Wednesday, September 5, 2007



Dyslexia is something that not only runs in our family I believe it ‘lopes.” We have learned to embrace dyslexia and accept it as part of our family. Instead of seeing it as a learning problem, we see it as a blessing; it is a way of looking and learning outside the box.

One Christmas as be begun to decorate the house for the holidays, Rachel grabbed up the small wooden train that spelled out ‘Noel’ and placed it on the special shelf where it sat each year. There was Christmas music playing in the background and everyone was filled with excitement as we placed our special ornaments on the tree.

As we finished up the decorating and began to pack away the boxes I looked up at the shelf where the 'Noel' train sat and saw that Rachel had placed the train so that is spelled out 'leoN'. I carefully took her and showed her how it was supposed to be placed so that is spelled out 'Noel'. She nodded and smiled her sweet precious smile in understanding.

The following year as we decorated for the holidays, Rachel again placed the 'Noel' train on the shelf. Several days passed before I saw 'leoN' spelled out with the train. Again I showed her the way it was to be placed so that it read 'Noel'. “I got it now, Momma” she said.

That year seemed to go by quickly and we turned around twice and we were decorating again. That evening as we were surveying the house with it Christmassy looks and smells Rachel grabbed my hand and pulled me over the shelf. “I did it, I did it” she stated excitedly. As I looked at our 'Noel' train it spelled out 'leoN'. “Ya know” I said, “I think it is time we start a new tradition. This 'Noel' train will no longer spell out 'Noel', but from this Christmas forward it shall say ‘leoN.'” We laughed together and Rachel’s eye twinkled.

Each Christmas thereafter the wooden ‘leoN’ train got its special place on the shelf. We even added other traditions to our family. One year the girls put Christmas lights on the outside of the house. The trees, bushes and eaves glimmered with lights. Last they climbed on the house and worked on the roof with the lights. As evening approached, the girls came in the house laughing, their faces and fingers were cold and they were out of breath. “Mom, hurry you have to see this.” They grabbed my hands and drugged me out the front door. The pushing, shoving and laughter was infectious.

We marched out the door, down the sidewalk and into the street. “Ok Mom, turn around and look.” The sun had long set and the night was chilly as I feasted my eyes around the yard. It was magical, and then my eyes went to the roof, something was written there. “Mom, don’t you get it?” “It spells leoN.” And sure enough, spelled out on the roof in Christmas lights was ‘leoN', bold and shining for the entire world to see. We knew that if a dyslexic pilot flew over our house, he would know immediately that the lights on our roof spelled out ‘Noel.”

Ephesians 4:11-15 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ;”

15 comments:

Neva said...

That is so much better than misspelling "santa" and leaving milk and cookies for satan.

:)

Peace
Neva

Monalea said...

nb, I'm missed you. Thanks for reading my blog and leaving a comment.

Neva, wow! You sure are right. You made me laugh.

Monalea

Anonymous said...

Oh, you guys are SOOO funny!!

But seriously -- does your family have so many good Christmas stories that you have to start telling them now in order to finish by December?

:)

Monalea said...

Lisa, that is my big plan. I was hoping no one would catch on, but you are too smart for me. Ha!

Monalea

Anonymous said...

Monalea, I read every one of your posts - I just don't always comment. But, know that you always make me smile!

I love the way you enjoy life. Thanks for sharing slices of your life with the rest of us!

Anonymous said...

Love this story...and the others you tell about your family embracing the everyday oh well's. I was a friend of Melinda Gays when ya'll were in Amarillo and got to be in your home several times then. Funny, I never remember your house being small. I was visiting at a time when my parents were going through a divorce and all I remember was how happy your family was. Thanks for writing.
Theresa

Monalea said...

nb, thanks for the uplifting words! I really needed them today.

Theresa,
I'm glad you left a message. I don't remember all the kids that were in and out of the house, mybe that is because there were so many of us? I'm glad you enjoyed our family. We did have lots of good time. Do you get to see Melinda Gay often?
Monalea

Anonymous said...

Howdy! Been on a very short runabout. We have a leon tradition in our family as well. Started to use it as a middle name for one of the kids infact.

Love ya, or should I say leon,
sista Kath

Monalea said...

Dear sista Kath,
For all further correspondence please refer to me as leon....

leon

Anonymous said...

I have not talked with Gay since we left Amarillo in 1984. My dad is Bill Snow he was the associate at San Jacinto for a while. Trey, filled me in on her life lately, I have been praying for her. Also, have seen Bruce thru Sunset some. When your family lived in Acuff did your kids go to Roosevelt?
Theresa

David Kirk said...

Thnask fro yrou globstop, it meaks me lahug.

Gorftown

Monalea said...

Theresa, I remember the name Bill Snow. I homeschooled my kids when we were in Acuff, but we adopted a girl that went to Roosevelt, Amber Hasty now Micham. We are also very good friend with Coach Kathy Paden. Where do you live?

Gorftown,
Thnask fur riten in a yaw I cood teg.

Anonymous said...

We just moved to Cozumel Mexico in May to work with a childrens home here. We had lived and worked at the chidrens home of Luboock for almost 11 yrs. My kids went to Roosevelt and we loved it and the Acuff community. My older two said they know Coach Paden. Good folk out there.

Monalea said...

Theresa, Cozumel Mexico WOW, awesome work you are doing there. How did you go from Lubbock to there?

Monalea

Anonymous said...

Monalea,
We are just servants wanting to be used where God needs us. Actually, it was a life long dream to combine our love for child care and experience on the mission field someday and work with a childrens home in a foriegn country. Weren't really expecting it now with kids still at home, but God really blew these doors open for us to come and be a part of this work. I have a blog if you are interested in some of our adventures. denniswilson.com/theresa
can't wait to hear about your weekend with the retreat.