The Dance of Friendship in a Special World

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”
~Henri J.M Nouwen

***

As a woman who has experienced many facets of life that are vastly different from the typical, I learned early on about the beautiful dance of friendship. 

The dance was not always beautiful.  Sometimes it was awkward and the music didn't sound right.  Sometimes, I didn't have a partner that knew the same dance steps I did. Many times, I was too embarrassed to dance in public- to be "out there" for everyone to see.  I often stood alone just watching others dance.  It was incredibly painful when people would bump into me or step on my feet.

Then one day, I had an extra measure of courage and slowly began to sway to the music.  A fellow dancer approached me and offered: "I don't know this particular dance, but if you teach me, I'd really like to dance with you" 

I began to teach her the steps, how to listen to the music and respond accordingly and she became sensitive to my methods and technique. We soon were twirling and dancing in rhythm. We felt free and the laughter bubbled forth. Something beautiful emerged from our awkwardness and we found we were able to express ourselves in ways we had never tried before.  The more we rehearsed and danced the more we communed. We learned to speak through the dance and we became kindred spirits.

***

The above is a very true story.

In my very short life I have been an oldest child, preacher's daughter, military wife and I have experienced infertility, adoption and parenting a child who experiences special needs.

That resume isn't a very popular one in my circle of influence. There just aren't many people that can relate to my same life experiences.

More often than not, I was one of those people who, even in a room full of people, felt very alone.

I had a difficult time relating to women that complained about their scads of children when I would have given anything for just one!

Yet, I really needed a friend.  Even though I knew the Lord was with me always and my husband loved me fiercely, I desired a female presence in my life.  Arms that could embrace me (other than my husband), a girlfriend that I could really open up and share with honestly.

I prayed for a certain kind of friend.  One whose resume matched mine.

But God, in His wisdom, answered my prayer very differently.  He sent someone to me that could not have been any more opposite. She had a houseful of children (I had none), She prefers talking on the phone (I hate the phone), She is amazing at remembering birthdays (and I am not) - and the list goes on and on and on...

I received a letter in the mail (and she hates writing).  She began by saying that she had no idea what it was like to experience what I had and was experiencing, but that she would love for me to share it with her (if I felt comfortable).  She promised me a "safe place" to vent all I was feeling and to be completely honest. She was interested in knowing what my struggles and joys were and most of all she wanted to be there for me and uphold me in prayer before our King.

She asked a girl, who had stood on the sidelines of friendship for a LONG time, to dance.  She became my friend. 

Our friendship dance is not always perfect or pretty.  Like a ship, the waves of life sometimes bring us close together and sometimes we float apart.  But, I always know she is there.

When I struggle with the challenge of teaching my Kylie, who experiences Autism, social skills and how to be a friend.  I think back to the most precious friendship of my lifetime and how it all began:

•   Reaching out selflessly
•   Being willing to learn something new
•   Experience something unfamiliar
•   Being trustworthy 
•   Looking for the beauty within and cherishing it.

I was thrilled this week to stumble onto this cartoon as Kylie was watching Public Television.  It demonstrates the kind of friendship I desire for my Kylie and wahoo!- it also teaches about Autism Spectrum disorders in a kid-friendly way.

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”
~Henri J.M Nouwen

Managing Your Time Without Losing Your Mind

I was recently asked to contribute to an article about Time Management that was specifically geared toward families who experience special challenges... (that pretty much includes every family - right??)

As I am a super busy mama, my answer wasn't "neat and tidy" but I hope you all will enjoy learning of the ways that I manage my time...

***

A mish-mash of things come to mind as I think of this topic. 

Organization and routine are key.  Also having proper expectations.

It is easy to keep 'just me' organized.  The balancing act comes into play when I have to organize me AND my daughter who experiences Autism and who thrives on things being "just so"....And, when life isn't "just so" (whatever that means in her mind on that day), then my organized (or what is organized to me) world can unravel pretty quickly.

