I got a feeling....

Luke with his best buddies...D and T shootin' guns!

Santa came...yeah!

Luke loves his lil sis!

Luke going snow tubing all by himself...he held on, put his feet up, and leaned back!

I got a feeling 2010 is gonna be a great great year!!!! So today is the day we say goodbye to 2009 and welcome in 2010!!!!! I told Mike I have BIG HOPES for this year. In fact, my mantra is...drum roll please....Luke will walk and talk again in 2010!!!! It is going to take A LOT of prayers and a A LOT of hard work to make this happen, but we have all ready seen that with God ALL things are possible. It never hurts to dream big right?? I am so thankful for all of the amazing things we have seen in 2009. I just hope we can carry this positive momentum into the new year. We start the new year off with a bang next week with lots of appointments. Luke will go to therapy M, W, F and in addition to that he has an appt with the Neuro-Chiro, his eye dr, the evaluator from the NACD, and also an evaluation for possibly getting an augmentative communication device...whew, makes me tired just thinking about all of that. For 2010, our goal is to keep up with Luke going to the neuro-institute for 3-4 hours a day three days a week, plus his usual home based ST, OT, and PT twice a week. Then I would like to take Luke back to Napa Center three times, most likely in March, July, and October. Finally our goal is for Luke to go back to school in July, this is going to be a huge decision and I pray the school will have an open mind and really be able to see all that Luke is capable of before jumping into where they think he should be placed...the very thought of this whole process makes me sick to my stomach! So we will most likely start the evaluation process in Feb or March so all is in place for when school starts again in July. My prayer is that Luke will have the stamina, perseverance, and drive to make this happen! The thing is I KNOW he can do it, and I can want it all I want, but he has to want it, and he is getting there. He gets a smile on his face every morning I tell him he gets to go see his therapists Tom and Jim. I think he knows it works. So to Luke...I say (from a song)...

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say

So, here is to a great 2010...the same as last year, may we all have more faith and less fear, more gratitude and less greed, more love and less hate, more joy and less sadness, more giving and less wanting, more peace and less stress, more enjoying and less complaining. May God Bless each of you in 2010!

Merry Christmas!

Wow! I can not believe that Christmas is already here. Where has this year gone?? We are so thankful for the progress Luke continues to make as he moves this mountain of a brain injury. We are so thankful for all of you that continue to follow and support us on this journey. We would never want to walk this road alone, so thank you, thank you!! I can tell Luke is more aware and engaging this year over last. Last night we had Christmas with my mom's family. After dinner and dessert, I said, "Who is ready to open presents?" Luke was the first to respond with a loud yell and his hand going right up in the air. Love that kid!! Another thing we have found out about Luke this season is....he loves egg nog!! I think him and Mike have already gone thru 4 bottles this year! He can drink it really well with a straw too. He will continue with his therapies twice a week. I truly think he enjoys the work he does here, and I think he can tell it is helping him. In fact, as I am typing this, one of his therapists just came over and told me, "He is really impressing me today."

I pray you all have a very Merry Christmas spent with family and friends.

Remember...it really is all about a baby that was born to save....“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”- Luke 2:6-7
So...go tell it on the mountain...Jesus Christ is born!!

What Faith Can Do..

Just got back from picking up Lynsey and I heard a new song I just LOVE!! Here are the lyrics....my favorite line...Impossible is not a word, it is just a reason for someone not to try.


What Faith Can Do

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

Proof of what faith can do:

Take you from this....





To this...

Today Show!!

I heard about this segment from the Today show from many people today. It is very interesting...I have a call into the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago to see if Luke qualifies for the Locomat research they are doing. On their web site he does meet all of the qualifications. Pray this can help him:) He really needs exactly what it says this machine does! I hope the link works:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/34255416#34255416

Well Mr. Luke has been a busy boy! Last week at therapy they started constraint therapy with him. Basically they restrain his right arm and hand forcing him to use his left hand. A week later, he is doing great! I will admit though, the kid is quite a houdini and will find a way to get his right hand out to use. Pray he gets full use out of his left hand over time!

Luke eating lunch with left hand.

A picture he colored with left hand, the therapist helped him write his name.

We also took Luke to see a new Neuro-Chiropractor this week. He gave us some exercises we can do with Luke to try and get his eyes working better, as well as the left side of his face hopefully getting some movement. Pray these exercises work also!!

Here is a great quote they have posted at Luke's therapy place, "The quality and number of gains obtained during a person's rehabilitation after a life altering injury is in direct proportion to their committment to excellence and determination to succeed despite any odds." By the grace of God, Luke is getting the drive to succeed and works so very hard day in and day out. We could not be more proud of his determination. Thank you for your continued prayers. Believe!

His trademark Thumbs up sign!

We went to cut down our Christmas tree this weekend in the freezing snow. Luke liked this Christmas tree!