Preparations
Can you ever really prepare yourself for all the experiences that hearing impairment will bring into your life? The visits to the audiologist, the meetings with the school system, and the costs of medical services are just some of the sources of stress that will either tear you up inside or build you into a stronger family. Over the years, it’s become clear to me that the secret is to walk by faith and not by sight. If you only look at what you can do in your own strength, you’re forfeiting the very source of strength that will lead to any lasting form of happiness for you and your family.
I’ve often heard that success is what happens when opportunity meets preparation, and it has always been my hope to prepare myself and my family for whatever it will take to lead to successful outcomes for our little C-Note. Yet truly success for us is measured by how closely we can obey God’s calling and live in subjection to Him in accordance with His will.
There is a side of me that wanted this section of the blog to take on the facade of a well prepared (a.k.a delusionally bullet proof?) family. The reality is that most of what we share here is the result of a stumbling-into-the-blessing type of approach. While it might not be the most efficient way to lead a family, it’s not hard for my wife and I to trace each lesson, each preparation, back to a point in time where she and/or I were on our knees asking, “Lord, what would you have me to do now?”
The following pages summarize several preparations we’ve made in addressing several challenges related to C-Note’s hearing impairement. Just go to the “Preparations” tab at the top of the screen to select what interests you.
"Hi. I'm Carina. What's your name?"
That's usually the first thing you hear when C-Note sees you. Her favorite past times are meeting new friends, hosting real and imaginary parties, and drawing pictures of everyone and everything, yourself included.
As C-Note's father, I stand in complete amazement of this young lady, who God has chosen to complete our family. As an adopted child with a hearing impairment, she experiences levels of joy that surpasses many who do not face similar challenges. A spunky kind of girl, she has also been affectionately nicknamed Wiggly, Jumping Jelly Bean, Wii Girl, and of course, our precious C-Note.