The sun is still shining!

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:44-48

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:5

'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,' nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; 'he will lead them to springs of living water.' 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.' " Revelation 7:16-17

When I go out and see that there is a sunny day, I remember how much God has been good and merciful with us. I remember what Jesus said that He makes the sun shine on the righteous and unrighteous. I think about so much cruelty that there is on this earth, and God still makes the sun shine on us all. He still sends sun, rain and life, with such abundance. He still loves us unconditionally, whether we scream with Him, deride him, whether we get back to Him and ignore that He exists. Whether we accuse Him for all suffering that there is on this earth that we ourselves have dominated, transformed and destroyed. He still keeps up his promise of forgiveness and freedom for those who simply seek for Him with a humble heart and accept the reconciliation that He gave us grace in Christ.

I know that any act of goodness or justice in my life is fruit of his Spirit, that in me there is so much weakness and injustice, and that I do not deserve to be here living it all. But all this is a demonstration of his love and mercy. That there is no merit in loving my daughter for being my daughter, whether we live in a world where, unfortunately, many have forgotten even to love their own children... He doesn't want us to compare ourselves to others to consider ourselves righteous, but with Jesus.

And for Jesus, true love is to forgive those who trespass against us, who doesn't understand us, who mocks us or our loved ones. When I think about it, I remember to thank the sun shines on the righteous and unrighteous, because the sun shines on us. Because I'm still not perfected in love.

I am so thankful because we have started last month in the ICU with our daughter in critical condition, intubated, attached to several wires and in great pain, and today she is fine and can go for a walk in the hot sun that shines and reminds us of God's unconditional love. Which reminds me of the promises that one day He will be our sun and He will wipe away the tears from our eyes for all the suffering we faced here.

I know for some people this may look very nice, but utopian... but we have seen the replies of this God in our lives, a God truly alive and very close, much bigger and more powerful than we can ever imagine or describe. He who laughs and cries with us, who does not not give up on us, who has compassion and listens to our prayers.

In this God we are grateful.

 

An indescribable sense of joy and freedom

Make no store of wealth for yourselves on earth, where it may be turned to dust by worms and weather, and where thieves may come in by force and take it away. But make a store for yourselves in heaven, where it will not be turned to dust and where thieves do not come in to take it away:
For where your wealth is, there will your heart be.

The light of the body is the eye; if then your eye is true, all your body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, all your body will be dark. If then the light which is in you is dark, how dark it will be!  But let your first care be for his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these other things will be given to you in addition.

 Jesus, quoted in Mathew 6:19-23; 33

It's been a while since I came here calmly to tell the news. Our beloved Vitoria is going so well! We have a busy routine, we left at least three times a week when she does physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. At home, we play, we walk, we spend a lot of time together.

Vitoria has an excellent health and is an adorable, sweet and quiet child. Her biggest challenge has been teething. Up to 1 year and 1 month of age she had no teeth, but since then, every month she gets a new tooth. For some children this is a simple process, but for her it has been slow and painful. Now she has six teeth, and her gums are all swollen and red. I believe that there are four molars in the growth process trying to break through the gum and there are days when she gets desperate.

One day, when I tried to give her food, she pushed my hand away, then she put her hand over her face and pressed her cheek very strong, and spoke "aguuuu", as if she was saying, "it hurts, Mommy, I can not eat!"

She also does not like to sit in the car seat. Sometimes she is crying and squirming, but when I caught her in my lap, she sighs with relief, and then she relaxes and sleeps as if nothing had happened.

In contrast to frown and tears, she has also participated more when we play. One activity she loves is rolling. I put her in our bed and I help her to roll, she smiles, and then when I stop, she starts trying to roll alone. Sometimes she cries when she falls back, it seems she is afraid of getting hurt. But soon she tries to untap and continues playing. She loves me to do a double roll, helping her to roll and then roll again.When she can roll all the way alone, we clap, then we took her and give her a big hug and lot of kisses. She makes a beautiful face, of happy-cute-and-loved little girl. (When she can not scroll to the end alone, we help her finish the roll and then we kiss and hug her in the same way ;-)

She's having incredible progress. The simple fact of being alive and healthy is already a surprising victory and a great joy for us. But in addition, each month she features new reactions and progress that fill us with pride and courage. She can already eat food with small pieces. For lunch and dinner, she eats a soup with vegetables, meat and grains, and now I knead the soup with a fork and she mashes the pieces of vegetables before swallowing. In addition, she has expressed much more with her voice, she cries, complains, cries out in different ways and let us know if she's angry, if she's in pain, or if she does not like something.

She is also having many advances in her attempts to crawl, getting stronger and having better movements with arms and legs. Another great thing is that she is being able to stand when she is based on us and she loves it. Of course she still needs more balance and strength in her column, but her legs are very strong and it is a big surprise for us.

