The race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; …..nor does success always come to those with the most intelligence….. Ecclesiastes 9:11 NET [Tweet “You’ll never know what you can do until you try, try again. #downsyndrome #perseverance”] In the “old days” (1970 and before!) […]
Conversation #217+ Bethany: “Mom, I need an I Phone. That way you can go to the grocery store and I’ll be ok to stay at home. I can call if I need you. Right? You see I need an I Phone? Right?” Bethany has many variations on this conversation 🙂 lol This time, something practical […]
“Mom! I can’t find my Bible Verse in your phone Bible, Mom!” I looked at my screen and double checked. “What’s the Bible verse again, Bethie?” “Ephesians 2:8,9 – It is by grace that you have been saved, through faith. It is a gift of God, not by works, so that no one […]
Having home schooled Bethany until last year- we were blissfully ignorant about constructing an IEP. Each public school child receiving special education & any related services must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Each IEP is an individualized document which creates an opportunity for teachers, parents, school administrators, related services personnel and students (when appropriate) […]
Nooooooooooo! Helplessly, I watched as my computer began to shut down. All the “necessary” windows I had open were closing- one by one- screeching my projects to a halt. The Word Documents also closed. Panicking, I wondered how much written material hadn’t been saved. I did not have time for this SHUTDOWN. How dare my […]
Always put your hope in God. Hosea 12:6 I hope I don’t get cancer……I hope my marriage gets better…….I hope I find love…….I hope I get a better job……I hope I ace this test………I hope I make lots of money…….I hope I don’t get Alzheimers…..I hope I don’t have a child with special needs. Some […]
“You’re a piece of trash!” ……. …”I never wanted you!”……….. “You ruined my life.” …………….”I should have had an abortion.”……………. “I’m through with you.” …………………”You never do anything right!” …………………. “Why did I ever have kids?”………………. “You’re the biggest mistake I’ve made with my life.”………………. “I wish you had never been born.” You […]
When we went to Disney World a few years ago- one of the highlights of our trip was a big family luau- On the wall of the entrance was a big sign 3 O H A N A s Because of watching Lilo and Stitch (see- watching movies with children are educational 😉 ) I […]
Breathing a sigh of relief here today. Yesterday was Bethany’s annual EVALUATION. Six years ago, Bethany finally got off a waiting list and was approved for a MR/DD Waiver. ick- ick- ICK!!!! (was that enough emphasis to get my point across 🙂 ) I hate the label- Mentally Retarded/ Developmentally Disabled. I mean really, who […]
What a wonderful video! Every school/club/person/church/organization/family should be so blessed to be able to see this heartwarming, informative “snippet” explaining how people with down syndrome are JUST LIKE YOU. This video highlights the lives of 3 teenagers with down syndrome and their friends. Great advice and insightful understanding that will be sure to strengthen and […]
This video is a must see! Pastor Rick Warren teams up with Nick Vujicic, shares with Oprah the “Wild Card of Life” that can change everything! Our choices & attitude & our faith toward God! We can’t control our environment, our genetics, our chemistry, our 1st relationships, our circumstances, or what we’ve been […]
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 […]
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 […]