Well, Mrs. Neely sure did a better job for months at updating this than we have in 2 weeks!  We really do apologize, but we've encountered a bit of difficulty in getting our update posted.  We would greatly appreciate another week of grace in allowing us to get it up.  For those of you who still check the website, we always love to hear from you and check the website for notes and comments.  Thank you again for your patience!

With Love,

The Seidler Family

Greetings to all of our precious friends, family, and so many we don't even know who have faithfully supported us and prayed for us this last year.  We do sincerely apologize but we are not able to give a full update today, the one year anniversary of our car accident.  We ask for your kindness in continuing to check the website over the next week while we work on posting a full update.   Until then, we would like to briefly express in humble words that which overflows our hearts- praise and gratitude first of all to our Saviour and our Lord, Jesus Christ who has carried us by His good and loving hand to this very hour.  Secondly, we would like to express with full and humble hearts our gratitude and love to all who have prayed without ceasing, supported us, and shown kindness and love to our family over the last year.  

More to come in the next week... thank you for your patience and continued love!  From Him and Through Him and Unto Him are all things!

Much love,

The Seidler Family  

Dear Friends,

It has been over nine months since Joel and Kathy went home to be with Jesus.  For the rest of the family, it has been a difficult and challenging time, but they have seen God's faithfulness each step of the way.  We have decided to discontinue the web site until the anniversary of the accident on June 14.  Please check the site then for an update.  Continue to pray for the family.

Heidi is continuing to seek God's leading concerning employment.  Pray that she knows the direction He is leading her.

Jessica will have the posts for her teeth implants next Wednesday, and she celebrates her birthday next week.  The result of the CAT scan on her left foot showed some difficulties with arthritis and an accident- resulting bunion.  She will have surgery on her foot to correct these things.

Charity only has a month left in her freshman year of college.  Josh and Emily and the boys had a good time in Moab and returned safely. 

Feel free to contact the family, send notes of encouragement, and certainly to continue praying.  You may still contact them through me or directly if you have their contact information.  Bless you all for your love and prayers and generosity during these past months.

What a blessing it has been for the Seidler family to have Grandma Lois visiting from Texas.  Her love and wisdom are always welcome.  She will be returning to Texas tomorrow so please pray for her safety.

The girls have been staying in their new place although there is much yet to do before they are settled.  They would appreciate your continued prayers as they make the transition from Josh's house and from being awakened by little Josh and Jackson each morning.  Those have been precious times for the girls.

Heidi has a job opportunity but needs to investigate the requirements.  Pray that this will work out if it is the best situation for her and for the family she would be helping.

Josh, Emily, and the boys will be going to Moab this weekend.  It is always difficult for the family not to fear when some members are  away.  Pray for safety and for peace.

Finally, as the girls are moving, they are including many of their parents' things in their home.  Pray for comfort for them as they go through things and also that they will have a Godly perspective on the whole mourning process.

Thank you for your continued faithfulness in checking this site.  Heidi had a wonderful time in Europe, but it was mixed with some moments of fear.  If you've ever driven the extremely narrow streets of England on the left side of the road, you will understand.  She was aware of your prayers as peace would flood over her at such times.

Another big answer to prayer is that the girls have found a house.  They are in the process of moving out of Josh's house and hope to be staying in their own place by this weekend.  In connection with that, Heidi could use some help moving some of her larger items on Thursday afternoon or Friday.  Please contact her or email me with your phone number if you can help.

Jessica has not received the report from the scan of her foot from last week, but the doctors will begin the work on her teeth implants soon.  Pray that it goes well for her.

Heidi will be returning this week from her time in Europe.  Pray for safety as she travels.

Jessica will be having a CT scan of her left foot on Friday.  The doctors are trying to determine what course of action they can take to improve Jessica's mobility and to make the foot as normal as possible.  Pray for wisdom for them. 

Jessica continues to be weary at school and this week she has parent-teacher conferences in the evenings.  Pray for strength and endurance for her.

Thank you for your continued prayers through these past few weeks.  Although there are not constant changes, the decisions being made are important and the Seidlers need God's direction.

