Road to Recovery

My heart has been heavy and burdened for our friends, the Startups and their baby boy Copeland. I know my last post was urging for prayer. Those of you who follow me on Facebook or Twitter have been updated through that, but if you haven't, please take time to check out Will's blog at http://willlaurenstartup.blogspot.com/. Copeland has made tons of progress and the Lord's Hand over all of it has been so evident. Thank you to all that have been praying for this sweet family. I have been blessed beyond words and inspired by our sweet friend's faith thru this journey. They still have a road ahead of them, so please keep them in prayer.

Our situation seems so minimal after putting things into perspective with what Copeland and the Startups are experiencing. God has been good and gracious to us through this rehab journey. Daniel recently got his cast off and stitches out, YAY! The doctor commented on how beautiful Daniel's hand is healing. We are happy to be moving forward. There have been moments where we have caught ourselves being disappointed or upset over our situation, but again, it's all about PERSPECTIVE. And again, people are dealing with far more harder situations. Instead of being upset we have decided to choose joy. We have always said that our desire is to glorify our Lord thru baseball and if this is where He has us right now, I'm confident He will use it for His glory. All is looking good for Daniel to be back playing mid to late July. He has full mobility and function already over his hand and is getting daily rehab on it at the field. Thank you to all who have been praying :)

Daniel giving the "thumbs up" after getting his cast off & stitches out.

Daniel and I at Mariners/Diamondbacks Game

Love this pic!

Next Picture is one of Daniel's hand during surgery (pretty gruesome)-so scroll down with CAUTION.












Doctor took pic of Daniel's hand during surgery. That is his actual hamate bone that broke that is on his hand. They just completely removed it. Second pic is 2 weeks after surgery with stitches out.

Please Pray for Copeland Startup

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: Please be praying for this precious guy, Copeland and his parents Will & Lauren. They are dear friends to us and their son Copeland is in critical condition right now.

Goodbye Hamate Bone!

Daniel's original surgery was set for yesterday, Tuesday at 8 am. The trainer picked us up from the hotel right on time and we arrived at the surgery center a little before schedule. They called Daniel back and began prepping him for surgery. They drew a mark on his hand to show us where the incision would be, the doctor discussed the details with us, I kissed Daniel goodbye and made my way back to the waiting area. About 20 minutes passed and the doctor called us back. I thought it seemed quick and when the doctor led us back to Daniel and seeing that nothing had happened, I knew something must be wrong. I wasn't sure what to think. The doctor then informed us that the patient before Daniel had passed away and they decided to put off Daniel's surgery to make sure everyone would have a clear mind before doing further surgeries. Turned out, it was an elderly woman in her late 70s getting a routine carpal tunnel procedure. The surgery went fine and she woke up from anesthesia and was talking and laughing with the nurses before she passed away. Don't know any more details then that, but please keep her family in prayer.

They were able to reschedule Daniel right away and Daniel had surgery at 7am this morning. Our spirits are high and we are feeling so much peace. While waiting today before surgery, Daniel was making jokes about how his surgery gown looked like, in his own words, "medieval peasant clothes" and that all he needed was a belt, sword, and face paint and he'd be ready for battle. I guess he was feeling Braveheart inspired. I love how he still always knows how to make me laugh. I really do see him as a warrior though. He is so strong and I admire the way he handles himself in these kind of situations. His faith is a constant inspiration to me!

The surgery went absolutely perfect! So thank you for the prayers! The doctor said Daniel's bone was a complete break and he was able to shake it as if it was a loose tooth. So we are thankful it's out! The anesthesia hit Daniel kinda hard, but he was still the sweetest thing. He was entertaining the nurse with his sweet gestures telling her that he loved her and thanking her for taking care of him. Definitely had a little of a 'David after Dentist' moment (if you don't know what that is then 1.you must live under a rock and 2. youtube it). Overall, it's been a great day and Daniel isn't in much pain at all. Thank you so much for all the prayers and constant support. We're excited to be moving forward.

Nothing Comes Close to the Golden Coast

I have concluded that I am and will truly always be a California girl. Don't get me wrong. I love seeing and experiencing all these new places, but my heart craves for an ocean during the summer. I absolutely LOVE being at the beach! And the desire of my heart came true this past weekend because Daniel actually had the weekend OFF! Some of you might not understand the rarity of a weekend off in the baseball world, but during the baseball season... they are hard to come by! Usually at most during the season, the guys will get 2 or 3 days off a month and that's never together unless it's the all-star break. So we were so excited when we found out we were actually going to be able to visit HOME! The drive to Cali from Arizona is only about 4 and a half hours and we've done it countless times, so it's easy breezy to us! 

