January 19, 2010-Random pictures & more

Elise at Christmas 2009

Graedy's picture of his Birthday pie from Grandma. He is now 12 years old, hard to believe
Dec 2009
Elijah before his Christmas program all dressed up. Dec 2009

Sneha in India Nov 2009.

Sneha in India Nov 2009.

Psalm 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

The four at home Jan 2010.

Well today is an exciting day in the life of the Arnold Family- Sneha is going this week alone to school. Yeah!!!!! I hope she adjusts well and learns a lot. Many changes in the last few months, probably more changes than she has had in her entire life. She is learning more signs and spoken words, although she doesn't say many. She seems to be understanding the routine of family life. We knew that she had special needs,but one never knows the extent. The very good thing is that her personality and attitude is generally happy. It makes all the difference when it comes to a new child in the house.

Today this afternoon we have the pre-op for the first of two ear surgeries. The surgeon will repair the perforation in one of her ears, hopefully restoring her hearing. It will such a shock for her to hear, so this possibly why they only do one at a time. When I was 19 I had a similar surgery for my left ear, but it did not restore the hearing, so I hope hers is not too late. It all depends on the inner ear bones and nerves if they have damage from continuous ear infections. To hear from only one ear throws off all sounds and their direction. Lip reading comes in very handy most of the time. Over time our bodies compensate for such a loss by rerouting the sound only to the ear that hears. A strange concept when sounds come from all around they sound like they just come from the right side. When I was 19 I never knew the plan that God had for me to eventually help a child adopted from India with hearing loss. The answer to my "Why" prayers came exactly 20 years later. Obviously our timing is not God's timing. God plans for our future and we plan for the now, not knowing the blessing in store from hardships in the past. God's way are not our ways and we need to have patience and trust our Father above.

Jeremiah 29:11For 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.