Abbey,and an American Girl Doll

In 1986, a new doll was released to the public.  It was probably a few years later before I knew about them, but American girl dolls are pretty much the doll you want to play with if your into dolls.  I never had one, but when we found out we were having a girl, it was on my list of things I couldn't wait to do with my daughter.  A few years ago, I decided that it wasn't really a practical investment since Abbey wouldn't be able to play with or take care of the doll properly.  They sell for almost $100, not including clothes and accessories! 

Some time ago, we started getting the catalog in the mail.  When the first one came, I just threw it out like I do the letters that say, "you're daughter is in 4th grade, perhaps she would like to represent NJ in  Washington D.C. with her chosen peers."  When the next one came I decided to look through it and for some reason it just made me so, so sad! A reminder of an yet another experience I wanted to have with her, but wouldn't. (Self-pity is so attractive isn't it? lol) I decided Abbey would be my American Girl Doll. Her story is  completely inspiring, and she loves to be dressed up and accessorized!

But, Abbey is always surprising me...always.  This year has been especially exciting with her new school (PG Chambers School for the Disabled) because they are really opening me up to so many new "feats" for Abbey. 

I got an e-mail from her speech therapist this morning.  They added a new category to her i-pad speech program for clothing.  Here's part of the e-mail from her therapist.  "In speech, Abbey and I worked on identifying icons on her iPad and initiating more sign language. I added a “clothing” folder to Abbey’s iPad. When learning the new icons, we played “dress-up” with dolls.Abbey got VERY excited during this activity. I would tell her we need to pick out a specific article of clothing and she would find it on her iPad. If Abbey needed help putting on the piece of clothing I would try to prompt her to sign “help” and then find the icon on the iPad (i.e. “help (with) shirt”). This activity was motivating for Abbey and I was happy to see her progression throughout the session. "

At the end of the e-mail she included these pictures, and look at the doll she is holding.  You guessed it, an American Girl Doll! 

There are a thousand dolls they could have used and taken a picture of, but they used the one doll that opened up a tender spot in my heart.  It's like the Lord was whispering over me this morning, "it matters to me."   It just got me thinking how we never know what God is up to.  Perhaps there is a dream you gave up on, a goal you never reached or grew tired of striving after? Maybe you've been struggling through something for so long that you just accepted it would never change.  I don't know about you, but for me, this was just a little reminder of  Matthew 19:26 "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"  

 Hope you enjoyed Abbey's little success with me! I'll borrow a little letter closing from the apostle Paul.

 

^"20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21