Tag Archives: God’s timing

Adoption: Mother Miracle -By Karla

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My friend Tonya was born with Turner Syndrome, which is a chromosomal abnormality that affects the development in females. Maybe you are like me and had never heard of this condition, but I know you have heard of God. Having a child was impossible, but adoption is God’s miracle.

Miracle Number One: Tonya’s Birth

Approximately ninety-eight of pregnancies with Turner Syndrome abort spontaneously. Tonya was among the two percent!

Physical Features of Turner Syndrome

  • Shorter stature
  • Neck with a webbed appearance and shorter
  • Lower-set ears that often stick out
  • Elbows with a deformity that causes them to turn outward instead of having the ability to lay flat when the arm is straightened
  • Puffy feet and hands
  • Low hairline
  • Upturned finger and toenails
  • High arched palate
  • Receding lower jaw
  • Large pigmented moles
  • Broad shoulders
  • Lessen breast growth

Medical Issues of Turner Syndrome

  • Born with heart defects (often a narrowed section of the aorta)
  • Aorta tearing with age
  • Droopy eyes and cataracts
  • Frequent ear infections that can cause hearing loss
  • Kidney issues due to their horseshoe shape
  • Scoliosis
  • Diabetes
  • Underactive thyroid (often resulting in weight gain or slower weight loss)
  • Blood pressure issues
  • Stomach issues like Crohn’s disease
  • Lack of ovaries

Social Concerns of Turner Syndrome

  • Lack of ability to understand social cues
  • Low self-esteem
  • Struggles with “fitting in

Cognitive Disabilities of Turner Syndrome

  • Spatial misjudgments
  • Nonverbal learning disabilities
  • Developmental delays
  • Possible behavioral problems

Tonya has some of the issues in all the above categories, but like most who have Turner Syndrome, she does not have all. When Tonya was born, doctors told her mom not to expect her to even know what a brush was used for! However, God had other plans for Tonya. I believe that is due to His supreme knowledge. He knew her heart, and He knew how she would use this heart to love others.

Education Miracles

She did know how to use a brush–and so much more! Tonya graduated from high school in 2003. God planted a love for children, so she went to Berry College and received her teaching degree in Early Childhood Education. On her 12th year of teaching, Tonya has positively affected about 900 students. She cares for them as if they were her own. As the years have gone and she has matured as a woman, the desire to be a mom has grown as well.

Miracle of Service

Moving back to her hometown, she began teaching and started serving in her church with children and youth departments. Her sweet little ears went under four surgeries to help their physical appearance and hearing abilities when she was young. As she aged, with the help of a hearing aids, she has listened, heard, and advised many girls, who needed a Christian friend, over the years.

Music Miracle

In addition, she uses her beautiful voice to minister to others. Learning to depend on others to help her in the areas of weakness, she is careful to make sure she is blending with her praise team, singing with a voice that always glorifies the Lord! Her solos leave me inspired.

Humbling to Ask for Help

Often she asks her passengers for parking help; she eases into spots careful not get too close to obstructions. She asks for assistance and reassurance from those she trusts most to compensate in the areas that Turner Syndrome has left its permanence.

About three years ago, Tonya asked me to accompany her in meeting with a Christian adoption agency. They were encouraging, sharing that they accept singles’ applications and thought Tonya would be a good candidate to adopt. Hearing the process, I became hopeful that this could in fact be a reality for Tonya to become a mom!

However, when we left, Tonya and I discussed the money part of adoption and how this would be the biggest obstacle. She reviewed her finances as we ate lunch. Overwhelmed but enthusiastic, we prayed. As the years past, she continued to pray for God’s will and His timing.

Miracle of Love

In July of 2018, Tonya came for a visit with a tone and facial expression that could hardly be contained. Her announcement has become among the most precious miracles I have personally ever seen develop. An older teen-ager, who needed a home was taken in by a family friend. Over the years, she gave birth to a child. The family continued to provide a home for both the girl and her baby. As the girl matured and cared for her own child, she continued to have a steady, loving relationship with the couple who was providing for them.

