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THE MANUSCRIPT IS COMPLETED!!!

Please pray that God would use this book
for HIS glory!!!

Updates:

Please pray for my Dad, Wayne.
While we were on vacation, we
learned that my Dad has
Congestive Heart Failure. Please
pray that God shows His Love to
my Dad in a BIG way. Please pray
that my Dad would get saved!!!

Our book is about 85% completed.
Amy is still working on her chapter
and Jad is editing our manuscipt.
We would like the book to be
completed by Pastor School 2010.

An Additional Update:

Amy has now completed her chapter,
and Jad has just a few more chapters
to go through and it will be off to
the proof readers!!! Oh Glory to God!!!

One other bit of information, my
Dad is doing a bit better now. He
has FINALLY retired from work at
the age of 85 years! His health
has improved some. PLEASE continue
to pray for the salvation of my Dad!!!
I would appreciate it SO...very much!

More updates:

There is still much to do to
publish this book:
1. Proof reading
2. Selecting the right pictures
3. Printing

Please pray that God will bless
the completion of this book!

Another update:

Jad and I have now selected the
pictures we want to be used in
the book. Also, the book is now
in hands of the proof readers.

Ephesians 3:20
Now unto Him that is able to do
Exceeding Abundantly Above All
that we Ask or Think, according
to the Power that Worketh in us.

My Prayer For You

Jesus,

Bless all of my Family & Friends
in whatever it is that You know
they may need this day!
And may their lives be full of Your
Peace, Prosperity, and Power
as they seek to have a closer
relationship with You.

~In Jesus Name. Amen

May this site be a blessing to
you, and may see that with God,
All Things Are Possible!

Lord willing, we will be completing a book about
our life story very soon. The journey has taken
us through many mountain tops, but also through
many valleys. Jad and I have been so blessed these
passed 29 years of marriage. God has given to us
many privileges over the years as we have tried
to serve Him. One blessing has been our son Paul.
Although he is handicapped and will never have a
normal life, he has been God’s gift to us. Jad and
I want to tell you our story about our son, and the
journey that God has allowed us to travel on. Our
hope and prayer for you is that our journey will
be a guide book or a map for your family. May you
prayerfully travel our journey with us.

Our prayer to God is that He would multiply our five
loaves and two fishes.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

-Special Prayer Requests For Paul-

I have a special prayer request for Paul. I would like you to
pray that God would continue to care for all of Paul’s needs
and that He would use Paul’s life in a Mighty way!

Right now Paul is being well care for by a couple that is
in our church. John and Diane Wilson have worked with
handicapped children and adults for many years. John is
the manager of the special needs workshop in our churches
thrift store. My husband and I appreciate ALL the care they
have put in our son. Anyone who knew Paul before can see
that Paul has made so much progress under John's leadership.
(Thanks John and Diane!)

I would like for you to pray about our church starting a
special needs home. There is a real need for it, and I do
feel that God would bless the work that would be done there.
Please pray that God would open a door with the finances to
help start one! There are so many adults in our church that
could use the service. My prayer is that God would open a
place like the Shepherd's Home in Union Grove, Wisconsin,
Jacob's Village in Evansville, Indiana, or Lamb's Farm in
Libertyville, Illinois; but have a special needs home with
our churches standards.

I AM ASKING GOD FOR A MIRACLE!!! That God would
show His love and mercy and OPEN up a facility for Paul
and other handicapped adults where they may live and
work. I want this with All my heart for Paul. I want
the peace in my heart to know that Paul will be cared
for properly in a Christian atmosphere when Jad and I
are no longer here. Please pray that Somehow, Someway
God would OPEN UP A DOOR!!!

Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply ALL your need according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.

Luke 1:37
For with God NOTHING shall be impossible.

Psalms 37:5
Commit thy way unto the LORD; TRUST also in Him; and He shall
bring it to pass.

Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth;
shall ye not know it? I will even Make A Way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.

Thank you for your prayers and concern!
God Bless You,
Rachelle

Lord, Teach Me To Pray

Parable of the Widow
Luke 18:1-5
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought
Always to pray, and not to faint;
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God,
neither regarded man:
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him,
saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within
himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest
by her CONTINUAL coming she weary me.

Parable of the Friend at Midnight
Luke 11:8-9
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because
he is his friend, yet because of his IMPORTUNITY he will rise
and give him as many as he needeth.
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; Seek, and
ye shall find; Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Importunity-Meaning
1. the state or quality of being importunate; persistence in
solicitation.
2. importunate solicitations or demands.

Hebrews 11:1,6
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Jesus, please hear our prayers. We Need You!

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Possible Home Site For Handicapped Adults

Jad and I feel that God has a BIG dream for Paul.
We went driving yesterday and saw the most beautiful
apple farm. It is in a Great location and would be
a wonderful work site for Paul and the other adults.
Please pray that God would open a door to that farm.

To contact us:
jadterrebonne@yahoo.com

Genesis 41:32
And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice;
it is because the thing is established by God, and God
will shortly bring it to pass.

Won Another Soul To Christ

Summer 2009

I was in Crown Point and I was talking with a very
nice gentleman about a certain situation that I was
involved with. As we were almost ready to conclued
our conversation, the Holy Spirit told me that I
should witness to him. Within a very short time I got
the privilege of leading a man around 50 years old
to the Lord!!! Thank You Jesus!!!

Please pray for my Dad, Wayne. Please pray that the
Lord will make his heart tender toward the gospel
and that God will reveal his love for my Dad in a
great way. He is 85 years old.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and
he that winneth souls is wise.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

