Ben and I went for an initial session with a British speech therapist today. The center was in a really lovely, upscale area of the city. We walked in to the waiting room and were pleasantly surprised to find English magazines there. After reading Time for a few minutes, we met Cathy.
We spoke for about 45 minutes, filling her in on Andy (who was at home, hanging out with a few teammates who graciously watched him so we could be at this appointment). She asked about his birth, his early speech habits, etc.
Near the end, she confirmed that she would like to assess Andy and definitely felt that he could benefit from some treatment sessions with her. It was a bittersweet moment. Bitter because hearing that your child does in fact have a need for help is tough. I didn't cry, but my heart was sad. Had we done something wrong? Did we take too long to come here? However, it was sweet as well. Here is someone that can potentially really help Andy to communicate! And she speaks English as her first language.
Next Thursday, we'll take Andy in for his evaluation with Cathy. Please join us in prayer that Andy would be calm and comfortable with her (we won't be in the room). A crying Andy would be very hard to evaluate. Step by step, we're still learning how to parent, love, and care for Andy.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Return of the Gudes - airport photos
Andrea, Miriam, and Meggan
Manuel, Julie, and Chad
The youngest of the welcoming committee! (Later we entertained ourselves at the escalators.)
Génesis and Aarón hold the sign Meggan made for Niki
Here they come!!!
These are a few of "our kids." Life in ministry has its perks.
Meggan, Julie, Niki, and Chad
Ben, Ed, and Manuel
Angel opens a gift from the youth group (a poster of photos)
Friday, June 22, 2012
Baptisms
Tomorrow is a special day for our church - Baptism Sunday Saturday! Every year, the congregation heads up to a camp called Aguas Vivas (Living Waters) to have an outdoor baptism celebration. Last year, several members of the youth group were baptized, and this year there are several as well, though they are from our sister church (with which La Elipa just merged), so we don't know them too well yet.
Aguas Vivas is a special place for Ben and me because during our vision trip to Spain in 2008, we were counselors for the annual week-long kids' camp there. It was by far the best week of that summer. It is incredible to me when I think about Ben not speaking any Spanish, and how much he still engaged with the kids that week. Baptisms are also really special to Ben and me. We usually attended the baptism services at Blackhawk (our church while in college and raising support), even if we didn't know anyone. It's a really moving experience to listen as people publicly devote their lives to Christ. I always get teary, in a good way.
Ben went up to Aguas Vivas today to help set up the portable pool for the event. I will follow tomorrow with Andy. I'm so happy that our teammates/bosses/friends the Gudemans are back from a year in the US. I get to ride to the camp with Sheryl. It will be great to get out of the city, have a picnic, enjoy the scenery, and be a witness to lives being dedicated to the Lord. The Lord is at work in Spain, completely apart from the small part that we are playing here.
Aguas Vivas is a special place for Ben and me because during our vision trip to Spain in 2008, we were counselors for the annual week-long kids' camp there. It was by far the best week of that summer. It is incredible to me when I think about Ben not speaking any Spanish, and how much he still engaged with the kids that week. Baptisms are also really special to Ben and me. We usually attended the baptism services at Blackhawk (our church while in college and raising support), even if we didn't know anyone. It's a really moving experience to listen as people publicly devote their lives to Christ. I always get teary, in a good way.
Ben went up to Aguas Vivas today to help set up the portable pool for the event. I will follow tomorrow with Andy. I'm so happy that our teammates/bosses/friends the Gudemans are back from a year in the US. I get to ride to the camp with Sheryl. It will be great to get out of the city, have a picnic, enjoy the scenery, and be a witness to lives being dedicated to the Lord. The Lord is at work in Spain, completely apart from the small part that we are playing here.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
He's Never Failed Me Yet
It's been a rough few weeks in Madrid.
About two weeks ago, I really hurt my back. Sort of a long story. Short version: I'm on a quest to be a healthier, more active person. After about 2 months of diet and exercise, I decided to kick it up a notch and went too far. I sneezed while changing the sheets on the bed and suddenly fell to my knees in pain. For the next 72 hours, I could barely walk, went to have 2 massages, and made a new best friend (the ice pack). Thankfully, I am about 95% back (ha!) to normal.
