Josiah is going home today! This is such a blessing from God just proving that He can make the impossible, possible. I can manage Josiah’s pain at home, I have oxygen at home (although he hasn’t been needing it very much since he had the drain put in, PTL!), and I will have a hospice nurse coming to our home to help with anything I need or don’t feel comfortable with. He is so excited to be in his house again! We will not be bringing the kids home to live right now. I know I can not take care of all Josiah’s needs and the children’s too. They are happy and settled at my parent’s house and so they will stay there for now. Both Ava and Lincoln were able to come for a visit yesterday afternoon and that was just what we both needed! I am hoping that we will be able to see them more when we are home.
Josiah is so excited to be able to go home! It will be so nice to be in our own house again! We don’t know if Josiah will die today, tomorrow, next week, next month…but none of us know that. Each day is a gift and we are thankful for it.
Please pray for me. This is not my first time to bring someone home that needs care…I’ve done it more times than I care to count. I know from experience that it will be overwhelming at first. I will need strength, patience, organization, endurance….I need prayer. I will have lots of help, but the responsibility of certain things rests on my shoulders. I am more than happy to do this. It is my priviledge. It is my act of love. And God has given me the grace that I need in the past and I am trusting that He will continue.
2 Corinthians 12:9 – …My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…
Beautiful Things 
Dear Josiah & Jessica,
As a new year has begun, and as Jody and I began our day with a devotion, my thoughts ran to you and your precious family as we read from Oswald Chamber’s “Utmost”. I just wanted to send you the link to encourage you as you go through this day with its challenges and triumphs. We will pray for you both as you transition home, and may you both be strengthened by the joy of Jesus! You are dearly loved!
Be God’s,
Scott & Jody
oops here’s the link.
http://www.myutmost.org/01/0101.html
What a wonderful blessing… home. We will be sending you both stregnth. Prayers to you and yours…
Erin Burton
What a praise! We will continue to pray for many more memory-making times. Time is so precious! We will pray for strength and courage for you, Jess.
Blessings!
WOW!! God is so good ALL the time!! What a wonderful New Year’s gift! We will continue to pray for both of you as you come back home. As always, please, please call if you need anything…we are so close by we can be there before anyone else could!!! Know we love you guys and are praying multiple times daily for you. This is such good news for the day!!!
Love & Blessings,
Stu & Judy
Wow…what a praise to start the year with…it was so wonderful to read this. God is so good! Jess…you are such a strong person and I know you give the credit to God. He will give you what you need to care for Josiah. We will continue to pray for you both!!
In our prayers continuously,
The Pilchers
Praise the Lord! He is so faithful!! Thank you for sharing your specific requests. We are…continuing to pray!!
Dear Jessica,
I am not certain which FB friend connected me with you, but I am so thankful that I am, as I have been praying for you.
My heart went out to your & Josiah immediately, as we lost a 28 yr. old daughter to an unknown brain disorder soon to be 10 yrs. ago.
Your writings have encouraged AND challenged me so much.
HIS grace is indeed sufficient in our time of need. I experienced that when I spent those 3 1/2 short weeks of our daughters illness & Homegoing. The Lord is ever faithful to His loved ones; even though we don’t understand completely the testings He puts us through.
I will continue to pray for you & Josiah in the days He has left for you together. May the Lord continue to be glorified IN and THROUGH both of you, I pray.
The love for each other, for your children & Christ’s love just radiate from your eyes in the picture of the four of you. May you all keep looking unto Jesus!
In Christ,
Ruth Owensby
Oh, Josiah and Jess, Words cannot describe how happy we are for you two! What a comfort for you, Josiah to be in your own home…and to have your faithful and encouraging wife at your side helping you with your needs… What a blessing for both of you! We are continually upholding you in prayer and thanking our merciful and gracious Lord for giving you more precious times together! What a wonderful blessing on this New Year’s Day! With love and prayers, ~ Aunt Mona and Uncle Tom
GOOD NEWS!!!!! I am so glad that Josiah got to come home. You will be a good nurse to him! I will be praying for you each time God brings you to mind. I promise to do that!! If you need anything please know that I am willing and able. I’m so glad that the hospice nurse can come and help you. They are great!
Much love,
amanda
Thanks for these updates. We will continue praying about this entire situation knowing He is preparing you for what He has already prepared in accordance with His own will-Word and ways. The light will never grow so dim that God is unable to fully see and be in control of these difficult circumstances you are beginning this New Year with. No one can ever fall into any situation or circumstance that is shielded from His view. David wrote in Psalm 139:11-12 “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. Continuing to pray as you trust Him for what you do not see and cannot know.
Randy and family
That’s great, Jess. We’ll be praying for both of you.
Jessica, Josiah,
We think of you and pray for you daily. We pray that you both will continue to abide daily in the Lord, depend on Christ as your constant source of strength and hope. Here’s a simple prayer from an old poem that might be helpful…
“Live out Your life within me, O Jesus, King of kings.
