Elijah seems to be thriving in ABA and preschool. He is so happy these days, calm and content and happy. He's busy and he loves it. He soaks in all of the extra attention he's getting.
Change is never easy. Sending our boy to preschool hasn't been easy for me, nor has inviting multiple people in our house to do ABA therapy. Not easy, but it is the right thing to do for Elijah. I'm learning that as a parent sometimes you must do what is best for your child, even if that something is difficult (or even painful) for you.
I have to let go of what I thought parenthood would be like and let our life unfold in front of us. As I do, I see what a beautiful thing it is. It's different than I had imagined, but it's just as amazing as I had thought it would be.
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7 comments:
Lisa, you put every parents thoughts into words. No matter what life throws at you, parenting is never what you expect before you're a parent. You are both such wonderful parents. Realizing you are not always the one in "control" and accepting that is part of that.
Love the new pictures. Looks like you were all having fun.
This is poignant and sweet! The photos are perfect to match the words!
Barbara
Hi there Little "E"!
We went to the Feast in Jamaica.
The messages were on point and inspiring as was the special music.
The Feast was in Ocho Rios this year and was a very nice facility. Alex really enjoyed the on-site activities of the snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boating but his favorite was building sand castles on the beach.
We had no particular agenda except to kick back and relax and we were quite successful at that this time.
One thing we did was to hire a private boat and guide who took us snorkeling by one of the reefs near the resort. That was exceptional! We all got "Snorkeled out" and saw some things that we hadn't seen before. Roxanne Dowd spotted a school of squid and called me over so I could see them too. Only about 8"-10" long but maybe 30-40 of them. Roxanne got a picture of them that turned out great! That was very cool as I got to see one of the squid do its "squirt thing" as we got a little too close. Another thing that guide did was to bring me a sea urchin (Not the black spiny kind) and he opened up the bottom of it and turned it over and placed it in my hand. I don't know what's inside them but the small fish just love it and they swarmed to eat it right out of my hand. Literally dozens of them competing for the goodies. Roxanne also got pictures of this.
I was able to cross one thing off of my "Bucket List" at the Feast this year which was to swim with the dolphins. What amazing creatures God has created in them! They are about 7'-8' long and weigh 300-400 pounds. Swimming with them is a rather mild description. What really happens is they face you in the water and you extend your arms and grasp their pectoral fins. The dolphin then "leans" back and tows you through the water. What an awesome experience! Alex is still talking about that.
The resort had coffee available 24/7 so I was completely content to wake up at 4:00-5:00 and get some coffee and watch the sun rise. There is very little activity at that hour and that's when I find it the most peaceful. This will be important to you later on in life.
Well, all things must come to an end and this Feast was no exception. We left the resort at 8:00 am and arrived at the airport at about 9:45 for a 12:55 flight. After checking in and going through the usual preliminaries, I was beginning to wonder if I would be allowed to leave Jamaica.
For some reason Airport Security took an inordinate interest in me and my carry on luggage. I went through one "personal interview" in a private room which included a piece by piece examination of my carry-on luggage which contained my laptop, Bible, speaking notes and all of the related materials. Law enforcement also supplied a complete "frisking" and a chemical swabbing of my hands and bag.
This was followed by detailed questioning about why I was in Jamaica and what I did while I was there. Once I was finally allowed to rejoin our group (My family and Dan Dowd and his family) I learned that Roxanne Dowd had been subjected to a similar "Random" screening.
That all seemed like just one of those things and we had an hour or so to kill so we all had pizza. Then, just as we were boarding the aircraft, Roxanne and I were again singled out and given the "third degree" before being allowed to board the plane. It's amazing how even with a clear conscience, one can entertain feelings that you have somehow been "caught" doing something wrong. Don't know what they were looking for on us but we both felt better once the plane left Jamaican air space. It's nice to be wanted but I think it's nicer to be free.
Elijah, I hope you and your family also experienced a fantastic F.O.T. this year and that you got to do some really cool things.
Well time to get back to work. You keep up the studies my friend. We'll talk again soon.
Hi there Little "E"!
We went to the Feast in Jamaica.
The messages were on point and inspiring as was the special music.
The Feast was in Ocho Rios this year and was a very nice facility. Alex really enjoyed the on-site activities of the snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boating but his favorite was building sand castles on the beach.
We had no particular agenda except to kick back and relax and we were quite successful at that this time.
