Five years ago, the adoption of our sweet Carly was complete. We made our way to the court house to hear the judge declare she was officially a Mueller, our daughter forever. Every year we celebrate the beautiful, sweet, hilarious gift of a girl she is, as we remember the beauty and joy of that exciting, relief-filled day.
Carly’s start in this world was a rough one, born at just 26 weeks gestation. She was a mere 2 pounds. Her head was the size of the baseball, her body frail but exuberant from the get go. The life in her little body was clear to all the nurses who cared for her. Our sweet little peanut would often break out of her safe little cocoon, intended to keep her still to preserve calories so she could grow. It was not uncommon to see a tiny, loose arm or leg draped over the side of the wedges used to prop her in the correct position. Carly even rolled over once in the hospital, unheard of in the neonatal unit, NICU. Unbelievable? Yes, but if you meet Carly, you will believe it.
Our little fighter pushed past all the odds, passing every health and wellness test with flying colors, shocking all the MDs and nurses. Scoring release from the hospital at just 34 weeks gestation, by breathing on her own and drinking from a bottle, Carly had numerous landmark events! As we brought our sweet Carly home, still medically fragile, our lives were forever changed.
Caring for Carly day in and day out was stressful due to her micro preemie birth. Every precaution had to be taken in order to keep her safe. Limited visitors entered with strict hand washing, holding both a flu and whooping cough vaccine. No trips into public places with the little one so susceptible to germs and illness. Life was altered with Carly’s safety in mind.
TJ, the kids, and I were forced to rethink activities and often spent a great deal of time together at home instead of in groups or public in order to keep Carly safe and healthy. This time caring for an innocent little life brought to our attention the fragility of life and the beauty of each breath we take. Carly was a constant reminder that each day could be our last and that our time together is precious. TJ and I absorbed each interaction and every milestone with great attention, watching in awe as our bigger kids pined for time caring for our little bundle of joy.
The purity of the love the older children were able to share with Carly was remarkable. A deep gentleness filled each of us as we cared for and protected her. Our hearts were tugged in ways I never thought possible. The generosity shown as we all sacrificed for our tiny Carly was inspiring and pure. Each one of us had Carly at the forefront, because we shared a yearning to guard her from harm.
I will never forget the day I was utterly exhausted from nighttime feedings and caring for our energetic family. I told my big kids that I was taking a much needed nap as Carly settled in for hers. After what seemed like a mere 5 minutes, I heard the baby wrestle and then the pad of bigger feet heading toward the now whimpering bundle. My son, then 11, scooped up his little sister and snuggled her close so his momma could rest. ‘I have her, mom,’ he whispered in my nearly sleeping ear. Peace filled me as I knew I could recharge and rest. This was a reoccurring theme as we cared for Carly in that first year of her life, selflessly pitching in and acting for each other’s benefit.
The love that permeated our family that first year of Carly’s life was consuming. It filled every second of our day and conquered our hearts. All we did, whether for someone in our home or outside the walls that confined us, was bursting with an undeniable love. God blessed us not only with Carly but with charity, the purest form of love possible.
Looking back on that time brings joy to my heart and tears to my eyes as I thank God for the abundance of blessing He bestowed on us in that one little miracle, Carly Jolie. A life that began in such a tumultuous manner stirred and produced such virtue and has already reached so many. I thank God for giving us the courage to say yes, but more importantly for instilling hope and a yes in her birth mother’s heart. I cannot imagine our family without Carly and the love, laughter, and joy she imparts in our lives. I am certain that when her birth mom said yes to Carly’s life she had no idea the impact her choice would make on the world.
Paul reminds us in his letter to the Corinthians, “All I do is for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it. Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win.” 1 Corinthians 9:23-24. All your yeses, as you serve Our Lord, will keep you in the race, running toward the crown of life forever in heaven.
Call To Act: What little yes is God asking you to make right now? Is He asking you to take an uncertain step forward, or pause a plan you have laid out or even begun working on? Is He asking you to say yes to rest, or maybe a more active lifestyle? Or has He possibly been whispering something in your ear for quite some time that you have been waiting clarification on and have yet to act on? Has a friend asked for your assistance with some area that you feel called to help with, but cannot muster the time or energy to come to her aid?
I encourage you to take the next step and trust in Our Lord. Give Him your active yes. Now is the time. I am praying for you sister. Yeses are not especially easy, but God’s own Son gave the most difficult yes of all for you. Keep your eyes on the cross and follow His lead. Die to yourself, your plans, and your desires and trust that where the Father takes you will be for good and for His glory and honor. Embrace the hope embedded in this Easter Season. You never know how your yes will impact and change the world!
St. Walburga, pray for us that we might have courage, as you did, to say yes to whatever the Lord asks of us, however frightening it may be. Ask the Lord to guide us in our steps and the ways in which He is asking us to serve Him. Beg Him to protect us, as you begged for your own protection, as your ship nearly sunk on your journey by ship to Germany. We ask you to pray that our faith and hope will shine forth like a beacon, encouraging others with our little yeses to Our Lord. We ask this in the name of Our Lord, Jesus. Amen.
Saint Walburga
St. Walburga lived in Devonshire, England around 710. She and her brothers, St. Willibald and St. Winebald lived very holy lives, both of their parents later being declared Saints. Their greatest desires were to serve the Lord. St. Walburga received her rigorous education at Wimborne Monastery where she later became a nun. When their uncle, St. Boniface sent for her to help with his mission work in the not yet Christianized, Germany, she selflessly agreed to help. It was determined that she would board a ship, along with several of her fellow nuns, and cross the sea to Germany. She was terrified, but she placed her trust in the Lord. As they sailed, the ship came into bad weather and began to loose its way and became in danger of sinking. When it seemed all the others in the ship had given up hope, Walburga cried out to Our Lord to save her. The ship found its way and all the passengers were saved. They attributed the miracle to Walburga’s faith and to God. After her arrival in Germany, she was able to carry out her work for the Lord, eventually becoming the abbess of the monastery that her brother ran. She is the patron saint of travelers, sailors, and in storms. Read more about her here:
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=209