It’s the last day of the month, and as I look back over the blogging schedule I set for myself in March, I could let myself feel disappointed at the posts I just didn’t get to.
But, I don’t. I know that this month at least, I gave the best I could give.
See, two weeks ago today, my baby girl had eye surgery. It’s been a huge, exhausting, overwhelming couple of weeks. And yet here I am, typing a blog post at midnight. I just really feel it on my heart to share a bit of her journey.
This is my daughter’s story, but it’s also mine… and yours.
It’s yours if you’ve ever faced a situation that scares you silly….
If you’ve ever worried over your kids, or waited for medical news with your spirit unravelling in fear…
If you’ve ever longed to throw off the burden of stress you’ve been carrying and replace it with a peace you can only dream of…
This post is for you.
Allegra was 4 months old when her GP first noticed a slight inward turn of her right eye. At the time, it was so subtle that I couldn’t even see what the doctor was talking about. The advice was to wait and see if it would correct itself.
It didn’t. As Allegra grew, the turn slowly became more and more pronounced. It happened so gradually that, to be honest, it took us a while to recognise that she had a problem. Her eye wasn’t crooked all the time. Often, it looked fine.
It got worse when she was tired or when she was trying to focus on something nearby.
But most of the time, it wasn’t that dramatic. Allegra’s slightly wonky eye kind of just seemed like part of her.
It’s funny – I think before I had kids, I’d imagined that I might feel bothered if my child had something glaringly “wrong” with them. But the love in a mother’s heart is so overwhelming that to me, it has never felt like my child has anything “wrong”. It would be impossible for me to love this little girl one iota more no matter how she looks. We adore and cherish her and think she is so, so beautiful just exactly the way she is. In fact, that slightly wonky eye makes her just that little bit more adorable to us, because it is so much a part of “her.”
Except as it turned out, she didn’t have a lazy eye.
When we finally got in to see the opthalmologist, he immediately picked up something we’d never noticed before. Allegra was not seeing out of her crooked eye. With the “good” eye covered, her other eye swam around and refused to fixate on small objects.
He examined inside Allegra’s eye, and told us there was a problem with her optic nerve. He wasn’t 100% sure of what he was seeing, but he thought it looked like something called Morning Glory Syndrome. Apparently this is a rare congenital defect that causes low vision or blindness in the affected eye. Rare, as in, a one in a million occurrence.
He’d never seen it before, so he referred us down to Brisbane to see a paediatric opthalmologist who could confirm the diagnosis.
We went home with questions swimming through our heads. How had we not picked up before that Allegra was virtually blind in one eye? She’d always seemed to be looking at us with both eyes. Had I done something wrong during my pregnancy to cause this defect? What would the implications be for our little girl?
Within a couple of weeks we found ourselves in Brisbane, where the diagnosis was confirmed. Yes, Allegra had Morning Glory of the optic disc. No, it could not be corrected with surgery or glasses. It was an anatomical defect, or as our new opthalmologist put it, a “hardware issue.” The best we could hope for would be to salvage what little vision remained by patching her good eye for 2 hours a day, in an attempt to strengthen the disused muscles of the weak eye.
But that wasn’t all we had to worry about. The opthalmologist explained that Morning Glory Syndrome is closely linked to brain abnormalities, particularly in the mid-line of the brain. The next thing we knew, we’d been booked in for a rush MRI in Brisbane within the week.
We were in the middle of moving house at the time. Chaos surrounded us from within and without. Brain abnormalities? How could that be possible? Allegra’s development had always seemed so normal.
A week later we were once more on a plane to Brisbane and on our way to hospital. I felt nervous about putting our baby girl under a general anaesthetic; nervous about how long she had to fast before the procedure – no food or water until 4 o’clock in the afternoon! She was only 18 months old: how would she cope??
I was worried about the outcome of the MRI, too, mostly because of the urgency with which we’d been booked in. But it all felt a little surreal. I don’t think I ever truly expected them to find anything wrong. After all, she was a normal, happy little girl in every way. Surely we’d have had some indication by now if there was any sort of maldevelopment of her brain.
When we met with the opthalmologist a few days later to discuss the results, however, her mood was brisk but serious. She explained that the mid-line of the brain was normal (thank God!) – but before we could let out that subconscious breath we’d been holding, she told us they had found another anomaly. Allegra’s right optic nerve was thickened – a condition that was not, she told us, associated with the Morning Glory syndrome. Apparently it could be indicative of a glioma. Allegra’s results would need to be reviewed by a sub-specialist – a paediatric radiologist.
