Wednesday, June 26, 2013

A Few Pictures ;)

Big girl, sitting on mama's bed...kinda close to the edge, huh?!

I really like this one! :)

Splashing in her water table...she has the "Blair look" at the moment!


Loving on one of our Stud...she's very easy with him and he is surprisingly tolerant of her...he looks a little scared at the moment?! He and BB are really sweet with her and she is very gentle and loving to them. I'm SO thankful that worked out so well...answered prayer!!! I love my "boys" and I love my baby! :)

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Update!!

Hi again,
Thought I'd give you a brief update on where we're at with everything, as far as surgeries. For the time being we are just trying to keep Selah healthy and growing strong. She hasn't had any more occurrences of pneumonia...praise God! She has had some nasal and chest congestion with a cough here lately but we're trying to treat it and prevent it from progressing further. She's staying healthy other than that and we were recently able to get the procedures completed with her ENT at UMC and the CT scan completed here at a local hospital. We collected the images and reports and mailed them to Orlando. I spoke with them on Friday and they've gotten the information and will begin reviewing it all. After they look it over they're supposed to contact us with further recommendations. So, we're just waiting and praying for God's leading and timing over it.
On another note, there were some concerns found on her CT scan that relate to her neck area and spinal cord. There's mention of abnormalities and other findings and we don't know what to make of it. Our pediatrician and we agree that it needs further review by a specialist in order to determine how significant it is and what it means. We're hoping and praying for answers and guidance as to what is going on. We don't know much about it other than what we tried to make sense of on the CT report and then what can be found on the internet. Spencer has researched it but I'm just not able to look at it. It helps him to read it all and to "prepare" for what may be going on. I, on the otherhand, get consumed with worry and feeling helpless if I look at all the online information. So, I go into the appointments "flying blind" as Spencer calls it. So, for now we're just waiting on our appointment with the pediatric neurosurgeon, which is scheduled for first part of July.
As we wait for answers and for it to all "fall into place" we're enjoying Selah and the sweet blessing she is. God continues to remind me, just as He gently did while I carried sweet Selah in my womb, He knit her together and knows all about what is going on. I try to cling to that and claim it...oh, but how quickly that slips from my heart and mind...and yet again He calls me to trust in and rest in His promises and truth....
I will update you as we know more and I will post some more pictures soon. Thank you for your continued support of the blog and more importantly Selah and our family! :)

Recently there is a song that God has continued to speak to me, almost daily, and He has been reassuring me of His faithful presence and filling me with hope each time I hear it. I pray it brings you encouragement as well...
Building 429 We Won't Be Shaken
"This world has nothing for me, this life is not my own
I know you go before me and I am not alone
This mountain rises higher, the way seems so unclear
But I know you go with me so I will never fear
I will trust in you
Whatever will come my way
Through fire or pouring rain
We won't be shaken, no we won't be shaken
Whatever tomorrow brings
Together we'll rise and sing
That we won't be shaken, no we won't be shaken
You know my every longing, you've heard my every prayer
You've held me in my weakness because you're always there
So, I stand in full surrender, it's your way and not my own
My mind is set on nothing less than you and you alone
I will not be moved
Whatever will come my way
Through fire or pouring rain
We won't be shaken, no we won't be shaken
Whatever tomorrow brings
Together we'll rise and sing
That we won't be shaken, no we won't be shaken..."

Psalm 62:1-2 "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken"

Thursday, June 13, 2013

A Little Deeper...

Hi from us!!
I hope you enjoyed the pictures of Selah on the last post...I hate to say I'm not including any on this one:( but I am going to go a little deeper in what I share than I have in a long while. There are often many times that God leads me to post something and I typically put it off or just don't do it. I blame being tired and busy, which I tend to be, but those are still excuses for me disobeying a divine leading...a prompting that I shouldn't ever ignore. So, with that said, this has been on my heart for a little bit and I'm finally trying to follow through....hope it makes sense?! :)
Over the past few months I've been really trying to take in Selah and just these sweet moments with her. I'm amazed that two years have passed by. I see how big and prissy she's getting and how much of her own little personality she's developing and I just am honored to be able to love her and care for her. There have been more times than not, here lately, that I just look at her bright eyes and her sweet smile and I'm in awe...all I know to say is thank you God. A week or so ago she wasn't wanting to nap and I broke my rule and went in and picked her up and took her to her rocking chair. Yes, I rock my baby but not to get her to sleep...just when it's loving time. Anyway, she typically will fight me if I try to cuddle her but on this day she was so affectionate and loving. She laid her head on my neck, patted my arm, and just let me hold her. I kissed on her and loved on her and soaked it all in...for what seemed to be hours. I sat there loving on her in my arms with tears of a humble and truly grateful spirit streaming down my face...in awe of this little blessing I've been given. I also began to think back to my pregnancy with Selah and her delivery and just our journey as we welcomed her into our lives. I remembered specifically though, my prayer during my pregnancy and my heart cries to be able to love this sweet baby...in God's grace...as long as He would allow...
Well, not long after this I began a new section in my devtional book and it has continued up until now. The reoccuring theme has been on God's faithfulness and His "abiding presence"...He won't ever leave or forsake us and He goes before us. There have been numerous devotions, different in messages but reinforcing the same theme, songs on the radio, and just other things I've read or heard that all continue to reiterate this message of truth and God's promises...I'm going to share some of the scripture and notes that God has continually spoken to me...
Psalm 37:3-5 "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell(wait) in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." 
Deuteronomy 31:8 "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
He spoke, "trust in Him and wait patiently for Him to act; do good by living obediently, responsibly, wisely, and in humility; enjoy His provision and abiding presence and be joyful and thankful in all seasons and in all moments...because He goes before me and He is always at work...doing beyond what I can ask or imagine"
So, as God has been speaking to me and has been gracious enough to continue to share this message, I've been reassured of His presence and His preparation. He's "prepping me"with His truths and His promises for whatever does lie ahead; He's working and preparing my heart, mind, and spirit with His unspoken but gentle and faithfully present spirit. And although I'm uncertain as to what He the preparation is for, I do have a peace and a hope that is truly only of Him and His grace.  I tell myself that I am at peace and will continue to be and I pray that with all that is in me that by God's goodness I can cling to that...in faith, in trust, in hope...
As I do try to embrace and appreciate this preparation, I'm enjoying the priveledge of loving sweet Selah and I'm trying to tone down my nastiness and enjoy the love and patience Spencer shares with me. :) I pray that I can just continue to soak it in and just know that God is here working...for His good purposes...that He is with us and that He will always be...
I pray and hope that something you read will resonate with you or that God speaks the truth that He wants you to hear.  I also pray that whatever season you're in right now, that you know and trust in His "abiding presence" and His magnificent love for you! From my heart to yours...He will NOT ever let us go...:)
Thank you for your continued support and prayers, truly!!