Sean's Story A Lesson In Life Update Part 2

As promised, here's the rest of the update on Sean. After graduation, Sean got a job as a greeter at Walmart where he worked for almost 2 years. He made many, many friends there and was able to greet many people from our local community that he knew. With the change in management and management styles, Sean's employment there ended. What a shame as Walmart lost a very dedicated conscientious employee.

Sean has since found a small part time job working at the Wild Bird Center, located at 12234 Tullamore Rd in Timonium MD. Sean's responsibilities there are to stock the bird seed when it is delivered early Wednesday morning. He has to off load it from the pallets, negotiate his way through the store and restock, and store the excess in the rear stockroom. Sean's boss John Sala has been a wonderful and supportive employer. Sean looks forward to going every Wednesday, getting up and being prepared well ahead of the time that morning. The Wild Bird Center sells not only bird seed but every kind of bird feeder that you can imagine. One of my favorites is the one that gives a squirrel a merry-go-round ride when it tries to steal some seed.




Sean has made a very special friend at The Wild Bird Center....Ms. Hattie....she, Sean and Ian are in the top picture. Sean adores Hattie and this is a big step for him as Sean dislikes most dogs due to a frightening experience he had when he was younger. Hattie is the most gentle of souls and loves to be rubbed and give kisses.





Sean works with a supportive employement agency to find a full time job and to give him support as needed. We were able to find a agency that shared our views of inclusiveness. In addition to looking for a job, Sean has been able to volunteer at various agencies to gain some valuable "work skills" as well as to give back to the community. At Thanksgiving time, Sean worked in a soup kitchen alongside his community employment advocate to serve the homeless a hot meal.




He also volunteered at the American Cancer Society local chapter helping with their envelope fund raising campaign. As for what the future holds for Sean...my hope if that his future is limitless. I hope that society gives Sean and all people with disabilities a chance. I know that I will work til my last breath to make sure that happens.

Statistics suggest that every family will be touched by someone with some kind of disability or challenge. We as a society need to look at how we treat each other. We wouldn't want our loved ones treated unfairly, now would we? So the next time you see the little down syndrome child playing on the playground, encourage your child to befriend them. Hold the door open for that person in a wheelchair not out of just courtesy but out of respect for that person or better yet, why not engage in an exchange of "hello", betcha they will give back to you more than you will ever realize.

Sean's Story A Lesson In Life Update Part 1

I've been debating about doing this blog post or not for a long time now. And it's not such a simple yes or no thing....you see we started down this path many, many years ago and it's been the right path for my family. So I guess it is the right thing to do afterall...

Most of those that know me, know that I have a son, Sean who is 24 and was born with Down Syndrome. As a young mother at 23, the doctors told me to take my son home and treat him as I would any other, so we did. Well with one or two modifications. Sean need special therapies to help him do things...regular things that every kid normally does. So we set out to find the help Sean needed. He was enrolled in a special education school from 2 months old....I know you're saying, what can a 2 month old learn....well as I said all the "normal" things and he wasn't gonna stay little forever. So we went down that path...infants and toddlers, PT, OT and Speech Therapy. We had something to do 5 days a week...mostly in the morning as I still worked full time as I went to work after doing all the things that Sean needed each day. Our life went like this for 5 years.

In the fall of what would be Sean's kindergarten year, we had a meeting with the teacher. I asked her when she was going to address teaching ABC's....you know the things kids in kindergarten learn. She told me that the children weren't ready to learn them...ok, not taking that for an answer I asked what they "needed" to be "ready". She told me they needed to know the ABC song....well I knew most of the kids in Sean's class as I watched them grow from infants. I socialized with these families as we had a common bond...a child with a handicap. So I knew that these kids knew that song....well I knew all but 1 did and that was only because he was new to the school. So that started me further down the path of change...that and the comment the principal of the "special" school made. She said "Kids like Sean never leave Ridge school". She was determining my child's path based on his disability!

Needless to say Sean did leave that school. We started down the path to inclusion. In the swirl of the controversy that was surrounding LRE (least restrictive environment) as our school system was being sued under a federal EDGAR complaint, we decided to enroll Sean in a regular education school. We were approached by ABC News Turning Point, to do a full access documentary on Sean's first year in inclusion. We agreed to give full access, the school was on board so we went ahead and the school boards superintendent was fully supportive. So we lived for a year with an ABC news crew in and out of our home filming everything from school, our home life and Sean's recreational activities.

