Sunshine Soldier

Silas is Silas. More and more and more each day.

He had an orthopedic appointment. Bye bye cast and hello splint. He is healing nicely. He goes back in 2 weeks. He had physical therapy. They were impressed and think he will progress quickly.

Si’s vision is still blurry and double. So he can’t read very well, it makes him dizzy, throws off his balance, etc.

Si is now walking with no support. Ryan or I just walk right beside him… just in case. Tonight we took a family walk around the loop by our house. We brought the wheelchair but Silas never needed it. He walked the whole thing! (0.66 miles to be exact). And it was a win for Collin and Alexa who loved pushing each other in the wheelchair!

Caleb was beyond thrilled tonight when Silas climbed the stairs to tuck him in. 🥰

I look back on this last month and marvel. I love that song “He will hold me fast.” I have loved it for years. But now, I get it all the way.

And I want to make something very very clear. God held us. We were so weak. So broken. But he held us fast. Because we were bought at such a price, because he loves us so, because his promises last.

Our faith was strong going into this trial. And I’m so very thankful for that. Seventeen years ago I went through a trial and I wasn’t equipped. My faith was so weak. And I crumbled big time. (I actually wrote about it. “Darkness”. I posted it in the spring of 2021). I wasted three years of my life. I didn’t point anyone to Christ, I was far too busy pointing to myself. I am so thankful for my Lord and His steadfast love for me.

So many of you have cared so deeply. You have fervently prayed. You have ridden the roller coaster/torture device right alongside us. Thank you.

Please pray that Si’s vision returns to normal. please pray for 100% healing. Please pray for endurance and strength and comfort for him. Please pray that he takes every opportunity to shine his light for Jesus and give God all the glory for his miraculous healing!

If you have not read Si’s testimony, shame on you! 😜 Here it is…

https://sunshine-soldier.com/2022/05/20/my-testimony-by-silas/

Silas seems so much more himself today. He has laughed more and smiled more and been so much more goofy… yes please!!!

We got to go to church today! All 7 of us! Shout out to Crossway Bible Church! Whose love and support are absolutely amazing! They have encouraged us, they have prayed for us and they have fed us. These people are SO devoted to us in brotherly love. They have hurt so deeply with us this last month. They have rejoiced fully with us as well. The love is deep. We really CANNOT imagine enduring the last month without our Crossway peeps. We love you all so so so much!

We got to celebrate Caleb’s birthday today. For real. It may have been 24 days late, but we will so take it! Caleb was on cloud 9. Happy 17th birthday sweet Caleb!!!

Silas has so many appointments and therapies this week. But he is ready. He is taking this on and plans to shine his light for Jesus in the process. In God’s great provision, Ryan is home. His work gave him time off to care for Silas. Amazing.

Please pray for Silas to have the energy to endure this week. Please pray that he will take every divine appointment and show people their great need for Jesus. Please pray for 100% healing for Silas. Please pray that his relationship with the Lord grows so much through this. Please pray that Si’s therapists will love him immediately and be deeply invested in him.

Please pray for the Atkinson 7. Please pray for endurance for all of us. Please pray that our love for one another and the Lord grows and grows.

Silas was baptized 2 weeks before the accident. He read his testimony to our church body and his family. If you have not had a chance to read it, here it is…

https://sunshine-soldier.com/2022/05/20/my-testimony-by-silas/

Hello all! Silas is still doing really well!

God is so very good. And Silas sees that completely. He sees how God is using his life and his testimony and this trial. He is leaning on the everlasting arms of his Heavenly Father.

This is a trial. This is hard. For Silas, it is hard to be so weak and so tired and so limited. He knows it is just a season, and he is so very thankful for that, but it’s still hard.

Some days are more difficult than others. As his parents, Ryan and I are trying to help Silas talk about his feelings while still not despairing. While still trusting the Lord.

We are so thankful for this amazing boy. My heart absolutely leaps every time he smiles or laughs or jokes. He is an absolute treasure.

Please pray for 100% healing for Silas. Please pray for endurance and strength and comfort and peace and thankfulness in his heart. Please pray that he will love God deeper and wider than ever before.

Please pray for Ryan and I as we parent Silas through this. Please pray that we will be students of him and quickly identify his needs, even when he can’t express them. Please pray for us as we parent our other 4 children through this time. Our hearts desire is to point all of our children to Christ.

If you have not read Si’s testimony, which he shared at his baptism just 2 weeks before the accident, here it is…

https://sunshine-soldier.com/2022/05/20/my-testimony-by-silas/

Hi friends! Thank you for being devoted to Silas in prayer. I know you are all anxious to hear how he is doing.

Truly. There is no place like home. This boy loves being with his people. He loves sleeping in his own bed.

