I told you May has been a crazy month for our family. Tonight, Collin "graduates" from the 8th grade at the area Christian school. There are just under 20 in his class. The class colors are pink and lime green-at their choice. Yesterday I bought a new zip neck tie for Collin to wear tonight. We love zip ties at our house. If you haven't seen one, they have a zipper on them so that you put it around your neck then zip it to tighten it. No struggling to tie the tie. Anyway, he looked in the bag and told me I should've bought a pink or lime green one. So off we went, back to the store looking for a pink or lime green tie. After visiting 5 stores, some of them more than once, we had a brand new light green shirt and solid pink tie to go with it. It's not a zip tie so we will need to work on that.
I was up past midnight last night putting together the photo collage on poster board for his display table. There is nothing like waiting until the last minute and I'm glad I was able to set such a good example for my son to follow. Ha!
The incredibly crazy and busy month of May is over tonight. Then we move into June. I have a lot of work lined up with my new job-I guess the regional office nearly doubled my case load in June. Hopefully we can get some money set aside to do a mini family vacation this summer.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Brandon's Graduation
On this Memorial Day, as we are on the way out the door in a few minutes to visit Christine's parents at their lake home, I wanted to give you a quick update on how Friday evening went at the graduation ceremony.
We arrived as planned at the ceremony about a half hour into it. WE did not plan for Brandon to walk in or sit with the seniors. We didn't think that would go well to expect him to sit still for that long. The plan was just for him to join the seniors as they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas then exit again.
As each senior's name was called, they walked up the steps to the stage, stopped, turned around and posed for a picture and applause, then turned and walked across the stage, receiving their diplomas and shaking hands. When Brandon's name was called, he entered the side door with his aide. The aide stayed on the gym floor while Brandon walked up the steps, turned and stood for applause. He received a standing ovation from his class...and he stood there and smiled, and he stood and smiled. The clapping stopped and he stood there and smiled. He was in his glory. They say everyone gets their ten seconds of fame. Brandon took 20! The school principal called Brandon over and he finally walked across the stage and exited through the other side door.
I joined Brandon by the door and when I came up, Brandon with his limited communication skills said one of his favorite phrases, "Do you know what I did? I did all by self! All by self!" He was so excited and was jumping up and down. The neighbor girl that works for us with our daughter, S, was there. She was sobbing as she told me she didn't cry when her sister's name was called but as soon as she heard Brandon's name had burst into tears.
It was a successful evening and the senior class was right, Brandon deserved to be there and was an important part of the class. Thanks again to the class of 2007. You guys are a class act and will go far if you continue to treat others well.
We arrived as planned at the ceremony about a half hour into it. WE did not plan for Brandon to walk in or sit with the seniors. We didn't think that would go well to expect him to sit still for that long. The plan was just for him to join the seniors as they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas then exit again.
As each senior's name was called, they walked up the steps to the stage, stopped, turned around and posed for a picture and applause, then turned and walked across the stage, receiving their diplomas and shaking hands. When Brandon's name was called, he entered the side door with his aide. The aide stayed on the gym floor while Brandon walked up the steps, turned and stood for applause. He received a standing ovation from his class...and he stood there and smiled, and he stood and smiled. The clapping stopped and he stood there and smiled. He was in his glory. They say everyone gets their ten seconds of fame. Brandon took 20! The school principal called Brandon over and he finally walked across the stage and exited through the other side door.
I joined Brandon by the door and when I came up, Brandon with his limited communication skills said one of his favorite phrases, "Do you know what I did? I did all by self! All by self!" He was so excited and was jumping up and down. The neighbor girl that works for us with our daughter, S, was there. She was sobbing as she told me she didn't cry when her sister's name was called but as soon as she heard Brandon's name had burst into tears.
It was a successful evening and the senior class was right, Brandon deserved to be there and was an important part of the class. Thanks again to the class of 2007. You guys are a class act and will go far if you continue to treat others well.