A few things that help us are as follows: 

1. I use Cozi to organize schedules of respite providers and caregivers.  I use 2 different agencies and I have 7 different respite providers that service our family.  Keeping all of their schedule availability and time needed off organized in my mind can be a circus and exhausts me mentally.  However, Cozi allows me to color code each one of them, put their specific information in my calendar, set up repeating appointments and also send them email or text reminders a few days/hours in advance of their work schedule!  It is awesome!!  (Cozi also has other features like To do lists, grocery shopping, meal planning and etc - I mainly use it for the calendar.)

2. If our routine (remember routine is so important to our kids) has to change or we are introducing something new, then we utilize a schedule (see this previous post) for our daughter. Social stories also apply to this scenario.

3. I keep a proper mindset regarding flexibility.  I set my own expectations that "nothing is set in stone" and that my daughter is my most important priority.  If she can't handle what is required to complete my to do list for the day then that item gets moved to a new day.  (example: If I need to pick up a few groceries but the lights and sounds in the store are really bothering her that day, then I don't go- nothing is more important than her comfort)

4.  I do A LOT after my daughter goes to bed and before she wakes up.  Those are golden hours to me. 

5. I multi task as much as I can.  I never just watch TV, I'll watch TV while folding laundry or I'll watch TV while paying bills.  My husband knows this about me, so if he feels I really need to relax,  he takes me to a movie vs renting something to watch at home.  I have a really hard time just sitting and doing nothing.

6. PPPPPP - proper prior planning prevents poor performance - This is one of my husband's favorite military acronyms.  We lay out our clothes the night before, schedule doctors appointments, schedule days off, I buy or make for birthdays and Christmas way in advance. I think about teacher/therapists Christmas gifts in June, schedule our volunteer work, schedule photo shoots and etc.   The one thing we haven't mastered is meal planning- so we are a work in progress.

7. I do believe in taking time for me, but it still usually involves mutli tasking - I read while my nails dry, I read in the bathtub. I compose emails while watching tv, I facebook with my international students while I drink coffee.  I even know of one family who keeps a bulletin board of missionary prayer cards pinned on the wall in front of their toilet so even that time is not wasted. (I love that family- they inspire me.)

8.  I also confess that my house is the last thing that receives white glove treatment.  We LIVE in our house - and it is very small. My front door leads into my living room which is also my family room which is also the tv room which is also the toyroom, which is also the dining room and the laundry folding room.  It usually looks like a hurricane hit it.  Things are clean, but people are LIVING there.  My daughter is exploring her world - and is she ever adventurous!  I also admit that it bothers me that this is the first room that everyone sees and that by looking at it, you would never expect that I am as organized as I am.  But the bottom line is that I made a CHOICE - a very difficult one for my personality- to remind myself that my daughter will only be young once (and someday I will wish for her toys to be underfoot), and I will be thankful that my husband and I are crowded into the same room (cause many wives wish their husbands would stay for a while) and that folded laundry isnt so bad (it can be put away) and that Love really does grow best in little houses (love that song).  My family has shared experiences and bonding and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

9. I will also mention that worrying about what other people think really inhibits time management.  I eliminate this somewhat by educating everyone I can about "Kylie world".  I prepare lists of how to prepare Kylie foods, how to put her to bed, how to calm her, her favorite toys, her likes/dislikes, things that set her off, phrases that she uses and how they are interpreted.  How to administer her meds, favorite activities and toys, emergency contacts and etc. When we have respite providers come I lay out her bedclothes, prepare her bedroom, have her meals planned in advance and etc.

10.) When waiver renewal approaches, it helps if I have been diligent about filing important paperwork the previous three years.  Reports from doctor's offices, pay stubs, insurance reports, medication changes, incident reports, therapy reports, growth charts, immunization forms and etc.  Looking for all of that on the fly can be a nightmare!!


I'd love to hear tips on how you effectively manage your time!
To read the full series of articles on Time Management that I helped contribute to, click here. There are LOTS of great ideas.

hope some of this helps!
Amy

(How To) Use a Board to Correct Your Child.

Are you gasping and sputtering? I hope so!  I really do!  I hope the title of this post grabs your attention because I believe my husband and I have stumbled on the best discipline tool ever!  Well, maybe not the best ever but it sure works for our family and we are so excited about it, we just can't wait to share what we have learned and discovered in the hopes that it will be helpful for you too!

