New Year

Here’s a quick update…. We’ve been a busy little family! 

His astronaut hat :)

My sweet baby Cooper is a full blown toddler who has taken the terrible two mantra very seriously. He keeps us all so busy… From yelling NO! Get down, put that down, stop, come back... to smiling at his funny quirky self who flung Christmas dinner like and angry bird off his fork where it splattered all over my floor (the dogs were happy). To laughing as he swivels his hips and dances to music or lays on the floor to do push-ups like his brother and uncle. He brings so much light to all of our lives. Today as he and big brother Keegan were taking a bath he insisted on dumping water on Keegan’s head to rinse his hair out… isn’t he sweet? LOL

Keegan was on track break for the month of November during which he was very busy doing Intensive Physical Therapy, which I will get to a little later. He’s also been very busy now that we are back in ABA therapy; he is able to pick up a spoon from his bowl and take a bite (28 out of 32 times one day!) and very much on his way to feeding himself! He adjusted well to getting back into the routine of school and therapy. We had to fight our insurance to continue getting ABA therapy as they changed their requirements… Now Keegan has a diagnosis of ASD. What’s one more label!? Don’t get me started on how irritating it is to have to have a specific name brand diagnosis to get a service when my kid has the same need if not more as a kid with said name brand diagnosis. I am still boycotting cutting his hair, it’s getting long and curly crazy (sometimes bird’s nest-y) and everyone loves it but dad. Hence the boycott! 

Conner is attending a new school. We decided to try out a local charter school that focuses on literature and reading (one of Conner’s strengths).I am not cut out for homeschooling. I gave it my best shot. It’s “not for us” and I we are all so much happier. He will be seeing a neuropsychologist in January where we hope to find more answers as to what is going on with him. As I mentioned before he was diagnosed with ADD three years ago. We've had no success with any treatment method this far. Of course I couldn't get the “easy” ADD… is that even out there?

All in all these kids alone keep me busy!

We had a wonderful Christmas. Family came to visit from California, and my little brother was home from basic training… I don’t think I have ever baked so much! With a handful of teachers, 8 therapists, doctors, specialists, bus drivers, and other wonderful people in our lives, I had a lot of treat tins to give out! Boy were we busy with holiday festivities, I love the memories we make during this time of year!

Now I am gearing up for next year, with it comes a new project. I have decided to begin raising money so that other children can receive intensive physical therapy. There are so many kids that could benefit from this therapy and it is not currently covered by Medicaid and most insurances. I will be working diligently to get events and fundraisers planned.

Did you know that this therapy is touted with teaching kids to walk? That was not our expectation going into this... But that alone had me super excited! If other kids can learn to walk it must be fabulous! My only hope was to see some developmental gain… Which we did! Keegan’s improvements were incredible! He is now standing without support and maintaining balance for up to 5 minutes! He can crawl (although finding the motivation has been a challenge)! His muscle tone has improved drastically; he is no longer stiff like a board, which makes it easier to get him in and out of his car seat and wheelchair. He learned how to transition from sitting to standing and vice versa as well as going from a crawling position to standing and vice versa. He is walking with support much better! We are now having him walk from bed to the living room every morning, and having him stand rather than picking him up off the floor. I am guilty of not making Keegan do things because it seems faster to do everything myself. We are trying to implement his new skills into our daily routines. His therapist is confident that one day he will be able to walk with the assistance of a walker! They would like Keegan to complete this therapy 3 times in a year… Looking forward to what he gets next time! I also look forward to seeing other kids come out of this program, and what they gain from it. (If you want to see the videos... check our Facebook page!)

Was that quick enough?? I am fresh out of time! One last thing... We didn't get around to sending out cards so here ya go:

We would like to wish you a very SWEET New year!

With Love from our Family!

Inspiration

I'm sorry I've been away for what seems like for... ever.

Lately it's been difficult. I feel like I am running across an ocean of quicksand. Another post for another time...

I've been doing a lot of reading instead of writing...

Mainly trying to get into my bible everyday (trying, doesn't always work out though).

Reading about ADD and ADHD. A new hurdle I am trying to accept and understand. I am sure I will get to it.

Reading about homeschooling... UGH!

Reading other blogs. They are all over the board, I like anything that gives Hope. It is my wish that this blog shares Hope with those who have children with special needs as well as those that don't.

