Santa with a Twist..

Christmas with our friends at BEGIN .... Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta

Last week I was plowing through the mall with Walker and Knox. While rummaging we ran into someone I have not seen in years - who I guess you would say "watched me grow up". It's always funny to see those people who remember the golden days and then watch their face when they see me in tow with three children. I get the same eery feeling every time I see one of my former students getting married - or for Heaven's sake having a baby themselves. It only means that I am aging too. Ugg.

Anyway, she asked the boys what they wanted from Santa - Knox is tried and true, wants the exact same three things every time; Walker, on-the-other-hand, just can't seem to want the same things, there's something new every time. Let's hope Santa is a mind reader come Christmas morning....

Well, Ivey was not with us. So she looks at me with this perplexed look, lowers her voice and asks, "How's the baby?" Remember she has not seen us in years, so she really only knows the "harder days". Do you know what a blessing it is to look some one in the eye and say with a smile and sheer excitement that Ivey is great....and then go on to tell how she is signing, babbling, standing with assistance and "Oh my" how SMART she is? And then to see the reciprocal- my friend's face light up and her voice change to a little higher pitch. Seems the miracle of Christmas is coming a little early around here.

Two weekends ago we took the boys and Ivey to see Santa...more miracles. Literally, we were surrounded by children and their families who have their own story to tell, their own 'new normal' and success in nontraditional ways. This year time with Santa came with a twist. We visited Santa at the CVI (Center for the Visually Impaired) with other members of the BEGIN program. In other words, we were surrounded by children who are blind or visually impaired, their siblings, parents/guardians and the amazing people who teach our children at the CVI.

If you had suggested to me three years ago that I would be in that room at Christmas time...well, I would not have know what CVI stood for, let alone found how it pertained to our family. I don't even know if I would have gone into that room willingly, Trust me, this journey has not always been on my own accord. Sometimes God must throw us into our role- not ease us into it.

There in that room I found myself comfortable in my own skin, and in my role as a parent. Just being in a room where another parent approached Ivey without hesitation and knew exactly how to 'touch' her is beyond words. Witnessing other siblings and how they are so similar to Knox and Walker. Being with other parents who share the trials that we face with our children - all of them, not just Ivey - and physically relating to what a 'typical' day is like in the Sirmans' household brings peace to us. For me personally, my heart was filled by touching the other children, meeting amazing parents and having a bond, a connection, without knowing anything personal about them. I guess it is seeing our family in others.

Seeing other children with feeding tubes, monitors, other dis-ABILITIES beside blind isms reminded our family that this journey we are on is well worth hills and valleys. Seeing parents like us, smiling, happy to be in their skin just as I am happy to be in my own skin is well worth this ride. Harder times have come and gone, and they will come again, but for now, I can't imagine myself in any other place. Wouldn't want to be, even if you promised me a life....that was 'easier'.

Christmas is a joyous time. Thank you God for all of our joys, even the ones that have been our blessing in disguise. Thank you Lord for our friends whom we can only keep close in our hearts because distance seperates us. Thank you Lord for our family who is so blessed to travel this journey with us. And thank you Lord for our friends, those who choose to travel this journey with us, loving us and guiding us, just because they can. Thank you Lord for giving me a life I could have never imagined without You.

Tonight we will watch Walker and Ivey in the Christmas program at church. Another time I could not imagine without your help. Thank you Lord for the blessings of our community. 'God is good all the time, all the time God is good."

Merry Christmas from our BEGIN family!!!! Walker wasn't quite into all the cameras. Would or could any of you ever imagine yourself in this room with your child and feel the utmost peace and happiness that you have ever felt in your life? Feel that comfortable in your skin? It is the most wonderful place to be......thank you God for my amazing life...our amazing life as a Family!!!