From Alison: If music be the food of love.....
I love the way that the Son Rise program encourages us to celebrate our children when they do something wonderful like look at us. I also love the way that music and particularly songs can convey such a profound message and sometimes a song can get me right in the heart in such a beautiful way. Here's what happened the other day in our playroom.
I have recently welcomed a wonderful new recruit to our Son Rise team, she is called Rachel and she is 17 years old. Jordan already adores her and so do I. The other day she was up to the point in her training where she went into the playroom with Jordan but without me. I was watching her on the CCTV. As she is joining Jordan she starts to quietly sing to him in the sweetest lullaby tones. 'Moon River wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style someday'. But she couldn't remember all the words so she just sang snippets of the song. BUT the pieces she remembered were so amazing as they were all about the Son Rise program attitude.....'wherever you are going, I'm going your way' ....... the goosebumps start to form as I am watching......'two drifters off to see the world, there's such a lot of world to see'.....I am in awe of my new recruit now.....'my huckleberry friend, moon river and me'.
How powerful was that for me to watch and learn that everything and everyone can teach me something. I have now claimed Audrey Hepburn's song for our Son Rise program - Wherever Jordan is going, we are going his way.......
I have recently welcomed a wonderful new recruit to our Son Rise team, she is called Rachel and she is 17 years old. Jordan already adores her and so do I. The other day she was up to the point in her training where she went into the playroom with Jordan but without me. I was watching her on the CCTV. As she is joining Jordan she starts to quietly sing to him in the sweetest lullaby tones. 'Moon River wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style someday'. But she couldn't remember all the words so she just sang snippets of the song. BUT the pieces she remembered were so amazing as they were all about the Son Rise program attitude.....'wherever you are going, I'm going your way' ....... the goosebumps start to form as I am watching......'two drifters off to see the world, there's such a lot of world to see'.....I am in awe of my new recruit now.....'my huckleberry friend, moon river and me'.
How powerful was that for me to watch and learn that everything and everyone can teach me something. I have now claimed Audrey Hepburn's song for our Son Rise program - Wherever Jordan is going, we are going his way.......
Labels: Attitude, Celebrations, Son-Rise Program Parents
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posted by Alison Taylor at
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Friday, February 12, 2010
Building Desire
From Kate Wilde: Building desire within an autistic child to want to connect, interact and create friendships, that is what the Son-Rise Program is all about. If a child has that desire within them, then they are more likely to be spontaneous and to initiate interactions. We want our children to willingly and freely choose us over their exclusive world.
How do we do that?
1. By joining in actively and passionately when our children are isming. This way we populate their exclusive world with people, who are friendly and interested in what they are interested in. Not requesting nor initiating anything of our own. By doing this we give them time and space to initiate interaction with us. If we are constantly offering and requesting during this time we do not give our children that opportunity.
2. Springing into action by responding to all our children's initiations. There are so many; when they look at us; when they touch us; take us by the hand and move us; when they talk to us;when they ask for something whether they communicate their want with a gesture or with words; when they take something from us; when they give us something, even if it is something that they are discarding. All of these are initiations towards us.
3.Respond to these initiations, here at the Autism Treatment Center of America we call them "green lights". Respond with verbal celebrations, and with gestural celebration. Let your child know that you like it when they initiate interaction in this way
.
4. Respond to these green lights with ACTIONS. Get the thing they are wanting, respond to what they are saying with an action, take the object they are giving you and do something interesting with it. If they give you a ball you could roll it, or pretend to eat it. If they take something from you, maybe the train your were holding, offer them another one, if they take that, then offer another. Show them that something fun, interesting and useful happens when they initiate these green lights of interaction with you.
Have fun playing with your beautiful children.
With love
Kate
Labels: Celebrations, Joining, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
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Thursday, February 11, 2010
From Bears (Barry Neil Kaufman): ODE TO SAMAHRIA
ODE TO SAMAHRIA: By Bears (Barry Neil Kaufman - Son-Rise Program Co-Originator). Complete Version.
