It’s
not uncommon, I believe, for most of us to give the world our highlight
reels. There’s not necessarily anything wrong with that, I do it quite a
bit. I tend to have a Pollyanna personality and try to find something
to be glad about in the midst of life’s challenges.
Because of this highlight sharing, those who are not in our inner circle of friends and family will not comprehend the significance of what is so monumental in my life that it warrants a blog post.
The second to last week of school, Heidi put two words together all on her own. Those beautiful, precious words, “Be Kind.” You see, she’s not always very kind to her peers and the staff at school. And I’ve been singing to her a Be Kind song I learned at Vacation Bible School when I was probably eight, Heidi’s age right now.
| “Be Kind” |
Most of us hear our babies put two words together soon after a year old. But not Heidi. Her very first speech therapist told me she believes Heidi will speak one day. It was easy to believe when she was just two years old, still learning English. But two quickly slipped to three, four, five, six, seven years with very little speech progress.
Just before she started school two years ago we trialed an AAC (Alternative Communication Device). It’s a tablet with a talking app on it where you can program buttons (not too different from emojis) with words and pictures. With it she learned to request things like her favorite songs, a food item, or name her family members.
This past year she has been wanting to only communicate verbally at home. With one syllable of a word or piece of a word. For example: one breakfast she kept saying “pea” over and over. I knew she was requesting something but I didn’t know what it was. I gave her the Talker and she pressed peanut butter. She wanted peanut butter in her oatmeal.
Since then, the verbal communication seemed to pick up. And once she broke the two word barrier, more two word phrases kept coming. Big pool, safe mom (she does this with her safe hands motion they use at school- usually to tell me she’s either tempted or just did something she shouldn’t), be kind, stay home, pawpaw house. Then a confusing one I couldn’t figure out “daddy outside”. She kept pointing outside and saying that. But Trent wasn’t home so I knew I wasn’t understanding. Handed her the Talker, instantly she hit “Sunny”. She was commenting on the weather! I couldn’t believe it!
Then, just this week she said 3 words together, “Have Safe Mom”. Since school let out she has been extra sweet and precious to me. I like to believe that she was telling me that because she is safe with mom she can speak. You see, that’s the thing. There is no physical reason why she cannot speak. But speech is a higher brain function. And it could make sense that after almost seven years of adoption she has developed security and attachment and stability to overcome some of the fight or flight mentality that she was trapped in, especially during her early years with us.
Tonight in her bath while she dipped her head in the water and watched the sheet of water pour down, as clear as day she said “black hair”. Then in her room she was looking at the yearbook her teacher made for her and she found the page where she’s at the north museum. She attempted to say dinosaur and then roared and she laughed and laughed. Then she said Happy Heidi.
| Happy Heidi at the North Museum |
And I’ve not been so delighted over the simplicity of two words in a long long time. Because, while I may have not thought much about her lack of speech anymore, something happened 4 years ago. The year Hans was born I read through the New Testament 6 times. I read the miracles of Jesus over and over again and questioned whether I really believed them. When I reaffirmed that I believe, I felt compelled to pray for the miracle of Heidi to speak and sing in worship to him. And at the time I was confused. I had come to terms with Heidi not speaking. And if I was going to pray for a miracle I would have chosen for her to be intellectually capable. But that’s not what the Lord was asking of me.
She’s loving that Peach is shedding |
While three words together is still small, it’s rapid progress in 4 weeks. She’s not yet singing praises, but she will. When I first prayed about this, I thought the miracle would be instant. I had a couple people I knew to be filled with the spirit to pray over her, but without the instant speech I hoped for. But maybe that’s not the way God is choosing to unveil this miracle. Maybe, just maybe, we’re getting a front row seat to a beautiful unveiling of a God’s perfect timing miracle.
Please don’t misunderstand me, I know the many therapists and teachers who have worked with Heidi play a large part in this as well. However, if the Lord wanted her to remain silent, she would. She has much to say, and I’m excited to hear her comments. If you’ve seen her side eye you know she’s got something out of pocket she wants to tell the world and follow it up with her contagious laugh.
