Aron's 30th Birthday

Photos from Arons 30th birthday.

One of the best days ever...!

20 Months Later

Today, Aron greeted me with a big smile.  We sat outside enjoying the sunshine, as I told him stories, and we played thumb war (he always manages to beat me).  Aron responds to funny anecdotes and jokes, and I think he even gives me a pity laugh for jokes that are only mildly funny.  It is such an amazing blessing that God has given him the ability to laugh and to communicate to a greater degree. 

Aron has continued to progress, especially in terms of his ability to interact.  Through this painfully slow recovery, the Aron who we all know and love is still there.  His personality, humor, and wit shines through.  Visiting, even for just a bit, brightens his day and blesses him and his family.  But even more so, Aron is a blessing to his visitors.  Aron understands what’s going on, he recognizes his friends, and he communicates the best he can.

Thank you to everyone who has continued to visit Aron and support his family.  For those of you who have been unable to visit, I want to encourage you to drop by when you have time.  This isn’t meant to make anybody feel guilty.  I understand that sometimes it’s a hassle to make the trip, and other times it’s just plain difficult.  It hurts to see Aron different than the way we all remember him.  But even though it might be painful at first, it’s worth it.  If you haven’t visited for a while, you’ll be surprised by Aron’s progress.

Here are a few practicalities regarding visiting:

•  Please sign the calendar in Aron’s room – that way Aron’s parents don’t have to play a guessing game with the nurses to find out who visited.
• Aron is able to signal “yes” or “no” by placing his tongue in his cheek.  The left side means “yes,” the right side means “no,” and if he wags his tongue back and forth that means “I don’t know” (this was his communication creation).  You can remind him to respond with these signals when you ask a question.
• For those of you who haven’t been able to visit before, Aron is in Room 102 at the Little Company of Mary Sub Acute Facility in San Pedro.  The address is: 1322 W. 6^th Street, San Pedro, CA 90732.

Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement.  You’re a blessing.

In His grip, 

Amy

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need.  – Romans 12:12-3.

500 Days of Faithfulness

Aron at Hume Lake with King's Harbor Church

I had an app on my computer counting down the days until I returned from Oxford to see Aron. Now it counts the days since his accident. Today, it’s been 500 days.

Though the past 500 days have been filled with pain and uncertainty, they’ve also been filled with God’s faithfulness, mercy, and grace.

When I visited Aron on Sunday, he smiled as soon as we entered the room. He follows the conversation and laughs at all of our stories and antics (or at least the funny ones). Whether it’s a goofy lizard face or a car joke, Aron laughs. It’s such a blessing that God has given him the ability to express himself in this way. I am so thankful for that. Aron still beats me at thumb war and smiles when I tell him about a good wave that I caught or a story about law school.

Today, I especially want to remember God’s faithfulness and acknowledge His hand throughout the last 500 days. More and more I am coming to recognize how great and how BIG God is… and how small I really am. Instead of asking “why,” I choose to trust. I know that God has a plan and He promises that “in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). I have to keep reminding myself of this truth, as I so easily forget His promises. I keep praying the prayer of the father in Mark, "Lord, I believe; Help my unbelief!" And He is faithful.

Thank you for your support for the last 500 days, for the encouragement, the visits, and the prayers.

-Amy

Support

Aron after surfing with his prebreakfast purchase of Cary's syrup and his favorite hot sauce, Cholula. 

I want to thank everyone for the ongoing support they have offered to Aron, his family and friends.  Its easy to see how Aron was loved by the people around him.  Thank you all for visits and checking in here to see how he is progressing.

You guys have been here 83 thousand times.  With support like this its obvious Aron means so much to us.







Last time I got to see Aron he was in a good mood, He is laughing alot at jokes and stories.  If you have some time to head down and see him tell him a story or two and watch his face light up.

Laughter

This past weekend, my parents went out of town, and I spent Saturday and Sunday afternoon with Aron. It was nice to spend some alone time with him. We hung out on the patio and mostly I told him stories and read him the autobiography of Johnny Cash.

He's been laughing a lot lately when things are funny. The interaction is nice, and really affirms that he hears us. On Sunday, we brought Augie, and Aron really enjoyed seeing him eat, crawl around, and make noise. Augie puts a smile on everyone's face, including Aron's!

Loved and Missed Everyday

As we approach the anniversary of Aron’s accident, I wanted to again thank everybody for their support. This has not been an easy year for any of us, but over and over again I have been overwhelmed both by God’s grace and by the support and prayers of Aron’s friends, family, classmates, co-workers, and students.

Throughout the past year, I’ve experienced God’s faithfulness in so many ways. He has been my comfort and shelter in the midst of this storm. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about and pray for Aron and his loved ones. I miss him everyday. Everything I do reminds me of him … especially the things we enjoyed together: church, Bible study, surfing, cruising his Novas or my Camaro... I know we all miss him in different ways. Aron is so loved and means so much to so many people.

As my heart aches, I am continually reminded of my need for Christ and constantly cry out to Him for comfort, and He is faithful. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about this C.S Lewis quote, “I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God- it changes me.” I have definitely experienced this during the past year, and I have been amazed at the way that God has softened my broken and hardened heart to finally be able to pray for His will and not my own. It’s a hard prayer to pray in earnest, one that for me has only been possible by His grace and mercy. I’ve realized that I do not need to be able to understand God’s will to be able to trust Him. I am thankful that He has not abandoned us in our heartache and that He is strong in my weakness.

Thank you for your encouraging notes and especially for continuing to visit Aron. Thank you for continuing to follow Aron’s progress and praying for his continued recovery.

As of this post, this blog has been viewed 74,627 times from every continent, and the Steve’s Nova Site posting about Aron’s progress has been viewed 24,088 times. I’m blessed by this reminder that Aron is not forgotten, not by God and not by those that love him.

-Amy