Joseph is Seven!

 Joseph turned seven on the 28th of November ... and somehow we are left with two measly photos.  Where exactly did the birthday video disappear to?  Our photos seem to be becoming progressively worse:  ill-lit, the ever-present neon green wall as background, and grainy, always grainy.  But, guess what?  It really doesn't matter.  We are left with two photos and one delightful Joseph.

 Dear Joseph has a very special relationship with my Madonna House spiritual director, Fr. Tom - a sort of spiritual grandfather.  Joe loves Fr. Tom deeply and I suspect that the feeling is mutual.  So, when I asked Joe what he wanted to do on his birthday, he requested Fr. Tom for supper.  (Well, Joe wanted hamburgers for supper, not Fr. Tom:  you know what I mean?)  Fr. Tom came for the evening and we feasted on hamburgers, nachos with cheese, Greek salad and a store-bought cake.  The last part was a big Whew! moment for the kids, as my cakes are not something with which one would want to celebrate.

 Aside from turning seven, Joe (and Ben) got to start sledge hockey this winter.  Joe's best friend Chad has spina bifida, and one of the most infectious personalities around.  I suspect that his personality comes directly from his mother, one of the happiest, most positive-thinking women I know.  She and her husband decided that Chad, if unable to play able-bodied hockey, would not miss out.  Thus, sledge hockey has come to our little town.  Our boys have always wanted to play hockey, but we have been resistant to the thought of thousands of dollars in equipment and early mornings spent at freezing arenas.  Therefore, when a sledge hockey form came home from school (with a low price tag and a commitment of 1.5 hours each Saturday) we jumped at the idea.

The nicest part of sledge hockey so far has been the group of kids and parents involved.  (And maybe that Dave takes the boys and I get to stay home.)  Other than Chad, all of the kids are able-bodied, and just really nice kids.  The normal hockey culture on ice and in the locker room is completely absent and a more humble spirit permeates the practices.  Even Chad's educational assistant from the school has joined the team, all of 50-plus years old.  We are so grateful for these opportunities in our life:  little ways in which our kids get to grow up just a little bit differently than the pervasive culture. But, moreover, we are simply thankful for these kids, each irrepeatable, unique and exactly the right fit for our family.