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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

abe update

The Lord has graciously given us much encouragement this past week. Several of the comments from the previous post on "Welcome to Holland" were such blessings. A friend from college mentioned the fact that I have been to Italy, and it was interesting because the day before she wrote her comment, He gently reminded me of that fact. I have actually been to Italy 3 times literally and 4 times figuratively, yet not one time have I traveled to Holland.

We were also blessed this past weekend with a trip from Matt and Nikki Ness, the KVI directors stateside. We were able to share our passions for Ethiopia and how we can best serve this ministry that we are so grateful for and share our hearts on the road we are now on. They have walked this road themselves and the Lord used them greatly to minister to our hearts. Thank you guys for coming by faith, and we look forward to watching the Lord work in Ethiopia through Kingdom Vision International.

Abe is already doing so much that baffles the Drs.! Isn't that amazing? Praise the Lord for His mighty hand. I tell all of the Drs and therapists that Abe has so many people praying for him and that we love that he continues to surprise them. We keep on camping in faith and know only the Lord knows how far He will take sweet Abe. We just know that God is at work and we are blessed to witness His glorious working in our baby boy.

I am so blessed to be this guys mom! He is one amazing kid. He works so hard in his therapy (physical therapy 2x week and occupational therapy 2x week) and we are all so very proud of the progress he is making. We have learned to celebrate and appreciate the small things here at Team Alexander. I think this is the way that we are intended to spend every day- noticing the little miracles throughout our days.

We have to identify goals with ECI and his therapists. We have several, but the big goal we have is getting Abe sitting up independently. That is a 6 month goal. Would you please join us in praying for that specific goal? Pray that his little neck and trunk would strengthen and he will accomplish this goal! Thank you for that friends. :)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20

Here is one of those celebrated moments in our day- Abe working so hard to grasp the rings and bring them to his mouth. You should hear the victory dances and cheers that erupt over here when he accomplishes a new skill!









46 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yeah Abe! God is good, all the time. We will continue to follow your progress and pray for your family!

Kristi in Texas

Mary said...

Emily, this is so exciting! I love the pictures of Abe holding the rings!!

Beau Fournet said...

Father, You are good, and You are sovereign over all things. You made the stars and the moon. You pulled the sun up into the sky this morning. You gave me another day today. You made the sea, the fish, the rock on the side of the road. You are the Creator of all things. You desire to be glorified in all things. That is Your chief end. I pray that You would be most glrified by Abe sitting up, and that we would have the privelege of trembling before You and lifting a stone in Your name when Abe sits up. But, God, You are no better, no more majestic, no more of Abba if You choose this not to happen. We would mourn, but we would still come to praise You.

Nicholas said...

Oh, Em! Goosebumps! Big ones! What marvelous, marvelous news - He really is something else, he's so special and he has the best cheering squad he could ever have hoped for! With your wonderful family and the rest of us all out here in cyberworld praying, I can't even imagine that God can even hear anything else! I love him so much and that little grin is getting bigger and brighter with his progress! He's amazing! What a gift Abe is!!! xoxo Lor

Stacy Ann said...

Thanks for the updates! I will be praying for that!! He looks like he's doing great!! I love his smiles, they make me happy. :)

Ellen said...

He was holding his head and looking around so well in nursury the other day! And he fussed until I gave him back to Hill, the little stinker. He knows his family! :) He'll be sitting up in no time!

Love that toothless grin, sweet Abenezer!

Erica said...

This is awesome news! Praising the Lord for little Abe, his progress, and excited to see what God has in store for his little life. What a blessing he is.

the Steiger's said...

We are rejoycing with you with every small step Abe takes. What a great news he is doing so well. We are all praying for you here in New England.
Lenka

Anonymous said...

I am not at all surprised he is accomplishing so much already...I just know the Lord has such big plans for that sweet baby boy. I will be praying for his 6 month goal! I know he can do it! I will be home in one week, would love to give you guys a night out. :0)

Ms. Sarah Sullivan said...

i just said a prayer for abe's goals. i know in my heart that if God can bring abe to your family by a miracle, than He can bring healing by miracles too.
God bless you and your family:)
Sarah

Heather said...

Every time I read a post about Sweet Abe, I am reminded how sovereign our God is. I feel such a peace. It is so very apparent that God hand picked your sweet family to be Abe's life long cheerleaders. Praise God! And may He continue the miracles He is doing in Abe's life!!

