tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79977683193825286392024-02-07T18:55:09.112-08:00Butterflies and BananasPennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-2757753338476740532012-03-31T21:02:00.002-07:002012-03-31T22:04:24.451-07:00Part 2 Logan's February Adventure..Through the first night Logan slipped in and out of a "sleep-like" state. His oxygen requirement was a bit scary for me. Although he didn't like the way the tubing felt in his nose it did allow him to breathe easier. 100% on 15 litres for his stay in the PICU. Tuesday morning Logan started to feel very warm. His fever had been up and down but this seemed different. He didn't feel well and within a few hours it was easy to see why. A rash started to cover his body, creeping from the trunk out. <br /><br />Along with it came swelling and stiff joints. When they did morning rounds I started to learn what I could and pick up on all the tips and clues that they gave out. They still felt we were dealing with a very virulent strain of strep. As his symptoms really started to show them self the Drs. were fairly sure about the strep diagnosis. As he became more and more uncomfortable with the rash (swelling, heat, fever) I tried to get some meds but his respiratory system was so depressed that they couldn't let him have anything. WE opted for cool cloths on his forehead,arms and legs for a bit of relief. His worst issues were his tongue and the inside of his mouth. The strep had affected his taste buds and tongue. The only thing he could take by mouth was sips of water. Thankfully he had IV's going to keep him hydrated.<br /><br />Logan spent the day between this world and another one. We just played along with him, if you didn't he was very upset. The rash really got bad, not an inch of him was left alone. The swelling got so bad that his little eyes became tiny little slits. It was so hard watching him but he did awesome considering all that he was dealing with. Getting in and out of the bathroom was a huge affair, he had to drag is pole and get all the cords up and out of the way. He completely refused any idea of bedpans.... No food again for the day, that made 4 days for Logan without food. He would try to think of something he would like but then when it came he just couldn't eat it. That night was the worst one, a precious little girl in the room next to us died... talk about reality check.... then an hour later the fire alarms started going off. I had no idea what was happening but when I stuck my head out the nurse told me no worries in the PICU drills didn't mean we all had to run out. It was our second night of no sleep but definitely a long night.<br /><br />They decided that Logan should have a PICC line. His IV lines weren't looking very good and they felt he would be better off if they had a longer term site. Once again I realized that he was much sicker than we ever dreamed and that home was still a ways off. The cultures finally came back and it was strep and it was a horrible strain. They told us the doubling rate was every 53 minutes.... WOW! He started to require a bit less oxygen and we started seeing a bit better vitals. Finally his oxygen saturation was better and his soaring heat rate left the 160's. He was hovering in the 135-140's it felt so much better even though we were still way too high! His output from the tube was still pretty consistent, by now his output was over 3200 cc's. They started talking about the possibility that we were moving on downstairs.... We were pretty excited to think that Logan was getting better. He kept telling us that he was leaving the hospital Friday at the latest so he could go to the premier of Star Wars. After an ultrasound we were cleared to head to the regular floor. About the same time I noticed that Logan just didn't seem right. He was a bit loopy and he started to feel bad. They checked him out and decided that he was okay. Then on the way to the floor he crashed and passed out. By the time we got into a room the rash was even redder and his heart rate was up again. A whole flurry of Drs and nurses were in and out. His new team couldn't figure out why he was sent down and called in the PICU drs to discuss if he got to stay. They decided that moving him might be worse and allowed us to stay but both sets of docs would follow him for awhile. <br /><br />continued yet again................Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-6957482932944762922012-02-27T20:58:00.004-08:002012-02-27T21:49:03.801-08:00Back to the Blog............. part 1I have been the worst blogger ever!! Facebook has made it way too easy to just pop out things one line at a time. Problem is keeping things down for memories isn't very possible.... well, maybe better than it used to be since they have Timeline but all in all you get the point if you blog and FB.<br /><br />We had a tough February this year..... Usually it would be cold, snow, and ice that plagued us but not this time.... the weather has been at a record warm. BUT that seems to have allowed the germs to survive much longer than normal. The very beginning of February the boys we invited to Great Wolf Lodge for a swimming overnight. They were so excited to go and have fun.... we packed them up and sent them off. They did indeed have a wonderful time but when they got home all the boys looked like they had been beat up. Cuts, bumps, and bruises all around.... Taylor actually had a busted lip and I worried about loose teeth. He had crashed into one of his friends heads in the wave pool. Logan had scraped his knuckles really bad on the bottom of the pool. Everyone was tired but we knew they would heal and really we weren't worried about any of it. A few days later the boys went snow skiing with the homeschool group and again had a fun day. All seemed fine that night. <br /><br />Saturday morning Logan complained of flu-like symptoms. We did the usual quaratine deal and kept him in his room. He didn't want food, felt nauseous, was fever free, and could drink water.... So strange symptoms.... The next day he told me his chest was starting to hurt. Still felt horrible but seemed okay, no real fever. Tim and I decided that he should see the Dr the next day. I got on FB and checked in with one of the nurses and let her know I would be calling and to hold me an appointment if possible. She said to call first thing in the morning.<br /><br />I called in and they gave me 2 options. 1) a 9:30 appointment or 2) a 4:00 appointment so I could also be seen. Logan really looked terrible and I didn't want to wait so we took the 9:30 appointment. Once we got there they quickly got us in and took his vitals. His heart rate was high but he wasn't moving air well, he also had a 100.2 fever. Dr. Watson sent us right away to Children's for a chest x-ray, I asked if we could go to the Urgent Care for this. I was sure he told me yes, I had explained that I always get lost driving to Children's in Dayton and was afraid I would have trouble getting there. He said they might keep him overnight so I ran back by the house and grabbed several things for Logan and myself "just in case". I had tried to track down Tiffany and couldn't find her so I called Racquel and asked if I could drop off Taylor and Kendall so they didn't have to go in the ER and risk picking up more germs. She said yes just as Tiffany called and was able to meet me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex3EWm9dcm5FRbOEL0y1iK3pWDh_Om7gn_D5ZE9kL8kiEgFHCeLEP0t_1zhLzep5taZfRTc9vd98UpRHa8IghzIIwQFVmdp6fNUZNNjNPBaTUnOj_LxejFoTz3OKkvHbcZUZLgfJq594/s1600/DSC_3006.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex3EWm9dcm5FRbOEL0y1iK3pWDh_Om7gn_D5ZE9kL8kiEgFHCeLEP0t_1zhLzep5taZfRTc9vd98UpRHa8IghzIIwQFVmdp6fNUZNNjNPBaTUnOj_LxejFoTz3OKkvHbcZUZLgfJq594/s320/DSC_3006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714056005960838578" /></a><br />Look how sick he looks......<br /><br />We drove over to the Urgent Care and signed in. There wasn't an order for tests so I called the Dr office only to find that they had went to lunch. So I called around and got the nurses cell number and called her at home to see if they had ordered the tests. She told me she was sure he wanted Logan taken to a Children's Hospital not the Urgent Care..... so off we went Logan seeming slower but moving along with me. We drove down to the Liberty Campus of Children's in Cincy. It is easy to get to and I thought worse come to worse they would keep us there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvOW1s6jAyttV7biGo5ZNxnxMK3M8gJeuUC9P99D2XvXmJ1E1SWcRBNbllCnqCoLUBQw_mINmmbYI_s7WrCVVyclFjQpbLucaj8xlqsesmoKcagdCuafWFB7ecNT4JjQQmnqoPjuO5RU/s1600/DSC_3011.