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 Our answer is a resounding, “Yes!” We are so
thankful for this community where we have many mentors and friends,
and to be in a place that is familiar to our daughter Hannah, who
has Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS).
But maybe you don’t feel the same—you may be feeling very isolated
right now. The Latin root of our English word anxiety means “to
choke.”
Anyone feeling a little choked lately?
We can relate. A lot. But we are coping in a variety of ways.
We rely on our faith daily. Maybe you aren’t even sure if you
believe in God. (We do highly recommend Room for Doubt—a great place
to wrestle with the hard questions:
https://www.roomfordoubt.com/ask/).
When Tracy was the youth minister at Lincoln Christian Church and we
took teens to youth conferences and on mission trips, he would often
ask at the end of each day, “Where did you see God today?” Taking a
moment to reflect, even on the toughest of days, and identify a
moment of beauty or truth can really help nurture an attitude of
gratitude. And not the kind that says, “I am glad we didn’t go
through THAT” or “I am glad I am not THEM.” Gratitude must be bigger
than what IS or IS NOT happening to us.
To those who have lost loved ones and even the ability to properly
mourn them, we are truly sorry. For those of you who wonder whether
you will have a business or paycheck in the coming year (or if you
already know you won’t), we grieve with you.
Our family understands loss. Lori’s father passed away in September.
Our daughter Hannah, who loves routine and being with people, has
had both taken away this year.
Even so, we rely on gratitude. We are so thankful for so many
things! We are thankful for the hospice people whose efforts allowed
dad to be cared for in his home for the final months of his life. We
are thankful for employers who gave us flexibility to help out. We
are thankful for the medical community that helped both dad and
Hannah, who underwent gall bladder surgery this summer. We are
thankful for Hannah’s college-age helpers and the creative ways they
have helped her find joy in this strange year.
We rely on humor. We are thankful for the funny and sometimes
profound things Hannah blurts out, and we have heard from many who
are thankful that we share these on Facebook as #hannahisms. Have we
got you wondering?
Lori, Hannah and
Tracy Here are a few samples—keep in
mind that she is about to turn 24, but functions on about a
4-year-old level in most areas, and people with PWS don’t have the
ability to feel full, so food seeking is a huge issue and we watch
her diet closely (most of the time):
Hannah is having a rough day. She wanted a
biscuit from McDonald’s.
Me: They don’t have biscuits now, so I got you a cinnamon roll.
H: OH THANK YOU GOD!
#hannahisms
[to top of second column] |
Hannah and I hanging out today while I work from home.
H: Can I have lunch?
Me: You had meat loaf, noodles, chips, and raspberries.
H: That was 10 hours ago!
(Narrator: It was 10 minutes ago).
#hannahisms
Me looking at Hannah’s happy meal: Hey you got a Duke toy (Duke is a
dog in the movie "Secret Life of Pets").
Hannah: I got Duke?
Me: Yes.
Hannah: That's funny.
Me: Yes, it is.
Pause...then
Hannah: Doooooooke, I am your father.
#hannahisms
Lori helping Hannah memorize Psalm 23.
L: The Lord is my shepherd.
H: The Lord is my shepherd, I do not want to be panicked.
#hannahisms
It seems like we are all in the same ocean, more so than in any
other point in our lifetimes. The realities of COVID-19 continue to
affect every single person on the planet. But we are all in
different boats on this ocean. Keep your eyes open. Watch for your
neighbors’ boats, and if you can throw them a line, do it. It might
just be your smiley, crinkled eyes above a mask. It might be a wave.
It might be a joke or funny story to bring a smile. It might be a
hand-written note. It might be a prayer, or a gift card, or a
bigger-than-usual tip.
And if your own boat is taking on water, don’t be afraid to ask for
help. You might think that neighbor’s boat looks as bad as your own
or worse, but they may have a friend you don’t know that could help
you both. Our family loves to be there for others, but we will
hesitate to step in without a clear request. Many other people are
the same way, so don’t be afraid to speak up!
Also, don’t forget about the advantages of self-care, keeping in
mind that there is a difference between activities that let you
“zone out” and things that actually bring renewal and energy. There
is a place for both (!) Just keep the mind-numbing activities in
perspective.
Jesus said to love God, love others, and love ourselves. Our family
is grateful to live and serve in a community that does all so well.
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