In our time as parents of a special needs child, we have tried many things to train and disciple her in a way that is pleasing to the Lord, but these "tried and true" methods that seem to work for so many others, just weren't a good fit for us.

For example:

*Spanking - and, of course, I mean in an appropriate way: talking about the offense and then administering a fair and non abusive correction to a very padded "seat of learning".  When talking about the offense to my daughter, we found that we were talking "at" her rather than "with her" as she simply could not follow along.  Then, when we administered the correction, she looked at us and said "Hey! you hit me!" -- she had no connection between the spanking being a correction. (hence one of the reasons I am very against corporal punishment for children who experience special needs)

*Time out - she was willing to sit, but had no idea why she was sitting. No length of talking drove home the offense or consequence.

*Grounding from an activity or object - My daughter is so flexible, she will just move to the next thing.  Maybe someday this will work, but it had no affect in the present day.

soooo.... clearly we had to find something that was tailored specifically for our daughter and her needs.

We had learned previously that our daughter responded well to lists.  She also enjoys reading (she is a self-taught reader!  I know, I am rolling my eyes right along with you).  We also know that our daughter will follow directions IF they are written out in step form.  (example: 1. pick up blocks, 2. Put blocks on shelf, 3. close door to cabinet)

So... we began using a white board in the process of disciplining our daughter. (no, I wasn't referring to a 2x4, but gotcha!! =0) 

Here is how it works.

When the offense is commited, we very calmly and quietly take our daughter by the hand and quietly say, "Please come with me" we then go to our living room and seat her gently on the couch - usually in the corner to help avoid wiggling and distractions. We then explain to her that she is in a timeout and that she cannot talk or get up until the timer goes off. We then walk to the kitchen and set the timer on the stove or microwave for 6 minutes (our daughter is 6 years old.  If your child is 5, set the timer for 5 minutes - kids relate to their age.  Also be sure to use a timer that has a sound like a "ding" to mark when the time is over).

We then go back into the living room, pick up our whiteboard, a dry erase marker and an eraser and proceed to sit next to our daughter.  If our daughter tries to talk to us, we simply and quietly say "I'm sorry, we cannot talk right now because you are in a time out." If your child tries to engage you again, just quietly ignore them.

Once we are seated, we write on the whiteboard (in view of our daughter who begins to read over our shoulder), "I am in timeout because..."  and we proceed to list the reasons: 1. I pulled Tigger the Cat's Fur - My actions were not kind. 2. Daddy asked me to stop and I did not obey, 3. I broke God's rule(s) (and we list the rule(s)). 

Then, at the bottom of the board we write.  "Next time, I will..." 1. Obey daddy so I don't hurt tigger 2. pet Tigger the cat instead of pulling his hair, 3. Obey God's rule(s)

When the timer dings, we then hand our daughter the white board and have her read aloud what we wrote. When she reads "1. I pulled Tigger the Cat's Fur - My actions were not kind", Dan and I respond appropriately with expression and emotion "Oh no, that must have hurt tigger - owie"

After we read the offenses, our daughter then must apologize to the offended parties. We have her say she is sorry to Tigger the cat for hurting him, To Daddy for not obeying and then she must pray to God and tell him she is sorry for breaking his rule(s).

I need to add here that our daughter has an issue of letting things go.  If we put her in a timeout, she will talk about it all day.  She will say "I'm in a timeout" and she "hangs on" to the idea of being in trouble. We had to find a way to communicate to her that the issue, once dealt with, was over and done. It was "all done".

so, we came up with this...

After each apology, we hand her the eraser and she gets to erase that line item of offense.  (she loves to do this)

When she is all done and all line items are dealt with, we then have her look at the white board and tell us what she sees...

She usually says "it's all gone"!!  and we explain that "Yes!  Once we say we are sorry, our sin is gone! We get to start all over with a clean board! God does not remember our sin when we say we are sorry!"  and she totally relates to this!

We wanted our daughter to know that not only is she disobeying us as her parents but that she is also disobeying God and His word.  By showing her that our offenses can be dealt with, she also learns of the wonderful biblical picture of Jesus washing away our sin and God giving us a brand new start!