Jessica is loving being back in school and interacting with students, but she is also facing some challenges.  She is physically weary as her body adjusts to long days.  She is also finding it difficult to schedule physical therapy and doctors' appointments around her school day.  Please pray for her in these areas.

Continue to pray that Heidi will have a time of refreshing as she is in Budapest and London.  Also pray for safety for her as she travels.

The family is still working on clearing their parents' home so let's pray that God will stretch their time and help them make quick decisions.

Please forgive the late post, but I've had some difficulty making contact with the Seidlers.  Jessica started working this week and is loving it.  She has ten groups of students for reading instruction, and she is able to sit so is not too exhausted.  Her students are already becoming attached to her.

Heidi is in Budapest.  Pray for a time of blessing and refreshing for her. 

Several of the family members have been hit with the flu and are quite sick.  Pray for quick recovery and for those who do not have it to stay well.

Continue praying for the situation with the parents' house and for the girls' living situation.

Thank you for your prayers concerning the Seidlers' parents' home.  This past weekend they were able to get rid of a pile of trash and go through several boxes of belongings.  Continue to prayer for them as they work on this huge task. 

Heidi went to a scrapbooking party and was able to complete a book she had planned on giving her parents for their thirtieth anniversary.  It was a painful time for her and the rest of the family when she shared it with them, but they are thankful for the precious memories.

Heidi will be leaving for Budapest, Hungary, and England next week.  Pray for her connections and all the details as it is her first time out of the country.  She has fear that something bad will happen to her or her siblings in her absence.  Pray that the Lord will give her perfect peace and that all will go well at home while she is away.

Jessica starts working full time on Monday as a reading specialist.  Pray for physical strength for her as this will be the first time she has been on a daily routine since the accident.  Also continue to pray that the Lord will open and close doors for the girls so they will be in the living situation that is best for all three of them.

Josh and Emily had a relaxing time in Boston although they were house-bound much of the time due to the blizzard.  Maybe the Lord knows that is what they needed most.

Continue to pray for a job for Heidi and for wisdom from the Lord concerning the girls' living situation.  Also, they will continue working at the folks' house this week so let's pray they they see great progress for their efforts.

Pray for wisdom for Jessica's doctors and physical therapists as her left foot is not progressing as she hoped it would.  They need to know whether it is best to continue pushing through with therapy or if something else can be done.

Today is Valentine's Day and three of the Seidlers' favorite valentines are not with them.  It is at times like this that they are reminded of the loss and feel the emptiness without their mom and dad and Joel.

Thank you for praying about the man who was missing.  He has returned and is physically okay, but we can continue to pray that the Lord will help him work through some issues in his life.

Thank you for returning to the site after two weeks.  The Seidlers have continued to work on their parents' house, but there is still much to do.  Pray for them as they make decisions concerning the contents of the house and pray that it will go quickly for them.

Jessica has substituted for a half day and spent a full day at school this week in preparation for the job she will be taking at the end of the month.  She did fine physically which is a wonderful answer to our prayers.  Her feet hurt and she gets tired, but the reading specialist job will allow her to sit down most of the time so she will have more time for healing before she meets the demands of a classroom teacher.

Josh and Emily and baby Cameron will be flying to Boston this weekend to spend time with a friend.  Pray that it is a time of refreshing and relaxation for them.  The pressures on them have been heavy so this trip will be a blessing to them.

Heidi has an opportunity to visit a friend in Budapest in March.  She has never been out of the country so is nervous about the trip but also excited to visit a foreign country and be part of the mission effort of her friend.

Continue to pray for the right living situation for the girls and for a job for Heidi.

We are on our way to California so the web site will not be updated until two weeks from tonight.  Please don't forget to check back then.

Jessica has signed up to substitute teach.  She is not yet ready to do full days so is waiting for half day assignments.  Pray for stamina and that she will know when it is time to attempt a full day.  She's happy to have found some shoes that fit as her feet are no longer the same size.  Her left foot still swells so she's had a hard time finding footwear.

