Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Update- 11/07/12

One of our constant themes seem to be: busy.  We continue to press on to get as much as we can get accomplished each day. Homeschooling is going well.  We are managing to squeeze school into different parts of the day to get it done even if it includes evenings.  Rob continues to have therapy 3 times a week for 2 hrs at a time.  Doctor visits have settled down at this point.  Trying to maintain the home and catch up from 2 months of our lives that were taken up due to the accident is still a work in progress.

The change in seasons have always presented challenges for us especially due to our wonderful Louisiana weather.  I’m not complaining because I love the fact that I can wear my flip flops for the majority of the year but with a large family this is a BIG issue.  Due to the weather ever changing between warm/hot to cool/cold, you have to keep out the warm weather clothes year round and add the cool weather clothes for a time.  This takes much time when you have to do this for 9 children and find enough space for all of the clothes.  Rob has always done a large part of this each year but due to his physical challenges it means that I have to do it all for them.  The biggest issue has been with our youngest 4 since they are all in the same room and we will be adding a 5th person when the baby arrives in January.  With all of the daily requirements and time issues, this has been and still is a slow process for us.  Hopefully, we will be able to complete this task soon. 

Rob and I took 6 of our children and 3 of our friend’s children to a symphony field trip while she watch our little ones a couple of weeks ago (see previous post) .  Also, we took the children to another friend’s senior voice recital at LSU last week.  It has been nice having daddy around to enjoy a view aspects of life that he wasn’t able to before the accident. 

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Rob continues to get stronger each and every day.  He gives 200% during therapy and throughout the day to do as much as he can, improve on what he can, strengthen what he can, and help out around the house where he can.  He helps me with school for the children by reading and explaining the instructions to the younger ones who need a little more assistance.  Cai, Abram, and Emma will do their reading assignments with daddy.  By the way, he says that 1st grade is killing him!  This has been a tremendous help to me in order for us to get more of our “school work” accomplished.

I had been asking for prayer regarding our transportation issues.  As most of you know, the bus we purchased from Florida has been one issue after the other and caused extra expenses as well in order to get it back up and running.   We did get it into drivable condition but it still needed some additional work.  This allowed us to go ahead and get Rob to therapy, doctor appointments, and back to church.  During this time of waiting to get the rest of the bus fixed, we had two things happen.  First, we had a large dealership in town contact us because they wanted to take care of the rest of the issues regarding the bus for us.  Second, we had someone else donate another bus to us to help our family.  It is a little older but has very low and I mean low mileage on it.  When I picked up the “new” bus, there was an issue that presented itself (along with a few others since we got the lift fixed) and was going to have to be fixed before we could use for Rob since it had to do with the wheelchair lift.  Once again, the Lord provided.  The same dealership offered to get it fixed for us so that we could have it to drive while the “first” bus got fixed.  This has been a tremendous blessing to our family.  Since we have the extra bus and once we get both of them repaired, this will allow us to decide which one is best choice for our family long term and allow us to sell the other one in order to try to recoup some of the cash (we have spent a large sum when you look at the cost of the bus and the repairs) that we have spent on the first bus.  So if you happen to know of someone in the market for one of these type buses, let us know because we know that this is not going to be the easiest thing to sell.  Then again, with God all things are possible and He has continued to provide and surprise us with His goodness and love for our family for which we are undeserving.

Well, I think this gets us caught up from the last update.  Sorry it has taken me a little longer to post as I have been trying to update about every 2 weeks.  I know there are many of you who are continuing to pray for our family for which we are thankful and keep up to see how we are doing. 

Here’s a picture of our family that was just taken this past Sunday after church:

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Some prayer requests:

1.  Continue to pray for Rob’s strength and healing. 

2.  Pray that the Lord would guide us and help us to accomplish all that needs to be done each day regarding school, the home, training up our children in the ways they should go, chores, and normal daily tasks.

3.  Pray that the Lord would continue to show himself through our family and that He would continue to receive all of the praise and glory through this journey that He has purposed for us to walk.

4.  Pray for baby girl Shelby and this pregnancy.  Momma and baby are growing…one of us more than the other;)  We just had another ultrasound this past week to check on a view things that they were unable to see last time and everything looked great.

5.  Pray that we would be able to get all of the repairs done on the 2 buses, make a good decision regarding which one would be the best for our family long term, and be able to sell the other one to get back some of the money that we have spent with the first bus.

6.  Pray for me as I continue to care for Rob, the children, and all of the additional and regular daily tasks.  Help me not to murmur or complain but to do it lovingly.  Pray that I would be patience with the children and learn to speak softer instead of louder.  I struggle each and every day and continue to be a work in progress. May the Lord grant me strength to be a godly wife and mother each day!  Thankful that even when I fail, He is there, grants me forgiveness, and a new day to try again. 

We would like to continue to thank all of you who have or are bringing meals to us, provided financial gifts, prayers, and notes of encouragements.  The Lord continues to bless and provide for us in so many ways.

For those of you who continue asked how you can help, you can go to www.shelbyfamilyfund.com.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!  Ps 115:1

Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind! Ps 31:19

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he

is to be feared above all gods. 1 Chronicles 16:25

1 comment:

Cinnamon said...

Amy, I enjoy every update you give. Just knowing your challenges and how to pray specifically for you is a blessing to me.

"Gracious Heavenly Father, YOUR love and devotion shine in this sweet family. The challenges YOU have given them have drawn them to YOU and caused them to change nearly everything about their lives....all for YOUR glory.

In my prayers YOU know from the beginning I've prayed for Rob's healing, to allow him to walk again, to use him arms fully.Yet I also pray for YOU to be glorified in all that has happened. To bless those little children who are seeing YOU work in such real tangible ways. God YOU are amazing, loving and unfathomable. YOU are able to do more than we can even imagine. Thank you for not allowing my limitations to hinder YOUR goodness and work in this dear family.

May YOU draw them closer as a family. Give Rob strength according to your strength. Give them wisdom through YOUR Word and bless Amy with all she needs according to YOUR riches in glory! Thank you God! Through Jesus Christ, amen!"

hugs Amy~ Cinnamon