August 1,2006
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Saints.” Ephesians 6:18 NIV
For Whitney, today was a quiet, typical day. She was into her routine; rising, therapies in the morning, lunch and then therapies in the afternoon till about 5 pm. Her ankle showed some signs of swelling today so it was wrapped with an ace bandage. She still moves about with little pain and a limp. Her therapist keeps working on her elbow range of motion, which improves ever so slowly. Her voice is not up to full volume as of yet but maybe that is a blessing in disguise.
We did get a treat from her today. Whitney made lunch for Colleen and me. She fried up three hamburgers, toasted the burger buns for Colleen, and opened up some salsa and chips and of course Pepsi. It was delicious! I said it was so good and that when Whit gets home she can do the same thing for us again. She replied, “Not likely.” I realized then that the therapies were not going as well as we had hoped. All kidding aside, she did a great job!
She enjoyed an evening with her college roommate and a very close friend, talking about college past and college future. It was a good day.
Colleen was able to speak with Susie VanRyn today. The family continues to minister at the Christian camp in the U.P. They are surrounded by good friends sharing God’s love. With God’s help and strength they are doing well. We pray for them. Continue to pray for all in need of God’s comfort, strength, mercy and grace. Wait, that sounds like all of God’s children! Then let’s be faithful to pray for one another, lifting each other up to God Almighty.
Ephesians 6:19-20 says: “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare if fearlessly, as I should.” Oh, that we would pray for boldness to share God’s truth. The only truth in this world, there is no other. Our prayer is that many come to know this truth through our boldness to live and share Jesus Christ. Be fearless…if God be for us…who can be against us?
In Christ alone, Whitney’s family
For Whitney, today was a quiet, typical day. She was into her routine; rising, therapies in the morning, lunch and then therapies in the afternoon till about 5 pm. Her ankle showed some signs of swelling today so it was wrapped with an ace bandage. She still moves about with little pain and a limp. Her therapist keeps working on her elbow range of motion, which improves ever so slowly. Her voice is not up to full volume as of yet but maybe that is a blessing in disguise.
We did get a treat from her today. Whitney made lunch for Colleen and me. She fried up three hamburgers, toasted the burger buns for Colleen, and opened up some salsa and chips and of course Pepsi. It was delicious! I said it was so good and that when Whit gets home she can do the same thing for us again. She replied, “Not likely.” I realized then that the therapies were not going as well as we had hoped. All kidding aside, she did a great job!
She enjoyed an evening with her college roommate and a very close friend, talking about college past and college future. It was a good day.
Colleen was able to speak with Susie VanRyn today. The family continues to minister at the Christian camp in the U.P. They are surrounded by good friends sharing God’s love. With God’s help and strength they are doing well. We pray for them. Continue to pray for all in need of God’s comfort, strength, mercy and grace. Wait, that sounds like all of God’s children! Then let’s be faithful to pray for one another, lifting each other up to God Almighty.
Ephesians 6:19-20 says: “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare if fearlessly, as I should.” Oh, that we would pray for boldness to share God’s truth. The only truth in this world, there is no other. Our prayer is that many come to know this truth through our boldness to live and share Jesus Christ. Be fearless…if God be for us…who can be against us?
In Christ alone, Whitney’s family
posted by ncerak | 5:43 AM
23 Comments:
I love to begin my day going to your website. Your updates,along with God's word, is just what I need for the day...Glad to hear that Whitney is making progress each day. You are constantly in our prayers. God is so good!
Praise God that Whitney is doing so well. Your blogs are an encouragement as well as informing! God Bless!
Praying for you all.
May God richly bless you today.
A Taylor Mom
Thank you for that verse from Ephesians... I just wrote it out on a post it note, and put it up in my cube to remind me here at work of my 'true' focus!
Thank you for your encouragement - Whitney I am cheering for you today and praying for you! Thank you for ministering to us.
I so appreciate that you keep taking the time to write these updates. I've been so busy lately, but I'm still reading, and still being uplifted and encouraged on a daily basis (or on a few-days basis when I play catch up). As a family, your hearts are so on display--and what a powerful display they are! Much love and prayers!
Hi Ceraks,
Thanks for your continued updates. It is so good to read about Whitney's progress, and your verses and words are so uplifting. You all are so special! Keeping you in our prayers.
Lots of love,
Lisa and family
Thank you for all that you are doing to minister to so many. You truly are doing as God as directed. Thank you also for the update on the VanRyn's....we will continue to pray for them as well as the other families. I wish we could hear from someone connected with each of the chosen 5 families...just to know how they are doing and for specific prayer needs at this time.
I pray for Whitney all the time, I love reading this blog.
Can I please ask you to pray for a friend of mine's dauther. She is 30 weeks pregnant and the doctors think she may deliver in two weeks.
Thanks!
I've been with you since the beginning both in thought and prayer. You're daily witness (actually in the beginning the VanRyn's) is one of the most awesome things I've ever seen. I to go to the site every morning and thank you so much for taking the time to share not only Whitney's progress but God's promise with all of us.
Yes, it would be nice to hear from each of the chosen 5 families, but like your request to the media, we must respect each ones privacy as they work through this in their own ways.
Again, prayers and blessings to you all from a mom in Clare.
I hope someday God will show you what this blog has accomplished for Him. I was struggling today and decided to log on and check the daily update, and always God reminded me He's all I need.
You have a powerful witness and testimony to a lost and dying world. God Bless you all...and for Whitney, continued healing!
Thank you for the update on Whitney, and alos on the VanRyns. Does anyone know how the other families are doing? We pray for them often.
