Do You Not Know? Have You Not Heard?

I've came into contact with several people in the past week who are just tired.  Life has pushed down on them so hard, and they are worn out.  I'm blogging for the weary today, and I want to encourage the weary the God never gets tired. 

Isaiah 40:27-31

Why do you complain, Jacob?

Why do you say, Israel,

“My way is hidden from the LORD;

my cause is disregarded by my God”?

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and His understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

God's people who were referred to as Jacob and as Israel, felt that God had forgotten them.  They were discouraged and afraid because their concept of God was too small.  At one point in all of our lives, we have felt like no one knows what we're going through.  Like Israel we need to be reminded how BIG and MIGHTY God is.  He is great!  He never sleeps or rest, and He knows exactly what your life is like.  He created you, and OH HOW HE LOVES YOU!  Do you know the powerful God can give you power?  Those who depend upon Him will exchange their weakness for God's strength.  For those who hope in the Lord, we will renew their strength.  What an amazing promise!  He wants your walk in life to be filled with Him and His strength.  So if you are feeling drained, pray to God to be refueled with Him!  God is not hidden from you, but the question is are you seeking after Him?  Jeremiah 29:13 says, "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." 

Jeremiah 31:25"For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul."

B's 1st Day of Kindergarten

You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.  ~Clay P. Bedford

Brody's first day of kindergarten was yesterday.  He did GREAT!  I was a little bit emotional yesterday, but I didn't cry and I held it together.  I was emotional at the thought of how far Brody has come.  My 2 lb. baby boy who I have guarded for five years is completely able to learn and go to school.  God is good!  There were doubts for years if Brody would lead a normal life.  We love Brody just the way he is, and we always have and will.  But it's amazing to watch your child be successful at things.  It was a good day!

Brody said, "This shirt is going to make everybody laugh."

He picked out Batman for his book bag and lunch box

He didn't have time for pictures because he was ready to go!

"No, more pictures please."

He had to sign-in.

Brody with his teacher hanging up his apple.

 

To learn where things were in the school, his class did a Gingerbread Man hunt around the school.  His first homework assignment was to decorate a G-man.  I made him a Mario Brothers shirt, and Brody glued and drew the rest. 

Follow The Yellow Brick Road

 

Dorthy:  Goodbye, Tinman. Oh, don't cry! You'll rust so dreadfully. Here's your oil can.
Tin Man:  Now I know I've got a heart, 'cause it's breaking...

Brody graduated from preschool this morning.  And yes, my heart broke a little!  The graduation theme was Follow the Yellow Brick Road.  This was quite the appropriate theme for us considering the journey it took Brody to get where he is today.  We are so proud of him!  He sang his heart out this morning without any fear.  I cannot even explain what a blessing it was to watch him on the stage just being joyful.  We have so much to be thankful for.  It's funny how you travel down the road of life and not feel like your getting anywhere only to one day to magically arrive at your destination.  Oh, our journey is not complete, but we do feel like we finally got somewhere.  Today felt good!  Please remind me of this feeling next week when I'm crying because he started Kindergarten.  Haha! 

My sweet little Tin Man

 

Brody singing the Tin Man song

The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.  ~Author unknown, in reference to Ecclesiastes 9:11, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all."

We're going to continue our race right on into Kindergarten!  

Perseverance

Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it.  I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down.  ~Charles F. Kettering

This has been one of those difficult weeks.  Poor Brody was challenged greatly, and I'm very proud of him for pushing through some hard doctors' appointments and sickness.  If you're new to Brody stories, keep in mind he has a sensory disorder and problems with anxiety. 


Monday was Brody's first time at the dentist.  This is a big deal for a child who does not like his head touched.  The staff at the dentist office was AMAZING!  They made the experience for him a good one.  It was very thoughtful how they explain everything to him, let him touch equipment, and prepared him for what was happening next.  I'm very thankful for how they went over and beyond for Brody.  He really enjoyed going....what an awesome surprise!  Please pray he will continue to like the dentist on Monday when he has his first filling.  I'm not sure if he will be able to do it, but we're going to try.  We have to try.

Also at the dentist, I noticed Brody had a slight cough.  I figured it was because of his mouth being open from the cleaning.  I was wrong.  As the day progressed, the cough kept getting worse.  I made a doctor's appointment because my "mama gut" said to.  Doctor said, "He has pneumonia."   He just had that a month and half ago.   Brody was so pitiful by that night.  One of the hardest parts about being a mom is not being able to magically make your child better.  I prayed.  I prayed, and God showed up BIG TIME.  I saw improvements by the next morning.  It was difficult keep him from running around for a couple of days.  Brody is a man on the go!

