Camon Spencer is going to be dedicated to the Lord today. He name means “Keeper of the Resurrection” (Camon – His Resurrection, Spencer – steward) He is already a miracle to us. He is so different from his brothers. He is just very peaceful, gentle, and restful. When he smiles at you, all else is forgotten. When he laughs the world just seems less important and much more wonderful.

Kristi was up early writing a 2 page speech for the dedication. She says it won’t take long! J Kristi is going to share the initial shock at the announcement of his birth, then the shock of finding out he had down’s syndrome. But the grace with which these announcements came is proof that God is always loving us unconditionally. (She’s amazing.)

I have decided to give him three gifts. A flower, because he came to my life seemingly out of season, yet contains such beauty and hope for our lives. Salt because every life know bitterness, pain, grief, and injury. But the salt is a gift, and should be received as a blessing. The last gift is wine ( I will use sparkling grape juice for you that are afraid). Wine symbolizes so many things in Scripture. Blood, death, life, love, joy, and especially hope are all symbolized in the wine. Wine teaches us to embrace each moment, to enjoy God’s precious gift of life. That life though painful should be embraced loved and lived! Grief in life must be endured but life is to be enjoyed.

I pray my son lives. I believe he will teach me how to live.

It has been so long since I have done anything besides work. I am thirty pounds over weight again. I am a mess spiritually. I am about as undisciplined as I could possibly be. I am in the escape mentality.  

So here I am in Jackson, Wy on a getaway with a couple of my sons. Cass and Cavin get very little Dad time compared to the older and younger children so with Kristi gone home to Kentucky for a Wedding and me with four days off, the guys and I are out to have a good time.

 While on this trip my hope is to get glued back together. To remember who I am and why I am here. Also to refocus my heart which has been so wrapped up in work lately that I can’t seem to get my attention anywhere else.

 

Why is it so easy to lose sight of the holy, of the beautiful, of God? Why is it so easy to become blind to everything that matters? Why do I so quickly become soiled with guilt, sin?

 

What would I like to accomplish this weekend?

• I would like to get my heart right with God
  
• I would like to get my health back on track
• I would like to really enjoy my sons
• I would like to rest and refresh

So today we will go snow tubing. Maybe we will go to the Elk Refuge and maybe we will play some games.

We received the test results Tuesday.  Camon Spencer has down’s syndrome.

There are times in your life when it seems like you are watching your life happen from some other vantage point rather than actually living it.  That is how it seemed the moment our Doctor told us that he believed our son had down’s syndrome. 

From the very first moment God’s grace was present, it made me feel honored to have this child in our family.  I have read of parents grieving the child they were dreaming of and coming to terms with the child they had actually given birth.  I can honestly say that is not our experience.

We did not plan our eight son, (or our 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, or 7th). In fact we were preventing such a thing or so we thought.  For some reason God saw fit to circumvent those precautions, to give us number 8.  I was pretty angry with Him at the time.  And, this may sound strange, but when I found out about Camon, it was like I understood.  The father had a very special son that he wanted to give to our family. 

We do not deserve this priviledge - I most of all - but I am grateful.  I greatly anticipate a very exciting and unique adventure with a purposeful God and a beautiful son. 

Don’t get lost Dad.

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Clay and Colin recently led worship for a gathering of christian college students. The word was that they “rocked out”.

 It is good to know that those guitars have some use other than driving me crazy.

Seriously, It is great to see them doing their thing for the King.

“When I grow up and am a superhero, I won’t need you any more.”

Cade, age 3, to his mother in church.

“I wish I were normal instead of a superhero.”

Creed, age 5

(They have been on a superhero kick lately.  They have invented their own superhero’s including Captain Bruce and Naked Man. Don’t ask.)

This is just the beginning of a blog about the Maynard clan.  Hopefully soon it will contain much about our journey, our family, and the things that matter most to us.  Stay tuned. Who knows how this story will develop.