special people

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I have been eating yummy clementines from Morocco so today's pictures celebrate beautiful Moroccan things.

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Jay didn't have to work yesterday so we went to a bookstore together in the afternoon. We took turns browsing/watching Sienna play. It was nice to flip through design magazines. I love it that the bookstores have playareas for kids. I'm amazed I only bought a little notebook this time. ;) We visited Jay's mom quickly when we had to pick up Robin from there. Robin went swimming with the "other kids" and spent the night there. Jay's dad was napping so Sienna said to her gramma "It's just you and me."

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Today Sienna was in her nursery class ALL BY HERSELF (=without daddy) THE WHOLE TIME!! Sienna has always had some major separation anxiety issues so this was a big deal today. Hope this will last. Jay will be able to go to his own class. :)

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Something really touched me at church today. I know I've mentioned religion related stuff lately and that's never been the plan for this blog. But I know that many of my readers have Christian values so I know many will appreciate this. The young kids were having their singing time and singing the song I'll share with you in a minute. There's a family in our ward who have a Down's Syndrome little boy and it's often a struggle for them as "he has many needs". I was sitting beside this mom today and she started to cry when we sang this song. I gave her a big hug. Here's the song:

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If you don't walk as most people do,

Some people walk away from you,

But I won't! I won't!

If you don't talk as most people do,

Some people talk and laugh at you,

But I won't! I won't!

I'll walk with you.

I'll talk with you.

That's how I'll show my love for you.

Jesus walked away from none.

He gave his love to everyone.

So I will! I will!

Jesus blessed all he could see,

Then turned and said,

"Come, follow me."

And I will! I will!

I will! I will!

I'll walk with you.

I'll talk with you.

That's how I'll show my love for you.

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At times I get so frustrated with Robin. Only people who have taken care of these special needs people for a long period of time, day in day out, can really understand what it's like and how trying it can be at times. I love Robin so much but he does drive me absolutely boinkers at times too. But today I was so grateful that we have him living with us. I'm so glad that I know how to relate to people who are a bit different. I don't feel ackward around them. Jay's parents have five of these special people in their home. They are all real characters and yes, sometimes it's a struggle to love them the way they are (sometimes we are all hard to love, I think). Sometimes they eat raw meat, sometimes they soil themselves and you have to help clean up, sometimes they just get so stubborn and won't listen, sometimes you get tired of saying the same things for the millionth time, sometimes it's so hard to wait around for them to catch up with everyone else... But at the end of the day, I love each and every one of these special people. Yes, even Dan. Those who know him, know why I say that. He especially tries your patience to the limit. Awhile back, one of these special people passed away (one that lives with Jay's aunt) and the funeral was amazing! There were so many people who's lives this person had touched. The tears and laughs we all had as people talked about memories they had had with this person. The love was so tangible in the chapel that day. I know that God gives these people this special challenge for a special reason. Maybe it is actually for the good of the people around them. But I also know, without any kind of doubt in my mind, that as they each leave this eartly life, they will be made whole again and they won't have the limitations that they do here on earth. Sometimes I can't wait to see Robin in the next life! It'll be so exciting! I'm going to tell him how nuts he drove me at times. :) I will tell him how grateful I am that he has been part of my life.

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Sienna sure loves her "Uncie Robin" too!

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Let's celebrate the people among us who are a bit different (and at the end of the day - aren't we all a bit "different"). They just want to be treated like all the rest of us. Not any different. Get to know one if you don't already. It will enrich your life. I promise.

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ps. I don't have time now (and this posting is long enough already!) but soon I'll share with you some of my fun "Robin memories".

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