Thirteen Times When I've Been Thankful that His Timing has been Perfect, Even If My Understanding Has Not:

1. Several years ago, when the Princess was a tot, we were falsely and abusively disciplined by a church, and removed from leadership. Three years later, the disciplining pastor was removed from his pulpit and the associate who had been witness to the situation asked us to meet with him for a formal apology and reconcilliation. To me, three years was a long time to wait for an apology, but I finally got one when I didn't need it anymore and was able to accept it graciously.

2. The birth of our first child. I wasn't ready to be a mom, I was ready to be a professional. God knew I needed the growth and challenge of this amazing person in our lives and that a baby would bring enormous joy and comfort to our family in our season of grieving my father.

3.The birth of our second child. What did those two lines mean on that EPT just TEN MONTHS after I delivered the now TQ?? You're kidding, right God? No, He wasn't. Eeyore Jr. has been my heart's delight and his sister's best friend from the beginning.

4. The arrival of the Princess. I really, really, wasn't ready for more children, and wasn't submitting to my husband's prayerfully considered desire that we "try" for more. When I (resentfully) submitted after much stubborness, we conceived that night. She has brought so much joy to our lives.

5. Our little guy. After losses and being told there was "something" medically wrong (hmmm...could it have been cancer??), we were ready to investigate adoption as a means to complete our family. Two weeks later we were pregnant. The next Februrary, after many scares and medical interventions, we would have the little person who would keep us on our toes and laughing most of the time.

6. For the first seven months of his life, I couldn't get anyone to tell me what was wrong with our baby. He screamed. All the time. After pestering the medical community and wearing out our knees in prayer, we found a GI specialist who gave the little one the medicines he needed to be able to comfortably digest his food, grow, and most importantly sleep (and even occasionally smile). I learned to persisit in prayer and in hope, and to be humble in my parenting. Even with four babies, I certainly hadn't learned it all, and God used the time to make me a more empathetic person.

7. It took another six months to convince the medical community that there was still something going on with this child. God was with us as we slowly forged our way through the red-tape jungle that was (and is) the Early Intervention System in Arizona. In His perfect timing, we were blessed with some amazing therapists.

8. My cancer. I will always be grateful for God's timing in this area. My kidney began to bleed while the tumor was still well contained within the walls of the kidney. Most tumors that arise in this area aren't found until they have metastisized considerably.

9. God provided us with a blessed season of rest before our storm hit. In the months before my diagnosis we were able to spend time building our marriage up during a Weekend To Remember, and enjoyed an amazing family vacation in Lake Tahoe. I've lost count of how many times memories of this season helped sustain me during my treatment.

10. Our move. Who plans a cross country relocation in the middle of a major illness?? Evidently God does. He knew we needed a different doctor and approach to treatment and all of the family support only available right where we landed.

11.Placing the children in school. I never imagined that there would be a time that I would have peace about this decision. Believing God's timing means choosing to trust Him daily in this area.

12.The TQ's recent soccer triumph. This mom wanted so much to not see her more frustrated in an already painful season, but all of my attempts last year to "fix" the challenges fell flat. God chose in His perfect timing to show her the payoff of all her hard work and desire.

13. After two frustrating years and two state Early Intervention systems, my little guy's IEP finally sports the diagnosis that I (just his mom and an occupational therapist) had suggested from the beginning of our search for help. He's going to be able to continue with Speech through the school system and was alloted twice the number of units that I thought he'd qualify for.