So, our little princess has shown more her strong personality, saying clearly what she dislikes, and also learning to express what she wants, what she likes, what makes her happy. Even without saying a word in our Portuguese, she tells us so much, and in a so clear, intense, and beautiful way, that brings me an indescribable sense of joy and freedom (and I wonder why we need so many words).

Joy of seeing that she is discovering herself, that she is communicating with us and helping us to know and understand her. Joy of seeing she is growing and becoming a loving and happy child. Her limitations do not prevent her from communicating with us - just make she communicate with us through a different language (but only those who approach of her with love and respect are able to understand this language, and have the privilege of participating of this different, but so special and beautiful world).

And the sense of freedom is because there are no limitations or challenges that can silence our happiness.

She is so precious and we love her more than ever.

  

Be relentlessly upbeat

Be relentlessly upbeat
It's good for the body, mind and soul.
It's human and natural living afflictions,
just is not smart to live with them for long.
Be more patient with yourself,
know to understand your limitations.
There is no victory without efforts.

Pablo Neruda, Chilean writer

 

Vitoria during a visit to AACD, an institution for disabled children in Brazil.
This is a panel that we found there, I thought it has everything to do with Vitoria!

Take heart!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus, before He was crucified in our place, quoted in John 16:33 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:25-27

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 I Corinthians 13:12-13

For we live by faith, not by sight.. 2 Corinthians 5:7

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  Romans 8:24

 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  1 Corinthians 15:19

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  1 John

2:17

Our little Vitoria had some bad days, suffering greatly with her growing teeth. Last week she was still nervous and in pain, but she was so beautiful and close the window, with the soft light of a cloudy day, I took these photos. I got a smile and beautiful looks! Her eyes tell me so much! After looking at the pictures I was remembering the many Bible promises that inspired me and strengthened me since her pregnancy, when we did not know what would happen when she was born - if she would stay with us, or if God would take her to His eternal home.

Since she came into our lives I have learned so much about God's love and how much this life is so brief. How easy we get lost in the midst of our tasks, our concerns, and forget that our hearts should not be in things that perish ... but in loving God and people around us, and seek His kingdom, His will, His justice.

My little angel has been a great blessing in my life despite all her challenges and special cares she needs, and I believe all children like her, with similar diagnosis, are precious blessings.

 

Take heart! This is what Jesus tells us every day as we have been blessed with life.

Strength in my soul

I will give you praise with all my heart: I will make melody to you before the gods. I will give worship before your holy Temple, praising your name for your mercy and for your unchanging faith: for you have made your word greater than all your name.

 

When my cry came to your ears you gave me an answer, and made me great with strength in my soul.

Though the Lord is high, he sees those who are low; and he has knowledge from far off of those who are lifted up. Even when trouble is round me, you will give me life; your hand will be stretched out against the wrath of my haters, and your right hand will be my salvation.

The Lord will make all things complete for me: O Lord, your mercy is eternal; do not give up the works of your hands.  Psalm 138

Here are some recent pictures of our sweet and beloved Vitoria. We feel we are so blessed with her life, it is a great privilege for us to be her parents and to love her. It is so wonderful and a great joy to be with her that all challenges we have seem to be so small. It´s the most beautiful and amazing expierence of my life. Now, we have no doubts she recognizes us, she communicates with us, she  expresses what she likes or not, and she expresses she feels loved. I learn a lot with her, with her strength, with her peace, her sweetness. She knows how much she is loved for God and for us, and that´s enough for her. It is something like a different language, the language of unconditional love, that we use to talk with her, and she understands it perfectly.

And I am so happy and thankful that there are so many people everywhere that understand this love!

I´d like to thank with all my heart everyone who visits Vitoria´s blog, who lets lovely messages, who follows and link her story, who pray for her. You have encouraged me many times to keep on this blog, to keep on writing about her, and also encouraged me to be strong in the difficult moments.

I am sure God sent her for us with a wonderful purpose, to help us to understand his unconditional love, to learn how to love, how to live, to give importance to the right things in our short life in this world. I hope with Vitoria´s life so many people can also learn with us about God´s unconditional love. I hope and I pray that more families can feel encouraged to love and accept their babies even with a difficult diagnosis or a fatal condition, and to enjoy all possible and precious time with them.

That´s why I decided to create a blog in English, because I believe much more families could learn about Vitoria and be touched for her story.

I haven´t been able to write very often here, since I need a bit more time to write in English, than in portuguese... I´d like so much to share more about our amazing experiences with Vitoria, to express more about our feelings and thoughts in this beautiful journey, as I use to do in portuguese. But I believe her life and her pictures speak by themselves and God can use them to touch other hearts, even that I wasn´t able to write even one only word iu English.

So, here are some pictures, also from a few days ago, when she was still a bit angry about her growing teeth...

She was angry and complaining a lot

time to play and exercise



on the ground!

  

 take a look at my teeth!



  

 little princess

time to sleep!