The Nana is how those I love the most refer to me. So to you, those who love my girl the most, you may call me Nana. Nana has brought beautiful Heather home to roost. She is recovering from a long plane ride and enjoying seeing two of the three E’s again (Easton & Eli) & Emma is an ever present force. For those of you who wondered how Emma did on the plane – there is a God! We prayed that Emma would be really good for the five hour plane ride to and from Minnesota and again he answered prayer. She was so good that I asked Papa to pinch me on the way home, I must be dreaming!
Heather has settled in to the “In Law” suite that we built on to our house for my father. My father is visiting his three other children while we get Heather down the road a little farther. We decided to have a cook out on Wednesday when we got home. We all needed something normal considering our last week. The kids played in the pool. Heather laid on the porch swing. Occasionally as I swam with the kids I would look at her and see the happiness in her eyes as she watched her children. Not to brag but she is one great mom and I know she misses being able to talk to them now. Laura came by and it was good to see as a mom how wonderful friends can be – thank you Laura for your support during our latest chapter in “God’s plan for our Life.”
Knowing that the kids would have questions we explained to Eli that mom had to take speech therapy just like he did to get her words back. That made sense to him and off to jump in the pool he went! Easton was very glad to see her mom. My little tom boy has been one tough cookie during this time. She asked me when we were swimming together after everyone had gone inside if Mom was going to be alright. It has been hard not to cry during this time – my job is to be the strong one and keep everyone moving forward – but my blue eyed girl made me cry in the pool – I told her Mom was more than alright – mom was perfect! As we began to clean up from the afternoon, I looked around and realized how blessed we were. Mark’s mom has blessed us by coming from Oklahoma and taking care of Easton & Eli for awhile. Papa loves Emma so much that he keeps her swinging on the tree swing that he built just for her (her favorite activity is swinging.) Mark is constantly caring for Heather and I see the love that they have for each other just with looks – words are not needed. God has truly blessed us.
What is next? Speech therapy, Occupational Therapy, Radiation, Chemotherapy, kissing babies, enjoying all that God has given us.
We will keep blogging as the days pass – It is important that you – all of you – who have blessed us so much with prayers, support and love know how much you mean to us and how grateful we are for all of you! Again, WE ARE BLESSED!
One more story from the Nana – On the way to the airport, it was a quiet moment with scenery that was calming and music that was uplifting. We were listening to a Nicole C Mullins CD and the song “One Touch” came on. Heather, who could not speak a full sentence so far – sang this song. I cried as I listened to my daughters voice singing praises to God. We could not find the video of this song – but please if you can listen to it – it will move you too.
We believe – we believe in prayer, we believe in healing, we believe…..
Thank you for the update Nana. We’ll keep praying…and praising.
I am so glad that Heather is doing so well! I will keep praying for all of you. Thank you for the update. God is good all the time – all the time God is good!
Nana, Heather, Mark and the rest of the family,
Welcome home! I’m thankful the trip was uneventful for Emma and you are all able to be together at home. Holding you all in prayer as the therapies start. Heather enjoy being a mom this weekend–you and your children deserve it. Nana relish in being a mom and grandma who has done well.
Blessings to you all.
Hello from England, Nana…. thanks so much for your beautiful update. As a mother, I can only imagine how hard this has been for you and your family too, and we are all so sincerely praying for you all. Heather is an inspiration, and you are indeed right. You (and we) are so very blessed.
Another soppy lady who has sobbed with joy and wonder at what God has been doing in your lives – His hand is truly upon you! Heather said a while ago in one of her posts that one of the things she most dreaded was not being able to sing – how gracious God is in giving her back her singing before anything else! Truly, truly awesome.
Will keep praying,
Love Di x
thank you nana for the marvelous update. i pray and rejoice with you. God bless you all.
nana, thank you for this update — i have tears in my eyes and my heart is really welled up.
blessings on you, dear one, as you help her walk through her recovery. you are a special lady, i can see that after only one post…
Thank you for this precious update, Nana… I am so beyond thankful and happy that Heather is home. What a mighty and awesome and faithful God we serve. Pleaes know that your family continues to be in my prayers.
Much love!!!
