tcooper826@yahoo.com

Make Time for Legos!

So this December is already filled with a gigantic to do list! This week alone has a Strings Concerts at the hospital Christmas tree lighting Ceremony, Math tutoring, a Senior ornament hanging program and a family picture day on Friday. Then there is the usual laundry and dishes that are piling up each hour of the day. Not to mention, I have not purchased hardly any gifts for this fast approaching Christmas. To top it off Rosie has her big ear surgery next Thursday out of town. I could honestly get overwhelmed by it all. But yesterday, as I taught my daughter’s high school Sunday school class, I urged the girls to sit still before the Jesus of Christmas and make time for him. The lesson was on worship and the power of God. And how HE is so great and so awesome and so worthy TO BE WORSHIPPED! So today, I did that. I have sat still before Him. I told Him I loved him and praised Him for being in control of it all. All my fears, my dirty house, the surgery and most of all my future and my families future are in his hands. It’s good to know that the God who made time to come to earth as a baby is the same God who is equally willing to make time for me. He calms my spirit gives me peace and joy despite the rat race of life. Yesterday, as I was cleaning my daughter’s unbelievably messy room, I felt like I should stop and make time for her. The room will always be dirty and she was growing. So we made a Lego Christmas tree and a stocking. It felt good to stop and do the important. So today, I urge you to make time for what matters. Make time for family, the important and most all Jesus! He is so very worthy !

Baha Adventures.

So my daughter Rosie was born with some challenges. Being born with a cleft lip and palate can cause havoc on your ears. She has two perforated eardrums and as a result suffers some hearing loss. The day I heard that I cried! No parent wants his or her child to be different or suffer loss of any kind. But everyday parents and their children have challenges and well it’s just a part of life right? The bright spot is as Rosie grows older she maybe a candidate for a Tympanography or an eardrum repair. This surgery may restore her hearing loss and cause her to not need hearing aids at all. But until then the better she hears the more likely her articulation or talking skills will develop normally. So she needs one! So yesterday, was the day to meet with the Audiologist and get the dreaded device. That hearing aid in my mind would make her appear more different from she already is. So needless to say I wasn’t looking forward to the whole experience and was actually losing sleep over it. I even got my 14-year-old daughter Emma out of school early to support me and encourage me not to emotionally breakdown as the hearing aid was being fitted. Silly, I know but for some reason the whole her needing a hearing aid ….HIT ME HARD. And yes, I am a Speech Pathologist and Yes, she needs it! Yes, it will help her! But I would just rather NOT! I prayed about it. I was humbled by it. I prayed about it some more. And today my prayer was answered, with the click of a switch. When Rosie’s audiologist flipped the switch to that BAHA hearing aid and turned it on, the delight and smile on Rosie’s face calmed all my fears. The dreaded device transformed from being a hearing aid to a magical headband that had the capability of not only making her hear better and then in turn helping her speak better. It had Bluetooth and Streaming capabilities. It was not just a magical headband it was an Apple compatible headphone set. Not to mention the head band could be decorated to transform into a fashionable accessory, to give those many beautiful hair clips we have a much-needed home. I had not faced this kind of excitement since I purchased my iPhone 6s last year. The sadness of it all turned to joy! And I was grateful to be able to get it. This dreaded BAHA hearing aid had once again changed from being a nightmare to a beloved friend. It was obvious this would be a sweet relationship. A new world of sound was introduced to her. A clearer more distinct world of exciting and informative sound possibilities. Though her hearing loss was not severe, a moderate loss can keep you from hearing some of the most important things. Speech discrimination can really matter when you realize your mom is talking about cinnamon rolls instead of the FSU Seminoles . Both very awesome, but one serves as a much better breakfast than the other one! So as my middle daughter, Emma, said, “Wow, mom that couldn’t have gone any better!” She was right! It was a blessed day! A day of somewhat new beginnings and hope that Rosie’s articulation may with continued speech therapy and with the help of this magical headband or amazing piece of technology will ONEDAY be a thing of the past! I am so grateful that we have a God that is there for us when we face challenges and he can turn those challenges into possibilities. I love how God can turn a day of expected sadness into one of the sweetest memories we have had since adopting Rosie. In our yesterdays, we had the awesome privilege of giving her a family but in our today’s we had the unexpected privilege of giving her the gift of a little more sound, better speech and a brighter future. Both are priceless gifts and both make this rocky road of adoption worth the hard times and a little brighter. Sometimes God really does use our disappointments to make us feel life deeper, become more grateful and hear things a little better! So I am not sure what you are dreading today or what disappointment you are facing. But what if God has a magical headband he is going to give you to overcome it. It might not have Bluetooth capabilities or streaming technology but it might just have something better. Don’t fight it. It just might make you a little more grateful and be able to hear HIS Voice a little more clearer.