Lost somewhere in all the medical jargon, I asked, “What did you say it could be, again?”
“A glioma,” the opthalmologist repeated. She rattled off a few sentences of apparent explanation, which could’ve been in another language for all I understood, and told us we would have the results back within the week.
Standing on the train platform 5 minutes later, I Googled “glioma” on my phone.
I will never forget how it felt to have the words “BRAIN TUMOR” flash up on that little screen.
In a haze, I skimmed pages of information. Impossible, ridiculously awful words.
Optic nerve glioma is a rare kind of cancer, usually slow-growing and found in children.
Gliomas are rarely curable. The prognosis for patients with high-grade gliomas is generally poor… Of 10,000 Americans diagnosed each year with malignant gliomas, about half are alive one year after diagnosis, and 25% after two years.
A person with an optic nerve glioma usually experiences loss of vision… They are typically difficult to treat due to the surrounding sensitive brain structures.
Surgery… chemotherapy… radiation…
There I stood in the middle of the train platform, tears of shock and disbelief pouring down my face.
Two weeks ago we thought our daughter had nothing more than a lazy eye.
And now we were being told she could have a brain tumour?
It felt like a trapdoor had opened beneath our normal lives and without any warning, we were dropping into blackness. Nothing to grab onto. No end to the plummet. Just the upward lurch of the stomach and fear balled tight in the throat.
For two days I couldn’t eat and couldn’t sleep. The terror was immediate and all-consuming, like nothing I’ve ever known before or since. I hadn’t truly believed that Allegra could have a mid-line brain defect, but this… this felt different.
The more I read about it and discussed it with medical-professional friends, the more the fear grew. Optic nerve gliomas were slow-growing. They were usually diagnosed in children around 1-2 years of age due to loss of vision in the affected eye. It was highly likely that Allegra could have reached 18 months with no other symptoms of the tumour except for progressive vision loss in her right eye.
What’s more, the opthalmologist had given us no other possible explanation for the abnormal nerve. I felt sure that she already knew what we’d find.
I spent hours on end crying at the kitchen table. I couldn’t pray. Less than 2 months earlier, we’d lost our precious niece Imogen, a twin born at just 24 weeks. The grief was still so raw. I struggled to trust God with my daughter’s life. How could I, when just down the road from us, two parents would cry themselves to sleep because God had not spared their daughter’s life?
I knew that He heard my prayers, but what if I didn’t like the answer He gave?
They talk about thin places, those moments when the barrier between this world and the next grows transparent and permeable. I’d experienced plenty of those in the last little while. Praying outside a hospital room as a critically ill premature baby is mercifully taken off life-support. Holding my niece’s tiny lifeless body in my arms, stroking her petal-soft cheek, feeling her Mummy’s body shake with silent sobs beside me. Watching her Daddy carry a baby-sized pink coffin from the church in his arms. Weeping at a kitchen table as I contemplated our own future with despair. Life and death had never felt so weighty, so present, so frightening.
Things like this didn’t happen to people like us. Except they already had. And they were.
It was two days of the worst hell I can describe. I couldn’t let go of my fear, because that would mean trusting God, and how could he be trusted? I wanted my daughter to live – but what if He had other plans?
How could I possibly come to terms with letting her go, when she was the most precious thing I’d ever been given?
And then something happened.
There came a growing awareness in my heart that this holding on, this clinging to fear, was hurting only myself. My fear could not protect my daughter. My fierce lack of trust could not protect her.
I’ve been in love with God for so very many years, and he had always shown himself faithful. Even in the midst of grief, when we lost our niece, his presence was there. His comfort. His strength. His hope.
I couldn’t do this without him. No matter what the outcome – I needed him beside me to walk through the valley.
I knew I needed to get alone with God and pour out my heart to him, really work through how I was feeling, but with three small unsettled kids and a house full of boxes I’d barely begun unpacking what with all the back-and-forth trips to Brisbane, finding the time for a long indulgent chat with God seemed like a near impossibility.
Then, one afternoon, driving over the bridge with all three kids in the back and the late afternoon sun slanting all bright and golden into the car, I just all of a sudden knew, there will never be a better time than right now.
