"Journey With Jeff" for Caregivers

My book,"Journey With Jeff; Inspiration for Caregivers of People with Special Needs"has been on the Rochester, NY, communities' Wegman's Store shelves since the middle of November. Four copies were in each of five Wegman's stores, where I checked a couple of times, and was pleased to see only one or two left on their shelves! This week only three books were returned to me, which means 17 are now out in the community, telling caregivers they are not alone! I hope they'll accept the invitation on the last page of "Journey With Jeff," to send their responses to me at my e-mail or snail-mail address. Those responses are such an encouragement to me!!~~~Jeff's special needs were spelled out by Down Syndrome. His friend, Brian, who wrote the response to "Journey" in the previous blog, "A Tribute to My Special Friend," was inspired by Jeff when he had to face experimental treatments and finally spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis as an 11 year old. I asked Brian how he'd learned about the book and he pointed to this blog and/or Amazon.com. "It's one of those books I'll keep," he said, "and, refer back to when I need inspiration."~~~The first lines of a poem by James W. Foley titled, "Drop a Pebble in the Water," suggest how Jeff's story has spread to -- who knows where? "Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone; But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on. Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea. And there's no way of telling where the end is going to be." All praise to You, O Lord!!!

Caregiving For Caregivers

My neighbor is a Social Worker, a caregiver for many people. Last summer she bought a copy of Journey With Jeff: Inspiration for Caregivers of People with Special Needs.Today I asked if she had been able to plug in Jeff's story with any of her work. She said the book opened her eyes so she could help parents deal with difficulties. She was enthusiastic as she spoke of sharing it with co-workers who had people living with Down syndrome in their care, and with others in her office. Parents to whom she loaned her copy told her it was worthwhile reading. Caregivers need caregiving, and I'm so glad to see my neighbor pass it on!

Merry Christmas to My Readers!!

One day I visited our Brockport Library to check out the number of times their copy of "Journey With Jeff" had been borrowed, and found 8 due dates listed! Yay!!!! Maybe someday soon I shall be able to check out the six other town libraries where "Journey" lives?~~~The day before Christmas I received an e-mail from a mother who wrote: " I recently borrowed your book from the library, and I have started reading it. I am finding it fascinating and very uplifting, and I can relate because years ago we found out our daughter was profoundly deaf. As I read your book, I keep thinking of other people I would like to recommend it to. I tried to purchase it today at Borders but they said it was out of print. Is there a way to still order it?" Immediately, and with great joy I e-mailed her back: "If you live in Brockport you can buy "Journey With Jeff" at Liftbridge Book Store, or Salvation Station. If you live in Greece, you can order it from Barnes & Noble. You can also order it from Amazon.com, or, I can send you a copy. The cost in the stores, and at Amazon.com is $17.95. Covering shipping and handling, I can send an autographed copy to you for $20.00~~Whatever's best for you and for the other people to whom you'd like to recommend it." And of course, I invited her to take a look at my blog at this website. (Photo is the author with the CD of "Journey With Jeff,"which entered the Brockport Library about a year before the book edition.)

Hello From the Past!

Thirty-plus years ago a teenage gal in Dunkirk named Diane babysat with Jeff for us. Today she wrote an e-mail introducing herself again. She said: "I have a funny story I remember about Jeff -- I was babysitting one time and he proceeded to move some of his bedroom furniture out to the front yard -- do you remember that? I didn't know what to do about it, but let him carry on because it made him happy!" No, I did not remember that! Wish I knew what he was thinking as he wrestled it down the stairway!! ~~~Diane had received a Christmas card from Bishop Marie and Pastor Jim Jerge (who had married her and her husband) so she decided to explore the Upstate NY ELCA Synod website. She came across Marie's review of "Journey With Jeff," and said I still had that warm, kind face she remembered as a little girl, then asked to purchase a copy of "Journey." We wrote back and forth for an hour and a half -- What a bonus!! (Photo is of Jeff at 14, when we still lived in Dunkirk.)

