Let's hear it for Almigal!!

Almigal?  Whose that?  Well let me tell you.

As a soon to be (Already am) father to 2 deaf children from China this book resonated with me. 
In our culture today we see things such as hearing aids, deafness, etc.. as a 'defect'.  We never stop to think how it must be to be a child growing up in a culture where no one ever looks like them.

The writer of Let's Hear it for Almigal want's to see that change.  Her daughter is Almigal.  Her daughter needed a Cochlear Implant.  So she wanted to write a story for her.

This story reminds us that everyone is unique and that is perfectly fine to be that way! 

Here is what the publisher, JKS Communications, had to say about this title:

This fun and original picture book introduces Almigal, a spunky little girl with hearing loss who is now determined to hear every single sound in the universe thanks to her new cotton candy pink cochlear implants. These sounds include a baby's funny giggle, the robin's chirps outside the window, the soft song played during ballet class, and especially her best friend Chloe's teeny-tiny voice. But most of all, Almigal wants to hear her parents whisper to her when they tuck her into bed every night. Almigal's spirit will have both children and parents alike rooting for her, while the story delivers a positive message about accepting and celebrating differences.

I hope you pick this one up for your children and teach them about others who may be different then them.  To think about what they are going through before calling them strange.

Thanks Almigal for helping us all understand that our uniqueness make us who we are!

Thanks to JKS Communications for this free book to review.

Thoughts on Haiti

I wrote this on my trip back from Haiti.

Haiti
The trip is over and I am sitting in the airport in Port au prince.
what now?  There is a beauty and resilliance to this people; yet also a deep anguish and depression/ possession.
the boys I met will be ingrained in my head
SHADRACH been with Tom the longest
Herson the pastor to be
Simpson the youth leader
Winkinson the sing leader
Deckenson the strong and caring
Or Jovan the blind yet adaptive
Robinson: the athletic yet cool.
Adriano the earnest and sincere
Kimberley the beautiful
Jonathan the shooter
To the river walk with
Blake the jumper
Jeanetta the quiet.

These and many more will be on my heart and prayers.
Yet above them is Tom and his love for HIS children
Dave and Sherry who gave up their homes to live in Haiti.

From cracked marbles that were a bit rough in spots to the faces all torn with loss.
That is what I want to remember.
not the heat that really wasn't bad.
Or the food which was great

Nor the smell of the river children gathered around in the same clothing maybe their only clothing.
The smell which could have over whelmed became a blessing. 

So many moments and thoughts that I will keep with me for a lifetime.  Yet none other then those small comments above can be expressed in words.  The other moments were too personal or private for sharing.  They are more mental pictures, feelings or emotions that are difficult to put in words. 
I have been to many countries, and led many missions trips.  This one, mid trip, dawned on me that I was not leading and I began to experience the country.  The hurts, the pains, and the children living in this land.
My heart was broken for these boys standing on the corner begging for water from us as we drove by, and the boys from the home handing them bottles of our half drank waters in order to satisfy them.
I will not soon forget this experience.
Nor do I want to........