Stinky Breath

A few days ago Jack woke up with stinky breath. YUCK! We can't have that! So I picked up an infant toothbrush and . . . PROBLEM SOLVED! He actually likes to have his teeth brushed!

Jack Is Ten Months Old!

I know I am a little late posting about Jack's 10th month. Just blame it on the approaching holidays . . . that is what I blame everything on right now!This month Jack:
- has had two more teeth come in . . . the top left on 10/21/09 and the top right on 11/12/09. This makes a grand total of four teeth!

- has learned to stack blocks inside his farmhouse toy

- LOVES his bubble baths

- will actually SIT STILL for more than two minutes to look at this FABULOUS book his Aunt Trish bought for him

- loves to dance (basically moving his arms while his body stays still) to the "Hot Dog" song on the Mickey's Mouse Clubhouse show

- loves to hear his voice echo on our walks in the morning

- loves swinging on the swing set

- is eating almost all foods now!

- loves to watch the Ohio State Buckeye football games with his dad . . . and then nap on dad's chest after

- says MAMA and DADA and is directing it to us

- says Zezus when we talk about Jesus

LOOK AT THOSE NECK ROLLS!

Faith and Hope

Faith and Hope.

Those are the two things I have learned most being Gavin and Jack's mom.

This picture is my proof.

One experience taught me so much about faith - the other has given me hope.

We can be happy again and find joy in all our experiences.

God Lives Under The Bed

Today I received an email from a friend of mine with the story below. I don't know who wrote it - but it is sweet and reminds me of the simple and important things in life. I hope I can always keep this point of view on life.

GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED

I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...'

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room.. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.

He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them..

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?

Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.

He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.

His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips..

He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple.

He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.

He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to the Lord, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp.. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my beliefs, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won't be surprised at all!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was so much fun this year! I have been waiting for this for a LONG time.

We took Jack to my mom and dad's Trunk-Or-Treat.

He sure seemed to love all the attention and people to look at!

Jason carved a pumpkin with a smile like Jack's. Two teeth on the bottom and one on the top.

And this is Jack showing us how he growls in his tiger costume.