When does every word matter? When things have been really quiet, each new word seems to carry much more deep meaning. Our daughter, Kennady was born with a severe brain abnormality and has significant development delay. One of her major set backs is not being able to verbally communicate. If you haven’t heard that story, you can get more info here. How frustrating it must be to have something to say and no way to say it!
Some of her amazing teachers from Negley Elementary
Her amazing teachers at school have been working with her for a long time with an augmentative communication device. Basically, a computer mounts onto her wheelchair with a large screen. She has switches mounted to each side of her head rest. She is able to click the switches by moving her head from side to side. She can toggle through different word choices with one switch and then select and “say” the word through the computer. She struggles moving her head because of her lack of muscle control. This means when she clicks on words to say them we often wonder if she is actually meaning to say the word or not.
A few weeks back, she was in the middle of therapy at school and was getting tired. She began to fuss at the therapist by whining and crying. Her nurse, Kimberly, positioned herself directly in Kennady’s face and said, “Kennady, it would be much easier for you to use your device and tell the therapist that you are done.” Then, Kennady used her head to click the command and the computer said, “Bye!”
Jason and Holly Bollinger are amazing parents and pastors. For the last several years Erica and I have grown very close to them as we have pastored side-by-side in San Marcos, TX. We are a bit sad because they will be moving and we won’t see them as much. We asked them to send us a post for our blog. Here are Holly’s thoughts:
THE FAITH OF A TWEEN-AGER!
Every once in a while in parenting, you are caught off guard by your kid doing something that seems to fill your soul. I know some people really enjoy the baby years with their kids, but I find my kids to surprise me more and more with the soul-filling as they get older.
We have three tween-agers. Our house is rich with drama, puberty, volume, and opinions. Our house is also rich with three kids of ministers trying to find their way into their own faith. We try to protect our kids from feeling like Pastor’s kids, but we do our best to equip and encourage them into a faith journey of their own. Some of the greatest joys come from watching them work this out. More and more one of them will pray a prayer that brings tears to our eyes. More and more they’re seeing ways to love others well. It’s refreshing to watch them grow…not because they were forced or assigned, but because they want to.
As tween-agers, Sundays can be challenging. Some days they relate more to the younger kids and play with them, and some days that act more like teenagers and have an actual interest in what’s going on. We try to give them room to play while trying to lead them to a greater appreciation of what’s happening around them. All of our kids really love music, but at a party after church a while back one of them pulled me aside. “Daddy, when you and Mommy were singing that song, I felt tears come to my eyes and I felt something inside of me. I felt the Spirit coming over me.”
Lately, my (Robin) favorite part of the day is the sweet spot right before the kids get in bed and right after the bedtime preparations have been made. The bedtime preparations part is usually BRUTAL. Homework done, dinner, Baths, PJs, brushing teeth, meds. That can often be like fighting dinosaurs. We have been trying to get that done a little earlier so that we have a few minutes before the kids actually crawl into the bed.
The kids have their pajamas on, their breath is fresh, they are getting sleepy.
This past Christmas, Erica and I casually got them an indoor basketball hoop. Little did we know how BIG of a success that would be. It easily is the favorite and most used gift of the year. We spend some quality time at the hoop each night before they are tucked in.
Here is a clip of me teaching Jude how to post up. If you are an actual basketball player, please keep in mind that I am 5’7″ and have actually never posted up on anyone myself. Jude will need some more accurate training at some point.
Today (Jan 9), we celebrate 15 years of marriage. Wow! Where have the years gone?? Take a look at these stats.
Our Marriage by the numbers:
7 different homes in 2 states
2 home purchases/1 home sale
13 different jobs
3 kids
9 foster kids
3 dogs
4 cats
25 fish
20+ chickens
11 cars
3 churches
0 cheatin’!
innumerable friends
Erica’s Version of the Wedding:
Our wedding day WAS amazing, however, I was 20 years old and wayyyyyy too concerned about what other people thought about how I “should” be at my wedding.
As you all know, if you have been reading this blog very long, I still greatly struggle with this and try to conform to each persons specific likes.
