A LESSON FROM...EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER
Does anyone besides us still watch this show? Well, if you don't you should! It truly may be the only show on TV that has any sort of good message and meaning to it! For those who have been under a rock and don't know the concept of the show, each week a group of designers/carpenters/home builders basically build a whole knew house in 1 week for a very deserving family who, otherwise, would never have been able to afford it. Not only is it amazing that an entire house can be built in 7 days, but the houses are AMAZING!! They only do the best of everything. But the house is not the focus, the families are. And this week's family blew me away. Now, maybe it's the hormones, but I was SO touched by this family, I cried from beginning to end! The Llanes family immigrated to the U.S. from the Phillipines. The father of the family has a rare, genetic condition that I cannot remember the name of, but basically, sometime in his young adulthood, he lost his eyesight completely. Sadly, because it's genetic, his 2 daughters also have the disease. Both are legally blind and can only see if they look at things very close up. Both will eventually lose their eyesight completely as well. And if that's not enough, while the mother was pregnant with the son, she contracted German Measles and this caused him to be deaf. They also have Grandma living with them, who is also blind. What an amazing family!! Their sweet spirits touched me so much in so many ways! I can't imagine being able to see for so much of my life, and then suddenly never seeing again. Another thing was the father had lost his sight before his son was born. They never were really able to communicate directly, because dad couldn't see son signing, and son couldn't hear dad talking. Not to mention the house was a disablilty on it's own. Well, the team did not disappoint! They built this family an incredible house, filled with all sort of techno gizmos that they will use for sure, from braile computers to a program that Dad can talk into and it's signed on a computer screen for the son. They will be able to communicate directly for the first time!!

All of this to say, that I realize in situations like this that I am SO amazingly blessed!! I have a wonderful husband that I love so deeply. We have a home that is a healthy and safe place. Both of our families have been pretty healthy. No major problems. I have 6 nieces and nephews who have all been born healthy and remain healthy. And I could go on and on....

And now Beckham is on the way, and by all medical standards so far, he is growing healthy and just as he should be. PRAISE GOD!! Of course the thoughts have cross my mind numerous times, what if he's blind or deaf or disabled in some other way? What will we do? What will I do? But seeing families like the Llanes family reminds me that it could always be worse, and yet better at the same time. So many healthy families aren't as close as they are. So many healthy families don't love each other the way they do. So many healthy families don't rely on and support each other they way they do. And in this, and in the faith that the Lord is in control and has a perfect plan, I find strength and peace. Don't get me wrong, if we should find that Beckham has some sort of diablilty, I will probably cry and ask why. But I will always put my faith in the Lord! He has been SO good to me so far, and I know He won't stop!

So, catch an episode or 2 this season of Extreme Home Makeover. It really is a great show. It makes me count my blessings every time I watch it!