Showering our children with love. Filling our house with grace. Bringing smiles to our lives.
Ava, Henry, and Ella have a mother who has dedicated herself wholly to them. I have a wife who loves me. The world has a person who brings it "cookies and flowers" in that she spreads joy wherever she finds herself.
Lindsay Casten. Born on December 24th, celebrates her birthday amidst the holiday season. A season which she holds dear to her heart. A season that is highly favored in her eyes. She finds a joy during the Christmas season that I have yet to find in another.
The joy that surrounds her is more than the Christmas carols, candles, and cards. It's more than the fire, the hearth, and the decorations. It is a simple yet complex feeling that shines forth from her. If you catch her in just the right light, at just the right time, you can see the beauty of the season in her face. Her eyes sparkle just enough to catch yours--and her smile captivates.
When we were dating, engaged, and first married we often talked about raising a family. The warmth and security felt during those discussions brought us to bring our first child, Ava, into the world. We lovingly brought Henry and Ella soon after. We were a family of five.
The diagnosis of SMA (Type 2) brought with it more than we could have ever imagined. It added a dimension to child-rearing that eludes most families. I can tell you what it means to be the father of a child with SMA...to be a mother, though...I can only relay some of what I see in Lindsay.
Although Lindsay watches what SMA does to Ella every moment of her life, she perseveres in taking care of her. She treats her just as she does Ava and Henry. Her sense of fair play and parental judgement is not clouded by the disease. She finds ways for Ella to participate in every part of our family life. She finds toys and games, furniture and equipment, that will be suitable for Ella. She has organized Ella's daily life in such a way that Ella thrives within it. She disciplines her with a firm yet loving hand, as she does with Ava and Henry. She dresses her in clothes that bring out the natural beauty of Ella despite the bulky braces she must wear. Within a day of caring for all three children she manages to keep the house beautifully clean and the dinners deliciously cooked. She shops for food, clothes and whatever else we need, all the while as she works through the challenges of SMA. At the end of the day she reads to our kids before bedtime, is able to give me some time, and then curl up with her book to be taken away in the story of her choice.
And this is just a glimpse from me to you.
Today is Lindsay's birthday. I can only hope that as she traverses through the day and through the holiday season she can see that how incredible she really is to us; how wonderful she is to have around, and how grateful we all are for her.
With Love,
Michael, Ava, Henry & Ella (Sasa & Doublestuff, too!)
Ava, Henry, and Ella have a mother who has dedicated herself wholly to them. I have a wife who loves me. The world has a person who brings it "cookies and flowers" in that she spreads joy wherever she finds herself.
Lindsay Casten. Born on December 24th, celebrates her birthday amidst the holiday season. A season which she holds dear to her heart. A season that is highly favored in her eyes. She finds a joy during the Christmas season that I have yet to find in another.
The joy that surrounds her is more than the Christmas carols, candles, and cards. It's more than the fire, the hearth, and the decorations. It is a simple yet complex feeling that shines forth from her. If you catch her in just the right light, at just the right time, you can see the beauty of the season in her face. Her eyes sparkle just enough to catch yours--and her smile captivates.
When we were dating, engaged, and first married we often talked about raising a family. The warmth and security felt during those discussions brought us to bring our first child, Ava, into the world. We lovingly brought Henry and Ella soon after. We were a family of five.
The diagnosis of SMA (Type 2) brought with it more than we could have ever imagined. It added a dimension to child-rearing that eludes most families. I can tell you what it means to be the father of a child with SMA...to be a mother, though...I can only relay some of what I see in Lindsay.
Although Lindsay watches what SMA does to Ella every moment of her life, she perseveres in taking care of her. She treats her just as she does Ava and Henry. Her sense of fair play and parental judgement is not clouded by the disease. She finds ways for Ella to participate in every part of our family life. She finds toys and games, furniture and equipment, that will be suitable for Ella. She has organized Ella's daily life in such a way that Ella thrives within it. She disciplines her with a firm yet loving hand, as she does with Ava and Henry. She dresses her in clothes that bring out the natural beauty of Ella despite the bulky braces she must wear. Within a day of caring for all three children she manages to keep the house beautifully clean and the dinners deliciously cooked. She shops for food, clothes and whatever else we need, all the while as she works through the challenges of SMA. At the end of the day she reads to our kids before bedtime, is able to give me some time, and then curl up with her book to be taken away in the story of her choice.
And this is just a glimpse from me to you.
Today is Lindsay's birthday. I can only hope that as she traverses through the day and through the holiday season she can see that how incredible she really is to us; how wonderful she is to have around, and how grateful we all are for her.
With Love,
Michael, Ava, Henry & Ella (Sasa & Doublestuff, too!)