Friday, May 25, 2007
The Human Interest Story
Brandon has had a fun week. On Wednesday, as promised, several seniors took Brandon to Pizza Hut in a limo. He ate 14 pieces of pizza plus breadsticks and dessert pizza out eating even the wrestlers. When we have taken Brandon out as a family in the past he has eaten 24+ at one sitting. We think he puts it all in his hollow leg because there certainly can't be room for it in his tiny body otherwise.
So many people have told me they thought that I should contact the local media about what Brandon's class has done for him so I finally did.
Here is the link to the article on the newspaper website.
http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=20582§ion=homepage
There is even a place there to leave comments if you wish.
So many people have told me they thought that I should contact the local media about what Brandon's class has done for him so I finally did.
Here is the link to the article on the newspaper website.
http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=20582§ion=homepage
There is even a place there to leave comments if you wish.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
The Class of 2007
I wrote in an earlier post that Brandon, although a senior this year, was not going to be joining his class for graduation ceremonies. Brandon has severe mental retardation-he functions at a 3 year old level for many things. Although he is considered a senior this year, he will remain at the school through his 21st birthday as he transitions into a special needs working environment. Due to Brandon's oftentimes negative behaviors we all(parents, teachers, school staff) agreed that it was best to keep him out of the ceremony feeling it wouldn't mean anything to him anyway.
Our hearts were warmed a couple of weeks ago when we were told that several seniors wanted to take Brandon out in a limo to one of his favorite places-Pizza Hut-for the lunch buffet. It will be 12 seniors plus Brandon and his teacher. The seniors worked it out, getting permission from the school, letting cafeteria staff know, ect. That big event will be happening this week.
Yesterday, a senior from Brandon's class stopped by to drop off a one-page letter written to Shannon and I. It reads as follows:
Dear Shannon and Christine,
On behalf of the senior class of 2007 we would ask of you to reconsider letting Brandon walk with the class at graduation. Brandon is a very important part of our class. Everyone enjoys his presence and we know when he starts making noise that that means he is happy. We do not believe that he will disrupt the ceremonies. We are proud to have Brandon in our class and would thoroughly enjoy his presence at our graduation ceremony on May 25th. We kindly ask that you please reconsider.
The letter was then signed by the entire senior class at his school. I know it warmed our hearts a ton and so we will add one more, very important, thing to our schedule this week...our son's, and his dear friends', graduation ceremony.
Thank you to the class of 2007. You guys are really something!
Our hearts were warmed a couple of weeks ago when we were told that several seniors wanted to take Brandon out in a limo to one of his favorite places-Pizza Hut-for the lunch buffet. It will be 12 seniors plus Brandon and his teacher. The seniors worked it out, getting permission from the school, letting cafeteria staff know, ect. That big event will be happening this week.
Yesterday, a senior from Brandon's class stopped by to drop off a one-page letter written to Shannon and I. It reads as follows:
Dear Shannon and Christine,
On behalf of the senior class of 2007 we would ask of you to reconsider letting Brandon walk with the class at graduation. Brandon is a very important part of our class. Everyone enjoys his presence and we know when he starts making noise that that means he is happy. We do not believe that he will disrupt the ceremonies. We are proud to have Brandon in our class and would thoroughly enjoy his presence at our graduation ceremony on May 25th. We kindly ask that you please reconsider.
The letter was then signed by the entire senior class at his school. I know it warmed our hearts a ton and so we will add one more, very important, thing to our schedule this week...our son's, and his dear friends', graduation ceremony.
Thank you to the class of 2007. You guys are really something!
Saturday, May 19, 2007
I hate cancer!
