Jonathan's Story
Viewing comments for Chapter 7 "The Person Within"Our fostering journey with a severely disabled boy
27 total reviews
Comment from Spitfire
Thanks for posting the family portrait. Your children are beautiful. I loved the many examples of how Jonathan showed his special intelligence. I'm glad his father kept in touch too. This would make a great movie!
reply by the author on 30-Jan-2024
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Thanks for posting the family portrait. Your children are beautiful. I loved the many examples of how Jonathan showed his special intelligence. I'm glad his father kept in touch too. This would make a great movie!
Comment Written 29-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 30-Jan-2024
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Thank you again Shari! Yes, he came occasionally, and that was a good thing. Another lovely review, and I greatly value receiving six stars. You made my day.
Wendy
Comment from Sarah Tummey
Thanks, Wendy - another one I enjoyed reading. I also hate when anybody calls someone useless, and yet I find I sometimes say it to myself. It's lovely that you could see Jonathan's feelings in the way he acted towards you.
reply by the author on 30-Jan-2024
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Thanks, Wendy - another one I enjoyed reading. I also hate when anybody calls someone useless, and yet I find I sometimes say it to myself. It's lovely that you could see Jonathan's feelings in the way he acted towards you.
Comment Written 29-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 30-Jan-2024
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Thank you Sarah. Yes, it's hard to se another person being devalued. I appreciate your thoughtful and kind words here.
Wendy
Comment from Bill Schott
This is totally amazing and a mind-blowing illustration of the patience and deliberation one displays and exhorts raising a child in Jonathan's state. We all thank you for reinforcing the gift of life.
reply by the author on 30-Jan-2024
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This is totally amazing and a mind-blowing illustration of the patience and deliberation one displays and exhorts raising a child in Jonathan's state. We all thank you for reinforcing the gift of life.
Comment Written 29-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 30-Jan-2024
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Thank you very much Bill. Your kindwords and six stars have made my day!
Wendy
Comment from T B Botts
Hello Wendy,
I've been enjoying your narrative about Jonathon. God placed you and your family into his life, and it has made such a difference. I thought it was so interesting that he responded differently to different songs. I agree one hundred percent about music setting the tone for our feelings. I'm so glad that you're sharing this. I wish all kids everywhere could experience the love that you've shared with Jonathon. Have a blessed day gal.
Tom
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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Hello Wendy,
I've been enjoying your narrative about Jonathon. God placed you and your family into his life, and it has made such a difference. I thought it was so interesting that he responded differently to different songs. I agree one hundred percent about music setting the tone for our feelings. I'm so glad that you're sharing this. I wish all kids everywhere could experience the love that you've shared with Jonathon. Have a blessed day gal.
Tom
Comment Written 28-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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Thank you very much Tom. This chapter and the next are setting the scene for our family life - which was unfortunately to change dramatically. Thanks so much for your excellent review, and especially for the beautiful gift of six stars. Much appreciated.
Wendy
Comment from kahpot
What a beautiful read, I really like that he can relate and like the didgeridoo music, as it really is great, and the point you made about how he helps you as you help him, very well written, a wonderful and uplifting read****kahpot
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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What a beautiful read, I really like that he can relate and like the didgeridoo music, as it really is great, and the point you made about how he helps you as you help him, very well written, a wonderful and uplifting read****kahpot
Comment Written 28-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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Thank you very much Kahpot. I am so pleased you are continuing with this story - unfortunately, in a couple of chapters, things take a dramtic turn for the worse. I appreciate your support.
Wendy
Comment from GWHARGIS
I loved this. It is amazing how a deficit in one area is made up for in another area. The part about the music and his reaction to it was amazing. But honestly not surprising. Music and beat are as old as man himself. Wonderful and intimate. Is there more or is this the end? Gretchen
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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I loved this. It is amazing how a deficit in one area is made up for in another area. The part about the music and his reaction to it was amazing. But honestly not surprising. Music and beat are as old as man himself. Wonderful and intimate. Is there more or is this the end? Gretchen
Comment Written 28-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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Yes, music has an extraordinary capacity to reach people. Sometimes people with Alzheimers will sing to their old favourite songs even when they have not spoken for months. It seems to trigger a certain area in the brain to repsond. There is a lot more yet. In a couple of chapters there are some dramatic and unpleasant shocking events ... and there's a whole lot more drama after that. Not easy to write about.
