New Puppy

We got a new puppy. His name is Buddy James Blanchard. He weighs 2.8 pounds. We found him through Craig's list. The kids are head over hills. So far he has been the perfect addition to our family.

My Prayer for my children

Dear Lord,
I pray that my Son's and Daughters will love you with all their heart, soul and mind. May the word of God take root in their heart and full their minds with things that are true, noble, just,pure, lovely,virtuous and praiseworthy,  Give them understanding that what goes into their mind becomes part of them so that they will weigh carefully what allows them to see and  keep them from negative emotions.
I pray that their faith in you and your word will grow daily so that they will live forever with sound mind and emotions of joy and praise.

Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things
Philippians 4:8

Our new Family Member Buddy

Last of Chilean miners is raised safely to surface

We have been watching the Chilean Miners being raised to the surface all day. So amazing. I heard on of the Miners say he knows what Heaven and Hell feel like now. He is praising God with the rest of the Miners. It was such a happy day. We all watched the TV and Jana and Seth even claped when they came out. So happy for their families.

Labels are for cans not people

Why do we feel the need to put people in "groups". I have been thinking about this a lot this week. Someone who I admire has a Son that is Autistic. He was sharing that he had never felt segeration until last week. They were at the Zoo with his School class. He said that every time they entered a new place people would glance at their group of children in wheel chairs other challenges and quickly glance away. Some even ushering their children away. It stuck with him that feeling... Then he remembered all of times he has made apologies for his sons Autism in Social settings. Realizing now that he was putting his Son down without even meaning too. But putting him in a group. It made me cry... It made me think of Jana getting older and doing or saying things a little different and people without even meaning to putting her in a special group or casting their sight elsewhere. Then it made me think of how people do it every day to each other. Some look away when they see some one that does not have the same skin color as themselves, Others look away from a homeless man when in all reality we are all close to being a couple of pay checks from that . Or the Same Sex couple who are en counted with hate and bullying every day. It needs to stop. We need to stop feeling the need to put people in groups or under "labels". Labels are for cans not people.

I can not change the World but I CAN teach my children not to be so shallow minded to live in a box and feel the need to label every one around them. I CAN teach my children to love every one no matter what they look like. I promised Jana something today. I will never "Label" her. I will never apologize for her special chromosome again. I am her Mother and I am PROUD!

Sisters

I love this picture:)

I am Woman Hear me Roar:)

Last night while laying in bed I was thinking of my Bucket list.. Thinking of all the things I have left to do that have not been done. One of them was make a Pie from Scratch even the crust:) So I decided that today was the day. I called my Mom and got her crust recipe.
She said Use your Kitchen aide and add:
2 cups of floor
1 cup of Crisco
then add 1 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar
and 1/3 cup of milk
Mix
Chill for an hour
I have to admit I was smiling the whole time. It is funny how making or doing things makes you feel more like a "Mom" or "Woman". I was like a giddy school girl waiting for it to bake. Then my kitchen went from smelling of apple Cinnamon goodness to burnt apple goodness. Hint... Put a cookie sheet under your pie while baking:)

I have to say I was very happy with the result:) Check #25 off my list:) I will save skydiving for another day.

My sweet girl

Today was a good day.... I am really starting to see some progress with Jana. I have been trying for months to get her to push this stroller. She HATED it. It causes her to use her muscles more and work harder. The only walker we have is more sturdy and she does not have to work as hard. She has been pushing her baby around all day. I love it!!! I love that she is pushing her stroller and I love that she is being a girlie girl. I use to lay in bed at night and dream of having a girl some day to play Dolls with. For some reason when I had Jana those first days I thought we would never be able to play dolls, school, etc. Thinking about it now makes me feel silly. Of course she can play dolls, school etc. She IS my Daughter and she is my girlie girl that I have also dreamed for. Now I need to go because Doll's are waiting to be played with:)

I am on of "those" Mom's but I am just fine with that....

Most of the time I am on of those "Mom"s that plays by the rules. But sometimes  you just gotta break them. Cole looked at me this morning and said "Mom do I really need to go to School...." I said maybe not then I thought I really should send him. Then I thought well he is a Straight "A" student and what is one day home going to do. So I declared today a pajama day. We are chilliaxing and making forts. Some days you just need to break the Momma rules and I am ok with that.

God will bring me through it..

God never more closely surrounds us than when he lifts us to his breast and carries us home.
Sometimes I wonder how God can be so good to us but yet allows us to encounter trouble and sorrow.
Then I turn to scripture...
4Then (E)I called upon the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, I beseech You, (F)save my life!"
5(G)Gracious is the LORD, and (H)righteous;
Yes, our God is (I)compassionate.
6The LORD preserves (J)the simple;
I was (K)brought low, and He saved me.
7Return to your (L)rest, O my soul,
For the LORD has (M)dealt bountifully with you.
8For You have (N)rescued my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
My feet from stumbling.


Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

If I stay in the word if I pray I know that I can not be shaken. No matter what happens in my life now or in the future God will bring me through it. Oh how sweet that is