I'm sure you are saying of course I do, but I am so sick of it being everywhere I turn. I am in the choir at our church. Each week at rehearsal we spend an hour and a half practicing our music and then share prayer requests and pray together. There are about 80 of us in the choir so you can imagine the different needs that are shared. Sicknesses, accidents, new babies, job searches, broken bones, unsaved family members, addictions, the list goes on and on. Just this past week there were so many prayers needed for those fighting cancer. My mom who started chemotherapy this week is sick with the effects of that. A young woman who grew up in our church, her parents still attend there, who had breast cancer several years ago and has been cancer free just had a baby a couple of weeks ago. When the doctors performed the cesaerian section on her to deliver her baby they found her full of cancer inside. An older couple, married for over 50 years, physically separated from each other as the husband is in a nursing home undergoing a difficult recovery from a broken leg, just discovered the wife has breast cancer. An unsaved co-worker of a choir member recently diagnosed with cancer, a young man, a dad of young children with a cancer affecting his brain and causing him to die a slow, mentally strange death, another man with lung cancer, my aunt in Hawaii with lung cancer...it just seems as if there are so many suffering from this disease. It takes people of all ages, social status and religious beliefs and tears through their bodies often killing their host. I am so glad that I have a good God, a God who is always right and always, always wins. I just pray that God can use the circumstances each of these people go through to draw them closer to Him or even to Him if they aren't already believers.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Ain't it strange
Something Shannon and I have noticed so often over the past several years is that it seems like the different teachers we listen to, whether they be pastors at our church or bible teachers on television or radio, so often are teaching about similar subjects at the same time. I'm not talking about the typical teachings you hear around holidays but rather just everyday type of teachings. Often they are in the same passage of the bible or a similar subject. We have often joked that God sets up a conference call with all bible teachers each week to tell them all the subject for the week. I guess in His on way He does tell each minister what to teach but not quite in that way. Funny thing is, after what I wrote on Saturday, comparing the Christian walk to an endurance race, I have heard two bible teachers on the radio do the same thing. I just found it kind of funny.
Collin ran his last track meet yesterday, doing well and placing in each of his three races. His spring choir concert was tonight at the school where he sang a beautiful solo.
My mom started chemotherapy yesterday. So far she is a bit queasy and has some discomfort from where the iv was placed. She is still experiencing a great amount of discomfort as well from the nerve damage caused during the breast surgery. Please pray for her.
We remain busy with end of the school year activities. With 5 children in 3 different schools plus our homeschool we feel a bit stretched thin. For example:
1-Brandon is a senior so has some graduation activities even though he will remain in school for three more years due to his disabilities. Some other seniors from his class are going to take him out to Pizza Hut in a limo to celebrate with him as we have chosen not to have him participate in the ceremony. He wouldn't understand it or enjoy it and could possibly be disruptive. What a neat group of kids to want to do that with him. His aide from school will go with him.
2-Collin has an 8th grade graduation ceremony. Because his private school has just begin having a high school program by adding grade 9 this year and grade 10 next year, the 8th grade graduation is still happening. Collin is one of only 3 boys and 9 girls returning for 9th grade next year as the other 6 boys are going to ove to the public high school-at last count anyway. He also has two separate field trips coming up in the next couple of weeks.
3-M and E and I have a couple of field trips to go on with the homeschool group. One is to an area Ethanol plant, another will be with S and her school group.
4-S has a last day of school potluck picnic coming up with her school as well as a field trip to Fort Snelling and a school track meet.
Amongst all of this are the typical work hours for both of us, cleaning house, keeping up with the outside work and most recently added to the schedule, training the dogs to understand the underground fence. Let's hope the dogs figure it out. Even though we have 6 acres here, we have a neighbor right on the other side of the treeline. He does not like it if the dogs cross the line and has a gun he is not afraid to use. Ask me how I know...Izzy(our lab) has shotgun pellets in her body from their last meeting. Unfortunately she didn't learn her lesson though so we need to watch her carefully when she is out. She is a large dog with tons of energy so tying her or kenneling her is not an option.
Oh, Debra and 4 others(3 from the End Time Glory Ministries board) are currently in Rwanda and Uganda for two weeks. They will also be met there by Pastor Richard and his wife Gertrude. They have a very busy two weeks scheduled with no rest days. We are hoping there may be news on the Tanzania land when they return. Shannon has been asked if he can accompany Debra to Tanzania again this fall. She wants him there as do we but we are so unsure of whether he can get three weeks off from work as well as find the $3000 it will cost to go. Pray with us as we try to make that decision. The sooner we decide the better for all.
