The Story of Jacob's Bus

As you know I have been dreaming about and looking at wheelchair accessible minibuses for over a year.  Not that I like to put God in a box, but I really never thought we would be able to get one.  I know better than to tell God what he can't do.  Here is our awesome story . . .


Our church does this thing call the "dollar club".  Watch the video below.

The Dollar Club from Southland Christian Church on Vimeo.


I received a phone call back in April from someone at our church saying they would like our family to be the recipients of the Dollar Club on Easter Sunday.  You are not going to believe what God did!!!  Our church had a record attendance on Easter Sunday.  Our family was blessed with a little over $20,000 for our bus.  SERIOUSLY???  Only God could do that!!

I started researching and talking to bus companies.  One of them just stuck out to me.  Not sure what it was, I just felt good about them.  After much searching and talking we decided the best option would be to order a new bus that would meet all our needs.  A $65,580 bus!!!  We knew we would have to take out a loan so I said "give me the best deal you can".   He came back with a pretty good discount, basically giving it to us at wholesale value.  Of course still out of our price range, but we had our van to trade in or sale.  We asked him what he could give us on our van as a trade in.   He was a little skeptical and said probably not as much as you would like.  We sent pictures and he looked around and surprisingly gave us exactly what we were asking.  Yes, God was working big time behind the scenes!!! 

Oh but it gets better!!

We ended up purchasing that $65,580 bus for exactly $19,850!!!!   SERIOUSLY!!!  Only God could do that!!!

Thursday we traveled to Nashville to pick up Jacob's bus.  What a great day!  We stopped by the Show Hope office for a visit before heading over to pick up the bus. 

Gabriel standing under his picture in the Show Hope office.

When we got to the bus dealer several of the staff came out to introduce themselves to the kids.  AGAIN ONLY GOD!!!  As the kids were telling their names the guy starting talking to them about the Biblical origin of their names.  In their office they had pictures of Israel and Jerusalem.   Several of the staff said they had been to Israel several times.  It was very obvious that the owners and many of the staff were Bible believing Christ followers.  GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

Thank you Southland Christian Church and Carpenter Bus for blessing our family with this amazing gift!!

Happy Birthday Little Buddy

I remember it like yesterday.  Nine years ago I was pacing the floors at our house.  I had worked a full day, even making home visits, all while going through early labor pains.  I remember sitting in a meeting and every once in a while I would have to stop talking and take a deep breath.  My supervisor kept asking me if I was ok.  If I remember correctly I went home a little early that day.  Of course Ethan wasn't due for two more weeks so I thought it was Braxton Hicks contractions. 

I fed Darren & Miranda dinner and got Miranda to bed.  I remember not being able to sit down all evening.  I was just pacing back and forth breathing.  I decided this was the real deal, I was actually in labor. After Miranda & Darren went to bed I spent the next few hours going from shower, to bath, to my exercise ball.  Finally around 3:30a.m. I woke up Darren and said it was time to go to the hospital.  I called the midwife and she said "make sure you don't wait too long".  I called my parents to come sit with Miranda.  Around 4:00a.m. we were finally off to the hospital.  The drive there was interesting.  I was very uncomfortable sitting down and I kept thinking can't you go any faster.  I knew we were running out of time. 

We got to the hospital and they insisted that I sit in a wheelchair.  I remembering yelling at them that I did NOT want to sit down.  We got upstairs and they started doing the paperwork and checked me out.  The midwife came in and immediately asked if they had checked to see how far I was.  The nurse said they had just checked me.  The midwife could tell by the look on my face and said you might want to check her again.  Yep I was ready!!  We didn't even get all the paperwork filled out. 

Ethan started having a hard time and his blood pressure dropped.  I remember going to the bathroom and hearing the nurse talking to Darren.  They put oxygen on me and said we need to get him out.  It only took a couple of pushes and a very blue little boy came flying out at 5:09a.m. weighing 5lbs 5oz and 19 inches long.  I was later told that they were only giving me a few more minutes before they had to do an emergency C-section. Again, after the fact, my mom said as soon as I saw him I walked out of the room and called your dad and told him to start praying.  Ethan had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and he had a bowl movement.  His temperature was really low and so was his blood sugar. They took him to the nursery for observation for a couple of hours before I could have him back.  Amazingly he did great and we went home after only 24 hours. 

Car Dancing

I have had several people say they would love to see what it's like every day in our house.  Well, here is an example of a typical car ride with us.  I did not even notice until I went back to watch the video that Gabriel was asleep in the back seat during all this noise.

 

 

 

 

Growing Pains & Hidden Disabilities

For the last year I've been having this internal struggling between keeping my children's lives as normal as possible and at the same time keeping them safe.  I am particularly struggling as my children move into their pre-teen years and their hidden disabilities become more evident. 

