WE: Unformed

a new lip for new kisses on valentines day!

“Then it was said among the nations, ‘the Lord has done great things for them!’ 
The Lord has done great things for us and we are FILLED WITH JOY”
david’s 126th chapter. verses 2 &3

I spent some time today remembering…

Adam’s first night home…his typical position…you can see the absence of eyelids
look how tiny he was! his whole body cupped in raja’s hands!

I remember sleepless nights, cold sores, tears, prayers, diagnoses of death, impossible  obstacles, confusion, and so much more.

But more than that, I remember
He is with us and will never leave us nor forsake us.

I remember that He places the lonely in families!

I remember that He did not leave us as orphans, BUT HE came to us.

Those promises far outweighed the first list.

And now…

Adam is surrounded by family…”the lonely in families”
adam has an adoring papa…and got to see fireworks on new years eve!
adam is crawling! even without support now!
adam has a father and EYELIDS!
adam is sucking his hand, enjoying anything bright to look at, and a lush bamboo blanket to snuggle in (quite a difference from his mother’s head scarves I used to wrap him in after birth…)
Adam is sitting up watching lights and grabbing them in his hands…

So much has happened.

Surely again, we must take off our shoes for this is holy ground!
And tomorrow, Adam is getting his cleft lip repaired.
And his feet repaired.

No longer will his little feet be stuck together up under his bottom.
So the task of crawling will be easier!
And the frustration squirming he does will be alleviated.
And the diaper placement will be so simple and clean clean!

Cleft lip repair…
A miracle in itself!
Incredible doctors and the hand of Almighty will pull together separated tissues and create something that is absent.
“Every new duty calls for more grace than I now possess,
but not more than is found in Thee,
the divine Treasury in Whom all fullness dwells….
My my desires be emboldened,
That I may honor Thee by my entire dependency
and the greatness of my expectation”
(“grace active” in the Valley of Vision)
This is a favorite petition of mine, called “grace active”
For grace is active.
Yes we are redeemed by a one time washing.
But we are daily strengthened and edified and purified thru an active pouring of it.
May I not become content with “grace past” but press in and long for “grace active”
May I not be content with what I have seen, but long to see more of Him.
May I not tremble in fear and what I deem impossible.
When I look back and see impossibilities paved out miraculously.
So as I look at tomorrow.
And as I look at my son’s face.
Open face that it is.
And I wonder how such openings can be shut again.
Properly.
And how a mouth that is not.
Can become a mouth that is.
I press in for “grace active”
For “Every new duty calls for more grace than I now possess”
So tomorrow’s dawn will soon come.
My son will drift off to sleepy numbness.
We will sit and wait and pray.
And ‘grace active’ will do His work.
And I pray that we can “honor Thee with our entire dependency”
Not honor hospitals with our entire dependency
Not honor doctors with our entire dependency.
But honor His Majesty with our entire dependency.
I ask that each of you join us in petitioning for His grace active this moment and each moment that passes.
I ask it for you and your family and the journey you are on.
And I pray that we will know that nothing calls for more than He possesses. 
Rest in that dear ones. 
Rest in that.
Details of surgery:
Most likely at 11am.
Will last up to 8 hours.
Cleft lip repair and leg separation (including amputation of feet) will be done
Previous eye surgeons will inspect the eye and see if revision needed

Comments

  3. I do not know you but have found your blog and often pray for your sweet Adam. Your story inspires and amazes me. Our 2 year old was born with a severe cleft lip and palate. He has had 5 surgeries and has around 6-8 more to go over time. One thing our doctors told us was that we should prepare ourselves to "mourn" the loss of our son's "old" face and prepare for his new look. We thought that sounded ridiculous! Didn't they know we couldn't wait to see how it would be fixed?! Well, sure enough they were right. Although the world thinks his "new" face looks great I often find myself tearing up when I see a picture of his face before surgery. We fell in love with the beauty of his face that God created. So I hope that will make sense to you after his surgery tomorrow. We live in the Atlanta area and have a wonderful team of craniofacial doctors if you ever need anything.

    Lots of prayers for Adam and strength for you,
    Leah Lane
    [email protected]

  4. Hi there! I have been following your blog and my Christmas gift from my parents was a donation to help pay for baby Adam's surgeries. I am college friends with Melanie Ezell. I am also a speech-language pathologist and a professor (teach a college course on cleft palate/craniofacial disorders), the wife of a church planter, and my oldest son's name is Adam. You can certainly see how your baby Adam's journey compels me in a multitude of ways. Praying for his surgery today, that it goes well and he is giving mushy, wet kisses soon. Blessing to you all! (P.S., Also, be prepared. A lot of parents, even though they are thrilled with the results of surgery, find themselves going through a brief period of grief missing that endearing crooked smile that they have grown used to.)

  5. What a precious, beautiful boy. We have a son named Adam. He is a delight, just like your Adam. We also have a son who had a cleft lip and palate (who by the way, is also a delight), and a daughter who had a cleft lip (another little delight). I will be praying for your Adam as he has sugery tomorrow. May our precious Jesus be very present to you while your son is in surgery.

  7. Praying for you and Raja as you wait, for Adam to do wonderfully during the surgery and to recover/heal well afterwards, and for the surgeons and other medical staff working with Adam.

  8. Your devotion and faithfulness are amazing. Not only is Adam an inspiration, but his parents are too. I am humbled reading your words and looking at your pictures. Keep the updates coming…. we so look forward to reading them even though you are at times I am sure exhausted writing them. We appreciate your promptness.