Collin ran his last track meet yesterday, doing well and placing in each of his three races. His spring choir concert was tonight at the school where he sang a beautiful solo.
My mom started chemotherapy yesterday. So far she is a bit queasy and has some discomfort from where the iv was placed. She is still experiencing a great amount of discomfort as well from the nerve damage caused during the breast surgery. Please pray for her.
We remain busy with end of the school year activities. With 5 children in 3 different schools plus our homeschool we feel a bit stretched thin. For example:
1-Brandon is a senior so has some graduation activities even though he will remain in school for three more years due to his disabilities. Some other seniors from his class are going to take him out to Pizza Hut in a limo to celebrate with him as we have chosen not to have him participate in the ceremony. He wouldn't understand it or enjoy it and could possibly be disruptive. What a neat group of kids to want to do that with him. His aide from school will go with him.
2-Collin has an 8th grade graduation ceremony. Because his private school has just begin having a high school program by adding grade 9 this year and grade 10 next year, the 8th grade graduation is still happening. Collin is one of only 3 boys and 9 girls returning for 9th grade next year as the other 6 boys are going to ove to the public high school-at last count anyway. He also has two separate field trips coming up in the next couple of weeks.
3-M and E and I have a couple of field trips to go on with the homeschool group. One is to an area Ethanol plant, another will be with S and her school group.
4-S has a last day of school potluck picnic coming up with her school as well as a field trip to Fort Snelling and a school track meet.
Amongst all of this are the typical work hours for both of us, cleaning house, keeping up with the outside work and most recently added to the schedule, training the dogs to understand the underground fence. Let's hope the dogs figure it out. Even though we have 6 acres here, we have a neighbor right on the other side of the treeline. He does not like it if the dogs cross the line and has a gun he is not afraid to use. Ask me how I know...Izzy(our lab) has shotgun pellets in her body from their last meeting. Unfortunately she didn't learn her lesson though so we need to watch her carefully when she is out. She is a large dog with tons of energy so tying her or kenneling her is not an option.
Oh, Debra and 4 others(3 from the End Time Glory Ministries board) are currently in Rwanda and Uganda for two weeks. They will also be met there by Pastor Richard and his wife Gertrude. They have a very busy two weeks scheduled with no rest days. We are hoping there may be news on the Tanzania land when they return. Shannon has been asked if he can accompany Debra to Tanzania again this fall. She wants him there as do we but we are so unsure of whether he can get three weeks off from work as well as find the $3000 it will cost to go. Pray with us as we try to make that decision. The sooner we decide the better for all.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
The Endurance Runner
We just returned from watching one of Collin's track meets. This was only the second meet he had run in the longer races. He had been running shorter sprints early in the season and it was discovered, by accident, during a phy ed physical fitness test that he was better at running the longer distances. Today he ran a mile in 5 minutes 56 seconds, 21 seconds faster than the previous meet on Thursday. He also ran in the half mile and improved his time on that one as well. He ran that somewhere in the 2 1/2 minute range. Collin has a long stride. It is fun to watch him run as he starts out at the back of the pack, then as everyone tires toward the end he picks up the pace and starts passing the others.
Does anyone else see the lesson in Christianity here? That we need to be in for the long-haul. Sprinting isn't where it's at. We need to be able to maintain our pace through our entire lives, keeping our faith strong and reaching out to others until the end. I am reminded of my great-grandmother. In her last few years on earth-she lived into her 100s-she had wondered about her purpose. As she had been to so many friends' and family members' funerals, she wanted to be in heaven too. Why, she asked, was God leaving her behind. We encouraged her to know that He had a purpose for her, on earth until the end. Maybe there was a family member or a caregiver in the nursing home still to be reached by seeing her daily lifestyle of Christianity. Keep the faith, through all circumstances, staying strong until the end.
