A week or so ago, I had a freak out moment. I had asked my daughter, Drew, to make sure and be home by 4:30 to greet her brother as he got off the bus. I had a faculty meeting, and the other girls all had work or school commitments. I didn't tell Drew that none of her sisters would be home, so she didn't know. She text me during the day and asked if she could go meet a friend who was coming in from out of town and be home by 5:00. Note she had asked me about this earlier in the week as well, but I had forgotten. I didn't read the text thoroughly, because I was busy at work and replied with something like "OK" thinking she was asking to meet her friend later. As I was walking into my faculty meeting at 4:00, I had the nudge to text her again reminding her to be home at 4:30. She replied that she wasn't home....not even near home, but in an entirely different city 30 minutes away. I had a moment of panic, because I don't leave Cal alone for more than a few minutes and only after giving him very specific instructions: "Don't go outside. Don't open the door for strangers. Here is your phone, text me if you need me (which is just learning how to do and has never actually done yet)." Having him come home to a completely empty house sent me into a frenzy. I was irritated with Drew, and it definitely came across in my reply. She was confused and reminded me that I had said "OK" to her being home by 5:00. I called my neighbor, who did not respond and was not home; and then I told Drew I would go home and skip the meeting. Graciously and apologetically, Drew said; "No mama, I'll go home and wait for him; so you don't have to miss the meeting." So my girl left her friend, who had traveled a long way and was only going to be available for that scheduled time, and drove home to greet her brother. I can guarantee you she greeted him happily asking him about his day without being irritated about having to change her plans. I apologized to Drew and felt badly for her, as well as, extremely grateful. The beautiful thing about her and all of my kids is that she forgave me and didn't hold even the tiniest bit of a grudge. The ironic thing is earlier that day I was thinking about my family and how caring for Cal is truly a family commitment. I had even started a blog post about it which turned into this one. The girls help out with Cal so very much, and I could not do half the things I do without their help. They are compassionate and truly in complete adoration of their brother and have NEVER EVER EVEN ONCE complained about changing plans for Cal or helping with Cal or absolutely anything at all. It's easy to adore Cal if you know him, but I also think the way his sisters love him has definitely impacted who he has become. I know their love for him has impacted who they have become. And their love for each other has impacted who I've become.
A long time ago, when Addi was a little girl; she kept begging me to have a lemonade stand. I'll be honest and tell you that it was not on my list of things "TO DO". It's not that I would have minded, it's more of I was busy....juggling work, all the babies, volunteering, a house, etc. I just didn't have time for one more thing....or so I thought. Then one day she asked again, and instead of saying something like...sure we will do that real soon, I wondered why she was so insistent; so I asked her. I expected her to say something like she wanted to have friends over to help and thought it would be fun, or she wanted to raise money to buy something we wouldn't/couldn't buy her; but that's not what she said at all. Addi explained that she wanted to have a lemonade stand to raise money for Cal and Autism Awareness. I remember stopping dead in my tracks, looking her in the eye and saying; "YES!!" She planned, baked, stirred, made signs, and t-shirts; and she had a lemonade stand. Over a few days, she raised over $600. It was a pivotal time in my life and the life of my family for many reasons. One reason was how the girls were able to witness the goodness in people. People we loved, as well as, complete strangers supported that lemonade stand and her passion. Many people, we didn't know, would stop and make donations and tell her what a good thing she was doing. Another reason was that her generous and compassionate spirit. as well as, her determination has been instrumental in leading her sisters to reach outside of their comfort zones and pursue helping people in their own ways. That lemonade stand physically involved them in something where they were able to see and feel the blessing of serving others. For me the most important reason is this one...Addi reminded me to take the time to listen to their passions and support them in anyway I can by simply saying "YES!!"
April is Autism Awareness Month, and we are grateful for the support you all have given in support of our boy and our girls. It truly means the world to us all. And these babies of mine....they bring so much light into the world, and I am changed for the better every time I say "YES!!"
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