I finally let myself open my heart to God.
Tears pouring down my cheeks, I repented of trying to retain control… of clutching the situation to my chest with clawed and fearful hands and believing even for a moment that my God, my saviour, my rock – the one who has always, always been faithful to me – that somehow he cannot be trusted.
I thought I’d learned the meaning of surrender… but I learned it again that day.
These are the words I wrote down when I got home:
No matter what, I trust him. No matter what, I love him. No matter what, I will give him praise until I draw my last breath on this earth.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who takes my hand and walks beside me into an unknown that is fully known to him.
At no point did I ever feel like God was telling me Allegra did not have a brain tumour. In fact… for reasons I can’t even describe… I felt certain she did. That feeling did not leave me.
And yet… and yet.
All fear was gone.
A day later, I described what happened on Facebook:
It’s no exaggeration when I say the change was immediate. The dread left me and I was filled with a peace that I can only describe as supernatural.
For the past three days, I’ve actually felt happy. Yep – HAPPY. The worry is just… gone. There is no way I could have manufactured that transformation on my own. I’m a worrier, people. I get anxious about piddly stupid stuff. And this is not piddly stupid stuff. My 17-month old little girl could have a brain tumour. This is BIG stuff, bigger than anything we’ve ever faced.
And yet, I have peace. Not partial peace: complete, all-encompassing, overwhelming peace.
It’s not my doing – I’ve already proved how capable I am of losing it completely in the face of a crisis. I’m no-one special or strong, in fact I’m much more prone to be weak and emotional. This peace… this is a gift from God. Here’s what he promises: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27 NLT)
I share this because his peace is promised to all of us, if we’ll receive it. If God can give me peace in the face of this crisis, he can do it for you in your life.
It was a miracle… there is no other explanation.
Only God could take my crippling fear and replace it with his perfect peace in a single instant.
The peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.
The world can give us positive thinking, encouragement, enjoiners to keep our chins up and carry on.
It cannot give us a peace like I talk about here.
That is because this sort of peace can only come from God.
Are you facing a situation that frightens the bejeebers out of you? A situation so impossible and scary that you don’t know how you’ll survive it, let alone think positively about it?
God doesn’t have the answer.
He IS the answer.
A week after the biggest faith test we’ve ever had to face, Allegra was given the all-clear from the presence of a brain tumour.
I have never felt so thankful.
So many people were praying for a good result for her. And yet… to me, the biggest miracle was not her clean bill of health. It was the fact that God enabled me to face the horrific possibility of losing my daughter with a peace that doesn’t even make sense. A peace so ridiculous, so impossible, it cannot be true.
And yet, it was.
I found my trust being put to the test once more when Allegra came out of eye surgery last week. It was day surgery; a straightforward procedure to straighten her inward-turned eye, as recommended by her opthalmologist. As she came out of the anaesthetic, sleepy from the morphine, she snuggled into my shoulder, leaving bloodstains on my lace sleeve. She slept on and off as I cuddled her for two hours in recovery.
When I finally got a chance to look properly at her eye, something did not seem right.
Her eye that had been turned in was now pointing significantly outward.
Karen , thankyou for your blog , I loved reading it and thankyou for being honest with your struggle š as I read it I cried as I too have been on the same journey ( my hubby was diagnosed with Brain tumor a few years ago ) Gods grace and peace has been my anchor in the storm …thanks Jill ( if you are wondering who I am , i am the cranky parking duty lady at school pick up near prep haha )
You know… I prayed when I wrote this that it would speak to someone going through hard times. Boy, have you ever been through a tough battle. Praying that God's peace will continue to hold you steadfast. I don't know how people do this life without him.
And P.S…. you weren't cranky. š It was my mistake. š
I was so sad to read of the struggle that you and your family have faced in the last month. It is so hard to watch precious little ones go through painful procedures that they don"t understand and ,as a mother, I can only imagine how difficult it was for you. I am so happy that your gorgeous girl has been given the all clear from the presence of a brain tumour and I will pray that the next weeks bring better news.