I have a daughter who for those looking from the outside see a typically developing 11 year old.  However, if you get to know her a little more you will discover that her social and play skills are that of a 6-7 year old.  Her cognitive skills are at the same level but her decision making skills are even further behind.

Last year it was easy to hold her back a year in the children's program at church.  Our church also has a great program for individuals with developmental disabilities.  Here is where I struggle.  Do I place her in the group for individuals with disabilities or send her to the middle school group with peers her age?

We have always taught our children to treat their siblings and others with respect and dignity.  Our children are taught to help those that need help.  They are taught that God created all people and each one has gifts and talents to share. (sometimes I need to listen to my own lesson)

Here is what I LOVE about my children.  They really do care about each other and want to see each other succeed.  My 12 year old daughter knows that my 11 year old really wants to do what everyone else is doing.  She overheard a conversation between my husband and I and she volunteered to help her sister out if she goes up to middle school. 

So in the fall I will take a big leap of faith and send her to the middle school group knowing she will have the wonderful church staff and a watchful big sister looking after her.

All I Want for Christmas Is . . .

A Sprinter Paratransit Minibus!

Why, you ask do I want such a big expensive vehicle?  

1. There will be a day in the not so distant future that I will not be able to transfer Jacob in and out of our van. 

2.  I am not looking forward to loading and unloading his wheelchair onto the back of our van in the freezing cold snow this winter.  But I will keep doing it until I am in the grave if I have to because I love him that much!

3.  This vehicle will allow us to love 2-3 more children!!  We currently have a 12 passenger van and we have 12 people in our family.  I do a lot with the kids by myself and need to be able to transport them all in one vehicle.

My God is big and I find it a joy to serve him by loving his children, as many as I possibly can. Darren and I are confident that we were created for just a time as this to serve. It is such a blessing to see the miracles God provides for us.  A van such as this would most definitely be a miracle! God is good all the time!

Top Ten Things My Children Have Taught Me - #10

I have been thinking a lot about my kids and how my faith has been increased since they entered my life so I thought I would write down the top ten.

 

 

#10

NEVER use the words "CAN'T" or "WILL NEVER" to describe my kids
 

Remember this little guy?  At 10 months old he weighed nine pounds.  We were told he may not live long enough to complete the adoption and bring him home.

 

 

This little guy should have a visual impairment, hearing impairment, feeding tube, seizures, never walk, never talk,  and have very low cognitive ability.   Shhhh!!!  Don't tell Jacob though he didn't get that memo!

Jacob didn't just live he is LIVING!!

 

 

 

 

Jacob is WALKING!!!!

 

 

 

 

Jacob is TALKING!!!



For the last two weeks during speech therapy Jacob has used his Dynavox to make independent purposeful choices.  Two weeks ago when it was time for his therapist to leave, Jacob, using his Dynavox, told his therapist goodbye.  This is a regular routine, but what he did next was all on his own!!  He then chose "I don't want you to go" and then "I want a hug"!!!  SERIOUSY!!!  He is already hitting on girls! 

Last week he was in therapy and my parents walked in the house for a visit.  Jacob immediately, using his Dynavox, told his therapist he was done.  He then navigated page to page and chose the picture for "FAMILY". 

Don't tell Jacob "HE WILL NEVER WALK"  or "HE CAN'T TALK" 

I think I will erase those phrases from my vocabulary

 

 

I could give many more examples of my kids defying the odds.  Want to know why I believe in miracles?  It's actually really simple.  I have a house full of living breathing miracles!  How could I not?



Reflecting Back

During my morning walk I was reflecting back on my life.  I don't have many regrets in life.  However, I do have one major regret that changed the course of my life.   My biggest regret was leaving the music program in college.  That one decision lead to many bad choices over several years.  I had a person that I trusted give me bad counsel.  I stopped singing.  I sold my flute.  Pretty much left music forever.  I regret letting that person influence me to walk away from a gift that God had given me to use for his glory.  I have regretted that decision almost daily to the point where I still have not fully recovered.  I let it take away one of the biggest joys I had in worship.   I still to this day cannot bring myself to sing.  Besides singing in the pew at church my voice is only heard in my head.  If I had a do over in life that is the one decision I would want to change.

I think I am talking about this now because two of my girls have been given beautiful natural gifts by God.  They are at an age now that they are wanting to develop those gifts more.  I don't want that joy to be stolen.  I am praying that God provides the finances needed for them to pursue their gifts. I am praying that God puts encouragers in their life to walk along with them.  I am praying that they never loose sight of the beautiful gift God has given them.  I am praying that they use those gifts for God's glory and worship. 

PLEASE DON'T LET SOMEONE TAKE AWAY YOUR GIFTS AND JOY