These are individual posts that I love, I say it's OK to binge read any of them!

Love that max: 9 ways to always have hope for your child with special needs
I can't say it enough... I LOVE LOVE LOVE this blog! The whole entire thing, some day I will get through it all.

Finding Joy: dear mom on the hard days
Just a reminder to stop, keep things in perspective, and live with intention

Enjoying the Small Things: Nella Cordelia: A Birth Story
After reading this, and picking up the pieces of my shattered heart... Brought back so many memories, and feeling. So vividly it was overwhelming. It put into words so much of what I felt when Keegan was diagnosed.

Nurturing Noah's Noggin: Approaching day 365
Another little kiddo with SOD, with an incredible mom. One I probably wish I was when Keegan was younger. I admit it took a little longer to pull myself together. I learned a lot of things the hard way.

Ultimately reading so many different stories, about entirely different people, with their own sets of challenges... Non of them are just like us. Still reminds me that I am NOT alone. Thank you for sharing your hearts!

Unfortunately I haven't had much time to read anything for fun... Any suggestions on what to pick up next? It is about time I escape into another world for a while... It's only fair :)

I want to thank all to the amazing people that enter our lives. The people who write and inspire me to keep sharing our story, keep pushing on: keep Hope alive!

On the Road to Discovery

Chicago

1 RV

3 adults 4 kids

7 States

3,983 Miles

10 Days

We started off our journey eager and excited. We planned it out so that we could take our time driving to Chicago. Making sure to allow enough time to take in the sights, and stop often, in hopes that the little kids would adjust to being in car seats much more than normal.

Some minor issues popped up... But didn't stop us!

Here are assorted photos from our rest stops...

Everyone loves Little America 

 Cooper even had his first ice cream cone!

Overall the kids did well traveling...

even if Cooper was so OVER being in his carseat!

these two enjoyed the comforts of the RV

So did Keegan 

We stopped to check out the windmills... And got some Nebraska corn!

We found a rest stop with a neat park.

We stopped in Colorado to visit friends in Denver. It was my first time visiting the state that I dreamed would be my home when I was a kid... The dream continues! We had such an AMAZING time! The pictures will have to speak for me, or we will be here for hours!

 Thank you Angela for letting us crash your pad (and for the amazing photos you will see below!). Thanks to Misha for a delish home cooked meal. Every person we met was kind; I even have a softball team to play with when we move ;)

After our pit stop in Denver we were off again… our next stop was in Kearney Nebraska. We saw signs for the archway monument and decided that was a good place to check out and find somewhere to stop for the night and cook dinner. We got to the monument and it was closed. They close at 6, so at 6:15 the place was deserted! 

This turned out to be perfect. The monument is right next to a little lake with a bridge that takes you over to exhibits showing native Indian history, they even grow real Indian corn (which they harvest and send everything to the native Indian tribes that are now located elsewhere).

 do you have signal??

We left Rick and Keegan behind at the RV to go adventure across the bridge.

  

 We met a lovely lady who was there caring for the plants (whom I expected to scold us for being there when the place was closed, hahaha the city girl in me!). She talked to us for a half hour about the monument, sunflowers, corn, and beans. I appreciated her taking the time to talk to us, and tell us about what they do. Makes me miss living in the country, where people aren’t in a hurry and are happy to talk to you!

On the way back to the RV after the kids frolicked in the sprinklers…

nothing better after a long hot day!

  followed by a beautiful sunset...

 We got back jst in time for dinner! We had steak, grilled potatoes, and baked beans. YUM!

Rick was wondering what happened to us. As he waited for us to return he managed to get internet service and posted on his Facebook: “sitting here BBQ in Kearney Nebraska.” 

Shortly after that we discovered that one of his long lost cousins lives in Kearney Nebraska!! Just a few miles from where we were sitting and eating dinner! She was so excited that her family got in the car and drove to meet us. She convinced us (I didn’t take much convincing! We needed to wash dishes, and were running low on drinking water! Did I mention one of the water tanks was cracked, a pipe was leaking, and we couldn’t figure out how to get the water to work? 7 people and no running water= me desperate for water!), to come park the RV at their house. Unfortunately, they have cats and a slew of little kittens running around and I am super allergic so we decided to do dishes in the yard with a hose, gotta love it! Once we got the kids off to bed we sat outside under the stars. I listened to Rick and his cousin talk about their family and catch up while enjoying a cool breeze and watching fireflies flickering in the distance (I haven’t seen fireflies in about 20 years!).