Be You Yourself the answer to all my questionings.
And be the answer, Lord, to all my needs, including
my need to pray as you desire.”
There are really no words to share how you have touched our lives. Thank you. We will daily lift you up. Cathy
Be assured we will be praying for you, Jessica, to have the strength and wisdom to continue taking this one day at a time. I know I’ve said before, but it bears repeating that the two of you bring such glory to God in continually turning to Him and trusting Him in all of this. Thanks for sharing your heart with us all, honestly and openly, the joys as well as the sorrows. You are on our hearts and in our prayers daily –
Dianne
Take care of yourself also Jessica. It is nice to hear Josiah is coming home. There is no place like home. I think about you and your family daily and praying for comfort for all.
So glad you are able to be home. Just wanted to say that we are praying for you!
Jess and Josiah,
What a blessing from the Lord on this day of new beginnings . . . we continue to pray and appreciate the specifics you mentioned . . .Love, Rod and Janie Carsten
Awesome news!
We love you guys & we’re praying, praying, praying.
Sending prayers for strength, patience and endurance for all of you. We are so glad that Josiah is able to be at home for now. Continuing to keep Jess, Josiah, Ava, Link and the entire family in our prayers.
AWESOME!!!
I have been following your story for quite some time now and I’m constantly amazed by your strength. I shouldn’t be because I know its because of God that you have it. Josiah is a fighter and I can tell just by what you’ve written. I’m a member at Saylorville, but don’t think I’ve met either of you. I have been in tears reading some of your blogs and then I’m smiling from your amazing attitude. I once read that “Life’s trials are God’s school of faith”. He has sure given you and Josiah some trials. He has a plan though and you will be blessed by the results of his trials and His plan for you and Josiah.
I think its wonderful that he got to go home today!!! I’m praying for continued strength for the both of you and hoping the kids can come home and join you and you all can be together as a family once again!!! Looking forward to more updates!!!
God bless you,
Erin Baber
So glad he gets to go home. I have been praying and will continue to pray.
That is such nice news. I was a little concerned-and surprized-after seeing “Homeward Bound,” thinking that meant this was the day for Josiah to go to his REAL home in heaven. Indeed having him in your own home, together and in a familiar env’t, is another of God’s blessings in what seems a grim time. Glad this is what was in store for the New Year today. And GOd WILL give you the strength you need to get through each hour of serving both God and each other in you home setting. I will also pray your children are peacful, secure, and at ease with this situation-sounds like they are doing well. Thank God for grandparents, too. 🙂 Enjoy your time, and glad for you. God lift you up in His loving arms. You are surrounded by loved ones and friends. How blessed you are.
Johnson Family,
I just want you to know that there is a whole sea of the body of Christ out here praying for you, and we may not all personally know you, but we love you guys, and you are in our prayers. We are very glad that Josiah is now able to come home.
Jer. 29:11
Such wonderful news…God is so good. Bless you all…will pray for you all and the extra added strength for you Jessica as you go forward with your caretaking. Your sweet face, I am sure, will bring Josiah much peace and comfort.
Donna Hardin
I have been reading your posts! you are a STRONG woman! It brings tears to my eyes to know what you are going through! My heart BREAKS for you and your children! God has chosen you for this…and you are doing a beautiful job! I lost my mother Lora when I was 17 she was very sick a lot of my life..I am 27 now and I have a 10 year old boy named Tyler. He had open heart surgery when he was 7. It was so hard.. all of it.. I looked to the lord..he pulled me through,like he is doing you! I don’t know u at all but I want to say ur family is beautiful! I know ur hubby is going to a much more beautiful place than here..no more SUFFERING! I hope I can be half the woman you are someday! Tell Josiah a random girl named Crystal Wolfe said he is a wonderful Brave Human being that the lord made! a beautiful soul,that wont be forgotten!!! Josiah and ur family has inspired me to tje fullest! I will keep u in my prayers! Crystal Wolfe
Josiah and Jessica,
I have had you on my mind so often and wondered how you all were doing. Thankfully I found your website and was able to read and see the wonderful pictures of you family.
You are in my prayers.
God Bless all of you.
“For I can do everything through Christ,* who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
Jess, you are an amazingly strong woman. I will continue to lift you both up in prayer as well as pray for the additional strength, courage and patience you will need in this transition.
Warmest Blessings,
Stacey
How exciting! God is so good! Remember the joy of the Lord is your strength. =)
quote from Abraham Lincoln: “i have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.”
God used this quote and Psalm 142:3 “when my spirit grows faint within me, it is You, o Lord, who know my way.” to help me. I pass it on. Randy and I are thankful you get to come home and we continue to pray.
Randy and Teri Nordaker
Praise the Lord that Josiah is going home! Praying with you as you face many challenges, but rejoicing that you get to have more time together.