Friday night, we got to go on a triple date with our best friends. We saw the movie Snow White and the Huntsman, which I actually really liked. Saturday, we went to Santa Barbara with my in laws and celebrated my brother in laws birthday at the beach and then out to dinner with him and his wife. I also got to catch up with my sweet friend Stacie who just gave birth to her precious little boy a couple months ago. So got to meet and hold her precious little guy. Sunday, spent more time with our best friends, got to visit Daniel's grandparents then spent the night eating my dad's famous spaghetti and meatballs and having a game night with my fam. We headed back Monday and I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. 

Never would I have thought we'd be able to be home in California during the middle of a baseball season. I would have never wished for it to come the way it did, but I am thankful for these sweet little blessings in the midst of our circumstance. It was a great time at home with our family and friends.

With sweet lil Levi

 Daniel and his brother Ryan

Roadtripping with the Carrolls

Thank you all for the prayers- we are feeling it! We arrived in Arizona this past Monday. The organization was very accommodating to our situation and actually let us drive out to Arizona together with our car. We left Alabama early and made the 6 hour drive back to Jackson last Friday. Then left the next day for the 3 day trip to Arizona. Despite the circumstances, we had an amazing time. I attached a video we made along the journey. God has been really speaking to us clearly already and we are feeling so much peace. I'm sure we will have our moments, but there is truly so much peace in knowing we are in the Hands of the God of the universe. I believe we will be restored for our troubles and I still do believe God has a good plan. What the enemy is trying to use for bad, I believe with my whole heart that God can and WILL use it for His glory! Keep the prayers coming. Daniel has surgery this upcoming Tuesday at 8:30am.

Xray of Daniel's broken hamate bone

Our Roadtrip Video:: CHECK IT OUT! :)

In other news, I got a new "due"! I dyed my hair dark again and cut off about 4 inches. Going back the natural route :) I'm still getting used to it- but Daniel loves it so I guess its a success :) Here's a pic:

Battlefield

Ephesians 6:10-13

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God,so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground"

I have no doubts that we are constantly surrounded by a super natural battle field around us. I know that may seem weird and creepy to some, but how can we deny it? We hear it so often & can feel it time to time, but many times we don't acknowledge or grasp what is truly taking place. If we don't acknowledge it, then we won't have the power to fight properly against it. 

I can personally say, most recently, that we have definitely been right in the center of an intense battle. Although I may feel weary, even as I write this, I know in the end that we have the upper hand and will come out victorious through this all through Christ. From our last blog, you know that Daniel was put on the DL for a labrum tear. That was mid May and actually happened the day I flew out from California. Although it wasn't the greeting I was hoping for, I was thankful to have been there for Daniel when it happened.

Even before that first injury, Daniel was having a slow start baseball wise just getting into a groove & getting over some mental aspects of the game. That was the first tough thing we had to face. Every baseball player wants to do well. He finally started getting into the swing of things again going 4 for 7 in the game that he got hurt the first time. Although we felt discouraged initially, we both felt an unexplainable peace in the midst of it. Little did we know how much God would use it and move through that situation. Like Daniel shared in the last blog, the Lord's really been taking us on a journey with Him. Through that first injury, we saw multiple miracles take place. We saw potentially life threatening spots disappear on a liver after praying. We saw a guy that just got out of jail who had a broken hand be healed and give his life to the Lord. We saw Daniel experience accelerated healing in his labrum...we were seeing things and the power of God moving in a way we have never experienced in our Christian walks before. Our faith was being strengthened.

Daniel was re-activated back on the roster a couple weeks ago and has been doing really well on the field. He was seeing and hitting the ball real good and really getting into his groove again. We thought all was good and that we were back on track to getting things going in baseball again. Then our faith would be put to the test again. Daniel had been feeling some pain in his left wrist the past week and was diagnosed with some tendinitis. The trainer had been taking good care of it and Daniel was on some meds to help with the pain. We thought it'd only be a minor thing that would go away in time and would be something he could play through. Well last night, as Daniel swung during an at bat he started feeling extreme pain right away. He had to be taken out of the game and at that point, I knew something was wrong. I could see the disappointment in his face as he was sitting in the dugout with his hand on his wrist. We went to doctors today and have found out that it is a broken hamate bone and Daniel will need surgery in the coming week. It is a common injury amongst baseball players and the recovery process is 4 to 6 weeks.

