Joy

Tuesday, March 18, 9:06am.

According to the "schedule" its craft time. But we're a little lax on the schedule this morning. Much to Micah's dismay. He keeps pointing to it and grunting his "words" to let me know. We're off today. I know buddy, its gonna be okay.

Today is day 4 of 8. It's spring-break/daddy's-on-a-missions-trip/mommy's-trying-to-get-lots-of-projects-done-to-keep-busy-and-so-daddy-doesn't-see-the-mid-project-mess week. Yeah that.

Project a la week is: Moving around bedrooms.

Because Abby has sleep issues, she just canNOT share with Mabry and Kate anymore. She keeps them up in the middle of the night and then Kate is tired and miserable

So.

I moved our "cubbies" (the kids locker/thing) into the playroom.

I moved my bills and office stuff to my bedroom.

I painted the office.

I moved Ashley and Emily into the office.

I moved Abby into their old room.

Voila.

I'm basically done. Just need to clean up the aftermath of post room-switch items that don't have a home. And we need to save up some funds for a bunkbed for Ashley and Emily. For now they're just on mattresses on the floor. We're not too proud for that. :)

~~~

Yesterday I was reminiscing of last year's missions trip and reading that blog post. (To read that post, see My life as a youth pastors wife.) So funny, it feels like I could have written it this week. Same thoughts, same feelings. This week ain't my first rodeo. I'm a professional bull rider actually. Or am I the rodeo clown?... Hm. I just know I've got lots of little mutton busters over here. (If you don't know what all that means, you must not live in the south. Search it on YouTube.)

Last night the kids were climbing the walls.... If you know Micah, you know I mean this literally... So I did what I often do to help them burn some energy. I pull the mini trampoline into the kitchen, blare some upbeat music and set the timer, making each one jump for the same minutes as their age. They love it. All six of them. They all cheer on whoever is jumping, with clapping and singing. Its a great way to keep them busy so I can cook dinner.

So as the kids jumped and laughed and the sound of "I'm on top of the world" by Imagine Dragons was deafening in my kitchen, and I gave thanks. That mental snapshot of smiles is a priceless memory.

Later last night I got to FaceTime my hunky pastor/missionary man. Which always makes things better. And then I watched a video my friend had recommended. A beautiful reminder. The perfect timing. A call to joy. The art of celebration. (Strongly encourage you to watch that link. I {heart} Rend Collective.)

And because the Lord is so good at giving me "winks", the very next thing I came across was a new post on the ol' Ann Voscamp blog sharing this profound truth: "Perspective can always adopt gratitude, and gratitude always parents joy."

Ok, Lord, I get it. My life, my house, my kids. Are crazy. But as long as I keep perspective, it leads to gratitude. Which births Joy.

I love my kids. Like, heart bursting love. I love my crazy life. I wouldn't trade it for any other way of living.

My house is a wreck, right now I'm now behind schedule (which Micah has reminded me of again since I sat down to blog), and I'm contemplating a 3rd cup of coffee. I miss my sane better half and its not the same without him here. But. I'm enjoying today. I'm grateful for today.

And I have joy unspeakable and full of glory. :)

"I am on top of the world, ay. I'm on top of the world, ay......"

Cupcakes

Abby loves cupcakes.

I mean... I like cupcakes. My other kids like cupcakes. But Abby. Loves. Cupcakes.

It's just her thing. But not only eating them, she loves cupcake stuff. She has a cupcake pillow, a cupcake necklace, a cupcake jewelry box, a cupcake calendar (from last year), and cupcake Legos.

One of the main slogans for the Down Syndrome community is "More Alike than Different". (Click here to watch a really sweet YouTube on that.) People who have Down Syndrome are more like you than they are different from you.

Case in point today - Miss Abby Grace. ;)

My sweet Abby is just like any other 7 year old girl. She is girly, she loves to wear pink, she likes to play with her friends, she gets upset when she's left out, she has a great sense of humor, she gets sarcasm and she has a contagious giggle. She plays and fights with her siblings, she likes to help Mom with the dishes until she realizes it's boring and she thinks her Daddy hung the moon. She's dramatic, gets her feelings hurt sometimes a lot, and gets discouraged when she can't do something right. And she loves cupcakes.

One of the few things that makes her different is that she has to work to say cupcake.

I took this video during one of the many little speech sessions we do with her here at the house. She has formal speech therapy at school, but for us- pushing Abby is a way of life. We don't let things slide. (Or we try not to anyway.) One of the reasons that Abby is more alike than different is because she's worked for it. She earned it. And in some ways, that gives her more character than kids who don't earn it. 

Abby has a hard time saying cupcake. She can say the "ck" sound. She can say "cup" and "cake". But when she tries to say cupcake it comes out "hupcake". She knows it. And she tries to say it right. And we try to help. I'd like you to really watch her in this video....

What do you see in this video? Do you see someone who is different or scary or weird? Or do you see a little girl who is sweet and funny and even gets frustrated that she can't nail it?

Maybe it's just because I'm her mom. But I see a girl who us more alike than different. Even if she does say "hupcake". Which I secretly think is super cute and requires more tickling.