Commercial break.....

I know I promised more pictures from Quarry Quest...... I promise..... I will post them later this evening.   But want to do a quick post to support  Perfect Lily and her mom, Patti as they work hard to help raise money for the Quinn family.   They are working hard to bring home their daughter from an orphanage in Eastern Europe.   Please join in supporting them with prayer and with money if the Lord so leads you.   They are sponsoring an iPad2 giveaway to raise money.

Help get Autumn home!! (known as Donna on Reece's Rainbow)

Quarry Quest: Part 1

My cousin, Karyn and I took "the boys" to Wisconsin to visit Uncle Jeff (my brother) AND to go to Quarry Quest!!  WOW, what a day!! (click here for news article..... reportedly 15,000 people shared the day with us!!) I highly recommend it!! especially if you have any young people who have a special interest in diggers, cranes and dump trucks.

Or if you have someone who makes everything fun  :)

Oh, the excitement as we arrived, got our complimentary safety vests.

We reviewed the rules and headed down into the quarry.

The first line we got in, was for the "diggers".    ....... and we waited........

but Nevin helped with entertainment of the "restless"   :)

then..........   finally.......... our turn!!!

(and despite the "lapful",  Nevin's enthusiasm always lends itself to acceptance)

Then the post adrenalin "strut"!  :)

***stay tuned for the lift, the crane, the sand mountain........ 

Blue Man!!!

We went to see a Blue Man Group show in Cedar Falls last night.  

 It was as much fun to watch Nevin's excitement as it was to watch the show!
We splurged, our seats were in the 6th row!

oh, my.... it was fun to watch his reactions!

It was definitely Nevin's kind of show!! 

No talking,  all visual.

(I didn't take this video of the balls, 
someone in the upper balcony took it and posted it on youtube.) 
Wow, did Nevin ever enjoy this part!  The balls were about 6 foot in diameter and Nevin got to hit them several times.   I got lot's of "look out mom!!"  and then giggles.  

Even more excitement after the show, when he got to pose with the band.

and the band member on the right.........

blessed him with drumsticks from the show!! 

WITH PAINT on them!!

Can you say EXCITED!!

(a hood of the car pic... think I need a little tripod)

The adrenalin rush kept him talking, drumming, singing

..... all the way home.

ugliness.........

I had another post planned....... but then I read this post written by a hurt, angry mama bear.  A search engine searching for words "ugly", "r&tarded", "baby girl", "toddler"......  Imagine their surprise when what came up was a picture of absolute PURE BEAUTY.   A picture of the face of God, in his image.  

While I know we live in a broken world, it still makes my heart hurt to know this ugliness exists and is directed at our children.  It makes me angry,... it makes me sad, ....it makes me want to work harder to change the world and at the same time it disheartens me.

 The internet has been a wonderful place to connect and become part of the "larger"  down syndrome family, but it has also proven to be another vehicle to spread ugliness.   This type of hate, this type of ignorance is why I do frequent searches using Nevin's name, or other combinations of descriptors such as ds adult, ds teen, r&tard, etc. .......to try and protect him as best I can.   I have had several instances of his picture being used inappropriately, but at least by people willing to take it down (for e.g. his picture in an article that promoted prenatal testing to avoid ds.)  I haven't been sucker punched by "hate driven" searches yet.  But I've also avoided using the words down syndrome and his name together very often...... is that me just being chicken?......  am I failing at advocating?  ...... I know that I may not be connecting with as many people as I could because I've been "timid".    Not like I'm a powerful blogger or anything..... but it does make me think?

If you get a chance go over to this mama bear's blog and let her know what a beautiful daughter she has (even though she knows that..... a little extra lovin' can't hurt!!)  tell I sent you.   ummm..... tell her Nevin sent you  :)

a walk........

I've been quiet lately.   I just haven't had words that were organized enough in my brain to write them down.   There has been much happening........  much to think about ........ much to pray about.