It was so great to read that Josiah was able to come home on New Year’s Day. What a blessing!!! It’s a little easier to try and relax and feel better when you’re in the comfort of your own home. We’re continuing our prayers for you.
Love,
Carrie, Michael, Mason & Emma Sauers
Jessica ~ I was given your information by my SIL, Joyce, who knows your MIL. I’ve been praying for you and Josiah since.
I brought my husband home on hospice right before New Years Eve 5 years ago, also not knowing how much time we had, and it was the beginning of two wonderful weeks surrounded by love and family and friends. I pray the same for you and Josiah and your little ones during this time.
I remember that the Lord led me to Psalm 146 the night I made the decision to bring my husband home. May it bring you comfort, as well.
I will continue to remember you in prayer, may God’s peace surround you and lift you all up during this time.
mali
Caring for your husband is such a privilege and I am happy that you are able to be in you own home during this time. Thanking God with you for His grace and strength each day.
Dear Josiah and Jessica,
You don’t know me, but I know Josiah’s dad, Dennis. First, I want to “Thank-You” for sharing your journey with us. By doing so, you have touched the lives of so many. The journey itself, being so difficult, but finding the strength at the end of a day, exhausted and beyond, to share yourselves so generously. I am humbled by your courage and your strength, which both seem to come from the most important place of all, your faith. You are wise beyond your years! I am very grateful for the way that your faith has affected my own. You are not even half my age, I don’t even know you, and yet I am learning from you. Thank-you! You turn your sorrow into joy, you use the special gifts of faith, love and hope to inspire others, when all the while you have so much on your own plate. Amazing!! As a parent, I know how very proud your parents must be of the two of you. What special blessings you are to them. I am honored to have been touched by you and your lives. I will continue to pray for you and your families. May God Bless You All!!
We are in thanksgiving for all the wonder your family brings to all who know you and have heard about you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you often and we rejoice that we are only pilgrims on our way HOME.
I asked the Lord God for a portion of scripture to share with you and He brought this to mind,
Psalm 84:5-8
“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are the ways of them; Who, passing(another word pilgrimeage) through the valley of Baca, make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.”
We care and are praying, In Christ Jesus love, Laila for the Messerly’s
We pray and think of you all the time. We are humbled at your lives and how they are so amazingly committed to Christ. Praise the Lord for that. Glad you lean on HIM at all times. God will Bless you all abundantly.
You share your heart with all of us each time you write and I am constantly challenged as to how I would be dealing with all of this. Your family is a gift to each of us and we are learning about God and His grace each day. I am praying for strength-both physical and emotional. I can tell you are trusting Our Father to walk you through these next few weeks and praise Him for your time together. You are a blessing and a teacher to me each day. From Florida, Donna Riley-I came to know the Lord at Saylorville over 50 years ago.
Good morning my darlings!
You can imagine our joy and delight in hearing that our boy was able to go home. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Missy tells us that although Lincoln is not at home, you have Ava with you. I’m sure that is comfort sweet.
Josiah, we are so proud of you. You accomplished numbers of difficult things during your Hospice stay and glorified the Lord in the process. Our small prayer group prayed specifically that you would be able to witness boldly to the unsaved and from the reports we heard, you did that with much zeal. Bless God! I want you to know how honored I felt by the personal request you made of me and the words you spoke to me when alone. I had no idea how much I longed to hear those very words in fulfillment of my heart’s attitude toward you. Thanks, son.
Jess. . .what an amazing woman you have become in the last five years. You have fulfilled much scripture in regard to perseverance under trial and demonstrated grace, His amazing grace. I know that you do not do this with your own strength and it is all the more potent in encouraging the saints. Press on, sweet one. Press on. Your redeemer is by your side cheering you along.
Please be assured that we continue to stand with you during this time. God is so good and I know that He has many gifts to give along the way. Be strong in the Lord and appropriate the power of His might for yourselves as you walk through these next days and weeks. Know for certain that the body (His body) fully supports and succors you in this journey.
You belong to us and we to you. It is “an honor and a privilege” to be numbered among your friends.
all our love from Wisconsin
Dear Jessica
A friend shared your story with me and sent me the link for you website. I have read through many of your entries and wanted to tell you that you are a true testimony to the love and grace of God. What an amazing testimony to have in front of many people. While I am sure it is hard on a daily basis I will be praying for the things you have listed in your entries and will continue to visit for updates and more prayer request. “The Lord is my strength.”
Praise the Lord! We are praying for you and Josiah!
Your family and your testimonies have been such a blessing and inspiration to me over the past few years, of how Godly people live out their faith. It’s not just words… it’s pure Trust and undeniable Belief in the One and Only true God. Our Father is smiling down on you with pleasure and delight, and is reigning his Spirit and Grace upon you abundantly. I continue to lift you up in prayer that your precious time together will be magnified and sacred, to be remembered always. “There will be a day…” May God fill you with His Peace and His Hope of things yet to come! How Faithful HE is!
(Lynsey Mulder’s mom)