Welcome to Our Village

We, like many others in our society today have lived far away from most of our family for the last 28 years.  Consequently, we have formed our own kind of family…our Texas family.   We have shared our lives and  our families and we have loved and supported one another through our joys and through our sorrows.  

There is an African proverb that says,

”It takes a village to raise a child”

For a parent with a child with special needs this proverb takes on a much greater meaning.  For a family alone without a village, it is a nearly impossible undertaking.  Without the love and support of the "villagers" who will love your child and accept them unconditionally the journey would be unbearable.  Our village extends far, far beyond those in the photo below, but these are our dear and closest friends that we rely on every single day to sustain us and carry us when we are incapable of taking one more step.

And we have been blessed,

Our friends have become family,

They are our village.

We recently found ourselves once again in search of someone to be a caregiver for Scotty.   And once again God was there with an answer to our prayer.  And once again God gave us more than we ever thought to ask for.

Two of our “villagers” Becky and Jim…have raised four sons to be kind, loving, men of faith...men that any mother would be proud to call their sons.

It is about one of these men that I am writing my post today. Son number three, Tommy, has most recently been an answer to our prayer… handpicked by God just for us...just for Scotty.

Tommy, home on a break making some much needed life changes, offered to step in and help. What started out as just a brief detour in the road for him has turned out to be a huge blessing for Scotty.

Tommy I am certain that if Scotty had

 the words he would want to say thank you.

He would thank you for indulging 
his odd fascination with zombies,

and for making him pizza for lunch everyday.

He would thank you for letting him jump in the lake,

and the pool with all his clothes on.

 

He would thank you for the bear hugs,
 and for not getting upset when he drools on your shirt.

He would thank you for falling to the ground
every time he shots you with his finger gun.

He would thank you for dancing with him in the living room,

and for making him laugh.

He would thank you for understanding his frustrations

and smiling with compassion in your eyes, 
even though he is pinching your arm.

He would thank you for your patience and kindness,
 even when he was having a really bad day.

He would thank you for holding his hand.

He would thank you for accepting him and all his quirkiness,

and for just letting him be himself.

He would thank you for giving his mom a much needed break,
and becoming part of his village. 

He would thank you for treating him like a brother.

But mostly, he would thank you for being

the first real friend he has ever had.

Even though I do have the ability to tell you how grateful I am, I find myself having trouble finding the words.  Thank you just doesn't seem sufficient.  I have known you since you were two and I will forever hold in my heart the sweet-faced little boy who loved to come over and play house with Sarah. 

But now in place of the little boy I used to know I see the man you are becoming and my picture of you will forever be changed.  In it's place I will see Scotty's hand in yours ... as brothers and as friends.

I hope these past few months with Scotty have given you some perspective and an even greater motivation to go out into the world and make it a better place. Maybe it was Scotty that needed you, but maybe...just maybe in some small way you needed Scotty too.

So welcome to the village Tommy.

Wherever this next chapter takes you my friend, know that there will always be a certain young man…sitting in his rocking chair by the window…strumming his guitar...waiting for his friend.

And to Becky and Jim, 

Well done my friends…well done.

Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old 

He will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 

Feeding Horses with Steve 

Big boys screaming like little girls.