Merry Christmas

We pray your holiday is full of joy, peace, hope and love.

Merry Chistmas!

My Mom

Someone said to me today..." you need your mother". She knew I had a sick child and was not really sure what to do. When I told her my mom had been gone for 3 years, in fact three years today, she prayed for me and made the sweetest offer. She offered to boss me around like a real Italian mom :) Sweet, sweet, sweet. I am blessed with so many wonderful women in my life.

It was three years ago today that David's cell phone rang in the early morning. Thus began a long day of packing then driving to a hospital where my mom was being kept alive long enough for me to see her one more time. It was a terrible day.

Now, I choose to not dwell on that day but on all the days before that. The days when Mom was being a funny, loving mom and grandmother. She battled cancer three times and rarely missed a day of work. She was strong and devoted to those around her. She spoiled grandkids with Mt. Dew and bbq chips for breakfast. She made the best cheeseburgers ever (just ask David). She was the youngest of twelve brothers and sisters. She always felt like she wasn't as tough as her brothers, but she was. They will tell you that. There is a bit of a twisted sense of humor that runs in my family, mom was one the ring leaders. She and her sister Marie were known for their grocery store trips that no one else would join them in. If they were together, someone was going to be embarrassed. I loved that about her. She could make anyone laugh. Her life was rarely "easy" but she worked hard. She made the most of life not matter how difficult things were at the time. There are still days that I pick up the phone to call her and ask her what I should do about something. When my babies were all really small, I cried a lot and told God I wasn't supposed to raise all these kids without my mom. He would remind that all my kids were really His children. It was His job to lead me and He knew what He was doing. I know if Mom were here she would most likely tell me she had no idea what to do so I should pray about it.

It has been three years since I said goodbye. I won't forget all that my mom was to so many people. I love you, mom!

All Bowed Up

As you can tell by my last post...I love little girls in hair bows. As a way of making a little extra money for Christmas I am making lots of bows. I thought you might like to see them.

These grosgrain bows are on barrettes. I am selling them for $5

I also have tulle bows on clips for $3. I have them in red or green.

If you are interested in purchasing any bows, leave me a comment as to what you want. I will contact you privately about delivery and/or shipping.

Random Pics

It has been a crazy few weeks. I had surgery on my elbow and you know...when mom is down for the count, chaos is the status quo. So I thought I might post of few pics of some random events from the last few weeks.

As you can see... I love big bows on sweet little girls!!

Just because I could... love this flower.

Anyone want to take a guess as to why I took this pic?? Hint...an OCD cousin...

Living Room adventure....David and the little kids take fort building to the next level.

The boys loved climbing instead of watching Alex play football.

Olivia went on her first field trip in October.

Always ready to strike a pose...

I included this pic because I loved watching Olivia and her teacher. This is truly an answered prayer. Olivia loves her and she loves Olivia.

A farm girl?? Well maybe not...

Did I mention I like bows??

After a week of all sunshines, Olivia got to go on a date with her Daddy. This is the two of them before they headed to Olive Garden and Gigi's Cupcakes.

Alex had his first "how to tie a tie" lesson. He was getting ready for his sports banquet.

Alex has settled in to his new school and is loving it. He played football and had a great season, making new friends and learning the game.

Halloween came along before we knew it. Olivia wanted to be "Gabriella" big surprise, right! The boys wanted to be Batman and Robin. That seemed easy at first but turned into an ordeal that spanned the globe, literally. "Robin" arrived from Hong Kong only days before which sent everyone in here and in the "holy land" searching for a size 4 Batman. Becky and Poppy came through and the Dynamic Duo made their appearance.

That's it for now. Enjoy the beautiful fall that the Lord is giving us.

Happy Adoption Day

On this day 5 years ago a judge in Oregon signed the official decree making Olivia our daughter. We like to say that on August 15 (her birthday) God gave her to the world. On October 26, He gave her to us.

I have come to recognize "daughter" as one of the most beautiful words in the English language. Olivia brings a life and laughter to our family that could only come from a little girly girl. Pink just happens when she is around...high heels, bows, mismatched garbs of skirts, leggings, dresses, belts and purses. There is a fresh breeze of life out loud with Olivia. At times I don't remember her energy and abundant personality are blessings. Sadly, I get frustrated and try to contain her. It is a challenge to teach her personal restraint while still allowing her to grow in the spirit that God gifted in her. I am confident in His plan for her. I can only imagine what He is going to do in, with and through her. It could very well be that Olivia will set the world on its knees as she proclaims Jesus.

Happy Adoption Day my sweet Olivia! I love you oodles and streudles and bunches of noodles!!!

Cameras, football and birthdays

Our old Canon Point and Shoot camera died what was apparently a very quick painful death. Not being digital camera doctors , we didn't know it was dead. We thought is was a mere digital coma. But alas, after 3 weeks in the camera ICU the news came... no hope of repair, dead. An autopsy revealed cause of death to be blunt force trauma (meaning it was dropped, unbeknownst to us).

We borrowed a camera from a sweet neighbor for a couple of weeks in order to have pics of some important events. You know you have to have a camera for the first day of school, first football games and other milestone moments.

After some research, we bought a new camera. It has more buttons than I can count so my photo genius friend KC came over for an inservice. I am afraid her pupil was more camera challenged than she originally thought. I am learning so bear with me, especially if I post a pic and I have to describe it because the image cannot be seen :)

The first pics are from the little kids playing outside. No real significant moment, just sweet blessings playing at a friends house. As I look at these pics, I am reminded that every day is a blessing if you just take time to realize it.