Amazing Karen… So well written and I too shed a tear…. I have been through similar eye dramas my whole life and am truly blessed with the gift of sight. Could not see through my school years and relied on friends ( and god) to see me through..I will be blind by my 60 th birthday… I was legally blind from the age of 15 – 25 . I was blessed in 2005 with surgery to save my left eye and now as the disease I have deteriorates that eye I count down to my next surgery to save the sight in my right eye… Which I will need around my 40th birthday…. But will only last for only approximately 20 years …. This is an ongoing battle and I truly believe in that …. One moment…. That sun shining on you…. I prayed hard for little Allegra and I will continue to through her journey… Please keep us posted… Love your blogs ! Thank god everyday for being able to see my children and watch the world around me everyday …. Miracles do happen and if not…. We are ok with that… Gods plan!
Thank you so much, Lynne! xo
Wow, Karla – you'd told me a little bit of your story, but I had no idea about what you're still facing down the track. You're an inspiration – one of the happiest people I know, even after everything you've been through! Absolutely, miracles happen, and I'll be praying for one for you! xo
I knew that He heard my prayers, but what if I didn't like the answer He gave? I have a very scary thing in my life that everyone keeps saying 'just pray about it, it will work out for the best' and I feel like screaming at them – just because I know God hears my prayers doesn't mean he will give me the happy ending – I've experience the unhappy ending before as well. I am still trying to not be angry at God for letting it happen in the first place to be able to seek his peace, even though I know I should.
Thank you for sharing, I really appreciate it.
Yes… when you've experienced an unhappy ending, it leaves you changed deep inside in a way other people can't always understand. There is no "wrong" response to grief and pain – and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! You feel what you feel, and you can't change that. Only God can change that. But first you need to just let it all out, be totally honest, scream at him if you have to… it's ok… he's seen and heard it all before, and I'm pretty sure he would prefer your honest anger than anything less than authentic that you have to bring. That's where healing starts. By letting him in fully, even into the deepest and ugliest places. He can make something beautiful out of our mess. But first we have to open the door to the room we don't want anyone else to see. xo
Thank you for sharing this story Karen. This would have been so challenging to write. I learned that I had, and likely still have, no idea of how painful, full of worry, and scary the whole set of events have been. You're interaction with God is amazing, and your strength through the ordeal is humbling to say the least. You are an inspiring woman and mother Karen. As you wrote above, it is the strength of Jesus walking beside you and carrying you, and God's peace over you, but God also built and shaped your character to what it is today, ready to be the mother Allegra needs you to be. And honestly, you are rockin' it, even though you may not feel it some days.
Karen , thankyou for your blog , I loved reading it and thankyou for being honest with your struggle š as I read it I cried as I too have been on the same journey ( my hubby was diagnosed with Brain tumor a few years ago ) Gods grace and peace has been my anchor in the storm …thanks Jill ( if you are wondering who I am , i am the cranky parking duty lady at school pick up near prep haha )
Different situations but the same emotions and feelings and me too would not have been here in this state of mind without Gods peace. I also seem to forget in times and need reminders which help me re-focus on His love and peace. Blessings and thanks!!
You know… I prayed when I wrote this that it would speak to someone going through hard times. Boy, have you ever been through a tough battle. Praying that God's peace will continue to hold you steadfast. I don't know how people do this life without him.
And P.S…. you weren't cranky. š It was my mistake. š
I was so sad to read of the struggle that you and your family have faced in the last month. It is so hard to watch precious little ones go through painful procedures that they don"t understand and ,as a mother, I can only imagine how difficult it was for you. I am so happy that your gorgeous girl has been given the all clear from the presence of a brain tumour and I will pray that the next weeks bring better news.
Amazing Karen… So well written and I too shed a tear…. I have been through similar eye dramas my whole life and am truly blessed with the gift of sight. Could not see through my school years and relied on friends ( and god) to see me through..I will be blind by my 60 th birthday… I was legally blind from the age of 15 – 25 . I was blessed in 2005 with surgery to save my left eye and now as the disease I have deteriorates that eye I count down to my next surgery to save the sight in my right eye… Which I will need around my 40th birthday…. But will only last for only approximately 20 years …. This is an ongoing battle and I truly believe in that …. One moment…. That sun shining on you…. I prayed hard for little Allegra and I will continue to through her journey… Please keep us posted… Love your blogs ! Thank god everyday for being able to see my children and watch the world around me everyday …. Miracles do happen and if not…. We are ok with that… Gods plan!