How I Gave Up My Broken Dreams

I was sitting in the doctor's office while I held my fifteen month old son, Paul. The doctor finished his examination of Paul and said to me, "You know that Paul will be develpmentallydelayed all of his life." His words were like a hammer shattering a mirror into a million pieces.My wife and the doctor both realized that Paul was not developing like other children his age.However, I did not want to accept the idea that Paul was going to be retarded.My father, who is now in Heaven,and I were very close. We did everything together including hunting, fishing, and playing catch in the backyard. When our son was born, I looked forward to the day that I could have that same cherished relationship with Paul. The fact that he was going to be retarded all of his life changed everything.When we arrived home from the doctor's office, I put Paul on the floor in our living room and bowed my head and prayed, "Dear God, I dedicate my son to you today, Please use this for your glory." After struggling with this for several months, I finally accepted the fact that Paul was going to be mentally retarded all of his life.On my way to work one day the phrase "Who did sin?" came to my mind. After work I opened my bible to John 9:1-5 "And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him saying, 'Master who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."God wanted to teach me several lessons about time and eternity:1. God meant it for good. "And we know that all thing work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Rom 8:28 Paul's suffering was meant for good. Yes, it hurt and all my dreams for Paul were broken. But God had a greater purpose than mine and Paul's retardation was meant for the greater good in the lives of other people.The hard part was letting go of my dreams and trusting in God's purpose for my life throughthe suffering of Paul. I had to let go and let God have his way in my life.2. God's comforts and strengthens us with His word. "Let thy mercies come unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation according to thy word." Psalm 119:41 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me." The word of God gives us strength and hope while we face sorrows and broken dreams. Through the years, it has always been the Bible that has shown me God's faithfulness and his love for my family. Whenever, I was discouraged God would always have a verse or a special sermon from my preacher that gave me the strength to keep serving Him.3. Paul's suffering is temporary. "For our light affliction, which is for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." II Cor 4:17-18. My son will endure a lifetime of suffering. Paul's doctor once ordered a CT scan of his brain. As I held up the film of the CT scan, I saw all of the abnormalities in Paul's brain that caused his problems. The abnormalities that I saw that day are temporary. The Heaven I cannot see is eternal.The sorrows we bear on earth bring a great and heavy burden in our lives. But God will use them to work for us in bringing about an even greater weight of God's glory when we get to Heaven. God's glory in Heaven will far out weigh the afflictions we bear here on earth.The Holy Spirit said it well in Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." What God is saying here is our present suffering cannot be compared to the glory of God in Heaven. It is like trying to compare apples and oranges. In other words, God want to use the sufferings of our present time as a vessel to reveal the wonderful glory of God which shall be reaveled in uswhen he comes to take us to Heaven.When Paul gets to Heaven, he will no longer be mentally retarded. He will have a glorified body and a sound mind. And together we will share a glorious eternity with Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Thank you and God bless you. Jad Terrebonne

We Had A Baby

Jad and I had been married for a couple of years and we
decided it was time to start a family. Jad was still
trying to get his degree from Hyles-Anderson College and
both of us were working a full time job, so times were
hectic. On top of everything, I had a back injury and had
to wait a few months for it to heal. Afterwards I got a
job taking care of a twenty year old handicapped woman
named Carrie. Her mother had a very successful business
and needed help with her daughter so that she could take
care of her business full time. Carrie had an older sister
that had two sons I watched during the day also; needless
to say, I was busy! I thought I was pretty flexible until
I found out Jad and I were expecting. I was constantly sick
in the bathroom, after while it seemed like my favorite spot
(ha-ha). I needed to keep the job, so I went to the doctor
hoping to find some relief from the morning sickness. Jad
worked at a hospital, so he found me a good OBGYN doctor.
When I told the doctor of my continuous morning sickness
he prescribed me medications to help with the nausea. I did
start to feel better and was able to function from day to
day. At that time Jad was working three to elevens while
he still was in college so our schedule was kind of crazy.
On my due date around 10:45pm my water broke. Jad would be
home in about 45 minutes, so I decided to take a get ready
(take a bath, put on my makeup) before leaving for the
hospital. When I called him to let him know he rushed home
from work early. When he got home I was finishing getting
ready and he wanted to leave right away. I told him I had
to finish my makeup, which he obviously did not understand,
and 20 minutes later we were on our way to the hospital.

Because Jad worked at the hospital, I was able to get in right
away when we arrived. Jad was able to stay with me and was
allowed a few more privileges, which were a blessing. They
brought our meals into the room and we were able to talk
directly with my doctors and nurses. I felt very comfortable
thanks to the great staff at the hospital. Well, I went in
labor and actually did quite well, (maybe it was the Lamaze class)
but I didn’t have any major contractions until 12:00 p.m. the
next day. Paul was born June 21, 1983 at 5:51 pm. He weighed
7-9, and his length was 20 inches long. His name would be
Paul Michael Terrebonne.

He looked like a healthy baby boy, or so we thought...

Isaiah 43:1-2
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and
He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed
thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and
through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou
walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither
shall the flame kindle upon thee.


God Bless You,
Rachelle

Heaven's Very Special Child

A meeting was held, quite far from Earth!
It's time again, for another birth.
Said the Angels, to the Lord above,
This special child will need much love.
His progress may be very slow,
Accomplishments he may not show.
And he'll require extra care
From the folks he meets down there.
He may not run or laugh or play,
His thoughts may seem, quite far away,
In many ways he won't adapt,
And he'll be known as handicapped.
So let's be careful where he's sent,
We want his life to be content.
Please Lord, find the parents who
Will do a special job for you.
They will not realize right away
The leading role they're asked to play,
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.
And soon they'll know the privilege given
In caring for their gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild,
Is HEAVEN'S VERY SPECIAL CHILD.

by Edna Massionilla

Special Children

God gave this child to you to guide,
to love, to walk through life beside.
A little child, so full of charms,
to fill a pair of loving arms.
God picked you out because He knew
how safe His child would be with you.
- Author Unknown


-The Special Child-

The Child, yet unborn, spoke with the Father,
"Lord, how will I survive in the world?
I will not be like other children, My
walk may be slower, my speech hard
to understand, I may look different.
What is to become of me?"

The Lord replied to the child,
"My precious one, have no fear, I will
give you exceptional parents, They
will love you because you are special,
not in spite of it. Though your path
throught life will be difficult, your
reward will be greater, You have been
blessed with a special ability to love,
and those whose lives you touch will
be blessed because you are special."
-Author/Source Unknown

Our Journey Begins-

As Paul began to grow, it became more and more obvious to me
that Paul had something wrong. The first thing I noticed was
that Paul had something wrong with his eyes and he didn’t look
directly at Jad or me. Most of the time when you nurse or feed
a baby, they watch you. They look into your eyes as you talk
to them, but Paul never did. Then the second thing I noticed
was that he didn’t keep up with his milestones such as sitting,
rolling, playing with toys and other children as a normal child
would do. Jad and I lived in an apartment near two other couples
that also attended Hyles-Anderson College. Their babies were
doing far more than Paul was. I became very concerned about
Paul and could see that Paul just wasn’t keeping up with other
children. Whenever we would take him to the pediatrician, I
always dreaded it because he was always behind the curve. The
nurse would ask the same mounds of questions that the
pediatrician doctor would ask, such as, Does Paul sit up by
himself? Can Paul roll over? Has Paul ever tried to pull up to
a stand?...on and on. Paul wasn’t doing any of these things,
or if he was, he was way behind compared to the other children.
Jad would always tell me, give Paul time he will catch up to
the other children, but in my heart I knew something was
definitely wrong…

Genesis 33:12
And He said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will
go before thee.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

"God does not
give you strength
for the journey;
He gives you
strength for
the next step."

Dr. Jack Hyles

The Doctors Examination

Finally after 15 months of debating about what we should do to help our son Paul, our pediatrition suggested for us to take him to a center that deals with handicap issues. Paul was there diagnosed as having Cerebral Palsy. They told us that would be a generic term right now for Paul, so that he could start getting help from the state and therapist right away. They ran all kinds of tests that day. The doctor and therapist examined Paul. We were there for several hours. We could see that Paul had many issues. He wasn’t even walking yet. He was so far behind all of the milestones that a young child should be. We felt very frustrated about the whole situation. I had known that Paul had something wrong from the start, but now it was becoming more of a reality. When Paul was first born he looked so healthy, so cute, and so normal. As I have previously said, I already knew something was not right, but I never realized how much was wrong with him. This was becoming a pill that was getting Very hard to swallow!!!

