See Sam Chapter 8

See Sam.
Sam has a new talent.
Sam is good at recognizing when one person resembles another person.

"Wook, Issy!"  "That's you!!", says Sam when she watches Dragon Tales.
Issy wooks like Emmy!

"Wook, Mommy!" "That's you!!", says Sam when she sees a picture of Nina and Star.
Mommy wooks like Nina!

"Wook, Daddy!" "That's you and me!!", squeels Sam when the Beast turns into a handsome prince.
Daddy wooks like the handsome prince.
Sam wooks like Belle.

"Wook, Budda!" "That's you!!", Sam giggles when Noddy comes on tv.
"That's me?", answers Brother glumly.
"Are you sure, Sam?"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
Budda wooks like Noddy!

"Oh my world!!", Sam gasps when she is looking through a book.
"Wook!"
"Wook!"
"Wook!"
"Uncle Nate is in this book!"

Happy Sam.
Happy. Uncle. Nate.

A Tap on the Shoulder

Do you ever get the sense that God is trying to tell you something?

You know what I'm talking about, one of those heavenly taps on the shoulder.

For me, they are usually promptings to do something for someone or change something about myself.

Last week it was a loud and clear CHANGE something, Kimberly.

Those aren't so fun.

It started on Monday.

Samantha and I picked up the twins from school for their monthly visit with Dr. Money Bags, (aka the orthodontist).    We have a regular routine of dropping them off, then we hurry to Wendy's, pick up lunch,  back to the orthodontist just in time for them to be done.  We sit in the car and have lunch together and then it's back to school.  We only have a 45 minute window to accomplish all this, so time is tight.  

We all know the drill and it works out well most of the time.  Sami and I were in the drive thru   part of the routine and I have to say, it was taking a long time.  There was a large, white van full of kids and an overworked mom ahead of us.  I was singing along to the radio when Samantha rolled down her window and shouted at the van, "Come on Lady!  Let's get a move on here!"

SAM! I gasped.

Shocked-  I wondered where she had heard that.

As quick as the question popped into my head, so did the answer.

From. Me.

I had to confess that I am a mutter-er.

I don't honk or give nasty looks but I do mutter.

I mutter and now my two year old does too.

I thought about my impatience, I don't like to wait.

I vowed to be more patient.

I vowed to stop muttering.

Unfortunately, I quickly forgot about my new vows.

A couple of days later part two of the message came.

Sami and I were heading into Discovery Gateway (aka her favorite place on earth).

We walked up the stairs with a mom and a little girl who looked about 18 months old.

They were a few steps ahead of us and moving quite slow.  They stopped at the color wheel and we had to wait behind them, they stopped at the bubble canisters and we had to wait again.  Finally I asked Sam if we could skip the big coin bowl and just go straight to the admissions window.  She wanted to wait for a turn but I was done being behind an overly patient mom who let her little girl touch and explore everything.

So we politely went around them and got in line.  Soon they were right behind us.  

The woman at the window gave us our bracelets and we were walking into the museum when suddenly music started blasting, guys with tv cameras rushed in, smiling people in fancy suits and dresses clapped and cheered. Confetti, balloons and a $500.00 gift basket appeared.

It turns out that the overly patient mom was the 1,000,000th visitor to Discovery Gateway.

Guess who 999,997 and 999,998 were?

"Aww, you were so close", said the cute girl at the admissions window.

You have no idea is what I wanted to say back.

So there you have it.

Two painful yet heavenly reminders that I need to be more patient, less hurried.

More cheerful, less mutter-y.

I get it, I really do.

I'm working on it, I really am.

So the next time you get one of those little heavenly, sometimes painful taps on the shoulder, my advice is to take the easy way out...  listen.

See Sam Chapter 7

See Sam.
Sam is a big helper.
She likes to help mom do all kinds of jobs around the house.

Today, mom is cleaning the windows.
Mom loves sparkling, clean windows.
Clean windows are Mom's favorites.

"I help you, Mommy!!", cheers Sam.
"Great!", says Mom.

Mom and Sam get the windex and some old rags.
They spray the windows.
They rub the windows.
Spray, rub, spray, rub.
They even wipe down and polish up all the window sills.

Cleaning windows is hard work.

Finally, the job is done.
Mom looks through her clean, sparkling windows.
Mom smiles.
Mom loves clean windows, they are her favorites.

Mom and Sam celebrate with the Clean Window Happy Dance.
They give each other a high five before mom heads to the shower.

While mom is in the shower, Sam has an idea....
Everyone knows that after a bath, it is a good idea to lotion up.

Sam will lotion up the windows!
Sam is proud of her idea.
Won't the windows feel great!

When mom gets out of the shower, Sam is just finishing.
"Wook, Mommy!", squeels Sam.
"I give lotion to the windows all by myself!"

Mom looks at the windows.
Mom sighs.

Mom loves clean, sparkling windows.
Clean windows are Mom's favorite.

But Mom loves Sam even more than clean windows.
Mom is smart.
Mom knows that someday the windows will be clean, but not today.
"Thanks, Sam", says Mom with a smile.

Happy Sam.
Happy Mom.

Lessons From Lauren

Seven years ago, a precious little niece twinkled down from heaven and landed firmly in our hearts.
She arrived in the way most babies around here do....
in a comfortable and clean hospital with a loving and excited family awaiting her debut.

We visited a couple of hours after she was born.
I remember holding her and snapping pictures of the twins with their new cousin.
We talked about how beautiful she was and how alert she seemed.
We hugged the new mom and patted the new dad on the back.

Then we left for home.
Not knowing.
Never guessing.
Completely unaware that this little girl would change the way we saw things.
She had come to teach us lessons about love and kindness that we wouldn't be able to fully grasp without her presence in our lives.

The next day, a sweet sister in law, Christie came by to tell me the news.
Lauren had been born with Down Syndrome.

I stood there stunned.  I had held little Lauren the previous night and it never crossed my mind.
I remember crying and hugging Christie.
I hope that doesn't sound shallow.

We wondered what it would mean for Carrie and Dean and their three sons.

As time has passed we  have come to see for ourselves exactly what it has meant for Carrie and Dean and their three sons.

They are an amazing family.
They have a unique lens of compassion through which they see the world.
Lauren has taught them.
She has shown them what love without limits or boundaries looks like.

I too, have learned by watching Lauren and her family.
It has made me more sensitive to things that I had never really thought about before.
A few years ago, Carrie educated our extended family about use of the r-word.
I had heard people say that word over the years but I had never really thought much about it.

I have heard the r-word used at school, youth activities, the store and a dozen other places. I have heard it used by the old, the young and everyone in between. I feel prickles on the back of my neck every time I hear it.  I think people in general just don't know how hurtful it can be to people with intellectual disabilities.

I emailed Carrie and asked her for some guidance about the r-word and other things that I could teach my Beehive class about.    I asked her very blunt and direct questions because sometimes we don't know how to interact with people who are different.  But, when we know better, we can do better.

The following is a link to the letter the Carrie sent me.
It is beautifully written from a mother's heart.
I hope you will take the time to read it and then discuss with your family the use of the r-word,
people first language and other Lessons from Lauren.


Thanks for reading.