How Many times should I forgive?

WOW is all I can say about our Message at Church this morning. It totally challenged me and made me think about a lot of things.

These are some observations about Human Nature.
We often hate in others in others what we see in ourselves. For instance it annoys me when people are late but yet I am always getting somewhere a couple of minutes late. It annoys me when people do not call me back but I do the same thing. See my point:)

We can not forgive as long as we stay the Victim. How many people do we know in this world that are the Victim. They love playing it. If I had a better job I would have more money. If I had more friends yet they do not want to be a friend. If I had a bigger house I would be happy. If My Wife or Husband treated me better I would be happier. Never taking their own actions for account. They make themselves weaker than they really are because they are always blaming other things to not be happy. Who really wants to live like that.

Unforgiveness is its own Prison.. We forgive others because we learn enough about God that we want to be loved enough that we are able to. Are you following me? Where does the Power to forgive come from? God.

Bottom Line is Forgiven people forgive. They are the only ones that truly can. Just liked Loved People Love people.

I think people that have a hard time letting things go is because deep down they are incapable of asking for forgiveness so they can not forgive. I am so glad that I know I am just a wretch saved my Grace. I know that I am not perfect I should ask for forgiveness every day from God, my Husband, friends. This allows me to forgive people easier when some one does something wrong against me. It is a whether freeing feeling:) You should try it.

Pumkins and Fun

Last night Matt and Megan came over. We ordered Pizza and got Pumpkins Held babies talked about our weeks. Sat around in comfy clothes and watched Forrest Gump. We also carved pumkins and roasted the seeds. I love how when you are such good friends you can just relax and undwind after a long week. It was so peaceful. I also love that we have friends that love our babies. That makes it so much sweeter.

Sugar Cookies with my Babes

Ingredients


1 1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1.In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).

2.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

3.Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

We made our frosting with this recipe
 
3 Cups of Powdered Sugar
1/3 Cup of Butter
1 tsp Vanilla
3-4 tbls of Half and Half more if needed
 

Why I walk

Why I walk...


June 10th 2008' Our lives were forever changed. Jana Elizabeth Blanchard was born. Better known as "Princess Jana". We did not know until birth that she had Down syndrome. We had knew nothing about Down syndrome. The days were dark in the beginning but we quickly learned that Down syndrome was really not that scary. She slept, ate and smiled and acted like any other baby. What we did not know is how much she would enrich our lives. She taught us how to love in a deeper way. She made our Marriage stronger our Boy's better Brothers. She is such a Joy. She has Beautiful Blue eyes that just captivate you. To know Jana is to love her. We thank God for her Daily and know this World is a better place because of her.

This is our third year to walk in the Buddy Walk. We think it is a great way to get friends and family together and raise awareness about Down syndrome. We think it is important that people know there is a upside to Down syndrome not down. We think the World would be a better place if more people like Jana were in it. We also want to help organizations like the Down syndrome Assoc get the word out there how truly lovable these children are and make their future brighter..

If you want to donate click here:)
http://www.firstgiving.com/susanblanchard

The Bus

I heard the term "The Bus" from a fellow blog writer  Kelle Hampton http://www.kellehampton.com/ . It is used to describe when you are having a bad day. When the emotions of having a child that has Down syndrome hits you like a ton of bricks. It does not come often but sometimes it comes. Never knowing when it is going to strike thankful for that is passes and does not come often.

I was just running and thinking, praying. The Bus started to hit me. I am not going to lie it hit me hard. As I was running with tears streaming down my face I was thinking about running and how much it hurts me that Jana is not walking much less running. Then I started thinking about the Day she was born. How that was such a dark day but I knew deep down there was light at the end of the Tunnel. I think about how far she has come how holding her head up, sitting up, crawling was such a big milestone and she did it. Just like I know deep down she will walk. In her time. Her time is not my time just like my time is not God's time. I thought that I had already learned lessons of patience in my life but sadly God is still trying to get that through my hard head. When am I am going to learn it is not about me??? As much as some days the days are long and I am working with Jana for hours trying to teach her how to walk I know she is the one that is actually teaching me.... She is teaching me Patience, perseverance, strength and will.

She will walk and I will look back on days like today and smile thinking how far we have come. Because after all we are in this journey together..Oh and when she does walk we are going to have a glorious party. A party fit for a Princess. With Cake and Ice cream, balloons and Princess Gear. It will be a Celebration for sure. AND I WILL give the Glory and Praise to God for it. I will kiss my little girls cheeks and cry harder than I ever have before and knowing Jana she will kiss me and say "OK Honey" because that is how my girl rolls. She is the most loving person I know. I am HONORED that I am her Momma. I can not wait to go on runs with my Baby Girl together.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Seth David

This morning I got to Work in Seth's Class. His Teacher amazes me. She had Full control over 26 children without breaking a sweat. And 22 of those children were BOYS. I am not just talking regular run of the mill Boys. I am talking BOYS that make you want to pull your hair out because they are full of such energy and spunk.

We practiced writing the letter "A" uppercase and Lower. We pained our Names. Learned "A" E" I" O"U". We sang songs and even Danced:) It was a great morning.

Seth is not very affectionate but this morning he was so cute and proud of me. When I walked in his eyes got huge and he hugged me. He introduced me to all of his friends with such pride. It was so cute. I had to be right by him. There was this little boy named Colton who wanted to be right next to me too. He kept playing with my neck less. Seth Said that he better watch out only Me and My Daddy are allowed to touch me. His Teacher and I both lol.

I am going to put this morning in my memory bank. I know the day when he does not want me to work in his class much less admit I am his Mom are around the corner. So I am going to suck every ounce of joy as I can out of this morning.

Yes he is my "Full of Life Child" But I love him dearly. I have a feeling he will always challenge me and drive me crazy but I love him just the same and would change a thing.

Art

Have you ever thought about art? God of course is the best Artist I know. Can you imagine how much fun he had creating the Universe. I am sure they Angels were singing his Praise and in aw of its Beauty. I am not creative and far from an Artist. I am jealous of people that that can just see a piece of fabric and create a dress. A friend from a Message bored started creating dresses for her little girls. They are so adorable and fun. http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinksugarclothing
Jana is wearing one today.

I was looking for something for Seth to do this morning and saw some bottles of paint. So I decided to cut up some fruit and use it as stamps. We used Apples and Lemmons.

Thanking God today that I do not have to be artistic or crafy he loves me just the way I am and I can "try" to be artistic with my Son and still have fun.