Flukes

"A fluke of nature". I heard that phrase 23 years ago when Megan was born. I've always thought of a "fluke" as something unexplainable; something at least a little unappealing. More recently, I saw the word used this way; "...a day of terrible seizures. Fingers crossed that tomorrow is better and it is just a fluke and not a trend." Certainly, this was an example of an unappealing event. While playing FreeRice a week or so ago, I was to find the best meaning for "fluke" from the 4 choices. Imagine my surprise when the answer was "good fortune"! That made me wonder and I looked for definitions and found that fluke means "accidentially successful", "stroke of luck" and the only slight reference to a possible unappealing definition was "unlikely chance or occurrence" but even that ended with "esp. a surprising piece of luck". Took me back 23 years when the doctors told me Megan's Down syndrome was simply a "fluke of nature". As I listened to a member of the Down syndrome support group tell me that I would need to call them cause I would lose friends cause of Megan's birth, I certainly wasn't thinking of my "fluke of nature" as good fortune. (23 years later I can say friends have come and gone but I can't attribute even one "lost" friend to Megan's birth. What in the world was that woman thinking to say such a thing? But, that's a whole different story!) Hmmmm...I can tell you that never once in the intervening years when relating to people about my "fluke of nature" did I perceive it as a "stroke of luck". Now though, I can't help but think of it from the "other" side and realize that Megan was, in fact and indeed, a "stroke of luck". Instead of causing me to lose friends, she's actually been the impetus behind some very good and dear friendships. I've commented numerous times over the years about that very fact. She tries very hard (and I resist way too much) to help me slow down and enjoy life more. I'm constantly trying to hurry her up when I really should just be enjoying her slower pace. What really makes me laugh, though, are the times she urges me to hurry up! She sees life so innocently and I really wish I could have that same innocence. I've said over the years that I want to be just like Megan "when I grow up". haha Believe me, I've strongly felt over the years that Megan's been a blessing in so many ways but it took a silly little word game for me to turn around a simple phrase into a positive and realize that all the good she's brought into my life started that very first day when I was told she was a "stroke of luck" from nature. Looking for the "silver lining" in situations has made many of my days less stress-ful. May it be the same for you!

One down...

Wow! Talk about time flying! Kyra came home this week after completing her freshman year of college! It truly seems like just last month, in a downpour, we moved her into her dorm room for the first time and now, again in falling rain, she’s moved out and home for the summer. She commented that the weather was appropriate both times. When she moved in, she was apprehensive about the new experience and sad to be leaving home for the first time. Tuesday, she was sad about leaving behind good friends and good memories from a year that couldn’t have been better for her. Sure, she had some bumps along the way but she handled them extremely well and brings with her mostly good memories of a year well spent learning so much about herself and growing into an even sweeter, faith-filled young woman than when she left. I really am in awe of her. She’s someone I aspire to be like. I don’t know where she came from. Haha And, of course, I want only the best for her. She found the perfect place when she chose Eastern. And, though I tease her everytime she’s home about transferring to Millersville, I know she belongs nowhere but Eastern. The experiences she’s had (and the ones to come in the next 3 years) and the friends she’s met (and will meet) could never be duplicated somewhere else. Thank you, God, for leading her to exactly where she needs to be. :)

Patience

It's a virtue, apparently. And, apparently, I'm completely without virtue. At least where patience is involved.

I don't mean to be impatient; it just seems to come naturally to me. And, it's definitely in my genes. My dad is one of the most impatient people on the planet but I'm not fond of blaming everything on my upbringing...though I do know that is HUGE in who we become...I believe it's our job to overcome the bad stuff in our backgrounds.

And, I try. I really do. But, every day I fail...and fail miserably. Especially when it comes to patience with Megan. I love that kid so much and marvel at her daily but she somehow manages to push every last ounce of patience right out of my being. She seemingly never stops talking! And, how ironic that when, for the first 5 or so years of her life she was largely unintelligible, I wished and prayed for her to be able to talk. Does that fall under that popular saying, "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it?" God does have a sense of humor, doesn't he?

Well, learn to talk she did and she's never stopped talking since. And, I like to talk, too so I know where she gets it...hearing her talk isn't even the problem. It's the constantly random thoughts she throws out there that drive me to distraction! She's not always easy to understand and so I try and try to figure out what she's talking about only to find it's something totally irrelevant. It's exhausting!

The other day, though, I had this thought as I was having this running monologue with God...I wondered...does He get tired of hearing me chattering away all day every day to him about the most mundane, sometimes random things I take to Him in prayer. I don't think he does and so, I must remember to be the kind of parent to Megan that He is to me and to be patient, Patient, PATIENT with her constant babble.

God give me the strenth! I do know, though, that if I can do it, it's only with His help. So...here's to patience!

And...to a stress-free day!