The next morning after breakfast and goodbyes we were back on the road. This day is a bit of a blur, my allergies started acting up. I think it was a mixture of the kids playing with the kittens (Cooper LOOOVES cats, and it’s adorable!) and other environmental allergies. By the end of the day I was miserable! We stopped in Des Moines Iowa and, went to the store for some Benadryl, Zyrtec, anything I could get my hands on. After that we headed to a KOA (40 miles back from where we came LOL!) outside of Des Moines and I crashed. I woke up for a shower and dinner, watched the kids at the pool for a few, helped get everyone ready for bed, and crashed again.

Our morning consisted of quickly getting the kids fed, dressed, coffee, and getting back on the road. Our next stop would be the Hotel… glorious hot water, comfy beds, and enough space for everyone to spread out! The only thing in our way was TOLL ROADS! We saw the dreaded sign that we were entering a toll road and tolls were due ahead. We had less than a dollar in nickels and pennies. There was nowhere else to go, and nowhere to stop! Lucky for us they issued us an IOU. We hit the Oasis and I begrudgingly paid the 3.50 fee to get money from an ATM, thinking at least we can pay the remainder of the tolls… WRONG!! 2 more IOU’s from the unmanned tolls that only take EXACT change! HAHAHA.

We get to the hotel... YAY!!! We made it! Get checked in and head down to the area where everyone checks in for the convention and they have a huge room set up with vendors and activities for the kids. 

signatures saying thank you to the company for providing growth hormone to those in need.

They get handprint pictures made, faces painted, climb rock walls, play and have fun. I took Keegan to meet with the Dentist and he said Keegan’s teeth looked good and he didn’t have any concerns (WOOHOO big relief for me!)! Once things wound down we went to dinner, came back to our rooms exhausted and slept like babies!

Looking back it feels like the convention flew by.

Friday: We got up and ready, dropped the kids off at the daycare, attended the first half, picked the kids up for lunch (Mom watched the kids while Rick and I attended an added segment on insurance reimbursement), dropped the kids back off at daycare, finished the second half of the day, and raced back to pick up the kids even though the doctor wasn’t finished talking.

I did manage to ask Dr. Borchert a question (rather sort of a question) and all he could really tell me is that Optic Nerve Hyperplasia (He believes that Septo-Optic Dysplasia is a misnomer, and that all of our kids have ONH, just affected in varying degrees) is a spectrum disorder and unfortunately Keegan is on the severe end of the spectrum.

Ouch. I feel like the air has been  drained   from my lungs. The room gets heavier.

Breathe. Try to smile and nod. Don’t break down in front of all these strangers. Breathe.

 

Don’t cry. I’m sure everyone is thinking they are lucky their kid isn’t like mine. Maybe

holding your breath will be better. He’ll be done in a second and maybe you can run

without people noticing. I wish I hadn’t insisted on sitting at the front of the room.

Breathe.  Stop sniffling. Hold it together.

That went on for a few minutes until I could calm down. I don’t know why it hurt so much to hear it out loud. I had a feeling I wouldn’t like everything I heard when I started asking tough questions. I already knew Keegan’s case was more severe, it’s not like it was news. He didn’t have any amazing insight; although, I am interested in his theory that Keegan might have intermittent vision. Which makes more sense than saying he sees absolutely nothing. I did my best to keep it together as I listened to the rest of what Dr Borchert said. I started talking to God. I wondered why I was there, I thought I would meet other kids like Keegan and get support and encouragement from the parents. I thought the doctors would have new and valuable information about this disorder that I could share with our doctors and specialist. I thought I would get ideas and inspiration. Time was running out and none of those things had happened. He made all of this possible, and if it wasn’t for those things I expected then why?

That night we went to dinner, took the kids to the pool (which was freezing! Keegan didn’t like it), and got ready for bed.

Saturday: Got up and ready, dropped kids off, attended a discussion about MAGIC, and got out early so we could spend the afternoon at the zoo. We enjoyed the animals and gardens and walked until we couldn’t any longer. 

