O-Team Event

Below is the letter we gave to people who were able to attend the O-Team event this afternoon. The day  exceeded my expectations (that is hard to do). It was an energetic and jolly time of celebration. Light and happy which was exactly what I had hoped for. Oliver had a blast and danced the entire time (with the occasional break for a photo!)

Thank you a million times over to all the people who helped to make this a wonderful experience for our family. We love y'all!


July 31st, 2011

Dearest Friends,

When the helicopter took off with Oliver 364 days ago our knees buckled with fear and our hearts were frantic with the unknown.  In the midst of that chaos, you were with us.  You were with us!  You prayed, you cried, (goodness did we cry) and you met every imaginable need.  You did things for us that we didn't even know to ask for.  And what is more, you've remained with us throughout this last year as the endless unfolding of diagnosis after diagnosis has been entered into Oliver's medical record; Tuberous Sclerosis (August), Infantile Spasms (November), Intractable Epilepsy (January) and then Developmental Delays (January).  You made it easier to cope, to move forward, to know there was Hope.  We feel so unworthy of such love, it is downright other-worldly.  We give thanks to Him who makes all this love, this community, this authentic caring, possible.

This year we learned about George Muller and Hudson Taylor (check them out if you never have).  Both men never asked directly for money, but passionately prayed about it.  They hit their knees and asked for help.  We've done the same.  Their needs and ours too have been fully met...it is with wide-eyed wonder that we've watched this happen. God even got the IRS in on it, when we got an additional refund from 2008! (Really, when does this ever happen?)  Uncle Sam completely covered our Duke Medical bill from February. Ha!  There are many more wonderful Manna stories (as we call them) that we hope to share with you.  And more than meeting our needs, it causes our faith to grow.  That is the best gift.  Thanks be to God!

Every day (beginning tomorrow August 1st) we will post a specific prayer request on our blog www.lanierlanding.blogspot.com.

If you aren't into blogs, then here are our prayer requests:

1)For Oliver to be seizure free for the rest of his life, with no serious complications from the surgery.
2)For us to be good stewards, wise with what has already been abundantly provided; in conjunction with that, for Andrew's work to flourish.
3)Please pray that our marriage would be profoundly cemented instead of torn apart.  Pray that we'd have servant's hearts towards one another even with the lack of sleep and stress.
4)Most importantly, that our faith would continue to grow deep roots regardless of what happens with Oliver's physical health...that we would sense the nearness of God and therefore have an eternal perspective.

As we've prayed about this surgery experience, we've thought about the people who will care for Oliver.  They will prominently appear on our 23 days of prayer via the blog.  We hope that we'll be able to bless these folks who have cared so well for our sweet Oliver.

Finally, as we write this to you our hearts spill over with thanksgiving.  You are teaching us how to wait well. That is a profound lesson.  The living picture you've given us of love in action is a treasure for the ages.


God's grace and peace,

Andrew, Stephanie & Oliver

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. Whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water. That sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear the when heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no worry in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:8 (NIV)

Preliminary Pics:

From left to right:

Grace (due December, boy), Shaunna (due December, boy), Annie (due August, girl), Liz (will be induced tomorrow, girl). Aren't they beautiful?  

Oliver was all smiles--all afternoon.  Precious!