Tomorrow the reason I write this blog turns 11. That is 11 years since our lives changed forever. That could be said of any parent of any child.

However, for us it changed in ways that you don’t read about in books or hear about from your friends. Unless of course, you’re one of our friends and in that case you most likely have a similar yet very different version of this story. You too have experienced the ridiculous grace that comes from the unexpected path God has placed you on.

11 years. Just over a decade of being parents of special needs and incredible kid. It doesn’t seem like that long when we’re committed to a lifetime of being his voice, his defenders, and his protectors. It does make us feel quite old though. I feel at least ten years older than my age.

Bubba/Bubby/Monkey(here), has changed the way we live our lives in ways that we never expected. He has changed our marriage and bond. He shapes the daily lives of our children. They know him better than we do. They were created for him. I know that’s a bold statement that could carry a good bit a pressure down the road, but they were born knowing their brother’s needs and awesomeness is beyond anything they will ever know or find anywhere else. They also know that there are some things we just can’t do as a family because their brother can’t.

Every night during the last couple of weeks all four of them have been huddling in his bed watching TV with their incredible brother. Even the 16 mo. old. Contently snuggling with each other and being with their brother. We don’t ask them to. They just want to. They fight sometimes over who gets to sit next to him. Our kids are the best of us (and sometimes the worst but often the best).

To be very honest though, after 11 years, sometimes I manage to forget about the miracle that lives in our home. We spend a lot of time taking care of him. Feeding him, bathing him, checking his breathing, taking blind guesses at the cause of his ailments, and trying our best to be ahead of his needs. We think we’re getting better at this, but if you asked him, he could give you a different answer. His parents can be a bit slow.

I forget because I am too focused on things that don’t matter. I get stressed by work or career decisions. I get tangled in the desire for stuff. I get blinded by the daily grind.

This happens to all of us but we can’t afford to forget. Each day must be lived to improve his life. It must be lived in gratitude for another healthy day. This last year has been great because I’ve been able to be home helping take care him and the other kids while working from home. I have experienced my family in a new a glorious way.

I have experienced the daily struggle of the work-from-home balancing act that Morgan has been carrying alone for the last ten years. I have been at home with #4 for all but 3 months of her life. I have been able to feed Bubba every meal of every day. I have been school teacher and cook. It has been amazing. My heart is melted and I will never be the same again.

I don’t know what the future holds but I can promise you that the 11th year of our son’s life will not be one I soon forget. I hope that I never do.

As with every birthday that comes, I am humbly brought to my knees in grateful awe. God has always provided us with a way to care for him. Another year to have His direct presence live in our home through our son. He has chosen us to be his parents for some reason. We are nothing both broken people that God has entrusted with an incredible gift.

Let us not bury our talent (Matt. 25:14-30) but tell you our story and let it multiply.