Gideon James' Journey

Got this from Kristi Mason 's blog with her permission. She's Billy 's awesome mom :) ===== You weren't like other children, And God was well aware, You'd need a caring family, ... With love enough to share. And so He sent you to us, And much to our surprise, You haven't been a challenge, But a blessing in disguise.

I am the child who cannot talk. You often pity me, I see it in your eyes. You wonder how much I am aware of — I see that as well. I am aware of much — whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire, or if you are just doing your duty by me. I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater, for I cannot express myself or my needs as you do. You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times. I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated. I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well-being, sharing my needs, or comments about the world about me. I do not give you rewards as defined by the world’s standards — great strides in development that you can credit yourself; I do not give you understanding as you know it. 

This is a great read that is perfect for reflecting for this coming Holy Week . My co-egroup member Julie gave me permission to share her story. Please prepare some tissues for some happy tears :) ==== Unexpected Blessing  By: Julie J. Hunter  His name was Aaron , and I will never forget him. I was 16 years old and trying to hold down two jobs and finish my high school education. I babysat after school and on the weekends. My new job was an unbelievable opportunity. I was going to be the Easter Bunny at my local mall. Yes, you just read the words; I was the Easter Bunny. This opportunity was one of the most interesting jobs that I have ever had in my life. I mean, think about it I was being paid to "bounce"around the mall in a 7-foot fur covered rabbit suit, bringing smiles and giggles to children and adults of every age. Little did I realize that this job, this moment in my youth, would be one of the most rewarding of my life.  photo borrowed from co...

Got this forwarded poem from my friend Jackie Ranit who is a wonderful teacher of children with special needs ... == Heaven's Very Special Child A meeting was held quite far from earth. "It's time again for another birth." Said the angels to the Lord above. "This special child will need much love." His progress may seem very slow Accomplishments he may not show And he'll require extra care From the folks he meets way down there He may not run or laugh or play: His thoughts may seem quite far away In many ways he won't adapt And he'll be known as handicapped So let's be careful where he's sent We want his life to be content.

Got this from a forwarded message in one of my egroups. I wish I could thank the author for putting down in print what many of us are also exactly feeling and experiencing. == Many of you I have never even met face to face, but I've searched you out every day. I've looked for you on the internet, on playgrounds and in grocery stores. I've become an expert at identifying you. You are well worn. You are stronger than you ever wanted to be. Your words ring with experience, experience you culled with your very heart and soul. You are compassionate beyond the expectations of this world. You are my " sisters ." photo borrowed from dreamstime.com Yes, you and I, my friend, are sisters in a sorority . A very elite sorority. We are special. Just like any other sorority, we were chosen to be members. Some of us were invited to join immediately, some not for months or even years. Some of us even tried to refuse membership, but to no avail.

A fellow egroup member of mine, Candace Barnes , from  Special Child Exchange , wrote this piece last week for her 50th birthday. I laughed and I cried while reading it because she was pretty accurate in describing how moms (of kids with special needs) like us have to prioritize other things above and beyond what we would have wanted for ourselves. As I told her, I pray that when I reach the same age, I would also have the capacity to still find humor in every situation and to never lose hope like she does. Thanks so much Candace for allowing me to share your very inspiring writeup to my other parent friends :) ====== I always said when I turned 50 I would own a sports car - bright red and fast as they come. I always said when I turned 50 I would be living the life I wanted. When I turned 50 I would be a grandmother. When I turned 50 my children would be grown and gone with lives of their own - good jobs and happy relationships. When I turned 50 I would be ...

Being a mom of a child with special needs, it is my prayer that my other kids would continue to love James unconditionally in spite of his disabilities. Thus, I admire other children who show so much understanding and compassion of their siblings who also have special needs. I was forwarded a link in youtube about a Clara Sigmon 's poem about her younger brother, David, who has Down Syndrome . It is such a touching piece. Allow me to share it with you. May you be inspired as I was.

... James is also just a normal, happy kid. Daniel was goofing around with the camera a couple of weeks ago and I only recently uploaded the

I got this forwarded email from one of my egroups today. It is a great reminder to all of us to find the good in every situation. And since Christmas is almost here, let's try to be a blessing to those who are more in need than ourselves. --- I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the 'quickie mart ' building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.   When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped so...

I received this as a forwarded email earlier today. It's so good not to share. I'm sure not only families with Blue Roses like ours could appreciate this but also the Dandelions out there who only need a reminder to, every now and then, stop and smell the roses, especially the rare and very special ones :) == BLUE ROSES Why do I always have to be the one that starts to do laundry and there's no detergent?  Well, I guess it was time for me to do my store run, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags and Clorox. So off I go. I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies, and headed for the checkout counter only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man that appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here." photo borrowed from rosepi...

I am very thankful to have found this in another parent's website. I feel exactly the same way as Emily and I hope that this entry could somehow help you guys understand, and maybe empathize, with what parents like us are going through. I can honestly say it is a privilege to be entrusted by God with someone as special as my son. It has been a wonderful journey for our family and we'll keep on finding ways to look at the positive sides as we continue to have fun with our James :)  == Welcome To Holland By Emily Perl Kingsley I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability-to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this... When You're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip- to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make wonderful plans. The coliseum, Michelangelo's David. The gondolas of Venice. Yo...