During the school year I like to slip special little notes in my kids’ lunches just to let them know that I’m thinking about them and to hopefully brighten their day while they’re away from me at school. I don’t include a note every day, as that would diminish the value of them. Nor do I leave notes to prove myself to them or to win their love. It’s a simple gesture of my love, expecting nothing in return.
In much the same way God has been putting little love notes in my “lunch”. Today I got quite a few of them on the way to and especially during Nora’s appointment today.
As long as I can remember I’ve assimilated the sight of three birds with the Holy Trinity. I can’t quite remember how or why that came to be – it just IS. During that seemingly eternal weekend that we were awaiting the amniocentesis results I was listening closely to the words of the “Don’t Worry… About a Thing” Bob Marley song that I had looped on my computer,
“Rise up this mornin’, Smiled with the risin’ sun, Three little birds Pitch by my doorstep Singin’ sweet songs Of melodies pure and true, Sayin’, (“This is my message to you-ou-ou:”)
Singin’: “Don’t worry ’bout a thing, ‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.” Singin’: “Don’t worry (don’t worry) ’bout a thing, ‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right!”
Three little birds? Did I hear that correctly?? And they’re singing songs of melodies pure and true with a message to me telling me not to worry and that every little thing is going to be all right?? um… WOW, as chills run down my spine!!!!!!! I’d heard the song at least a hundred times plus, but never really bothered to listen to any part of the lyrics past, “Don’t worry about a thing, every little thing’s gonna be all right.” I put the song on my computer to loop over and over again because of that line in the lyrics and to hopefully talk myself down “off the ledge”. It was then that I discovered the rest of the lyrics. That particular “note in my lunch” from God was really pretty powerful then and still is.
When they brought us back to the room today where Nora’s swallow study would take place my eyes were immediately drawn to the walls. A big lump formed in my throat and tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at the sequence of THREE LITTLE BIRDS (doves, at that!!!!) on the wallpaper border that encircled the room. I had to count them again… Sure enough, one, two, three, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit surrounding me and William, surrounding our precious daughter with their message, “DON’T WORRY, ABOUT A THING. EVERY LITTLE THING IS GONNA BE ALL RIGHT!!!!!!!!” Nora passed with flying colors! There was no aspiration seen as she delightfully (well, ALMOST delightfully) drank her bottle of barium. I couldn’t have asked for her to have been more cooperative. I give thanks and praise to that part of answered prayer! Still no idea as to what is causing the signs of chronic lung disease that were noted in last week’s X-ray. Until we find that out, I trust that every little thing is going to be all right. I’ll try not to worry about a thing.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (Philippians 4:6 NLT)
iwillcarryyou 
She is so adorable in her little bear pillow and that last pic and her sly little grin!!! So glad that you were able to feel our heavenly father wirh you today! & I pray her little lungs just heal themselves!!
This baby, your words, and God’s faithfulness in letting you know He is with you each step of the way continually fill me with joy 🙂 Gosh she is precious.
Thanks for posting Nora’s results…I had to check before going to sleep. Thoughts and Prayers are continuously going out to your beautiful family.
I AM SOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!! I PRAYED ABOUT HER DOCTOR APPT., AND THEN THANKED GOD THAT ” EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT”. WHEN I READ YOUR BLOG ABOUT THAT SONG, IT MADE ME THINK OF HOW I PRAYED AND THEN I KNEW THAT GOD WAS REASSURING ME THAT HE HEARS MY EVERY PRAYER. GOD WORKS IN SUCH MYSTERIOUS WAYS, AND EVERY DAY I BELIEVE THAT THROUGH YOUR BLOG YOU HELP SOMEONE. I FEEL AS THOUGH NORA AND YOURSELF ARE MESSENGERS FOR GOD. GOD HAS SUCH BIG PLANS FOR LITTLE NORA ROSE. SHE IS SUCH A BLESSING TO SO MANY PEOPLE. (YOUR WHOLE FAMILY HAS BROUGHT SO MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER) I PRAY THAT THEY FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING HER PROBLEM, AND THAT THE DOCTORS (WITH GOD’S HELP) CAN GET EVERYTHING FIXED. I LOVE THE PICTURES YOU POSTED. TODAY. NORA IS A BEAUTIFUL BABY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US ALL KNOW THE RESULTS OF TODAY’S VISIT. MANY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. “THANK YOU LORD”. HOPE YOUR FAMILY GETS SOME GOOD REST. LOVE AND PRAYERS. GOD BLESS.
