This Side of Invisible

After I got married and before I had my first child, I worked in a life skills center for disabled adults.  This is Edgar, his was 62 at the time this photo was taken and yes, he has Down's Syndrome.  As an infant in the late 1930's, he was placed in an institution because his disability made him unsafe and put his siblings at risk.   *note: please try and ignore my overly large pregnant-ness in the pic :) I'm not sure I can comprehend, as a mother, sending my child off to an institution.  At least, that's my initial thought.  But if I am honest, and if I were Edgar's mother and the whole world was fear mongering about how dangerously unpredictable he would be and about how taxing it would be, how difficult, how alone I would be, I might have listened too.  During that era, with so little help and compassion in regards to disabilities or mental health challenges, was there really another option for Edgar's mother?  

I know, scandalous... maybe.  The Mormon girl writes a book review on the Sabbath, but seriously, this is Sabbath worthy. Before I even begin, I feel like I should make a disclaimer that although, I can see some parallels between my marriage and Lonnie and Gideon's, the differences are many and huge.  My husband and I were ecstatic to finally be getting married on our wedding day; we wanted to be there with each other.  And we have wanted to be together every day since.  There.  Disclaimer over.  Now onto the book review. Here's another surprise, the Mormon girl read a 'Christian' novel.  I have never read a novel classified as 'Christian' before.  I have read many books by authors that are Christian and that have Christian undertones before.  And I have read many books by Mormon authors that carry a heavy Latter-day Saint overtones.  However, I can't say I have read an overtly Christian novel before.  Well, maybe, I have read ...

Published on the Liahona Project, link here Recently, Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers sent me a complimentary copy of "My Life Without Limits" by Nick Vujicic to read and review.  And I will admit, when I first started reading it I was skeptical.  It was a little too upbeat, a little to cheesy for my tastes.  But what I came to realize is this: Nick isn't selling cheesy feel-good motivational fluff.  Nick is speaking from the heart, telling the world about his experiences with real trials and heartache and how he has learned to overcome.  Nick isn't selling anything; he's spreading the truth about the power of hope. The author asks, "What is hope?"  What follows is his answer (which I love):  "It is where dreams begin.  It is the voice of your purpose.  It speaks to you and reassures you that whatever happens to you doesn't live within you."  This statement struck such a cord with me.  I love this principle that your experiences...