Tuesday, April 3, 2012

bloom :: finding the beauty in the unexpected

Photobucket

Kelle Hampton
a blogger, a mom, now a writer.



So are you in tears?
Because I was  earlier, when I saw this video on The Mess' blog. And every time I see this video I feel more touched and I cry more - I can't stop watching it.
I immediately felt compelled to write and share. Nobody should miss out.

I started following Kelle Hampton many months ago.
I've been watching her throw the best of birthdays, the most creative holiday parties & day in and out of her life with her two little girls and her husband. One of my favorite posts
was a Christmas Party {a must read} she had for the girls and their friends. It blew me away.

I was drawn to this. If you know me, you understand my love with children
with special needs. As a team member of the SOGA {Special Olympics of Georgia} & always a fan of the special needs kids/adults - I loved seeing Kelle with Nella and the life she gives her.
I always questioned why you saw a person with down syndrome
in the clothes that never fit, was extremely out of date and ... just bad.
I always wondered why their hair was never fixed and their shoes were... pitiful looking.
Just because they weren't born listed as the "normal" baby, doesn't mean they needed to be put out on the roof and be given up on. Kelle doesn't do that. She is inspiration to this world. She is a wonderful reason why I love blogging. Kelle makes the world a better place.

Nella is the beauty of all.
She smiles. She plays well. She loves. She's beautiful.
Their life {the whole family} has always been so inspiring.
I recommend you read her heart-felt birth story after this post. 

#TrueStory
A week ago my husband had to deliver something to a company.
After leaving he calls me and says
Aaron: "I just left a place that you would LOVE.
Me: {thinking he is being funny} "Oh yeah, where?"
Aaron: Coastal {something, I forgot}"
Me: "What is that?"
Aaron: "It's a place where all special needs people of all ages
work. They have them doing so many different things. I didn't think they lived to be
as old as some of them where."
Me: "Oh how fun. Yeah, they do. They are just like us."
Aaron: When I walked in, they all just looked at me and I felt kind of
weird... uncomfortable. {saying this very sincere}
Me: "Well now you know how the world looks at them when they
walk in a room."
Aaron: "Hey hey now, I wasn't being mean. Don't judge."

And that stuck with me for a while because it's so true.
As  much as my husband wasn't NOT trying to say or judge them, making them an outkast,
that is exactly what this world does. Kind of like Kelle was making a point of ...
She thought he world was over, yet it was just starting.

I bought this book today. Immediately. It's been out for one day.  
You can find it at any Barnes & Nobles, Books a Million, Target or online HERE
 @ Target with a coupon code of 10% off { code = TGT4TWW7},
online offer expires Apirl 10th.

Thank You Kelle. I'm so excited and can not wait to see what you have
to say. Thank you Stephanie for writing just a wonderful post today.
It sucked my wonderful eyes right in.

9 comments:

Ali said...

I can't wait to get my hands on this book! I love Kelle, Nella & Lainey too!

lori said...

kelle is such a BEAUTIFUL person. i love her honesty and her courage for sharing her story. i pre-ordered bloom and am planning on going to the store tonight to buy another copy to add in my upcoming giveaway!!

i used to volunteer with special needs students through high school... but haven't done it since. it's definitely something i should look into... maybe we can do it together one day?!

Amanda said...

OMG! Isn't her story amazing!? I pre-ordered in February, I can't wait to get my book with her autograph!!!!!

Elizabeth McMullen said...

I have been following Kelle for a long while. Prob since Nella was 2 months old. I balled my eyes out reading her story on her blog and cannot wait to read this. Nella is beautiful and she makes my heart happy.

Stephanie said...

Aww I'm just now seeing this!!! SO glad you've been inspired as much as I have. I want her book SO bad. She just makes my heart so happy and so humbled.

I'm trying this new thing where I don't just buy something just because I want it. So I put it on my birthday list lol. Beau BEST purchase it for me...or ELSE. HA!

Karen Mortensen said...

I wish more people had your attitude about special needs people. I love them too. They make me feel so happy.

Lacey said...

Awe, I love youe guys; attitude towards special needs.

Anonymous said...

This is my first time visit at heгe and і am reаlly happy to reаd all at singlе рlace.


mу homepаge ... que-formula1.com

Anonymous said...

I do accеpt аs true wіth all of the іdeаѕ you've offered to your post. They're νeгу convinсing and сan сertainlу work.
Nonеtheleѕs, the posts aге very briеf for startеrs.
Could уоu pleaѕe prοlong thеm a bit frοm subsequеnt time?
Thank yоu foг the ρost.

Looκ into my weblοg ... bathroom sinks