Answered Prayers!

Wow! God is SO good!!

Christian starts the 1st Grade tomorrow and he is starting at a new school this year. We've been praying all Summer that when he started school, we'd meet with Christian's IEP (individual education plan) team to see about altering his plan so that he is in a regular classroom more. Right now his IEP is written so that he is in a regular class half of his day, and the other half of his day he goes to special education.

Just this morning a co-worker was asking about Christian and I shared our hopes for Christian with her. We went into our staff meeting, and during our staff meeting I was praying for this change to happen. An hour later,  Christian's Special Ed teacher called me to touch base with me before school starts tomorrow. As we were talking, I shared with her that we really would like to push for Christian is be in the regular class as much as possible by mid-school year. She was so excited to hear this because she is an aid (that specializes in Autism) in the classroom next to the one Christian was going to be in, and said that if we wanted him in the regular class all day, they could switch his teachers, and she would be his aid all day in the other class instead of pulling him out for half days!!
This is so exciting for us! So he won't miss any of the academics the other kids are doing or be flip-flopping between 2 classrooms everyday! I'm so excited about this and am so thankful that God totally provided this for us. Christian has come such a long way and I know that it's all because of the guidance from God. HE has brought Christian such a long way, we were just the vessels to accomplish it for Him. :)

Having trust and faith in the Lord and what he is doing in our lives is something that the Lord is really putting on my heart lately. I shared this during staff meeting last week at work, but wanted to share it with others, so here ya go:

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.- Hebrews 1:11

There are great examples of ordinary people acting in total faith and trust in our Lord and as we look in scripture, and many examples of people taking a step of faith and trusting God in situations to which they will not know what the outcome will be or even the implications for stepping out in faith. The example that keeps coming up for me over and over again lately is Matthew 14:23-33:

After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning. Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here! Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water. “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong[c] wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted .Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

Two weeks ago during JAM, we had the discussion with our kiddos about stepping out of the boat and going in water if God is calling you. Most of the kids analyzed the logistics and logic of stepping in the water and decided that they just didn’t know if they would be too paralyzed by the fear of drowning to step out in faith and obedience. One girl said that she would wear a life jacket so that she knew that there would be no way she could drown, but she could still be obedient in acting in what God was calling her to do. Which is interesting logic, but is this truly trusting God? And as adults in our daily walks with God, do we analyze the implications for us first before we just trust God in where he is calling us? Peter knew logically he would drown, but he stepped in total faith and trust.

Max Lucado says “we need to remember that the disciples were common men given a compelling task. Before they were stained-glassed saints in the windows of cathedrals, they were somebody’s next-door-neighbors trying to make a living and raise a family. They weren’t cut from theological cloth or raised on supernatural milk. But they were an ounce more devoted than they were afraid, and as a result, did some extraordinary things.”

It’s not that the many greats that we see in the Bible didn’t have fears, it’s that they had more faith than they had fear. You don’t need to understand why God is asking you to do something or every detail on how you can accomplish the task being presented to you. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. We’re told in Joshua 1:9 “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” And we know that if our God is for us, then who could stand against us?

I just want to encourage you to trust in God and what he is doing in your life. He has your life in His hands, we just need to trust Him!! :) He is stirring up so many things in our hearts and lives and I can't wait to see what else he is doing!!

Love you Forever

The boys and I have a favorite book called Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. The theme of the story is a mother that watches her sweet little boy grow up, and always sings the song 'I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.' It's become our little thing to always tell each 'I love you forever!' Yesterday I was walking with Daniel, and I was carrying him. I told him that I loved him forever, he replied with, 'No, I love YOU forever!'. It then really hit him what that really could mean.

Forever is forever. Never ending. All eternity. The only way to live for all eternity is to accept and know Jesus Christ as your savior. This overwhelming feeling came over me to think of these implications. I know that Craig and I have accepted Christ, and that we will indeed get to live in heaven for all eternity, and now we have this absolutely responsibility to raise our children in Christ and in a Godly fashion. So when I tell my babies that I love them forever, I truly will in fact get to love them forever. And they are not my babies as long as I'm living, but in fact my babies forever.