Samahria picked me to love when she was 17. When I presented my writing and ideas with intensity, she tickled me and laughed. When I hesitated, she said "jump." When Raun became autistic, she joined him in his world (in a small bathroom) and helped us begin a three-and-a-half year journey that created a treatment revolution (The Son-Rise Program®) for children with autism. When I suggested adopting yet another child of trauma as a way to express our gratitude for our blessings, she said "when?" When we started the Institute, she worked with me side-by-side as we created classes and curriculum as well as cleaned buildings and made beds for arriving participants. When I have written my books about our work with families and children and what we and our staff teach to adults (Option Process®), she has been more than my sounding board but my editor and biggest fan (and co-writer of one of those books and co-screenwriter of the Son-Rise movie). When I asked her to climb down a rope ladder on an ocean-liner during a storm in order to help my dying father, she took a deep breath, pushed through her fear and lowered herself right after me into a tiny fishing boat bobbing in the icy waves off the coast of Alaska.
And, when I am tired at night after teaching, doing sessions and meeting with staff all day (just as she had done), Samahria strolls into my office where I am still working, takes my hand gently and invites me to choose life and go to sleep. We're all blessed for a multitude of reasons. Helping individuals, families and children as best we can for decades is a continuous highlight of our lives. But my greatest blessing is to be loved by my very special life-long bride and best friend and sweet mama to all our children -- she loves me like no other, inspires me to do my best and builds bridges with me to our dreams.
Samahria picked me to love when she was 17. When I presented my writing and ideas with intensity, she tickled me and laughed. When I hesitated, she said "jump." When Raun became autistic, she joined him in his world (in a small bathroom) and helped us begin a three-and-a-half year journey that created a treatment revolution (The Son-Rise Program®) for children with autism. When I suggested adopting yet another child of trauma as a way to express our gratitude for our blessings, she said "when?" When we started the Institute, she worked with me side-by-side as we created classes and curriculum as well as cleaned buildings and made beds for arriving participants. When I have written my books about our work with families and children and what we and our staff teach to adults (Option Process®), she has been more than my sounding board but my editor and biggest fan (and co-writer of one of those books and co-screenwriter of the Son-Rise movie). When I asked her to climb down a rope ladder on an ocean-liner during a storm in order to help my dying father, she took a deep breath, pushed through her fear and lowered herself right after me into a tiny fishing boat bobbing in the icy waves off the coast of Alaska.
And, when I am tired at night after teaching, doing sessions and meeting with staff all day (just as she had done), Samahria strolls into my office where I am still working, takes my hand gently and invites me to choose life and go to sleep. We're all blessed for a multitude of reasons. Helping individuals, families and children as best we can for decades is a continuous highlight of our lives. But my greatest blessing is to be loved by my very special life-long bride and best friend and sweet mama to all our children -- she loves me like no other, inspires me to do my best and builds bridges with me to our dreams.
Labels: Attitude, Bears, Celebrations, Samahria
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posted by (Bears) Barry Neil Kaufman, Founder, Option Inst. at
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Friday, December 4, 2009
From Becky: Prime of My Life!
From Becky: Today it is my 35th birthday! Recently I was having a conversation with one of my close friends about how my birthday was coming up and it wasn't a big deal. My friend said "Don't you ever say that it's not a big deal! Your birthday is the day you were born and that's a very BIG DEAL!!!"
From that moment, I realized that by saying that I was playing myself down and making myself small and irrelevant which is how I lived most of my life up until coming the work at The Autism Treatment Center of America. I changed my attitude in an instant.
So today I am going to celebrate celebrate celebrate! It is really something that I am here, I am alive and I was born!
It matters that I choose happiness everyday when so many people around me are choosing anger, hate and discomfort.
It is a big deal that I have helped so many families reach their special children over the years and that I have inspired children to stretch and grow in unimaginable ways.
It is important that I have challenged so many beliefs, and changed the ones that weren't working for me anymore, even when I thought for sure that I wasn't able to.
And most of all, I am extremely grateful to myself for being my own biggest teacher.
