kids do the things that they enjoyed before the accident.  It is hard because I just want them close to home.

I had good intentions of sending out Christmas cards, but it just didn't happen.  I got a beautiful picture frame with several pictures of the kids.  My friend said what else could you get for Christmas you already have the best gift.  She was so right. 

My prayer for you is that God will bless you in 2012.  Your love and concern has blessed and will continue to bless us.

Jennifer

For those that want to continue to hear how the kids are doing particularly Brittany I plan on posting/reflecting on the 7th of each month.