I was overwhelmed with feelings of happiness of knowing that I get forever with my husband and children, but also burdened thinking about those that don't have this certainty. I couldn't imagine living my life not knowing what would happen when we passed from this life or not knowing what would happen to my children. This is a matter of life and death.

Hebrews 9:26-28 says If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

Ephesians 2:8-10 says For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ------ We can't claim that we will get to go to heaven because we are "good people", it doesn't work that way. Romans 3:23 says that for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We need a savior. None of us are good enough to get into heaven on our own merits, we need the grace and salvation from Christ.

John 5:24 says "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my work and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." ----- If we don't accept Jesus Christ as the son of God, sent to save us from our sins, we are destined for death for all eternity. But we get life by accepting him.

This is a matter for life and death, forever. Once we're gone, there is no changing our decision to then accept Christ. We have to make this decision while we are living. I truly urge you, if you don't know where you will live forever after you pass from this earthly life, you need to seek out the truth now. No one is guaranteed tomorrow, so don't wait. Call me, email me, seek out a trusted friend, read the book of John in the Bible, to start (if you don't have a bible, you can find this online) do something, anything to know 100% what will happen to you when you die.

I can't imagine not living with Christ in my life. It's this relationship that is above all relationships, it's a deeper love than any human person can give you. It's hope, love, joy, peace, comfort like you'll never experience anywhere else. Don't wait and don't live life in anxiety, uncertainty, insecurity, helpless. There is hope. There is life, forever. Seek answers please. Your life depends on it.

I'm not Sorry

Yesterday I was waiting in the eye doctor's office and there was an older couple sitting across the room, waiting also. It was such a warm day, and being the Californian that I am, I HAD to wear my sandals ;)

The wife said quietly (but I could still hear her talking) to her husband, do you see the puzzle piece tattoo on her foot? He kinda just nodded and said "Hmmmm....". A few minutes later, he asked me what the story was behind my tattoo. I told him that puzzle pieces are the national symbol for Autism and that both my children are on the Autism Spectrum. He sorrowfully said, "Oh, I'm so sorry." I quickly replied with a, "I'm not sorry." I went on to explain how wonderfully blessed we are to have such special, unique little boys. That I get to experience things and see things that other parents don't get to. I said that it we are so blessed and thankful for our boys and God didn't make any mistakes.

I light up when I talk or think about my boys. A joy comes over my heart that I can't express and immediately results in a smile, so I'm pretty sure that I didn't come off as upset or angry as I explained how grateful I am for my sweet little guys. But it's true: I'm not sorry for any of their circumstances. They are 100% perfectly created. PERIOD. There is nothing to be sorry about. We absolutely have our struggles and challenges; but that has only made us stronger as individuals, parents and a family. And let's face it, what parent doesn't face a struggle with any child, special needs or not?

I got to tell this couple that I am so happy that I have kids with Autism. They challenge me to view things in a way that I never have before. I also got the wonderful privilege of telling them a little bit more about Autism, because they admitted they knew very little about it. Getting to spread Autism awareness is such a big deal for me, and I was so happy that 2 more people knew just a little bit more about it thanks to Christian and Daniel. :) And come to find out, they asked about the puzzle piece, just because they both really loved puzzles, so they thought it was interesting that I had puzzle pieces tattooed on my foot. :)

Psalm 139:13-14- For you formed my inward parts;You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous works are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

I love you boys more than I could ever put into words. I love every quirk, every challenge, every victory, everything. YOU ARE wonderfully made. :)

Being an Active Parent

Being an active parent has really been on my heart lately. I don't mean the active like run all around the yard with the kids (although I do enjoy doing that!!) but active as in making diligent choices that cater to their hearts, minds, spirits. I've always tried my very best 'be a good mom' and such, but everyone hits seasons where we are busy, tired, etc. and it's easier to let the little things slide by, or we realize there is more we can be doing to cater to our children's needs. I've realized lately that while I may have been doing my best before, there is so much I could have been doing. Or I was being and active parent on an on again/off again basis, but I don't want to be hot and cold for my kids. I want to always be an active parent. So what do I mean by that?

