MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010 !

Christmas Letter 2010 on it's way...been a bit busy managing the family - if you want to see what has been keeping this author so tied up check out www.baseballsbutterfliesblessings.blogspot.com - that should keep you busy until we can get something posted here! In the meantime, thanks for your patience and even for caring to view this website! Goal for the Christmas letter - posting by December 20!

True Beauty

As we were leaving the Irish pub at the resort last weekend, a lady and her husband pulled me over and asked if she could know more about Will. We talked a bit and she told me that she was inspired by Will. I told her that I had noticed her earlier in the evening. She and her husband were dressed nicely and seemed to be celebrating. I told her that they had inspired me as I watched her husband attending to her every need. She was in a wheelchair supported by a bed board of sorts and could not feed herself yet she was courageous enough to dress up and go to a public restaurant.

I took her hand and she told me that this was their 2nd anniversary and it was her first time to be out in two years. Shortly after their marriage and subsequent honeymoon in Ireland, she began to experience terrible pain and finally the Mayo Clinic diagnosed her with the worst case of arthritis they had seen. I exclaimed "but you high-fived Will - that must have hurt terribly" and she said she wouldn't have missed it. She asked if she could have a photo with Will and sweet Will gave her a big kiss.

I left so overwhelmed at her story and my own grandson's zest for life. I wondered if I was in her position - could I be brave enough to go out in public with my husband who loves to eat out and entertain? I wondered if my husband would be so loving, attentive and respectful under the same circumstances...We've been married 30 years compared to their two.

I am grateful that Katie and Reagan don't hide Will (as if they could!) even when curious children stare and whisper and point...even when people ask stupidly callous questions regarding Will's body....as Katie says "I wish everyone would just see Will has a beautiful curly headed laughing toddler-instead of noticing his differences" Most of the time people are totally charmed by Will and because he is such an extrovert they often notice his differences after they have succumbed to his blue eyed smiles. I am so grateful God has given Will this personality that brings such joy to people as he abandons himself and dances and high-fives and greets everyone (and I do mean everyone!) on elevators and planes and restaurants with "hi" and "by-by" and just laughs in such a way that it makes others laugh in spite of themselves.

Thank you to the lady at the pub, to Kyle Maynard and also to my Will who have taught me greatly what true beauty is and the power they (as well as myself) have to enable others to feel better just by being yourself, using the gifts God has given you and not worrying what others think.

Really Happy Mother's Day !

We left the Salisbury Family festivities Saturday afternoon and drove to a resort in Braselton, Georgia called Chateau Elan. Will was quite happy to splash in the pool and eat a hot dog....then his Cookie gave Katie and I the afternoon off to lay out by the pool while the two boys took a nap in the hotel room.

The resort has vineyards on its grounds through which Will enjoyed running and playing a great game of "git choo"

In the evening we ate dinner at a restaurant on the resort grounds called Paddy's Pub - an authentic Irish Pub....Will loved the Irish music and did an Irish Jig much to the patrons' delight - he then proceeded to work his way around the room and gave everyone "high fives" and "fist hits" quite the crowd pleaser.

Although it was great fun to see everyone enjoy our curly headed grandson's antics I was also caught up in the memories of one year ago when my eldest cousin Rick Dulin died...our family gathered at this same resort to celebrate his life at this same Irish Pub (our family is Irish or at least some mixture of....) I miss Rick. I can still hear his voice in my mind and still see the things that brought him happiness...He has left a hole in our family. He would have loved to see Will dance since he too enjoyed dancing - a lot!

To My Big Cousin Rick I dedicate the following video:

Mother's Day was very special to spend with my daughter and grandson although I missed my sons Adam and Reagan . I never take it for granted when I get to spend time with my kids - it is so precious to me! We spent most of the day traveling to get home but it was a joy to cuddle with Will on the plane and have him fall asleep in the arms of his Lovie. He is really a social butterfly telling everyone he meets "hi" and making sure he tells everyone on the plane or the DFW Skylink or wherever - "bye bye" . Thank you God for blessing me with children and a grandchild. I ended the day with more blessings by celebrating with my own mother and my husband Tom. I am filled with joy.

Congratulations Clemson Claire !

