Saturday, April 19, 2014

Putting it into Perspective

Today I was able to begin reading a book by a mother of a young man who has done amazing things with his limb difference. It has been impossible to put down because I feel like I could very well be reading my own future story. One of the things that stood out to me was a passage from John 9 that refers to a time when the disciples encountered a man who was blind from birth. When they asked who sinned to make him blind..."Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him."' I have read this passage so many times in my 30 plus years, but it stood out to me today. For 8 years I have struggled to understand what I had done and if I had some sin in my life that would account for my daughter. Our world doesn't understand and so they seek to explain. Instead, I believe I will live in a world that sees my daughter as a vessel for God to work miracles. I know she has done it in my life and I am so thankful this Easter weekend for this scripture. It doesn't typically connect with the Easter weekend, but it was what I needed today. Thank you Katie Kolberg Memmel for your story and thank you for putting into words this mother's fears and triumphs.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Hands 2 Love Camp 2014

So we do not post often anymore.  We often say we should post something but in the business of work and life we find other priorities taking over such as dance, swimming, soccer, school, and work.  This is something worth posting that cannot pass by without a post and a few pictures.  We just returned home from Hands to Love camp just outside Gainsville, FL.  It was an amazing time, but who can write better about it than Kendall?  This is what she has to say about it.

Hands to Love is very cool because I get to see kids and adults with limb differences.  I learned from other grownups how to do some things like how to overcome the fear of climbing to high places when I have somebody helping me. I also learned from the other kids how to do a lot of things.  The best parts of camp are climbing the tower, swimming in the lake, dancing, archery, studying animals in the lake, art, the bonfire, the hayride, the drums, seeing Tony Memmel sing the Lucky Fin Song, seeing Rion Paige sing two songs, seeing old friends, making new friends and seeing pictures of the other campers.  Hands to Love is a great way to see other people who have limb differences like me.