As I wandered around the zoo I was worried. Trying to figure out how I would explain this experience to others. It wasn't anything like I thought. It wasn’t bad. I just thought I would learn something new. I firmly believe there is purpose in EVERYTHING. I spent a large portion of the drive home pondering the same thing… We drove our RV around downtown Chicago, go ahead and laugh! We realized there wasn’t going to be anywhere to park it. Headed back toward the hotel and found a place to stop and have a classic deep dish pizza.

 It was our first and we all loved it! With full bellies we went back to the hotel just in time for fireworks!!!

 After that we were beyond tired... Everyone got ready for bed and crashed! 

Those 2 days were so long and still so short!

We got up and on the road as quickly as possible Sunday and spent 2 ½ days hauling butt to get home!

 I kept thinking, there’s got to be other people out there like me with kids like Keegan on the more “severe” end of the spectrum, as Dr. Borchert put it.

Where are they???

Maybe they feel like me...

 Alone.    Isolated.    Unheard.

I have never been a super active member. Most of the people I have encountered have kids on the milder end of the spectrum. I worry about freaking them out. If I just start posting about all of Keegan’s stuff I might terrify those who are newly diagnosed! We just seem like we are worlds apart.

Do they feel the same way I do!??

I decided that I was going to reach out to these people… to see if I get any response. I did! I also reached out to MAGIC, to let them know how I felt. I decided to start a group on Facebook for families with kids on the “other” end of the spectrum… a safe place to share our struggles and our triumphs. A place where we can encourage and support one another on this dimly lit journey! 

I am THRILLED that people are requesting to join daily! I am so excited to get to know everyone and watch this grow. I can’t imagine all that we can learn from each other. 

For those who might like to join send a request!

The first requirement is that you have a child with SOD/ONH who is more severely affected. 

I also ask that you first get in touch with the MAGIC Foundation and join the main group on Facebook

We are still moving forward… Keegan went back to school a day after we got home. We’ve been working on getting back into a routine. Keegan got sick again and we missed our appointment to see a neurologist at UCSF but we have it rescheduled for October. I am trying to get Keegan into an intensive PT program, and we are changing where we go for PT OT and Speech. Back to working on getting the equipment we need. Finally got the bigger gait trainer and got it adjusted to fit him… He looked so good in it! I am looking into getting our new van modified for Keegan’s wheelchair. Same old crazy busy, and I’m doing my best to juggle it all.

Sorry this post took much longer I anticipated... Maybe at this point you can tell why! I will try not to wait so long next time.

Again I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart... (thank you) for supporting us in this... We aren’t done yet! There’s still so much more to do and I hope you will continue on this journey with us!

Krystal

A time for Growth

WOW! Well it’s been about 2 months since I’ve posted anything... Sorry to leave you hanging for so long!

It’s been a month since we got back from the MAGIC convention in Chicago.

In the last month I have realized that it was okay if I wasn’t bearing fruit... Or if I don’t even have a clue what fruit God wants me to grow (my tree has been really confused!)… I have been undergoing a ginormous growth spurt! I attended the Global Leadership Summit at my church... I would Love to go the MAGIC convention again next summer and watch GLS live in Chicago!!! I also went on a marriage retreat with my husband! I’ve just been soaking it all up and waiting for God to lead me.

from the retreat

the beauty of Lake Tahoe!

I wasn’t sure what to write. I’m not the best at dealing with disappointment; this has been a struggle for me since I was very little. It’s been even harder to deal with knowing I will have to disappoint others.

Most importantly, I want you to leave this knowing that our hard work was not in vain. It seems God’s plan was a little different than mine. To be honest I am still not quite sure what the plan is, and I am okay with that. It’s time to adjust the sails and go in whatever direction he sends me. I am incredibly happy to finally be in a place where I can do that without spending months/weeks/days trying to power through and losing ground.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

I don’t write until I feel like it. Until I feel a little tug, and the sense that there’s something important to say. It helps to have a somewhat complete thought to go along with.

Today was an inspiring day, a gift to wrap up the last month, and the gentle tug to finally put everything into words... A lot of words!

 I watched people plunge into the river and come out NEW, baptized in Christ! My church had a picnic in the park by the river in downtown Reno. Our family packed our lunch, and a lunch to give out to a homeless person. We also baked brownies and packaged them up in little bags to give away. 