In the meantime, the weather has been wonderful.  My foot is finally better enough that we can get out for a walk.   But Nevin and Rosie were more interested in a "run"  :)

It was a little reminiscent of the "runner" days.  :)  But they stopped and waited when we called and told them to wait for us.   THAT was different than the "runner" days. 

 When Nevin was little and would "go missing", the joke was that we would first check the  perimeter to see if we could see his dust, before we wasted time checking the house and yard, etc.  The above picture made me think of that.

Nevin loves Rosie.   It bothers him when she gets "tangled" in the leash..... I tried to tell him that she doesn't mind...... but he continued to insist on "helping her".  

Nevin was just a "little" perturbed with our slow pace.   

He was glad when we got to the water so that Rosie could swim! 

 He really got a kick out of watching her jump in the water and paddle away.

And Nevin was proud of HIS photography skills, too.
 I'm thinking we need to get him a camera.  :)

It was a good day!

........ Special Connection ............

Nevin loves babies.  all babies.  

 When he was little, he moved through the house like a little tornado, oft times leaving destruction in his path....... and when a baby visited, that little "Nevin tornado" would cause that baby's mama to brace herself as he approached..... but then, .... just a few steps before arrival....... calm, no tornado, no wind and then the gentlest approach you can imagine.  For those of you who are boaters, it reminds me of when we would be speeding along in the boat, moving fast up on top of the water and then we would stop and the boat's motor would go quiet, slowing glide forward and "sink" comfortably into the water.   That was Nevin as he approached babies.   

But Nevin also seems to have a special connection
to babies with that something special.   

You can just see the connection.

with our very, very special friend..... Daniel

And with our friend, Shelby......  when she was little

and then consoling her after she fell and bumped her nose

 at the children's museum, when she was older.......

and a few from when we did childcare for a very special little girl.  

sorry, we don't have permission for any full-face pictures of her

...... but you can certainly tell from the pictures what Nevin thought of her.

he was even willing to be her pillow when she wasn't feeling good.  

He laid there for a long time and let her sleep.  

can't find the picture of Nevin with Andrew when he was a baby

but here he is when he's bigger.

It is a special connection, 

that doesn't take words, 

that doesn't need to be explained, 

it just is.  

And it is oh, so special to see.

The Parade!! VIP treatment

Nevin was invited to ride on the firetruck in the parade in a nearby town.   I think the firemen remembered his glee when they let him help at the Barn Burner and knew he would enjoy riding in a firetruck.   YUP, got that right!!  

He was SO excited!! When asked what his job was  "Wave at the people and throw candy to kids".  And he did a great job!   

(I love the above picture)

Again, I say, Nevin makes friends wherever he goes.

Thank you, Adam, for the invitation.

Post-parade, post-adrenalin, Rock star dance.  :)

You can check out more pictures on Nevin's Photoblog.

FREE for a prayer..... GIVE-AWAY

I am doing a Give-away for "Live Life BIG" Bumper Stickers.  Nevin will randomly draw 5 followers who leave a comment on this post to receive a Nevin inspired Bumper sticker. (bumper sticker doesn't have watermark)  

All I ask is that you say a prayer for Cyril.... that his forever family will find him soon..... Nevin and I want desperately to help bring him home to that family!!    Remember how Nevin picked Cyril K, from all the children at Reece's Rainbow,  to advocate for because of his smile?  because he seems to have a "live life BIG" attitude?

Well a new picture has been posted of Cyril and this poor baby is tired of waiting.... he has lost his smile. Maybe he's been transferred already, maybe that's why his smile is gone.  He needs a miracle, he needs a family, he needs love, he needs prayers.  Are you his family?  Is God whispering to you that he is your son?   He needs you to come get him!   We will help you raise the money and do whatever we can to help you bring him home!

look at this picture...........Breaks my heart!!  

So, today...... spread the word.......  Cyril needs a family..... his smile is gone.....

For the Bumper Sticker Give-away.....
1.  Sign up as a follower on my blog
2.  Say a prayer for Cyril today.... and leave me a message on this post.

bonus chance: Extra chances at for a bumper sticker if you post to facebook or twitter (leave me a comment that you did)

bonus chance: post about this give-away on your blog and leave me a comment on this post.

