How to get everyone together?  Tell ’em we’re going for ice cream!  Even the teenager (brother, Dawson 16 years old) agrees!  Haha!  

Yup, there’s Andy in the front seat with me.  It’s his reserved seat, didn’t you know!?!?

As a caregiver, we often try to encourage those we are hoping the best for to get it into gear and head out of the house, once in awhile.  They are home bodies, and to be honest I can find a lot of comfort in my own surroundings too.  But, c’mon people, we must get out and live a little!!!  So another creative move on my part – tell ’em I’ll take ’em out for ice cream!  Okay, maybe not so creative, but since it typcially works everytime, you do what you have to do, right?

They all came running (okay, Andy was at a fast walk!) and headed for the car. Then, there is the seating arrangement depending on who is going.  If Andy’s along, then everybody knows he gets the front.  If no Andy, then Shawn gets the front.  If Dawson and only one of the guys (not including Andy) is riding with me then Dawson gets the front seat. I always laugh at all the jokeying around. But, when my 16-year old started driving and someone beat me out for riding gunshot, yup, I found myself trying to plead my case, “I had to sit in the back last time, so it’s my turn”! And, then my kid gives me the orders, and since he’s driving, I guess he’s in charge. So I climb in and let the other guy take the lead.  It hurts. LOL!

On this day, Andy and I rumble down the road, with the other three at our backs and soon we are at the local ice cream shop and everybody’s happy. It’s not often that we are all together and I’m thankful Andy is with us, since he’s usually living the self-quarantined life that he really loves so much. It was hard to accept him choosing to be with just he and himself, but I’ve learned that is where he is most happy. Acceptance is a beautiful thing.

Me and my guys and ice cream.  It doesn’t get any better than that. I feel very blessed to know how to treasure the little things in life, even if it took Down Syndrome to teach me that great lesson!

God is so good!