Thank you so much, Lynne! xo
Wow, Karla – you'd told me a little bit of your story, but I had no idea about what you're still facing down the track. You're an inspiration – one of the happiest people I know, even after everything you've been through! Absolutely, miracles happen, and I'll be praying for one for you! xo
I knew that He heard my prayers, but what if I didn't like the answer He gave? I have a very scary thing in my life that everyone keeps saying 'just pray about it, it will work out for the best' and I feel like screaming at them – just because I know God hears my prayers doesn't mean he will give me the happy ending – I've experience the unhappy ending before as well. I am still trying to not be angry at God for letting it happen in the first place to be able to seek his peace, even though I know I should.
Thank you for sharing, I really appreciate it.
Yes… when you've experienced an unhappy ending, it leaves you changed deep inside in a way other people can't always understand. There is no "wrong" response to grief and pain – and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! You feel what you feel, and you can't change that. Only God can change that. But first you need to just let it all out, be totally honest, scream at him if you have to… it's ok… he's seen and heard it all before, and I'm pretty sure he would prefer your honest anger than anything less than authentic that you have to bring. That's where healing starts. By letting him in fully, even into the deepest and ugliest places. He can make something beautiful out of our mess. But first we have to open the door to the room we don't want anyone else to see. xo
Thank you for sharing this story Karen. This would have been so challenging to write. I learned that I had, and likely still have, no idea of how painful, full of worry, and scary the whole set of events have been. You're interaction with God is amazing, and your strength through the ordeal is humbling to say the least. You are an inspiring woman and mother Karen. As you wrote above, it is the strength of Jesus walking beside you and carrying you, and God's peace over you, but God also built and shaped your character to what it is today, ready to be the mother Allegra needs you to be. And honestly, you are rockin' it, even though you may not feel it some days.
Different situations but the same emotions and feelings and me too would not have been here in this state of mind without Gods peace. I also seem to forget in times and need reminders which help me re-focus on His love and peace. Blessings and thanks!!
Wow, wow, wow. Very true and very beautifully written. That daughter of yours is one very brave and gorgeous girl Karen.
Thank you Phil for those lovely, encouraging words!
It's so easy to forget – we all do it, and I'm sure I'll do it again. I'm thankful that God is so patient with us and puts so many people in our path to remind and encourage us when we most need it.
She sure is, Lauren – agreed! Thank you xo
Karen: I've known some of your story. Bits and pieces, here and there. Enough to know how to pray. And I understand your heart, because I too am a mom, one who has sat in a hospital room a time or two … or in a child's bedroom … and faced fear. Unable to pray.
Your words are vivid truth … I know they go straight up to heaven as praise to our God whom you love in the midst of all. of. this.
Thank you for being real. For being honest. For writing truth carved out as a choice …
Wow, wow, wow. Very true and very beautifully written. That daughter of yours is one very brave and gorgeous girl Karen.
Thank you Phil for those lovely, encouraging words!
It's so easy to forget – we all do it, and I'm sure I'll do it again. I'm thankful that God is so patient with us and puts so many people in our path to remind and encourage us when we most need it.
She sure is, Lauren – agreed! Thank you xo
Karen: I've known some of your story. Bits and pieces, here and there. Enough to know how to pray. And I understand your heart, because I too am a mom, one who has sat in a hospital room a time or two … or in a child's bedroom … and faced fear. Unable to pray.
Your words are vivid truth … I know they go straight up to heaven as praise to our God whom you love in the midst of all. of. this.
Thank you for being real. For being honest. For writing truth carved out as a choice …
Beth, thank you so much for these beautiful words and for understanding so well. xo
Wow, Karen. Just wow. Thank you for sharing this. Fear has always been one of my biggest struggles.
Beth, thank you so much for these beautiful words and for understanding so well. xo
Wow, Karen. Just wow. Thank you for sharing this. Fear has always been one of my biggest struggles.
I think a lot of people can relate to that. I'm so glad this spoke to you. xo
I think a lot of people can relate to that. I'm so glad this spoke to you. xo
Oh Karen, That was perfect! How I'm trying to hold on to control right now in my life with my kiddos…and it's tearing me apart inside.
I LOVE what you wrote in your journal
"No matter what, I trust him. No matter what, I love him. No matter what, I will give him praise until I draw my last breath on this earth.
I don't know what the future holds, but I know who takes my hand and walks beside me into an unknown that is fully known to him."
Thank you for this – for your transparency and love. For your hope in the love of Christ and your ability to express it in such a beautiful way.