(If you have trouble with leaving a comment..... just email me:   lakesmit AT gmail DOT com)


**** Drawing will be Monday (July 20) at 6:00 Central daylight savings time!  


*** stay tuned, as we will be having more fun FREE give-aways this week! 

Letting Go, whether I want to or not!! .....The Tattoo

Nevin is 21.  yeah, I know..... you probably already know that.  I'm just reminding myself, he's 21.   If I want others to treat him with respect and give him choices he deserves........  ahemmm, I guess I need to as well.

When my other kids turned 18, they made choices that no longer needed my approval and promptly proved their independence by getting a tattoo.    Nevin is 21 !! yes, I surrendered and "let" my baby have a beer on his birthday.   But this was different, it was a decision that wasn't what I would choose, this was permanent.   There had been some talk of a "sibling tattoo" ....... ok, okay..... maybe...... maybe, that would be ok with me.  They had decided on a shamrock.... three leaves..... each sibling's initial in each leaf.  Okay, ok..... he can get the shamrock.  I mean, it's a sibling love thing, right?

Sooo....... fast forward to my daughter's birthday.  She's 27.   She was planning to use birthday money for a new tatto.     So, while discussing tattoo's over her birthday dinner,  the snowball got rolling and before I knew it.... even hubby was getting a tattoo the next day (he's no help!!).

Soooo........ tattoo appointment day.....  Nevin was excited, until he learned that the plan was to get a shamrock.   "NO  SHAMROCK!!"   "I want dragon".    Said with enough conviction, that I knew there was no shamrock happening.....  so I searched and found a celtic-like, shamrock-like, three headed dragon that could have initials put into it.    When I showed Nevin the picture, he was game.   I mean his choice seemed to be shamrock or three headed dragon, right?

However, once we arrived at the tattoo parlor,  Nevin became acutely aware of his choices!! (much to this mama's chagrin).  But at least, he wasn't choosing totally inappropriate stuff...... he got a book and went to the dragon section.   And landed on a full color, very detailed, large dragon that was out of the question.  I mean, we weren't sure how he'd tolerate it, plus it would be way more expensive that the original plan.   Each family member/friend tried to "trick" him by expressing their approval of the three headed dragon.  Wasn't gonna happen.   Stalemate.

Dad had even landed on a shamrock (design name:  bad-*ss shamrock)... go figure.   But Nevin was determined NOT to get a shamrock or a 3 headed dragon.    So he vacillated between silent pouts, pleading looks, angry-talk (which typically doesn't even apply to the situation.... because he can't process fast enough, with that much adrenaline .... so instead he just gives voice to "angry talk".... often excerpts from movies, etc.).     We did hear the word "loser" come out a couple of times.  

Me on the other hand.......  just wanted to cry......  see!!  see!! everyone, see what you caused...... now we have a mess, we have hurt feelings, we have angry talking and no apparent solution.    But  as I sat and looked at my 21 year old son.......  I realized, his anguish was partly my fault...... I was trying hard to be in control... I don't want to let him grow up... .. didn't work for my other kids when they were 18....... why doesn't Nevin have the same right to prove his independence as they did.

Sooo..... I took a deep breath..... sat down compassionately beside Nevin and asked him to tell me what he liked about HIS dragon and what he didn't like about MY dragon.   Together we made a list of what HIS dragon needed to have.....  ONE head, a tail, a body, wings, horns, red eye and red wings.   After consultation with the tattoo artist, he assured Nevin he would draw him a "one of a kind" dragon.

So, there you have it....... it's hard work letting go!

My baby...... my son....... is a young man......... with a dragon tattoo!

oh, and as you can see he "tolerated" getting his tattoo just fine.

 Dad, however, wasn't fond of getting his first tattoo.

And of course, Hannah had no problem with hers, and I didn't have time to  "fuss" about what she was getting...... :)  like it would have made any difference, anyways! and it's ok, cause she's beautiful with or without a new tattoo.

And, Nevin makes friends where ever he goes!!  :)