Fe-Fe's World Of Craft, Creations and Kids.

This blog was started mainly for my crafting, however I also find myself writing about my family life too and in particular about my son Josh. Josh is just Josh to us and we're used to his quirky behaviour. As I don't want to have to mention Josh's autism every time I post about him, I thought I'd mention it here. Hopefully you will bear this in mind as you read and it may give you a little insight into the wonderful world of the autisic child in a very gentle way!

Friday, 5 September 2008

Mum's Birthday Surprise

My Mum's birthday was back in February but my brother Richie couldn't give my Mum her birthday present until last Saturday when the weather was a little better than it is in winter!

You see my mum has always been a bit of a biker chick but her dream has always been to have a ride on a Harley Davidson. So on Saturday Richie invited us round to his house for a barbecue, we were stood outside chatting and waiting for the barbecue to light when Steve pulled up on his Harley. Mum's head nearly whipped off her shoulders, she turned round that fast. Then when Richie said told her that she was going out for a ride on it and "Happy Birthday" she just burst into tears. Bless her!

The photo below was taken when Richie brought the birthday cake out. We'd all sung "Happy Birthday to You" and Mum went to blow the candles out and the wind blew them out for her before she got chance!

This is Mum in her borrowed Biker Chick outfit and that's our puppy Max at the side of her.

This is Mum squished into her helmet.

Mum trying to get onto the Harley. I won't tell you all that I had to help her get her foot over as she got stuck!!! :-)

And this was Mum riding off into the sunset. Well not quite but you get the picture.

10 comments:

Leanne said...: Absolutely fantastic pictures!! Completely jealous as well, as that is my dream!!!
Looks like she had a fab time!
Leanne xx; 5 September 2008 at 18:48
ScrapMomOf2 said...: That's fabulous! Now, how difficult is it to get a Harley-Davidson in the UK? I'm totally curious about this because my husband is really into his H-Ds! How wonderful that she got to do something that she's always wanted to do! Love the photos! Happy Belated Birthday to your Mom!!; 5 September 2008 at 20:31
Deanne said...: brilliant Fe, love the cake shot lol
i bet shes still in her element, hugs to you all x; 5 September 2008 at 22:31
Dawn said...: Oh! my word - Your mum must have had the time of her life - what a fab day for her.
amazing opportunity to ride on a Harley!
Wait until I speak to her!!

Dawn
x; 5 September 2008 at 23:37
Dee said...: Thank you ladies, I had a fabulous day. I'm so fortunate to have 2great children... I went to Disneyland Paris with Fe, Patrick and the children for my belated Chritmas present in August!!!!

Steve, who's bike it was, does this for people on a regular basis. Richard had been trying to organise this since February, searching England to arrange. Finally his grilfriends father asked in his local pub and Steve came forward. He's a brilliant guy and really made my day.; 7 September 2008 at 10:15
Deborah said...: How funny! Your Mum looks so happy and ready to roll! MY girlfriend did the same surprise for her Mum when she turned 70! So fun! Deb; 7 September 2008 at 18:06
Unknown said...: What a wonderful present and your mum looks so happy, brilliant!! Your mum rocks!!

Barbaraxx; 7 September 2008 at 21:56
Cazzy said...: How wonderful when your dreams come true.; 7 September 2008 at 22:37
Mrs. Nancy G said...: Oh how fun! Birthday blessings!!!

:-); 8 September 2008 at 01:06
Chooks said...: I'm so glad you posted these photo's ...I've been dying to see them....Dee looks like she had a ball on her birthday, it's lovely to see you all so happy xx; 16 September 2008 at 22:20

Ode to Special Mums

Ode to Special Moms(by Erma Bombeck)

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint, Matthew.
Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint, Cecilia.
"Rudledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint, give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," says God. "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."

God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."

The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, pen poised midair.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

"Welcome to Holland"

"Welcome to Holland" By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.