The conversation focused on the wonderful, pleasant dispositions characteristic of such children and adults.

They never seem to get angry…never fight.

Well Seven, owner of his own disability (autism) said they ought to make a law that only people with Down Syndrome could be in charge of countries…then we wouldn’t have any more war.

Amazingly a wonderful idea.

Maybe we should start Thirteen’s political career now…Vote for Thirteen and world peace!

They said – who is going to adopt her?

Like Popeye says, “Well blow me down!”

We are – of course!

They said – are you sure that’s a wise thing to do at your age?

Wise? What else are we going to do that will amount to anything throughout eternity?

So being the most important people in the life of a little girl with Down Syndrome is unwise?

I think they are unwise.

I think living audacious is evidence that we are becoming conformed to the character of an audacious creator.

They probably would have said to God – do you think dying for their sins is a wise way to redeem your beloved human race?

Oh well, they just don’t know any better…I think I’ll pray for them.

I have a title on my business card…I’m thankful for that…and that is what most of the world is interested in.

But, I’ve learned that what is on your business car is not the most important title.

The organizations issuing the business cards are fickle…fair weather friends…they won’t stick by you in the end.

Father, husband, daddy, grand dude, grandpa…these are all important titles, without a doubt.

Yet I’ve been saying I’m a stay-at-home dad…a soccer dad…but this morning, during my quiet time with God, God called me a rudder!

A rudder?

A rudder guides a boat.

A rudder is usually not seen…is under the water…is not necessarily pretty…but try going somewhere without one!

So when I spend the day…most days…running the household…I’m being a rudder…steering the good ship family.

And I am very grateful to be the rudder.

A little more than 2 years ago I started this blog saying I wanted to be there for all their firsts.

Well, here’s a couple more.

Last week I attended my grandson’s first Cub’s game with him, and his mom and dad.

What a treat.

What a creative romantic his mother (Two) is!

I wonder where she got that?

A couple days ago I went to a Sox game with One and One A, Three and Three A, Nine and Seven.

It was a last minute…spur-of-the-moment thing.

It was a fun trip down memory lane for One and Three.

But best of all, I was able to sit next to Nine when she saw her first grand slam complete with fireworks!

Yes, I love being there for all their firsts.

Life is good…no blessed!

The document said if and when Thirteen’s biological mom’s parental rights were terminated, would we be willing to adopt her.

I know I’ve been through this before, but I guess I never was as close the the child as I am to Thirteen.

Being her primary caregiver (sounds so sterile)…being with her for about 12 hours every day.

No doubt in my mind.

YES…without a doubt…of course…DUH!

With all my heart I love this little girl who needs me and we need her.

Yes, we will adopt her and as God allows, we will give her the best life possible…make sure she lives up to her potential…has a great life.

A commitment and a prayer wrapped up together.

But she was cute and everybody loved her.

They laughed at he funny faces and her attempts to stand.

This wasn’t an ordinary group of friends…it was our small group of soul brothers and sisters.

Friends we share our joys and sorrows with…our fears and hopes.

This night there was plenty of all of the above being discussed.

As the night grew on, my friend Jack was holding Thirteen.

She had dozed off and then woke up again and now she was pretty restless.

Finally she saw me and reached for me.

The minute I held her she sighed and fell asleep.

WOW!

What a message from God.

How like Thirteen we all were…restless…anxious abut our troubles.

Then, the minute I held her she slumped into peaceful sleep.

Friends, that was a message delivered directly from God to us through my baby!

How like Thirteen are we…restless…fretting…worried…

But God showed us, all we need to do is cling to him…our father…and all our worries will be gone.

My prayer is that we can do the same as Thirteen…that we will remember…that our father…unlike Thirteen’s father…knows all…and is in control of all.

The thing we do have in common is that we love the one clinging to us immeasurably and unconditionally.

So Ten, how was your lunch today that I made for you?

“It was great!” she replied.

Then she said, ‘Don’t ever leave this family!”

What the heck?

Then she said that a girl’s mommy at her school left her family.

Light bulb…got it.

Don’t worry Honey, I promise I will never leave this family and neither will mommy.

I even pinkie promised.

Wow…we live in a small town and the school is a small community within a small town.  Makes you realize that one person’s actions can have far reaching impact.

Well, I mean it.

Mom is in the house and sees a very old woman who she does not recognize come out of our powder room.

“Can I help you?”

“I can’t find my husband?”

“When did you last see him?”

“Scotland!”

So, as our aged and demented (as in suffering from dementia) guest sits on the front porch in a rocker having a glass of lemonade, one of our guests flags down a cop following the parade.

Our neighbor, a pediatrician, joined the group on the porch and determined that our guest appeared healthy but just confused.

Down on the parkway with Two, we listened to the police radio chatter. The lead cop reported to his superior that our guest was in “capable hands”.

Two commented that, “of course she was..a medical doctor (our neighbor) and a Doctor of Everything (mom).

And, I guess she was.

It is sometimes beneficial to have a D of E in the house…sometimes.

By the way, the woman’s husband was soon located…not in Scotland but visiting friends a block away.

Mount Lucy.

Yup…the ramp made for Lucy’s wheel chair so we could get it and her into the house…the back door…without bouncing the thing up the stairs.

It served us as a sledding ramp in the winter and as a garbage chute in the summer but it was also a reminder of the tragic disease that took her young life…all to soon.

So Bye-bye Mount Lucy!

We said good bye to the big orange double jogger.

We didn’t toss it because we may make a buck or two by cleaning and selling it…like that will happen…we just decommissioned it.

That jogger served us well…logged thousands of miles…wore out the tires a couple of times.

Nine, Ten, Eleven and Twelve all logged time in it.

I ran my first 5K in it.

But all things pass and so did the clunky orange jogger…replaced by a racy…blue…22 pound…single jogger for Thirteen.

Bye-bye big orange jogger that we paid $800 for.

Apparently Eleven was being mean to Ten…again.

I asked them both to come in the house…they came…eventually.

Eleven looked like she was going to get consequences.

Instead I sat down with her…put my arm around her…and said something to the effect of, “why don’t you treat Ten the way you would like to be treated?” Eleven agreed and said that was a good idea and promised to do just that.

After they went back outside to play Nine came up to me and said, “You handled that well.”

Thank you, I said.

I’ll take encouragement from anyone but wow, is she growing up fast.