The Gift

In Case You Need a Reason

"We'll go because it's Thursday," Pooh said, "and we'll go to wish everybody a Very Happy Thursday."

So here are some pictures just because I want to wish you a 

Very Happy Thursday.

Perfect Love

He was a brilliant scholar, an Air Force pilot, an FBI agent.  He accepted nothing less than perfection.  In his eyes, Trisomy 21 was not the picture of perfection.  It was not part of his plan for a perfect life.

Never underestimate the power of love to change lives.

This clip is 14 minutes long, but please take the time to watch it.  I think you'll be glad you did.

It is a story that rings true because I've been there.  I know both the grief and the healing. I've lived the metamorphosis from denial to epiphany, and have been likewise overtaken by the compelling urge to share the journey.

It is a gentle transformation of dynamic proportions in which perfect love arises out of imperfection.

And when I see the tremendous power of feeble human love, I am able to visualize for the first time how very much greater is the power of God the Father's redeeming love for us, His imperfect children.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

                                                                                                                                          John 3:16-17

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

                                                                                                                                          Romans 8:38

Pooh-losophy

                                        

Life is really quite simple.

It's only the 
Rabbits and Owls

who make it appear
to be complicated.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

It's October.

That means 31 for 21.

Thirty-one days of blogging for awareness of Trisomy 21, otherwise known as Down syndrome.

But this year I'd like to expand that concept.

How about 31 days of blogging for awareness of the Gift of Imperfection?

In a world obsessed with perfection, we struggle as never before to meet the impossible standards the media imposes on us.  How do we raise well-balanced children in a society so distorted in its perceptions of reality?   How do I stay balanced myself?

In pondering (well, ok, worrying) about these questions, I have come to realize that the greatest gift our family has received has been that extra chromosome.

A deviation from normal.

Something gone wrong.

That's what the Knowledgeable People say.

But the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.

And somehow, I can't think of any better words to describe this concept than in those of Winnie the Pooh.

"Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully.

"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit's clever."

"And he has Brain."

"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."

There was a long silence.

"I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything."

So in the interest of educating all Rabbits (of whom I once was), we welcome October and celebrating the Profound Simplicity of All Poohs.

"I thought she said October was Some Kind of Awareness Month," said Rabbit.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said. 

Join us in this wonderful wacky world of letting go and enjoying the moments, both perfect and imperfect.

Now That I'm Six and Chris is Thirty-five

 

...Now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever.

So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

                                                             --A. A. Milne

I loved my birthday cake by Grandma Ann!

Yes, I can blow out six candles!

And I love my soft Pooh pillowcase my cousin Jesse made for me. 

It's magic.

Sometimes it turns into a turban.

I'm magic too.

Sometimes I turn into a Pajama Bag and Underwear Ogre.

But only when I'm supposed to be sleeping.

And Chris had a birthday too.  I told him I thought he'd probably be thirty-five by now.

But he thinks he's nine.

He wanted a soccer ball cake.

Here are the spots.

And here are the lines in between.

Randall says they don't belong there.

But Chris said, "Who cares?"

It turned out perfect.

And I sang happy birthday to Chris...

and Mom...and Dad...and Randall...and Danny...and me...again.

Aren't birthdays great?

The Better To See You With, My Dear

Wade's yearly eye exam this fall revealed that he is far-sighted with some astigmatism and needs to be wearing glasses all the time.  

So here he is new and improved!

We're still working on the "wearing them all the time" part!

Grandpa I Am

I find it quite uncanny how much Grandpa resembles

Sam-I-am.

It Starts with You

It isn't about politics.

It's not about one special interest group or another.

Neither is it about forcing you to change your ways based on public opinion.

It is, however, about being human.

It's about caring about someone else more than yourself.

It's about loving the way you would want to be loved.

And with apologies to Hallmark, we're not saying it with flowers this time.

We're letting Ben and Amy Wright say it with music.  Because music says it better.

Listen.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves...Proverbs 31:8