Psalm 56:3
What time I am afraid, I will Trust in Thee.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Physical Therapy

Paul started physical therapy 3 times a week after seeing the doctor. I would stand by the therapy room or sit with the other Moms and allow a therapist to work with Paul alone. The physical therapist would give Paul a complete workup and I would watch them working with him. All of the therapist did a wonderful job helping Paul with improvements. I was very grateful that Paul was getting the help he needed, but I didn’t like it that we had to be out in the world. From the very beginning of having Paul I wanted him to be in a Christian environment. Never realizing all the ups and downs of life that we would have to face because of his disabilities. Jad or myself would take Paul to therapy. Paul did improve, and by 19 months he began to walk and we were so very happy about that. There were so many milestones that Paul needed to reach, and to be honest, as you will find out we were still going to face more battles.

Good advice-Keep On Keeping On!!!
Deuteronomy 1:30
The LORD your God which goeth before you, He shall fight for you

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Soul Winning

I remember there were times when Paul was in therapy,
I would sit with the other parents. We would be waiting
for our child and we would talk. I would ask God to
help me to talk to a Mom or Dad so that maybe I could
win them to the Lord. As I got to know the parents, we
would talk about our children, their disabilities, and
just about life itself. I remember with some of the
Moms, tears coming to both of our eyes because at times,
life got a bit overwhelming. I got to lead several parents
to the Lord at the therapy center. God Always uses people
and their circumstances to help them realize their need
of Him. No matter whatever happens in life, It Is
ALL Meant For Good!!!

Genesis 50:20
But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant
it unto Good.

John 3:16
For God So Loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.

Romans 10:13
For Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord Shall
Be Saved.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

I Had Another Baby-

During the time while we were going to the physical therapy
center for Paul, I got pregnant again. The problem I had was,
morning sickness, but unfortunately mine would last all day.
I decided not to take the morning sickness pill because I was
afraid that was caused Paul’s birth problems. The bathroom
became my favorite room of the house again. I suffered this
time, the whole nine months. My pregnancy would last 3 weeks
beyond my due date. Jad helped out so much with everything,
even taking Paul to the therapy center when he could, in which
I was very grateful. Jad’s Mom came up here to Indiana again
to help when the baby was born. Mom was so Great!. I
appreciate her knowledge and her willingness to be so helpful
with everything. On October 5th, at 3:30 in the morning, I went
into labor and had a baby girl baby 6 hours later. We decide
to name her Amy Rachelle Terrebonne. She weighed 8-4.5 and
was 19 inches long. I want to give a special thanks to Jad’s
Mom for ALL of her sacrifices she has made for our family.
She has been a Wonderful Mother-In-Law. I love you Mom!!!

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Would Our Second Child Have Problems?

After having Amy I know I became an anxious Mom. I was
worried at first, would Amy be handicapped also? I did
believe that the medicine I took when I was pregnant for
Paul was the reason why Paul was disabled, but I wasn’t
100% for sure. I know I pestered our children’s pediatrician
to death at first, because I was so afraid that Amy would
not be normal. After I had Amy, and while we were still
in the hospital, I asked the doctor several times, does Amy
look OK, does she appear to be normal??? I was just overly
worried that Amy could have something wrong with her.
Finally, after a few days I realized that Amy’s life would
be that of a normal little girl, in which I was very grateful
to God.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct thy paths.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Moving From Our Apartment-

After having Amy we realized we needed to move, mainly
due to Paul falling down the stairs in our apartment.
I hated moving away from our friends, but I knew this
was best for the children. We found a little house a
few miles away. It was closer to Jad’s work, but a few
miles further away from the college. It was in our
price range, so we took it. It was a small 3 bedroom
house, but it was bigger than our apartment. It was
in a good neighborhood and close to a shopping center.
I found out that we would have a very sweet older
neighbor, her and I would become good friends. Soon I
would need a friend to help me through some difficult
times.

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loveth at All times

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Thank You Lord

This New Day-

Each morning...before
I put my feet
On the floor
I softly say
"Thank You, Lord
For this new day
You've given me,
And, We'll review it
Tonight
Before I go to sleep.
I tenderly place
The seconds, and minutes
And hours
In Your Hand
And, We'll walk it through
According to Your Plan
And, my only request
All day through
Is...for You To Know
"I Love You."

What Do You Know For Sure-

Every Night, Before I Go To Sleep,
I Talk To God, and, Hear Him Speak.
His Dear Words, May Bring The Tears,
As His Sweet Presence, Calms My Fears.
He Puts Me To Sleep.
He Wakes Me Up.
He Says On You, I'll Never Give Up!
He Sees Me When I Kneel And Pray.
He Even Tells Me What To Say.
He Walks Beside Me Every Day.
He Leads Me In His Loving Ways.
In Life, The Question is What Do You Know For Sure?
And, I Say Lord, I Only Know I'm Yours.

How Far Away is God-

How far away is God?
He's as close as the raindrops
falling on my head.
He's as close as the warmth of the sun
shining on my face.
He's as near as the wind
blowing through my hair.
He's as close as the morning dew
when I walk barefoot across the grass.

How far away is God?
How far is He ... from me?
He's as near as the air
that I breathe.

How far away is God?
How far are we apart?
He's.......RIGHT HERE
IN MY HEART!

How far away is God?
He's as near as ... a tear,
a prayer, a thought, a song,
a smile, a glance, a handshake,

How far is He ... from me?
He's as near as I want Him to be,
BECAUSE HE LOVES ME.

Authors unknown-

Quotes

"Strength lies in Unity."
-Dr. Jack Schaap

"As long as the Christian have life's problems solved,
then God is on constant trial as to whether or not
He is Good."
- Dr. Jack Schaap

"There is no area of life in which we act more foolishly
than in the area of obeying God."
-Dr. Jack Schaap

"The more a Christian judges other people, the less
obedient he becomes."
-Dr. Jack Schaap

"I never had a trial I wanted to have, but I never had
trial I wasn't glad I had."
- Dr. Jack Hyles

"Faith is asking. Faith is believing. Faith is doubting.
Faith is stepping out anyway."
- Dr. Jack Hyles

"The fire doesn't make you what you are; it reveals what
you were."
- Dr. Jack Hyles

"The thing that God wants from us more than anything else
is our dependency on Him."
- Dr. Jack Hyles

"Preaching is teaching with a tear in the eye."
- Dr. Jack Hyles

"A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses
blow no horns; they only shine."
-Dwight L. Moody

"Of one hundred men, one will read the bible; the ninety-nine
will read the Christian."
-Dwight L. Moody