The current “theme” at church is 
LOVE LIKE JESUS, 
and that was in the forefront of my mind today as I watched everyone gather to worship. I was overwhelmed with LOVE! That only grew as we shifted to the river to watch people get baptized. I wonder if you can get baptized more than once. I mean, I’ve been saved 15,743 times (funny story, when I was a kid I was never sure if the last one “stuck” so whenever they talked about being saved and said that prayer I raised my hand and did it again), so why shouldn’t I be able to get baptized again? If I ever do, I couldn’t imagine a better way of doing it! As each person went under and came back up the immensity of what was happening started to set in! I looked around at the people gathered all over- on the rocks below me, the sidewalks, and on either side of the river. I saw people coming over wondering what was going on, stopping as they walked by to check it out. I was amazed to sit there and watch God working. I realized that what he has planned is far better than anything I could do on my own.

Continued from Jeremiah…    Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

So much went into getting to Chicago…

Months of preparation and hard work.

Immense amounts of kindness from friends, family, and strangers in our community!

All of it leading up to a dream, something I thought we could never do. Proof enough of the awesomeness of God. Even if that was all I was able to get out of this, it is something to marvel in! I shattered through the glass above my head, I know there is no limit to what He can do!

That’s all for tonight… I leave you with a cliffhanger! MUAHAHA

Soon, soon I will post the rest of the story (working on putting photos into it etc… Making it pretty for you!

Trials

I write this with a very heavy heart so please forgive me if this leaves you feeling weighed down too…

My prayer… Dear God, please use this opportunity to bring all of us closer to you… Shower us with peace and grace. Help me trust you and the plans you have for me. I feel you working and I am desperately trying not to worry and to leave everything in your hands. I cannot see the whole picture, and there are so many things I do not have answers for. I will trust you to lead all of us, and trust in your plans.

We were never promised that this life would be easy.  

Life. Is. Hard.

We live in a broken word, full of broken people. So I imagine every one of you who reads this has been to the place where you wish you could leave. Where you are filled with agony, ache with sadness, desperation, and all you want is make it stop.

Right now I would like to thank you for reconsidering. It is my hope that you had a long talk with God, and let him intervene in your life.

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous hand

Isaiah 41:10

It truly breaks my heart to know people are hurting. Hurting so deeply it blocks out any light, takes away all hope.

I think we all face these moments, maybe more than once. I can admit there have been many occasions I’ve been ready to give up and wish I could go home. I’ve even been to the point I don’t care about “home” and just want to be done. It usually doesn’t take long for me to reconsider. Now I only have to think of my children and know that I can’t leave. Oh but if I didn’t have kids… I think of my family, my friends. I think of the job God has for me here. Being the person I am I could not leave that unfinished.

 I know I have a calling to do big things. I think that part of getting there has been going through some tough times.

I think you are defined by how you handle those tough situations. &&There will be many trials… How are YOU going to handle them? Will you stand up and face them, or crumble? Will you call upon God? Or turn your back to him? Will you fight? Or will you give up?

I choose to face it, always fighting. With even more strength now that I allow God to work through me.  I will also always have HOPE. Sometimes I might have to dig down deep to find it, but it’s always there.

This renewed faith has given me a whole new outlook… Normally I would have turned inward looking for strength, tried solving things myself. Today I immediately turned to God; put all of this worry, heartache, uncertainty, stress… in his hands! That is not easy for me so I am still feeling slightly nauseous. The little voice in my ear is telling me to panic and put my hands back on the wheel.

I don’t know what is to come… I am doing my best to exercise faith.

Moving Forward

Today my sweet Keegan graduated from Kindergarten!! I wasn’t sure how I would feel today, but I really haven’t thought about it much, I am like a horse with blinders on right now, focusing on the road ahead.

We tried to get there super early because we brought some yummy cake pops for his graduation. Thursdays are when Keegan’s class rides horses but I didn’t think they would today; as we got there Barb asked if we wanted to take Keegan to ride. I haven’t been able to go to the school and see Keegan ride, and I was really upset about it actually.  I haven’t been to his school much at all this year. Between fundraising, and my 15 month old monster I haven’t had many opportunities. Not to mention the fact that when I used to go to any of Keegan’s school’s functions I was completely overwhelmed. I become incredibly sad when I think of a school full of children with all sorts of conditions, disorders, diagnosis, and different degrees of developmental delay. I think of all of those children’s families, I multiply the heartache I feel and it is encumbering. Then I look at the amazing people who put all of their hearts into working with these kids, and the love is equally staggering. I don’t know if that should or will go away. Being there reminds me to be humble, and that there are others out there suffering just as deeply if not more than I do.

