Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Fishing, Counting, and a Medical Update

The lovely Ann Voskamp had a blog post yesterday that I just had to share with you.

So many of us special needs parents are tired.  Worn out.  Exhausted.  We collapse into bed at the end of the day, only to wake up in the morning to do it all over again.

And again.

And again.

24/7/365.

And the future can start to seem overwhelming.

And we can start to wonder if God even remembers us, let alone cares about us.

I always love it when I get a reminder, a little "refresher course" in God's great love for me.  And for Bird.

Just in case we're not Facebook friends, here's what I posted this morning:

Today, I am fishing yet again. And like the disciples in John 21, I am tired of the work and the long nights of catching nothing. I am tired of bloodwork and medical tests and crushing pills and medical mysteries. I am tired of cleaning toilets and doing laundry and mopping sticky floors. And there it is - Jesus telling the disciples to do it one more time, to cast their nets yet again, even though they have been empty time and time again. Jesus asking me to wake up and do it all over again. He is asking them to trust Him still. He is asking me the same. Peter casts and gets a net full of fish, 153 of them. He actually counted the fish. He counted to see what God had provided. And that is my reminder to count. Because even when it seems like Jesus has forgotten, there are at least 153 ways that show He has not. So today, I fish. I cast my net and I count. I write it down and I highlight in yellow. Because "it's a life that counts blessings that discovers its yielding more than it seems. The secret to joy is to keep seeking God where you doubt He is." 

Here's the link to Ann's blog post that I hope will refresh your body and soul this morning. 

And maybe even the next few mornings.

Medical Update:

Ryan and I have a phone call with Dr. Najjar tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11:30 Texas time to go over all the test results from Lily's stay at NYU.  Together, we'll come up with a new plan of treatment which might possibly require us to head back to NYC the following week.  We are still very hopeful and feel certain that Dr. Najjar has a good handle on Lily's medical issues and how to treat them.

Dr. Souhel Najjar is most definitely one of my "153".  He is counted and highlighted in yellow!  God has blessed him with incredible intelligence and the gift of diagnosing and treating what often seems hopeless.  God is using him in mighty ways to bring hope and healing to so many.  And I am so thankful God opened doors for us to see him.

I'll keep you posted on what's next for Bird!

Now get out there and have a great day, sweet ones!
The secret to Joy - is to keep seeking God where you doubt He is.  AnnVoskamp.com

12 comments:

  1. Thank you for this post! Really beautiful!

    My fingers are crossed that Dr. Najjar will be able to help the Bird! xoxo

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    1. Thank you, Joy! So appreciate your faithfulness in reading the blog. :)

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  2. Thanks for the post Lana. I don't have a special needs child, but the last few days I have been exactly how you have felt. So much has been happening in our family since Wade's quadruple bypass last week. He came home Saturday and the "fun" began. Not to mention taking my son to ER early Monday morning! Another story. Everything turned out okay. I just feel so much like this post, especially Sunday and Monday. It seems to be a little better today. Care giving is hard work, but even harder when it is someone in your immediate family. Yet we keep on keeping on. Know that I am praying for you and family. Can't wait to hear the news from Dr. N. God is definitely up to something BIG! I still feel in my heart that Lily will be talking very soon. You are such an encourager to so many by this blog...especially to those with special needs kids. You write beautifully and I still think you could be writing books! You have a lot to share and would benefit many. I honestly don't see how you do all that you do, but for the Lord. Praise God for He is our Strength, our Healer, our Provider, our Resting Place, our Living Water and Everlasting Father, and most of all our Redeemer!

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    1. Praying for you, Teresa - for strength and stamina. And healing for Wade.

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  3. Lana! Sunday morning I was catching up on your's and Ryan's blogs about the tests and I too was thanking God for Dr. Najjar! Praying that God will rise up many drs like him to bring hope to many families.
    And I haven't been on fb much, but today I saw you post this Ann Voskamp blog, I don't read her blog and I have tried to read her book the past couple years and it's like trudging through quick sand. But what I want to share with you is today I read that passage in my study time this morning. And I had read it last week in a study I was doing on John. I was overwhelmed with emotion when I read Peter jumping out of the boat. Every single time I read it. I have spent some time trying to figure out what about that passage hits me so hard. But I think there is something in it about obedience. For a couple months I have heard that theme from the Holy Spirit but I keep asking, "Obey You Lord how? In what way??" And I know He will give me the wisdom because I have asked, but I might not be ready for the answer. Maybe I just need to count the fish. Something so simple as obeying the Lord saying to cast the net on the other side of the boat. I just long for muchness from God.
    God used you today to get my attention more. Honestly, I was sitting on the couch asking God for the wisdom just hours before I checked fb. He is faithful! And He cares about us!
    kimberlee

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    1. How fun to see God trying to help you "catch" something and it just keeps showing up! I'll be praying for you as you seek "muchness" from Him. On another note, Ann's book IS hard to read, I totally understand. Have you looked at the devotional book? It takes the original One Thousand Gifts and breaks it down into nice, short readings. I usually recommend it when people say they're having a hard time getting through the actual book. :)

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    2. Thank you for the suggestion! I will have to share that with my kids' piano teacher, we were just talking about that book and she was sharing the same thing! xoxo

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  4. Hi Lana, This is slightly off topic, but do you have any hints on getting my 4 1/2 year old to swallow a small gel cap pill? I can't try and squeeze out the inside into his other "potion" mixtures, as it is too think, and when I give it to him he bites it and spits it out. OH how I wish he could swallow pills...

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    1. Kristina - I SO wish I had an easy answer for you. We have tried to sneak a pill in a bite of oatmeal or yogurt or pudding - something Lily wouldn't have to chew - but it seems like she always catches us. We've managed to do that maybe 3 or 4 times before we get "busted". When we go back to NYC, there is supposed to be a pill-swallowing class while we're there and I fully plan to check it out. So if I learn some good stuff, I'll definitely be sharing it here so keep checking back.

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  5. Sending our prayers for a good phone call this morning and a solid new plan for The Bird. Hang in there, mama!

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    1. Thank you, Karla! I'm loving following your adventures with your exchange student - how fun! :) xoxo

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  6. What a great reminder that many doctors go into medicine for a calling and it is up to the whole family to band together to find a way to deal with the stresses! It IS a huge ride!
    Thank you for linking up for - See more at: http://www.newradiologytechnology.com

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