- four year old little angel haired boy diagnosed with autism today, curls up in my arms after testing (and several melt down periods), much to the surprise of his mother and grandmother (both in the room).
- grandmother wrapping her arm around my waist as we walked out, hugging me and thanking me for walking them through this whole process. (grandmom was in very strong denial about testing and diagnosis at first.)
- fourteen year old boy singing (and making up some pretty funny lyrics) to Los Lonely Boys “Heaven” in my car.
- watching him get to go behind the scenes at a local burger joint to make a burger, milkshake, and be interviewed by the local news personality for the Thursday’s Child spot (airing January 8th). he gave me a ‘thumbs up’ through the kitchen window when he finished.
- feeling a little bit heart broken when he started (sort of) jokingly calling me ‘mom’. (he’s been in foster care most of his life – it’s reflective of his experience that after only knowing me a couple of hours, he equates a little nurturing, structure, and affection as safety enough to attach a parental label.)
- teaching him jokes he can tell his friends on the ride back home (what do you call a man with no arms & legs in a pool? Bob!)
- hearing him say, before we got out of the car, “Miss Melissa, this was the best day and I just want to say thank you.” (that was another heart break moment. if i get him adopted, i will cry happy tears.)
- walking into my office after being off for a week and finding 7 bags of christmas gifts for my kids.
- opening up my work email to find that one of my neediest families is being ‘adopted’ by an entire middle school for the holidays. the entire school donated money and gifts! so awesome!
- tomorrow is our secret santa party. yay!
1sylrayj
wrote on 16 December 2008 at 19:38
Well, I’m wishing a lot of stuff out your way now. And one of the wishes is that I could do more than wish.
2snack
wrote on 17 December 2008 at 19:17
wishing is always good
i’ve been doing some wishing myself lately.