When her first child was around two, she became pregnant again. Being a loving mother, she knew she could not care for both children. She prayed and sought Godly wisdom. It was then that Tonya’s name entered the scene. The single mother knew in her head and heart that Tonya would be the best mom for her baby. She and the foster family continued to pray as they kept the possibility to themselves. As the days went by, the reality of her baby continued to develop. In the lady’s final trimester, Tonya was asked a question that only a mother, who truly loves her child, would ask.

Would you take my child and raise her as your own?

I worried more than Tonya that the girl might change her mind, and who could blame her! It takes unselfish love to sacrifice for your child.

Tonya shared that she concluded her two choices: Exist with worry for the next twelve weeks living guarded, or freely enjoy every moment on this possible path God was unfolding

So, enjoy she did, going to every doctor’s visit and buying necessities. Praying for the little girl’s lungs to fully develop, her nails to completely form, and perhaps to even find her thumb to suck as she progressed in pounds and length, she delighted. Tonya also prayed for the mother’s health and her emotional well-being. While others worried; she rejoiced for the upcoming birth of a newborn.

Insurance Blessing

Her insurance allowed her to not only have maternity-leave, but they also covered a room at the hospital for Tonya and Baby Evie to share! When she was born, the nurses helped both mom and baby transition and bond.

Walking into the hospital the day after Evie was born, I was the one who could not contain my tone or facial expressions. In fact, the realization of the Lord’s grace left me almost shaking in awe.

Holding little Evie, tears rolled down my face. I look to my precious friend, whose face held the glow of a new mother. While I was comprehending what was taking place, she had already accepted the magnitude of God’s gift that she had been granted.

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms37:4

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12

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Prayer: What If We Ask? -By Donna

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Last week I was asked if I thought it was ok for someone to pray for what they hoped would happen. I was also talking to a friend recently who had been dealing with a situation for a while. I laughed and said, “ask and it shall be given unto you.” To which she replied, “Hmm, I haven’t prayed about it, I’ve just complained about it.”

God answers prayers. I know that for a fact. The Bible says so, and I have experienced it many times. I remember from my early teens two things my pastor said about prayer that have stuck with me. The first was that God answers prayer three ways; yes, no, or wait a while.” Yes prayers are the easiest to accept and be thankful for.  But, he may answer no. When God says no, He is looking out for our best interest. He has something better planned. Someday you may find yourself thanking God for an unanswered prayer. I know I have. The hardest answer is the “wait a while.” We must remember that God’s timing is perfect. Sometimes it seems like He has forgotten, but He is orchestrating each detail and step along the way.

What More do You Want?

A story was the second thing I remember my pastor saying about prayer. It illustrated how God’s answer may be different from what you are expecting. That was many moons ago but it went something like this:

A man was trapped on his rooftop by the rising waters of a flood. A neighbor came by in a rowboat and called to him, “Get in my boat! I’ll save you!” However, the man said, “No!  I prayed to God, and He will save me!” The water rose to the man’s knees. Next came another fellow in a motorboat. “Get in! I’ll save you!” cried the fellow. “No!” the man on the roof replied. “I prayed to God, and He will save me!”  Soon the water was up to the man’s chest. Then a helicopter with a ladder came by. “Grab on!” called the pilot. “I’ll save you!” The man on the roof called, “No, I prayed to God, and He is going to save me!”

Without warning a wave swept him off the roof, and he drowned. As he entered heaven, he questioned God. “God, I prayed to you, and I trusted you to save me. You let me drown. Why didn’t you answer my prayer?” God replied. “My son, I sent you two boats and a helicopter! What more did you want?”

Ask Him

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11

God is our father.  “… how much more will our Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him.”  But what if we don’t ask and miss out on a blessing He had planned for us?

-Donna

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Surviving: “The Search is Over” by Survivor – By Donna

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I had a month to pack up twenty-seven years of stuff and find a place to live.  September 30th was my deadline.  Every few days I went by two local realty companies for an updated list of available houses to rent.  First, I marked out those that read “no pets” and others I was concerned were out of my budget.  With few remaining on the list, I would ask for keys and venture to have a look.  Being afraid to walk into empty houses alone, (maybe I’ve seen too many mystery movies) I would call Karla and give her a verbal tour of each room.

Purple People Eater

In my starting price range, I saw some pretty rough houses in nerve-racking areas.  At the very first house, I believe the Purple People Eater had taken a bath there.  The entire tub had a purple stain, and a big one where his head would have laid. So after a couple of houses, I gave myself a little higher allowance.

