Change of Plans

Thirty years ago this month, in the heat of summer, our air conditioner decided it had fulfilled its duties in providing cool air for our home.  With me being 7 months pregnant and Larry leaving on the Senior High Mission Trip, we needed to have it fixed quickly.  Fortunately, two men in our neighborhood repaired air conditioners as a side business and offered to help.

While Larry was on the mission trip, Scott and I were planning to fly to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to visit with my sister and her husband.  Due to the expense of the air conditioner, we decided that it was best to change plans and stay close to home.  Larry drove to Louisiana with the high school kids.  After church on Sunday morning, Scott and I went to Pasadena to stay with my parents for the week.  Since another sister, her husband, and son lived in town, Scott and I were still in for a fun week, even though our original plans had to be changed.

On Monday morning, I went into labor unexpectedly.  I called Larry to let him know that Mom and Robin were going to take me to my doctor.  We took Scott to the babysitter where his cousin, Adam, was playing for the day.    Robin drove and Mom wrote down important information I needed her to know for registration, in case that was needed.  After seeing the doctor, he had a nurse take me straight to Delivery at the hospital.  Very soon, another change of plans was in the works.  After Brad was born, they found a second baby.  Extra people came to help out as Chad made his entrance.  The nurse went out to tell the news to Robin and she ran to tell Mom, who was in the process of registering me.  The registrar quickly handed her another set of papers to complete.

When they called Larry to tell him the news, he began to change plans so he could fly home.  Because of an air strike, he wasn’t able to get there until that evening.  Soon after their birth that morning, the doctor had representatives from Texas Children’s Hospital come to assess the boys.  At first, they planned to take Brad with them and leave Chad at Memorial City.  After further testing, the doctor felt like they would both thrive at Memorial City and he would have the people from Texas Children’s check on them each day.  What a blessing that we had the option and didn’t have to divide our time between two hospitals.  Larry and Scott came to the hospital that night to welcome the two tiny additions to our family.





                                                                                 Brad





                                                                                Chad


Scott proudly wearing his "BIG Brother of Brad & Chad" shirt.

                                      Brad and Chad at 3 1/2 weeks

It didn’t take long to be overwhelmingly grateful for changes in plans.  Since Chad stayed in the hospital, in NICU, 4 weeks and Brad stayed in NICU for 5 weeks, we were close to home instead of being out of town/state for the birth and hospital stay.  Because of excellent medical care, both boys were able to stay together at Memorial City.  And airlines even cooperated so a dad could make it home to see the two newest members of his family.

There was also another change of plans that day.  Rex and Joanne Warrick were scheduled to go on vacation.  They delayed their plans so they could paint the nursery, so it would be ready for the boys when they came home.  Larry had planned to do that after the mission trip, but sometimes surprises change original plans.

Larry with Chad at 4 weeks on the day he came home.

                                    Larry with Brad at 5 weeks on the day he came home.

And the only plans I don’t want to ever change are the ones that God has for me.

On August 10^th, we will celebrate Brad and Chad’s 30^th birthday.  I love you guys, am proud of the men you have become, and am so grateful that you were part of God’s plan for our family and His Kingdom.

Philippians 1:3-6

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Jeremiah 23:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”