Pictures and Updates Spring 2013

People always ask me, how are the girls?     My answer is usually, "They are happy."   They truly are.    Not that there is no struggles or issues - in fact, there are so many that I can spend all day talking about them and become very down.   But that's not my focus and is certainly not our future.    We are chugging along this path, with bruises and bumps, trip and fall at times.  I am tired, I got so mad at them, I am frustrated and despair at times.   But these girls are truly happy and that's what's matter most.   I love them so much so much with all my heart.

1,2,3, let's line up our steps!

Let's go!

Our chickens are still laying eggs for us everyday.    They are like families to us.   Ummm.....   People have dogs or cats, we have chickens.  LOL  

I like this picture.   I like how Pearl watched Sam so intently while he was putting on his boots.    

Story time with big brother Ben.   Awww.....   Ben always like to make her sisters scream, then cry, then smile and giggle.....   The girls always come to me to complaint Ben;  But then they will happily go back to play with him.   I can never figure that out!

Sam made through his first year of army ROTC training(phew!) and attended the end of year ceremony in this handsome uniform two weeks ago. 

They came downstairs one morning and found each other in gray shirt and jeans.   What a coincident!  

Pearl LOVES Scruffy.   Love, love, love.   No other words can describe it better. 

Beth - walking to the mailbox by herself to wait for her school bus, with a little bit of verbal cue from Faith behind.

Being parent of a blind child can often be perceived as very harsh and mean.     Most people have a lot of compassion for blind people and are always ready to jump in to help when they see a need, which is so wonderful.    But I, on the other hand, need to set high goals for Bethany to be as independent as possible, in order to prepare her for life as an independent adult.  It is also important for Bethany to know that she CAN and SHOULD do everything herself to her best ability, instead of relying on people around her and constantly playing the compassion card. (Oh, she knows how to!)    Many times when Bethany dropped something on the floor, people around her were so quick to pick up for her.    I would usually interrupt and tell people NOT to help her, and let her retrieve it herself, even when it means she is crawling around on the floor.     

Speaking of playing the compassion card, here is a really funny story her teacher told me.     One day during circle time at school, Bethany decided that she wanted the spot up front closer to the teacher.     She then tapped her classmate in front of her and said, "Excuse me, I want to sit here because I can't see;  I am blind."    Ha, ha....

Everything you see in this picture looks normal, but everything is actually so hard for Bethany.   The girls are blowing and popping bubbles, but Bethany can't see them and doesn't really know what the blowing does.     The girls are wearing flip flops in summer;  To Bethany, learning to put on flip flops is like learning a totally foreign skill (very different from putting on sneakers).    This is true for a lot of the "everyday" and "normal" things kids do.   To Bethany, all these "normal" things are new challenges for her.   But I insist that Bethany does EVERYTHING her sisters do because life experience is such a big part of good reading and conversational skills.   

In this past school year, Ms. Lori has been Bethany's school bus driver.   She would always come pick up Bethany with the sweetest greeting and smile.      A few weeks ago, she told me she was moving and began to pass me lots of used toys and girls clothes used to belong to her daughter.   One day, she came by our house to drop off toys once again.   About 30 minutes into our conversation, she slowly shared with me how she is going through some very very difficult time in family, health, work, and finances.   She is a Christian, but struggling much spiritually because of all the turmoil going on in her life.   Her life is literally falling apart.   I later learned from another friend that at one point, her bank account was down to only $13.    With her smile on her face driving the bus every morning, no one could ever possibly figure out all the hardships she is going through.

More and more I am convinced that Jesus wants us to be "people person".   We cannot, and must not just live our lives in our comfortable little circle and call it a good life.   He wants us to be salt and light and be among the people who are suffering.    And sometimes people who are suffering are right in front of our eyes, and we missed out because we are too busy planning and enjoying our comfortable life in our comfortable little circle.    

 "The Good Life" by Paul David Tripp in his book "Broken-Down House" page 136:

Easy to be passive
Easy to avoid involvement
Easy to look the other way
Easy to shut up your heart
Easy to focus on me and mine
Easy to withhold compassion
Easy to shut the door and close the blinds
Easy to love what is lovely
Easy to give to what will bring a return
Easy to build a fence around your comfort
too high to see over with no gate for exit
Easy to sit in the middle 
and call it the good life