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"Living at Cornerstone means I'm an adult"Rebekah (left)

"I am responsible now, even when I don't want to be" Will (below, left) "I can shave myself and cook my own breakfast" David (below, right)

Amanda loves Martin. Martin loves Amanda. They both have disabilities.

Throughout the years of their relationship I would hear Amanda's school friends ask, "Are you going to marry Martin?" She always has the same answer, "I'm not old enough." The problem with her response is that she is in her mid-twenties, so she really is old enough to get married.

This is a clear example of the tension between our residents actual age and their functioning level. They may be in their 20's and 30's biologically, but some aspects of their life may more closely resemble the skills or knowledge of a 5, 10 or 15 year old.

With that in mind, it would be easy to view the residents here at Cornerstone like children, with no expectation of them ever growing up, to think that they are forever destined to be juvenile and immature. Each one a sort of Peter Pan come to life. This is a common fallacy.

In our experience, nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, we have found ourselves living with a group of

individuals that are hungry for independence and responsibility. While we all have our moments of wanting to be coddled, the residents continually surprise me with their initiative and desire to learn.

Those with cognitive limitations are remembering their medications, shaving without reminders and doing their own laundry. Those with physical limitations are making their own beds, taking care of hygiene and making their own lunch. These may seem like small steps, but they are milestones of maturity and we couldn't be more proud of our residents.

Back to Amanda and her undying love for Martin: When a friend asked her about marrying Martin a few months ago she simply said, "No, of course not, I have a disability. It wouldn't work out." When I heard her say that, I was sad for her, but I became increasingly proud when I understood the weight of her words. After two years at Cornerstone she no longer thinks of herself as a child. She is becoming a courageous adult, strong enough to recognize and admit her limitations. Slowly, she's growing up.

All Grown Upthe death of Peter Pan and associated fairy talesby David Heaton, Executive Director

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David screamed with joy as he flew down the zip-line and splashed into the lake. Will drew a crowd on the basketball court and Amanda continued to dance long after the music had stopped. Laura bravely conquered the ropes course while Rebekah put the pedal to the metal in the go-carts.

It was a glorious week at Woodleaf, a Young Life camp in northern California. Everyone had an awesome time and we all gained a better understanding of God's great love for us. We attended camp with many of our good friends from Dallas' Bethesda Young Life group and made several new friends from across the country. 160 campers were in attendance with various levels of mental and physical disabilities accompanied by 100 staff and volunteer leaders.

Our air travel to Sacramento went relatively smooth, though getting our whole group to take off their belts and shoes and get them through security does tend to bog down the line a bit! We didn't lose any luggage and more importantly - any people.

Woodleaf sits in a peaceful green valley surrounded by one hundred foot pine trees in the foothills of the Sierra-Nevada's. The facilities are amazing with the charming facade of a historic western mining town. The pool was crisply cool and the playing fields were immaculate. There is a small scenic lake, with blob, zip line, fishing dock and kayaks. It was an action packed week: We rode the Ridge Runners (off road go-carts) around a mountain side of mud. We tested our nerves and

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Wet n' WildDavid is clearly "number one" after careening down the zip line at camp.

Scout's HonorThe native perennials will help beautify the property for years to come.

In late May, we had over a dozen eager Cub Scouts come and serve Cornerstone in a tremendous way. These little guys (and their Dads and Moms) vastly improved our landscape by building a beautiful flower garden in the shape of a butterfly with accompanying benches and two young bur oak trees.

The residents and staff families have already spent many hours around the garden watching the sunset. The garden also gives the residents a great deal of pride as they take care of watering and weeding around the lantana, periwinkles and native grasses.

Though their hands might have been small, their contribution was huge and we are so grateful. Thank you Pack 1222!

"The garden is great. I like to sit outside and watch the birds."

David

climbed treacherous logs up The Tower on the ropes course, we spent some time at the pool and played sand volleyball. We sang and danced at club and saw hilarious skits.

