Many of you know about the verse that came to me many times while I was pregnant with Violet, Jeremiah 29:11-13, it states: ¹¹ 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. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

To this day, I hold onto this verse.  No matter what life throws at me…I know God has a plan, His almighty hand is holding onto me and will guide me / us through it all.

The other thing that I noticed on a regular basis after Violet was born and I made the daily trip to the NICU to be with her was a song…

These are the lyrics

Water you turned into wine, opened the eyes of the blind there’s no one like you, none like You! Into the darkness you shine out of the ashes we rise there’s no one like you none like You! Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
Into the darkness you shine out of the ashes we rise there’s no one like you, none like You! Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God! Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us. And if our God is with us, then what could stand against. And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us. And if our God is with us, then what could stand against. What could stand against.
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God! Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God! And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us. And if our God is with us, then what could stand against. And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us. And if our God is with us, then what could stand against. Then what could stand against.
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God! Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

Our God, by Chris Tomlin.

This song has come to be at least 2 times a week since Violet has been born (& that’s not counting when I play it on my iPod) The chorus is so powerful…Our God is greater, our God is Stronger, God you are higher than any other, Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, our God!  Our God!

No matter what we face on this journey we’re on…any of us, not just my family but all of us…God is bigger than any / all of it.

Now I’m not saying our road has been easy and there aren’t days when I wish my 1 year old was doing “normal” things, but she is the beautiful baby that God entrusted in us. She is my beautiful, smiley, giggly baby and I love her just as much as Grace!  Even with all the sleepless nights and worrying about this or that…I wouldn’t change this last year…how could I?  God has the plan…He entrusted us in this plan and we just need to keep Him in the drivers seat and everything will be okay.

And I am not saying there aren’t days that I just turn away from everyone and cry because I don’t know what else to do, but I know that my God is there.  Putting his arms around me and telling me it’s going to be okay, trust me, ” come to me with your anxiety, my child” God is good!  That’s what I hold onto from this past year.  We have amazing caretakers in our lives.  Amazing friends and family and strangers for that matter.  We really couldn’t ask for more.  I have been overwhelmed by the love of people in this past year and I am grateful everyday for everyone.

No one dreams about having a child with special needs, we are just blessed by them.  Whether you have a child with special needs, are acquaintances with one, or know one personally…you are blessed.  We get so excited when Violet does something new, just like we did with Grace.  I can’t get wrapped up with timeline’s and what she “should” be doing….we’ve come a long way since January 3, 2012 and that is what hold onto, why wouldn’t I? Why shouldn’t I?  It’s what I’ve been entrusted with.