New Things Every Day

Elizabeth and Josh are slowly adding activities back to their schedules. Both children are back in the routine of school and are catching up on the lessons they missed. Elizabeth returned on Sunday to musical rehearsal and today to ballet. Stamina continues to be an issue for the entire family. Please pray that they would all have increased stamina each and every day. Please pray especially for Elizabeth as she returns to ballet today. Please pray for the public to see Jesus as they encounter the Van Swols and hear their story!

Sunday Worship

What a beautiful sight to see the entire Van Swol family on the same pew in church this morning! Praise the Lord for His many blessings!

Thanks from the Van Swols

I can't thank Alice Dorn enough for creating and maintaining this blog. She faithfully called and posted updates when we were too overwhelmed to do so. Thanks also to Dave and Ann Sealy who helped update Alice and took care of our family when we were too weary to think. They have been here almost every single day (sometimes more than once a day) serving us in every imaginable and unimaginable way. They have been angels ministering to our physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Thanks to nurse Mary Schwab as well for serving us in some pretty tough times. You are a very special nurse. Thanks to the Funkes, Culbertsons, Bradys, and Mark Litts for support of practical needs. Thanks to all for the cards, gifts, DVDs, and food. We have literally had 100's of cards and more food than we could even eat! When we actually sit and think of how much we are loved, we are baffled, overwhelmed, and humbled that you have chosen to love us "goofballs".(Mark's descriptive word!) We have learned to accept help. Truly you are the tangible expressions of God's grace to us and we can't express our gratitude enough to God for you. The children are doing so much better every day. Thank you for your prayers for them. You will never know this side of heaven what that has meant to us. Thank you from the bottom of our souls.

Smiles and Healing....

Josh has been back at school all week and doing extremely well. Elizabeth is back in her schooling routine as well. Elizabeth is healing very well - as is Josh. They are all trusting God to heal the scars...please pray with them to that end.

It was amazing to hear laughter and smiles in both Mark and Joanne's voices tonight...what a huge blessing. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Bandage Free...technically!

Josh and Elizabeth came home from the Burn Center almost completely bandage free! Praise God for His many, many blessings! Both children have extremely sensitive skin under their compression hose. They both have some small bandages over the most sensitive skin under the hose. Joshua was released to normal activity. Elizabeth is on limited activity for at least another week. The process was not without pain, though both children managed with only Motrin. They are both very tired from the process, but also very glad to be free of the bandages. The healing process will continue now. Please pray that their skin would be less and less sensitive each and every day. They will be seen at the Burn Center again in six weeks. Pray that there would be no scarring from the burns. Pray for increased stamina each day. Praise God for His many blessings!

A Big Day...

Today is a big day! Please pray for Josh and Elizabeth as they have an appointment at the Burn Center at 10:45 AM today. Pray for wisdom in pain management during and following the procedures. Pray that both children will have all bandages removed!

Thank you for your prayers!

More Good Days...

Sunday and Monday were good days! Josh went to Parent-Teen for the first time...and it went well! He also went to Science and Robotics at school on Monday. He was exhausted after that, so please pray for increased stamina. Elizabeth's spirits are good. Both children are looking forward to the removal of all bandages (hopefully) on Tuesday. Please pray for pain management during and after the procedures. Please pray for safe travel to and from Augusta!

Good Days...

Plural...GOOD DAYS! Friday, with Mark back at work and Joanne tending the home front alone, went much better than expected. Joanne even got some schooling done! Both Josh and Elizabeth ventured out for the first time Saturday - taking a ride to Sonic for a milkshake. Josh has a great perspective on everything that has happened. He is excited for Tuesday to come and anxiously awaiting the removal of the bandages. Elizabeth is concerned about scarring and a little more apprehensive about Tuesday. It is not a given that her bandages will be removed - but it is a possibility. She is bored - which is a good sign. Elizabeth is also struggling with itching associated with the healing process.

Joanne laughed on the phone today. It was a beautiful sound and one I look forward to hearing more often...

Please praise our Heavenly Father with the Van Swols for the good days that they have had! Please pray that each day would continue to be an improvement. Please pray that the itching would lessen. Please pray that both children would be able to have all bandages removed on Tuesday and that the whole family would be emotionally ready for all that Tuesday brings.

Happy Birthday Josh!

Happy 13th Birthday to Joshua today!! Send him greetings here on the blog or by any other means you have of contacting him! Wishing Josh a wonderful day of celebrating being 13! What a special young man who has been so brave! Josh has a kind heart and great sense of humor! Happy Birthday Joshua!

A quote from Joanne, "Happy 13th Birthday to my sweet, and I do mean amazingly sweet and witty, son! We are blessed to be the parents of such a wise son. You bring such joy to everyone's life that you touch! We love you!"