Skip to main content

I have a choice and I gladly choose my Jessica

I remember reading some great Christian Theologian writing about discipleship. He wrote that a father is very excited about the first steps his child makes, but every father expects his child to grow up. I remember how my parents cried when I graduated from high school, but they expected me to continue to grow. I am doing what I need to do to protect my daughter Jessica. Tomorrow we begin taking her rights away legally (I will always consider her ideas). It is human to grieve a loss of "normal expectations". Many 18 year olds drive, date, and make plans for a career or University. Nicole is 16 and we are already looking at University. In a way legally taking Jessica’s rights away does nothing but maintain the status quo. Still, it hurts to once again reflect on what she may never experience. I love my girl. This morning I sat with her in the living room and watched Beauty and the Beast on Juergens monster flat screen TV. Jessica even played with our dog Mickey, and Philip, Thomas and Sarah also sat with us. It isn't a matter of what I had hoped for, it is really a grief of her future. The normal future she may never have. But I again need to stop rolling in the mud...this day is good and I need to walk in it. God holds tomorrow. I will trust him for the grace to walk. I always get into emotional trouble when I think too much about "should have, would have, could have". Why grieve the future? Today is a very great gift. I am surrounded by love. God has given me so much love. Thank you for your kind words and prayers. I have a choice. I could give the state power over Jessica’s life. Many parents gladly place their children in state run group homes. I want my daughter…I choose her. I am doing this to keep her. I have zero doubt about this action…I would fight like a mother lion to keep her. Hopefully that will not be necessary. I just need to allow a medical exam and the judgment of the court. I do not expect any trouble. One of you wrote…do any of us really have a choice? I do have a choice! I choose her! She could have died as a baby (she had 4 heart problems). I’m so glad she lived. Her live matters. I am a normal parent. Any parent would be sad in this situation. But I have a choice and I gladly choose my Jessica.

Comments

Shelldell said…
I'm glad your walking in the mud instead of giving up like most people do.
Dianna said…
Jessica is a wonderful person and I am very honored to say she is part of my family, I have you in my prayers. never give up on her i dont. and I won't.

Popular posts from this blog

chicken coop idea

Why not start with an IBC and cut a hole for the door? You could build closed laying boxes into it, and something for the chickens to roost on. Put some straw or saw dust on the floor. You could add vents to the side for air. If it sat inside a chicken run that you can walk into, the chickens could be safe, dry and happy. I have an extra IBC. Maybe this could be my chicken house? I bet I could even plant the outside of it with mud and grass for extra insulation and good looks.

Reading Kingdom

I am very happy to review the Reading Kingdom.   This is an online program that uses a variety of methods to teach reading.   I decided to share this product with my adopted granddaughter Ruth.   Reading kingdom uses a six skills integrative method Ruth only just began to use the program. She is only 3 years old and cannot use the program without help.   But her mom says that she can already recognize words like girl and kids when they are shown on the screen.   Sylvia wrote that she loves the repetition of the words in the program .   That Ruth is memorizing the words she sees.     She will be able to use it for an entire year.   But I expect her to become a very good reader.   And what a great gift to give to any child!   She will have a lifetime love for books.     Sylvia also works with teenage mothers in Uganda.   And many of these women have never attended school.   So she plans to use these ideas to h...

Happy Birthday to Jessica

Today Nicole and I took Jessica shopping. She turns 22 years old tomorrow. She has grown over the past year. She now likes her disabled workshop. And she has begun to learn to write again on the computer. It is a slow process, but maybe she can write independently in the next 5 years. Her teacher is wonderful. We are very blessed to have her help! If I stopped and thought about what Jessica might be doing if she was healthy, it could break my heart. Birthdays should be happy, but when your child is disabled it's always bitter sweet. Bitter because of the milestones that were never met, and sweet because of the person that is still very valuable and wonderful. But I'm sure everyone feels bitter sweet about something in your life. Life is never only sweet. For me it is much better to fix my eyes on what is there and let go of what I hoped for...what every parent hopes for. Jess bought a new book, 3 DVD's and a Fanta. I also took her to McDonalds because that is ...