At the beginning of Sean's second grade year, the show was aired. Meredith Viera was the host and the documentary, Sean's Story: A Lesson In Life, chronicled Sean's first year. It also followed Sean's friend Bobby, who's parents choose to keep him at Ridge school.


As time passed I had the opportunity to speak to many college students that were majoring in education. I was delighted to have a part in helping to shape the future teachers that children across the country would have. I would go to colleges and speak openly and frankly answering all their questions regarding the nuts and bolts of how it all worked. Sean's Story soon was included in text books that these young college students were learning from. The emails and phones call continue to this day, all these many years later, so that's part of why I'm doing this post. One question is consistent in every email or call....what happened to Sean after that year....the show sort of did leave you wondering. Anyway, I hope to answer some of those questions here.

After Sean's first year at Sparks Elementary, our beautiful old school had a devastating fire and was burned to the ground. We were lucky to be able to house the kids intact, at a under utilized middle school that wasn't too far away. So Sean's second year continued without too much interruption. His teacher told me that Sean would never learn to read phonetically...well that became her new mission and my new goal....glad to say that Sean did learn and still does read that way! The rest of Sean's elementary school went on with a few issues. Every year we had some "attitudes" that may have needed adjustment but for the most part, things weren't bad. During that time, we also had a new addition in our family, in Ian, our youngest, who many who read my blog will remember, is my creative genius!

Anyway, on to middle school , a whole bunch of new kids to befriend, with few adjustments and not many issues. Then came high school. We were welcomed with open arms. Anything was possible at Hereford High School. They made it work. There wasn't a time when they said no. I can not thank Hereford High school and their wonderful staff enough for all that they did for Sean. Sean was very well known in the school. He had an infectious friendly personality.

In the spring of 2005 (Sean's graduating class) Sean attended his senior prom. Well the night was magical. The kids voted Sean as prom king! Yep, Sean was that well liked by his peers. What a proud moment for me...that these kids actually "got it"! That Sean was accepted by his peers for he who he was. Sean didn't exit school that year, as kids in MD with disabilities are able to stay til 21 so that's what we did.



Sean and Delene dancing as prom king and queen.

The next 2 years we brushed up on writing and math skills. Sean was able to do some work experience outside of school as part of his curriculum. Sean also found bowling. He was appointed co captain of the high school Allied Bowling team. He was able to help out the varsity baseball team that his younger brother, Josh played on. As the end of the year approached, the physical education staff, who adored Sean, gave him a Hawaiian themed graduation party. A party that was attended by over 200 students. Many, many more wanted to sign up to attend but the cut off had to be made somewhere. It was nice to see how much Sean had touched everyone's lives.

As graduation night approached, Sean attended commencement practice just like everyone else. We had special seats reserved for us on the night of graduation, right behind the students, so we were able to see all the action. The students one by one filed up on stage to receive their diplomas. When Sean's name was announced, his whole graduating class, stood and gave him a standing ovation as he walked across the stage. What a nice tribute. These kids admired that Sean gave 110% of himself, every day, every minute. They respected him and he them. These kids got it! Another tear jerker moment for mom! It was a sad day for Sean to leave his beloved Hereford High but it was time to move on.

The rest of the story will have to wait til tomorrow as I am afraid this post has already been too long.

Don't Forget Mom...

On Mothers Day...it's less than 2 weeks away!

Being the mom of 3 boys this sign is so true....until they are safely tucked away in their beds I can't relax...there is always something that they need done and they forgot to tell me about, some paper needs to be signed, they need money for this or that, they need something washed and the list goes on and on!




What a nice sentiment. This was a sign that I did for a Mothers Day Challenge that my etsy group Olde Farmhouse Gathering had. While my entry didn't win the challenge, it did sell, so thank you to my buyer. I hope that your mother enjoys the sign on Mother's Day.









Of course there isn't a mother alive on the planet that hasn't made this comment if not once, a thousand times! I know I have!



And of course I already told you that I am the money tree! Someone always needed money for lunch, the book fair, a field trip, gym uniforms, etc, etc, etc!








Don't forget grandma too! Afterall she is the "queen" mother! As always you can find these signs and many more in my etsy shoppe.

To all the mothers out there...an early "Happy Mothers Day!"

Earth Day...40 years

This Earth Day is the 40th anniversary of a call to action. The EPA is asking for ordinary citizens to pick 5 things that they can do to help save the environment. It may be a simple as choosing new energy star rated appliance when replacing old, worn and inefficient ones. E-cycle used electronic appliances that are broken or no longer in use. Recycle bottles, metal cans, aluminum, plastic containers and yard waste. Or better yet, upcycle things....giving new life and use to old products. Use less pesticides...not only is it better for the land, the ground water, the air quality, it provides a sense of satisfaction to do it by hand.