“God never made a promise that was too good to be true.”
Dwight L. Moody

*Sin will keep you from this book, or this book will keep you
from sin."
-Dwight. L. Moody

"It has been said that our anxiety does not empty tomorrow
of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength."
-Charles Spurgeon

"Sincerity makes the very least person to be of more value
than the most talented hypocrite."
-Charles Spurgeon

"The Lord gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of
affliction."
-Charles Spurgeon

"Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and
let us see what we are made of."
-Charles Spurgeon

"I believe the Bible is the word of God from cover to cover."
-Billy Sunday

"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
~ Billy Sunday

Paul Has A Seizure

Jad joined the Naval Reserve to make some extra money. He
had to go the Reserve Center once a month. Paul had just
turn three years old and Amy was not quite one yet. We
still lived in the little rented house. It was on a
Saturday mid morning in the summer time and Jad had left
to go to the Naval Center. I was cleaning house and the
children were playing with their toys. For some reason,
I stopped and looked at Paul and he was foaming at the
mouth, and he looked unconscious. I wasn’t exactly sure
what was wrong, but in the back of my mind I thought, maybe
it was a seizure. Not sure of what to do, I called 911. I
then called the Naval Reserve Center where Jad was, got a
hold of him and let him know something was wrong with Paul.
An ambulance came to my home and the EMT'S came and looked
at Paul. They wanted to take Paul to the hospital so I ran
to my sweet neighbor’s house and asked her to watch Amy for
me. Paul, myself, and the EMT’S got into the ambulance and
went off the hospital. As soon as the ambulance got there
the doctors started running all kinds of test on Paul. Jad
left the Reserve Center and came to the hospital. We found
out that Paul did have a seizure. That was one of the most
scariest day for me. To see your own son having such a
difficult time, it was just heart wrenching.

Job 23:10
But He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I
shall come forth as gold.

A Month Later Paul Has Another Seizure-
It was a month later, Jad and I were at home doing just everyday
things around the house. Paul and Amy were in his room playing;
both Jad and I noticed that Paul started acting funny, then
started having another seizure. I took Amy out of his room and
let Jad take care of Paul. This time we did not call the ambulance
because Jad was a hospital corpsman in the Navy. Jad made sure
that Paul was lying down correctly and stayed by Paul’s side the
whole time. He again had the foaming of the mouth, and all of the
other symptoms that he did before. The seizure again lasted close
to a half hour. As soon as it had completed its cycle we called
the pediatrician. He said to bring him to the hospital. We did,
and they ran more test, and yes, Paul did have another seizure.
The doctor started him on medication for the seizures. That again
was one of the the most scariest days of my life. To see your own
flesh and blood go through so much is so hard to deal with. But,
God knows and understands….

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Buying Our First House-

Jad and I decided to see if we could buy a house instead
of just renting one. We loved our little house that we
were in, but it was a very small rental home. We still
wanted to stay in the neighborhood, but we were not limited
to that area. I also felt bad about the possibly of leaving
my sweet neighbor. She had been so kind and helpful to us,
but we had to consider Paul first. We needed to find a more
permanent place for him where a bus could pick him up and
bring him home. We looked at several houses in the area,
but they were just all out of our price range. We then
decided to look in another area, and got a real estate agent.
The new area we were looking in was just few minutes from
the school that Paul would be attending. We looked at several
houses in the new area. There was a house that had been a
rental house for many years, it needed much repair, but it
was in our price range. It had no basement as I was afraid
that Paul could fall down the stairs again. Jad and I debated
on this house for a while and then finally decided to take it.
The owners of the house even paid closing costs on the house.
So…after much discussion we now were owners of a new house!

Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply ALL your need according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

It's In the Valleys I Grow

-Author: Jane Eggleston


Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it's in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it's in the valleys I grow!

Have a blessed day!


-----------------------

"The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor."
"The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything."
"If your problem is bigger than your GOD, then you are serving the wrong god."

"Remember... knees that bend don't shake! " -- Dr. P. L. Williams

Blessing-May 23, 2009

My neighbors on both side of us
are now saved. I had the privilege
of leading the wife to the Lord today.
The husband got saved a couple of
weeks early!

Praise The Lord, God Is Good!!!

Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Special Olympics

A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine
contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled
at the starting line for the 100 yard dash.

At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash,
but with arelish to run the race to the finish and win.
All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the
asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times,and began to cry.
The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and
looked back. Then they all turned around and went back.
Every one of them.

One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him
and said:"This will make it better." Then all nine linked
arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in
the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several
minutes. People who were there are still telling the story.
Why? Because deep down, we know this one thing: What matters
in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters
in this life is helpingothers win, even if it means slowing
down and changing our course.

Author Unknown



-God Grant Me-

God Grant me the Strength I need to face the things life has dealt.

Grant me the Patience to make it through another day.

Let me have the Courage to stand up for my child and I.

Help me to accept the things I cannot change,

Wisdom to understand and provide the very best care for my child with Special Needs.

Most of all God Grant me the Serenity I need to be the best Mother and Friend to my Child.

-Author Unknown


The Ten Commandments For Parents of Handicapped Children

1. Take one day at a time, and take that day positively. You don't have control over the future, but you do have control over today.

2. Never underestimate your child's potential. Allow him, encourage him, expect him to develop to the best of his abilities.

3. Find and allow positive mentors: parents and professionals who can share with you their experience, advice, and support.

4. Provide and be involved with the most appropriate educational and learning environments for your child from infancy on.

5. Keep in mind the feelings and needs of your spouse and your other children. Remind them that this child does not get more of your love just because he gets more of your time.

6. Answer only to your conscience: then you'll be able to answer to your child. You need not justify your actions to your friends or the public.

7. Be honest with your feelings. You can't be a super-parent 24 hours a day. Allow yourself jealousy, anger, pity, frustration, and depression in small amounts whenever necessary.

8. Be kind to yourself. Don't focus continually on what needs to be done. Remember to look at what you have accomplished.

9. Stop and smell the roses. Take advantage of the fact that you have gained a special appreciation for the little miracles in life that others take for granted.

10. Keep and use a sense of humor. Cracking up with laughter can keep you from cracking up from stress.

Author Unknown

Puppies For Sale

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale". Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign. " How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked. The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50." The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37," he said. " Can I please look at them?" The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?" The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame. The little boy became excited. " That is the little puppy that I want to buy." The store owner said, " No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll give him to you." The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, " I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for." The store owner countered, " You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies." To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, " Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"

By Dan Clark
Weathering the Storm from Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1993 by Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen

Autism Symptoms

Autism - Symptoms
Core symptoms
The severity of symptoms varies greatly between individuals,
but all people with autism have some core symptoms in the
areas of:

Social interactions and relationships.
Symptoms may include:
Significant problems developing nonverbal communication
skills, such as eye-to-eye gazing, facial expressions,
and body posture. Failure to establish friendships with
children the same age. Lack of interest in sharing enjoyment,
interests, or achievements with other people.Lack of empathy.
People with autism may have difficulty understanding another
person's feelings, such as pain or sorrow.

