I think of myself as a free spirit- freedom = happy. Love that verse- Whom the Son has set free, they are free indeed. I’m the first to admit, I don’t like restraints, limits, boundaries- at least without being told why. 🙂 s Surely somebody besides me can relate? speed limits, seat belt laws, any […]
[Tweet “Look up! Accept God’s #crown of loving kindness and tender mercies.”] “Momma, why I have creepy eyes?” quote- Bethany Barclay, 10 years old- with down syndrome ~ My mission: Equip Bethany (& all my children & grandchildren) with the truth: [Tweet “We are created in the image of God and He #crowns us with […]
Today was a “gray day” Not outside, the sun was shining, but inside our home & hearts, a storm was brewing. It was the kind of day, you’re glad you’ve been “storing up” lots of inspirational words & absorbing the the tangible love of family and friends; because, just like we should store up money […]
The Bethany Paradox There is no paradox in loving her- only in understanding……….. I love her so much it hurts- Embracing her vulnerable weakness Dismayed her DNA is destructively damaged. I cry, I laugh with joy, I worry & fret, I ache with longing, yet rejoice in who she is Her spirit- so […]
Children are the heartbeat of Christmas ~ To see with wonder…. to know the joy of His presence. “For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.” Charles Dickens Sharing Precious Moments We have 7 different nativities- they’re child friendly and […]
I actually had someone ask me the other day, “How’s your downs girl?” My downs girl?! MY DOWNS GIRL?!!!! I looked at them in stunned silence? Seriously, if you can’t remember her name, don’t ask- please! “Do you mean my DAUGHTER, Bethany?” They had the wisdom to look embarrassed. I don’t see downs syndrome, […]
If you’ve never heard, read, or seen Joni’s story (yes, there’s even a movie about her amazing life 🙂 ) you need to get to know this phenomenal woman and her faith in God! Talk about Eternal Perspective!!!! Click to visit http://www.joniandfriends.org/ Ask yourself: What if you suddenly lost your mobility? What if you […]
[box] RAM- 1)Random Access Memory-RAM in the computer is like short-term memory in our brain. The hard disk in our computer is comparable to our long term memory. [/box] We all deal with “limits” in our human brain! I know I have days where I feel “brain fog” or “brain dead”. I go into a […]
Way back when (gosh that makes me sound old LOL) I loved playing my records (Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, Jungle Book- then later, Donny Osmond & The Partridge Family) on my very own record player. I would carefully lift the “arm” that held the needle and place it gently so as not to scratch the grooves in the record. Scratches […]
Are we hearing God’s voice??? “Bethany?” There was no sign of hearing on her end. “Bethany (this time I spoke louder). still no recognition. I automatically walked around to capture her attention by looking in her eyes, and said, “Bethany?” Smiling, she answered, “Oh, hi Mommy. What you say?” “I said- do you want to […]
You may (or may not) have noticed I don’t ever capitalize “downs syndrome” . I just can’t- never have- never will; my apologies to the British scientist, John Langley Down who discovered the syndrome. I know its grammatically wrong but it makes perfect sense to me. I refuse to capitalize my problems or challenges! This […]
Bethany and I are still working on “talking fast” (see previous post) Days of practicing is opening my eyes to the MAMMOTH task set before us. I didn’t realize how many aspects to talking and conversation there really is. She wants me to “script” her talking LOL- and that just isn’t possible. I feel like […]
My most challenging ongoing lesson: “Letting Go-d” Years of protecting, nurturing, & shielding her from the “looks”, “nonacceptance”, negative experiences, or situations where she would flounder, have left me with a bit of a “nest” mentality. I know the “nest” where we are safe- where we thrive- where Bethany is safeguarded and secure – where […]
Every choice not to quit, every due diligence to try our best, every determination to live our life for God’s glory no matter what “life” throws at us- will lead us to a place in eternity where our Father will beam His approval at our “tryings”!! ~ Jesus will award His ones who have overcome […]
“Mommy- I need your help. I want to talk fast.” Somewhat distracted, but thinking how cute she is when she’s so serious about something, I reply, “Hmmm? What? What do you mean, Bethie? My brain began scrambling for an interpretation- does she mean she wants to talk without stuttering when she gets excited or […]