Dancing in the Rain

By on

One of my all time favorite quotes, the one that helped me through countless days like the one I’m about to describe for you sits in a prominent place in our home.  I put it there for a reason.  At least 500 times a day I walk past it and have the constant reminder that I am not in control over much of what happens in this life.  However, I am able to choose how I respond. And that is only by the grace of God.  I most certainly am not able to do any of it in my own power!

Around here we have lots of stormy weather.  I think it all started when Josiah was just about 5 years old.  Seemingly out of the blue, our sweet little guy decided to crank up the noise.  He went from cuddly, loving and curious to becoming explosive almost overnight. Looking back though, those were just heavy rain showers.  As he’s gotten older we’ve endured gale force winds and frequent flash flooding much more often than I’d care to admit.

There were no warnings, no Space City Weather guys preparing us for the impending doom.  It was just us, fumbling our way through with a house full of kids, trying to figure it all out.  Most of the time it was not pretty. Read more…

Today’s Episode – WHAT Were We Thinking?

By on

I enthusiastically mentioned to Rick this morning that a visit to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts might be a great thing to do with Josiah today.  Since Josiah hasn’t been attending many activities with our local Down syndrome group or with any of the other amazing disability groups in our area I suggested we make a plan to do a new and exciting adventure each weekend.  Gradually exposing Josiah to different environments will open up his world a bit more and get him (and us) out of the house.

He recently spent a week on vacation in San Antonio with the Josiah Whisperer.  Just the two of them.  They explored every mission, restaurant and art show within a 20 mile radius, not to mention a trip to the Japanese Tea Garden and a hike (up hill at times) through the Natural Bridge Caverns.

The Whisperer blew up our phone with pictures of Josiah staring intently at art pieces and smiling at sculptures, meandering through art installations as if an art connoisseur.

So, surely a trip to our local Art Museum would be right up his ally.   I was actually quite proud of myself for even thinking of such a great idea.  Read more…

A Huge Heartfelt Thank You!

By on

On this 25th anniversary of Employee Appreciation Day, Josiah would like to thank each and every one of his incredible employees, past and present, for their tireless dedication and hard work.  He would also like to apologize for not expressing his appreciation last year or the year before or the year before that.  He was unaware this day existed.

Please know he appreciated you then too.

He appreciates you starting your happy day EARLY in the morning in order to get here on time to help him start his.  He appreciates you staying LATE in the evening to help him get to bed.  He is grateful you are here in the wee hours of the morning when he can’t sleep or won’t sleep because sleep is highly overrated anyway.  Who needs sleep?

Read more…

Officially an Adult!

By on

Eighteen years ago Josiah joined our family; 9 lbs 6 ounces of wonder and adventure wrapped up in one precious package.  From that very first day, his life has been one challenge after another with a seemingly endless array of hurdles populating his path.

He’s faced more obstacles in his 18 years than I have in nearly 60.  Yet, he’s one of the happiest people I know, waking most mornings bouncy and smiley and loud.  For a non-verbal guy, he is definitely LOUD.

Don’t get me wrong, there are many moments when Josiah is not a happy camper, like last night for example when he refused to get ready for bed.  I was insistent he needed to put on pajama bottoms.  He was insistent he would not. Read more…

GLOW MUCH FUN!

By on

Josiah has had two real birthday parties his entire life! At age 5 we invited immediate family and some close friends to celebrate. I don’t remember much about the party but I remember the cards we sent afterward with a photo of Josiah and a note that said, Thank You for coming to my party. I had a Ball!

Many years later, an indoor trampoline park opened a couple of miles from our home. Josiah spent one third of his life jumping, so we knew this would be the perfect party for our bouncy guy on his 13th Birthday. Read more…