A friend has read my mind

Have you ever read something and it connected so gracefully to your own thoughts, that it is almost as if this person READ your thoughts?? 

That is what happened when I read this today, and I had to share. 

Written by a friend of mine and Macys who has recently moved away from us and settled in Cambridge, England. 

Her words are so eloquent. 

I could not have said it better... Click below!

Mothering a child with a disability; The secret thoughts

From Krista at One Beautiful Life

2 years already!

Two years ago I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of a baby boy! I was so sure. Because of course, doesn't every women know her body so well? I also had a coworker tell me that for sure I was having a boy, because when I had been pregnant with a girl the previous time, I glowed more and looked more radiant and beautiful... Huh? Really? Did I hear that right or do I need my ears cleaned? haha. I was taken back by that then, but now it just makes me laugh. 

Well, it wasn't a boy. But a girl. An absolutely beautiful and perfect baby girl with Down Syndrome.

I think the Lord prepares us for the life we are going to live. I don't think it was a coincidence that my dad worked at a developmental center. I don't think it was a coincidence that I chose to do volunteer hours at the developmental center in high school. It's not a coincidence that I have always been aware of the people around me with disabilities or that I have had a soft spot for them. 

There are no coincidences, only His plan. And I love when I get to look back over my life and see the moments that I was being prepared. When I can say, "Huh, so that is why that happened!" 

Those full circle moments are confirmation for me! Validation! Reminding me that I am still heading in the right direction.

These were the thoughts running through my head in those first days of Macy's life. It was an "Ah Ha" moment for sure! 

Many people like to think that special needs children are given to special parents. I think different. I think that I was slowly prepped and prepared and given the chance to prove if I was capable. To prove if I could love her unconditionally. Could I learn to see her and love her as the Lord does? To learn that perfection is not defined by the physical things. There is a bigger picture here. I think like anything we go through in life, we are able to do it when we rely on Him to help us! 

For me Macy is one of God's "Tender Mercies."
He must have known that I needed confirmation.
He knew that I needed to see "The pure love of God" in action.

I won't lie and say these last two years have been easy. 

Raising a child with special needs takes more of everything! More patience, more teaching, more appointments and more advocating. But what I want people to know is that it doesn't have to be scary... it is  beautiful! So beautiful! An experience I would not trade for ANYTHING!

I think of Macy and I wouldn't change her. I would not take her Down Syndrome away if given the chance. Without it she wouldn't be able to touch so many hearts. She wouldn't get to experience life with pure joy and happiness. 

This was God's plan for Macy and who am I to wish it away?! There is a reason why she was given Down Syndrome and every day I get more and more glimpses into why! 

My heart almost burst just thinking about how much I love her. If you know her, she is easy to love. It's almost impossible not to. The joy she has brought to our family is beyond measure. She adds light and depth   to everything. Her sweet personality is uplifting and her laughter is infectious!

Macy turns 2 today and I have a feeling we are just at the beginning of all we will learn from her and I am so grateful that I was trusted enough to take this journey with her! It is definitely a wild and blessed ride. 

Filled with all the best things. I celebrate her today and I celebrate her future, the sky's the limit!! 

I love you Macy... forever and ever! 

Happy Birthday Big Girl!   

Thirty-What?

I think I am turning 31... las (laugh at self!)
I'm getting to the part where I start forgetting what age I am! I remember being young and wondering how anyone could forget. I mean, I remember being one whole hand! (5) or when I no longer had enough fingers to count my age! (11) Well, if that child only knew that age is but a number :)


Actually, some days age is MUCH more than a number... I am starting to think my grandma wasn't so crazy to go to bed at 8 pm. Sounds kinda nice sometimes! I have started realizing that between about 2pm and dinner, I am not coherent enough to handle big girl jobs or questions... those are my FOG hours! Where the lack of sleep, and nourishment takes it's toll! And, if you ever struggle finding something in my house, it is probably because I put it in the wrong place! Like a box of cereal in the fridge or my keys on the bathroom floor because when I got home I ran in there so fast to pee before having an accident!


Those are not every day occurrences, luckily! But yes, this age thing is creeping up on me in good and bad ways!


I'll take the bad though, because I actually like aging. Every year I learn more about myself, I become more comfortable in my skin, I laugh at myself more easily and my cooking sure improves! ;)


I have spent this week examining my life. Where I am against where I thought I would be. Then, where I am against where I want to be.


Am I where I thought I would be?
If you asked me this question as a kid I would say YES!
If you asked me this ten years ago, I would think it too good to be true!


So I took a little detour? I got to the right destination after all right!


So the more important question. Where am I compared to where I want to be?
For the most part I feel like I am living exactly the life I want, just not doing it as efficiently or completely as I wish. I'd like to learn to balance my life better. And though comfort with myself is coming, I would always like more of that! More time with friends, more quiet weekend getaways with the hubby, more tea parties with the girls and more sunny days to throw footballs with Tommy, and always more times to laugh and dance! Those are all on my list. But, really I am feeling pretty at peace with it all.


So I turn 31 in about 45 min... and what do I say to that?
Another day older, another day wiser...another day of blessings (and laundry) in abundance!!

I'll toast to that! Happy Birthday to me!!