By reading about my journey of the heart--trials, tribulations, and overall triumphs-I hope that you are encouraged by the miracles that my family and I witnessed in the life of my special-needs child. When things looked the darkest, it was our heavenly Father that gave us the light to continue to move forward in our "wilderness journey." While most of these pages have come directly from the pages of my personal journal, I have chosen to omit the names of some people and places to protect the innocent and guilty alike. I've also chosen to refer to my daughter in this story by her nickname, LuLu, as that is what she likes to be called. I will honestly admit to you that this book has brought healing to me, although it was difficult and very painful for me to relive some of the events of the past. My hope for you, dear reader, is that you will acquire a better understanding of just how precious life truly is and that no life should be considered less valuable than another. My husband and I have had the privilege of living in the house that belonged to his grandmother. We've been able to raise our three children in the same house that holds so many childhood memories for him. It's located in Millbrook, Alabama-north of the state's capital, Montgomery. Living in this city has given us the warm feeling of family and a sense of comfort with its Southern charm and friendly faces. With our corner lot, our azalea filled yard, and our house full of memories, I sat down to record every step of my journey with our little "dandelion." "Why, yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes" (James 4:14). Shea was born in Luverne, Alabama--known as "The Friendliest City in the South".  She currently lives in Millbrook, Alabama where she and her family can be found most of the time at the local community theatre.  Shea and her family feel that the theatre has been a great avenue for the improvement of her daughter's social skills and building her confidence. The family worships at WellSpring Community Church where they are active in serving others both inside and outside of the church walls.  Shea and her family are grateful for the love and support that they have received over the years from the members and look forward to many more years of service together with them. Shea decided to write this book at the encouragement of a friend.  The friend had only heard what life was like when Shea's daughter was younger and thought that her story needed to be told.  Shea hopes that this book will bring encouragement, strength, and wisdom to those whoread it.  She knows that the demans of being a parent, especiallya parent of a special needs child, can be very demanding and overwhelming and hopes that this book will show readers that they are not alone and that they should not give up in wanting more for both their child and their family.  Faith and trust in the heavenly Father is what Shea says brought her through so many days of desperation.  She felt that she was all alone in her journey and took to writing daily in her prayer journal.  She never knew that it would one day be the foundation for a book about her wilderness journey.  Shea knows that she was able to be a part of an amazing journey simply because the heavenly Father gave her the strength to walk when she was weary and carried her when she could not walk anymore---in the midst of the storm, she was not alone.