Thank You

The Confirmation ceremony at our church Sunday was lovely.

The other young lady gave her speech, and did a wonderful job, and then both of our families went up to the altar.  The only answer Haley had to give was "yes."  She was a bit apprehensive about kneeling on the kneeler.  We hadn't practiced that, but she did it.

After church Haley got a card from a member of the congregation.  We had to stop right there and open the card and read it to her, she loved it.

Several people congratulated her.

I told her that she could say "Thank you."

She sheepishly said it, it sounded like "kew."

There was a Harvest Party right after church.  Everyone that came in to the party saw Haley and said something to her, either "Congratulations" or "there's the woman of the day."  Things like that. 

Each time someone acknowledged her she seemed to get more comfortable, and she would say Thank You just a little louder. 

We had a lot of fun at the Harvest party. There were games and a "hay ride" which was two kids in a wagon behind a four-wheeler.  Haley seemed really interested in that, but when we got down close to it she just shook her head "no."  I tried several times and I told her that the four-wheeler would go really slow if she wanted it to, but she refused.  She giggled every time it went by and pointed and called it a car, but she would not ride behind it.

The family that hosted the Harvest Party had set up a photo area with hay bales and pitch forks and apples and straw hat.  Each family had their picture taken and all of the kids got together for some pictures. It was a lot of fun.

As the party was winding down the Mom of other young lady that was confirmed congratulated Haley and Haley said "Thank You," loud and clear.  I was pleasantly surprised.

I think that we had spent enough time with this family that Haley was really becoming familiar with them.  I think she also had finally gotten comfortable with being the center of attention. 

It was her day, and she knew it.



~ Haley's Mom

I am participating in 31 for 21 Blog Challenge this month. The challenge I have accepted is to blog every day in October to raise awareness for Down Syndrome. Learn more about Down Syndrome at the National Association of Down Syndrome.

Confirmation

Haley will be confirmed in the Lutheran Church this coming Sunday.

When kids are confirmed in our church they have to go up in front of the congregation and give a little speech.  The speeches are usually about where they are on their faith walk.

The kids each give very different talks.  Sometimes the speech sounds like a paper that they would write for school.  Sometimes they are funny.  Sometimes they list all of the people in their lives that have made a difference.  Sometimes they talk about the trips they have taken with the church or the events that happened at the church while they were growing up.  The one thing that remains the same is that what they say is very individual. 

Last week we went to dinner at the Pastor's house.  There was another family there.  There will be one other young lady confirmed next Sunday with Haley.  The Pastor talked to her about what she might say.  He told her that it was up to her to decide how to aproach her speech, but that it was to be about her choice to be a member of our church.  He reminded the girls that they would be welcomed into the church as active voting members.  He told them that the church recognizes that this is their first step into adulthood.  After they are confirmed the church sees them as adults.  It is the first step in a line of other steps that they will take in society.  Steps like getting a driver's license, registering to vote, being of legal drinking age.

Haley will probably not take those other steps.

Haley will probably not do much with her church membership voting rights either.

Haley will not be able to give a speech. She doesn't speak. Haley responds.

The pastor will ask her questions and I am sure she will give the right answers because they are short and simple answers.

I am torn.

Part of me wants to speak for her, but I don't know if that is a good idea.  The truth is, I have no idea what she would say if she could say anything. 

I don't know where Haley is on her faith walk.  I only know that it is with God's care and grace that she has made it this far.  I do believe that Haley has faith.  She is very quiet and attentive in church.  When we pray she bows her head.  When prayers are over she says "Amen."  She says "Bless You" when someone sneezes.  She has recognized the picture of Jesus that hangs in the hallway by the nursery as Jesus since she started going to church at age three.

Haley has faith, but I don't believe that she can express it.  

There is very little that she can express.  She lets us know when she is thirsty, when she is hungry, when she is tired.  She has expressions for when she is happy or angry or frustrated or surprised.  I can tell when she is content and when she is anxious, but quite often I don't know why.

Haley is a mystery.

So is God.

Haley's relationship with God is a mystery.

I don't have a problem with that, but as her parent I feel it is my responsibility to give her all of the opportunities that I can.  I brought her to church to be baptized.  I brought her to the training to receive communion.  I brought her to her confirmation classes.  

I will take her to church on Sunday to be confirmed.  

It is not up to me what happens after that.

It is up to God.

~ Haley's Mom

I am participating in 31 for 21 Blog Challenge this month.  The challenge I have accepted is to blog every day in October to raise awareness for Down Syndrome.  Learn more about Down Syndrome at the National Association of Down Syndrome.

First Confirmation Class

I am taking Haley to Confirmation classes at my church.

Our Pastor is happy to have her.  His former church had a very active special needs community and he has been very supportive of those with special needs.

The kids in her class are great.  There are about six or seven of them and they have seen Haley in the church and at different events throughout her life.

They had an ice-breaker that involved Skittles.  Skittles are some of Haley's favorite candies, so she was happy.

She is very shy so she doesn't talk, but it is my hope that she is listening.

The pastor handed out papers that the kids were supposed to fill out as he talked.  I wrote the words for Haley and she traced the letters.

She took a small wooden cross from the a box on the office desk on our way out.

Afterward I asked her if she liked the class at church.  She said "Yeah." 

"Do you want to go back next week?"

"Yeah."