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SlugBug, blue.By David Heaton, Executive Director

You know those moments of parenthood when you don't even hear your children speaking to you? Their small voices can be so constant that they just blend into the background. My wife has asked me a few times, "David, are you going to answer him?" I never even heard my son’s question.

Likewise, the resident’s continual game of "SlugBug" during every van ride has become almost inaudible to me, it is just a part of the subconscious. It’s not negative or positive, just lost somewhere in the background.

The game can get pretty competitive and disputes over who saw a car first and if they stated the correct color are not always easily resolved, but no actual slugging takes place. Amanda has petitioned me to keep a notepad in the van to tally a running score.

They have memorized where various Volkswagens are parked on our way through the community and they sit on the edge of their seats to call it out first. Although Will doesn’t speak, he has a specific grunt he uses for “SlugBug” and we all know exactly what it means.

When Jason became a resident last fall, I worried that he would feel left out of the game since his limited vision doesn't allow him to play along. I would try to drum up conversation with him when everyone else would get into their heated battle to spot the next VW. Recently I discovered this concern was unnecessary.

Several weeks ago, I heard something unusual on the way to serving at the food pantry. One resident was asking Jason about points and scores. Jason proceeded to rattle off everyone’s name and their corresponding point total. Since that day, every time "slugbug" is shouted, Jason will confirm who called it first and give them their new point total. He is actually in charge of the whole game!

We pride ourselves at Cornerstone on our ability to find the unique gifts and talents of our residents and help them use those skills to honor God and serve others. But it's good to know that even when we fail to recognize those gifts- like Jason's good hearing and a perfect memory- the residents jump right in and find a way to include their friends. We are so thankful for Jason, Amanda, Will, David, Laura and Sarah. They teach us so much, and sometimes they even let us win at SlugBug.

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Nice to Meet YouCornerstone welcomes new staff and residentLarry and Courtney Causey moved to Cornerstone shortly after their wedding in May. They work with the residents most Saturday afternoons and three nights a week. Their unstoppable energy is matched only by their desire to serve others. We are very thankful to have them join us in this great calling.

Sarah joined the Cornerstone family in September after graduating from The Notre Dame School of Dallas. She has fit in perfectly, impressing everyone with her work ethic and willingness to try new things.

PerspectivesIn each newsletter we invite someone from the Cornerstone family to provide their perspective on life at the ranch. This quarter we have a resident’s parents, Doug and Nancy Greenwold, sharing with us.

Whenever we tell people here in Maryland that we sent our son David to live in Dallas, we can tell by their responses that they are taken aback. But what they don’t know is that we spent about 15 years searching for the right place for David and never really found what we wanted and needed - a safe, nurturing, community-involved setting that was overseen by people who loved the Lord and saw this as a long-term ministry.

Some time ago we began a search around the Washington D.C. area, then the Middle Atlantic area, and eventually widened it to the whole East coast. Nothing we found was quite right for us. In D.C., David was part of a Young Life group called Capernaum, a ministry to young adults with disabilities. Our local staff person, Pam Harmon, had met David and Cynthia Heaton at a national meeting where they shared their vision for Cornerstone. Pam told us that if she had a son with a disability, this was the place where she would want him to be (and to this day, she says she has yet to see anything the equal of Cornerstone).

We resisted the idea of McKinney for quite awhile as we continued to search closer to home. But when a business trip to Texas conveniently presented itself, we decided to meet the Heaton’s. After seeing the property, the house plans, and hearing their philosophy and vision for a community of people with disabilities, we had tears in our eyes knowing that this was what we had always wanted for David.

The Lord has blessed David and our family beyond our greatest dreams. We are so pleased with the quality of the care, the full, daily schedule of activities, the balance of a safe environment with being out in the community, the beautiful home, the Christ-centered atmosphere, the sense of family (including children) and the commitment of the Heatons, Schultes and the Causeys to nurture the growth of the residents. Cornerstone is an answer to many prayers and is now David’s home away from home.

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“We had tears in our eyes knowing that this was what we had always wanted for David”

Doug and Nancy Greenwold

Larry and Courtney Causeymoved to Cornerstone this summer and have been a priceless addition to our community.

Sarah Says“My favorite thing at Cornerstone is all the jobs. I like working at the churches, folding bulletins.”

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A Night on the Town: a photo essay

dinner provided by Mama Emilia’s

limo provided by Aircar Executive Transportation

The Resident Rundown Fifteen Favorites with AmandaMy Favorite...

1. television show: Full House

2. meal at Cornerstone: Miranda’s Salmon Pasta

3. kind of music: Anything on Disney Channel

4. thing about myself: My personality and fashion sense

5. job at Cornerstone: Organizing at the thrift store

6. Special Olympic’s sport: Basketball, we’re really good

7. thing about God: He created us and He loves us

8. Broadway show: The Little Mermaid

9. holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas

10. movie: High School Musical 3

11. thing about living in community: I always have my friends

around me

12. local restaurant: Cotton Patch

13. day of the week: Sunday, because we get to relax

14. memory at Cornerstone: going to dinner and Mavs game

15. way to serve the community: helping the homeless

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She’s a Big FanAmanda is like a cheerleader for your life. She genuinely cares and celebrates everything you do. If you’re going to the grocery store she’ll wish you good luck on your way out the door and give you a hug when you return. She’ll even help carry the groceries.

3933 CR 317 MCKINNEY, TX 75069