Continue to pray for the girls' living situation.  They know they must make a decision soon and need the Lord's guidance. 

This Saturday the family will be working at their parents' home.  Pray that they will be of one mind and be able to make lots of progress. 

Pray for Heidi as she had a root canal and it is giving her some problems.  Also continue to pray for the right job for her.

See you in two weeks!

Due to a change in my schedule, I will be updating the web site on either Tuesday evenings or Wednesdays.  Please keep checking.

The needs are the same this week.  The family is working on their parents' house and the girls are considering what the next step should be for them.   Pray that they will have wisdom in both of these matters.  Jessica is now driving which is a great help so she can get to doctors' appointments and help getting Charity to school.  We are thanking the Lord for the progress she has made as we remember the many physical hurdles she faced.

Forgive me for missing the update yesterday.  The major issues facing the Siedlers now are their parents' house and future living arrangements.  Pray that they will be able to sort through the house quickly so it is not a continual burden to them.  The girls are considering their options for moving out on their own.  Pray that they will know what is the wisest situation for them.

Last week Jessica had a test on her injured foot to check the blood flow.  The doctor said it looks good.  When we remember that she could have lost it, we can rejoice and thank God for the healing he has brought her.

Continue to pray for Charity's schooling.  Pray that she will find some close friends.

The major task facing the Seidlers in this new year is taking care of their parents' home.  Going through a household is always difficult, but for these young people, it is especially challenging as they continually confront their loss, work to be sensitive to one another, and determine to make wise decisions.  Let's surround them with prayer concerning this task.

Charity is returning to school, Jessica is making decisions about teaching, and Heidi is facing some dental work and looking for employment.  Jessica is so appreciative of her new stationary bike, using it every day to help strengthen her legs.  Once again we thank the family that donated it to her.

Once again the readers of the web site have met a need for the Seidlers.  A family gave a new stationary bicycle to Jessica so she can regularly exercise.  Thank you.

Since the accident the Seidlers have prayed that people would come to know Jesus personally as a result of Kathy's and Joel's deaths.  Through a Christmas letter, God graciously made them aware of a young teen who gave her life to Jesus because of the tragedy.  What a blessing to see God working!

Some things are weighing heavily on the family so they have asked us to join them in praying about them.  One is that their Aunt Karen continues to struggle with her back pain and some issues associated with it.  Pray that she will find relief and that the other issues will be settled quickly.  Also pray for strength and encouragement for their Grandma Lois.  She is helping Karen and also misses being with the family in Denver.

A man from Jessica and Heidi's church has been missing since Friday.  Pray for comfort for his fiance and that he will be found safe. 

During this week as we gather with our families, remember to pray for the Seidlers.  Although they will be with friends and each other, the traditions of their childhood home have changed.  The loss becomes pronounced at this time of year.  Emails of encouragement would be a blessing to them as they always are blessed to know that people are still praying for them and thinking of them.

Pray for the swelling in Jessica's foot to go down.   Also pray that she will be able to walk correctly as she is having some problems with that.  We are still in need of a stationary bike for her to use in her therapy.

We are praising God for Charity's successful completion of her first semester at CCU.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to check the web site.  As Christmas draws near, we need to faithfully lift the Seidlers up in prayer as they face not having their mom and dad and Joel.  It is difficult.

Jessica continues to make progress although the area used to take the bone graft is still quite painful.  She is in need of a stationary bike to excercise her leg.  If anyone has one to loan her, please email your phone number to me. 

Many churches have been praying for the Seidlers, and they would like to send a picture of the family to you.  If you would like one, please send the church address to my email address found on this site.

Continue to pray for Jessica and Heidi as they make decisions about working.  They need the Lord's guidance in knowing when to go to work and how much they will be able to handle.

If you would like to send greetings to the family during this Christmas season, I know they would appreciate it.  You can do that through this web site.

Yes, it is cold outside, but we are rejoicing because of God's continued faithfulness.

