Kaila Jo

"Cast all your anxieties on Him for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
     A few days ago, I got to meet my newest niece, Kaila Jo. She was born Saturday, August 10th at 9:02 a.m. after a 21-hour labor. My remarkable sister-in-law, Kendall, pushed 20 minutes and Kaila arrived!
     As I’ve said before, I pray diligently for friends and family who tell us of their anticipated children because we know things don’t always go as planned. Our family prays for the unborn child and mom from the time we hear a new baby is on its way. I don’t ever feel settled until my mom lets me know the baby and mom are doing great, and all is well. Yesterday was no different.
     We heard that Kendall was going to be induced on August 9th…my birthday! I couldn’t wait to share a birthday with my niece! We realized that wasn’t going to happen later in the evening, but I didn’t sleep all that soundly since I would wake up looking for phone updates on Kendall’s progress throughout the night. Kaila did arrive on August 10th at 9:01 a.m. with some complications. She had swallowed a lot of amniotic fluid and was having problems. Kendall had her in her arms for seconds before she was taken to the NICU and put on a respirator and given antiobiotics. It was an excruciating time for Will and Kendall to say the least. I could only imagine the heartbreak of meeting your daughter and not getting that bonding time you’ve looked forward to for 9 months.
     It also brought me back to Taylor and all the anxieties, unanswered questions, fears, concerns, and grief that come when the unexpected delivery comes. I was reminded of many verses that sustained Mike and I through those difficult first days. In particular I kept thinking of this verse in 1 Peter about casting our anxieties on Him.
     We’ve just come back from 2 weeks in Canada where we spent lots of time fishing…casting. When I cast, I throw that line as far as I can to catch the biggest fish I can. It isn’t like you drop your line, no…you cast it out FAR. I kept thinking of “casting my cares” for Kaila and for all I hang on to everyday out to the Lord. I kept picturing throwing all these anxieties onto the Lord because He cares for us. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He knows His plans for us which are good. It is a huge comfort throwing my anxieties on Him. I don’t want them. I want them as far from me as possible. I want to rest in the care God has for me and get rid of anxiety which can be paralyzing.
      Kaila is home with Will and Kendall. They brought her home with them, something unimaginable at the beginning. The doctors said it was a miraculous turnaround that happened those first 24 hours. I am so grateful for God’s miracles. I am so grateful for this little girl and for the future plans He has for her. Congratulations Will and Kendall! Welcome Home Kaila Jo!

"Maybe the Lord will bless me with..."

I always love summer...that's an understatement! I'd love to shout it out from rooftops...I LOVE SUMMER!!! As a part-time teacher, summer comes with so many rewards. Recently, Taylor and I were discussing how much more relaxed summer is. We were talking about how hard homework can be for both of us since it just takes a LOT of time with the brailled pages, making sure we have all the work in braille, finding the right places in the textbook, balancing the books with her brailler and braille paper...it is a LOT of work. Taylor has always done an amazing job of keeping up with her regular classroom work, including homework, though it does take us longer and can create some stress around our house in the evenings. Taylor was thanking me for learning braille and helping her with her work all the time..."even when you're not always so patient, Mom." Ouch. So true. Then she got real quiet and was thinking. I asked what she was thinking about. She asked, "How am I going to help my children with their homework? I can't even read it or find the right pages for them." I was choking back a few tears, so I couldn't answer, but then Taylor burst forth. "Mom, maybe the Lord will bless me with a blind child! Then I could help them with everything!" Wow! Out of the mouths of babes. Talk about a sweet paradigm shift. Taylor's comment made me think of the sweet gift it is to learn how to be the best Mom I can to be to each of my girls. Each one is so unique and needs totally different things at different times. What a treasure to think of the blessing it is to grow and learn alongside them.