Verbal and nonverbal communication.
Symptoms may include:
Delay in, or lack of, learning to talk. As many as 40% of
people with autism never speak. Problems taking steps to
start a conversation. Also, people with autism have difficulties
continuing a conversation after it has begun. Stereotyped
and repetitive use of language. People with autism often
repeat over and over a phrase they have heard previously
(echolalia). Difficulty understanding their listener's
perspective. For example, a person with autism may not
understand that someone is using humor. They may interpret
the communication word for word and fail to catch the implied
meaning.

Limited interests in activities or play.
Symptoms may include:
An unusual focus on pieces. Younger children with autism
often focus on parts of toys, such as the wheels on a car,
rather than playing with the entire toy. Preoccupation with
certain topics. For example, older children and adults may
be fascinated by video games, trading cards, or license plates.
A need for sameness and routines. For example, a child with
autism may always need to eat bread before salad and insist on
driving the same route every day to school. Stereotyped
behaviors. These may include body rocking and hand flapping.

Symptoms during childhood
Symptoms of autism are usually noticed first by parents and
other caregivers sometime during the child's first 3 years.
Although autism is present at birth (congenital), signs of
the disorder can be difficult to identify or diagnose during
infancy. Parents often become concerned when their toddler
does not like to be held; does not seem interested in playing
certain games, such as peekaboo; and does not begin to talk.
Sometimes, a child will start to talk at the same time as
other children the same age, then lose his or her language s
kills. They also may be confused about their child's hearing
abilities. It often seems that a child with autism does not
hear, yet at other times, he or she may appear to hear a
distant background noise, such as the whistle of a train.
With early and intensive treatment, most children improve
their ability to relate to others, communicate, and help
themselves as they grow older. Contrary to popular myths
about children with autism, very few are completely socially
isolated or "live in a world of their own."

Symptoms during teen years
Autism - Symptoms
During the teen years, the patterns of behavior often change.
Many teens gain skills but still lag behind in their ability
to relate to and understand others. Puberty and emerging
sexuality may be more difficult for teens who have autism than
for others this age. Teens are at an increased risk for developing
problems related to depression, anxiety, and epilepsy.

Symptoms in adulthood
Some adults with autism are able to work and live on their own.
The degree to which an adult with autism can lead an independent
life is related to intelligence and ability to communicate. At
least 33% are able to achieve at least partial independence.
Some adults with autism need a lot of assistance, especially
those with low intelligence who are unable to speak. Part-or
full-time supervision can be provided by residential treatment
programs. At the other end of the spectrum, adults with
high-functioning autism are often successful in their professions
and able to live independently, although they typically continue
to have some difficulties relating to other people. These
individuals usually have average to above-average intelligence.

Other symptoms
Many people with autism have symptoms similar to attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But these symptoms,
especially problems with social relationships, are more
severe for people with autism. For more information, see
the topic Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

About 10% of people with autism have some form of savant
skills-special limited gifts such as memorizing lists,
calculating calendar dates, drawing, or musical ability.

Many people with autism have unusual sensory perceptions.
For example, they may describe a light touch as painful
and deep pressure as providing a calming feeling. Others
may not feel pain at all. Some people with autism have
strong food likes and dislikes and unusual preoccupations.

Sleep problems occur in about 40% to 70% of people with
autism.

Other conditions
Autism is one of several types of pervasive developmental
disorders (PDDs), also called autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
It is not unusual for autism to be confused with other PDDs,
such as Asperger's disorder or syndrome, or to have overlapping
symptoms. A similar condition is called pervasive developmental
disorder-NOS (not otherwise specified). PDD-NOS occurs when
children display similar behaviors but do not meet the criteria
for autism. It is commonly called just PDD. In addition, other
conditions with similar symptoms may also have similarities to
or occur with autism.

Autism

Autism

Autism Genes Unlock Disorder's Mystery
Autism Discovery Heightens Hope for Cure
By JOHN MCKENZIE
July 10, 2008
15 comments FONT SIZE
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SHARE New findings by Harvard researchers may bring families one step closer to discovering a cure for autism, a disorder shrouded in mystery.

Researchers have found new genes that play a role in the development of autism.Research published in the journal Science, today, reveals new genes that are implicated in autism. And the latest findings provide critical insight into how the disorder impacts children.

"We're now understanding from our study just what genes are involved," said Dr. Christopher Walsh, chief of genetics at Children's Hospital in Boston, who led the study. "We're finding the genes that are involved are those that are involved in learning. And we are understanding how these genes are abnormal."

As many as 1 in every 150 children in the United States has autism or an autism-related disorder, according to the CDC.

Related
AS SEEN ON TV: Autism ResourcesU.S. Scientists Eye Unproven Autism TreatmentCommon Chemicals May Have Autism LinkThree out of the five "autism genes" newly discovered in the lab are particularly intriguing.

Unlike some other defective genes linked to autism that are permanently disabled, the new genes are simply idle -- present, but not turned on for one reason or another.

"That gives us the potential, in the long run, to develop therapies that may be able to reactivate those genes that are silent," said Walsh.


Early research on mice and rats shows that gene "reactivation" is possible with mental stimulation, using toys, wheels and other devices.

Gene reactivation may now explain why early intensive therapies on children with autism can be so effective.

Dr. Gary Goldstein, a clinician at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, who uses behavior therapy in autism patients, said the findings are encouraging.

"I was excited by this paper; it shows why this could possibly work, why the early intervention works," he said. "It's because the genes that are underlying autism are capable of being turned back on."

Autism 2

Autism Genes Unlock Disorder's Mystery
Autism Discovery Heightens Hope for Cure
FONT SIZE
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SHARE For Diane Marshall, mother of 11-year-old autistic David, the newly-discovered genes validate the countless hours she has spent each week helping her son.

A new study, which pinpoints five genes involved in autism, offers insight into new treatment.
(Getty/ABC News)"It shows me he's learning, he can learn," she said. "It's not reinventing the wheel for him."

Related
Study Reveals Genetic Clues to AutismFamilies Seek $$ for Autism-Vaccine LinkNow that researchers have identified the new genes that respond to intensive behavior therapy, the next step is to find medications that can perform the same task, faster and with better results.

God Is So Good

There is a word for God I know
And speak I often should

It is a word our world must hear
That God is often good

He's good when things are going well
The lost can even say

But it takes a child with tested faith
To say it everyday

The crowd proclaims how good He is
When there is money in the bank

The trusting soul in poverty
Still bows and give Him thanks

It's easy to sing "God is good"
When things are always right

But real faith shines when we can sing
On a dark and stormy night

Some days are dark I also know
But hear me if you would

No matter how dark and rough the way
Our God is always good!