Thanks so much for your super review, and for the gift of six stars. I am constantly grateful for the support.
Wendy
Wendy
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Again, thank you for sharing Jonathan with us. He's an amazing child of God. It saddens me even more when I hear special education teachers make comments about the children. These teachers need to find another job. I enjoyed reading.
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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Again, thank you for sharing Jonathan with us. He's an amazing child of God. It saddens me even more when I hear special education teachers make comments about the children. These teachers need to find another job. I enjoyed reading.
Comment Written 28-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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Thank you, Barbara. Yes, it takes someone with genuine interest to be a special ed teacher. I appreciate your review, and I am glad you are continuing to read. Turbulence is coming soon.
Wendy
Comment from Verna Cole Mitchell
You have so much wisdom in this chapter, I found it to be written in an outstanding way with a special wisdom you learned by difficult practice. (One suggestion: In first section We'd/We would lay him or we laid him . . . and loosened His limbs.)
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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You have so much wisdom in this chapter, I found it to be written in an outstanding way with a special wisdom you learned by difficult practice. (One suggestion: In first section We'd/We would lay him or we laid him . . . and loosened His limbs.)
Comment Written 28-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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Thank you so much Verna for your lovely review and especially for the six stars. I am very appreciative. Thanks too for your suggestion.
Wendy
Comment from Jim Wile
What a marvelous chapter in Jonathan's story this was, Wendy. Such compassion and love your family showed him during his years with you.
It was amazing how perceptive you all were in recognizing his special talents--his wonderful soul-enhancing love of music and his sense of spatial awareness. He sounds more talented than "normal" people in those areas.
This was truly a wonderful and inspiring read about a loving family and the reciprocal joy you took from each other in the fostering of this child. - Jim
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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What a marvelous chapter in Jonathan's story this was, Wendy. Such compassion and love your family showed him during his years with you.
It was amazing how perceptive you all were in recognizing his special talents--his wonderful soul-enhancing love of music and his sense of spatial awareness. He sounds more talented than "normal" people in those areas.
This was truly a wonderful and inspiring read about a loving family and the reciprocal joy you took from each other in the fostering of this child. - Jim
Comment Written 28-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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Thank you for your very supportive review and six stars - how very encouraging! Greatly valued. Yes, I think he had something extra in those areas. This chapter and a couple more set the scene for what would become very turbulent times ahead .....
Wendy
Comment from Begin Again
Six glittering stars in recognition of Jonathan's achievements and you constant love and patience. I saw a few similar traits in my John...knowing the way to the camp ground when even my husband would forget. He'd always point when we needed to turn. And he loves music too. As for so called experts.... one failed John on an aptitude test because he said sit down instead of chair and water hose instead of firefighter. Brings me right back to admiring your whole family's compassion and the gift of life you gave him.
Hugs, Carol
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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Six glittering stars in recognition of Jonathan's achievements and you constant love and patience. I saw a few similar traits in my John...knowing the way to the camp ground when even my husband would forget. He'd always point when we needed to turn. And he loves music too. As for so called experts.... one failed John on an aptitude test because he said sit down instead of chair and water hose instead of firefighter. Brings me right back to admiring your whole family's compassion and the gift of life you gave him.
Hugs, Carol
Comment Written 28-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2024
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Those aptitude tests - don't get me started! They wanted to use baby toys and rattles, age-inappropriate to see if he understood instructions. He was not interested in such demeaning things. Your John has his own understanding and intelligence as well, and people need to tune into his ways of expressing things. Thank you so much for a lovely review and for the lovely six stars. Unfortunately (as you know), life took a few nasty twists and turns.
Wendy