"Nine Years..."

BV Strong Dinner 2025

"Nine Years..." That was the text I received early this morning from a dear friend who has walked along side of me these past nine years. He has prayed each and every morning for Josh since the accident. This morning was no different. Our family has been blessed to be surrounded by people who have consistently kept Josh lifted up in prayer. This journey has been hard, VERY hard. For that reason we are forever grateful for each and every prayer that has been uttered on Josh's behalf. Thank you!

A week ago we were able to return to Buena Vista, CO and attend the BV Strong Dinner. This is an annual meal that draws 3500+ neighbors out to main street for a shared meal. Josh had attended this meal 9 years ago the night before his accident. We strolled the streets afterwards and had the good fortune to run into Lucas Smith, one of the three joggers who were there to resuscitate Josh. Josh had never met him. Isn't that awesome?! It was a very special blessing!

This past year we were able to return to the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah to snow ski and do the Summit Challenge ride. Josh recorded his 300th workout on Strava with a good portion of that spent at CrossFit Commence. He killed two deer hunting with Heart and Soul Outdoors. He caught 30+ bream fishing with Tammy Graham, his OT. And he had a great time being Uncle J-Boogie to Uli, Fitz, Izzy, and Judah. It Has been blessing after blessing!

3 Things to pray for:

• Walking-Josh continues to make progress. His challenge seems to be finding balance in his core. His legs are really strong but his core still lacks some coordination. But he still presses on each and every day.

• Talking- He has done incredible forming and shaping words! we are able to read his lips on a regular basis! But producing audible sound is what needs prayer. He has difficulty developing enough force to vibrate his vocal cords. So that is a major area of focus.

• Wrist fusion-We are trying to coordinate a trip back for Polytrauma in San Antonio in order to get his right wrist fused. He has more strength to grip with in both hands but he cannot raise his right wrist in a functional way. If it is fused in a functional position we believe he could use it more.

Time and again I am reminded of that meeting the Friday morning after the accident. The meeting where Josh's condition was explained and his chances of recovery defined. "Let him go..." "You need to think of him..." "He will likely never know who you are..." And yet the Lord saw fit to have 3 guys with medical training, choose to jog that particular route on that particular morning at that particular time and bring him back to life. HE choose to have the Med Flight chopper stationed over night in BV rather than its home base 30 minutes away. And HE choose to have one surgeon on call who was bold enough to say in that same meeting, while showing a small space between his thumb and fore finger, "everything you've heard is true, but you also need to know that there is always a chance." And that is when we all went "All In For Josh!"

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,"

declares the Lord.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways

And My thoughts than your thoughts."

Isiah 55:8-9

Love to you all!

Mike