Dr. John Bishop
www.godissogood.net
_________________________________

Dear Readers:
If you want a real blessing get to know
this man, John Bishop. He and his wife
have gone through so much and have a
sweet and sincere testimony for the Lord.
We had him at our church a couple of years
ago. God is SO...Good!!!

God Bless You,
Rachelle Terrebonne

Helen Keller Quotes

"I thank God for my handicaps, for through them,
I have found myself, my work, and my God."

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do
so much."

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is
also full of the overcoming of it."

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.
Only through experience of trial and suffering can
the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and
success achieved."

"Faith is the strength by which a shattered world
shall emerge into the light."

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but
it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as
if they were great and noble."

"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look
the world straight in the eye."

"What About Paul?"

Jad and I did not always see eye to eye on everything
about Paul. Paul was becoming the center of attention
in our family. The phrase "What about Paul?” started
becoming a sticky point in our marriage, because he
needed so much attention.

I felt bad that Paul had this disability, and I wanted
his life to be as comfortable as possible. Jad did also,
but he felt that our marriage should come first, which
I did agree with, but it was hard for me split my
attention between the both of them. Jad and I had
a few moments of debating on what we should do about
Paul.

Having a special needs child puts a lot of pressure
on the parents. It is definitely a give and take
situation. God doesn't write a manuscript for a
handicapped child and there are many ups and downs.
We went to see Bro. Hyles a couple times about a
decision concerning Paul that we needed some advice
on. Thank God for Bro. Hyles' and Bro. Schaap's wisdom.

James 1:2
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (adversity):
for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Another Parent's Point of View

Judge If You Want To
by Patricia Saunders

Go ahead and judge me. I know what you are thinking. You are thinking look at that child, he is way too old to scream like that.

I realize you think I am a bad parent. I know you think that my son should be able to sit quietly at the table. And not bother you at the next table while you eat at the restaurant.

I am aware that you look down on us as we take my son around in his special stroller. I am conscious of the fact that you think he should not flap around at his age. I realize that you think that I should not take my son out if I cannot control him.

There is one thing you must know.
I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU THINK!!!

I love my son and he has the same rights as anyone else. So unless you think your stares or glares are going to cure his autism leave us alone.

I want you to be aware of one more thing. People with autism do not judge. They do not play mental games, and they do not lie. Autistics take people at face value. What you see is what you get. We could all learn something from them.
------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Readers:
I found this article and I just wanted you to know how other
parent's feel. It is Very difficult at times when you are
dealing with a handicapped child. I added this article
on this website just to ask you for some patience with
families that have handicapped children. Believe me, it is
not always easy to know how to handle every situation that
comes up. Please, try to Walk in their shoes for a while!

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Why

"I don't have
to know why;
I know Him
who knows why."

Dr. Jack Hyles

What You Should Know About My Child

Remember that he is, first of all, my child.
Let me see him smiling in his sleep and let
me think about how handsome he is and not
about how delayed that smile was in coming.
Help me not lose sight of my son in the
shadow of his limitations.
I know that you care for my child and that
you work hard with him.
I need your expertise to help him become
all that he is capable of being.
You need my help in understanding who he
really is and in following through at home
with things that are important.
Remember, though, that you send him home
at night and have weekends off and paid
vacations.
Let me have the luxury of having a vacation,
sometimes physically, sometimes just
emotionally, for a day, a week, a month,
without your judging me.
I will be there for him when you are long
gone.
I love my child with an intensity that
you can only imagine.
If on a given day I am tired or cross
with him, listen to me, lighten my burden,
but do not judge me.
Celebrate with me, rejoice in who he is
and who he will become, but forgive me
if from time to time I shed a tear for
who he might have been.

-Author Unknown

God Has A Positive Answer

BIBLE VERSES

You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

People Need The Lord-Mrs. Beverly Hyles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEEnT2Vbpfo

Happy Birthday Mrs. Beverly Hyles!

February 14, 2009

I wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to our church's former first lady,
Mrs. Beverly Hyles.

What a GREAT LADY! She is 80
years old today. Happy Birthday,
Mrs. Hyles. I Love You!!!

Rachelle

Happy Birthday Mrs. Cindy Schaap!

-November 30, 2009-

I would like to wish a
Happy Birthday to our new
first lady, Mrs. Cindy Schaap.

I believe I know her age, but
I wonder if she might be the
same age as me, 29!!! I have
birthdays, I just don't get
any older. Isn't that amazing!

And, I would also like to say
Thank You for being our first lady.
She has done a Wonderful Job!!!
I love you too!

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Welcome To Holland

By-Emily Perl Kingsley
c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved.
(This is excellent)

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Holland

Dear Readers,
Jad and I live in Holland also. We have been there
for 26 years. At first it is hard to believe that
you are there, but God does give you grace:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that
the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches,
in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's
sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

God Bless You ALL of you in Holland!
Rachelle

Celebrating Holland-I'm Home

Celebrating Holland- I'm Home
By Cathy Anthony
(my follow-up to the original \Welcome to Holland\ by Emily Perl Kingsley)
I have been in Holland for over a decade now. It has become home. I have had time to catch my breath, to settle and adjust, to accept something different than I'd planned. I reflect back on those years of past when I had first landed in Holland. I remember clearly my shock, my fear, my anger, the pain and uncertainty. In those first few years, I tried to get back to Italy as planned, but Holland was where I was to stay. Today, I can say how far I have come on this unexpected journey. I have learned so much more. But, this too has been a journey of time.
I worked hard. I bought new guidebooks. I learned a new language and I slowly found my way around this new land. I have met others whose plans had changed like mine, and who could share my experience. We supported one another and some have become very special friends.
Some of these fellow travelers had been in Holland longer than I and were seasoned guides, assisting me along the way. Many have encouraged me. Many have taught me to open my eyes to the wonder and gifts to behold in this new land. I have discovered a community of caring. Holland wasn't so bad.
I think that Holland is used to wayward travelers like me and grew to become a land of hospitality, reaching out to welcome, to assist and to support newcomers like me in this new land. Over the years, I've wondered what life would have been like if I'd landed in Italy as planned. Would life have been easier? Would it have been as rewarding? Would I have learned some of the important lessons I hold today?

Sure, this journey has been more challenging and at times I would (and still do) stomp my feet and cry out in frustration and protest. And, yes, Holland is slower paced than Italy and less flashy than Italy, but this too has been an unexpected gift. I have learned to slow down in ways too and look closer at things, with a new appreciation for the remarkable beauty of Holland with its tulips, windmills and Rembrandts.

I have come to love Holland and call it Home.

I have become a world traveler and discovered that it doesn't matter where you land. What's more important is what you make of your journey and how you see and enjoy the very special, the very lovely, things that Holland, or any land, has to offer.

Yes, over a decade ago I landed in a place I hadn't planned. Yet I am thankful, for this destination has been richer than I could have imagined!