I am in the prime of my life! Some may think that being in your twenties is being in the prime of your life. As I turn 35 today, I am living my life in a bigger way than I ever have.
When I was thirty, I began my journey at The Autism Treatment Center of America, and began an incredible adventure, an adventure of love, acceptance and hope. Why would I want to be younger when I have so much more today?
I encourage you all to celebrate yourselves for being born today! You matter and you are a big deal!
From that moment, I realized that by saying that I was playing myself down and making myself small and irrelevant which is how I lived most of my life up until coming the work at The Autism Treatment Center of America. I changed my attitude in an instant.
So today I am going to celebrate celebrate celebrate! It is really something that I am here, I am alive and I was born!
It matters that I choose happiness everyday when so many people around me are choosing anger, hate and discomfort.
It is a big deal that I have helped so many families reach their special children over the years and that I have inspired children to stretch and grow in unimaginable ways.
It is important that I have challenged so many beliefs, and changed the ones that weren't working for me anymore, even when I thought for sure that I wasn't able to.
And most of all, I am extremely grateful to myself for being my own biggest teacher.
I am in the prime of my life! Some may think that being in your twenties is being in the prime of your life. As I turn 35 today, I am living my life in a bigger way than I ever have.
When I was thirty, I began my journey at The Autism Treatment Center of America, and began an incredible adventure, an adventure of love, acceptance and hope. Why would I want to be younger when I have so much more today?
I encourage you all to celebrate yourselves for being born today! You matter and you are a big deal!
Labels: Attitude, Celebrations, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
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Thursday, November 19, 2009
Celebrate Good Times, C'mon!!
Woo! Celebrate, celebrate, CELEBRATE! I looooooooove to celebrate!!
So often when someone new to the Son-Rise Program observes us working with autistic children here at the Autism Treatment Center of America, the thing that really stands out to them is how much we celebrate the child. Everything a special child does is a wonder and a gift to us and boy, do we let them know it! Celebrating our special children is such a beautiful way to show them how perfect they are, how much we love everything they do and to highlight the new and incredible things they do in the Son-Rise playroom... ultimately, we believe celebration will help inspire them as they move towards recovery from autism.
(And here's the added bonus - it feels great for us too!)
Seriously, if there is one HUGE thing I've taken from my work here as a Son-Rise Child Facilitator it is to find something to celebrate every day, in every area of my life. Focus on the positives, my friends, and by heck you will find MORE positives!
So let's try an experiment together. Let's all find 5 things to celebrate today that we have NEVER celebrated before. Hmmm... here are some ideas:
So often when someone new to the Son-Rise Program observes us working with autistic children here at the Autism Treatment Center of America, the thing that really stands out to them is how much we celebrate the child. Everything a special child does is a wonder and a gift to us and boy, do we let them know it! Celebrating our special children is such a beautiful way to show them how perfect they are, how much we love everything they do and to highlight the new and incredible things they do in the Son-Rise playroom... ultimately, we believe celebration will help inspire them as they move towards recovery from autism.
(And here's the added bonus - it feels great for us too!)
Seriously, if there is one HUGE thing I've taken from my work here as a Son-Rise Child Facilitator it is to find something to celebrate every day, in every area of my life. Focus on the positives, my friends, and by heck you will find MORE positives!
So let's try an experiment together. Let's all find 5 things to celebrate today that we have NEVER celebrated before. Hmmm... here are some ideas:
- The people who collect your garbage: yeah - those guys do an incredible job - let them know it!
- The check-out person at your local store - I bet they hear enough complaints so why not make their day with a celebration?
- Your bus driver - so... your bus was 10 minutes late? Great! It could have been 30 miunutes late! Thank you driver!
- Your spouse - how often do we really, deeply, genuinely celebrate those we see every day?
- Your neighbors - what a wonderful way to create a supportive community around your special person.
So go forth and celebrate my friends! Have fun!
(... and don't forget to celebrate the most important person - YOURSELF!)
