Jeff Goes to the Upstate NY Synod Convention

 
The best thing about Lutheran conventions is seeing long-time friends and meeting new ones!! Bob and I just enjoyed this three-day Event at the Rochester Convention Center. Our pastor and his wife attended with their 11 1/2 month-old son, and other families also brought their little ones. Four of my long-time friends purchased "Journey With Jeff" from our convention table at the Mission Faire. One was my close friend, Nan ("Through It Together" - pp.77-78, and "Little Shoulders" -p.101) who I still meet at many Events of many kinds. Peggy and I were on the Lutheran Women's Board in the 80's, and I remember writing a poem about an awesome experience I had had, which brought her to tears! Surprise!!! An "Aha" moment for me -- I was able to move people with my words! It was good to be able to tell her how much her reaction had meant to me. My buddy, Anne and I spent many years volunteering at "Seeds and Camp Joy" (pp.265-266,) and we lamented the lack of energy to continue with those wonderful events. Pastor Fred married the daughter of one of our pastors about 20 years ago. His comment about Jeff's life being "quite a legacy" invited my response of how I'd written this book. "I often prayed with my hand in the air, asking God to 'Make me Your keyboard!' I told him. "You've been God's keyboard for a long time," he said. So, Dear Readers, do you see why I relish these wonderful gatherings?!?!?!

Another LAI Mother

 
Waiting for an Informed Consent meeting for LAI to begin, one of the staff who was there to present a change in meds for a resident said to me, "Thank you for your book. I am a mother of a child with Down Syndrome, too, and I lived those scenes right along with you." (Another bulls-eye to right where it was needed!! YES!) Afterward, I asked about her 'babe' -- who actually is 21 years old -- living with her mom and dad, and beginning to talk about wanting to live in a residence. For a long time this daughter said, "I'll ALWAYS live with my mom and dad!" Now, she's ready to talk of transitioning. I pray that "Movin' On," the story in "Journey With Jeff," about the difficulty for parent AND child of leaving home, is a huge help for everyone. (This photo of Jeff with his friends at his residence probably was taken even before the child in this blog was born.)

Change of Pace

 
Activities at schools are coming to an end. This Sunday our Pastor added a special "Blessing of the Brains" for students and teachers in our congregation involved with year-end testing. In a couple of weeks Theo and Roxy's classes will invite us to their exhibitions of what they've learned this year about Rochester explorers and settlers. It seems just a little while ago that "The Wizard of Oz" was produced by a special group Jeff enjoyed. He was the cowardly lion -- who roared! The young woman who played Dorothy now lives in the Lifetime Assistance Residence over the fence right behind our Brockport home. ~~~ This June I seem to be in a Waiting Mode, after sending a copy of "Journey With Jeff" to the editor of the Down Syndrome News at the National Down Syndrome Congress. Their annual convention is in July, and I've also applied for an ad in their Souvenir Journal Convention Program booklet. With three hotels in Boston filling up with conventioneers, I have great hopes that "Journey With Jeff" will catch a few eyes!!! In August, Barnes & Noble in the Greece Towne Mall will have a Local Author Event, where we will be invited to read excerpts from our books. Another couple of organizations are studying a copy of "Journey," and I am praying that the book might become an important resource for them. Meanwhile, enjoy YOUR summery change of pace!