Cathy Anthony is a parent, advocate and presently the executive director of the Family Support Institute in Vancouver, BC (www.vcn.bc.ca/bcacl/fsi.htm)

To The Handicapped By Dr. Jack Hyles

On Sunday morning sitting on the platform I looked out over our
congregation to love my people. I looked over to the deaf people,
then to the blind, then to the retarded and others; I love them and
realized the things they cannot enjoy. Suddenly it dawned on me
there are special things that they CAN enjoy. The next day, while
sitting in a motel room in Hagerstown, Maryland, I wrote the
following words to the handicapped:

YOU ARE DEAF
You CANNOT hear
the whipperwill
The orphaned rill,
The gossipy Bob While;
Your loved one's voice,
Mom Nature's noise.
The cricket's tune at night;
The dripping rain,
The choir's refrain,
"I love you, from a friend;
The Baby's goo
His "I wuv oo-oo";
The whistle of the wind.

You NEED NOT hear
A sufferer's cry
Bereavement's sigh,
Or words of hate and blame;
Complainers whine,
Or gripers pine,
Or cursing of God's name.

But, you CAN hear
Your Father tell
His "Peace be still",
The language of the soul,
"Son, do My will,
And serve me till
The rapture makes you whole.
Can be your choice
To hear My Voice
Until yor race is run;
You can draw sigh
Not hindered by
the static of the tongue."

YOU ARE BLIND.
You CANNOT see
the stars at night,
The moon's soft light,
A busy mountain stream;
A daffodil,
A friendly hill,
A lover's eyelight gleam;
A pretty face
Some dainty lace,
A nervous autumn leaves;
The peacock's fan,
The desert sand,
The golden harvest sheaves.

You NEED NOT see
A bloody crash,
Or messy trash,
A world destroyed by man;
A dirty book
A bitter look,
A messy garbage can;
A stormy cloud,
A quiet shoud,
The sullen cynic's frown;
The lewd, the rude,
The nude, the crude,
The filthy part of town.

You ARE NOT hampered by
Two healthy eyes
Employed by those who're whole,
Which oft incur
A hazy blur
To vision by the soul.

But you CAN see
Sweet Jesus' face,
Salvation's grace,
And dreams of having sight;
And you CAN view
Some truths that few
Can see who walk in light.

And you CAN see
Eternity
When kneeling on the floor;
You CAN see stars
As far as Mars
When staggered by a door.

YOU ARE MUTE.
You CANNOT SPEAK
A word of cheer,
"I love you dear,"
A sermon from the Book;
But you CAN smile a little while,
A give a loving look.

And you CAN speak
With warm embrace,
A happy face,
A squeezing of the hand;
To God above
You can speak love,
And do the best you can.

YOU ARE THE EDUCABLE SLOW,
You DO NOT KNOW
What isn't so,
The theory of evolution;
The professor said
That God is dead,
And we need revolution.

You CAN know
His perfect will,
Salvation's thrill,
That Heaven is you own;
And know the way
To kneel and pray,
And linger at His throne.

You CAN know
From here below,
That Jesus died for you;
And understand,
And hold His hand
Until His face you view.

YOU ARE POOR
You CAN'T AFFORD
The sleeping pills,
And liquor's ills
Tomorrow morning pain;
The cocktail sip,
The addict's trip
The misery of gain.

You CAN afford
Salvation free,
And liberty,
The blessedness of health;
To you CAN come
Deliverance from
The poverty of wealth.

Decisions About Paul

After being in preschool for a couple of years
we decided that Paul just wasn’t making enough
progress. He was still not toilet trained, and
we felt he should be able to do more. I decided
to go see our pediatrician tell him about our
concerns about Paul. Our pediatrician's worked
with handicapped children and I trusted his judgment.
I asked him about a place in New Albany, Indiana
that our social worker told us about. He agreed
that this might be a good place for Paul. I wasn’t
sure what to do because I didn't want Paul that
far away from us. Jad thought it was the right
thing to do. Paul would be 4 hours away, and we
would only be able to see him about once a month.
We decided to see Bro. Hyles to help us make the
right decision.

Proverbs 13:20a
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Our Meeting with Bro. Hyles

After I had gone to see the pediatrician and talked to
him about the situation with Paul, I came home and
talked to Jad about what the doctor had said. Jad
was in agreement with the doctor and our social worker,
but I didn’t feel comfortable with the decision. Paul
was only 5 years old. He would move 4 hours away from
us. Jad and I decided to get counsel from Bro. Hyles.
We decided to take Paul and Amy with us on the day of
our appointment. As Bro. Hyles, Jad and I were talking
about the situation with Paul, Paul did his normal
behavior that he always did, getting into everything.
Paul got into Bro. Hyles’ books, turned on and off his
lights, and just got into a lot of Bro. Hyles’ things.
I felt bad that Paul had done this, but it gave
Bro. Hyles a first hand view of him. Bro. Hyles asked us,
“Does Paul behave like this all the time?” We responded,
“Yes, all the time.” Bro. Hyles sided with Jad on this.
He thought that Paul really could use the extra help. I
agreed, but I still felt bad that Paul would be so far away
from us. Now I had the doctor, Bro. Hyles, and Jad all in
agreement. I knew that I was wrong and out voted. About 2
weeks later we headed off to New Albany to check out Paul's
temporary new home.

----------------------------

Dear Readers:
An additional comment on Our Meeting With Bro. Hyles-
It was been 20 years since Paul was at this facility.
I am 100% for sure that we made the right decision in
placing him there. Thank you Jad and Bro. Hyles for
helping me see and do the right thing for Paul. I have
seen the results of families that refuse to make the
needed changes for their child, the child and their
family suffer because of it. The child never grows
to all that God would allow them to be. Sometimes you
have to allow others to help you make the right decision
and you have to learn to trust so that God can do the
"Impossible" things for you.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Visit Possible New Home For Paul

We drove down to New Albany to visit the Silvercrest
Development Center. Upon our arrival, we were given
a tour of the facility by one of the social workers.
The buildings were once used as a tuberculosis sanitarium.
The social worker also told us what Paul would be doing
there at the facility if he was accepted into the program.
While we were talking with the social worker, Paul went
for an evaluation from one of the instructors. We would
have to wait to see if Paul would be able to attend this
facility.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Paul Was Accepted At Facility

About a month later they called us from the
facility where we had visited with Paul. They
did accept Paul into the program. About two
months later we packed Paul's clothes and headed
down to New Albany, Indiana. Paul would live
there for 13 months.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Look Through It And See God

"Don't look at it
and be bitter.
Don't look away
from it and
refuse to see
reality, Look
through it and
see God."

Dr. Jack Hyles

Prayer Quotes

The Greatest gift we can give to others is
our prayers.