Thank you Nana for such a wonderful post. I can feel the love so strongly and almsot felt as though I were there watching…praising God that she is home and that she is so well surrounded!
Thank you so much, Nana, for taking precious time to keep us in the loop.
I’m not surprised Heather was able to sing…our hearts seem to recognize the rhythm of music being different from speech. He put a new song in our mouths, after all!
Heather is indeed blessed to be surrounded by her loving family.
God is still in the healing business. I check several times a day for updates. Our children and grandchildren are so precious.
Thank you so much for the update! Still praying
Nana,
How eloguent is your writing. Thanks for keeping us posted on your beautiful girl. I think of her several times a day and pray each time. God bless you for being such a good Nana!
Love and hugs to H
Nana,
So wonderful to meet you! We have a Nana, too, that we dearly love as much as you are loved by your family. Thanks for keeping us updated. Heather is on my mind and in my prayers often. The song, too! How beautiful. I never heard it before.
Praying for y’all,
Elisa
Three cheers for Nana. And endless for our God who moves mountains.
Why am I not surprised she could sing praises? *wink* Bless God! So glad you all are home!
What a beautiful post of the love of one’s family! Easton’s question brought tears to my eyes. She has especially been on my heart through all of this. It’s hard to be the “strong one” in difficult or challenging circumstances. God bless your whole family for coming around Heather in such a beautiful way. God is good!
I love how Heather’s voice broke free in song seeing how music is so important to her. I haven’t heard the song but by the title it seems as though it is Heather’s prayer. What hope was given in that moment. I’m sure Heather was absolutely delighted to have that moment to sing. I look forward to reports of more words flowing from her lips. Nothing is too difficult for God.
Thanks for all these updates. I eagerly await them and check in just to see how Heather is doing. God is Faithful & True and He is there for each of you, as are we. Hugs . . .
Oh my, “Nana”…thank you so much for posting this. So good to hear your heart and perspective. So good to hear how your sweet daughter is doing so that we may continue to lift her up before our loving heavenly Father. Praising Him that Heather has SUCH an awesome support base to lean on while she’s home. WOW, God is good. Keep updating us! Thank you…
God bless…
Love and much prayer~
Thanks for the update…our prayers continue to be with you. Good moms come from good moms!!! I’m sure this will be an especially blessed Mother’s Day for you both. God is with you and God is good!
Thanks for the update, Nana. Prayers continue for each of you.
Thank you so much for the update Nana. It sounds like you are loved as much as my girls love their Nana! I am continuing to pray for Heather and all of her family.
Oh Nana! Thank you for sharing from your precious heart. The tears made their path down my cheeks as I read, and coursed down when I read the end.
Praise Jesus. He alone is worthy!!
THANK YOU for posting. I do not know Heather. I just came by the web site one day. I pray each day that she will get stronger. You all seem to have such a relationship with Jesus. I am drawn back again and again.
Nana, thank you for the update. Please keep them coming. Heather, keep singing. We will keep praying.
Tears of joy and also of pain for this struggle Heather has been given. Praising God for her voice of song.
2 Samuel 22:50 Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.
2 Chronicles 5:13 The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.”
Psalm 7:17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
We are praying for her and for you all, her precious family.
dawnz
Thanks for updating us Nana!!
Singing the whole song? That gave me chills! How awesome is our God!
Praise God!!!!
Thanks for the update. Praise God for a smooth trip home and a relaxing cook out. Your family is still in my prayers!
Crying tears of happiness for all of you today. Thank you for updating us, NANA!
AMEN!
Thank you for the update Nana…we have a Nana too! We are so thankful to hear she can sing…we will be praying for Heather during this time…BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. I know she will continue to seek God during this quite time.
So thankful for your lives!
Thank you, Nana, for sharing. I cried as I listened to this song and imagined Heather singing along. What a great God who allows us to sing.
I am crying happy tears as I read this beautiful post.
Yes, our God is an awesome God!