Greetings From Gov. Sarah Palin's Office!

My husband waved the envelope postmarked, "Wasilla" around in the air. "You'll never get mail from a governor from out of state like this again!" The welcome note was written by Sarah Palin's dad, Chuck Heath, who says, "Thanks so much for your book for Sarah. As soon as I read "Journey With Jeff" I'll give it to her. I'm helping her out with her mail as she is receiving literally hundreds of pieces weekly." ~~~ I am so pleased to know that "Journey With Jeff: Inspiration for Caregivers of People with Special Needs"has been received into the right hands!! (Sarah Palin's youngest child, Trig, is living with Down syndrome.) Trig's grandfather is a caregiver as well, and I pray he, too, will be able to absorb the encouragement I've written into the book. ~~~ I am so very glad I sent Sarah Palin a copy of "Journey!"

Grace and Peace from My Beloved Bishop

Upstate NY's Bishop Marie Jerge has shared a book recommendation in our Synod's e-mail Newsletter which goes to every congregation in upstate NY, as well as speaking of "Journey With Jeff" in a special occasion sermon last Sunday, AND in a sermon at Pacific Lutheran Seminary!!!
This is what she wrote about recommending Journey With Jeff: "There are many things about this book which I love-- but two stand out. Almost every chapter begins with a verse of Scripture. It isn't just the Scripture texts themselves, but the way they are used make it obvious that the Bible is central in the author's life. The Word of God somehow measures the rhythm of her days and weeks and months and years. It is part of her. Words of faith flow easily and naturally -- because they are so familiar not in a rigid, beat you over the head way -- but as her life blood -- sustaining and nourishing her -- flowing through her. It is also a wonderful book of prayer. The prayers tend to be short and simple. They touch the heart. And I was amazed and awed by her ability to give thanks -- no matter how bad things were. ~~~ Journey With Jeff is written by Sybil Reisch, a member of Concordia, Kendall. She can be reached and the book can be purchased by contacting rsreisch@frontiernet.net.

(Photo is of Bishop Marie Jerge on the right with two of my friends at a Women of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America convention.)

Praying With Lior - A Documentary by Ilana Trachtman

This is a photo of Jeff and Jennifer with their rocking, singing grandmother (my mom!) It illustrates the feeling of family that was obvious in the film, "Praying With Lior." I've been waiting to see this documentary since someone recommended it to me in February. It tells the story of Lior, a Jewish boy who is preparing for his Bar Mitzvah. Lior's mother was a rabbi, and when he was little, she rocked, and sang the prayers in the Psalms to him with much delight and enthusiasm. He grew up loving the beat of the music, and began making the prayers lively for the worshiping community. ~~~ An Excerpt from "Journey With Jeff"~~ "And all your children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of your children." Isaiah 54:13 (Jewish Bible.) "Meanwhile, Jeff continually surprised us with his understanding of God's love and presence in our lives. One evening we were singing around the table after supper and were astounded when he seemed to know all the words of the first verse of 'Beautiful Savior.' How we praised him and cheered him on!! An Easter service on TV caught Jeff's ear. 'Church!' he exclaimed. There was a wide grin on his face when he recognized the 'Hallelujah Chorus.' At our own Sunday worship, he often sat with a friend and his family, whose mom said Jeff was a good, quiet exmple for her own children. Wow! Thank You, Lord!! Jeff learned the motions to 'Jesus Loves Me' at Sunday School and combined them with his record at home. He clapped at the word yes in 'Jesus Loves Me' to convince me to start singing it with him from the beginning. He also enjoyed the music and motions for 'Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain,' and 'Two Little Eyes.' We were glad to see this really meant something when Jeff was sick with a cold and couldn't breathe. He'd implore me to, 'Talk to God, Mom!' The Amen at the end of our prayer was emphasized by his quiet, 'Yeah!'" The page's closing prayer was, "All praise to You, O God, for the faith You have given Jeff! Amen!" ~~~ Imagine...Jeff and Lior being good friends, and making happy Jewish music together!