On Monday, it was Ben's day off. We decided to go to a park in the afternoon. On the way there, our car failed (again!) on an off-ramp. Praise the Lord, we were in an okay position to set out the orange triangles and wait a few minutes before starting the car again (Safety precautions in Spain are actually very...well...safe. You even have to wear a reflective vest before setting out the triangles). Called our car dealer (again!) to report the accident. On the way home, our car failed while we were accelerating in the midst of a highway transfer. Very scary, unlike any of the other times our car has done this. Again, praise the Lord we were okay, but this car thing... Yikes. Needless to say, we are having conversations of a different nature with our car dealer.
We've been taking care of a team member's car in their absence. For their return, we took the car to be washed and vacuumed. When we came back to pick it up, the person working on it had broken off the interior rearview mirror by accident. He assured us that it was fixable. Nope. Went on a wild-goose chase to buy a new one, but we did find one.
Andy's been tough lately, really testing the boundaries with us, not wanting to nap or sleep at night. He's also moved from slapping me to punching me when he's having a tantrum and can't express what he's feeling (P.S. We have our first appointment with a British speech therapist next week). I'm trying to convince Ben to get some contacts so that his glasses don't get destroyed by Andy during a tantrum. I've been wearing contacts exclusively lately because of this pattern. Last night, Andy started crying really loudly (every parent's nightmare when you live in an apartment). I jumped out of bed and flipped on the light to the bathroom in the hallway...
And KNOCKED the power out in the entire apartment. Tried the breakers. Nada. So, we called an emergency-after-hours electrician, this really nice Bulgarian guy who spoke rather broken Spanish. A few hours (and many many euros) later, we had power again (meaning all the food I'd bought for our friends returning to Spain TODAY didn't spoil). And it looks like our insurance will cover this.
So, I'm thinking of all these incidents while washing the dishes. Part of me just wanted to sit down and cry and say "Okay, Spain, you've won! What else do you want from me?" But, immediately, I felt the Lord reminding me that He was there in every circumstance, providing and protecting us.
So, glory to God, He is here with us! To Him be the glory in EVERY circumstance. Help me, Lord, to fix my eyes on You and praise you in everything.
About two weeks ago, I really hurt my back. Sort of a long story. Short version: I'm on a quest to be a healthier, more active person. After about 2 months of diet and exercise, I decided to kick it up a notch and went too far. I sneezed while changing the sheets on the bed and suddenly fell to my knees in pain. For the next 72 hours, I could barely walk, went to have 2 massages, and made a new best friend (the ice pack). Thankfully, I am about 95% back (ha!) to normal.
On Monday, it was Ben's day off. We decided to go to a park in the afternoon. On the way there, our car failed (again!) on an off-ramp. Praise the Lord, we were in an okay position to set out the orange triangles and wait a few minutes before starting the car again (Safety precautions in Spain are actually very...well...safe. You even have to wear a reflective vest before setting out the triangles). Called our car dealer (again!) to report the accident. On the way home, our car failed while we were accelerating in the midst of a highway transfer. Very scary, unlike any of the other times our car has done this. Again, praise the Lord we were okay, but this car thing... Yikes. Needless to say, we are having conversations of a different nature with our car dealer.
We've been taking care of a team member's car in their absence. For their return, we took the car to be washed and vacuumed. When we came back to pick it up, the person working on it had broken off the interior rearview mirror by accident. He assured us that it was fixable. Nope. Went on a wild-goose chase to buy a new one, but we did find one.
Andy's been tough lately, really testing the boundaries with us, not wanting to nap or sleep at night. He's also moved from slapping me to punching me when he's having a tantrum and can't express what he's feeling (P.S. We have our first appointment with a British speech therapist next week). I'm trying to convince Ben to get some contacts so that his glasses don't get destroyed by Andy during a tantrum. I've been wearing contacts exclusively lately because of this pattern. Last night, Andy started crying really loudly (every parent's nightmare when you live in an apartment). I jumped out of bed and flipped on the light to the bathroom in the hallway...
And KNOCKED the power out in the entire apartment. Tried the breakers. Nada. So, we called an emergency-after-hours electrician, this really nice Bulgarian guy who spoke rather broken Spanish. A few hours (and many many euros) later, we had power again (meaning all the food I'd bought for our friends returning to Spain TODAY didn't spoil). And it looks like our insurance will cover this.
So, I'm thinking of all these incidents while washing the dishes. Part of me just wanted to sit down and cry and say "Okay, Spain, you've won! What else do you want from me?" But, immediately, I felt the Lord reminding me that He was there in every circumstance, providing and protecting us.
So, glory to God, He is here with us! To Him be the glory in EVERY circumstance. Help me, Lord, to fix my eyes on You and praise you in everything.
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