Claire & her "cousin" Katie - "birthday sisters"

born exactly 6 years apart!

Our sweet friend Claire Salisbury (John & Debbie Salisbury's daughter) graduated from Clemson in South Carolina today - and we were so honored and thrilled to be included in their celebration. We started the festivities with an evening of Sushi and Will quickly gathered a "harem".... we all stayed at a wonderful camp (called Clemson Outdoor Lab - terrible name for a gorgeous place) with wonderful cabins in a beautiful forest setting. Clemson rents these cabins during the school year and uses the profits to allow non profits to use the camp all summer - so every week camps are held for the blind, the deaf, the "differently abled", inner city, etc....all the kids attend for free!

We loved being with our dear friends - thanks so much for including us Salisburys - Congratulations Claire on your graduation and your accomplishments! Claire is so beautiful inside and out and is now looking forward to completing a graduate degree in Occupational Therapy! She is the recipient of a grant to study Autism. Will is really excited for her - he has a special place in his heart for OTs!

Here are some photos from our fun time with the Salisburys, Granberrys & Harts:

Driving from GA to SC - Another Pic with Cookie, Will & his Lovie

Will with the graduate - Claire Salisbury

Will and his "Harem"

Smokin' Chopsticks (instead of cigars)

Meeting James & Sarah Granberry for first time & Playing Baseball

John Salisbury Grillin' & The Rest of Us Eatin'

Debbie Salisbury & Will Cuddlin'

Graduation Ceremonies - Attendees Rootin' For Claire

(minus Lovie & Will who had to take naps)

Salisbury Family & Will with Claire Salisbury

Will with Elvia Salisbury & Will with Audrey Salisbury

Will with Cookie and Cookie's best friend since forever John Salisbury

"No Excuses!" KYLE MAYNARD Meets "Where There's a WILL There's A Way"

We had the honor & privilege of meeting a celebrity and our "hero" today

Kyle Maynard!

About a month ago, Katie had a particularly bad day and I was praying about how to encourage her. I've realized on a certain level that I will never relate to Katie as she parents Will or at least she won't feel like I can relate (because of course I am "just the grandma") anyway...I decided to do a little computer research - found and called another mom that Katie has often said she wished she could talk to - Anita Maynard in Suwanee, Georgia. Anita graciously agreed to talk to Katie and they have been doing that for the past few weeks. She has truly been an encouragement as well as an inspiration!

When Katie was pregnant, a friend of ours gave us a book titled "No Excuses" written by and about Kyle Maynard, a congenital amputee who became a championship wrestler. We loaned it to Katie and Reagan to read. They relished reading Kyle's words and his perspective, dreaming of what their own son would one day convey. They were amazed by what Kyle had accomplished (world records in weight lifting, college wrestling, publishing a book, modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch etc!) He recently opened his own gym and does personal training. He has his own home, drives a car and can quickly dial someone on his Blackberry. He also can drive his car and talk on the cell phone at the same time even though his mom wishes he wouldn't! He is a typical 25 year old guy - except that his attitude about life is atypical. And he is a quad congenital amputee... like our Will!!!

We loved Kyle's attitude in his book & knew that much of that came from the values and love that his parents & grandparents instilled in him. Kyle has met many celebrities & been on television with Oprah, Larry King & Bryant Gumbel. He's won athletic awards from ESPN. He is a motivational speaker who travels all over the USA. Another documentary is currently being filmed and this one will include Will, as the filmmaker came to the gym to cover our visit. Kyle's parents also surprised us by inviting Kyle's grandmother (Anita's mom) Betty to attend our meeting. I knew immediately who she was and was so emotionally touched to meet someone who has been so instrumental in encouraging her grandson - now here was someone I could relate to!!! Thank you for your inspiration and for walking the road ahead of me Betty...It was truly an incredible experience and so fun to have all 3 generations of their family along with 3 generations of our family in one room. We were able to ask lots of questions and hear answers from so many perspectives.

Kyle has made quite an impact in our life, our children's lives and even Will's life. As a Christian male, as a competitive athlete and as a man who has lived a life without limits, he will continue to have a great influence upon our grandson.