Since he has had several lung problems over the past several months, the doctor refer us to a pulmonary doctor.  Doctor's appointment #3 was on Thursday.  The pulmonary doctor really felt the lung problems were a result from allergies.   This makes sense because Brody has been on allergy medicine since he was 10 months old.  The Brice Family has kept Claritin's stock up for the past five years.  We have not done a skin test to find out what he was allergic to because of his sensory disorder.  The doctor stressed the importance of it so I gave the "ok" to do it.  I held Brody's arms and shoulders down, one nurse held his legs, and the other nurse quickly as possible stuck him with all the little needles.   He cried, but he did not have a panic attack.  Praise the Lord!

This was not easy or fun.  It was however a blessing in disguise because apparently Brody is allergic to many things.  Poor kid had some severe reactions.  

If you're curious, B-man is allergic to:
every type of grass- Bermuda, Kentucky, Fescue, Rye, Johnson, Orchard, and the list goes on.
every type of mold- Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cephalosporium, and the list goes on.
a couple of trees- Ash and Elm
a couple of weeds- Cocklebur and Pigweed
Food was not severe but he did flare some with Strawberry, Pecan, and Soybean


This grass business is a big bummer for the kid who loves to be outside.

Brody fishing with his Pops

Brody liked wearing his Nanny's boots so the ants could not bit him.

Since Brody is getting sick regularly, he is going to have to start getting allergy shots.  He will receive shots twice a week the first six weeks then we will go once a week.  I hate he will have to gets shots, but I hate him having pneumonia more.  


What did I learn this week?  Perseverance will pay off if you keep pushing forward.  If you would have told me two years ago that Brody would have gone to the dentist and had an allergy skin test done in the same week, I'm not sure I would have believed it.  Through God's hand being on Brody, our family's hard work, therapies, medication, and an amazing preschool we are seeing Brody make progress every month.  He is being successful because of perseverance.  I cannot count the days he and I have both shed tears.  And yes, some of those tears were this week!  We have not and will not give up on giving him every opportunity for him to be as successful as possible in life.  It may have been a hard week, but it was also a week of seeing results.  Sometimes it takes a little stress to have gratitude.   


Little encouragement for my bloggy friends
Don't give up!  Whether it's learning something new at your job, pottery training your child, teaching your child to read, dealing with your teenager's crazy behavior, learning to take care of a sick person, transitioning an adopted child into your family, trying to get along with your spouse, or whatever is really challenging you, please don't quit.  Stick with it, and it will get better.  I know some days feel like it's just too hard, but you have to believe that tomorrow is always a new day.  And should tomorrow be hard too, well there's always the next day.  ;-)

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them. ~Henry David Thoreau

We all have things we dream about seeing and experiencing, and I was very blessed to accomplished a couple of those last week.  Here are some pictures of my favorite things from Honduras.

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!  One of my favorite things is coffee.  It was so neat to see it grow.  It was even more fun buying it. 

CHOCOLATE!  And here is another favorite growing.

A big old frog!  A little weird, yes, but this is my favorite list after all.

My favorite color is green.  Corn growing on the side of the hill is an awesome sight to me.

My favorite way to spend my time is playing with children.  I'm in the middle in a green shirt.

Do It Anyways

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

No matter what others think or say, always do what you know is right.  Some might think it's pointless to go feed people who might possibly end up in the same situation again.  I say feed them anyways.  Some might think it's pointless to educate people who strongly stick to their customs.  I say teach them anyways. 

It is always right to help those in true need.  When a people group is starving, feed them.  When your neighbors are without clothes, clothe them.  When a widow is facing the world alone, defend her.  When a child is without parents, adopt him.  When the poor cross your path, provide for them.  When you see the lonely, befriend them.  No matter what the world might say, do it anyways!

 

This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.  Jeremiah 22:3
 

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  Psalm 34:14

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  Isaiah 58:6

Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.  Isaiah 1:17

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:27

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.  Psalm 82:3

Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.  Proverbs 31:9

So that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.  Deuteronomy 14:29

I loved this little boy's Diego shirt. It reminded me of Diego's rescue song, "Al Rescate Amigos, To the Rescue My Friends"
Matthew 22:36-39 says, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself."

To love our neighbor, we need to come to their rescue when they need help.

This Honduras trip has really taught me to "do it anyways" and "Al Rescate Amigos!"