The reason this blog is called “His Pleasant Place” is because of Psalm 16: 5-6. It is our hearts’ desire that our home would be Ben/Ryan’s “pleasant place”.
Friday, August 30, 2024
SO LONG SUMMER!
Friday, July 5, 2024
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR CAMPING VERSION
When you camp, you never know who will end up being your neighbor. So far, in all our camping over the years, we have always met very nice people at the campground.
Yesterday was no exception to that.
The past few days, we have been camping with another family. When we camp with them, we decide to "hover" a bit less when our boys want to explore the campground by hiking or biking because this family has boys the same age as ours. And one of their boys has Down syndrome so what better leader could there be? :)
So yesterday the gang took off to bike around the campground.
Ben came back early to give us reports on what the other bikers were up to. His first report was that Jonah was lost, however, when I got up to look, Jonah was biking right past our campsite. Second, Ben reported Jonah was bleeding which again turned out to be a false report. Ben's third attempt to create drama and prevent me from sitting down and relaxing was that Jonah hit a car. However, when I got up to check, Jonah was pedaling his bike towards me looking perfectly fine.
When Jonah returned to the campsite a few minutes later, he came up to me breathing heavy and wanted to tell me something. Jonah tends to be dramatic so I told him he had to wait until I finished the conversation with my fellow camping mom.
He asked me to follow him, and he was saying something that sounded like "I hit a post". When we walked out onto the road I did see a small post along side the road. I asked him if he hit that. He shook his head emphatically and said, "I hit a bush". My response was, "You hit a bush?"
At this point a woman across the road was smiling and said, "He actually did. My husband had to pull him out the bush by our campsite."
I looked towards where she was motioning and finally figured out what happened. When Ben reported Jonah hit a car, he was probably trying to say that Jonah almost hit this couple's parked car. To avoid it, he rode his bike into the bush. When I went to check on him after Ben's report (which lacked a few crucial details), Jonah had already been rescued and was his way back to tell me of his bush adventure.
I told the woman to thank her husband for his rescue. It's probably a sight they don't see often- boy on a bike caught in a bush- but with our boys, anything is possible, right?
So what is the moral of this story? As the Bible says, "Love your neighbor as yourself". The camping version of that is if you see someone stuck in a bush in your campsite, pull him out! His parents will greatly appreciate it!
Monday, June 17, 2024
NEAT IDEA FOR ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Milwaukee area organization is hoping to develop a housing community that would include adults with special needs surrounded by neighbors who can support and encourage them in their independence:
VISION
Provide independent apartments and community homes within a supportive wraparound neighborhood where adults with autism and others with similar intellectual & developmental disabilities have purpose through living and engaging with others.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
LIFETIME PARENTING
When we were thinking about adopting a child with special needs (over 15 years ago now!), one thing some people mentioned to us was that it would mean lifetime parenting.
Yes, because our boys both have Down syndrome, we will most likely be involved in most aspects of their personal lives for the rest of our lives. This can feel overwhelming at times for many reasons: lack of our own personal freedom in our older years but also worries about who will care for our kiddos when we are gone.
It's true these concerns are not present with our kids without special needs. With typical adult children, they can manage their lives on their own with parents playing the role of advisor and encourager.
At least that's what our older kids think. They think we as parents can just calmly sit back and watch our kiddos embark on life on their own with no worries or concerns on our part because our job as their primary caretaker is now over.
No. Way. Yes, that's how we try to present, but realistically most parents of older kids have to work really hard to let go, step back, and not have an anxiety attack-haha.
In other words, I think all parents are lifetime parents because we never stop loving and caring about our kids no matter how old they are.
This week I was bombarded with some great resources about parenting older kids which I would like to share:
So in the end, I believe there is the challenge of lifetime parenting for all of our kids. It just looks a little different depending on the kiddo:
1. Special Needs: they will always need me but I might not always be there for them
2. Typical: they will not always need me but it's hard to not always be there for them
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
LET IT BE
At the beginning of the 2nd semester, Jonah, on his own, composed a note to his choir teacher asking her if the choir could sing a Beatles song.
She very nicely agreed!
At the spring concert the other week, the combined 7th-12th grade choirs along with the audience performed "Let It Be".
Jonah, who can get stage fright, powered through his nerves and started singing a few moments into the song.
Ben, who either also gets stage fright or just doesn't like to sing :), was impressive because he sang through the entire song. Good job, Ben!
And now without further ado...
Sunday, May 19, 2024
A VERY SPECIAL DAY
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
THE POWER OF BEN
Here are some observations of Ben these past few days:
1. During the children's message at church on Sunday, Ben was almost successful in leading the entire congregation in clapping for me. When the question was asked "What do you love about your mom", Ben raised his hand. When it was his turn, he made a heart sign to me and then waved his hands for everyone to join in him in a ovation to me. What. A. Charmer.
2. Last night at the boys' choral concert, Ben sang thru most of the songs. This is a huge improvement from past concerts where he usually looked a little stage shocked and just stood there. Good for him overcoming his nervousness and joining the performance!
3. Previous blog of how Ben tricked me with the mouthwash!
These 3 observations showed me the resilience of Ben- he's always thinking how to promote himself to others and also has great determination to be the best he can be.
This reminded me of a hilarious story from a photo we received of Ben before we adopted him in 2016.









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