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvOW1s6jAyttV7biGo5ZNxnxMK3M8gJeuUC9P99D2XvXmJ1E1SWcRBNbllCnqCoLUBQw_mINmmbYI_s7WrCVVyclFjQpbLucaj8xlqsesmoKcagdCuafWFB7ecNT4JjQQmnqoPjuO5RU/s320/DSC_3011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714056011764927442" /></a><br /><br /><br />Once we got to the Liberty Campus of Children's ER and got signed in we had to wait to be seen for about 30 min. It was cheerful and bright and everyone was very nice. They immediately started having trouble getting good pulse ox numbers for Logan so they gave him a nebulizer treatment. His heartrate was over 170, pulse ox 70, bloodpressure was very low, his temp was up to 103.6 since the morning. They did 3 nebulizer treatments and oxygen without any real change so they decided to do a continual Albuterol treatment. He also was getting oxygen to help stabilize him. He really didn't like that at all, the albuterol was making him very jittery... but they continued it while we headed down for x-rays. Once they read the films they immediately dx'd him with bilateral pneumonia and sent orders to have him transferred to Children's. The facility there was not an overnight facility. We waited there till they could arrange a bed for him and then we headed out with the ambulance tech, a dr, and a rt. I had no idea that wasn't the normal way of doing things. Logan got to watch Cars on the trip down.... he liked that and asked me to take pictures of him in the ambulance... lol<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4jzny4v4VC6X9-9k2pAs0n5Vjz-BaIiZXM0Fjejn3wxfHhGPOxvhBFoHsx8DPQ5E659MwGj20fGozwGsNw-UIGDe5PeMLkk0ErVFKjbWsvNpfQnzzGex55ogQsJIkAxxy70jfABtM-4/s1600/DSC_3012.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4jzny4v4VC6X9-9k2pAs0n5Vjz-BaIiZXM0Fjejn3wxfHhGPOxvhBFoHsx8DPQ5E659MwGj20fGozwGsNw-UIGDe5PeMLkk0ErVFKjbWsvNpfQnzzGex55ogQsJIkAxxy70jfABtM-4/s320/DSC_3012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714056021638650306" /></a><br /><br /><br />Once we got to Children's things really got busy and blurry to remember on my part. We didn't go to the ER at all. Right up the elevator to the PICU, his room was ready and the team was waiting for us. They examined him and watched him for a few hours. His numbers were awful and his temp was steady but climbing again. They drew labs, had an ultra sound and decided he would need a chest tube to drain the infection from behind his lung. He was diagnosed with the Bilateral Pneumonia/Empyena. They thought either strep or staph infection was the cause. We needed to wait till morning to find out...... The chest tube proceedure was done in the room with Ketamine and versed for Logan. He did great during the procedure but had tons of trouble coming out of it.... He was so disoriented that he thought we were at a hotel.... lol He continued with hallucinations for about 30 hours. His vitals were really a mess and he felt horrible.... Everytime he would start to drift off he would wake up yanking at the leads and tubes. Finally they put "no-nos" on his elbows so he couldn't bend his arms and get at the tubes. Needless to say the first night we didn't sleep.<br /><br />Continued next time.................Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-39322789803922718672012-02-24T21:22:00.002-08:002012-02-24T21:25:04.761-08:00Yummy and Healthy MuffinsThese muffins have become a favorite of almost everyone in the family. I love the texture and taste but even more I love that these muffins are healthy and not full of junk! I use the pulp from the juicer for the kale/spinach/carrot. If they mix up a little dry I add some milk since the juicer takes most of the moisture out of the pulp.<br /><br />1 1⁄2 c flour (unbleached white, whole wheat, or spelt/rice combo) <br />1 t (each) baking soda, baking powder and vanilla <br />1⁄2 t (each) salt, cinnamon and nutmeg <br />1⁄3 c honey <br />1 egg <br />1⁄2 c sour milk or lowfat yogurt (plain or vanilla) <br />1⁄3 c canola oil* <br />1 1⁄2 c grated or finely processed cored apples and/or carrots <br />1 c finely chopped kale or raw dark leafy greens (chard, collard greens) <br />1⁄2 c any dried, unsweetened chopped fruit and/or chopped nuts**<br />Instructions<br />Preheat oven to 400.<br />In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda and powder, salt and spices.<br />In another bowl, mix honey, vanilla, egg, yogurt, apples/carrots, kale, dried fruit/nuts. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Fill 12 greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the muffin comes out clean.