Michael has a six sense to know when I am up blogging. I usually try to get up before my kids but the last few days he has woken up within 10 min. of me waking. Even now it is 1:00 in the morning and I keep hearing him move around.
Maddie was evaluated for her speech today. Early in her life I always felt that Maddie was ahead of the curve, especially in her speech. Then when she was about 3 I noticed that everyone had caught up to her. But then by about 3 1/2 I noticed her falling a little behind. By 4 she was becoming hard even for me to understand. When we put her in preschool she would come home in tears telling me that no one at school understood what she was saying. I decided to do something about it.
There is a program here in Wake County, North Carolina, called Project Enlightenment that works with children who have not entered Kindergarten. I had reached out to them before but they informed me that it would take months to get a screening from them. We were in the middle of huge summer plans so I didn't follow through. When I called them the second time they set me up with an appointment the next week. I felt so blessed. The woman who screened Maddie had been the woman who worked with John Derek on his reading in Kindergarten. She was so kind. Another sweet blessing.
So today we had her evaluated by a speech therapyst. Maddie loved the attention. There were three woman talking to her and putting all their attention on her. She was really soaking it all in and performing right into their hands. One of them laughed and said, "Oh, look at those eyes!" It reminded me that as I was doing Maddie's hair earlier she had told me, "Mom, I am putting my cute eyes on this morning," then gave me the cute eyes look. Boy did she have her cute eyes on today.
They seemed to be in agreement that Maddie needed to be further evaluated. She will be observed by the speech therapist at school on Friday and then they will work with me on getting her in with at therapist to work on her speech. I am grateful it is all going well and am excited to have her be able to speak so that others can understand her and I don't have to repeat everything she says. I think she will embrace the independence. I feel that the Lord is really taking care of this whole situation. Another blessing.
This is a talk given by President Thomas S. Monson, Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was given in the General Relief Society Meeting in September 2013. (click here to read/listen/watch)
I love this talk. It was given soon after Derek was called to be the bishop of our ward/congregation. I was struggling that particular day and wasn't even sure I was going to go to the meeting. Derek encouraged me to go. I will forever be gratful for that council. As I sat there watching President Monson and listening to his words I felt the Love of the Lord. I felt that President Monson was talking directly to me. That this was a message just for me. Tears of love and gratitude poured down my face and I realized how loved I was.
"I too love Relief Society. I testify to you that it was organized by inspiration and is a vital part of the Lord’s Church here upon the earth. It would be impossible to calculate all the good which has come from this organization and all the lives which have been blessed because of it."--I totally agree.
"Many of the challenges we face exist because we live in this mortal world, populated by all manner of individuals. At times we ask in desperation, “How can I keep my sights firmly fixed on the celestial as I navigate through this telestial world?”--I have felt this. I have felt it for me but especialy for my children.
I love this talk so much that I could comment on everything he says. But I will try hard not to.
"Allied with prayer in helping us cope in our often difficult world is scripture study. The words of truth and inspiration found in our four standard works are prized possessions to me. I never tire of reading them. I am lifted spiritually whenever I search the scriptures. These holy words of truth and love give guidance to my life and point the way to eternal perfection."--I remember when Pres. Monson said this and I had the thought, "Pres. Monson reads his scriptures to get answers to prayers and to receive comfort just like me. A prophet of God does the same thing I do. We receive answers the same way. He is not an immortal being so far above me. But is a man and the Lord talks to him. I can receive answers to my prayers just as he receives answers to his." It was a very humbling and overwhelming thought. Again, I feel so blessed.
"My dear sisters, your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there."--I know I am loved!!! No matter my weaknesses, imperfections He always loves me. I know this to be true. I feel His Love. Even those times that I don't deserve it or can't feel it I know it is there. That it is just part of mortality to feel alone. But because of scripture study and prayer I have felt His love and this knowledge sustains me when I can't feel it.
