Do Not Be Afraid

Well, so much for this page to be about Mia’s updates.  I must confess that this past surgery, performed on Mia on March 27th, and subsequent recovery was by far the hardest time in her life.  So, as you can imagine, it was very hard on Jase and me as her parents.  There was much more involved than we ever could have imagined or prepared for.  She looks quite different since her top jaw has been moved forward, and this has taken Mia some getting used to.  It’s actually been quite emotional. However, over the past couple of weeks, we have seen her becoming more like her old, carefree, self – cracking jokes, being silly and enjoying what she can with her limitations during the healing process.  She has continued to amaze us with how she has handled every aspect of this process over the last few weeks. 

She will be undergoing a follow-up surgery this Friday, June 12th, in order to remove the splint, screws and other hardware that has been holding her jaw together for the past 11 weeks.  This is definitely the first surgery we have been looking forward to!  If all goes well, she will be able to resume her normal activities immediately. Woohoo!  She will even be able to attend middle-school session at camp this summer.  Yes, middle school! 

The Lord has proven over and over again to be ever-present in this ordeal.  Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  To think that my Father in Heaven, the Creator of the Universe, will be in the operating room waiting for Mia to be rolled in, ready to take care of her is a definite stress-reliever for this mama!  Who better to hand her over to than the One who created her?  We are thankful to our Lord and Savior for everything He has done and continues to do for us.

We are also thankful to you.  So many of our fans have supported us, prayed for Mia, prayed for strength for Jase and me, sent hand-written cards and gifts, posted on our social media sites, etc., telling us how they are praying for us.  I hope you know what a blessing it is to have received each and every one and to know so many people are continually lifting us up to our Father.  I wish so very much that we could have answered all of you individually.  Please continue to remember us in prayer on June 12th.
Mia is very blessed to live on the same street as all of her cousins that are around her age.  They give her much support and love and have been doing a great job of keeping her occupied!  A few weeks ago, Bella made a poster of some of the most recent pictures taken of her and Mia.  As you can imagine, this immediately lifted Mia’s spirits.  She has it on the wall in her bedroom.  Such a simple gesture, but what an enormous act of love! John 13:35 says, “Everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”  True love takes time and effort.  True love puts other people’s feelings ahead of your own.  True love is sacrificial.  Love is not a feeling.  Love is an action.  Speak all you want, but to truly prove your love is to act.  Like Bella did here. 

Show someone today that you truly love them.  Tell them as much as possible!  But show them as well.  It can make all the difference to someone who needs to see it.

Blessings,

Missy