"Man may spur our appeals, reject our message,
oppose our argument, dispise our person, but
they are helpless against our prayers."
-Sidlow Baxtor

"Always respond to every impulse to pray. The
impulse to pray may come when you are reading
or when you are battling with a text. I would
make an absolute law of this – always obey
such an impulse."
--Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“I would rather teach one man to pray than ten
men to preach.

”Groanings which cannot be uttered are often
prayers which cannot be refused."
Charles Spurgeon

"Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul,
a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan ."

"He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely
find Him the rest of the day."
--John Bunyan

"Pray, and let God worry."
-- Martin Luther

“Prayer is where the action is."
--John Wesley

"Shut the world out, withdraw from all worldly
thoughts and occupations, and shut yourself in
alone with God, to pray to Him in secret. Let
this be your chief object in prayer, to
realize the presence of your Heavenly Father."
--Andrew Murray

"Prayer is not learned in a classroom but
in the closet."
--E. M. Bounds

God warms his hands at man's heart when he prays.
~ John Masefield

"God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to
lean on Him."

"It is possible to move men, through God, by
prayer alone."
~Hudson Taylor

"Every great movement of God can be traced to
a kneeling figure."
D. L. Moody

"The vigor of our spiritual life will be in
exact proportion to the place held by the
Bible in our life and thoughts."
~ George Mueller

"The Bible fits man for life and prepares him
for death"
~ Daniel Webster

"My own definition of the grace of God is this:
the unlimited and unmerited favor given to the
utterly undeserving."
~ R.G. Lee

Another Problem Occured-Brain Tumor

I started having constant headaches about 2-3
months after Paul was enrolled in the special
school. I wasn't sure why because I hardly
ever got headaches. I used to feel so bad for
my younger sister, Starr, because she always got
headaches and the headaches usually would end up
as a migraine. I went to my doctor and he examed
me and he found out that I had a sinus infection.
He gave me an antibiotic, I took it for the
recomended 10 days, but I still continued having
headaches. I went back to my regular doctor and
told him that I was still having headaches, and he
suggested I go see an allergist. Maybe I was
starting to having a lot of allergies. I made the
appointment, the doctor examed me, no allergies.
I went back to my regular doctor, told him that I
had no allergies. My regular doctor then suggested
that I go see a Neurologist. I made the appointment
and Jad and I went to see him. The Neurologist had
me do all kinds of tests. The test included touching
my hands to my nose, walking a straight line, remembering
items, etc, etc. He finally decided that I seemed
OK, but he then suggested that I get a Cat Scan
just to be on the safe side. Well, I went for the
Cat Scan and on the scan they found a... brain tumor.

Job 13:15
Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Storms

"When the storm
is coming toward
us, we'll get
through it quicker
if we keep
marching
into it."

Dr. Jack Hyles

God's Timing

God knew that the tests would show that I had a
brain tumor. God knew that Paul needed to be in
a safe place when I would have the surgery. God,
I believe, orchestrated the whole event with Paul
going down to New Albany so that he would be cared
for as I recovered from brain surgery.

Psalms 18:30
As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the LORD
is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.


God Bless You,
Rachelle

Why Me?

Have you ever asked God,"Why?" I know that I have, and
probably too many times. I have questioned God many
times about my circumstances in life, my family’s history,
and about all of Paul’s disabilities. I have also questioned
God about my brain tumor, but I no longer question Him.
In Romans 8:28 the Bible says, “And we know that all things
work together for Good to them that love God, to them who
are the called according to His purpose.”

I have decided in my heart that God Knows Best!!!

-GOD KNOWS BEST-
Our Father know what's best for us
So why should we complain-
We always want the sunshine
But He knows we there must be rain-
We love the sound of laughter
And the merriment of cheer
But our hearts would lose their tenderness
If we never shed a tear...
Our Father test us often
With suffering and with sorrow,
He test us, not to punish us,
But help us meet tomorrow...
For growing trees are strengthened
When they withstand the storm,
And the sharp cut of the chisel
Gives the marble grace and form...
God never hurts us needlessly,
And He never wastes our pain,
For every loss He sends to us
Is followed by rich gain...
And we count the blessings
That God has so freely sent,
We will find no cause for murmuring
And no time to lament...
For Our Father loves His children,
And to Him All things are plain,
So He never sends us pleasure
When the soul's deep need is pain...
So whenever we are troubled,
And when everything goes wrong,
It is just God working in us
To make our spirit strong.
-Helen Steiner Rice

Psalms 62:8
Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before
Him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Anointed With Oil

Before my surgery we asked Bro. Hyles to anoint me with oil.
Bro. Hyles always said that God should be a part of your of
all of your life, and we wanted God involved with my surgery.
On a Sunday morning after the church service Jad and I went to
Bro. Hyles' office and asked him to anoint me with oil.

James 5:14
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
of the Lord.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Surgery Day-January 31, 1990

This was the day I was scheduled to have brain surgery.
Jad and I spent the night before at a hospital up in
Chicago. Early the next day the nurse's came in to
prep me for surgery, they also started an IV on me.
Jad came down with me to the holding room we said our
goodbyes, said our last prayer to the Lord together and
then he gave me a kiss. I am sure he was wondering if
I would come back the same person I was before the surgery.
After Jad left and the transporter took me into went inside
of the holding room the nurse came by my bed and checked
that everything was correct before I was to go into the
surgery room. After she had gone, and I was by myself,
well there was others in the room with me, I prayed again
by myself. I asked the Lord to give extra wisdom to the
doctors as they performed surgery on me. I had a husband
and two small children I needed to still care for. I
asked the Lord, "Please bring me back whole."

II Corinthians 12:9-10
And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for
My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ
may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches,
in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's
sake: for when I am Weak, then am I Strong.

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Thank You Starr

There is so much in our story that I want to
tell you, but we are still in the process of
completing it. I want to give a very special
thank you to my sister, Starr. She came from
California and cared for me and my family after
I had my brain surgery. She stayed with us for
2 weeks. She cooked, cleaned, and did the laundry,
she basically took over all of my duties. Thank You
so much Starr, I Love You!!!

God Bless You,
Rachelle

Thank You Sherry

My Dad is now 85 years old. He is still doing well
with his health. He also is still very independant
for his age, in which I am very grateful! I want to
thank my sister Sherry for all her help with my Dad.
She lives the closest to my Dad of all my siblings.
I am very grateful that he has my sister to help him
with all his needs. She takes him to the grocery store,
and doctor appointments, and cleans his apartment.
Thank you so much for the good care of our Dad. I
know that he appreciates it, but I do also.

Love,
Rachelle

Trust

"If you can't
see His goodness,
you can trust
His goodness."

Dr. Jack Hyles

GOLD

Job 23:10

But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me,
I shall come forth as gold.

Trust And Obey-My Favorite Hymn

This song is sung a bit different from the way I am used to,
but the words are the same. What a GREAT song! What a
Great way to live, Trust and Obey! I love the arrangement
of the song, what a blessing!!!

God Bless You,
Rachelle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2vIybBlM1U