Latest posts
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Passport, Paradox
Remember a couple of weeks ago when I announced I’d changed my name? Well, I started strong by getting my social security card changed, but since then, the name-change road has been slow. I’m not worried…it took me 9 years to change it. I’ve got nothing but time when it comes to this. I DID,…
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Hey Mister Tambourine Man
I had this idea that the summer would bring a relaxed rhythm to our lives for awhile. It kind of has worked out that way, but I find I’m just busy DIFFERENTLY. It’s still a welcome change, just having a different routine for awhile is good. I feel the school year coming up fast though—its…
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Jewelry
I’m terrible with jewelry. I love the idea of accessorizing with pretty things, but I can’t hold on to it. It’s just so small and misplaceable. Its got to stay on my body to be safe. This is why I never take off my wedding ring or my favorite necklace. Actually I’ve been wearing Vernon’s…
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A Little Romance
“Nothing is ever lost to us, as long as we remember it.” —L.M. Montgomery All Vernon’s sweet talking over the past couple of weeks sent me on a trip down the rabbit hole of memory…or at least my email folders. I also remembered these photos my sister Acacia took a year or two after we…
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Weekend Update
So…I got in a little trouble for giving Vernon (thickened) juice from the kitchen without an official ‘order.’ Since he hasn’t been getting any speech therapy to help him build his swallowing muscles, I figured I might as well allow him some supervised pleasure since he gets so little of it. The good thing is that…
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Finding His Voice
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language And next year’s words await another voice.” —T.S. Eliot My good friend Andrea and her son Justis brought their gift of music to bless Vernon this morning. We found him ready for company with eyes wide open (always a plus!) When he began to fade out, I…
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Meet the Broadways
Vernon was graced today by a visit from a very special family. They came all the way from Nashville, Tennessee, just to sing a song for him. Well, it wasn’t the only reason they came out. They were visiting family in Southern California anyway, but they did take out an afternoon to see him, and…
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All In An Afternoon
I was looking forward to my time with Vernon at the Dialysis Center today, partly because of his breakthrough moment of sweetness on Tuesday, and also because my friend Sandy reported that he seemed especially alert and communicative during yesterday’s session. But when I arrived, I saw the ambulance team wheeling him back out of…
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Angels and Affirmations
My close friend Nicole drove down from LA to meet Vernon and me this morning. She had been feeling compelled to come pray for him in person for a few weeks, but life kept messing with her availability. It turns out the timing all worked out as mysteriously as it usually does, for there were two women…
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Drawing Sessions
Tonight’s update brought to you by our dear friend Jeff Girard. This is the email he sent me earlier today. Hi Alli: I’ve been talking art with Vernon for the past several Fridays, because it seems to be broad and internal enough for him to be able to track. School and soccer are good too.…