To My Sweet (16) Heather...

My words to Ms. Heather are a few days delayed so let me fill you in on what's been going on since her big day...
If you read my previous blog then you are aware of the fact that she was getting sick. She had a bad cough and had been to the Urgent Care the previous Sunday. On the night of her birthday she coughed continuously from 8PM until 5 AM the next morning. We ended up in Dr. Linderman's office on Tuesday morning and she's been on an Antibiotic, Prednisone and prescription cough meds ever since. She literally spent Tues, Wed and most of Thurs in the bed and when she wasn't coughing she was sleeping. So, the obvious is that I did not take the time to sit down and blog but instead I took care of Ms. Heather.

So, now that she's up and about again here's what I wanted to say to my "sweet pea" (just one of her nicknames)... oh, she's "big cheese", "pumpkin pie" too...

Great Grandma Yost AND Great Grandma Weirich

Heather, you are truly my treasure and gem. You shine with happiness, joy, tons of energy, creativity and love for the Lord. Your heart is so soft and compassionate toward others that you tend to draw people to you just because of your spark in life. When I think of you, I see that big huge smile you keep on your face. I'm always so proud of the way I see you treat others and your desire to step right in and help someone in need. Serving comes so natural for you! You do not care what the person has, where they come from or the extent of their illness, you will touch them without hesitation and help them to the best of your ability!

As you know, before you were conceived I had a miscarriage. I was so discouraged and still had that longing in my heart for a child. I was laying in my room one afternoon and the most amazing thing happened to me! The Lord came and laid his warm hand on my stomach and spoke these very words to me "This is my child. I will take care of it, you have nothing to worry about." At the time, to be honest, it freaked me out because I had no idea that I was carrying you already but God did. Knowing that I had just recently miscarried HE knew that others would assume it would not be a healthy pregnancy and my chances for something medically wrong were greater. So, he spoke truth into me early on so that I could hold onto that truth for the duration of your sweet life.

Well, as the weeks past from that afternoon I began to get sick and long story short, the OB/GYN that had me under their care - they thought I was out of my mind when I told them I believe I might be pregnant again. They thought I was overreacting. So, they put me on antibiotics and all kinds of stuff to hush me. Your Dad and I decided to change OB/GYN's and when we did, Dr. Barkely (who delivered you) was saddened by the lack of medical care that I'd been given. My body was in bad shape, I had lost weight, had thrush an inch thick in my mouth (a reaction from the antibiotics that I didn't need), weak and could barely eat. Upon my arrival to Dr. Barkely's office they took a pregnancy test - IT WAS FINALLY POSITIVE since all the previous weeks of taking them showed negative results. So, we ended up having an ultrasound to get a true evaluation of how long I'd been pregnant. The ultrasound showed that I had been pregnant for 10 weeks already! That dated back to the afternoon that the Lord had reassured me and spoke that truth about you! Amazing huh!?

Well, from that point on the pregnancy progressed and you came into this world surrounded by love and a commitment to raise you to know Him.

I've dug through our pictures to find some from your first moments and days but I was way too efficient and they're all in scrapbooks now so I've scanned some pictures that I didn't put in scrapbooks or ones that I've had doubles

of.

Above pictures, left to right are:

Heather and Brianna Conlin, her best friend since 2nd grade who now lives in Chicago!

Heather and Aunt JuJu

Heather and Cousin John

Heather and Sean Kelley "Seany K"

I've tried to capture your personality in them. Some of the pictures are with people who are dear to you because one thing that has always been present in you is a strong commitment and loyalty to relationships - you are undyingly loyal! Well, ya know what I think or better yet, I know? Jesus was like that when he walked this earth. He loved people where they were, no matter what they'd done and he was much more concerned about what was in their heart (their desires, their pain or brokenness) then he was with what they were wearing when they were with him.

So many things about you and the way you live your life are parallel to the characteristics of Jesus. That encourages me because from the moment He told me not to worry I have worked hard to trust Him. I know you know my favorite scripture verse because you're always telling your friends about it. But, ya know what? I have never really thought about how much it reconfirms His promise and purpose for your life until I began writing this blog about you but now I'm convinced that's why it's my favorite and when I hear it, it comforts me.

For those of you reading this blog, I'll share my favorite scripture verse with you so that you can be encouraged like I am when I tie it all in.

Jeremiah 29:11 says...

"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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Now that leads me to this next amazing testimony of God's power in you and clear promise to you Ms. Heather...

After you were born, we had 3 more miscarriages (one each year) and when you turned 4 you began (on your own initiative) to pray faithfully for a baby brother. Sometimes at bedtime we would be rushed to get you to bed ( you were in Kindergarten) and I would walk out of the room and realize I hadn't prayed with you due to my rushing to get you in bed. Well, it never failed - you would hollar back out to me a few minutes later "mommy, I just asked Jesus for my baby brother!". My heart would literally break because I wanted another baby too but all that I was doing was not working (fertility drugs, timing it) and as a Mother I wanted to fulfill that desire for you by making that possible.

One day while we were driving to school you said to me "Mommy, I've been asking Jesus for my baby brother and He hasn't answered my prayer yet." I responded to you like this "Well, Ms. Heather, He's hearing your prayers but sometimes his answer is yes, sometimes it's no and sometimes it's, you have to wait." Well, that sufficed you and you were okay with that for a short time.

Then, one day soon after that we found out I was pregnant. It was a TOTAL shock! We weren't "trying" anymore, nor was I on any fertility drugs, actually we had begun to pray about adoption but there was truly a baby developing in me. We celebrated and confirmed to you that God had answered your faithful prayers. When I was 19 weeks pregnant we had an ultrasound and the technician spent 45 minutes to uncover the confirmation that you were having a baby brother!

God not only heard you, answered your prayer with favor but He also SPECIFICALLY answered your prayer with a baby BROTHER. One of whom gets on your nerves daily now that you're 16 years old but when you were 7 and he was born you were in love with the fact that you could help take care of him, play with him and most fun - boss him around! Haah!

I am very proud of you Ms. Heather and I believe God has an amazing and profound plan for your life. Embrace Him, take God directed risks for His kingdom and never forget who made you! Never apologize for being YOU, never compromise your commitment to Him and you will see in the end that the trials and dark valleys in your life were part of your story as His plan is revealed to you over the coming years.

I feel privileged to be your Mother and even knowing I will make mistakes daily I can trust that it never voids God's appointment for you!

David and Heather in Florida chillin'

You are a treasure and a precious gem my sweet pea! Now, enjoy these pictures that I've dug up and smile with me as you remember the sweet relationships in your life. These are all people that love you dearly!