I was elated to get to watch Keegan ride the horse and capture some photos. It was awesome to watch him and his classmates. My little monster even got to hop on and go for a ride!  He is the youngest kid to ride horses at Keegan’s school. The lovely lady told me we made her day. She has no idea that she made my day!

 

By the time we got back to the classroom it was time to start the graduation ceremony. Then it started to sink in… Watching the kids in their caps and gowns, listening to the choir sing, and Keegan’s teacher speak… I thought about what graduating Kindergarten means. It means moving to first grade, eating lunch in the cafeteria, and all that comes with going to school for a full day. It also means you are well on your way to reading and writing proficiently, you’ve learned the logistics of being in a classroom setting and are moving forward.  Those little kids are one step closer to graduating High School. I started to think I could easily be upset that that our experience with graduating Kindergarten is so different from that. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like we are moving forward at all. Keegan is nowhere near learning to read… He doesn’t even talk! I used to get really upset when I compared Keegan to other children his age. I have written about my struggles with accepting that Keegan isn’t going to function at the same level as his peers (at least not today, I am not limiting him and do not know what the future holds). I don’t expect him to wake up tomorrow and start walking and talking much less reading and writing. Normally that thought crushed me. That one simple thought. How could three words be so painful? Keegan isn’t normal. It always left me utterly distraught. I am working so hard to try and make it so, and it isn’t happening, I am failing.

Thankfully that isn’t where my thoughts went. God is working on my heart; while it is still painful, and still sometimes excruciating to think about I am starting to be okay with that fact. I don’t think it is in God’s plan for Keegan to be “normal,” so I am going to have to try and accept that it is out of my hands. I know he is using Keegan and our family, and there is a purpose. I believe part of that purpose is to share our story, our struggles, and the hope we have with others.

If you have a child diagnosed with Septo-Optic Dysplasia, or you have a child with special needs; maybe seizures, eating issues, severe developmental delays. Anything similar or different to what we’ve gone through I truly hope you know:

You. are NOT. alone.

I often felt alone, and I am so happy to finally be in a place where I know that I am not. I know that even when I did not acknowledge him, God was on my side.  So many things have changed since I opened my heart back up to him, and started to allow him to work in my life. I have gained support from countless others in ways I would never expect, and I know that I am never alone in this battle.  It is my deepest hope that you will know that you aren’t alone! Keep fighting for your children! There is a reason for everything.

Anyway back to graduation, rather than sink into despair I was filled with love. Keegan’s teacher is retiring; today was her last day. Not only were the kids moving up to first grade, an amazing teacher is leaving. I am excited for her, wish her a relaxing retirement! She has been such a blessing in so many people’s lives. I pray the school finds someone equally amazing to try to fill those shoes. During the graduation ceremony she recited a poem that she tweaked to fit this occasion that really hit home:

A Hundred Years From Now

… It will not matter how much money was in my piggy bank,

What kind of playhouse I played in,

Or the kind of trike I pedaled.

But the world may be a little better,

Because I was important in the life of a teacher.

She proceeded to tell everyone how much she’s learned from all the kids she’s had the pleasure of working with over the last 30 years.

I don’t think there was a dry eye in that room. The original poem is almost as good, it has the same sentiment. It encourages you to really examine what matters in life. 

I thought about how lucky these kids are to go to a school where they get to ride horses, and go swimming! They are so fortunate to be in an environment where people do everything possible to give them more than a normal life. I never really thought of Keegan as lucky, or blessed, or fortunate. However you choose to say it. That was kind of a revelation today.

I am thankful for the amazing teachers, aids, volunteers, and staff. 

Picollo is truly a special place!

All of this brought to my mind something I heard in a teaching this week. Forgive me for not having a direct quote or the scripture that went with it. I was not being very studious. Instead of taking notes I was cutting out felt to make angry birds masks for the boys’ bird-day party this weekend. Anyway the teaching was by John Piper and he said something along the lines of: By faith in his grace we get the help and he gets the glory.  I just want to thank God for his grace and give him the glory for all of these amazing things happening! I know that if I weren't following him I would not be in this amazing place.