Wow three years have passed us by.....
Our Bombaversaries, Alive Days, Boom Days or what ever you want to call them are the one thing I can keep track of. I can't remember how many surgeries or blood transfusions or prosthetic legs or procedures or MRIs or CT Scans or PICC lines or or or.
(Boy could that list could on....I lost track of that list a long time ago. However if I ever get nostalgic, we have a banker's box with all of those numbers in them and we can take a stroll down memory lane.)
Somewhere along the way I also lost track of all of the laughs and numerous amazing memories we have also collected on this journey. I can assure you that the number of laughs and fun greatly outnumber the medical. We have been so blessed by a bomb that was intended to take a life away.
Yes I said blessed by a bomb. That bomb has taught us a lot. It taught me that I took things for granted and allowed too many of life's great moments slip by. It taught us that it's not the quantity of friends you have, it's the quality. It taught us that some people are way more selfish than we ever thought possible and that sometimes it is truly tragic they cannot see it. It showed us how to truly see life through the eyes of a child. It showed us the true beauty that exists in life that we all take for granted everyday. It showed us your gut is always right. Even when you don't want it to be, it is.
However I think perhaps the biggest blessing the bomb gave us was the experience of witnessing what a true Hero is. I know Chaz doesn't think he is a hero, but I sure do. Everyday I wake up and touch my husband and right there I pray over him. I thank God that I have him with me for another day. I also give thanks for the men and women who worked together to get him home to our girls so they could grow up knowing their Dad. I give thanks for the men and women who helped us create our new normal. I give thanks for the actions of so many Heroes that helped my husband and so many other Heroes come home and who helped us all move on with our new lives.
For three years now, I have had the privilege of standing by my husband and help him fight his fight. I have watched him learn how to adapt to the life a bomb altered. Some days the fight is just too hard and I am the one who has the honor to remind him of how far we have come. And some days he has to remind me of the same.
The past three years have not been easy. They have been a roller coaster with nauseating turns and flips. We have had our hearts broken and we have laughed through tears. We have traveled and seen things we may have lived our entire lives never seeing. We have made friends for life that we would have possibly never met if it wasn't for that IED. We have become like family to so many wounded, ill and injured. We have been able to pay so much forward to others. We have truly been blessed.
I know it is so hard to see a bomb as anything but destructive. We all must remember that sometimes things literally have to be blown apart so He can help you put them back together. We have to know that God has a plan for us and we must walk in that faith. It is that faith that has seen us to year number three and I pray it sees us to many, many more.
Jessica, thank your for sharing. Your story is uplifting and heartbreaking and you have done such a nice job summarizing it here today. I will continue to keep you, your family and all of our wounded heroes in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteTo you both: Your story is a blessing to me every time I read your updates. Your family photos are wonderful - and each of them tells a story as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being so honest, open, vulnerable and fun. May God continue to bless your family as you bless us.
Jane
Amen.
ReplyDeleteSo very thankful for how far you've come!
ReplyDeleteLifting up prayers right now!
Psalms 28:8-9 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
There are times God can seem so very far away, but He's always right there with you! Praying!
ReplyDeletePsalms 13:1-6 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? ... Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, ... But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
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Always keep your eyes on your Shepherd! Praying!
ReplyDeletePsalms 23:1-3 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
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The Lord is always with you! Praying for whatever you have to face this week!
ReplyDeletePsalms 23:4-6 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Our only true hope is in the Lord! Know that I'm praying!
ReplyDeleteRomans 15:4, 13 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (13) Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
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Hope this beautiful Gospel passage gives you comfort! Lifting up prayers right now!
ReplyDeleteTitus 3:4-7 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Praying right now!
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 63:7-9: I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
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The Lord is with you right now, lifting you up, giving you strength! Always praying!
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Keep your eyes on the only true source of peace and strength. Praying!
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.
Always look to the Lord whatever the need. Praying right now!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletePsalms 121:1-4 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Know that I'm always here praying!
ReplyDeletePsalms 121:5-8 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
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Praying!
ReplyDeleteLamentations 3:21-26 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
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Call upon the Lord! He hears! He answers according to His Will. Praying as always!
ReplyDeleteLamentations 3:55-58 I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
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The Lord will be with you always. Praying!
ReplyDeleteDeuteronomy 31:6, 8 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (8) And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
There are so many passages that just overwhelm my heart as I read the words. Praying so that they comfort you as well!
ReplyDeletePsalms 73:23-26 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Praying for the Lord's strength in your heart to face whatever each day brings!
ReplyDelete2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
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Such special words of comfort! Praying right now!
ReplyDeleteJob 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
The Lord uses everything that happens for a purpose. Know that I'm praying!
ReplyDelete2 Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
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Continuing to lift up prayers!
ReplyDeleteHebrews 13:5b-6 He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Praying right now!
ReplyDeleteHebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Know that you're in my prayers.
ReplyDeletePsalms 31:1-3 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Lifting up prayers right now!
ReplyDeletePsalms 31:5, 7-8 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth (7-8) I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
Praying in Seattle!
ReplyDeletePsalms 31:14-16, 24 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. (24) Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Know that I'm always praying!
ReplyDeletePsalms 56:3-4, 13 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me...For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
Praying!
ReplyDeletePhilippians 3:9-11 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Always lifting up prayers!
ReplyDeletePhilippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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Praying right now!
ReplyDeletePhilippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
The Lord knows what the future holds. He's already there working! Praying!
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.