Sometimes Karla would drive down and join me in my search.  Even with the 100 dollars increase in rent, we saw some sketchy places.  The first thing we saw at one house was a blood stain on the floor, or so we thought!  Not to mention the hardwoods in other rooms looked as if someone had a bonfire in the middle of the floor. One home was so bad that I stopped walking, looked at Karla and said, “I’m going no further. You can do what you want, but I’m out of here!” 

No matter how bad they were, Karla always tried to be optimistic and point out the positives she noticed. Though often her face was saying something totally different than her mouth!

Time Was Ticking

In the evenings when I wasn’t filling boxes, I was surfing the web on every rental site that exists. With only a week to go, I decided to open my mind to other possibilities like an apartment or a duplex.  Nothing is wrong with them. I have just lived in the middle of 40 wooded acres for almost 30 years.   love the trees and especially the lake I see as I look out the window every day. And Carlton, the dog, adores the yard to run in. But time was ticking.

A blessing came my way when some wonderful people offered to help with the rent so that I could go up in price, find a safe area, and something a little nicer. So Wednesday, Karla came down, and we went to look at another house and an apartment, both in better areas. We went to the apartment first. It was nice, roomy, and had three bedrooms. The carpet was filthy, but I knew the real estate company would clean it. There was a sliver of yard. I had finally found a possibility.

Next was the house. It was a cute, old restored house, downtown. It had all I desired: three bedrooms, a kitchen that included all appliances, and a small yard for Carlton. But we quickly discovered it must have been the residence of Roy G. Biv. The house was blue, and the brick wall was red. The kitchen and dining area were bright yellow and the bedroom lime green. The den was florescent orange! We never saw the indigo or violet, but I’m sure it was there somewhere. Now I had two possibilities! But I wanted the house, with a fresh coat of paint. I called the real estate company the next morning and was told to hurry and turn in my application because many people were interested in that house. So, I did and I prayed for that house.

On Thursday, I got a call and it had been narrowed down to one other person and me. They had a few questions for each of us before making their decision. I waited all day and heard nothing. So at the end of the day, I called and was told I wasn’t chosen. I never panicked and when friends asked if I had found a place, I would just smile and say, “Moving day is Saturday, and nope I don’t know where I’m going.” I knew God knew where I was going and He had a plan. 

5 Hours to Go

Friday was a teacher workday, and the last day to find a place since I had to to move Saturday. The offices closed at 5 so I was down to 5 hours! After lunch I didn’t have to return to school, so I planned to go straight to claim the apartment I really didn’t want. However a friend invited me to lunch for her birthday, which I had forgotten with all that was going on! On the way to the restaurant, I decided to run in the other realty place to grab a flyer. They weren’t in their usual spot. I asked the receptionist, and she said they had just been printed and handed me one and I threw it in the car.

After lunch, I went to sign the lease for the apartment. But the lady informed me that the apartment would not be ready for two weeks, unless I wanted to clean the carpets myself. I decided to think about it because they were really nasty and I didn’t know if they would dry by morning. Sitting in the car knowing I only had two hours to find a place to live, I picked up the paper and saw they had added one new house to the rental list. Well, might as well check it out. I ran and got the keys and hurried to see it. The minute I walked in the door I knew it was the one! I called the lady to tell her I wanted it, and I was on the way over to do the paper work.

“OH, I can’t do it today!  It’s Friday afternoon, the end of the month, and we are swamped.” she said. My heart sank as I sat there in stunned silence, knowing I had to move somewhere tomorrow. Suddenly her tone changed, and she said, “Well, if you can come now, I’ll do it.”

God’s Timing

While I sat waiting on her to write up the lease, the receptionist said, “You are lucky. We just put that house on the list right before you came and got the paper. Since you took the keys, four people have called wanting it.”

At 4:30 I signed the lease! I knew it wasn’t luck. It was God. He never fails me. He did wait until the last possible minute, but it had to be His timing not mine. I have a cute little home that has a nice backyard with a deck and lots of trees. It is 200 dollars less than Roy G. Biv’s house! 

And God even gave me a view of a lake!

-Donna

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