Another idea that isn't directly mentioned in the link above is how about going paperless on all those bills we get each month? Paying bills online also reduces the need for envelopes, postage and the postal workers to deliver the mail. Not only will you reduce the paper waste, you will save more trees and make for a healthy environment. Betcha most of us are already doing this somewhat!

Some of the commitments that I have made this year are to replace old energy inefficient appliances...the new Energy Star rated dishwasher is going a long way to reducing my electric cost on usage of just that appliance, by half. Hope to replace the washer with a front loader and the dryer with a new gas model this summer.


I have made a stronger commitment to using less pesticides...I've invested $5 and some basic labor to keep my lawn dandelion free....yep, I'm digging them out the old fashioned way!



I have purchased reusable shopping bags for my frequent shopping trips instead of getting the plastic ones the stores supply. Sometimes I even skip the bag altogether. Using recyclable bags takes some getting use to....gotta remember to put them in the cars trunk after each use and to take them in the store with me but with each use, it's getting easier. Also some jurisdiction are imposing a bag tax to encourage using recyclable bags and to reduce the litter caused by the bags....in fact the District of Columbia just enacted such legislation.


We are growing more of our own food. And I plan on buying more local produce to reduce the costs associated with transporting food to the store. This not only will help the environment it will also help sustain local farmers and help preserve farmland by purchasing directly from the grower at the many local farmers market held in my area.



I plan to use less water by using only the water I need. We just bought a new touch on/off faucet for our kitchen remodel and look forward to seeing what kind of water savings we can get just by touching the water off and on as needed. If one was available for the bathroom, I would buy one for there too! I can't wait to try it out!

We already recycle and upcycle, turn off lights when not in use, pay our bills online and hopefully adding my new 5 picks will make a greater impact on our world or at least in our household.

These are small steps to take and I know that if everyone just picked 5 we could make a difference. So what will you pick?

Play Ball!

It's spring and baseball time in Baltimore. Our family has always been a baseball family. It's kinda funny how that happens but I guess it goes back to what the dad grew up playing....kinda determines what sports the kids gravitate towards.




We've been doing baseball for as long as I can remember. Sean, our oldest started playing when he was 6, and that was 18 years ago! Boy does time fly when you get older! Now we are down to our youngest, Ian playing baseball. Of course having older brothers that have played the sport helps. You learn the fundamentals quicker, because afterall you grew up absorbing like a sponge all that your older brothers did. Hopefully this inside information will make you a better player.



My middle son, Josh was the child who came out of the womb playing baseball. He learned how to walk hitting "my first baseball"....completely forgot that he was standing and took off after the ball he just hit! Boy, was that a funny sight, when he realized he had walked...sat right down and crawled back to the tee! As Josh got older he played travel ball and we spent many weekends at baseball tournaments. When he went to high school he made the JV and then Varsity team as their catcher. Joshua basically lived, eat and breathed baseball....



Ian's inspiration isn't quite the same. He enjoys baseball but not to the level that his brother did....but that's ok. We don't spend nearly as much time on the baseball field as we did. Now it's only 2 nights a week....I do kinda miss all the nights and weekends since it was such a big part of our life for many, many years, but I had to find other pursuits to fill the void and I have.





As you can see, one of Ian's biggest challenges on the baseball field is figuring out how to stuff more big league chew into his mouth! He has learned some of the fundamentals of base running, hitting and fielding and still has more to learn but I think he's perfected the gum wad!

So far this year, Ian's team is off to a rocket start. They have won their first 2 games. Ian has been fortunate to have the same coach 3 years in a row, so his coach knows him well. Hopefully they will continue with the same success and have some fun along the way. See you on the baseball diamond!

Pumping Iron

What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon...in a gym full of sweaty, muscle bound men! My middle son Josh, has recently taken up power lifting so we went to his competition to take pictures and give him some moral support.



This is from his first competition. Josh's girlfriend Maryia made this sign to support him during the competition....isn't she cute?












He won first place in his age group for curling. I love this sequence of pictures as it shows the detemination and skill that is used in power curling. There are 3 judges who make sure that the lift, curl or press is done the correct way...if it's not you get redlighted. You can get one redlight and it's still good lift and counts.







You have 3 attempts in each event....most increase their weight with each attempt. Everyone has their own mental preparation that they do before each lift...it's interesting to watch.




Many pace the floor before a lift...many place rosin on their hands to control the sweating.....my Josh clicks his fingers and taps is thighs....I guess it's all that nervous energy he has stored up.