I bought Nicole C Mullen’s Sharecropper’s Seed about a week ago. One Touch has been bringing me to tears every time I listen to it. Little did I know it was going to minister to Heather as well. God absolutely amazes me…I have never met Heather and we live half the country apart. Yet somehow through this little blog she has become precious to my heart. The Holy Spirit brings her to mind several times a day…sometimes in the night or wee hours of the morning. Powerful. Press through the madness Heather – His love is healing your soul (and your body). He is reaching way down to touch you…All will know that you have been made whole!
What a beautiful post, such a beautiful family. This is a true demonstration of God’s design in the love we “see” in each of you. Our prayers will faithfully continue. All of you have touched all of us in so many, countless ways.
We look forward to the updates Nana!
With much love,
Shannon
Praising God with you! Loved The Nana’s post!
Thank you for the honor of praying for you!
I’m so touched that Heather was singing! Yay!
Colleen
I’m sure it is wonderful for Heather to be home!!
What an inspiration you all are!! God bless you. Praying that things will go well in the days ahead as you praise God for his faithfulness. “Morning by morning new mercies I see – All I have needed Thy hand has provided – Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me”.
Dear dear Heather (& Nana),
I was reading through your blog and came upon one of your notes where you said you were laughing and your eyes disappeared. That made me smile because I remember that so vividly one day when we were together talking about Emma & Sarah and some of the stuff they’ve been through. When you smile and laugh, it’s like your whole face lights up – and I know that your children and family see that too. You’re such a blessing to so many of us. I’m glad you keep “popping up” in my life – and know you’re always in my prayers. If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know – please!
Heart hugs,
Heidi
When praises go up, glory comes down.
Be blessed in your praises!
Your entire family has been a special blessing to me. Your writing is as wonderful as Heather’s! What talented writers you all are! Thank you for taking the time to update us. Heather has become very special to many of us who don’t even know her by the grace with which she handles her calling to be a tangibe example of what it means to have peace in the midst of the storm. And now, hearing your words, I appreciate you ALL so much. I am a first generation Christian. I did not grow up in a Christian home. But I love to look at your family and the closeness you share in Christ and realize that while I may not have had those examples growing up, that will NOW be MY FAMILY’S legacy through my children. They WILL be able to say to their kids that “Nana and Grampy” (or whatever we will be called) love Jesus with all their hearts. Blessings to all of you. Heather and your whole family remain in my prayers.
A friend of mine had a bleeding stroke last year and was mostly unconscience for almost three weeks but when we played the song “Cry out to Jesus” from Third Day she would start singing! It’s the Spirit working through our bodies to Praise the Lord, He knows who’s in control! SO PRAISE THE LORD! I’m rejoicing with you and know that He who has begun a good work will complete it!
I love Rita Springer thank you for sharing her song.
What a GOOD GOOD God we serve that He would put the understanding of music and the ability to sing in a different part of the brain than speech. Not one breath is an accident but is all orchestrated by the great Musician.
We are adopting a little boy who had brain damage from abuse. Music has been his saving grace…. and for Heather I know it will continue to be a healing balm.
How awesome it will be for the three E’s to hear momma sing…
Nana,
What a blessing to read your beautiful words. The love that surrounds your family is so evident. I was very touched by your update, especially that Heather was able to sing.
Praise the Lord. Still on my knees for Heather and all of you.
Thank you so much, Nana, for the update on our dear Heather and family. Prayers continue to go up from Iowa for all of you.
Like Abraham–the testimony of faith that ya’ll have shared will stand to the glory of God for generations to come.
Rejoicing and praying with all of you. Such sweet and precious memories being recorded here! Savor every one!!
Praising God for all the good news and for wonderful servants who are letting God use them in such glorious ways.
Thank you for all that you’re doing for the entire family. I know she’s your daughter, but you’re doing it with grace and an enormous amount of love.
Dearest Nana-
Thank you for the beautiful post. I’ve never received such inspiration as from your wonderful family! Hugs, prayers…you all are in my thoughts!
Nana,
Thanks for updating the blog on Heather’s condition and your new plans in this chapter of life! We’re still praying for Heather and you all as her family. Hugs from Rochester.
Thank you so much for the update it was trully a testament to God’s love and power we can’t begin to imagine. We will continue to pray for Heather and her family for God has been and will always be in the mix. Praise God for each of you. God bless you.
Love,
Lopez Family (California)