Make Enough of Me - Music Video by Julie de Azevedo

Make sure you pause the music player down at the bottom of the blog and listen to this beautiful song.

This is a song that my dear, wise, aunt sent to me. She sent it to me almost a week ago, and I just now got around to sitting myself down to watch it. It's a beautiful song, and I must say, is very relevant in my life right now...as it probably is to many mothers who might be getting kiddos ready to go back to school, and busy men and women working hard to keep their heads above water.

I haven't posted anything for a while because for one, I haven't really allowed myself the time to just sit and reflect, and for two, because I'm afraid how my voice will sound when I do.

First of all, we still feel so blessed to have Gabe back home with us in our lives. He is a hero to my girls, and a reminder of strength for me. I look at him, and how far he has come every day, and I'm astonished by his courage and endurance. He hasn't once voiced that he feels sorry for himself. He might get a little frustrated because his independence has been taken from him for a short time, but he is never left feeling bitter about his situation.

He is doing outpatient physical therapy at the Elks twice a week, and he and I will be going back to SLC at the end of the week to meet with a neuro-opthamologist, and also to meet with his plastic surgeon.

We continue to be blessed by people who want to help serve our family at this very busy time of need. The young women in our ward (church) have volunteered their time to come and babysit our girls for when I take Gabe to his physical therapy, and they will be coming over tomorrow evening to help me rearrange the girls' bedrooms in time for school.

Rainee is starting junior high this year. She will be getting up much earlier than our other girls, not to mention the fact that she's starting to need some more privacy which is why she will now be getting her own room!! This is a project that we have been trying to complete all summer long, but had to let it go because of the accident. She has been very patient and understanding, but I am so excited that I will have the help and the extra man power, (ie..woman power) to help me get the job done.

The young men in our ward have come and weeded our garden, which was really more weeds than garden, and we have an amazing family in our ward whose son comes and mowes our lawn once a week. I always have a hard time accepting the help, because they are things that I feel like I should be doing myself. However, the chores they are helping me with are always ones that seem to get put on the back burner because of the other more important things that need to be accomplished.

Priorities are a struggle right now because there are so many of them that need to be done. I'm not going to go through the list of everything that needs to be done because let's face it, we are all busy and don't need to waste our time in the details. What's important is that the girls' back to school shopping is all done (Yippeee), and Gabe is getting stronger (hallelujah)!!

School starts back up for me next week and to be honest, I am really nervous about work, and school, and kids, and Gabe, and the house, and the yard, but I know that with prayer to the one who is so proficient at working miracles, that somehow, there will be enough of me to go around.

I love you all for your support, and just for caring enough to check in to see how we're doing every now and then. It will be a long road of recovery ahead, but we will be so grateful for the friends who stick around for the ride.

We love you all~

The Chapeks

There's No Place Like Home.

The images above are of Gabe and the girls seeing each other for the first time, and the day that Gabe acknowledged me for the first time after his surgery. What a sweet heart!!!

I am such a BAD blogger/updater lately. To those of you who attempted to go visit Gabe at the Elks the last few days, I apologize. On Tuesday afternoon the doctors and nurses all agreed, (with the persistence of a very impatient patient), that Gabe would be able to come... HOME!! The girls and I are thrilled to have him back home and are adjusting to our new lives with Daddy back. It has been an interesting couple of days, that have been extremely busy, but also full of love and gratitude towards Gabe and his continued recovery at home. The girls have been extremely resilient, and are giving their daddy millions of hugs and kisses to make up for lost time. I'm sure all of the love is what's helping him get stronger.

Gabe will still be going to the Elks a couple of times during the week for outpatient rehab, and has a plethora of doctors appointments in his future. But he is happy to be home and resting back in his "old man chair", and is still welcoming visitors. If you're interested in visiting Gabe please know that he still tires pretty quickly, and his brain needs lots of extra rest right now to recover. But that's just, as Gabe would say, "the old lady" in me who likes to worry. ; ) Having said that however, he would still LOVE to have visitors and is always strengthened and encouraged by friends and family that come and show their support towards him. We both appreciate every one's love, and support, and generosity, more than we will probably ever be able to adequately express.

While I am expressing gratitude, I would just like to say "Thank You" to those of you who have contributed to the fund that was opened in Gabe's name. Because many of the donations have been made anonymously, it's hard for me to know who exactly it is that I need to thank. I am hoping that some of the people who have contributed are following this blog so that they will be able to read of my sincere gratitude. We are thankful as a family, and want you to know that we will be using the money only towards our future travels back and forth to SLC, and things pertaining to Gabe's recovery. Right now his insurance has been wonderful, as has his employers, Earth Energy. We are truly blessed that he works for such a great company that has been sincerely more concerned with Gabe's recovery than they are about the financial losses that have come from the accident. We are forever indebted to your kindness.

We are so grateful at this time for everyone who has been so supportive all along. I promise you that thank you cards will be sent out eventually. Life has been so much more busy now that Gabe is at home. I'm learning how to be a nurse along with my other duties, and so far, Gabe is my very favorite patient.

Love to you Always~

Gabe, Nakel, and Family