If she still tries to "hang on" to the timeout, we just remind her that she washed the board clean and it is "all done" - we can even show her if we need to!

The very end of our conversation with Kylie includes lots of hugs and snuggles.  We want her to know that she is just as loved after as she was before. Sin CAN separate a family, but once it is dealt with, restoration, bonding and relationship can be enjoyed.

This has worked so well for us!  I just can't say enough about it and I praise God for giving us this idea!  He really does meet us where we are and satisfies our every need in parenting our children.

Please also note: If your child cannot read, please don't fret.  this system is easily implemented with pictures (even stick figures).  You can even teach these same lessons using toys (have GI Joe represent daddy and Garfield represent the cat).  Even if your child does not read yet, they will still enjoy erasing the line items.

I hope you will let me know if you try out our method! We would love to hear how you creatively alter it to meet your family's needs.  I'd also love to hear what methods you have found on your own that really work to teach your children about obedience and following directions.

The Connection between Scheduling and Cooperation

Our spirited 6 year old!!

"A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time."

-Annie Dillard, Author 

"No!" She screams defiantly. "I can't!!"

We had expected to hear these phrases of protest at the age of 2, but were quite surprised when they didn't emerge until around the age of 6. Such is the scenario with a child who experiences significant speech and/or communication delays.

You would think we had asked her to move a mountain, but what we really wanted her to do was something quite simple: sit on the potty, brush her teeth, step into the bath, brush her hair or etc.

We learned rather quickly that demanding things of her was not going to work. If we proceeded on that course we would be continually at odds with our daughter and was that really how we wanted our relationship with her to be? No!

So, we started to think back on our observations of her play, how she responded to various scenarios, and what were high motivators to her. We quickly realized that counting, numbers, and lining things up were the common denominators in all those situations. Kylie also loves anything Disney.

Halloween 2011

Once we had all of those pieces of information, we just had to figure out how to speak "Kylie Language."

Learning to speak our daughter's language literally changed our lives! We saw a level of cooperation from Kylie that was simply amazing.

An example of how we implemented these pieces of information occurred when we took Kylie to the hospital to have an x-ray for one of her doctors.

On a piece of paper we made a list/schedule of what was going to happen. (Kylie taught herself to read, so we were able to use words, but you could also use pictures). 

The list said: 
1. Put on a silly, heavy dress
2. Lay very still like Sleeping Beauty
3. Take a picture of my tummy
4. All Done.

We shared the schedule/list with Kylie once we arrived at the hospital and were in the waiting room. (If you share the schedule too far in advance it will create more anxiety rather than lessen it)

When the 2 female x-ray techs met us in the waiting room, we had Kylie show them her list and we quietly explained to them that our daughter experiences autism and that if they could play along, it would really help things go smoothly.

We then had Kylie read each point to the techs - this was very empowering for Kylie and allowed her to feel somewhat in control (like a supervisor on the work floor)

The 2 x-ray techs were amazing. They helped "the princess" get dressed for "the silly ball" - even having her twirl in her silly, heavy dress. They gave her an "extra fluffy pillow" for her head and made a big deal of taking a picture of her tummy and having "the prince" (daddy) "wake her up" with a magic kiss.

Then at the end - to our delight, they awarded her with princess stickers! It was the most amazing experience and Kylie was calm and in control the entire time.

There are multiple benefits for using a list/schedule with numbers/counting:
1. Your child's expectations are set in advance. They know exactly what is going to happen and their anxiety is lessened because the element of surprise is now neutralized.

2. They know that the task at hand has a beginning and an ending. They know there will be a firm stopping point and they know WHEN that will occur.

3. Having a numbered list/schedule helps them to know in what order the steps are to be completed. They don't have to worry about "What's next?"

4. The concern/anxiety of the unknown is greatly eliminated or lessened.

5. They know in advance what is required of them and have an opportunity to ask questions or to prepare mentally for what is coming.

An additional piece of advice to keep in mind....

When your child protests (and they WILL at times), be sure to discipline appropriately. Do NOT discipline your child for communicating with you (even if they are screaming a "NO!!"). Instead, address the attitude, tone, and level of politeness that frames the communication. 

