Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Not Just A Coincidence

This story back in 1995. My husband's baby sister Kristin DeAnna Michelle Byler was born on January 12, 1995.  The Byler Family had there princess. Kristen was about 6 weeks old when they noticed something was not right. Kristen's mouth would turn blue when she drank her bottle.  Concerned, the family took her to the doctor. The doctor immediately sent them to Arkansas Children's Hospital, in Little Rock, where they discovered that Princess Kristen had Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS for short). It was then she underwent surgery to repair her heart. Kristen never fully recovered from her surgery, and on March 4, 2012 she went home to be with Jesus. This was not a coincidence.  The family didn't need to know of Kristen's heart condition. They needed to love her in spite of it. Then the next big event the Byler Family was going to have another blessing; her name was to be Sandi Karynne Byler.  The family was so excited.  After months of so much tragedy, they were finally going to have a princess in their home. The day came, July 17, 1996, Sandi Byler was born, and this was, again, what they thought was a normal birth. The family was in awe and filled with joy.  They would soon fine out that their Princess Sandi had Down Syndrome. Sandi was immediately taken to children's, like Kristen,  for surgeries. One of those surgeries would be an open heart like surgury, again very much like Kristen's. The Byler family was shocked and sad. They had numerous ultrasounds but the diagnoses of Down Syndrome was never detected. This was not a coincidence. God new that they didn't need to know what Princess Sandi was going to endure, but God was faithful to prepare them for it. While the family was shocked; God was never surprised. Life went on, and Sandi began to grow. Sandi did everything the doctors told the family she would never be able to do. Sandi walked, learned to feed herself, talk and even read.  This was far more than what the doctors ever expected out of Sandi, but it was not a coincidence. God knew Sandi would do all of these things. Years past and then Sandi's big brother Michael got married to Kendra in July of 2006. Then in July of 2007 Sandi's oldest brother Robby (my husband) married Amber (ME). Later on in 2007 Robby and I started attending a church in De Queen, AR  It was there that we met the Lynch Family. Then we found out about Michael and Kendra's pregnancy. We prayed for a healthy baby boy or girl. Then in early 2008 my husband and I found out that we were pregnant, and so did the Lynch family. They already had two adorable children, and God was blessing them with a third. Then on June 16, 2008 the Byler Family welcomed a baby girl into our family. Princess Isabelle DeAnna Byler was born, perfectly healthy. Belle's birth was not by coincidence. God had seen fit to bless the Byler family again, this time with a healthy baby girl. "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord." The Lynch Family would soon find out they were also expecting a girl, but this was not be a normal pregnancy. The Lynch Family blessing was going to be born with Down Syndrome and HLHS. The Lynch Family was making descions and praying for God's Peace. The Byler family was right there in the middle of this. It was no coincidence that God placed us in that church for this season, for this reason. The Byler Family reached out to them, and we were able to minister to their family in their time of need. Then the day came in October of 2008. The Lynch Family's blessing arrived and was whisked away to Children's Hospitol, just as Princess Sandi was, Just as Princess Kristen was on the days of their birth. The Lynch Family blessing was now in the same hospital the Byler Family had been in on numerous occasions. The Byler Family prayed for the Lynch Blessing and the family. Time went on.  Then came the day on December 11, 2008.  Jackson Robertson Byler was born, happy and healthy. Jackson's birth was not just a coincidence. God knew that we needed this beautiful baby boy in our family. Jackson began to grow into a healthy big boy.  He was a few months late on some of his major milestones and didn't crawl until 10 months, but we never gave it a second thought.Then life was going to be getting a little bit busier right before Jackson's 1st birthday we were thrilled to find out, the Byler Family was going to having another blessing. Then on June 28, 2010 Peyton Michael Byler was born perfectly happy and healthy. This was also a big day for Jackson this is the day he learned to walk by himself. It was an eventful day, but it was not a coincidence. Life went on and the Byler boys began to grow into little toddlers. Mean while the Lynch Family blessing continued to make progress and after several heart surgeries, GOD had made her a new heart. GOD healed the LYNCH BLESSING. Then Jackson's 2nd birthday rolled around and became concerned because he was not talking like the other kids his age. It was then we talked the doctors and went to First Step in Glenwood for testing. The staff there determined that Jackson was very far behind and needed speech therapy and other servides he would qualify for. First Step had been in the Byler Family for several years. This is where Princess Sandi had therapy for so many years. Then in November of 2010 God used the Lynch Blessing to imapact the Byler family again, in other ways. God led them to Reece's Rainbow this an adoptive ministry for children around the world who have special needs and need a forever family. God opened the Lynch family's heart to adopt a little girl with Down Syndrome in Russia. The Byler Family prayed right along side of them as the Lynch Family brought their New Adoptive blessing home in September of 2011. The Lynch Family adopted a blessing and this event is what God used to open the Byler Family's eyes to the orphan crisis. We began to relize that the children that we hold so dear to our hearts, Princess Sandi and Precious Prince Jackson, would be total outcasts. We were devestated at the fact that there were so many kids being mistreated and neglected because of their disablitly. That is when I knew God was calling the Byler Family to adopt a princess with special needs. Then in 2011 the Byler Family was once again changed as God showed us another princess in need of love. This little girl is being adopted through the Foster Care System we never thougt about the need for forever parents right here in our backyard. This liitle princess coming into our lives was never a coincidence. God had a plan. Now the Byler Family is waiting on God to move so that we can be obedient to all He has called us to, whatever or wherever He may lead.
These events are not at all coinciedence. God says,  "I know the plans I have for you” —this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
God know the plans HE has for us, and sometimes He know long before we do. God's word is the light to our path. He will show us the next step, but this picture took over 17 years to unfold. And it is not over yet. God is still moving and still working. Our steps are still ordered and we still want to follow in obedience. If we would all pause to look back at the road we have traveled, if we have traveled it with our Savior, He has used all things to work out His good. Not what what we see as good, but what He know is good for us. "All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. 
If you are His you are called!
If you are not His; why not?
He loves You.
Be HIS and follow His leading.
He will do gret things.


 






2 comments:

  1. Are you all adopting a little girl in the foster care system???? How exciting.

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  2. We are getting our ducks in a row and we be starting the process hopefully before the end of the year lord willing.

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