<br />* You can substitute so me of the canola oil (and up the nutrition value and flavour) by using apple sauce, or soaked, pureed prunes.Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-52733616467097597022011-03-13T21:30:00.000-07:002011-03-13T22:36:21.258-07:00Nineveh......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9j2J7IT5nEHvJS7OGok_gTj3mVavMuD-rH51ZK5osH4VzE-2SnFnEzhbdxLDyayPTf4HgngLj3H6_FFWZpa6dpk4e_hr-9oRxbpXwL2MOufav-wNZVNaC1_Qs7CSeWFu4sp3c8Det1U/s1600/t_tJTDcJRPlPQDzFSQ.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9j2J7IT5nEHvJS7OGok_gTj3mVavMuD-rH51ZK5osH4VzE-2SnFnEzhbdxLDyayPTf4HgngLj3H6_FFWZpa6dpk4e_hr-9oRxbpXwL2MOufav-wNZVNaC1_Qs7CSeWFu4sp3c8Det1U/s320/t_tJTDcJRPlPQDzFSQ.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583805208356960834" /></a><br />For the last couple weeks I have been almost overcome with emotions... My heart is just plain hurting for families that I don't even really know. I may have met them in real life or maybe only through the big wide web. But there is a common thread with these families. Children. Not just any children but children with challenges... Kate, Aiden, Gwendolyn, Sophia, Cash, Lucy, Annabelle, Bennett, and tiny twins Lucy and Noah.<br /><br />Every night I sit in my chair crocheting hats and my mind just spins. I know a long time ago before I was even born there was a plan in place..... a plan that was laid for my life. It just amazes me to know that before I was born, God knew the plan of my life. He knew all the ups and downs, he knew I would be a terrible failure at times and he knew the journey my life would take. In time there is b.c. and then a.d. For me my b.c. was life before Mackenzie. That was a turning point in my life, she literally had more impact on my life in the 21 weeks and 3 days than you would imagine possible. <br /><br />My journey has brought me to a place where I can say I truly feel I belong, I can feel that God is plotting my steps and most of the time I willing walk and even skip sometimes along the path. Raising my kids, watching my older girls sprout wings and starting a business that benefits others. Through the business I have been acquainted to so many families..... too many families sometimes. Families with medical challenges with their precious children. My heart wants life to be kind and fun, sunny days no rain on the horizon. But, in life there is rain, there must be rain, rain that sometimes comes with thunder and lightning, and with rain comes so many blessings. I know that without the rain there would be no colorful flowers popping through the ground. I remember one time watching a family go through the grief of loosing a child and thinking "I could NEVER walk through that, I would crawl in the closet and not come out". Then one day the unthinkable happened and we lost a precious miracle baby girl. She was taken. Just like that. Then I found that on June 17th when I crawled into our car and headed home with no baby that I "could" do "that". I could put on foot in front of the other. Don't be fooled, I didn't skip, run, heck I sometimes fell to the ground and just cried. BUT, I did "make it". On that journey I learned many things about myself and my God. He was there right beside me. He cried right there with me. He carried us right where we were. <br />From our grief I have learned that Mackenzie's life I was given a heart for others. I was given a chance to be a blessing to others. That maybe I could take a portion of their pain and help them navigate. <br /><br />Our business tries through our Hats for Hope to get custom made hats for kids and adults going through chemo and other hair stealing disease. If they are old enough we try to involve them in the design and color of the hats. Our deal is easy, you pick a bucket hat, we make it and send it to you and you send us a picture wearing the hat. The faces we see peering out from under the hats melt our hearts. Their smiles enjoying wearing the hats is wonderful. Knowing that even if only a moment they are having fun and smiling. One of the little girls just stole my heart. Little Kate....... 6 years old and such a spunky spirited little girl. We watched and prayed as she went through treatment last year for aggressive brain cancer. We just absolutely rejoiced when her scan came back that she was cancer-free! Now almost 6 mo later her families world has come to a screeching halt as she has once again been diagnosed with brain cancer. In a way I came to the same screeching halt. I just wanted to ignore this, it hurt too much. Sweet Kate was supposed to be okay now.... but her journey with this nasty disease is not over. More treatment, more discomfort, more uncomfortable unknowing. My heart became broken for her and her family. Her parents and her siblings, they all walk this walk.