Oh Karen, That was perfect! How I'm trying to hold on to control right now in my life with my kiddos…and it's tearing me apart inside.
I LOVE what you wrote in your journal
"No matter what, I trust him. No matter what, I love him. No matter what, I will give him praise until I draw my last breath on this earth.
I don't know what the future holds, but I know who takes my hand and walks beside me into an unknown that is fully known to him."
Thank you for this – for your transparency and love. For your hope in the love of Christ and your ability to express it in such a beautiful way.
Wow … what a journey you are all on with this. Your little girl is so very lucky to have you as her Mummy. Your strength and support is the most wonderful gift you will be able to give her every precious day of her hopefully long life. Having only discovered your blog recently and loving the décor inspiration that you share, it was humbling to read your beautifully written and heart wrenching story. It's always amazing to learn more about the people behind the public blog. I have a 3 year old girl and while she has thankfully been healthy thus far there is always fear for what life holds and if I am equipped to help her through it. Thank you so much for letting us share this part of your life.
Wow … what a journey you are all on with this. Your little girl is so very lucky to have you as her Mummy. Your strength and support is the most wonderful gift you will be able to give her every precious day of her hopefully long life. Having only discovered your blog recently and loving the dĆ©cor inspiration that you share, it was humbling to read your beautifully written and heart wrenching story. It's always amazing to learn more about the people behind the public blog. I have a 3 year old girl and while she has thankfully been healthy thus far there is always fear for what life holds and if I am equipped to help her through it. Thank you so much for letting us share this part of your life.
Hi from Kansas! I found your blog a couple weeks ago through Young House Love, and I'm so thankful I did! This post brought me to tears, both over your story and God's goodness. Our oldest daughter (now 6) has a blood disease called hereditary spherocytosis. Her routine blood tests at 1 year clued us in to a problem, but it took nearly a year for a diagnosis. During that time of searching, we heard many scary words, including leukemia. It is so hard to watch your child go through all the testing…I just wanted to do it all for her! It took a little while, but I was also blessed with the peace you talked about. It really IS a peace that passes ALL understanding! I commend you for sharing your story!
I love the words from 2 Cor 1: 3-5: "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others when they are troubled. We will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ."
May God continue to bless your family with his comfort and peace!
Hi from Kansas! I found your blog a couple weeks ago through Young House Love, and I'm so thankful I did! This post brought me to tears, both over your story and God's goodness. Our oldest daughter (now 6) has a blood disease called hereditary spherocytosis. Her routine blood tests at 1 year clued us in to a problem, but it took nearly a year for a diagnosis. During that time of searching, we heard many scary words, including leukemia. It is so hard to watch your child go through all the testing…I just wanted to do it all for her! It took a little while, but I was also blessed with the peace you talked about. It really IS a peace that passes ALL understanding! I commend you for sharing your story!
I love the words from 2 Cor 1: 3-5: "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others when they are troubled. We will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ."
May God continue to bless your family with his comfort and peace!
Malinda – I am so glad you found me! I really feel for you in what you've been through with your daughter. Wow, what a difficult journey – but praise God for guarding your heart with his peace. It's just indescribable, isn't it? I love that verse you shared! He really is the source of all comfort. Bless you back š xo
Thank you Fiona for those lovely words. It does feel vulnerable to open up with a really personal post like this… but I'm glad I did, and so glad it meant something to you. I think fear is definitely something all parents can relate to at some stage or other. We just want to protect our kids and we all want the best for them. So glad to have you reading along with the blog. xo
Thank you, dear Pepper, for that beautiful encouragement! xo
Malinda – I am so glad you found me! I really feel for you in what you've been through with your daughter. Wow, what a difficult journey – but praise God for guarding your heart with his peace. It's just indescribable, isn't it? I love that verse you shared! He really is the source of all comfort. Bless you back š xo
Thank you Fiona for those lovely words. It does feel vulnerable to open up with a really personal post like this… but I'm glad I did, and so glad it meant something to you. I think fear is definitely something all parents can relate to at some stage or other. We just want to protect our kids and we all want the best for them. So glad to have you reading along with the blog. xo
Thank you, dear Pepper, for that beautiful encouragement! xo
I just recently found your blog and it very quickly became the first blog I check in with daily! After reading just a few posts and then your "about" page, it was easy to see your beautiful heart! Your relationship with The Lord is an inspiration for all us wives and moms out there! I am praying for your precious daughter and your whole family! Please keep us posted about her progress.