Example:
When your child screams "No!!" calmly say to your child "Thank you for telling me. I can tell that you don't want to do what mommy asks"

You have just created a safe place/platform in which to communicate with your child. You have also effectively modeled the tone of voice and calm demeanor of how conversation should be handled.

This doesn't mean that your child will get out of following your directions, but it allows him/her to know that you are listening and hearing their voice.  Your child will feel validated and oftentimes is willing to tone things down and proceed with constructive dialogue verbally, through pictures, signing or whatever form your communication might be.

The point of going through these added steps is to help your child to explore and discover what they are feeling and for you to begin to mold him/her into an adult who can communicate effectively and appropriately.  It does take a little extra time, but it will pay off with closeness and cooperation in the end.

Express to your child the message of "We need to be kind to each other and talk nicely. It's ok, that you don't like what I asked, but you need to tell me with kind words in a quiet/calm voice"

As a parent, you can say it in many words or consolidate it to just a few (you will know what your child's specific needs are, but usually, in these cases, less is more)

You want your child to know that they can say/communicate anything to you - nothing is off limits, BUT that they need to do so in a respectful and appropriate way.

This is a valuable step in creating a close bond of communication within your family.  Your relationships will thrive if you are able to communicate effectively.

"Behavior in the human being is sometimes a defense, a way of concealing motives and thoughts, as language can be a way of hiding your thoughts and preventing communication."  

 -Abraham Maslow, Psychologist 

Easter Through The Years

For those of you who don't have a personal interest in my family, I beg you to forgive my trip down memory lane.  These photos will never grow old to me and I love to see the progression of time.

Dan and I waited many, MANY years (over 13) to be parents and when God gifted us with this little bundle through the gift of adoption, we couldn't be more excited, thankful or pleased!  His plan was perfect all along and we love this parenting journey we are on.

Kylie's First Easter-2006:

1 month old

She's FINALLY ours to hold.

(She fit perfectly in her Easter basket)

Kylie's 2nd Easter-2007

Just turned one

She's so much fun! 

Kylie's 3rd Easter-2008

Just turned 2

 Holy Terror, Yes: It's true!

Kylie's 4th Easter - 2009

Just turned 3

Ornery as can be!

Kylie's 5th Easter -2010

Just turned 4

We love her even more!

Kylie's 6th Easter

Just turned five

Adventure has arrived

(Will we survive???)

I hope to add to this each year ...

We'll see how current I stay on my blog!  ha! ha!

Happy Easter Everyone!! 

He is Risen!!

What a reason to rejoice!!



Teaching Children Their Phone Number

Every parent wants to protect their child and I am no exception.

At this point in her life (at this particular developmental level), Kylie has very few self help skills.  So, my husband and I have been discussing how to teach her these skills in a way she will understand and in a way she can remember.

Kylie has auditory processing issues (basically this means that when you speak to her, it takes her a long time to grasp what you are saying. When people talk to her, she processes it like Charlie Brown's teacher: Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah) Therefore, Kylie is a more visual learner.

However, Kylie also has a GREAT memory, so we knew if we could find a way to make the information be appealing and catchy there would be a better chance for her to retain that information.

So.... we wrote a little song to help her learn our phone number (specifically mom's as I am the more available- to- come- at- a- moment's- notice- parent).  

As you will notice from the pictures contained in this post, Kylie has always had a fascination with "the phone".

Multi-Tasking at its best!!

For the sake of privacy, I will type our phone number like this:  XXX-XX X6 (the last number IS a 6 in our phone number and that is the number I used to rhyme with.  If your number is something different, you might want to choose a different phrase that rhymes with that ending number)

For example: If the last number of your phone number is a 3, you might want to take out "I dial the phone like this" (which rhymes with 6) and instead sing "She'll listen for my ring" (which better rhymes with 3). 

Rest assured, either way works fine.  It is the repetition and beat of the song that helps them remember.

The song is to the tune of "Here we go 'round the Mulberry Bush"  (click the link so you can hear how the tune sounds if you are unsure.  A youtube video will play) - the words are different though.  They are as follows:

Verse 1:
When I get sick, I call my mom
When I get sick, I call my mom
When I get sick, I call my mom
I dial the phone like this...