<br /><br />So back to the title of the post. Yesterday I opened the mail and found myself in tears. Sweet Kate's picture was staring back at me, a reminder that we need to get even more prayer warriors on their knees for this amazing little girl. This card came out of the blue and gave me the familiar tap on the shoulder to call people to pray. To let them know that we would be calling others to pray. The Dr's. are giving less positive outcomes this time than last. This family is coming to grips with the brutal reality that their sweet 6 yr old once again must endure a painful treatment that will no don't leave her sick and without her beautiful golden locks. They have amazed me with not only they're take charge let's go attitude but also they're unwavering faith and transparency.<br /><br />So now I see I have been a bit like Jonah..... God has been tugging the line and I have been trying to duck and hide. Don't get me wrong, I pray for sweet Kate many times a day. She is one of many children that we pray for on a regular basis. But I am feeling that God is wishing me to do more........ The unexpected card in the mail reminded me of that. So before I am swallowed into the belly of a whale (can I just say ewwwwwww) I am going to do just that. <strong>Please</strong> pray for Sweet Kate, aren't her eyes just plain beautiful?? almost haunting......<br /><br />My god is the same today as he was before this relapse for Kate. He healed her before and he will again. My prayers are for healing this side of heaven and peace for this family.Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-49348280733851895812011-02-24T21:48:00.000-08:002011-02-24T22:11:19.871-08:00Marriage....................... Oh my!Marriage...........<br />As a child I watched with interest as my parents navigated the waters of marriage. They made it look seamless......... I was so blessed to have a blissful childhood. We lived in a nice home that my Dad had worked and remodeled with his own hands... He worked hard at his job and at home in his off time. I don't even remember seeing a repairman in the house and I don't think we ever took out car "to the shop" to be worked on. My Dad was basically Superman, nothing he couldn't do. <br /><br />My Mom, was your sitcom Mom. She cooked, cleaned, and handed out discipline. She taught us to do our best and love God. She worked tirelessly to save money and teach us to be good stewards. I never remember her saying she couldn't do something or that we were making her crazy. But as I think back to my childhood the thing I remember the most was that there was no yelling or fighting (well, not my parents anyway). I thought they ALWAYS got along.<br /><br />As an adult I have strived to be that same parent. I didn't realize till just recently that there were times when Mom and & Dad were NOT happy, they did disagree.... wow! They made a commitment to not fight in front of us or anyone else. They did an awesome job because this shocked me......... It also helped me to realize that in my reality there were fights, they just didn't happen in front of us.<br /><br />In my own marriages I have struggled......... I'm a bit bossy and controlling.... well, that is because I am right.... lol I like to run the show and keep everything organized. It is so hard to realize that my vision might not be someone else's. There are times you don't get your opinion. Life just sucks sometimes, every once in awhile I hear a tiny tiny voice reminding me that I am my husbands helpmate......... not his leader. He is supposed to be mine... Boy, that one is hard for me!<br /><br />Lately we are struggling a bit, neither of us are contemplating running towards any doors but we are butting heads more than we need to. It is stealing our joy and our time, let me say there is precious little time to spare. We each try in half-hearted attempts, and then fall on our face. Tim is incredibly busy and work and home is the same...... busy, busy, busy. Our hat businees is taking off with is wonderful!! I have been steadily busy since the fall.... great news.... well almost. With the busy comes the problem of balancing time. Tim works a lot of hours and with the kids activities keep us off our rocker busy. So, last week I decided that I was hauling our behinds to the church for a marriage conference. Have you ever attended one? They are incredible, such a good day and our hearts were renewed..... Now to figure out how to keep them that way.