Hi, Ceraks! Were your ears burning this weekend? The Upland Friends Reunion took place in Marshall at Schuler's with Donna, Mary Edna, Carolyn, Linda, Molly, Carla, Sue, and yours truly. The neat thing is that Melanie came all the way from Biola! We laughed, cried and had a great time going "back to the old days"! You were on the list of the "oldies" going way back to the mid-seventies and on to the present. Wasn't God awesome to "invent" friendship?! Where would any of us be without the loving support of friends?! All of us were in agreement in our love and support of you all...even though we are spread out over 3 states now. God continues to "grow us up" in Himself even though some of us are approaching antiquity! :-)
May He continue ALL He is doing in you all...and in us! We love you! Peg
Cerak family,
You bless so many with your optomistic attitude and faith. God bless you all. Thank you for being such a blessing to us all.
Praying for you all.
-Taylor student '08
To all those who want to know how all the others are doing you can blog in to Kelly (Monica's daughter). I am sure that she would appriciate all the kind thoughts and prayers.
Whit, continue to keep on keeping. You are being held by the Lord, and you have made much progress since the accident.
Whit's family, you are all in prayer. I am sure that you are tired, but happy Whit is doing as well as she is.
To the chosen 5. You are being lifted up in prayer daily. Those in the community of Upland and surrounding communities are also lifting everyone up.
In Christ wonderful love to all of us. God Bless all of you this day.
Your daily posts prove to be a continual blessing to me. It always amazes me how God's word is manifest through you. Thank you for your faithfulness to Him and for allowing your circumstance to be a testimoney of His everlasting love. Each time He ministers to you He is ministering to someone else through you (I Cor 15:58). I continue to pray for Whitney's healing.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ENCOURAGING WORDS EACH DAY! WE ARE PRAYING FOR WHITNEY'S CONTINUED HEALING AND FOR THE OTHER FAMILIES TO HAVE GOD'S PEACE EACH DAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO READING THESE MESSAGES EACH MORNING - THANK YOU!!!
Keep the faith, My wife was involved in an accident at home and spent time much like Whitney. In a coma, to the next hospital to a rehab hospital to an outpatient rehab hospital back to driving and work. She has been out of therapy (besides me) since the end of January this year. It takes time but there is a reason God let my wife live. Thanks, Roger
I, too, was very blessed by the choice of the Ephesians 6:19-20 scripture. Your daily blogs have ministered and blessed SO MANY people. It's so wonderful to know that there are other fellow Christians out in this world, that truly know that healing comes through the power of prayer. Love you Ceraks, thank you so much for everything!!!! Be Blessed!!!!
Love from,
MdE in North Port, Florida
We are Watching Whitneys progress daily and am greatful for your miracle!
Whitneys progress is a testament to her strength and Gods love. She's really an inspirational young women, and you truly have a wonderful family. Our prayers are with you all for continued strides in recovery. Peace to you all.
Cerak family,
First of all, I'd like to share with you that I think it is absolutely wonderful how you are keeping the world informed on Whitney's progress. I firmly believe it was through God that she survived the horrible accident.
I, too, thanks to God, am a head/brain injury survivor. I was in a horseback riding accident, just after my Freshman year of College. The horse I was on ran me head first into a tree trunk, without a helmet on. Multiple broken bones, like Whitneys. However, I was in a coma for 7 weeks. The University I attended was Michigan State University. I learned, after I went back to college, in some article in the Handicapped Services, that brain injured students have to work ten times harder than the average student. I found that to be true. It IS more difficult ... (at least for me it was), but with scribes & extended test taking times, it is ALL possible. So, Whitney, if ever you get down with the stress or hardships about being back in college, you have to be proud that through the grace of God & your hard work, you are alive & back to doing what you & God want you to do. It's all part of His glorious plan. I thank Jesus, everyday, for sparing my life. I also thank Him for sparing yours.
I believe that going back to college was wonderful therapy, for me, to relearn how to live & to get along with others again. It's been 13 yrs since my accident & I am a wife(8 yrs) & mother of 4 children. I pray you can make a full recovery. You are on your way there & at dramatic speeds! I graduated from MSU with a BS degree. So don't EVER let anybody tell you that just because you had a brain injury, you aren't as good as everybody else or just as smart! Because you are!
I believe that our accidents were just another trial given to us & by God's grace you just have to keep on pressing on & prove to the rest of the world that YOU CAN DO IT! There's nothing to stop you ... God's on your side! That's the best feeling in the world, isn't it?
I also pray that the Lord give the families of the others, in the accident, the comfort they need to carry on. May God bless them all.
& May God Bless you!
Your Sister in Christ,
Joey (VanderVeen) Raymond
I hope someday you all can put the irrational belief in god behind you and properly credit the kindnesses you have been given. Best of luck to you!
Sadly, I know you will erase this comment because it doesn't perpetuate the brainwashing you promote. Make me invisible and dead like you were.
Whitney, the road ahead is going to be rough. You may feel like throwing your hands up in the air and giving up. And that is natural. I do believe with all the love and support you have with your family and friends, they will be your wings and pick you up should you fall. With all that i have read about you, you seem like a determined young woman. When days seem unbearable, look for that determination and use it. In the next couple of years you will look back on all this and won't believe the accident and the events that followed actually happened. And then that's when you thank God and appreciate the fact that he wanted you to go on with your life and share your experience so that you can uplift others. People will be listening and watching you, more than you may like, but with God, your family, and your friends, that is when you will show them that this is how you do it. One step at a time. Keep up the courage, the strength, the love, and the determination. Good luck to you in all your future endevours. Sincerely, Rebecca Shervey
I've heard about the accident here in Sweden from a swedish newspaper, and i though it was a big tradgedy.
I'm praying for Whitney's recovery, and rest in peace Laura.
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