Ah……Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day

Ah…Valentine’s Day, the most lovable day of the year or the most miserable day of the year depending on your current situation.
Well, I just happen to be one of those people who has actually found true love. Deep, non superficial, worthy of a lifetime, I’ll put you first and even die for you kind of love. Yes, my husband was divinely given to me and I still can’t get over it. Those many and I mean many prayers I prayed for him were truly answered the day I met him. Yes, he’s not perfect nor am I but we are perfect for each other and make a great team in this game called life!

But I have to be honest even though I have my Valentine, I am never truly happy on Valentine’s Day. Why? because of the gift of mercy God has chosen to give me.
See my thoughts always, always go out to my single still looking for love friends. They deserve a Valentine to love, one as great as mine. And then there’s those friends who had great love and because of the sting of death were robbed of it. At least in this lifetime, they have to miss their beloved. And no one, no one can ever touch the love they once had.
Lastly are my friends, married or involved with heart breaking Valentine’s. Whether the strain of infertility or sickness or selfishness has threatened to end their love or future Valentine’s days altogether.
I am not sure which group you fit into today but I am praying for you ! I am praying that you will know not only some future awesome wonderful human love in God’s perfect timing. I am praying that you will feel God’s presence today.

He is called the lover of our soul, our Creator, our Savior from whatever is breaking our hearts. Ok, you may say I don’t really buy into all that God stuff . To you, my unknown worthy of a valentine friend, I say just give Him that is God a try.
No one else is around, your lonely, you’ve been waiting way to long. Talk to him, in your car, at a park, walking your dog. Wherever you are draw near to him, ask him to heal your broken heart and bring that Valentine soon and give you joy even in your waiting. I have been there waiting…….it’s not fun. Don’t give up, don’t get down…….this Valentine’s Day is thankfully almost over! And next year my friend is coming!

Imagine the funny cards

Imagine the love!

It’s coming…..don’t give up and for now know that you are loved by a very big God ❤️

A few years ago, this little girl had no father or Valentine. This year she has both!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Happy Birthday Mama!

Today is my mother’s birthday. As I was thinking about our relationship, I had so many wonderful thoughts come to my mind. I have been truly blessed to have her. A mother will never truly know the impact they have on a child’s life. She has profoundly impacted mine. I hope to do the same for my girls. I thought I might share with you how she impacted us adopting Rosie. In the very beginning, it takes a lot of courage to tell someone your dream. They may laugh or discourage you. Dreams are delicate and can be crushed with mere words. So when I took the leap and told a person, I picked my mom to be one of the first. Yes, she would tell what she thought but more than that I knew she would tell me what she thought God would think of my plan. So as I stumble through the words. “Mama, I think I am suppose to adopt an orphan, who lives in China.” ” I think I am suppose to adopt one that has a problem.” “She could have a cleft lip and palate, that needs to be repaired.” “It could look bad until we fix it.” “What do think we should do ?” She was quiet for a few moments and said,” Tricia, what if this little girl lives with that problem for the rest of her life and you and Will had the power to fix it.” ” I would do it !” God spoke the truth through my mom and he also gave me courage through her words to move forward. Honestly, I don’t know how my decision would have been impacted if she would have discouraged me. Maybe we would have never gotten Rosie or at least not put her special need on our adoption list. The bottom line is there is great power in our words. We must choose them wisely. I wrestle with the fact that my words have not always uplifted or helped someone with their dreams. However, today, I wanted to say to my mom, Happy Birthday, thank you not just for the impact you have made on my life but on the profound impact you have made on Rosie’s life. Her palate is repaired, her lip has been touched up. I never have to wonder if there is a little girl out there who could have been helped that is still waiting. Assignment started, I can’t wait to see the finished product. Thanks again, mama. I love you dearly.

Taste and see that the Lord is good!

My daughter, Rosie, loves people and especially other kids. Due to the fact, she was raised in a very good, large orphanage for the first two and half years of her life, she wants to be with other children. She is at home in a group. So every Friday, I take her to a wonderful preschool. As we walked in today, she was greeted by milk and some yummy kid cereal. You know the kind that turns the water an awesome color. Actually, I wanted to eat it. Then I was told there was going to be a big Valentine’s party. I wanted to go to it! No doubt there will be puffed cheetos and cupcakes. I was then informed it was picture day and the kids would be dressed up and would have their pictures made. And then there was playground time. You get the picture. NO doubt, Rosie will have a great day. As, I reluctantly left, knowing I would miss out on the preschool fun. I thought, wow , the Lord is truly good. He has clearly been involved in every single second of every day of her life. And he has cupcakes, Valentine’s parties, cheetos, colored kid’s cereal, playground fun and pictures planned just for her. And because we adopted her, we get to just sit back, smile and watch.
The Lord has good things planned for all of his children. They may not be extravagant but his love is.