Blessings,
Heather

Anonymous said...

Great news and what a great group of cheerleaders and prayer warriors around Abe and your family! We will continue to pray for Abe and know that he will thrive in your love and care.

HoodMama said...

Praying for that little booger!!! Love his sweet smile!

Becky said...

I have read your story for a long time now and just have never commented. There is a couple who adopted through the same agency we used who experienced something very similar to what you are going through. Their little girl has defied all odds and is doing so, so well. Feel free to get in touch with me and I can pass their info along to you. I think of you often and pray for you just as often. I am confident that Abe is going to continue to amaze the medical world and you will be able to glorfy the Lord through all of this. He is an amazingly beautiful little boy and his sweet spirit shines through his eyes! Blessings to you all - Becky

Erin said...

I love praying for specifics and watching God come through in amazing ways. Know we'll also be partnering in prayer with your family and friends.

Heather said...

Oh Emily! So happy to see Abe grabbing those rings! He is a strong little boy and he is blessed with the most incredible family! Big hugs!

Rene' said...

Isn't it amazing that God has used this precious boy to help us all see the little miracles that he blesses us with every day, that we just overlook or accept as normal! Bless you and your family and this sweet little man!!

Rene'

Chris and Lindsey Wheeler said...

Way to go Sweet Abe!!! You did it!! I am praying for him to sit up very, very soon.

Jocelyn said...

Way to go Abe!! Pacey and I think about you every day...she can't wait to meet you (obviously we didn't come to Dallas last weekend) but one day!! Miss you guys!!

Carolyn T said...

I cannot tell you how much reading this parallels our Danny's situation....beginning 4 years ago....right down to his goals!!! Soon you will stand further in AWE of the God that will SHINE through that baby, as goal after goal is met...and therapists and Dr.'s shake their heads...While I would NEVER wish what we went through on another family...what God is about to do can't be seen any other way! It is AWESOME...
Carolyn

mama becca said...

Go Abe Go!!!! I can tell you this... God will go waaaaaaaaay beyond what the doctors, the therapists, even you expect... He will go way beyond that. it blows my mind every time I look at my sister. Not only should she not be alive, but she shouldn't be talking to us in complete sentences and telling hilarious jokes. She just turned 16 on Saturday. And you know what? Zach and I talk all the time about how the goal is to have Annie live with us someday, when my parents want to be "empty nesters"... because she is delightful. Your kids' lives are already immensely blessed by having Abe as their brother... but this journey will bless them beyond anything you ever imagined!!!
love you all
becca

Cheryl said...

Such a beautiful boy!! My goodness that's the most gorgeous smile!

I am in awe of God's goodness in so many ways...

He rescued Abe and set him in your family, where He knew Abe would be loved immensely. He has surrounded you with family and friends that support and pray and cry and laugh and live through this with you. And... He gave us this wonderful tool, to not only anxiously wait for updates ;) but to allow some amazing, loving people to come together and encourage, and share, and pray for precious Abe and your family.

His miracles really are ALL around us!

He is SO good!! To His name be the Glory!!

Praying...

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh! How exciting! And his hair, seriously it has grown since I have seen him! H

Carol said...

Our kids will surprise you (and their doctors!) - that's for sure! Glad to hear Abe has so many folks working on his behalf. Please give that little sweetie a special hug from us!

Paul and DeeDee said...

Way to go Abe! We really loved our time with ECI, Jackson had physical therapy with them for 6 months and I just thank the lord for the wonderful people that come together to make that program happen:) praying for you guys!

Jen said...

Yeah Abe! We will continue to celebrate all the milestones, large and small. He looks so wonderful and happy, it warms my heart. Abe and the Alexanders have become part of the family. We pray and talk about you guys all the time.

Laurzie said...

HOORAY for Abe!!! Oh Em, I am so excited! God is so gracious! So faithful! This is just one milestone in the many, many that the Lord will bring about. Amazing!

Gwen Oatsvall said...

Team Alexander rocks and we are proud to be cheering you all on ... Our prayer bush we pass each day is losing its TEXAS TECH RED leaves and my sweet sweet faithful Jeremiah said, "What if by the time the last leaf falls that Abe is all better." .. Oh to have the faith of a child ... You can count on fervent prayer from the Oatsvall Team ... We love you and believe in miracles from the Lord and we believe in the strength that God gave might little Abe !!!

