God's Plans

My Nephew Jake

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Well, it's much later than I anticipated, but I'm back on Monday like I promised!

What a weekend! I had such a wonderful time with the girls. We had pillow fights, ate at great restaurants and visited with friends. It reminded me how much work God has done in the lives of both of my girls.

For some reason, God loves to give my husband and I very unique children. All three of my children have had some type of developmental delay. When my oldest daughter was born, she cried so much in the hospital nursery - that the nursery literally brought her to me and said that Savannah would have to stay in the hospital room with me the rest of my stay. It was funny because the head nurse, Amy, was actually a member of my church! She came to me and said Savannah was disturbing all the other babies and they could do nothing to settle her. I tease her now about "kicking Savannah out" and she remembers the whole thing! Amy often reminds me of God's healing in my family.

You see - that hospital story was only the beginning. From that point on, Savannah screamed until she was pushing 4 years old. She learned sign language because she couldn't speak, I had to take pictures of daily tasks (such as breakfast, a bathtub, toothbrush, pajama's, our church, family members and so on) to help her with transitions. Savannah had all kinds of therapy -- OT, speech, behavioral - several times a week. She was tested for Autism - I was just confident that was it. They agreed she had signs, but not enough to classify her at that time.

Some of you will get a kick out of this! Sometimes, the only way to get sleep would be to have Savannah in bed with me, nursing her and with the vacuum cleaner running. YES - the vacuum!! Boy, I ruined a great vacuum. My husband and I got so use to it - it would run half the night. By the way - don't ask me how long I nursed!! I'll just tell you this much - I was expecting my second and still nursing my first!!!!!

Prayer is the only way I know to explain my survival. She did not have "just colic" and I was not being an "over anxious new mother." We had SERIOUS issues going on and the Lord's direction in parenting and divinely appointed therapists are now precious memories of God's hand over our family.

I have always considered this verse in Jeremiah "Savannah's verse". I had prayed for her arrival for many years. And, it was all God's timing. He knew His plans for her - and He knew I needed to be at a point of daily seeking Him because He "planned" on sending me a real doozie!

Savannah now often says, "Momma, remember when God healed my brain?" And I can't get my "Yes!!" out fast enough. As a toddler, we never knew that she would be able to speak or function as a "typical" child. Seeing her this weekend cheering on stage in front of hundreds of people - WOW, what a miracle.

Sometimes I feel guilty that Savannah is healed. My nephew Jake, who turned 3 in November, just learned to walk. He has severe hearing loss, he is unable to eat anything much more than yogurt and can't feed that to himself or even hold a sippie cup. I know that God has plans for Jake too. When He was perfecting Jake in the womb - God did not mess up! He formed Jake's body as carefully as he did Savannah's. I just need to rest in Scripture - His ways are not my ways Isaiah 55, His works are wonderful Psalms 139, and only He knows His plans Jeremiah 29.

I was sent this video on Autism today. I'll give you the link if you have time to view. I don't know anything about this organization - I just know from experience that their are hurting families praying for healing.

I ask today that you say a prayer for my children. Praise for Savannah's healing. Continued prayer for Cassidy's auditory processing issues and Jamison's speech. For my precious nephew Jake - that God would lead them to the right specialist and if it be His will that Jake's parents would have a confirmed diagnosis and find a great support group. I ask that you pray for any children you might be in contact with who have special needs --- and also for their parents.

http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/408214