Rainbows in the midst of the storm.

You know how things can be SO HARD sometimes, and life seems dark, gray and blah?

Well, to be honest, that has been our life since we got Celia's diagnosis on September 20th.

Lots of tears, lots of questions, and frankly, some frustration that God allowed our little girl to be sentenced with this horrible disease.

Keepin' it real folks.

It. hurts.

Getting her swallow study reports and stopping her feeds, looking for a GI guy and firing her school for neglect have just compounded our rainy day feelings.

And to be gut-level honest we feel alone in this most of the time.

It is one thing for folks to "say" they are there for you, and a totally different other thing for them to stop what they are doing in their own busy lives to cry with you, help, and do whatever is needed to lighten the load.

This past week, God has really used people in a BIG WAY to show us that we really aren't alone.

~Our big kids (aka the grown ones) who are the only ones who "get it" since it is their sister and want to know every Dr appointment, every test results, and more importantly, how we are holding up and how they can help.

~My mother in law staying with us for a few days when Greg was out of town so I wouldn't shoulder everything alone.

~My sister volunteering to come every Wednesday to spend time with Celia, so I can spend time doing other things. She wants to know and love on Celia too. She has her own house full of little ones and is setting time aside to bond with our little sweetie.

~My sister in law and my besties being just a phone call away for advice, or encouragement.

~My friends who drop by with these applesauce yummy things that Celia just loves. They introduced us to them, and have made it their job to see she stays stocked up on the latest and greatest flavors.

~A friend who also has set aside time weekly to come paint and do arts and crafts with me and the girls so Celia can fully participate.

~Two friends who came up to me today and said, "We are taking the twins to a private room to play alone so you and Greg can sit in church together." Since we don't want to expose her unnecessarily to germs, it is great to actually hear a whole sermon once in awhile.

~A a sweet friend who calmly set a gift bag down next to me and said it was a gift for Celia. I was thinking, "Oh, I bet this is more yogurt squeezies- YAY!"

I couldn't have been more wrong.

 As we were leaving church, I opened it to find......


.......A BRAND NEW IPAD!!!

We have been praying (amidst all the medical bills mounting/ having to replace 2 AC units, etc, etc, etc) that we could get her one for Christmas. This is not just a frivolous (and expensive toy) for her. It is a great resource with special needs apps for kids just like Celia that are designed to stimulate, educate and entertain.

We can even purchase an arm that attaches to her wheelchair or go-go so she can have it right in front of her to encourage her to use her hands more.

Greg and I sobbed and sobbed the entire ride home.

All these gestures of love for our girl are SO MUCH MORE than time given or generous gifts.

It 's God showing us that although this road is really excruciatingly hard, that we are not walking it alone.
He is sending special people our way to pray for us, to help us, to encourage us, and to bless us (and our Celia) in ways too numerous to count.

We aren't alone.

Thank you all of you who have prayed, encouraged, given of your time and lovingly supported us through this.

You don't even know what it means to us.