10-03-2009 Happy Birthday John Paul! Another moment from John Paul's birthday. David took this shot while John Paul's aunts were lighting the candles on his cake. Notice the Cross on the cake? Although John Paul has a disposition that most would consider a disability, he has no doubt what he wants to do with his life. He wants to be a Benedictine Priest. The order has excepted him and is ready to prepare him to be a "simplex Priest". He's just not quite ready to leave home yet. But that's okay. When he is ready, his family is ready to support his choice. And I know exactly who I'm going to go to for all of my Benedictine blessings!
10-03-2009 Compassion Today we celebrated a friend's 20th birthday. John Paul has a form of autism that has caused him to grow into a very child-like young man. But this picture is not of him. The two young men in this picture are Christopher and Andrew. Christopher is a friend of John Paul's who has a similar challenge in life. Andrew is our 13 year old son. The birthday party was at Gatti-Town, a pizza buffet / arcade. When John Paul and his guests finished eating and went to the arcade, Christopher could not join them. He has epilepsy and cannot be around flashing lights. Andrew barely remembers Christopher from when he was much younger. But his sense of compassion was just shining when he chose to forgo the arcade and keep Christopher company. I know there is nothing visually outstanding about the photograph. But I just had to share my pride. I am so proud of the mature level of compassion Andrew showed this afternoon.
10-02-2009 "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope." (Jeremiah) Today, I finally got to meet Anne Cordelia. Isn't she amazing? She is Lisa and Alfred's first child, born September 21st. And just look at Lisa's joy! Alfred said to me this afternoon "If anybody had told me a year ago that in a year, we'd have a child, I'd have laughed at them". It made me think about how perfect God's plan is for our lives. Anne is God's perfect plan for Lisa and Alfred, their future full of hope. Welcome to life Anne! I can't wait to share some of it with you.