I'm also pretty sure there will be more reunions ahead as we have something else in common between the two families -- the Maynards go to Panama City Beach, Florida every year, just like our family!- now there's another "God-incident" for you! Thank you, Maynard family, for taking the time to meet with Will's family....you have blessed us more than you know!

Flying to Georgia with Lovie, Cookie & Mommy!

Meeting Kyle Maynard!

Above: Kyle autographing a book for Will & Will autographing a napkin for Kyle.

Kyle autographed our book " To Tom and Julie: My grandparents impacted my life in ways I can barely put into words - and you both will have that same impact on Will! Keep encouraging him to reach for his dreams! God bless"

Below: Feet Fight!

Two proud moms with their super sons!

HAPPY EASTER ! ! !

 

 

Blog Bog

Update as of 5/15 - blog has now been updated for January- you'll have to scroll there for cute videos!

Been a Bit Backed Up in the Blog Department lately! But am hoping to catch it up over the next few days ...Call it "writer's block" or whatever! Not for lack of material! If you don't read Katie's blog then you are going to be amazed at how much our grandbaby Will has changed! He is now walking everywhere with and without prosthetics and talking up a storm! A lot of it is his own language with a word or two that we recognize but it is sooooo much fun! He finally gets it that my name is "Lovie" and he calls me "Ovie" which is better than "chubby" or some other deviation from the actual word...He has been calling his grandad "Cookie" for some time now and his favorite thing to do with Cookie and me (if Cookie is not around) is go for a walk "alk" with our dog Lizzie. Well I apologize for any frustration if you have come to the blog and see nothing new is really added...hang in there -lots of news on the way!

The Will Show

Will and Katie came for a quick visit. It is soooo much fun to see how fast he is learning to do things - like reading! Enjoy the following videos!

VIDEO #1 : Will Reading His Favorite Book

VIDEO #2: Bubby & Dorothy Gordon (in their young 90's) came over to play ball with Will.

WARNING: The following videos contain BN (baby nudity) & AL (adults laughing)!

Will is in our bathtub having a ball. He discovered how to turn on the cold water and for some reason every time he does it he is surprised and screams "cold". He also enjoyed the mirrors and blowing bubbles (once he figured out how to do it in the water!)

The WILL Show !

Katie sent the following videos to us to show us how well Will is talking and walking - very exciting! Katie and Reagan taught Will some things to say in sign language so that he could have some manners before he is able to actually say words. It's the new thing to do with this generation and I really like it - He can say "please" , "thank you" , "all done" and "more". He also is very into his prosthetics and now brings his "zancos" which he calls shoes (smart boy!) to Katie because he wants to wear them all the time - wow - his therapists at Scottish Rite told us this would happen one day but I have to admit we had our doubts - amazing huh?

Thanks for Voting! Richard's Tree Won !

Oh Christmas Tree I'll VOTE for Thee!

I received something forwarded from Katie that I feel sure each and every one of you will want to cast a vote. Actually you can vote one time each day. Please read the following letter sent from someone we don't know but certainly can relate to and then go to the Neiman Marcus website. If by chance you are in Dallas this weekend for the White Rock Marathon benefitting Texas Scottish Rite Hospital or anytime this holiday season, I hope you'll get a chance to see this in person at the downtown NM store.

Hi – strange request but I could use your help for a friend. She has a son, Richard, who was born with Poland's syndrome and without one of his hands and he is missing the pectoral muscle on the same side. Richard is the strongest, most amazing child and when he was in kindergarten his friends would tuck their arms into their sleeves with only their elbow hanging out so they could "be more like Richard" because he was "so cool".

Richard is now 8 ½ and Neiman Marcus solicited children for their ideas for the Christmas Trees in the downtown Dallas windows of Neiman's. Richard's tree was chosen and he got the chance to work with the designers at Neiman's to build his tree. His idea was to build a tree of all the gifts that Texas Scottish Rite Hospital has given to children he has met over the years (wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, crutches and the like). They were so impressed in working with him that Home and Garden Television (HGTV) recently did a story on the Neiman's trees and wanted to interview Richard for their story.