My sister-in-law almost beat me with a can of Static Guard, after I requested she spray my wedding dress for the 60th time.
Honestly, I could hardly think for having so much attention focused right on the two of us.
When I finally got to the altar and was holding Robin’s hands, that is the moment I really settled in and was struck by how incredible it was that I was actually marrying this wonderful man.
We had so many people there to support us.
There were things that went totally opposite of what we had planned, like my cake having flowers on the cake instead of between the layers! UHHH, HELLOOO people, I almost turned into bridezilla, well, not really, but I was seriously bummed.
Driving away in the limo was awesome and surreal, I could hardly believe I was married.
Such a happy day!
Robin’s Version of the wedding: Our wedding day was amazing. It was huge. Over 300 folks attended our ceremony and reception that followed at the church. At the time, I was youth pastor at PromiseLand Church in Austin, TX. So, many folks from the church came and we both have very large families. We had a ton of friends and family donate their money and time to decorate the sanctuary and reception area. It was all absolutely beautiful and we are extremely grateful to them all for an amazing wedding. We left that night for Denver. We spent a week skiing and eating awesome food at Breckenridge, Colorado. Several years back, we made a new wedding ring commitment (click for details). I LOVE you, Erica!
Erica and her dad walking down the long aisle.
So Young!
Cake Fight!
Robin’s Uncle Tim “passed the boot”. A family tradition sort of like an offering at the reception. We got over $700 to spend on our honeymoon!
Robin with best buds, Jason Neyland and Jeff Ross
Our friends and family did an incredible job decorating! Look at that beautiful ice sculpture!
Headed to the honeymoon. A week at Breckenridge, CO!
Taking family pictures with young kids is sort of like running across a bed of hot coals..barefoot. I (robin) would almost prefer being stabbed in the eye. And for that very reason, we only do it every two years or so.
First of all, we have 2 young boys that want to run around and never smile on cue. Then, we have a daughter with special needs who is unable to sit up on her own. She has a tremendous smile that honestly is better than any of the other family members, but the only way to get her to smile on cue like that is to play a certain Toby Mac song at just the right time. It takes a photographer with some serious patience.
We put it off…forever. Finally, Erica says, “If we don’t get a family picture taken, I’m leaving the family.” Just kidding, she doesn’t take it that seriously, but she does desperately feel pressured to fit in with all the other people that send these awesome “family picture Christmas cards” each year. Our pantry door is covered every December with all our amazing friends and their beautiful families.
The 2013 Christmas Door!
We feel like complete losers because we barely have enough energy to go grocery shopping much less gather the troops for a family picture.
Who could we get to take our pictures? Oh yeah, we don’t have any money budgeted for it. hhhmmm…put it off a few more months.
Feeling the need to fill space, I am going to write more often (possibly).
You may or may not be interested in reading my ramblings, and this is completely ok.
Robin and I have a saying in our house, “TAGB”. Thanks and God Bless.
It is usually given in a sarcastic manner, or said immediately after an “order” is given. This will be said to all those feeling the need to not read.
You too can say this in your home.
It may cause confusion at first, but if you continue, you too will know the joy.
Tonight we went to the movies with some friends. We saw a movie about Walter Mittie (I think). It was dang funny. I mean, really, we all kept reciting lines from it at the coffee shop afterwards. That’s when you know it was worth the eight bucks.
The take-away from the movie tonight was, be adventurous, take chances, live life. I think I am ready to travel the world.
Our kids hung at home with the sitter and made laser tunnels and forts all over the house. It really makes my heart happy when they have friends over and their creativity busts open.
It is currently 1 a.m. and Kennady and I are the only ones awake. I am writing a blog and my tender husband is about to start snoring.
Christmas was great. I was able to be home for Christmas eve and day with the family. When you work in the field of midwifery, you never know when a baby will be ready to make their entrance. You often take things like that for granted until you have had to spend one (or more) away, because no matter how great the cause, nothing can replace your family.
The one big bummer is that my side of the family had the flu bug going around and we still haven’t celebrated with them. I am really looking forward to harassing my parents mercilessly.
A new year is approaching quickly, hang on to your seats.
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