-Discipline: This is a huge issue on my heart. It is so much easier to quickly address the situation and tell the kids to stop the bad behavior and walk away or set them in time out. But this teaches them nothing. What a huge teaching opportunity that is being tossed away! But to sit down and talk with them about the actions, how it affects the other person, how it makes God feel, and how it makes Mom and Dad feel to see them act like that opens up conversation with them. Then asking them to pray for forgiveness for their actions and for the anger they are holding in their hearts is teaching them to pray throughout the day, not just at night as so many children do. This also gives us the opportunity to talk to our children about sin and the forgiveness we receive from our sins, how and why we get forgiveness.

-Taking that time to be on the floor playing with them. This is a hard one for me. All they enjoy doing is playing trains, and frankly, there is only so many times I can push Thomas or Gordon or Percy or whoever around the track before I'm bored out of mind. But that's not the point. Those are precious moments to spend with them. It's about building a relationship, trust, love, friendship. It's not about the fact that pushing a train on the train is silly to me, it's the fact that I'll never get today back, and my sweet child WANTS their mommy to play with them. How does it make them feel when I say, 'not right now' and go off to do something that in all reality, can wait (like the laundry or dishes).

-Setting the best example possible for the boys: Last week Craig was reading his Resolution for Men book and read a passage of it from it and it really caught my heart, so I'll share it:

God's word must "be on your heart." Children who forsake the faith are usually those who did not see God actively working in their parents' lives. But they develop an appetite for God when they see their dad and mom truly loving Him and walking with Him, when they see the blessings and rewards of your obedience firsthand. Whether itj's delighting in His creation, enthusiastically telling them stories from His word, or celebrating His goodness in ordinary conversation, you should delight in the Lord around your kids. You can't inspire them with truths you're not living yourself. So when God answers prayers, tell your kids about it. When He changes your heart or you overcome temptation, celebrate it with them. When you face a season of suffering or persecution, let them see the strength of your faith. Point out how He works. One clearly answered prayer can powerfully instill faith toward God in the heart of your child. One humbly confessed mistake can help them see the everyday reality of God's redemption. Every day gives you fresh material for making your life with Christ a front-row experience for the whole family.
I just found this to be such a great paragraph. We thought back over it and we could see direct examples of how this it so true. Making these choices every day is being an active parent.

I can only pray that doing each of these thing for Christian and Daniel are going to help raise them to be strong, courageous men of Christ, but in the last couple of weeks that I've made the decision to be more intentional in my parenting, I've found that I've been incredibly blessed by it. :)

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and whenyou walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

For I know the plans I have for you......

"For I know the plan I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:11-12

This has been my favorite verse since Christian was diagnosed with Autism. It's been the verse that I have clung to with my whole heart, keeping it as a reminder that there was a reason for the heartache we were facing at the time and what we would face in the future for him, and then again with Daniel, when he was diagnosed.

When we face trials and challenges, it is so hard to comprehend or understand why we are. In our hurts, it is so difficult to consciously decide that this must be for our good or part of a bigger plan.

I know I didn't take it lightly or easily with all the trials we've faced with our boys. I was hurt, angry, couldn't understand why. I was devastated. It took months for me to look at our situation with a heart that was going to trust the Lord and trust this wasn't a plan to destroy us, this would be a plan to give us our future.

At the time Christian was formally diagnosed (which was 2 years ago last Wednesday), we were told that he needed ABA therapy. He would need it 15-20 hours a week, and insurance didn't cover ABA therapy at this time (it wouldn't be until a year later that a bill is passed in Missouri that would require insurance to cover this critical therapy for children with Autism). The cost of therapy was equal to our house payment. We had to choose: Christian's therapy or our home. After much prayer and thought, we made the decision for Christian. It was our conclusion that we could always buy another house later down the road, but we couldn't go back in a couple of years and decide to get Christian's therapy (early intervention with Autism is critical).