Big love,
Jack
Labels: Celebrations, Fun and Games, Son-Rise Program Staff
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Friday, October 30, 2009
An Extraordinary Celebration
Imagine this... A little girl diagnosed with autism celebrates her 6th birthday - and for the first time in her life is able to have a party with friends - and is completely indistinguishable from her peers - participating typically in every moment of the party. What a special birthday to celebrate!
Elizabeth is an amazing little girl with sparkly eyes who happens to love everything to do with the magic of fairies. She has an amazing little smile and she invites you in to play with her with such joy and delight - telling you all about her fairies and asking you which one is your favorite, and playing with you with such flexibility and ease.
Three years ago, when I first met Elizabeth's family - she spent most of her time playing alone - inflexible and rigid about what she would play, using only enough language to communicate her basic wants and not demonstrating any interest in her peers.
After two years of a home-based Son-Rise Program, she started school this year - and now has so many friends that she had to be convinced that she had room to invite her sister to her birthday party. For two hours, Elizabeth played games with her friends (in a big room full of carnival-type games), talked to her friends, participated in hitting the pinata, held her friend's hand while in line for a game, opened all of her presents and thanked each of her friends. It was a truly special day.
And now - Elizabeth talks non-stop about how fun the party was.
So, as Elizabeth blows out the candles on her birthday cake, I am sending a wish to each of you - that you find something extraordinary to celebrate in your children today.
Elizabeth is an amazing little girl with sparkly eyes who happens to love everything to do with the magic of fairies. She has an amazing little smile and she invites you in to play with her with such joy and delight - telling you all about her fairies and asking you which one is your favorite, and playing with you with such flexibility and ease.
Three years ago, when I first met Elizabeth's family - she spent most of her time playing alone - inflexible and rigid about what she would play, using only enough language to communicate her basic wants and not demonstrating any interest in her peers.
After two years of a home-based Son-Rise Program, she started school this year - and now has so many friends that she had to be convinced that she had room to invite her sister to her birthday party. For two hours, Elizabeth played games with her friends (in a big room full of carnival-type games), talked to her friends, participated in hitting the pinata, held her friend's hand while in line for a game, opened all of her presents and thanked each of her friends. It was a truly special day.
And now - Elizabeth talks non-stop about how fun the party was.
So, as Elizabeth blows out the candles on her birthday cake, I am sending a wish to each of you - that you find something extraordinary to celebrate in your children today.
Labels: Carolina, Celebrations, Inspiration
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posted by Carolina, Son-Rise Program Senior Teacher at
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009
UK Maximum Impact - Wonderful Week
Wonderful and Amazing Time at the UK Maximum Impact Program
I have just returned from teaching the Son-Rise Program Advance Training - "Maximum Impact". It was incredible to be in a room with over 120 parents and caring helpers as they strived to be more accepting of themselves and their children, as they worked to understand how best to apply the techniques to help their child develop, and as they celebrated and delighted in each other.
It was a great week, the moms and dads who attended all left recharge, re-inspired and with clear clarity of purpose of where to go next in their Son-Rise Programs.
For all those that attended the program - moms, dads, volunteers, and the support staff - thank you, I left feeling inspired and honored that I was apart of this week.
Smiles and appreciation
William
I have just returned from teaching the Son-Rise Program Advance Training - "Maximum Impact". It was incredible to be in a room with over 120 parents and caring helpers as they strived to be more accepting of themselves and their children, as they worked to understand how best to apply the techniques to help their child develop, and as they celebrated and delighted in each other.
It was a great week, the moms and dads who attended all left recharge, re-inspired and with clear clarity of purpose of where to go next in their Son-Rise Programs.
For all those that attended the program - moms, dads, volunteers, and the support staff - thank you, I left feeling inspired and honored that I was apart of this week.
Smiles and appreciation
William
Labels: Celebrations, Training Programs, William
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posted by William Hogan, Senior Son-Rise Program Teacher at
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Friday, October 2, 2009
To My Teachers
Good Morning!
This month is my official 17 year anniversary working at the Autism Treatment Center of America. I feel so grateful for all the families and lovely special children I have had the pleasure of working with.
