08/30/2026
This is a post we didn’t anticipate making. 🤍
Many of you know that Bryan has dealt with a service-connected back injury for years. Earlier this week, that injury was severely exacerbated, and he is now on day four in the hospital. He has been unable to sit up, stand, or walk because of the pain and loss of mobility.
We made a little progress today. Bryan was able to sit up with quite a bit of pain, but then was unable to get himself back down. There are still a lot of unknowns, including whether he may need to discharge to a rehabilitation facility before coming home, and we know recovery may take some time.
But even here, there is still so much to be grateful for.
Our family and church community have rallied around us in such a beautiful way, and it has reminded us again just how important community really is. Sometimes we are the ones able to show up, serve, carry, encourage, and help. And sometimes we are the ones who have to let others do that for us.
Last week, our barn flooded, and we were still in the middle of cleanup when this happened. With our family focused on Bryan and the kids, there are some things around the farm that we could use help with over the next little while.
Some of those things are:
• Weeding, watering, and tending the garden
• Cleaning animal stalls and helping with barn cleanup
• Organizing the tool/workbench area
• Cleaning the chicken coop and adding fresh bedding
• Cleaning and refilling animal waterers
• Pulling thistles and weeds in the animal paddocks
• Morning or evening animal chores, including feeding and watering
• Brush hogging the goat pasture for anyone experienced with a tractor
None of these things are emergencies, and there is absolutely no pressure. We simply wanted to open the door for those in our Grace Gate Farm community who have asked how they can help.
If you would like to come out and lend a hand, you can text Kirstie at 402-817-9396 or our fellow board member, Nicole Allen, at 314-910-2409, and we can coordinate a day and time.
More than anything, we would appreciate your prayers for Bryan, for pain relief, restored mobility, wisdom for his medical team, and clarity about what comes next.
We are choosing to praise God through all of it.
The valley is still the valley, and hard things are still hard. But when we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, there is still joy to be found in the middle of it. There is still goodness. There are still people showing up. There are still small steps forward. And there is still a God who is working, even when we cannot yet see what He is doing.
We are incredibly grateful for the people God has placed around our family and around Grace Gate Farm. 🤍