Oh, and "Go Collin!" There is still one last meet on Monday.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1
Does anyone else see the lesson in Christianity here? That we need to be in for the long-haul. Sprinting isn't where it's at. We need to be able to maintain our pace through our entire lives, keeping our faith strong and reaching out to others until the end. I am reminded of my great-grandmother. In her last few years on earth-she lived into her 100s-she had wondered about her purpose. As she had been to so many friends' and family members' funerals, she wanted to be in heaven too. Why, she asked, was God leaving her behind. We encouraged her to know that He had a purpose for her, on earth until the end. Maybe there was a family member or a caregiver in the nursing home still to be reached by seeing her daily lifestyle of Christianity. Keep the faith, through all circumstances, staying strong until the end.
Oh, and "Go Collin!" There is still one last meet on Monday.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1
Monday, May 07, 2007
It's a crazy life
Here are the latest updates:
My mom, although her cancer was caught her early, is planning to take all of the treatment options available to her which include-chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiation. We are all aware it may be a difficult summer. Please keep her and my dad in your prayers.
I started my new job last week. With both of my part-time jobs I worked over 45 hours last week. Along with homeschooling and the many children's typical appointments with doctors, therapists and counselors, my annual exam(Yippee), a concert at one of the schools, another at church and an awards program I ended up having something going on every single morning, afternoon and evening for 8 days straight! This week is much lighter with work and I can get the house cleaned, the laundry done and see my family. I hope that doesn't happen again in the near future.
Spring has sprung and Shannon has started on the outside projects-landscaping, planting grass and installing the underground fence for the dogs. Now the rain has come too so he needs to work between sprinkles.
Collin is finishing up his first ever track season with his school. He has enjoyed it and has discovered that although he may not be the fastest sprint runner he does very well with endurance running. He did a mile last week in about 6 and a half minutes I think he said. I am hoping to get to his meet this week and he also has one on Saturday we are hoping the grandparents can get to.
We received an email from Pastor Richard in Mwanza. He has internet service at his home now so keeping in touch with him by email will be much quicker. In fact, I emailed again this morning and have already heard back from him. The easier communication is exciting to all of us through this process.
Shannon and I are still pushing hard to get through our bible school courses by July. Graduation has been set for the end of July. When we finish, we will have done the entire 24 month course in about 10 months.
We find ourselves still being asked on a nearly daily basis if we are still planning to move overseas and when. The answers are yes we are planning to move and no we don't know when but God does and that is all that matters to us. We know that when it is time for us to be listing our home for sale and begin packing He will make it perfectly clear.
My mom, although her cancer was caught her early, is planning to take all of the treatment options available to her which include-chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiation. We are all aware it may be a difficult summer. Please keep her and my dad in your prayers.
I started my new job last week. With both of my part-time jobs I worked over 45 hours last week. Along with homeschooling and the many children's typical appointments with doctors, therapists and counselors, my annual exam(Yippee), a concert at one of the schools, another at church and an awards program I ended up having something going on every single morning, afternoon and evening for 8 days straight! This week is much lighter with work and I can get the house cleaned, the laundry done and see my family. I hope that doesn't happen again in the near future.
Spring has sprung and Shannon has started on the outside projects-landscaping, planting grass and installing the underground fence for the dogs. Now the rain has come too so he needs to work between sprinkles.
Collin is finishing up his first ever track season with his school. He has enjoyed it and has discovered that although he may not be the fastest sprint runner he does very well with endurance running. He did a mile last week in about 6 and a half minutes I think he said. I am hoping to get to his meet this week and he also has one on Saturday we are hoping the grandparents can get to.
We received an email from Pastor Richard in Mwanza. He has internet service at his home now so keeping in touch with him by email will be much quicker. In fact, I emailed again this morning and have already heard back from him. The easier communication is exciting to all of us through this process.
Shannon and I are still pushing hard to get through our bible school courses by July. Graduation has been set for the end of July. When we finish, we will have done the entire 24 month course in about 10 months.
We find ourselves still being asked on a nearly daily basis if we are still planning to move overseas and when. The answers are yes we are planning to move and no we don't know when but God does and that is all that matters to us. We know that when it is time for us to be listing our home for sale and begin packing He will make it perfectly clear.
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