Miracles: Part 1

I have two stories to tell... it's been quite the week. And I tell them for two reasons: so I never forget and as way to thank a loving God who is so mindful of my little family. Elder Bednar referred to the Lord's "tender mercies," but the two stories I'm going to share I feel are tender mercies that are nothing short of miracles.

I can get a little long-winded, so I'll break it up into two parts.

Story 1
I've shared a little now and again about the struggles we go through as we learn to cope with and help Gavin with his struggles. It's difficult at times, but no matter how hard it gets both  Ben and I want what is best for Gavin.

Thanks to some intervention from his preschool teacher, Gavin had a fabulous Kindergarten teacher. She has loved that little boy all year long, and he has continued to make progress. BUT there has been some concern about first grade. There are no aides in first grade, and Gavin really struggles to remain focused and on task. At the moment he lacks the ability to work independently. (We've added ADHD on the list since the last time I talked about his diagnosis.)

So over the last month or two we've started to do some research. Trying to figure out what would be best for him next year. Our school district has a program that we have felt would be really good for him. In talks with the special education teacher, the district didn't want to put him in that classroom because he doesn't have an autism label (and it's an autistic classroom). At this point, I would like to note that though he isn't officially autistic, he does exhibit autistic symptoms. (Most people just assume he is autistic.) We exercised our right to call a meeting to discuss the matter.

So after feeling infuriated. Thanks to some talks with my MIL, I decided I had to be prepared. I had to show the district in educated, level-headed way the needs of my child and why we believed that this particular program met those needs even without the label. I'm not going to lie... I put a lot of time and research into it... a 2 1/2 page paper was a the result. I then had several people (mostly family... and big thanks to all!) read it and re-read it as I modified it using their feedback. I also had his private therapists write up letters for me. I literally did everything that was in my power to do. This time last week, I was sooooooooo stressed. (I don't think the pregnancy hormones helped.) Poor Ben was so supportive.

Sunday night, I couldn't hardly take it anymore. I knew I had done what I could, so I had to now turn it over to the Lord. I needed the comfort only the Lord can bring, so I asked Ben to give me a Priesthood blessing. (For my friends of other Christian faiths, we believe that God has restored the power and authority to act in His name... think the Apostles in the New Testament acting in the name of the Lord.) This is something very real and very important to me. After that blessing, I felt peace and comfort, and I knew without a doubt that the Lord knew me and my special little Gavin and whatever happened Monday it would be what was best for Gavin.

Monday morning came, and I was counting down the hours until 11. About an hour before the meeting the special education teacher called, and we spoke. She had talked with district again and was feeling like they were coming wanting what was best for Gavin. That phone call was another witness of everything that I had been told the night before. I anxious as I still was feeling, I also had hope and a feeling of it will all work out.

Through out the meeting, Ben and I felt listened to (which is a big deal to me... there have been plenty of times I have not felt that way when it comes to being heard on what I feel is right for my son). I felt like everyone was there to figure out what was best for meeting Gavin's needs. I could understand their hesitation in putting Gavin in this particular program, but instead of just playing boss, saying yeah right, but not giving us anything to work with, they came up with another plan that we feel is just as good and perhaps even a little better situation for Gavin. They have offered aide support through out the day for him, which later the special teacher commented to us was a miracle because that almost never happens, and the fact that they suggested it.... a-maz-ing.

So technically nothing was actually resolved. BUT some good things are happening and need to happen before we have another meeting in a week to decide the final course of action for Gavin next year. Ben and I both came away feeling like it had been a successful meeting. And once again, the Lord showed me that He knows me and my family. He has a perfect plan that even though I can't see all the pieces to... He can, and so often when I can turn things over to Him after doing all that I can that He will take my small offering and create something beyond what I even thought was possible. I know that the Priesthood blessing was honored and this mother's prayers were heard and answered. And that was just my first miracle of the week...