Jessica's surgery was long but successful.  She is already walking and began physical therapy today.  The therapist was encouraging as Jessica's range of motion in her leg is much better and he is convinced it will continue to improve.  Her mouth is swollen but seems to be improving already.  Pray for her as she seeks the Lord's leading concerning returning to teaching as she has several options.

Heidi and I spoke after her nursing exam on Wednesday, and she was discouraged as all the signs indicated she had not passed.  It took her five and a half hours, was brutal, and she felt she was unable to think clearly as she became exhausted as the time went by, but she prayed before answering each question.  Hallelujah, she passed!  She found out yesterday and knows the result was God's blessing and your many prayers.  Praise Him!

Charity has 23 one-page papers due tomorrow.  Pray that she can complete them quickly and that she will be able to think clearly and not feel she needs to spend too much time on each.

In case any of you check the site tonight, I wanted to update you about Jessica's surgery today.  It was lengthy, from about 11:00 to 6:00.  The doctors were encouraged by what they were able to accomplish.  It appears that the range of motion in both her right leg and left foot will be greatly improved.  The bone graft went smoothly also.  The doctors are not predicting the length of recovery, but Jessica will probably stay in the hospital until Sunday.

Specific prayer requests are for pain control and quick healing.  Also, please pray that the bone graft to her jaw will not be rejected.  If there are any other needs, I will put them on the web tomorrow.

Heidi took her exam today and found it extremely challenging.  Pray for her as she awaits the results.

Our prayers have been answered concerning Jessica's surgery.  She will be having all three this Friday at 10:30.  Pray for her as she will be having surgery to graft bone from her hip to her jaw, to remove the calcium deposits from her thigh, and to do some additional repair to her foot.  Specific issues are the success of the thigh surgery as the doctors are not sure how much they can do to help her.  Also pray that she will not have nausea from the pain medication and that she will recovery quickly.

The end of the term is near for Charity and she has many major papers due.  Pray that she will be able to concentrate and get them finished.

Josh has returned to work after being off for the birth of Cameron.  Pray that he will be able to get back into the routine easily and get caught up. Little Cameron is doing well except that his days and nights are a bit mixed up.  Pray that he will sleep tonight so Emily and Josh can get some rest.

Please check the web site later today for the update as we were unable to get in touch last night.   I do know that Heidi's nursing test is today and that prayer support would be a blessing to her.

Tonight we are giving thanks for the hundreds of people who have faithfully prayed for the Seidlers, served them, given generously, and found ways to bless them in the midst of their sorrow.  Without you the recovery would take longer and the pain would be greater.  God has shown Himself faithful in many ways, and He has used you to support, bless, and comfort this precious family.

Facing Thanksgiving without their parents and Joel is difficult.  Pray that each member of the family will feel the presence of the Lord surrounding them this week.  Pray for peace and comfort.

We've been praying about Jessica's upcoming surgeries, but we need to continue to pray that they can be coordinated so that she can have them all at once.  Pray that this can be done quickly.

Continue to pray for Heidi's exam which will be on November 30.  Pray that she will have time to study and that she will be able to concentrate.

Also continue to pray for unity for the family as they work on their parents' home. Pray that the Lord will give them the necessary time to spend on this huge task and that He would protect their emotions as they do it.

Please pray for the Seidlers as their lawyers and the lawyers from Wyoming work to come to an agreement concerning the accident.  Pray for the Lord to protect the emotions of the family and to provide for their needs.

Charity needs a minor surgical procedure not related to the accident.  Pray that it will go smoothly with a minimal amount of pain.

Another great answer to our prayers is the scheduling of Jessica's bone graft surgery for December 11.  Continue to pray that the surgery on her leg and foot will be scheduled soon.  She is also thinking about teaching and needs to know from the Lord when the time will be right for her to be in the classroom full time.

Friday the family will be spending time at the house beginning the process of going through their parents' belongings.  Pray that it will be a time of healing for them and that they will be of one mind when they need to make decisions.

Yesterday was Tom's birthday so his children celebrated by going to Beau Jo's in Idaho Springs, a tradition of the family.

