Well…another month has come and gone in our family’s journey. A very, very full month of re-upping for the next phase with a fresh sense of commitment and hope…by choosing to FACE OUR GRACIOUS, FAITHFUL GOD no matter what.

Praises from August:

1) On The Old House—We were under contract in one week and everything appears to be proceeding forward to a successful closing. A decision to sell that we only made a little over a month ago. Thank you to those who helped us move and sacrificially address a few maintenance issues to sell. Thank you to our realtor who generously volunteered time to give input on our “for sale by owner” listing.

2) On The New House-After only a few weeks in the new place, we notice a difference already in Landon’s demeanor and body language in moving from an isolated basement bedroom in the city to our bright, peaceful, first floor living space in the country. (What a confirmation that the change of home environment, with all the messiness of moving, was worth it.) Thank you to those sacrificially came to help us paint before we moved in and those who showed up to help Heidi tame our new flower beds!

3) On The Medical Bills-We received word that the Colorado hospital where Landon had his surgery back in January would reimburse us over $20,000 of what we paid out of pocket!!! Still several more bills to go, but this was a huge help in a miraculous way that, according this health system, they “almost never do.” After multiple attempts to ask for help earlier in the year, Heidi just wrote a handwritten note, and God showed up on our behalf!!! A special shout out to my Uncle Daryl who has been “believing with you for all debt to be gone and all bills paid in Jesus name.”

4) Random sightings of #healthforlandon shirts-To see these remnants of people rallying around us well over a year ago still being worn by my cousin’s kiddos under their junior football jerseys and one of our church teens on a mission trip in Peru remind us that there are countless people who still love us/haven’t forgotten about us.

5) Efforts To Still Lean Into Life by Landon-It has been a blessing to see him make the effort to share lunch out with family, keep talking all of this through with us, and spending an afternoon out shopping with Heidi recently. He also has started working a few hours a week online for a car parts company owned by Heidi’s cousin (thanks, Josh!)…a job with all that impacts in every guy’s sense of identity and self worth…even guys with chronic, debilitating illness.

Prayer Requests for September:

1) Upcoming Trip To Denver-We will be traveling out to Colorado again the week of Labor Day to consult with a specialist about addressing the other vascular compressions that Landon has in other parts of his body besides his jugular vein region. Thank you to Pastor Tate Throndson and his church for their gracious hospitality to defray some lodging costs.

2) Upcoming Trip To New York-At the end the September, we will be consulting with another specialist for a few days who will help us strategize on other more recent diagnoses of Landon’s mass cell activation syndrome and POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a medical condition that affects the autonomic nervous system, which controls automatic functions like heart rate and blood pressure). The Lord miraculously helped us get in after initially being told we could not until well into 2027.

3) Insurance Strategies-We are working to figure out the best way to keep out of pocket costs down by keeping as much of Landon’s meds, appointments, and potential surgeries in network as possible…with some still requiring out of state contributions. (While we are navigating continued financial pressures with all of this unique medical intervention, we would be in a much more difficult spot without all who have sacrificially helped us out over the past 18 months.)

On the left of the side by side picture above is from almost exactly 2 years ago right before Landon’s senior year and this journey began in earnest (note the full personality and optimism we miss/grieve on the regular). The right is from a few weeks ago with my brother Travis and nephew Grant. To look into the present face of my dear son Landon and see how things are trending can-to be honest-be tough to say the least The fatigue in those eyes/mouth is not easy to see, but I am grateful for a face that I can look to/point my own heart and his towards for continued hope and healing. And that face is the face of our Redeemer, the one who never gives up or checks out on us.

Psalm 27:8-9 “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.”