Lovely connection

Anyone who really knows our Bell isn’t surprised by this photo.

She’s such a light-hearted, fun loving person.

Infact I am nearly certain I’ve called her our Otter.

(From the insightful talks by Dr. Gary Smalley and Dr. John Trent.)

Yet, our Bell is serious too.

She’s been seeking the Lord for His path for her and we are expecting Him to speak during this trip of work and friends.

After all it was a similar time when our Sis heard the Lord direct her calling and she is currently walking in obedience to it.

Truly, the connection on my phone while video chatting with our Bell this morning was nice.

But connecting heart to heart with our Bell, even for a few minutes was lovely.

I was also blessed to hear from our friend who the girls are staying with and to see Bell’s best friend smile.

The lingering warmth of love between our daughter and myself is a cherished moment.

I love that our relationship is merging from parent and child to parent and adult.

I’m blessed to watch her choose Jesus and serve Him.

I have the privilege of standing aside to see what God will do.

And in about two weeks time, I’m excited to hear all the Lord has done.

What a lovely connection we share together.

Our love of one another and our love of Jesus.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for this opportunity for these young ladies. Please bless them. Open their hearts and minds. Let them see You in a fresh way. Let their personal relationship with You deepen. Please bless all those who are hosting our girls. Please bring them safely home again. Thank You for the wonderful relationship we have together. Let it continue to be the mirror which shines Your love to those who have yet to know You.

Attempt to connect failed

Have you ever been on the Internet and seen this pop up on your screen?

Normally hitting Refresh will do the trick,

But
Not
Always.

Especially when this phrase is relating to life.

Our daughter is dyslexic.

At times, when trying to communicate information to her, the look in her eyes conveys the same as the screen of my computer:
“Attempt to connect failed”

And she is as discouraged as I am when the “Refresh” of effort, memory, and information doesn’t equal understanding.

However we don’t “Shut down”.

Instead we normally try re-inputting, at times from the very beginning.

It’s been years of try to get where we are now and we are not finished learning the way she is programed.

We have learned a lot about persevering.

We have learned that although many don’t understand,  there are a precious group of individuals who go the extra distance to help.

Her History teacher, discovered that giving her the opportunity to hear the test being read a loud while she reads improved her grades.

Her Science teacher called his daughter long – distance because she has a degree in helping kids with learning disabilities, in the hopes of gaining a better understanding of how to help her.

Her Literature teacher who had her visit her home to work on homework after school.

Her Home room teacher, who sat for hours last year working with her on spelling, science, and any other homework she was struggling with.

We are truly blessed to have so many people in her life that have poured their love, time, and energy into encouraging our girl.

Even though she is only 13, she can tell you that being dyslexic means communication is hard.

Being laughed at because it takes twice as long to read a paragraph or instruction can be debilitating.

At times I feel helpless to give her the tools to continue.

Recently we have decided to hire a tutor to help her, her younger sister, and Jase. All of them have learning hindrances.

On top of this a mom from our school has offered to take two hours a week and sit with her own son and our daughter in study hall. Just to help them keep from getting behind.

Since I teach the class our son is in, I am blessed by her sacrifice.

All of this causes me to repent…

For the times I was blaming myself and the Lord for not answering my prayers. 

He has heard everyone of my prayers for our children.

He has heard the prayers of our little ones, who, in frustration and fear, ask for His help with school.

He has understood the pain of failure we feel when yet again a test has been failed.

He has answered.

In wonderful teachers, encouraging classmates, coaches who go the extra mile, family and friends that pray.

As we step out into a new school year, I know that the chances of failure are still present and probable.

But God has given us many options for a reboot and another day to try connecting again.