Now two year's later and we feel like the Lord is showing us the prosperous plan He has for us......

We've been having testing done on Christian is see where he is in his Autism diagnosis and see what more we can do for him with therapies. After several testing appointments, we went in this morning to see what all the results are. Christian does still qualify to have an Autism diagnosis, however, he had the very bare minimum score on every test. Had he received 1 point less on each category, he technically wouldn't be considered on the spectrum any longer. This is huge in showing his progress over the last two years!! This psychiatrist informed me Christian is doing fantastic and there really is nothing more we can be doing to help him along at this point, we just need to keep on moving forward and challenging him. He was very impressed with Christian and said that he wouldn't be developmentally where he is right now if we hadn't made sure he had ABA therapy and hadn't got him the help he needed. A clear result showing we made the right decision to do everything we could to get him the therapy he needed.

We are also so excited to share that now we are getting the joy in that we are getting to purchase a home again. We are thrilled that we will get to start off the new year in a new home. The Lord is so good to us.

Finally, in the two years, we came to have a deep love and passion for running and combining it with Autism awareness. We have something that is a part of us that we never would have if our boys weren't diagnosed. We have such a compassion and heart for children with special needs and making sure that others are aware of how they can best help them and understanding their conditions better. All of this is something we were completely blind two prior to our boys.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, " plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

I've held that dear for 2 years, trusting that there would come a time that we could look back and see how our kids being diagnosed with Autism would prosper us; a time when we could see how it was a good thing. Every day, I'm getting to see more and more what a beautiful plan He has for all four of us. How everything we've gone through has been a plan for hope. He is so faithful in His promises. They may not come in days or months, it might take years, but He is faithful in His promises that He keeps us and has a plan for something beautiful in our lives. Trust in Him with whatever trial you are facing, He will be faithful in His promises and he hears your prayers.

Chaos, Changes and Victories

It's been a chaotic last couple of months. Between caring for 4 children, new diagnoses, schooling challenges for Christian, me starting back at college, running 2 full marathons, and what seems like a chronic plague of illnesses (the boys currently have the chicken pox, I've had a migraine for nearly a month and I'm having my 2nd bout of stomach flu in only 2 weeks. Not a diet I recommend!!) it's been a chaotic last 3 months. But we've gotten through it and lots of changes are coming in the Siebert household.

First off, we've had a huge victory for Christian. Today, he had his IEP meeting to determine if the school is going to change his IEP from what they purposed in March. In March, they wanted him in special education and only in a traditional class for p.e., art and recess. We made the decision to homeschool him as this plan was unacceptable to us. He was on a service plan with the school to still receive speech therapy. That teacher saw how Christian worked and saw his IEP and knew it was so unacceptable and knew it wasn't a good plan for him. She advocated for us and got the school to re-evaluate the plan. They made the decision that he is going to be in a traditional kindergarten class for the morning session, then in the afternoons, he'll be in an advanced learning class for children that also have social behavior concerns. He'll be getting to do advanced reading and learning programs while working on his social delays. This is such a huge answer to prayers for our little boy. He will be starting school the Monday after Thanksgiving. He is so excited, except he is asking to be in 2nd grade. Slow it down, my little man!!!

Next we have Leaffa and William. It looks like they will be going home in about 3 weeks from now. They will be going to go live with William's grandma and grandpa. We'll be very sad to see them go, but they really need to be with their family and they'll be getting to live with their siblings. Leaffa is ecstatic to be going home, but I know it's going to break Christian's heart to lose his best friend. They've been attached at the hip since Leaffa moved in. I'm telling ya, Leaffa has been the best speech therapist for Christian. Don't pay for a speech therapist, give a boy a 6 year old girl that never stops talking!! She's really made such an impact on our lives. We've watch Will grow and develop this sweet, red-headed little personality. It's going to be rough on us.