One thing we did was to hire a private boat and guide who took us snorkeling by one of the reefs near the resort. That was exceptional! We all got "Snorkeled out" and saw some things that we hadn't seen before. Roxanne Dowd spotted a school of squid and called me over so I could see them too. Only about 8"-10" long but maybe 30-40 of them. Roxanne got a picture of them that turned out great! That was very cool as I got to see one of the squid do its "squirt thing" as we got a little too close. Another thing that guide did was to bring me a sea urchin (Not the black spiny kind) and he opened up the bottom of it and turned it over and placed it in my hand. I don't know what's inside them but the small fish just love it and they swarmed to eat it right out of my hand. Literally dozens of them competing for the goodies. Roxanne also got pictures of this.
I was able to cross one thing off of my "Bucket List" at the Feast this year which was to swim with the dolphins. What amazing creatures God has created in them! They are about 7'-8' long and weigh 300-400 pounds. Swimming with them is a rather mild description. What really happens is they face you in the water and you extend your arms and grasp their pectoral fins. The dolphin then "leans" back and tows you through the water. What an awesome experience! Alex is still talking about that.
The resort had coffee available 24/7 so I was completely content to wake up at 4:00-5:00 and get some coffee and watch the sun rise. There is very little activity at that hour and that's when I find it the most peaceful. This will be important to you later on in life.
Well, all things must come to an end and this Feast was no exception. We left the resort at 8:00 am and arrived at the airport at about 9:45 for a 12:55 flight. After checking in and going through the usual preliminaries, I was beginning to wonder if I would be allowed to leave Jamaica.
For some reason Airport Security took an inordinate interest in me and my carry on luggage. I went through one "personal interview" in a private room which included a piece by piece examination of my carry-on luggage which contained my laptop, Bible, speaking notes and all of the related materials. Law enforcement also supplied a complete "frisking" and a chemical swabbing of my hands and bag.
This was followed by detailed questioning about why I was in Jamaica and what I did while I was there. Once I was finally allowed to rejoin our group (My family and Dan Dowd and his family) I learned that Roxanne Dowd had been subjected to a similar "Random" screening.
That all seemed like just one of those things and we had an hour or so to kill so we all had pizza. Then, just as we were boarding the aircraft, Roxanne and I were again singled out and given the "third degree" before being allowed to board the plane. It's amazing how even with a clear conscience, one can entertain feelings that you have somehow been "caught" doing something wrong. Don't know what they were looking for on us but we both felt better once the plane left Jamaican air space. It's nice to be wanted but I think it's nicer to be free.
Elijah, I hope you and your family also experienced a fantastic F.O.T. this year and that you got to do some really cool things.
Well time to get back to work. You keep up the studies my friend. We'll talk again soon.
Hi there Little "E"!
We went to the Feast in Jamaica.
The messages were on point and inspiring as was the special music.
The Feast was in Ocho Rios this year and was a very nice facility. Alex really enjoyed the on-site activities of the snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boating but his favorite was building sand castles on the beach.
We had no particular agenda except to kick back and relax and we were quite successful at that this time.
One thing we did was to hire a private boat and guide who took us snorkeling by one of the reefs near the resort. That was exceptional! We all got "Snorkeled out" and saw some things that we hadn't seen before. Roxanne Dowd spotted a school of squid and called me over so I could see them too. Only about 8"-10" long but maybe 30-40 of them. Roxanne got a picture of them that turned out great! That was very cool as I got to see one of the squid do its "squirt thing" as we got a little too close. Another thing that guide did was to bring me a sea urchin (Not the black spiny kind) and he opened up the bottom of it and turned it over and placed it in my hand. I don't know what's inside them but the small fish just love it and they swarmed to eat it right out of my hand. Literally dozens of them competing for the goodies. Roxanne also got pictures of this.
I was able to cross one thing off of my "Bucket List" at the Feast this year which was to swim with the dolphins. What amazing creatures God has created in them! They are about 7'-8' long and weigh 300-400 pounds. Swimming with them is a rather mild description. What really happens is they face you in the water and you extend your arms and grasp their pectoral fins. The dolphin then "leans" back and tows you through the water. What an awesome experience! Alex is still talking about that.
The resort had coffee available 24/7 so I was completely content to wake up at 4:00-5:00 and get some coffee and watch the sun rise. There is very little activity at that hour and that's when I find it the most peaceful. This will be important to you later on in life.
Well, all things must come to an end and this Feast was no exception. We left the resort at 8:00 am and arrived at the airport at about 9:45 for a 12:55 flight. After checking in and going through the usual preliminaries, I was beginning to wonder if I would be allowed to leave Jamaica.