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| Maddie's cousin Amber took these pictures last November. |
There is a program here in Wake County, North Carolina, called Project Enlightenment that works with children who have not entered Kindergarten. I had reached out to them before but they informed me that it would take months to get a screening from them. We were in the middle of huge summer plans so I didn't follow through. When I called them the second time they set me up with an appointment the next week. I felt so blessed. The woman who screened Maddie had been the woman who worked with John Derek on his reading in Kindergarten. She was so kind. Another sweet blessing.
So today we had her evaluated by a speech therapyst. Maddie loved the attention. There were three woman talking to her and putting all their attention on her. She was really soaking it all in and performing right into their hands. One of them laughed and said, "Oh, look at those eyes!" It reminded me that as I was doing Maddie's hair earlier she had told me, "Mom, I am putting my cute eyes on this morning," then gave me the cute eyes look. Boy did she have her cute eyes on today.
They seemed to be in agreement that Maddie needed to be further evaluated. She will be observed by the speech therapist at school on Friday and then they will work with me on getting her in with at therapist to work on her speech. I am grateful it is all going well and am excited to have her be able to speak so that others can understand her and I don't have to repeat everything she says. I think she will embrace the independence. I feel that the Lord is really taking care of this whole situation. Another blessing.
This is a talk given by President Thomas S. Monson, Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was given in the General Relief Society Meeting in September 2013. (click here to read/listen/watch)
"I too love Relief Society. I testify to you that it was organized by inspiration and is a vital part of the Lord’s Church here upon the earth. It would be impossible to calculate all the good which has come from this organization and all the lives which have been blessed because of it."--I totally agree.
"Many of the challenges we face exist because we live in this mortal world, populated by all manner of individuals. At times we ask in desperation, “How can I keep my sights firmly fixed on the celestial as I navigate through this telestial world?”--I have felt this. I have felt it for me but especialy for my children.
"There
will be times when you will walk a path strewn with thorns and marked
by struggle. There may be times when you feel detached—even
isolated—from the Giver of every good gift. You worry that you walk
alone. Fear replaces faith. When you find yourself in such circumstances, I plead with you to remember prayer."--I know that my Father is always there. I continue to learn about His mercy and love. The thought that He wants to help me that I am not inconveniencing Him when I pray is such a comfort at this time in my life. How grateful I am for prayer. How grateful I am that my Father is always there for me. I feel His hand in my life, throughout my day. He is always there for me.
I love the words of President Ezra Taft Benson concerning prayer. Said he:
“All
through my life the counsel to depend on prayer has been prized above
almost any other advice I have … received. It has become an integral
part of me—an anchor, a constant source of strength, and the basis of my
knowledge of things divine. …
“…
Though reverses come, in prayer we can find reassurance, for God will
speak peace to the soul. That peace, that spirit of serenity, is life’s
greatest blessing.” (Italics added)--I couldn't agree more. That is what I love about the gospel of Jesus Christ. This peace. In this difficult and stressful, wicked world, I can have peace. I can feel God's love and be okay, even with the political garbage all around me, I can feel good, despite the declining education system. I know that my family will be okay. I can have peace. I wish others could feel this peace and know God as I know Him.I love this talk so much that I could comment on everything he says. But I will try hard not to.
"Allied with prayer in helping us cope in our often difficult world is scripture study. The words of truth and inspiration found in our four standard works are prized possessions to me. I never tire of reading them. I am lifted spiritually whenever I search the scriptures. These holy words of truth and love give guidance to my life and point the way to eternal perfection."--I remember when Pres. Monson said this and I had the thought, "Pres. Monson reads his scriptures to get answers to prayers and to receive comfort just like me. A prophet of God does the same thing I do. We receive answers the same way. He is not an immortal being so far above me. But is a man and the Lord talks to him. I can receive answers to my prayers just as he receives answers to his." It was a very humbling and overwhelming thought. Again, I feel so blessed.
"My dear sisters, your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there."--I know I am loved!!! No matter my weaknesses, imperfections He always loves me. I know this to be true. I feel His Love. Even those times that I don't deserve it or can't feel it I know it is there. That it is just part of mortality to feel alone. But because of scripture study and prayer I have felt His love and this knowledge sustains me when I can't feel it.
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