Take Notice

Each stage in my life…I see things differently.

I remembered when I first got engaged. I was thrilled to wear my ring. I would stare at the sparkle from the diamond. Once I had that ring, I noticed everyone else’s ring. Lots of people were engaged or married! So many different styles of rings! Who knew?! I never noticed before.

Then when I was pregnant, I saw so many pregnant women. I am sure that there were pregnant women walking around all along but I never noticed until I was there too. It seemed like every where I went I would see a pregnant woman.

Brayden entered our lives. With his medical issues, developmental delays and such, it had added an entirely new vocabulary and interests to my world. I see KidKarts that I never would have noticed before; like when we were at a fair and a group of special needs children were being pushed around in their KidKarts. I read articles that I never would have glanced at before; like an article in the Washington Post one weekend about Epilepsy. I watch more Discovery Health shows; just watched one about a child with Cerebral Palsy. I started watching those Extreme Home Makeover shows when they have a child with a disability. I see ideas about how to make a home handicap accessible.

I have a child with disabilities, specials needs or whatever you would like to call it. I had no idea that so many families had children in similar circumstances. Sure I knew that those issues were out there but I had never taken the time to notice. Just in the short time that I have been blogging, I have come across some amazing families. Their stories so touching and helpful. I come across emails, blogs, twitters about families dealing with big medical problems. I don’t just glance anymore. I stop, really read about them, really pray for them and really take notice.

I have never noticed or taken the time to notice how our body is designed. Yes I had anatomy classes, thanks to Dr. Burkholder for that. There is so much happening. It is a grand design. A design that even the best of doctors do not fully comprehend. A design that we, when we are healthy, take for granted. Do you realize how complex the brain is? Do you have any idea how complicated walking is? Or eating? I certainly did not until Brayden came into my life.

I never really noticed how much the Lord has a grand design for our lives. Sure I knew it but never toke the time to think about it. He designed our bodies. These bodies that are so complicated, yet function in the most awesome way (even when things are not working properly). He designed our lives, where we live, who we are, who we know, our experiences, joys and heartaches…all designed in the most fabulous way.

God knows the grand design. He notices us. He knows us. We just need to stop and take notice of Him. We need to know Him.