Sandbox Moments Life with our adult son with Angelman Syndrome: A Year in the Sandbox

It seems that very seldom in the last 26 years have I set a goal and accomplished it in a reasonable amount of time. I say this not as a complaint, but merely an observation. The last 26 years have been full...extremely full... and I have spent them doing the only thing I ever really wanted to do and that was to be a wife and a mother.

I have done various other things along the way,

but none of them have been more important

than my husband and my children.

On both accounts I have been excessively blessed.

A little over a year ago I started this little blog and my goals were simple...

I wanted to complete fifty-two blogs in a year (ish). Check. I wanted to share our life with Scotty and hopefully be an inspiration to others who are struggling in a life, like ours, much different than the one they imagined. Check. If I could be of comfort to just one person I would consider it a success. Check. And lastly, in some secret way I wanted someone (and by someone I mean an editor from a major publishing company) to find my blog and say, "Why do we not have a book published by this incredibly talented writer? Contact her immediately!!" Alright, I knew that wasn't going to happen, but a girl can dream right?

But the point is I finished. In the midst of this wild and crazy life I was able to find a few moments each week to put my fingers to the keyboard and in a somewhat comprehensible way write about our journey with Scotty. My grammar and syntax are atrocious and in desperate need of editing, but my sentiments are heartfelt.

When I started Sandbox Moments I really had no idea what direction it would take. Humbly, I realized very early that God had taken over my blog and any praise was His and not mine. Each week I sat in front of the computer with an inkling of what I wanted to write about but, more often than not I was guided in a completely different direction. I never failed to be surprised at the finished product. Thoughts whispered in my heart became the focus of each of my inklings. Each post was richer and more meaningful than anything I could have written alone. Just as God's constant presence is woven into the fabric of our life...I see his words intertwined with mine on every page of this blog.

And I am sure of this,

that he who began a good work in you

will bring it to completion
at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

I have learned a few things along the way. We are not alone on our journey. We were not singled out. We are not special. We are not unique. We are not extraordinary. I have learned that every person I meet has their own personal cross to bear...a heaviness that slows their steps...a burden that causes their heart to ache...something that makes them feel alone.

I have learned that this family and this life along with all its trials and blessings are all part of God's plan just for us. We have two choices. We can let the weight of the cross crush us or we can rely on God's strength to help us shoulder the burden. There really is only one answer.

In the past year nothing about our life has changed, but I have changed. For me this blog has been healing and restorative. Each week as I contemplated different material I found myself becoming more aware of all the small blessings in our otherwise chaotic world. I was able to step back and observe instead of being consumed by the daily stresses and catastrophes. I have grown stronger and so has my faith.

♥Thank You♥

Scotty and I want to thank everyone who stumbled into the sandbox and to those who came here on purpose I want to express my heartfelt thanks. Thank you for reading, thank you for your support, your encouragement and kind words.

Above all I want to thank all the families who have shared their stories with me and have given me a safe place to vent, to cry, to laugh and to share this crazy life we have in common. I am beyond grateful to find kinship with families around the world who are like us...sharing their lives with an angel.

He who receives this child
in my name receives me.

Luke 9:48

Most people never know the impact they have on others and I feel very honored that for just a moment and in some small way I was able to make a difference. Here are just a few of the many comments I have received.

Google helped me stumble upon your blog and I would like to say I was truly inspired and uplifted.
You are right about how God places people in our lives at just the right moment...
I believe that your words were placed in my path this evening.

Thanks for sharing your moment because it helped me remember about my own.

God has used your eloquent words to lift my broken spirit and strengthen my heart.

Your prose reaches out and wraps itself around this mother's
heart in a way that only kindred souls can connect.

I just stumbled across your blog...
your writing seems to come from my heart through your hand.