It breaks my heart more then anything for Daniel. Even after seeing God work in such big ways thru that first injury, I feel like my faith doesn't feel as strong this time around. I honestly feel drained spiritually and emotionally. I know Daniel just wants to be playing. I want to see his dreams come true for him. This is Daniel's 9th time going on the DL since starting pro ball in 2007. Never in our wildest thoughts would we have thought this journey to the big leagues would be such a roller coaster. I can truly say though that we have always seen God's provision through each and everyone of those setbacks. And I want to believe that He has a bigger plan in it all. Although I don't fully understand these setbacks, I do believe it is spiritual warfare and I don't want to give the enemy any type of victory in this. I know it will be a journey of emotions as we rehab now, but I will counteract this battle and fight back as best as I can- and that is through prayer. Please join me in praying. I want to see God glorified through this. 

Faith (By:Daniel)

Hey Everyone! Daniel here! 


Lets dive right into it. So I dislocated my left shoulder sliding into second base this past Sunday and was told I have a small labrum tear in my left shoulder. Im now on the 7 Day DL. 

Regardless of that, the Lord has been doing a work over here. Over the past couple months a big thing that has been on my heart is divine healing (what the bible says about healing and why we don't see more of it.) This deeper dive in getting to know more of the person of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit has opened opportunities to have really good conversations about it with my teammates.

Then I got hurt. The entire time it was happening the Lord gave me an unexplainable peace in the midst of the pain. What happens next was totally the Lord. Several of my non christian teammates came to me in faith while I was on the training table wanting to pray for healing over me in front of everyone (Quick side note: we prayed for healing over one of the guys who had a pretty bad pulled muscle in his neck and he was 100% healed later that night. He was one of the guys that came in to pray for me after I had got hurt). I wasn't healed on the spot, but it was awesome to see the Lord moving in their hearts and to see the their childlike faith even though they didn't know what to say or pray. 

Two days later I was a little frustrated I hadn't received the full manifestation of my healing yet. I can honestly say that I didn't even want to be healed for baseball, I really wanted to be healed to show Gods power to my teammates and to back up what I had been preaching to them. In the midst of what the enemy was trying to use to discourage me, the Lord allowed something miraculous to happen! The family Chel and I are staying with in Jackson, have a grandmother (Nana) that recently has had health complications. Just last week, she had to stay over night in the emergency room because they found a spot on her liver and didn't know what it was. After an all night stay and no diagnosis they set up an appointment next week. 

Now back to two days after my injury...Nana came over that morning before she went to her doctors appointments. I felt the Lord tugging on my heart to pray for her healing. We all then laid hands on her and prayed. I don't even know what I said, the Holy Spirit literally took over and spoke. It was an awesome prayer time. The next day Nana calls Martha (the woman were living with) so excited saying the Lord has healed her! Apparently the nurse couldn't  find the spot on her liver at all. She had to call the doctor in to try and find the spot. Eventually the doctor told her, we don't know what to tell you or how to explain this, but the spot on your liver is completely gone. PRAISE JESUS!!!!! 

When I heard the news, as you can imagine, I was ecstatic! I still am in awe. I want my situation to be used in any way to bring glory to Jesus. Needless to say, my faith has grown through this experience. I am still claiming healing over my shoulder and have been experiencing accelerated healing! I have almost full range of motion and function. Praise God!

These are my final thoughts. Healing was a mighty display of Gods love and power in the Bible, but why don't we see more of that today? Don't we serve the same God? Yes we do! Where I believe we go wrong, is we seem to be lacking faith. Christians simply don't know or believe the powerhouse of the Holy Spirit that lives inside them. The Bible clearly shows that faith is the key ingredient in so many of the healings Jesus performed. He always said "your your faith has made you well". This isn't a worldly faith like "I hope this works out". Im talking Bible faith "as if it has already happened" "believe as though you have already received". Bible faith like the woman that had a hemorrhage for twelve years and just knew if she only touched the fringe of His robe she would be healed. I know it took even greater faith from me to pray for healing over the Grandma when I hadn't even received my healing fully yet. As followers of Jesus, He has given us all authority over every sickness, disease, problem and situation. Lets do our part always and have great Faith and leave the rest up to our Heavenly Father. God truly is a Healer and wants us to depend on Him completely for everything and in faith receive it. 

As I'm typing this, my shoulder is so much better already than it should be. Im depending on Him to heal me completely. Please add my full healing to your prayer list. But rememberer to pray with authority that God has given you.

Thanks for listening, to Him be ALL the GLORY!