Cameron arrived on Thursday morning weighing 7 pounds and 14 ounces.  Both he and Emily went home on Sunday and are doing well.  Not having Tom, Kathy, and Joel to celebrate this special event has been difficult so pray for continued comfort for the family.

The doctors at the ortho clinic told Jessica the muscle around her femur will not improve without surgery and even that is questionable.  She has decided to have the surgery and the doctors will also do some additional repair on her left ankle.  Pray that the surgery will be scheduled soon and that it will be successful.

Heidi has scheduled her nursing exam for November 30.  She is having some trouble concentrating so let's surround her with prayer so she will be able to remember all she studies and will be able to pass the exam.

Continue to pray for the legal issues and for wisdom for the family and their counsel.

In the midst of mourning, God brings new life into the Seidler family this week.  Josh and Emily will welcome Cameron Thomas into their family on Thursday.  Pray that there are no complications and that Emily has a quick recovery from the surgery.  Praise God for this precious new life!

Continue to pray for Jessica's medical needs: the scheduling of the bone graft and the healing of her right leg.  She will be going to the ortho clinic tomorrow so pray that she will get answers concerning the leg.

Also continue to pray for the legal issues facing the family.  They want to honor God in all they do and need His wisdom.

Heidi was able to get away for a few days of refreshment this past week.  It was a good time, but she found it difficult to be away from the family.  Pray that she will be able to rest and let the Lord carry the burden for the family. 

Charity is still struggling with the transition into college.  Continue to pray that she will find friends and find the CCU campus a place of refuge as she studies and meets new people.

Jessica is now able to walk without crutches, and the swelling in her foot has gone down tremendously.  Praise God for His goodness to her in these areas.  She took a ten minute walk today which was not easy but indicates great progress.  Continue to pray for wisdom for the doctors concerning her femur, for the timing of the bone graft surgery, and for increasing physical strength.

Emily will be giving birth on November 3, a little over a week from now.  Pray for her during this last week of pregnancy that she will be able to rest.

The family caring for Mittens reports that she is doing well.  She is responding to the family, and they ask that we pray that she will be able to trust them after so many changes in her life.

Thank you for continuing to check the web site and to pray for the Seidlers.  Their needs are still great.

Thank you all for your faithfulness to pray for the needs of the Seidler family.  Mittens the cat is now safely and happily living with a family in the area.  They read about the need on the web and are experienced "kitty sitters" so are now caring for her.  That is one less worry for the family.

Last week Jessica visited the school where she will be teaching.  As she went down the hallway toward her classroom, some of her students came out the door and saw her.  They ran back to the room and excitedly said, "She's coming! She's coming!"  Being at school helps Jessica forget her physical limitations and loss for a time.  Let's pray that she will be able to be in the classroom soon.  Her physical needs remain the same so continue to pray for wisdom as the doctors decide on the best treatment for her.

Last Saturday was Joel's birthday.  It was a hard day as the Seidlers remembered him and the special ways their mom always celebrated their birthdays.  Hard days are not uncommon for them so continue to pray for their comfort, strength, and healing. 

The update this week is early as I will be out of town.  Our prayers have been answered concerning the cat.  A friend will be taking it in until the girls are in a position to take care of it.  We are thankful for those who read this site and respond to the needs of the Seidlers.

Continue to pray about the healing of Jessica's femur.  The doctors are consulting on the necessary treatment so we want to pray for wisdom for them.  Jessica's walking is coming along, and she is even doing stairs with her crutches.

One of the next big issues is clearing out their parents' home.  Pray for wisdom as they decide how to go about accomplishing this weighty task and as they make decisions about the precious things that belonged to their parents.

Finally, please pray for the financial settlement of the accident.  Pray that the other driver's insurance company will pay the medical costs in a timely manner and that the Seidlers will have peace about the situation. 

During this past week I made an entry concerning the Seidlers' cat.  Would you please continue to pray about that situation.  Pray that the family will be able to come to an agreement as to what is the wisest decision for the girls and for Mittens.  (Could the Plymale's please send me your email address so I can respond to you?)