For some reason Airport Security took an inordinate interest in me and my carry on luggage. I went through one "personal interview" in a private room which included a piece by piece examination of my carry-on luggage which contained my laptop, Bible, speaking notes and all of the related materials. Law enforcement also supplied a complete "frisking" and a chemical swabbing of my hands and bag.
This was followed by detailed questioning about why I was in Jamaica and what I did while I was there. Once I was finally allowed to rejoin our group (My family and Dan Dowd and his family) I learned that Roxanne Dowd had been subjected to a similar "Random" screening.
That all seemed like just one of those things and we had an hour or so to kill so we all had pizza. Then, just as we were boarding the aircraft, Roxanne and I were again singled out and given the "third degree" before being allowed to board the plane. It's amazing how even with a clear conscience, one can entertain feelings that you have somehow been "caught" doing something wrong. Don't know what they were looking for on us but we both felt better once the plane left Jamaican air space. It's nice to be wanted but I think it's nicer to be free.
Elijah, I hope you and your family also experienced a fantastic F.O.T. this year and that you got to do some really cool things.
Well time to get back to work. You keep up the studies my friend. We'll talk again soon.
Hi there Little "E"!
We went to the Feast in Jamaica.
The messages were on point and inspiring as was the special music.
The Feast was in Ocho Rios this year and was a very nice facility. Alex really enjoyed the on-site activities of the snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boating but his favorite was building sand castles on the beach.
We had no particular agenda except to kick back and relax and we were quite successful at that this time.
One thing we did was to hire a private boat and guide who took us snorkeling by one of the reefs near the resort. That was exceptional! We all got "Snorkeled out" and saw some things that we hadn't seen before. Roxanne Dowd spotted a school of squid and called me over so I could see them too. Only about 8"-10" long but maybe 30-40 of them. Roxanne got a picture of them that turned out great! That was very cool as I got to see one of the squid do its "squirt thing" as we got a little too close. Another thing that guide did was to bring me a sea urchin (Not the black spiny kind) and he opened up the bottom of it and turned it over and placed it in my hand. I don't know what's inside them but the small fish just love it and they swarmed to eat it right out of my hand. Literally dozens of them competing for the goodies. Roxanne also got pictures of this.
I was able to cross one thing off of my "Bucket List" at the Feast this year which was to swim with the dolphins. What amazing creatures God has created in them! They are about 7'-8' long and weigh 300-400 pounds. Swimming with them is a rather mild description. What really happens is they face you in the water and you extend your arms and grasp their pectoral fins. The dolphin then "leans" back and tows you through the water. What an awesome experience! Alex is still talking about that.
The resort had coffee available 24/7 so I was completely content to wake up at 4:00-5:00 and get some coffee and watch the sun rise. There is very little activity at that hour and that's when I find it the most peaceful. This will be important to you later on in life.
Well, all things must come to an end and this Feast was no exception. We left the resort at 8:00 am and arrived at the airport at about 9:45 for a 12:55 flight. After checking in and going through the usual preliminaries, I was beginning to wonder if I would be allowed to leave Jamaica.
For some reason Airport Security took an inordinate interest in me and my carry on luggage. I went through one "personal interview" in a private room which included a piece by piece examination of my carry-on luggage which contained my laptop, Bible, speaking notes and all of the related materials. Law enforcement also supplied a complete "frisking" and a chemical swabbing of my hands and bag.
This was followed by detailed questioning about why I was in Jamaica and what I did while I was there. Once I was finally allowed to rejoin our group (My family and Dan Dowd and his family) I learned that Roxanne Dowd had been subjected to a similar "Random" screening.
That all seemed like just one of those things and we had an hour or so to kill so we all had pizza. Then, just as we were boarding the aircraft, Roxanne and I were again singled out and given the "third degree" before being allowed to board the plane. It's amazing how even with a clear conscience, one can entertain feelings that you have somehow been "caught" doing something wrong. Don't know what they were looking for on us but we both felt better once the plane left Jamaican air space. It's nice to be wanted but I think it's nicer to be free.
Elijah, I hope you and your family also experienced a fantastic F.O.T. this year and that you got to do some really cool things.
Well time to get back to work. You keep up the studies my friend. We'll talk again soon.
lisa, we continue to follow you, andy, and elijah. you inspire us and we're so grateful for your sharing... xo judy & steve emmings
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