Kristy -Mom To 9 Blessings said...

Precious! I think and pray for your family every time I hear the "My God Is Mighty To Save Song."So that is quite often as it is such a popular song right now! We sang it at church on Sunday and I had tears in my eyes thinking of your family and the Lord's mighy power. I am praying for you all and rejoicing with you. Next up....sweet Abe sitting! :-)
Blessings,
Kristy

rk said...

So glad clarity is coming. Since I last checked your blog there has been so much progress. God is good. Thanks for sharing your journey.

Peace,
Roxanne

Holli said...

dancing for abe!

Audrey said...

I saw your comment on Carolyn T's blog and thought I'd pop over and meet your little cutie. He is adorable! I will join you in prayer for his goals. I'll be following his amazing progress!

Nikki said...

Can't tell you how much we enjoy seeing new pics of Abe. His full, happy grins always make our family smile.

Praying that Abe continues to baffle and surprise the doctors!

Nikki

Anonymous said...

The Coney's are praying for you Abe and those great parents and siblings of yours!! God is has big plans for you and is already using you in a mighty way. Hugs, kisses and many blessings!!

Kim said...

This is a total flashback to our journey almost three years ago. I know that smile, that spirit of determination, the joy of those small yet enormous milestones, the power of prayer and the miraculous healing of our loving Heavenly Father.
We are cheering for Abe and lifting him up from TN!

Wolfemom said...

Praise God for baby steps! In working with special needs children we rejoice in things the world never stops to notice. It's sad we are often too busy to stop and thank God for every progress, no matter how small!! It warms my heart to read of Abe's progress.

Unknown said...

Praying for Abe to sit up independently. Believing God to continue to be as big as He is!

DrewCareyShow said...

Dear friend Emily, I was thinking about your Holland post when I was driving into work yesterday. I lived in Holland for a short while before college, and so I was thinking about all the fun things that Holland has: diversity of culture, great food, the most amazing swap meet shopping where you can find the greatest treasures -- and of course, superb flowers and a sparkling nightlife. Holland is full of wonderful surprises, and I LOVED living there. It's so exciting to see the wonderful treasures you're already discovering with Abe, and we are rejoicing in these tiny miracles as he already makes such great progress! Wonderful, wonderful!!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update, I love seeing his precious smile...I'm not sure it could be any bigger. I'm praying for you all.

Rebecca said...

Yay Abe! We are cheering you on in your progress!

I Love Purple More Than You said...

I will absolutely commit to praying for Abe to accomplish the goal of sitting up independently. God can and does work miracles, so I'm not surprised at all that he's baffling the doctors!

Kristi J said...

I'm so proud of Abe and you guys......God knows this story and it will be such a blessing for all of us to witness the strength the Lord gives to Abe to heal his little body. Thanks for sharing and can't wait for you to get to TN...kristi

Single PAP said...

he is so gorgeous! prayers for sitting up. :-)

Anonymous said...

Dear Emily,
It made me smile (though mine isn't as big and bright as Abe's is - LOVE that smile!) reading about the cheers and victory dances for Abe's accomplishments. Reminds me of when I was potty training - Every time my kids peed in the toilet, you'd have thought they had won the Nobel Prize!! I taught a little first grade girl some years back that had had a stroke in utero. She did physical and occupational therapy also. Her name is Sarah - like my Sarah! She was (and still is, I'm sure) a sweet spirited child with a precious family - just like Abe! I'm praying for him - that he will get super duper strong and be sitting in 6 months or sooner! Hey, and I'm not a stalker - and I promise that I don't have a criminal record or anything - but I live around the corner from y'all and I'd be happy to help out if you ever need a hand. (My daughter will be totally humiliated to know that I actally wrote that - but that is part of the fun of being a parent, isn't it?!) Have a great evening!

Lainie

emily said...

Lainie- tell your daughter that was simply a nice thing to do! Since the background check is clear, you should come meet Abe sometime. :)

Tasha said...

I have followed your blog through my sister in law's blog,(abby) and their journey to adopting in Ethopia. What a precious beautiful gift he is. Praying fervently for the specific goals you mentioned.

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"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from becoming polluted by the world." James 1:27
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