“Redeemed” or “Update on Chase 16”

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. March has been a minimal-blog month. This will be only my NINTH blog of the month. That’s lame. I told a friend I’d really like to blog daily. It’s really not that hard. I don’t know why I don’t.

I think some of the problem is that I have things I want to blog about–such as the Chase update I’m going to get to in a minute–but when I don’t feel I have time to sit down and write about it, I just don’t blog period. And then days and days pass.

But it was cool to see that I’m still getting visitors and people are still anxiously awaiting my prose. So, thanks for being committed–if not bored–readers.

The good news is that Chase’s recovery is simply amazing. As I said last time, Andrea called me on the six-month anniversary of the accident; she was beaming with joy in her voice, having just recently met with Chase’s teacher at a parent-teacher conference or something like that. Apparently, Chase is doing awesome at school. He’s improving dramatically and the teacher has no inhibitions about sending him on to kindergarten this fall, meaning he’ll be right on track with his schooling.

Having forgotten what early elementary report cards look like, I was re-introduced to the VG and S+ marks and all that good stuff. Andrea showed off Chase’s and there were lots of S+’s and a new one: "M" for mastered. He’s mastered many skills that he’s supposed to have mastered and coming along on the rest. So our family is more than ecstatic with the news and continually turning to God with praise for the miracle that continues to unfold.

One of the most poignant examples of Chase’s progress was the drawing sample Andrea showed me. Shortly after his return home from the accident, they had Chase draw simple shapes (stick person) and objects (+, =, â—‹, â–¡, Δ). In the first sample, they were hardly distinguishable. They had to ask him to point out head and arms and legs of the stick figure. In the second sample–the one he did recently–there was a dramatic improvement and most everything was clear. The objects were obvious and the stick figure was in line with his 6 years of age. So, that was much more tangible progress than his S+’s and M’s. That and the fact that his behavior is great and you’d never know from looking at him that his life was on the line six months ago.

Not having experienced such a "miracle" before, it’s a rather interesting to go through. People’s lives really change from them. The faith God is building in our family (and Andrea in particular) is remarkable. He’s just blown us away with his faithfulness in answering prayer. EVERYTHING we’ve prayed for has been given–and in proportions "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine." I think this is the first time this scripture has come alive for me.

So, I’m charged to ask for more, because it seems God loves to give. At least that’s what He says is His Word. And I’m left wondering why I don’t ask more often. Sometimes I feel selfish asking for stuff–both for others and personally. But taking a brief look at scripture, it’s obvious that feeling of selfishness rises up within me at the enemy’s prompting and not God’s. God loves to give–oh how he loves to give! We just rarely ask.

So, in conclusion, I’d like to thank everybody SO MUCH for committing to hold our family high in prayer through the craziness we’ve experienced the past six months. You are so treasured. Please pass this update along to anyone you know who laid Chase before our Savior and petitioned on his behalf. God’s hand has truly rested on him and continues to as he recovers at a pace that could be set only by the Great Physician.

If you’d like to join me in the continued pursuit of blessings for our family, keep praying for Chase’s recovery, Shelby and Celeste’s transitions into their teen years, Andrea and Grant’s growth as parents, Eric and Amy’s yet-to-be born twins, the sale of their condo, Kristin’s growth and development, Mom and Dad’s ministry fit in the Thumb, dad’s business, my wrestling with my calling and career, and lack of significant other :)