In God’s great provision, my brother and his family are in town this week. So, my nephew Josiah (who is Si’s age) stayed with us around the clock from Sunday until yesterday afternoon. He stuck right with Silas. We even made them beds right next to each other. It was really such a comfort to have J right there with Si. Especially at night.

Silas is trusting in the Lord. He is thankful for all that He has done. He is striving to use it for God’s glory.

Right now, Silas has to sit a lot. He moves from the back porch, to the couch, to our bed (if he needs quiet), to the table (to play a game). If he wants to go to the bathroom or move to another location he needs Ryan’s help. That’s hard.

His energy is very low. He is weak but getting stronger each day. His voice is still not back to normal. It is an effort to talk. It is an effort to focus. His vision is still very blurry and double.

He has so many appointments and therapies starting next week.

Silas has no pain. Amazing.

Please pray for strength and encouragement and comfort for Silas. Please pray that he remembers to be thankful. Please pray that his primary focus is being an instrument in the Redeemer’s hands. Please pray that his vision normalizes quickly. Please pray for 100% recovery for Silas.

If you have not read his testimony, you have to! Here it is…

https://sunshine-soldier.com/2022/05/20/my-testimony-by-silas/

We are home. We are whole.

I really don’t have words. Mostly I just want to say our God is so BIG so STRONG and SO MIGHTY there is NOTHING our God cannot do.

I also want to say thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! Thank you for praying for Silas and for all of us! Thank you for the meals, cards, hugs, treats, encouraging texts and comments, hospital visits, gift baskets, offers for childcare, gift cards, trips to the store… thank you for caring about us! Thank you for those of you who were able to show up today for the Silas parade with 90 minutes notice. Unbelievable. I know you all wanted to be there. And you were in spirit!

We have a road ahead. So many therapies, doctors appointments, etc. So many opportunities to shine our lights for Jesus.

Please pray for endurance and strength and comfort for Silas. Please pray for 100% healing. Please pray that he keeps truth in the front of his mind and the full armor of God really. We DO NOT want the devil to get a foothold.

Please pray for endurance for Ryan and I as we run this race with Silas.

Silas has such a beautiful testimony. If you have not read it, please do! It’s right here…

https://sunshine-soldier.com/2022/05/20/my-testimony-by-silas/

We are on our way! We really should be home at 2:30. Silas will be so happy to see people through the window. Then, we will be taking him straight inside the house. Thank you for understanding!

We are in a navy Silverado truck. Silas is in the back seat with his cousin, Josiah. He is behind the passenger seat.

We are going over discharge paperwork. My best guess on ETA is 2:30 pm. 💛

Silas is amazing. Period.

The team is definitely talking discharge from the hospital today. They are leaning towards sending Silas home. Home!!!!

The plan at the moment is to let him be with his people and do outpatient therapy in town. Then, if we realized he needed something more intensive he would go to Shepherd Center in Atlanta. All of this is subject to change of course but that’s where we stand right now.

Many of you have mentioned wanting to give Silas a special homecoming. So, later today, if you just happen to be free with 30 minutes notice, we have a fun idea. You, your people, etc. could stand along our route through Village Green and cheer, wave, have signs, etc. Basically a Silas parade. Of course we understand that most of you can’t swing that so no worries!

So, later today I will give an ETA as to when I think we will be turning into the entrance to VG. The one between the library and Farragut Primary School. I have a map below showing the way we go to our house.

We love you all!!!! Please continue to pray!

Our address is 11705 North Williamsburg Drive

Well, Silas continues to impress. He is holding his head up so well without so much effort. He is walking better today than yesterday. He is talking better today than yesterday. Amazing. God is so very good.

We trust in the Lord. We trust when things are so so bad. We trust when things are so so good. We are so thankful that God is giving us good for His glory and our good.

The Atkinson 7 got to be together again today. For longer this time. We even ate lunch together. Praise the Lord!

Please pray for 100% recovery for Silas. Please pray for strength and endurance for Silas. Please pray that he takes every divine appointment to shine his light so bright for Jesus.

If you have not read Si’s testimony, you have to! It’s right here…

https://sunshine-soldier.com/2022/05/20/my-testimony-by-silas/

Silas is so amazing! Everyone in the hospital is talking about his radical recovery. To God be the glory!

His scan came back and showed a decrease in the brain bleed. All his blood work is coming back with glowing reports.

The delirium seems to have passed.

He is exhausted, but in good spirits. He is determined.

The Atkinson 7 was reunited today. It was just a few minutes but it did all of our hearts so much good.

Please pray for 100% recovery for Silas. Please pray that he leans on the Lord and trusts in Him wholeheartedly. Pray for strength and endurance.

If you have not read Si’s testimony, you simply must! Here it is…

https://sunshine-soldier.com/2022/05/20/my-testimony-by-silas/