I had planned my next blog post to be about our new homeschool year. Getting home from Cincinnati tumbled into a very busy week of adjustment to a new school routine, learning our way around some new curriculum, and merging the role of teacher with mom again.

To celebrate the completion of our first school week, we spent a beautiful Saturday morning playing and walking at the park. One of our new adventures this school year is to have a primary communication partner wear Nathaniel's talker so it is available to model his express language at all times. Rich continues to amaze me. He is fifty-five years old, raised seven kids, and could be spending his Saturday morning doing so many other things. But he was at a playground, learning a second language, and proving with his whole being how much he believes Nathaniel can live a normal life. In our adoption interview, Rich told everyone that he expects to someday do a backpack trip at Philmont High Adventure Ranch with Nathaniel. Many had expressions of doubt. What I don't think they realized was that Rich would help Nathaniel train for that outing from the beginning. Because you don't wake up fifteen years down the road and tell a kid his disabilities shouldn't stop him. You get on your hands and knees day after day and show him.