I also feel grateful to all my teachers, for they are the shoulders on which I have stood, and the inspiration and wisdom that has helped me overcome my fears and my limitations. Today I want to mention the ones who have been the most influential to me, but by no means are these the only ones.
Elizabeth McCormick, she is my Mother, and has been the most supportive person in my life, always trusting my choices and urging me to create a life that is meaningful to me.
Bryn Hogan, she has taught me all that I know about The Son-Rise Program, and helped me to transform myself into the teacher I am today.
Samahria Kaufman, she is the inspiration for me to continually open my heart to every thing by life is offering me, and to seek a closer relationship with the perfection of the universe.
Bears Kaufman, my inspiration to push beyond the limitations of what I feel I can do, always urging me to be more, life more, love more, and believe that I can do, and get everything that I want.
Jade Hogan, my lovely God Daughter whose beautiful spirit and endless efforts to overcome her challenges is the most precious and beautiful example of how to live a life that I have experienced to date.
To each of you I celebrate you, and give my most heart felt thanks.
I love you.
Kate
This month is my official 17 year anniversary working at the Autism Treatment Center of America. I feel so grateful for all the families and lovely special children I have had the pleasure of working with.
I also feel grateful to all my teachers, for they are the shoulders on which I have stood, and the inspiration and wisdom that has helped me overcome my fears and my limitations. Today I want to mention the ones who have been the most influential to me, but by no means are these the only ones.
Elizabeth McCormick, she is my Mother, and has been the most supportive person in my life, always trusting my choices and urging me to create a life that is meaningful to me.
Bryn Hogan, she has taught me all that I know about The Son-Rise Program, and helped me to transform myself into the teacher I am today.
Samahria Kaufman, she is the inspiration for me to continually open my heart to every thing by life is offering me, and to seek a closer relationship with the perfection of the universe.
Bears Kaufman, my inspiration to push beyond the limitations of what I feel I can do, always urging me to be more, life more, love more, and believe that I can do, and get everything that I want.
Jade Hogan, my lovely God Daughter whose beautiful spirit and endless efforts to overcome her challenges is the most precious and beautiful example of how to live a life that I have experienced to date.
To each of you I celebrate you, and give my most heart felt thanks.
I love you.
Kate
Labels: Attitude, Celebrations, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
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Monday, June 1, 2009
Amazing Son-Rise Program Celebrations!
Dearest most amazing teachers, guides and friends,
It is my huge privilege and honour to train at the Autism Treatment Center of America (TM) as a professional Son-Rise Program Child Facilitator. I want to share with you my huge and heartfelt gratitude for the beauty and power of The Son-Rise Program. I want to share how totally I have changed my life since embracing The Son-Rise Program. But most of all I want to share a HUGE celebration for Thomas Sherlock, the little boy with whom I first started volunteering. His parents have just had an outreach with Sean Fitzgerald (registered Son-Rise Program Teacher) and have been told that they are practically at the finishing line for Tom - he is almost TOTALLY RECOVERED from his autism!
I first met Tom in January 2005. He had been in his program for 5 months and had moved from being totally non-verbal to having a vocabulary of 200 single words. I remember spending hours lining up pens on the skirting board with this little friend and staring off into space for great chunks of time. After 2 months playing with Tom he honoured me by saying his first two word sentence to me: "Red boat". I played with Tom almost every day for 2 1/2 years, travelling an hour and a half each way just so I could spend 2 beautiful hours with this fun and funny little friend. Together we moved and changed ourselves in so many profound ways. After attending UK Start-Up in 2006 I found within myself a totally new way to be loving and playful with this little guy. We used to have the craziest times together: pretending to be super-hero potatoes, holding funerals for mangoes, chasing each other as monkeys around the local supermarket. When my grandfather died I was privileged to be able to teach Tom about death and he was so sweet, understanding and supportive of me at that time. At a time in my life when I was giving myself many challenges Tom held my hand, loved me and accepted and showed ME the way to be a better version of myself. Through him I learned the beauty of giving myself totally to another person. And in return I helped Tom to become the most amazing inspiration. Two months after I left his program Tom started part-time in mainstream school. Now he is the most popular kid in his class. So many children want to be his friend and he is the most playful, creative and interactive kid at playtime! Recently he played the role of Judas in his school Easter play and his teacher told his mum that any parent watching would never have guessed Tom's autism... he had tears in his eyes as he said this.
