Seven and a half weeks…it has been seven and a half weeks since this journey began. Some days it seems like an eternity ago; other days it seems like only yesterday.
It is amazing to me how much can happen in just a few short weeks! I have started to sit down to update you all many times since Reuben was released from the hospital but things just have been so crazy around here that I never got it done. It occurred to me the other night, as we were out and about when the basketball game got over in town, that there are many people who we don’t see or talk to in our day to day happenings that are wondering how things are going. I promise that I didn’t forget about all of you!!
The holiday season tends to be a time when people really think about what they are thankful for and during a discussion with my mom on Thanksgiving we talked about how much we all have to be thankful for this year. Her words were “New life, restored life, and eternal life.” I have thought often of those words since Thanksgiving and thought it would be fitting to use as a final update for all of you.
New Life – Raylan Wells Elting
We welcomed our newest edition to the family on November 24th! A little boy who came a few days early but at the perfect time! We hosted family Thanksgiving at our house on Thursday and I really was convinced we would be going to the hospital that night….I was wrong! But, Friday night/Saturday morning our little peanut decided he was ready to join the family. How thankful I was that he waited until Daddy was home AND able to drive us to the hospital! (For those of you who don’t know me, I am a very strong willed person and I was determined that if Reuben hadn’t been cleared to drive when the baby decided to come, that I would be totally fine getting us to the hospital! Well, as it turns out, I probably could have driven us but was so very thankful that Reuben had been cleared to drive earlier in the week!) Raylan is now three weeks old and reminds us each day how precious life is and that there is some much to look forward to.
Renewed Life – Reuben William Elting
First off, Reuben is doing very well! Although his wounds and incisions are healing nicely, sometimes it is hard to remember that there is major healing going on internally. I never would have guessed, when I first sat down to tell you all about this journey, that we would be home let alone seeing him walking and doing normal everyday things already! It is going to be a long process as his internal injuries continue to heal, but he is learning his limitations and taking everything in stride. We travelled to Missouri this weekend to spend time with Reuben’s aunt, uncle and parents. As we drove (and let me tell you, it was A LOT of time spent in the pickup!) I would catch myself just staring at Reuben. I keep thinking to myself, how thankful I am to get to look at him, hold his hand and tell him I love him. Also, how thankful I am that my boys get to have their daddy here to raise them. As time goes on and our life settles a little bit more each day, I am coming face to face with the reality of how close we were to actually losing him. God worked miracles that day and we are forever grateful for all of the prayers that were sent up on his/our behalf.
Eternal Life – Remington Wells Elting
This is a little harder for me to write…. I have lost people very close to me before, but this is different; the process of saying goodbye is different. For me, funerals are a part of that process and as you may or may not know, Reuben and I were not able to attend Rem’s funeral. I have said all along that I would not have gotten through this without my faith and that still holds true! I know that Rem has passed on to an even better life than any of us can imagine! I recently saw a picture that showed a person lying in a hospital bed with grieving family by their bedside. On the other side of the bed, you see the dying person being welcomed to heaven in an amazing reunion with loved ones that had gone before him. This is what I imagine Rem’s entrance to heaven was like. Jesus was there to welcome him with open arms and show him the way to his family and friends that made it to heaven before he did! I only hope that I can instill that faith in my children and teach them to know with the same certainty that although death royally sucks for those of us left here on earth; God has promised us eternal life and therefore, we have an amazing group of people waiting for us in heaven! This part of the healing process is going to take the longest. Honestly, it will never be complete!
So, my final plea to all of you is that you continue to pray.
Pray for Reuben – that he continues to heal physically.
Pray for Kurtis & Susie – that they are able to find some comfort in knowing that Rem is in Heaven and watching over us every day.
Pray for all of Rem’s family & friends – that they may be able to come to terms with what has happened and that they have faith that can help them through the grieving process.
Thank you all for being there for all of us during this journey! I know there is no way we will ever be able to make sure we thank each and every one of you, but know that we are so very thankful for all of you! Your thoughts, prayers and continued support are what has helped make this whole journey a little easier to handle. This will be the last update that I make on the CaringBridge site, but please don’t hesitate to reach out and see how things are going. We love hearing from all of you!
Have a very Merry Christmas!
***This update was originally shared on Reuben’s CaringBridge site on 12-19-18.***
