Mom and Dad, Julie and Bryan, are just a normal couple. We've come a long way! HA! My mother-in-law gave me a magnet that says "Around here, normal is just a setting on the dishwasher." I love it!

We aren't famous, so we don't have a tremendous voice; however, we have had around 15,000 hits on our site since 2006. Edward E. Hale said, "I am only one, but I am one. I can not do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I can not do interfere with what I can do." I used to keep this saying on my board to inspire my students. Now it inspires me.

Before Jude, I went wherever I wanted to go and did whatever I wanted to do with Jett. When I was pregnant with Jude, I remember telling one of my friends, "My life is so perfect. Nobody's life is this perfect, and I just wonder when it is going to rain on my parade." Call it mother's intuition, but I knew that God's plan for Jude was very different. His birth announcement stated, "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in Your Book." Psalm 139:16. In fact, his name, Jude, is from the Book of Jude, which shares a message to "contend for the faith."

Bryan is undoubtedly a people person. He is easy-going and funny. He gets involved in whatever I ask him to do, but his ultimate goal is being a loyal employee. We really appreciate his company's great people and benefits. After he gets off work, we take the kids to swimming classes, go on walks... we all four love family time. Since we found out what Jude has, our family focus has improved! We realize that life is very special and shouldn't ever be taken for granted. Bryan is the best daddy and husband anyone could ever want. If it all ended tomorrow, I could look back and say that it couldn't have been better.

As for me, I've always liked to teach and volunteer. I guess Jude and his condition are a blessing for me. My eyes were opened as a teen during a mission trip to Mexico. Almost 15 years later, I've been through multiple states, schools, organizations, and projects. I have had many humbling life experiences, but once again my eyes were opened when we had Jude. I realized that I could do a whole lot more than what I was doing before. Life changes. Hearts change. Minds change. Needs change. I quit my part-time job as an adjunct professor, and now I focus on the needs of children through the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, Friends of Children's Hospital, and the Mississippi Foster Care System. I would love for you to read one of my articles online.

Before we were married, we both knew we wanted to adopt. One day I read in the newspaper about a couple where one wanted to adopt and the other didn't. The columnist had adopted her own child and responded by saying that as soon as the baby was in her arms, it didn't matter to her one bit how it got there. Here's the best part. She said that for every woman and man out there who desperately want children, there are children out there who desperately want parents. WOW! I wish I could remember who wrote it.

We are not going to have anymore children of our own. Having Jude confirmed our desire to adopt, and in that regard, he helped another child in need. Last December we welcomed a perfectly healthy, beautiful foster baby into our family. He will be with us for at least 1 year.

I think too often people get caught up with questions like "Why do I have financial problems?" or "Why did I lose my job? or "Why did my parents divorce?" or "Why is my child like this?" And on the bad days, we wonder why Jude has gone through such pain. However, if you live in the United States of America, no matter what your circumstance, you probably have more resources, more opportunity, and more treatments than most of the world. Because this is not a perfect world, there are many big, very sad problems out there. There are also many factors that determine outcomes in life. But I know this: Even if you don't believe in God, you should still support the greater good of humanity. Doing so makes the world a better place to live. I believe that God gave us Jude for a greater good. Our little package comes with a daily dose of humility and a great appreciation for life. We have watched our Jude suffer, and we have cried. But for as long as he is here, his life will be better than so many needy children. And instead of focusing on our lemons, we are trying desperately to make lemonade.

Someone blessed me by sending this poem in 2006, about the time I needed it the most. I was so busy focusing on my sick child that I really never realized how his experience was molding me and changing me. Just read it and be blessed.

"The Special Mother" by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice,
a few by social pressure and a couple by habit.
This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children.
Did you ever wonder how these mothers are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth
Selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation.
As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew."
"Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia."
"Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who knows no laughter?
That would be cruel."
"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair.
Once the shock and resentment wear off she'll handle it."
"I watched her today.
She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother.
You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own.
She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive.
Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect.
She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied.
She will never take for granted a spoken word.
She will never consider a step ordinary.
When her child says momma for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.
I will permit her to see clearly the things I see--ignorance, cruelty,
prejudice--and allow her to rise above them.
She will never be alone.
I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life
Because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air.
God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."