So now … Neiman's chose 6 trees and they were unveiled last week in downtown Dallas. They have opened up voting to the public for our favorite tree and well … here I am shamelessly asking you to go and vote for Richard because I know how deeply winning this would be for him. He has struggled with so many things that other little boys unknowingly take for granted and I have watched he and his family struggle and grow stronger over the years.

Just last month Richard was told by one of his teachers that if she were his mother she wouldn't have bought him tie shoes she would buy him Velcro shoes as she watched him struggle to tie his shoes on the playground. He came home in tears. He and and his mom, Lori, worked for literally years to learn to tie his shoes so he could wear tie shoes like his brothers and his friends. I can't imagine how I would have reacted … but not Lori … She just told him that "well, Richard, this is why god gave you to me – because he knew I wouldn't sell you short. You can wear tie shoes and tie them just like all the other boys – and I am raising you to be a man and a man you are already becoming."

I want him to win this one and I want his mom to have this win for him (and for her too). I want it for Lori because of the challenges she has faced with the schools and our community. I have a hard time writing and talking about him because of how deeply I have experienced this struggle from the outside and how deeply I love my friend and cannot begin to imagine the strength she has had to muster for things I know I have unknowingly taken for granted as a mother.

Sorry for the diatribe but if you could , would you please vote for Richard's tree on the Neiman's website (notice the prosthetic hands reaching to the sky he designed at the top ….:) – FYI you can vote once a day! NOTE: Vote for the 4th tree on the page

Here is the link to vote:

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/service/poll.jhtml?pollCode=trees&icid=LocalStorePageTwo

Designer Richard Fogarty with his tree

It's That Time of Year...

One of the things I most love about Christmas is that I can count on traditions...I am a sentimental person and I married a sentimental guy... course unlike me he is a little better at throwing out stuff ...I still have Katie's blankie and Adam's little overalls (as well as other countles boxes of stuff that brings back so many wonderful memories I can't bear to toss). Anyway I digress...

One of the things that has become a tradition in our family for the past 20 some odd years is the Men's Group Christmas Party. It always takes place in the home of the couple that has the newest home (consequently I have hosted a lot!)

This year it was at Susan and Bryan Rossman's home-thanks so much for hosting!

If you want to read more about the Men's Group you can go to our archives in the blog "Friends" [9-2-08]

To our dear friends in the Men's Group - we treasure your friendship and your prayers!

Merry Merry Christmas and here's to the next 20 years!

from l to r: Gary & Kelly Hodge, Elam & Betty Swann, Bill & Nancy Blomdahl,

Peggy & John Berry, Bryan & Susan Rossman, & us

~~~~~~~~

A somewhat newer tradition is one that began after our kids left home....Our friends Rick & Jane Rogers have a wedding anniversary on Dec. 1 and they asked us one year to babysit their daughter Sarah and we gladly said yes. Now we have been doing this for several years. Sarah and I make a craft (we started with painting an apron for her and then cooking dinner together)...some years the crafts were a total flop! Last year we made a gingerbread house and it was so successful that we did it again this year! A lot of fun!

Sarah brought a "sister" this year - the Rogers' exchange student from China - Yier Yin, whom we call Belle...Here they are making their Gingerbread Houses.

We had so much fun eating fondue for dinner (cheese & chocolate!) It was Belle's first time to eat fondue.

It was so much fun to do Christmas things with Belle and to glimpse it through her eyes. She is from Shang Hai, China and shared that in her country Christmas is commercialized and very few homes decorate. Merchants decorate the streets and stores in order to sell things. She asked me to explain the difference between Santa Claus and Jesus. Sarah helped me share a little.

I had planned to put up a lot of Christmas decorations but we were having so much fun that never got done. As I put up the manger the next night I was sad not to have Belle with me I would have liked to talk to her more and share how much I love putting up the manger - it is really my favorite part of decorating. I always wonder about that first Christmas and I strive to remember what the real reason for the season is, not getting lost in the stress and preparations. Belle made me focus on what my home reflects and she made me think of what I need to reflect. I think I decorated a bit differently this year...not more simply (can't go there yet!) but with a different goal in mind. I don't want our Savior Jesus to be outdone by Santa. I don't want anyone who is a guest in our home to miss who and why we rejoice.