Marathons!! Wow, am I glad those are done!! I ran 26.2 miles, two times in two weeks. I figured out in all my obsessive thoughts of my craziness of doing this, that I was going to be running 26 miles for the first time at 26 years old, 2 times. That's 26.2 at a whole new level!!! I said I would never do it again, but I'm already having second thoughts about that. ;) I have marathon fever.

Craig will be starting a new job the Monday after Thanksgiving! Another answer to prayer!!! He wasn't looking for a new job, but heard of this opening at a company. This job is more of what he loves about his current job. He can not wait to start his new job. It's going to require a lot more traveling, but we are very excited for this change to come about for him. He works so hard and deserves to have this new career. (I love you, honey! And I'm very proud of you!!)

For my little Daniel- We could still really use a lot of prayer for him. He is having 2 different bladder problems. One is currently being treated with medication until January. If the issue isn't resolved by then, surgery may be the next option. The 2nd condition we have to pray he outgrows by age 4. If he doesn't, there's a chance we won't ever outgrow it. If that condition starts resulting in UTI's, then it's likely that he'll need his left kidney replaced as an adult. Please just keep it in your prayers that it resolves itself.

We know God is so faithful in answering our prayers, in His own time. Thank you for all the prayers we get for our family and for the boys.

Psalm 119:105-106 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. (This is Christian's favorite verse right now)

A New Journey

Last night I laid in bed with way too much to think about. I know that new diagnosises don't change anything in the house, but it changes how we see what is going on, and know that we have work to do to help the boys to reach their full potential. We've been through so much with Christian in the last 3 years, and thought we really knew a lot. But God clearly wants us to learn a whole lot more. Daniel's conditions are nothing like Christian's, so this will in fact be a whole new journey for us.

So back to last night..... I came home from class and Daniel woke up as soon as I walked in the door. He was hysterical for no reason we could find. I took him into our bed and let him lay down with us. That calmed him down. I just couldn't sleep, thinking about everything that will be upcoming for us. I decided to lay there and hold him and just pray over him. It provided such comfort to me as I had my baby boy in my arms, just talking to God about what has been handed to us.

Several verses came to mind as I laid there, and a calm came over me as I thought about both my boys.

Psalm 139:13-14- For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

This really just calmed me. My boys were fearfully and wonderfully made. No matter what label is decided to be placed on them or what new diagnosis the doctors want to give them. They are wonderfully made. They are exactly the way God created them for us. All their days were written in HIS book before one of them came to be. God doesn't make mistakes, and I'd far more trust His plan before trusting my own, so I need to trust the days that He ordained for the boys.

Jeremiah 29:11- "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

This is a verse that I read a lot and really encourages me. He knows the plans he has for the boys and for us as parents. It's not to bring us down. Not to destroy us. But to give us hope. To give us a future.

How can I argue with what has been handed to us when I hear just these 2 verses? I look back and think over my life, and think about every time I was in a painful or difficult situation. It hurt at the time and I didn't understand it. It seemed like the worse thing. Then many weeks, months, or years later, I'd see how that situation shaped me or shaped the path that I was on and how it was necessary. I have to look at this in the same light. Of course I hurt right now for my boys and am concerned for them, but I have to be sure that God has a perfect plan for them and for us, and there is a reason for it all.

Please pray for Christian as he'll be going to a new psychologist to do further testing on him to see where he is in his Autism diagnosis. We are also having questions raised within the school district on Christian, and people hearing what the elementary school's decision was on placement for him, and they don't see it has acceptable. They are wanting to be advocates for us to get Christian where he needs to be in school, but we don't know how we feel about it. Just pray that we are led to what is best for Christian for schooling. Christian also started a new therapy on Wednesday, it's a social skills group therapy. Please pray this is beneficial for him.

Please pray for Daniel as we are starting fresh with a new diagnosis for him. Pray that we find the right behavioral therapist for him and that it is beneficial for him. He'll also be starting speech therapy in the weeks to come. Pray that God gives Craig and me strength and wisdom as we try to sort everything out for the boys and help Daniel as he starts this new journey.

Thank you so much for the prayers and support. We appreciate all the support we receive from our family and friends!!