I just want you to know and celebrate the bravery and courage of this incredible boy. He has had the strength and daring to step outside of his comfort zone, to reach out to us and to want to change himself. And his parents, Andy and Jackie are such forces of nature - their passion and love has shone such a clear path for Thomas to lead him into our world. I am so grateful to him for loving me, accepting me and showing me this amazing, powerful and beautiful way of being in the world. Tom will forever be my inspiration for daring action and challenging myself to take that step into the unknown. I am so lucky to have such a brave and wonderful friend.
And thank you to us all for this amazing gift that we give to the world. What we teach is so beautiful, so impactful and so profoundly life-changing. For every child's life that has been touched by this program I whole-heartedly give you thanks. Let's all shine so bright and light the way for every special person.
Stay tuned for more exciting playroom stories and celebrations!
With all my love and appreciation for each and every one of you.
Jack xxx
It is my huge privilege and honour to train at the Autism Treatment Center of America (TM) as a professional Son-Rise Program Child Facilitator. I want to share with you my huge and heartfelt gratitude for the beauty and power of The Son-Rise Program. I want to share how totally I have changed my life since embracing The Son-Rise Program. But most of all I want to share a HUGE celebration for Thomas Sherlock, the little boy with whom I first started volunteering. His parents have just had an outreach with Sean Fitzgerald (registered Son-Rise Program Teacher) and have been told that they are practically at the finishing line for Tom - he is almost TOTALLY RECOVERED from his autism!
I first met Tom in January 2005. He had been in his program for 5 months and had moved from being totally non-verbal to having a vocabulary of 200 single words. I remember spending hours lining up pens on the skirting board with this little friend and staring off into space for great chunks of time. After 2 months playing with Tom he honoured me by saying his first two word sentence to me: "Red boat". I played with Tom almost every day for 2 1/2 years, travelling an hour and a half each way just so I could spend 2 beautiful hours with this fun and funny little friend. Together we moved and changed ourselves in so many profound ways. After attending UK Start-Up in 2006 I found within myself a totally new way to be loving and playful with this little guy. We used to have the craziest times together: pretending to be super-hero potatoes, holding funerals for mangoes, chasing each other as monkeys around the local supermarket. When my grandfather died I was privileged to be able to teach Tom about death and he was so sweet, understanding and supportive of me at that time. At a time in my life when I was giving myself many challenges Tom held my hand, loved me and accepted and showed ME the way to be a better version of myself. Through him I learned the beauty of giving myself totally to another person. And in return I helped Tom to become the most amazing inspiration. Two months after I left his program Tom started part-time in mainstream school. Now he is the most popular kid in his class. So many children want to be his friend and he is the most playful, creative and interactive kid at playtime! Recently he played the role of Judas in his school Easter play and his teacher told his mum that any parent watching would never have guessed Tom's autism... he had tears in his eyes as he said this.
I just want you to know and celebrate the bravery and courage of this incredible boy. He has had the strength and daring to step outside of his comfort zone, to reach out to us and to want to change himself. And his parents, Andy and Jackie are such forces of nature - their passion and love has shone such a clear path for Thomas to lead him into our world. I am so grateful to him for loving me, accepting me and showing me this amazing, powerful and beautiful way of being in the world. Tom will forever be my inspiration for daring action and challenging myself to take that step into the unknown. I am so lucky to have such a brave and wonderful friend.
And thank you to us all for this amazing gift that we give to the world. What we teach is so beautiful, so impactful and so profoundly life-changing. For every child's life that has been touched by this program I whole-heartedly give you thanks. Let's all shine so bright and light the way for every special person.
Stay tuned for more exciting playroom stories and celebrations!
With all my love and appreciation for each and every one of you.
Jack xxx
Labels: Celebrations, Inspiration, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Jack at
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