Out of the mouths of babes...or at least 9 year-olds (a very interesting 9 year-old at that). There is a wisdom that exudes from LuLu that belies both her age and the severity of her disabilities. It always catches me off guard. And ALWAYS profoundly touches me.

Today was the first day of Vacation Bible School. VBS, just like everything else in LuLu's life, is a challenge. We have usually participated. But, it hasn't always been easy. I have to be her "crew leader" - meaning that I chauffeur a group of kids from station to station throughout the morning. It might be fun, except that it doesn't afford me a break from LuLu. And, depending on who else is in the group, it can be quite challenging as other kids do find her very odd sometimes. (Other moms have groups that purposely DON'T include their own kids. It is just not a good idea for LuLu...yet.)

On our way there, LuLu chattered excitedly about VBS (in the past she had been quite nervous and afraid but today...life is different.) Then came those pearls of wisdom.

"Life really is pretty good, isn't it Mom?"

"Yes, LuLu" (I'm only partially listening to the chatter).

"God designed it that way, huh?"

"Yes, LuLu" (now I'm listening a bit more).

"It's kinda between heaven and hell, you know. In fact, sometimes it's even closer to heaven than hell." (I look into the rear view mirror to see that she is showing me with her hands that heaven is on top, with hell below and earth is about 2/3 the way to heaven.)

"And God wants us to think that way. You know, not do something like kill ourselves. But to do things that make it feel more like heaven around here while we're waiting to go to heaven."

Hmmm...at this point I'm always puzzled as to which synapses have connected to bring about her current train of thought. I truly don't know; but I have to respond.

"You're right, LuLu. We should try to make it heaven on earth."

"I'm going to Mom. It feels so much better that way."

And there it was. The golden nugget for the day. The sign that healing is in progress and positive thoughts are creeping into her abused and traumatized brain on their own. The hope we long to see! Now, with about 10,000 repetitions of those same heavenly thoughts, maybe life will be different!!!!

All-in-all, it wasn't a bad morning at VBS. She did draw a slightly inappropriate picture in art, run up on the stage during the closing when she shouldn't have, and made several grunting noises and other odd behaviors that produced sideways glances from the other kids. But what she DIDN'T do was even more important. She didn't melt down at the noise level (100 kids screaming does produce a noisy room). She didn't decline playing the game that involved water balloons and she was sure they would both hurt and be noisy if they popped. She didn't complain too much about having to have different food from the other kids (casein-free). She sang, danced, laughed and participated in the group discussion.

So, Day 1 down, and four to go. We'll see how much like heaven the rest of the week will be...