The Greatest of These Is Love

I just attended a meeting at the Center for Persons with Disabilities today. It is an Advisory Council made up of people in the community who have are invested in advocating for people with disabilities. My role is as a parent; there was a married couple there who are self-advocates who have developmental disabilities. I was fascinated as I watched them together. They are truly so happy being together and I could see how much they loved each other as they teased and laughed together. We had a sandwich during the meeting and as the husband was talking to the group, his wife was trying to wipe some mayonnaise off of his cheek, kind of like we do with Scott, only with her finger. She just kept at it the whole time he was talking and he didn't mind in the least. I could see that they take good care of each other.
As I watched him eat, his tongue pushing his food out between his teeth as some people with disabilities do, and watched his feet splayed out like Scott's do, it made me realize that all they needed was love. Love overlooks flaws and weaknesses. Love makes us happy just to be with someone. Love doesn't judge another. Love doesn't just look on the outside. Love is pure and innocent. It doesn't take a genius to give love. It takes someone with a lot of heart to simply love someone else.
That is why I am so drawn to people with disabilities; they love openly, completely, simply, innocently. It's in their eyes, and in their smiles, and in their laughter. It is something to strive for, being able to love that completely, without worrying about how someone looks, or what they say or do.
It is the way that I want to love others. It's the way that I love all of you. Completely without restraint.

A Great Visit!

What a great visit, Jenny & Devin! I still can't believe that it has been a whole year since you left. You've done a lot since you left Utah....got two great jobs; bought a house; hiked some beautiful trails; met some wonderful people. It looks like Alaska has been good to you and is where you should be. Don't get me wrong, I still wish you could be closer, but as long as you are both flourishing there, all is well.

You left some good memories when you were here:

• Playing & beating you at games :) (Taboo, Peg game, Pictionary, Chess, Apples to Apples, and Back Alley)
• Eating out at Olive Garden
• Getting a great Mother's Day present from all of you!
• Shopping with Jeanette & lunch in the park
• Jenny getting her ears pierced, hair cut & highlighted & clothes galore!
• Devin's run to Casper's when he was bored or losing at Back Alley
• Crab legs and shrimp dinner!
• Playing crochet...Wayne's rules!
• Pehrson Family picnic and seeing the Fam
• Dutch Oven dinner up Smithfield Canyon
• Celebrating Mother's Day with 3 of my kids
• Celebrating Devin's birthday early & eating ice cream cake

All in all it was a great visit! Thanks so much for coming!Can't wait until Anna and the girls are here in June. Time for more memory-making!

In the meantime, thanks Michele & Wayne for being here and making memories everyday with us!

We love you all!