A Beautiful Story

I receive alot of emails as I'm sure we all do that we delete before we even read them but this one caught my attention and I'm so glad I took the time to read it. It will bring tears to your eyes but it is well worth the time to read especially at this time of year.

Two ChoicesWhat would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and itsdedicated staff, he offered a question:'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.Where is the natural order of things in my son?'The audience was stilled by the query.The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'Then he told the following story:Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.However, as Shay stepped up to theplate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.The game would now be over.The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!Run to first!'Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!Shay, run to third!'As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Introducing Julia Lynn Betts

Today at 3:13 pm Julia Lynn Betts entered the world. She weighed 7 lbs 6 oz, 20 1/2" long, and lots of hair. She is a cutie. I couldn't believe how calm and quiet she was. We are all happy to see her. Mom, Dad and everyone else is doing great as well.

Calico Meringues Christmas Cookies

I have been working on submitting a cookie recipe to a cookbook that will advertise my custom made kids clothes business so I made up a batch of cookies last night so I could take pictures. These cookies are my favorite Christmas cookie and now that most of my kids are grown they are the cookies that are most asked for. I thought I would share the recipe here as well.

4 egg white

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

1 cup of granulated sugar

1 1/2 cusp M&M candies

Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy in a small deep bowl. Grandually beat in sugar to make a stiff meringue. Fold in candies.

Grease and flour cookie sheet. Use spoon to drop meringue mixture to cookie sheet. Garnish each with one candy.

Bake in 250 degree oven for 25-30 mins or until firm to touch but still white. Cool on cookie sheet on wire rack. Store in sealed container.

Makes about 3 doz cookies depending on size.

New customer inspired dress

One of the neatest things about making custom made kids clothes is the requests that I get from time to time from customers. About a month ago I got a request from a lady that wanted a denim type dress for her grandaughter for a family portrait that was going to be taken at Thanksgiving time. Everyone is going to be dressed in denim so we decided on a chambray jumper/pinafore dress with the classic petticoat dress underneath. I don' t have the photo of the child yet because the pictures haven't been taken but here is a picture of the dress.

I think this jumper/pinafore dress has got to be my most popular dress that I have made so far. You can do so much with it. In the summer months you can wear it alone with the matching bloomers and than in the cooler months you can wear it over a blouse or the petticoat dress and for added warmth you can add pantaloons. This outfit is so versatile and since it's custom made you can make it any type of fabrics that you would want.

A New Baby Girl Soon!!!

We found out the other day that Kim and Dave will be having their new little daughter on the 20th of November. They are pre planning it since Dave works at the mine in Bagdad and they don't want her to go into labor and not have a way to the hospital. They just bought a house in Buckeye and Dave is commuting on weekends. She will be born at Banner Gateway and her name will be Julie, or at least that was the last I heard. We are axiously awaiting the arrival but when I think about it eternally there must be family members on the other side that will miss her terribly just as we miss those that leave this earth and return to their Heavenly Home.

As a side note if any of your families have blogs send me a link so we can all catch up on each other. I have discovered it is a great way to stay in touch without having to send out lots of emails.