I am incredibly fortunate to have a loving, supportive husband, great kids (even if they are adults and still make me a little crazy) and a fulfilling, meaningful job to go to every day.  It is a pleasure to work for an organization where the Mission, values and principles mesh with my own so well.  My grandbabies are growing so fast it just astonishes me.

Earlier this summer my niece got married in Scottsdale and it was wonderful.  I will never think of dancing at the reception in the same way.  My niece married a man who is Tongan.  She is half Samoan and dances with a semi-professional Polynesian dance troupe.  Her dance troupe came and performed at the reception, including a fire knife dance.  After they were done, both sides of the bridal couple performed dances for and gave gifts to the other side of the family.  We had such fun and as a bonus got to spend several days with my parents since we rented a minivan and took them along.

It was a blessing to see how everyone accepted my daughter and did their best to understand what she was saying.  She has a difficult time talking and if she feels pressured to talk she gets frustrated and stops trying.  My heart aches when she doesn’t fit in or isn’t included in activities because of her disability but she had dance partners until the D.J. packed up his equipment to leave.

Jennifer has tremendous gifts to share but frequently people don’t take the time to get to know her and benefit from that.  She gives the best hugs.  When she is hugging you nothing else matters to her but you.  She loves old people (as she calls them – grandmas and grandpas).  She loves to take care of people.  She has a wonderful sense of humor and wants all our friends and family to live at our house.  If people can’t see past her disability to all these gifts and more, who has the disability?

I am counting my blessings and I thank God for all those good people in our lives who love my family and work to make Jennifer’s life meaningful and full.  I hope you have people in your family’s life who are blessings to you and enrich your lives.

Till next time,
Doris