So thankful that Nora passed the study with flying colors! God is amazing!!!!
Great news on the swallow eval! Take care!
She’s soo cute!!! Glad to hear the awesome news 🙂
First of all, happy belated birthday Aleisa!!
I read Nora’s blog every morning but didn’t have time to write.
I emailed a friend of mine who is a pediatric radiologist at Miami Children’s Hospital asking him to read the post you wrote about Nora’s possible aspiration problems ( adding how cuuuuute she is, hehe) and he replied me that your doctors were doing the right thing. I’ve praying for little Ms N and I’m happy that the swallow study results were so great. You made my day!!.
Love the outfits you have bought for her and how chubby she’s !.
Give the little muffin a big kiss from her Spanish friend 🙂
I wanted to let you know that I have been reading your blog for quite some time time. I went to Mount St. Joseph’s with Nick Corey, and he began posting info about you and requesting prayers via Facebook. Each day I eagerly log in and begin to pray and I am always amazed at your sweet Nora’s courage and of course cuteness. I have one daughter, she is 2 1/2, and I could’ve lost her. I went into labor at 19 weeks and was put in strict bedrest, being already dialated 2cm. I am telling you this bc today, your post took my breath away with your mention of Bob Marley’s, “Three Little Birds”, and I have continued to share tears of joy for you. Those words adorn the wall above my daughter’s crib. You see, for some unknown reason, I sang this song over and over to myself, while I laid in bed praying I would get through each week, so my baby would have a better chance of survival. And by the grace of God, she was only 5 weeks early, and the first lullaby I sang to her, and continue to today is “Three Little Birds”. I have always listened intently to th email part of the verse, but never put thought into the three little birds. So after I read your post, I went end to look at my sweet blessing, sleeping, and read the words one again, and took special care in looking at the three sweet little birds painted atop these words, and breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that each night as I lay her down, the meaning of those words are strengthened in my heart and soul, and God will always protect her. Thank you for that, and of course Nora, who again, has taught another to never lose faith. What a true blessing she is to you and your family, and to all of creation. Thank you, for your faith, live and courage.
Praise be to God for wonderful results on her swallow test. She looks so peaceful as the Lord watches over her and her family. Love your blog on how God showed and spoke to you of His love through song and birds. Beautiful….jackie
It’s amazing how, if we will only open our eyes and our ears and our hearts, we will be blessed with God’s little love notes! I had several experiences like this when we were losing my dad to cancer several years ago, and I can still remember vividly the peace I felt when God surrounded me with signs of His love and care. Thanks for sharing, and so happy for Nora’s positive results!
Praise God! I’m so happy to read this answer to everyone’s prayers. What a blessing to see that sign from Him in the room before her test. He does have a funny sense of humor, no? 🙂
So happy to hear of no aspiration- now, on to the next mountain to move- praying for her lungs!
Oh my, how AWESOME! Lil miss is looking great in the new pics too 🙂
I thought of you all the other day as I was listening to the radio and they quoted an interview of 50 Cent with Oprah. He said either pray or worry, don’t do both (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oACvab6WT0&feature=youtube_gdata_player).