On a lighter note… Your home is just lovely, you have amazing taste girl! Thank you for sharing your heart and home with us!!
Kathy, thank you so much – you have no idea how much your encouragement means to me! You made my day! So very glad to have you as part of this community. xo
I just recently found your blog and it very quickly became the first blog I check in with daily! After reading just a few posts and then your "about" page, it was easy to see your beautiful heart! Your relationship with The Lord is an inspiration for all us wives and moms out there! I am praying for your precious daughter and your whole family! Please keep us posted about her progress.
On a lighter note… Your home is just lovely, you have amazing taste girl! Thank you for sharing your heart and home with us!!
Kathy, thank you so much – you have no idea how much your encouragement means to me! You made my day! So very glad to have you as part of this community. xo
Well now it's my turn to weep. I can't even imagine going through all that you've been through in the past several weeks. Your testimony is so beautiful and such proof that our God loves us and is in control. I am so thankful that Allegra was cleared of having a tumor, and your family will certainly be in my prayers as you continue down this road with her eye and vision. Your outlook is such an encouragement and inspiration. Thank you so much for being willing to pour out everything onto the pages of your blog and let us in to your reality. The fact that in the midst of such scary circumstances that you where overcome by God's perfect peace is just such an incredible witness to everyone who reads your story. Please keep me updated on how everything is going! I will be checking back here for updates! Hugs, friend! <3
~Abby =)
Well now it's my turn to weep. I can't even imagine going through all that you've been through in the past several weeks. Your testimony is so beautiful and such proof that our God loves us and is in control. I am so thankful that Allegra was cleared of having a tumor, and your family will certainly be in my prayers as you continue down this road with her eye and vision. Your outlook is such an encouragement and inspiration. Thank you so much for being willing to pour out everything onto the pages of your blog and let us in to your reality. The fact that in the midst of such scary circumstances that you where overcome by God's perfect peace is just such an incredible witness to everyone who reads your story. Please keep me updated on how everything is going! I will be checking back here for updates! Hugs, friend! <3
~Abby =)
Abby, thank you SO much for those lovely words! So thankful we've had the chance to connect. I'll be praying for you too over the weeks ahead – you're one strong and brave lady!! xo
Abby, thank you SO much for those lovely words! So thankful we've had the chance to connect. I'll be praying for you too over the weeks ahead – you're one strong and brave lady!! xo
The germans prayed to your Christian god. Why not thank science who really saved your childs life or disability? Otherwise instead of science why dont you just pray. No hospitals no drs. Just church and pray? You are psychologicaly abusing your child without even thinking your doing it.
The germans prayed to your Christian god. Why not thank science who really saved your childs life or disability? Otherwise instead of science why dont you just pray. No hospitals no drs. Just church and pray? You are psychologicaly abusing your child without even thinking your doing it.
Thank you. I needed this tonight.
Eliza, I'm so glad this spoke to you, in whatever you're going through right now. I don't know anything about your story, but the Holy Spirit is stirring my heart to pray for you, and I'm doing so right now, with tears. His love for you is so incredible. He just made a complete stranger cry on your behalf. š I just want you to know that… he sees, and he cares. xoxo
Thank you. I needed this tonight.
Eliza, I'm so glad this spoke to you, in whatever you're going through right now. I don't know anything about your story, but the Holy Spirit is stirring my heart to pray for you, and I'm doing so right now, with tears. His love for you is so incredible. He just made a complete stranger cry on your behalf. š I just want you to know that… he sees, and he cares. xoxo
Why not thank science who really saved your childs life or disability? Otherwise instead of science why dont you just pray. No hospitals no drs. Just church and pray? You are psychologicaly abusing your child without even thinking your doing i
Why not thank science who really saved your childs life or disability? Otherwise instead of science why dont you just pray. No hospitals no drs. Just church and pray? You are psychologicaly abusing your child without even thinking your doing i
I too have experienced that peace that only God can give. It is an AMAZING feeling!! Praying for your precious little girl and that God will continue to give you peace!
I too have experienced that peace that only God can give. It is an AMAZING feeling!! Praying for your precious little girl and that God will continue to give you peace!
Yes, it is! Thank you for your prayers, sweet Stephanie!! xo
Yes, it is! Thank you for your prayers, sweet Stephanie!! xo