First off, this is Mindy writing. Lane has wanted me to contribute to the blog for quite some time, but I haven't quite been ready to jump on that blog bandwagon yet. I felt it was essential though, that I "blog" today, given everything that has happened recently with Lilly.

I cannot say thank you enough times for all the family, friends, churches, and even strangers that have participated in prayer for our little Lilly. I was overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of love and support that came through texts, phone calls, emails, facebook, etc. of everyone who was praying. THANK YOU.
I don't know how to properly express what I'm about to explain, because as "Christians" we all use that phrase "I'll be praying for you" and never actually do it -OR- do it, but don't think it's really going to do anything...at least that's been me most of my life. It hasn't been until recently that I've experienced and learned the importance, power and effect of prayer. After all, we are communicating with the Almighty God, Creator of the universe...who yes...is sovereign (Ps. 135:6; Eph.1:9-11; the list goes on..) yet has been known to change his mind (Ex. 32:9-14).

Monday night I sat in the ER with Lilly, after a long week of incessant coughing, no sleep at night, and her sounding worse and worse. She'd been vomiting most of the afternoon and into the evening and that wasn't stopping either. I knew her little body, after already being exhausted, couldn't take much more.
She continued to vomit up all kinds of nasty along with blood even as we sat in the ER waiting room. Her skin was so pale, and her eyes pink underneath, her cheeks spotted with broken blood vessels from all the coughing and all the puking. I've never seen her look worse. She couldn't walk, she was so weak. She just kept saying, "Mommy! Help!" It was one of the bleaker moments of my life...just feeling so helpless. I just kept asking God to help her, and feeling a little bit unsure if He was going to. The tug on my heart during these prayers was always, "I love her even more than you. Do you trust me?" I had to continually make that choice to trust Him.
Lilly got into a room and they hooked her up to some IV fluids, and after SO many nights of no sleep, SO many days of non-stop coughing, SO many hours of non-stop puking, she laid down and just...slept! And for the next 4 hours she just had...peace! I kept waiting for her to start coughing or puking, but she didn't. I had that time to think and pray and I knew people were praying, but it wasn't until later that night I realized HOW MANY PEOPLE were praying for her...so many people! I do not doubt that these hours of peace were the effect of so many of God's people asking for His intervention.
It was also during this time I had precious time to commune with my God. He gave me a great deal of peace, knowing that he loves her more than me. He reminded me that she belongs to Him. He reminded me that this is not the way he designed it to be...and her body will be made perfect one day.
I was also reminded of so many scriptures...some that I've been reading recently and others that I forgot I knew. I kept remembering that, when the storm hits, I have my home built on the strong foundation that is Jesus...but just because my house is built there, it DOESN'T EXEMPT ME FROM THE STORM.
I guess when (not IF, WHEN...)the storms hit, we need to ask ourselves, "Do I trust Him?" Even with our lack of understanding on why bad things happen, especially when it comes to our kids...Do you trust Him? It sounds like an easy Sunday School question, but it's one of the more difficult questions I've ever had to ask myself. I can lie and say "Yes, of course!" But God knows my heart...and the worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves. So do I trust him with everything? Do I know and understand that, no matter what is given to me or taken from me, that He is good? That He is enough? DO I TRUST HIM?

Lilly then ended up sleeping the entire night with no coughing and no more vomiting. It was the first night of sleep she's had in over a week. She woke up feeling refreshed, and her color began coming back. We went up to Grand Rapids today and her docs there, who've treated her since she was a baby, were able to answer more questions for me. She's on double antibiotics, several different breathing treatments, and a steroid to help her kick this double-whammy infection. She sees them again next week.
She's been coughing quite a bit today still, but for the most part is back to being agitated with Wills and up to her sassy ways. I think it's safe to say she's out of the woods for the most part...and I believe with all my heart that that is due to all of your incessant prayers to Jesus. Thank you for pestering Him with your prayers. I felt them and Lilly benefited from them. Continue to pray as she begins to recover.
Again I can't say Thank You enough. I pray that you will trust him with your circumstances as you walk through the storms of life, because He IS good and He IS enough.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble." Ps. 46:1.