XXX-XX X6 (sing the #s to the same tune as above)
XXX-XX X6
XXX-XX X6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)

Verse 2
When I need hugged, I call my mom
When I need hugged, I call my mom
When I need hugged, I call my mom
I dial the phone like this...

XXX-XX X6 (sing the #s to the same tune as above)
XXX-XX X6
XXX-XX X6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)

Verse 3:
When I get lost, I call my mom
When I get lost, I call my mom
When I get lost, I call my mom
I dial the phone like this...

XXX-XX X6 (sing the #s to the same tune as above)
XXX-XX X6
XXX-XX X6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)

Verse 4:
When I'm afraid, I call my mom
When I'm afraid, I call my mom
When I'm afraid, I call my mom
I dial the phone like this...

XXX-XX X6 (sing the #s to the same tune as above)
XXX-XX X6
XXX-XX X6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)

Verse 5:
When I need help, I call my mom
When I need help, I call my mom
When I need help, I call my mom
I dial the phone like this...

XXX-XX X6 (sing the #s to the same tune as above)
XXX-XX X6
XXX-XX X6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)

Verse 6:
I call my mom, say "I love you"
I call my mom, say "I love you"
I call my mom, say "I love you"
I dial the phone like this...

XXX-XX X6 (sing the #s to the same tune as above)
XXX-XX X6
XXX-XX X6
It starts with XXX (insert your area code)

My personal strategies for teaching the song:
When I was teaching this song to Kylie, I never asked her to sing with me.  Instead, I utilized blocks of time when I knew we would be together and took the opportunity to entertain my daughter by performing the song.

So... I sang as I drove us to therapy each day.  I sang as I scrubbed her in the bath.  I sang as she brushed her teeth.  I sang as she sat on the potty.

and guess what??? pretty soon I heard her singing the song while she was playing. 

and then guess what??? When I would ask Kylie what her phone number was she could answer. 

And when I asked her what her phone number started with, she would tell me our area code!!!

It was exciting!! 

I never sat her down and seriously told her "We ARE going to learn this, now LISTEN UP"... nope... I just sang in her presence - repeatedly. 

Kids "work" like that!  A child works through play.  The more you make something a game, the better they will learn it. 

If you have puppets- use them!  If you have play phones- use them! If you have blocks with numbers on them- use them.  If you have a dry erase board- use it! (I think I have made my point.)

Also be sure to have LOTS of positive reinforcement.  "Catch them" doing something good and give lots of clapping, hugs and "yay" responses.  My daughter constantly reminds me "Daddy will say 'I'm so proud of you' "  ... and she is right.  He tells her that all the time! 

Teaching doesn't have to be serious, boring, dull or heavy. In many cases, Teaching is Being
(together, available, and an example)

I'd love to hear how you have taught your children safety skills (especially their phone number).  Please also let me know how it goes if you use this song!  I hope I'll get to hear from you!

Happy Teaching!

Favorite Resources/Links for Easter

Most Children who experience Autism or Special Needs learn better with a multi-sensory approach.

Below are several photos and links that are some of my favorites to use with Kylie. Maybe some of these ideas will work for the kiddos in your life too!

Be sure to click the headers to be taken to the various websites and tutorials.  The pics are not linked.


Edible Tomb:

Kylie loves playing with these three sets:
Palm Sunday Play set:

Resurrection play set:

Three Crosses play set

Mini play set

"He Lives" Finger Puppets

Resurrection Eggs:

or click for instructions on how to...
 make your own Resurrection Eggs:


Resurrection Rolls:

Cradle to the Cross Wreath:

Easter Countdown Calendar:

The Story of Easter booklet
*great for preschoolers*

REAL Easter Bunnies
- character building *very unique*

Resurrection self -adhesive story foam

Empty Tomb treats

Resurrection Egg Lapbook
*great idea*

Easter Story in Posters

Jelly Bean Charm Bracelet w/story

If you have any other great links or tutorials you'd like to share, we'd love the ideas!!

Thanks for browsing with me and I hope your Easter is.....

 TRULY MEANINGFUL!!