Good Morning Nora.. have a great day today, you always make me smile when I see how well you are doing
Good morning sweet Nora 🙂 I was thinking about you yesterday 🙂 Stopping by to say hi and see how you are doing 🙂
That Nora is the yummiest baby ever! I love that 3rd photo. She always looks so content. Reading about the bond you’ve formed with Nora Rose just makes me realize how much I LOVE my Lord! I’m just tickled that He’s allowed Baby Girl to grow and thrive in your care! And, I am sending up Praises today for NO aspiration! Nora, you are such a good baby! Drinking that yucky barium like a pro. Bleek!
Okay, so now it’s time to focus on specific Prayers for clear lungs in your next xray! I Believe, yep, I do! Oh, and I’ll never look at 3 birds the same way again. Don’t you delight in those God Winks, like the border in the xray room? Oh, how He loves You and Me…
xxoo ~ Jo
OMGsh, sometimes, I cant even believe what I am reading! Ive often asked for blatant messages when going thru hard times. Mine seem to be God’s promise, the RAINBOW. I LOVED todays blog, YOU are helping ME, who has very little faith. Im not proud of that fact, it just is & Im working hard to change that fact. Your family & little Nora’s story nudge me closer & closer. Thank you for sharing. Praying for Nora as always. HUGS from GA
Amy
Hello! I have been following your journey since Day 1 and I am always constantly in awe of your bravery, vulnerability, and honesty when it comes to your faith, and your devotion to Nora. I have been struggling for years with a few things myself, namely lack of faith and a very very complicated relationship with a higher power. My husband and I have been through many struggles and our son, who was a little miracle in his own right, is now struggling with autism and all that comes with it. It’s been a crazy 4 years and a few weeks ago, it had gotten much worse. I actually have been reading your words and thinking if you can do it, so can I. So when I read your 3 Little Birds post, I almost fell over. And here is why:
I received very bad news regarding a lengthy issue my husband and I had been dealing with. I had been up all night with a vomiting son. I went to the grocery store and was in shock. You Are So Beautiful came on. It’s been my grandparents song for me my whole life, especially my grandpa, who is gone now. I cried in the pedialyte aisle, but I immediately felt so peaceful and loved, and I haven’t had that kind of spiritual feeling in a long, long, long time. That Monday, I was on the train, still feeling kind of protected and peaceful, and I looked out the train window before we got going, and on the fence right outside stood 3 Little Birds, just hanging out, looking at me. I smiled. Every time my heart rate speeds up a bit, I can hear Bob Marley in the back of my mind singing, and I feel better. Monday afternoon I sat at Sears Tower and kept hearing this whistling that was beautiful, and I looked up in a tree, and there was this dainty bird with a reddish colored head singing away. Then last week, My husband texts me and says we have a bird’s nest in back of the satellite dish on our patio. On Saturday morning as I sat out to meditate for a few moments before the start of a big day, 3 Little Birds danced and swirled around each other, whistling and dancing against the water of the lake I was sitting in front of.
So, there you have it. I have been using you and Nora as a stepping stone towards my own faith, and you had the SAME revelation as me. I am truly overwhelmed.
Blessings!
April
What a praise to the grace of our Lord. He has given you all significant trials AND He has given you sufficient encouragements as you grow through the trials. Praise Him!
My wife has always left notes in all our lunch boxes. When my youngest son was in, I think, second grade he often wrote back. One day he wrote back to his mom, “I think my teacher is a Christian.” He must have left that unfinished note out on his desk when he went to lunch because the teacher added to it, “Thank you Peter, I am!” :o)
THank you for continuing to share Nora with us. I’ll never hear that song the same 🙂
oooh, LOVE the three little bird story ! We had Pandora on today and that Bob Marley song came on- my kids immediately started singing the words, they love that song:) Love the photo of Nora, swallowed up in her big teddy bear… She is looking so chubby these days, I love her squeezable little cheeks. Glad to hear the swallow study went well, and I will be praying for answers for the chronic lung disease…or for a miracle !
Whenever I worry, that has always been my go to song as well.:)
She is just too cute! She is looking more and more healthy with every photo I see. That is so awesome. Thank you so much for sharing your journey and your baby girl with us.