The wonderful news this week is that Jessica has taken some steps without the assistance of crutches.  What an answer to our prayers!  She has a problem with a gland in her mouth, but the doctor says it is not infected and should heal on its own.

Grandma Lois is going home tomorrow and she will be missed.  Pray for Heidi as she is studying for her nursing boards and she needs rest.  Josh is struggling at work.  He is having a hard time concentrating and doing all that he needs to do.  As a manager he feels he is letting down those who are under him.  Please pray for him as he carries a heavy load.

Although the situation does not change daily as it did earlier, all of the family members continue to need our prayers.  The reality that they cannot call their mom for her wise advice is painful.  Let's pray this week that they will feel the Lord's love surrounding them.

The Seidlers are going to have to make arrangements for their cat.  If anyone would like ot take it, please contact me or the Seilders as soon as possible.  If a home is not found, it will have to be taken to a no-kill shelter this weekend.

Notice that the announcements have been archived.  You can access them through the menu above.  Also, entries were made on Saturday and Sunday so you might want to go back and read them.

Jessica is now having outpatient physical therapy instead of in-home.  The benefit of this is the equipment that will be available to help her gain her strength and mobility.  She is walking with crutches more than using the wheel chair now.

Pray for the timing of the bone graft for her jaw.  It seems as if it may be done sooner than once thought.  Jessica would like it to happen as soon as possible.  Also pray for wisdom for the doctors as they decide what treatment would be best for the muscle in her right leg.  It has become a hard mass and is extremely uncomfortable.

Heidi is having some nerve sensitivity around her teeth as a result of the accident.  Pray that she will receive the correct treatment.

Please continue to pray for all their financial needs to be met, especially the medical bills.

While driving around her neighborhood, Emily's mom found Josh's truck.  It had been stripped of its battery, roll bar, stereo, and much more.  This is one more thing added to a family that is already under emotional stress.  Please pray for them and that those who did this crime will be found and will untimately find Jesus.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."  Psalm 116:15

The momorial service for Joel and Kathy was a wonderful time of remembering and rejoicing that they are in the presence of their Lord.  The family has been busy preparing for the service for several weeks, but now that it is over, the loss has hit even harder.  Please pray for the family as they are hurting and feeling lost without their parents and Joel.  They still appreciate receiving email notes of ecouragement.

Jessica has been told that she is ready for the bone graft for her jaw which will allow her to have teeth implants.  This seems to be several months ahead of schedule.  Her right leg has loosened up and is less painful, and she is continuing to work on walking with crutches or the walker.  Please continue to pray for her healing and rehabilitation.

The next entry on the web site will be a week from tonight.

First, I would like to give directions to Faith Bible Chapel where the service will be held at 6:30 this coming Friday, September 16.  Take I-70 west to Ward Road.  Go north on Ward to 6210 where you will see a pedestrian bridge across the road.  Turn left to get to the west side of the campus where the memorial will be held.  If you have any questions, please contact me.  A dessert reception will be held in the atrium following the service.

Jessica has had good reports on her healing bones.  She is now able to put weight on her left foot so is working at giving up the walker for crutches.  She seems to be depositing calcium in the muscle of her right leg so please pray that it can be broken up without surgery.  Also pray that her pelvis will be straight as she begins to walk.

Several of the family members are fighting colds so pray that they will get well.  Planning the memorial has been emotionally draining for them so they need our prayers for God's continued comfort and peace throughout this week.

I'm limited in the number of characters in an update so must make two entries tonight.

On Thursday, oh joy, Jessica will get her dentures!  Her first bite, she has decided, will be Beau Jo's Pizza.  Continue to pray she will not need braces.

During this next week, pray for the family as they plan the service.  It is an emotional time for them, and they desire to honor Kathy and Joel and God in all that is done.

One of the major projects facing them is their parents' house.  Pray for wisdom and unity for them as they tackle the job of going through the things in the house and making decisions as to what to keep and what not to keep.  It will be a time of grieving, but pray that it will also be a time of healing.

Be sure to check in next Tuesday.  Bless you all.