Maybe staying at home is not so overrated...

It's about that time.

One more week of physical therapy and then back to work! It's a bittersweet feeling. I can not tell you how thankful I am to be feeling so much better, but now that I'm feeling better I'm {really} enjoying being home all the time.

It's funny the things you become thankful for once you lose them. And you really can't be thankful for them {until} you lose them. I was so happy the first day I was able to carry my own groceries into my house that I almost cried. I remember bending over for the first time with no pain. Sleeping through the night without having to get up and go to the recliner. I am genuinely thankful for these things and so much more.

There are a few other things (good and bad) that I don't want to forget:

• Honestly not knowing (or caring) if it's Monday or Friday (this happened A LOT).
• Getting frustrated with something and immediately thinking "Ugh-where are my running shoes?!" then remembering I can't run!
• Feeling so guilty having to sit and watch Chad do the things I should be able to do around the house.
• Loving friends who brought dinner, cleaned my house & checked on me daily.
• Meeting mom for lunch everyday.
• Watching food network all day and cooking every night.
• The precious time spent with Mrs. Gateley learning how to sew.

I'm thankful I'm able to work and help provide. I'm thankful to be able to function normally. I'm thankful I can do laundry and vacuum and cook.

I will remind myself not to assume anything about anyone. They may have a broken back and you can't even tell. (Once, mom and I went to the flower store and I had to ask a guy to put some flowers into the back of the truck for me. I felt like such a snot, but if I said "Sorry, I can't lift. I have a broken back" He'd probably look at me like I was crazy!) You never know what is going on with people, mentally or physically.

Lastly-I will never forget how God healed me. The 2nd to last appointment I had I was expecting good news. I had 6 weeks left of medical leave from my job, anymore than that and I wouldn't have a job. I had a CT scan and X-rays first, then went to see Dr Reynolds. He came into my little room with a stern look on his face. He put up the CT scan and the X-ray, side-by-side. The CT didn't look much different than the very first one-L1 was still a scrambled mess and there was {no} new bone growth. The xray....was very strange looking. Something was obviously not right. Everything he said was a jumble, I can't remember it, but he did describe my x-ray as having "concerning scoliosis".

He said I am going to need 8-12 {more} weeks off, {then} 3-4 weeks of physical therapy. What?! In my head I had just lost my job and my life had just turned upside down. Made it to the car and was so upset, crying. (This is one of the times I really wanted my running shoes)

On June 11 I was running errands with my mom. We went to the feed store in Yukon. My mom is friends with the owner, Jerri. Her pastor and his wife happened to be there. After a long conversation about scripture and healing, they prayed for me-all 3 of them-right in the middle of the feed store. I knew I was healed, right at that second.

My next appointment was July 12th-one day after my medical leave had expired and my job was no longer 'protected'. I had a CT scan again that morning then went to see Dr Reynolds. I knew I was healed, but I couldn't wait to {see} it! He comes into my little room again, same stern look on his face. "Follow me," he says. So my mom and I go back to his office. He has 3 CT scans pulled up side-by-side on his computer. The day of the accident on the right, the last one in the middle and that day's on the left. He zooms in and shows how bad the fracture was, then zooms into the CT scan on the left-today's. Complete bone growth, all the way around. Absolutely no fracture. I will never forget Dr Reynolds saying, "This is really remarkable. I attribute it to your youth the way you healed." Dr Reynolds can attribute it to whatever he wants....

Mark 11:24

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,

believe that you have received it,

and it will be yours."

Instead of 3-4 weeks of PT, I only needed 2 weeks. Luckily, my nice manager held my job for 2 extra weeks and I get to go back to doing what I love. Life is good because God is good.