jake

thank you to those people who are always asking how jake is doing. it's been close to two years ago that he moved to north carolina and became a permanent part of our family. we have tremendous support from his mom and dad in our efforts to get him working and living independently. jake moved into a group home fifteen minutes from our house about five months ago. he adjusted beautifully and is happy there, and in our new house we are close enough to him to see him on a regular basis. we are in the process of finding competitive employment in monroe for him. he's been working full-time at a sheltered workshop since he arrived here, but is ready for a bigger challenge. here's a picture of jake and his nieces around his birthday in april.

...to keep me inspired today...

i ran across this passage this morning, written by mother theresa, and i thought it was lovely.

ANYWAY

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;

forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

build it anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

do good anyway.

Give the world your best, and it may never be enough;

give the world your best anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;

it was never between you and them anyway.