We will always remember our little angel who could flap her little wings and take flight in Mari's world. Remember. There is so much to remember about Mari. Her ability to make everything into a chewie toy. Whether she had her chewie tube on or her shirt sleeve, she found some way to chew on something. Preacakes. You might be wondering what in the world those are. They were Mari's word for pancakes. She loved them so much. She knew the ingredients needed to make them and she helped me to … [Read more...]
Q is for quest
Because in Mari's world I bet she was always on a quest to find some new adventure that lead her to Giggle Town. I laugh when I think of that line above. Mari always loved to retreat into her world. Sometimes I wish there could have been a way for me to go with her to see for myself what made her so happy as she visited her own Giggle Town. It was rare to see Mari sad. She could entertain herself for hours. Turn on a Backyardigans or Dora or Wonder Pets video and she was just happy. She … [Read more...]
P is for patient
Because Mari taught me how to be patient. I always tell people that God has given some people the gift of patience, but I'm not one of them. Since I can remember I've struggled with being patient. I guess using the cliché, "She has a short fuse," can be pretty accurate most of the time. The thing is having a daughter with autism doesn't exactly mesh with someone who doesn't have patience. So who do you think is going to have to change? The person with autism whom you can't communicate with … [Read more...]
O is for open, as Mari was always open to try new things.
I have to laugh. Mari would be the one where nothing would stop her from trying something new. However, most of us would think twice before doing so. Even then it could take us several more times and then we don't go through with it. There could be several reasons why. The bottom line is we stop to think about it. This is where Mari was on the more unique side because that's just it - she didn't think. She just did. Now I'm not saying this was always the smartest choice (hence dancing on the … [Read more...]
N is for night
As Mari could play through the night (if we allowed her :) ) . Nighttime. Mari is the complete night-owl. It didn't matter what time we put her to bed. She never went to sleep right away. We kind of had a nightly ritual that we followed with her. First we would sing the made up song her teacher in DeKalb taught us. It went like this: "Toys away. Toys away. It's time to put our toys away." We would repeat that several times until everything was cleaned up. Then it was time to get her … [Read more...]
M is for Mari’s world
As Mari always had an infectious laugh when she visited Mari's world. I was talking to a friend this morning about Mari's world. When she would escape to go there you could tell because she would get this far off look. What I told my friend is maybe Mari's special world was heaven. Maybe in her world she got to talk to Jesus. She could walk around there without autism. A world where she was perfect. Wouldn't that be kewl. I smile just thinking about it. … [Read more...]
L is for Loving
Because loving Mari was, and still is, so easy to do. When you are pregnant with your first child everyone tells you that the moment your baby is born you will be filled with so much love that there are no words to describe the amount of love that fills your heart to capacity to the point of even spilling over. You question how can that possibly happen. There are no answers that can describe it. It just does. I remember shopping in Wal-Mart one day with my mother-in-law and she told me … [Read more...]
K is for Kindred Spirit
Because Mari's kindred spirit infiltrated every pore in our bodies. When I think of kindred spirits I always think of the Anne of Green Gables movies. Anne Shirley always talked about how her friends were her bosom friends and that they were kindred spirits. I think Mari was a kindred spirit and that is why she will always be so fondly remembered. For me, she's the one who organically or naturally through no selfish desire showed those around her what love is supposed to look like. So … [Read more...]
J is for joy
Because knowing Mari and seeing the joy she brought to so many people in their lives was priceless to watch. I think Mari was the quintessential meaning behind joy. I don't think there was a day in Mari's life where she wasn't happy. She could make the saddest person smile with her innocence and charm. Did Mari experience joy like the rest of us? No, she experienced joy in a more pure way. Hers didn't have ulterior motives. She had joy simply because she was happy. How many people can … [Read more...]
I is for independence
As Mari's independence always sprang forth with everything she did. Mari's independence never ceased to amaze those around her. She loved being able to do things on her own like climbing the spiral staircase outside to get to the roof to go dancing on it. Or to find the moment when I wasn't looking to open the window, open the screen, then climb through said window to go dancing in the street. Or flip the tall green laundry hamper upside down so she could climb on top to get to the key that … [Read more...]