Next we have Alex's football game. This was a picture-taking test that well, as you can see I didn't exactly pass with flying colors.

Cute boys at their brother's football game.

Cheerleader in training

Instructions from the CoachIs it wrong to call a football player a cutie??I told you my skills were limited....

if you could really see this pic you would witness Alex making an incredible catch.

This is my son burried under a pile as he recovered a fumble.

Finally, Alex had a birthday party with some friends from school and church. We are so thankful for this group of young people (I almost put "kids"). We pray they continue to make good choices and hold each other accountable to God's standards.

I hope my posts will be more frequent now but I have to tell you...it took me 1 1/2 hours to download the pics and put them in the right folders. It was another 1 1/2 to upload everything to the blog. I do not have that kind of time so I may have to have a techno savvy friend come over for another inservice :)

Questions

When you are blessed with young children in your life, there is an unending blabbering of questions. Some are very important and you take your time to answer with clarity after seeking wisdom from God. Some require quick little answers you throw out because you know the question was just fulfilling the need to hear themselves speak. Most of the questions are serious need-to-know moments for the kids but cause the grownups to nearly double over in laughter.
I thought you might like an insight into the kind of questions I have been facing lately. Imagine these words coming in child like tones, from sweet little faces, two of which have speech patterns that rarely pronounce "r" or "l" sounds...

• Did God make macawoni?
• Why did He bend it?
• Where is my night night? (Note: a "night night" is a blanket)
• Did God make gwass?
• Know what best I wike?
• Can I have a snack?
• What did the boys do while I was at school? They didn't have fun, did they?
• Why do you use a curling iron?
• Can I jump on Joshy's head?
• Can we live at church? I wike to run in circles.
• Why is your Bible fat?
• Can I have a snack?
• Can Alex sleep in my floor?
• Why does Daddy wear shoes?
• Where is my night night?
• Can we live at the shed?
• Can I wear this? (imagine a 5yr old fashionista, with pieces of 5 different outfits)
• Can you give me prickwy hair? (imagine twins who want "spiked" hair)
• Can I play wif dis in de tub?
• Can I have a snack?
• Want to hear dis stowy?
• Can I text Lauren? Amanda? Beesh?
• Can I have a cell phone when I am 6?
• Does Jesus love me and Joshy de same?
• Wook, de wain is bouncing on de deck. Why?
• I decided I don't wike dis shirt. Can you make him wear it?
• Can I share my snack with him?
• I am sad Santa Fe closed. Can I throw peanuts on the floor at home?
• Can you make me a peanut butter cracker with out peanuts in it?
• Can we get a pet?
• Can I learn to put my own straw in a juice box? now?
• Can we go to McDonalds?
• Know what my teeth do when I go down a bumpy slide?
• Can you tell me a stowy?
• Why is de road there?
• Can I have a snack?
• Is dat me or Joshy?
• Is dat me or Lukey?
• Where's my night night?
• Why did the rainbow leave?
• Can you draw me on a horse in a barn with windows and a dog and a cat and a yizard and can you make me big and can you make him there to but not as big as me?
• Can you pway baseball on purpose?
• Did you see dat?
• Can you bewieve dat?
• Do you know I wuv you?
• Can I have a snack?
• Where's dat fing I wuz finking bout?
• Can I sit on your lap?
• Why does Daddy drive a truck? Why not it's gween?
• Do I have to go to school today?
• Why can't I go to school today?
• How did da powees get wights on de top of dat car?
• Where is him mommy? (talking about Bro. Billy and his wife...sorry Mrs. Leota)
• Did you know you can pway games on it?
• Can I have a poptart AND cereal?
• Why is there a tree there?
• Can God see me when it's dark?
• Can you ask Jesus to make His angels watch me from the swingset?
• Can I have bubbles in the bath?
• Why do I have to wash my hair?
• Why do you always say no?
• When I get big, can I have a brush?
• Can I have a snack?

The list could go on and on. There are times when I think one more question will put the nail in my coffin. But for the most part, these questions keep me laughing. I hope they gave you a chuckle as well.

After reading this over, it reminds of just how blessed I am to get to answer these questions each day. Thank you God for giving me the answers and most of all the question askers!

Big Events

It has been quite a busy few weeks. Alex has started a new school , Olivia has started Kindergarten and the twins have returned to pre-school. Everyone is going in different directions simply because they are all at separate locations with many miles in between.

Alex has started a new school for 7th grade. Though we never imagined sending a child to a private school, that is what we are doing. This has been a wonderful, blessed step of faith for us and Alex. He is having a great school year. He is also playing football for the middle school team. We are so very proud of the young man he is becoming. And you can imagine how proud his daddy is of #22.

I might add...in the opening game Alex had 3 receptions and a fumble recovery on a punt. And yes, I was tempted to charge the field when two rather large kids sandwiched him at the end of one of the plays. I was tempted, but I did not. I simply stood, held my hands in the prayer position and watched run off of the field. I wonder if Drew Pearson's mom started out this way???

Olivia started Kindergarten this week as well. She has to wear uniforms so I get no days of frilly little dresses and pink from head to toe...(how odd that my child in public schools has a stricter dress code than my son in a private school). Anyway, she is cute in her polos and khaki skirts. This is a real transition for her. She has never really been away from us. Even in preschool, her daddy was down the hall. She has a wonderful teacher who seems to truly love Olivia. We are praying for a wonderful year.

You know I had to go with something completely "girly". I love her backpack and matching lunch box.