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!

Saturday, 27 December 2008

Some Puppys Can't Have Nice Things!

One of the gifts we bought Max for Christmas was a lovely felt rag ball. He absolutely loved it and it kept him amused for about an hour... and then he found out how to pull all the bits of felt out of it!

This photo reminds me of the dogs eating spaghetti in Lady and the Tramp! :-)

Just look at the mess he made. Naughty puppy! At least it kept him busy while we opened our pressies but it would have been nice if it had lasted a little longer. Oh Max!

Just before Christmas we had some family photos done. I thought I'd share some of my favourites with you.

7 comments:

ScrapMomOf2 said...: Oh Fiona!! The photos of Max had Emily, Jessica, and I laughing out loud! We can relate, because Princess' toys need to be chosen with care based on what she can rip apart!! She's not destructive, but I think she sees it as a challenge!! I'm going to post a pic of her with her toys on my blog in a few! Check back to see it!!

I love the family photos! They're just fantastic!! Josh looks so grown up in the last photo!!; 27 December 2008 at 22:12
Dawn said...: He He - Max is having a ball Oh! God - Did I just type that - it must have been subliminal - it just came out!!
Once they get their teeth into something and realise what can be done there is no stopping them!
Your photos are just wonderful - I love the last one - Brilliant!!

Hugs
Dawn
x; 27 December 2008 at 23:31
Unknown said...: Your photos are lovely Fiona, you all look so happy and relaxed. Max gave me a giggle, he looks happy and relaxed too!

Barbaraxx; 28 December 2008 at 19:08
Nicki said...: Hi Fe

Those family pics are beautiful - they are just crying out to be scrapbooked!
Happy New Year!
Nicki, xx.; 29 December 2008 at 19:18
Dee said...: I think you should send a photo of Max and the rag ball to the manufacturers to show them how much it was appreciated and how long it lasted!!! LOL

The photo's are fab, and its reminded me that I didn't choose which I'd like!!!!

Love Mum XXXX; 30 December 2008 at 07:29
Debbie said...: Aww Fe your family photos are brilliant - how nice to have you all together in the one pic. ;)

Max - lol, sure looks like he ahd loads of fun - even just for a wee while. :)

Happy New Year. :)

xxDebbiexx; 30 December 2008 at 12:01
Deanne said...: gorgeous family photos fe, we really must get some done! xxx; 3 January 2009 at 16:19

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.