Most importantly, we learned more about Jesus and his love for the outcast and the marginalized. We were reminded that we were created for a purpose and that we can all be used by God, regardless of disability or differences.

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Full Swing of SummerWe have already had an action

packed summer here at Cornerstone, with even more great activities ahead. Here is a sample of July and August:

McKinney Ice Cream Crank Off Young Life Camp in California "The Music Man" and "Willy Wonka" The Mesquite Rodeo Age of Steam Railroad Museum American Idol Live Concert Frisco Rough Riders Baseball Game Hawaiian Falls Water Park Special Olympics Softball Bowling, movies, and trips to the pool

PerspectivesIn each newsletter we invite someone in the Cornerstone family to provide their perspective on life at the ranch. This quarter we have a resident's parents, Rick and Kay Barry, sharing their experiences.

When our daughter Amanda was born with Down Syndrome 25 years ago, we faced a wall of worry about many things in her future. We worried about her health, her education, her social development, and about where she would live as an adult. We have learned over the years to “take it as it comes” and have somehow been prepared to face each issue in turn. We have been fortunate that Amanda has not had any health problems and we found a wonderful, supportive school, but there were still questions about her long-term care.

For years we watched friends find wonderful residential placements for their developmentally delayed, adult children, but they were often hundreds of miles from Dallas and we saw no comparable programs nearby. Cornerstone Ranch has radically changed that picture. In 2006, we were blessed to find, what we believe is, the very best residential program in our area and Amanda soon became one of the first residents.

Cornerstone has provided Amanda with just the right level of independence in a nurturing, family-oriented atmosphere. The program provides a framework of activities that give structure and meaning to her days. The volunteer work that the residents do with Meals on Wheels,

the McKinney food pantry, and with local churches enables them to make real contributions to their community.

Her routine at Cornerstone calls for her to make contributions to the household as well – further fostering her independence. Amanda and her friends do their own laundry, clean their rooms and common areas, and help prepare meals. They exercise daily and learn about making healthy food choices. In addition, the daily Bible study addresses her spiritual needs – an important part of life that is often absent in other residential programs. They also have plenty of fun by incorporating Special Olympics, entertainment and community events into the schedule

each week. In short, Amanda and her friends are busy, responsible, and engaged.

As a result of her new life at Cornerstone, Amanda is more interested in the world around her and her conversation is much broader than it was when she lived at home. Our other children and close friends have noticed this change and comment on it frequently. We could not possibly provide the level of stimulation she receives from the staff, the community and the other residents. She has never been happier, and we have the comfort of knowing that her new home has been designed specifically to provide a life of value and dignity for adults with mental disabilities.

"Cornerstone Ranch is the answer to a twenty-year prayer."

Kay Barry

Stop, Drop and RollRebekah, Laura and Will learn about the dangers of smoke at Frisco's Fire Safety Town.

Flying HighWill was ecstatic after a 30 minute flight with Challenge Air. The kind pilot gave him a certificate and even let him steer!

The Resident Rundown Fifteen Favorites: Laura

My Favorite...1. food when I'm really hungry: Chicken/Ranch Sandwich2. thing about my parents: They love me much3. Special Olympics sport: Bowling4. thing at Cornerstone: Being an adult5. meal at Cornerstone: Burger grilled by Dave6. job at Cornerstone and why: Meals on Wheels, I like to

give people food7. fun activity: Watching my favorite movies8. thing about the people at Cornerstone: They are fun9. place to go on a vacation: New York City10. movie to sing along with: Annie11. lesson I've learned at Cornerstone: How to get along

with friends12. kind of books to get at the library: Arthur Goes to ...13. television show to watch: Suite Life of Zack and Cody14. local restaurant: Cotton Patch15. Special Olympics memory: Scoring a basket

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Wild OneLaura prepares to slam the gas on an off-road go-cart at Young Life camp. By the end of her ride she was covered in mud and begging to do it again.

3933 CR 317 McKinney, TX 75069

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