Josh was able to curl 160 pounds in the power curl event.

He goes to the gym everyday for at least 3 hours to work out. He's stopped eating junk food, which is amazing as he was the king junk food eater in my house! My food bill has decreased in that area but has increased in the fruits and vegetables and healthy food area.

Josh entered all 3 events...but missed winning in the bench press event. Of course safety is of a paramount importance when power lifting. The head judge makes the determination during the lift as to whether the contestant is in any danger and can call off the lift at any moment. There are always spotters with any lifting event. Some lifters wear support belts around their waist to support their backs.










He also won first place in his weight class for dead lift....he was able to dead lift 450 pounds...Wow!




Josh and Charlie with their trophies


There were many power lifters at this event. Their ages ranged from 13 yrs old up to and into the 70 yr old age range. There also were a few women who participated in the event.

What's In a blueberry....

muffin that is. Last weekend I was able to bake some blueberry muffins. Haven't been able to do that for almost a year since beginning kitchen renovations. The hubby hooked the stove back up but the kitchen is still non-exsistant. The wall seperating the diningroom and kitchen is now gone...but I'll update with pictures on another post. Back to the muffins...I had frozen some blueberries this summer hoping to be able to make some muffins. Anyway, here's my simple recipe that I use...

1 3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1 1/4-1 1/2 cup blueberries

Mix the first 6 ingrediens together. Fold in the blueberries. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.....Yummo!

Green Beer, shamrocks and corned beef...

Feeling A wee bit Irish today? Even if you aren't, go ahead and indulge but make sure to be wearing some green cause if not you'll get pinched! Ouch! LOL!

Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland was born in Roman Britian in the 5th century to a church deacon and his wife. At 16 he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave. He was able to escape after God spoke to him in a dream
and he returned to England where he became a priest. In 432 he returned to Ireland this time as a bishop to save the Irish people.

In his church teachings, it is believed he used the shamrock to teach the holy trinity...the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to the Irish people. The wearing of the green came about came about as the result of the 1798 rebellion where the Irish army wore full green uniforms on March 17th hoping to make a statement. In fact the color blue was most associated with St. Patrick until that time.

As for feasting on corned beef and drinking green beer, it has served as a one day break during lent, the 40 day period of fasting. St Patricks Day is never celebrated during Holy Week. In fact, the last time its observance date was moved, was in 2008. This occurance will not happen again to 2160 so I think we are all safe to continue to relic and frolic on March 17th!

So....May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind always be at your back,
May the sun shine upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I'm Late. I'm Late....

For a very important date....Boy do I feel like the White Rabbit most days! Of course with the remake of Alice In Wonderland starring Johnny Depp, I just had to make some signs.



Alice's Adventures In Wonderland was written by Lewis Carroll(a pseudonym)in 1865. It tells the story of Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a world of curiouser and curiouser things as Alice puts it.

Along the way Alice meets the Queen of Hearts who invites Alice, some say ordered, to play a game of croquet with her...needless to say things don't go well for the Queen! So off with her head! LOL!


And of course what fantasy world would be complete without a wide grinned cat saying..... "We're all mad here!" Boy this could be my house! Some days it seems like so!

Lewis Carroll went onto to write "Through The Looking Glass", the sequel to Alice using the same genre of literary nonsense as well as some well known poems.

Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) who was one of 11 children born to a Angelican church clergyman and his wife in Cheshire, England. Carroll attended Oxford where excelled as a brilliant scholar in mathematics and was an inventor. Some inventions credited to Dodgson are a postage stamp case, a writing tablet called the nyctograph, and a version of a word game that we know today as scrabble.

And I thought that he was just a writer!

Monday Marketplace Featured Artist....Primgals Primitive Palette

My featured artist today is Jody Seilheimer of Primgal's Primitive Palette. As a fellow painter I have always admired Jody's painting. She does a beautiful job whether it's a design from Renee Mullins or Terrye French. The above picture is of Jody's newest creation, which I just love.




Jody has been painting in her Sandwich Illinois studio for the past 18 years. Jody's inspiration comes from things from days gone by. Her favorite designs to paint are for the holidays.


Jody's favorite surfaces to paint on are practcial things like soap, mousepads and light switch covers. She also loves to breath new life by repurposing cast off treasures and her unique style is very evident. So if you have a chance to stop by her etsy shoppe, please do..I'm sure you'll find a treasure or two that you can't resist.



You can also find Jody by following her blog. There she shares her newest offerings for sale as well as tidbits and whatnots.