<br /><br />Tim, I love you so much. You try to keep us together and when we work together there is nothing we can't do~Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-82563904566204165992011-01-28T20:52:00.000-08:002011-01-28T21:30:44.535-08:00LifeLife just keeps rolling doesn't it? I wake in the morning and hit the floor running. Some days I wonder as I try to pry my eyes open what will the day bring, will it be a good day, will the kids try to drive me crazy fighting over who did what? Will I walk through my day feeling scattered or blessed. In my life I find one thing to be true. No matter what life will just keep rolling.......<br /><br />There are days when I think I may explode from the sorrow I feel for too many families..... cancer, SMA, surgeries, broken hearts... their days continue to roll too. Fear, grief, and pain.... I want so much to be a help, our lives have been right there in the trenches too. When we lost our sweet baby Mackenzie I truly thought I would just roll into a ball and stay there... You see we had just slid through our days being "good" keeping ourselves inside our own little box. Not really worrying about the lives of others. When I lost her my world was upended.<br /><br />You see Mackenzie was my wake up call...... she was my angel, she still is. She keeps me grounded and always carrying for others. Because of her I "happened" upon the video that introduced me to the horrors of SMA, and connected me with some awesome families that dealt with the loss of their babies too soon, and some that are fighting to rid their children of the cancer that threatens to steal their children. She has guided my path as we opened our little store and given me a heart to live outside myself.....<br /><br />After being told by someone that "you give away too much" I got into my car and turned one the radio. Matthew West's My Own Little World came spilling out.... I literally cried as I drove along listening to the words of the song. God doesn't always tap you on the shoulder sometimes he hits you with a ball bat. I KNOW we are doing exactly what he wants us to. I know that I will spend each day trying to do more. <br /><br />SMA has impacted my life is a crazy way. Nobody in my family has had SMA, none of my friends have children with SMA. But, I have come to respect and be inspired by the families that fight the battle everyday. The children..... oh the children, they are so incredible. They are so bright, they live in a world that restricts their movement. They need help to do most things but they are the most brilliant inspiring kids. One look into their eyes and I know I need to do more. Winter is a scary time for children that have SMA. So many germs, so many illnesses, hospitalizations and those lead to more trouble. To date just in the month of January 9 children have died......... gone. How can we all not be tossing every bit of spare change to research for a CURE!??! <br /><br />Easy math tells me that SMA will knock at the door of someone I know soon. If that is so then it will knock on the door of someone you know too.... think we need to find that cure?? 1 in 40 people are carriers of the disease.<br /><br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/M9Yasgzjc0w?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-81806414425343645442011-01-12T22:59:00.000-08:002011-01-12T23:15:56.417-08:00Cowabunga!!!!!!!!!!!!Well, first let me say I am doing quite the awful job of posting once a week in 2011! Gosh, You would think I could pull it together, life is so crazy and I am trying to catch it! Does that ever happen.... do you ever catch up?<br /><br />In an effort to "enjoy" more and not allow time to slip away we have set up a standing "ski" day this winter. Monday is Kendall's dance class, Tuesday is ski day and Wednesday is piano for the boys and church. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are flex days. Enjoy the following pictures of our ski days!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1jrz_nYA3NgZTCr8uwR3gRGvODQfobxUcIWCTOqpxDaZVKbr4QHhMVo2hyPDf7u0EwxHzcB8QcHnkh4tV_J9tp_f0KO4jfxCaXjDtBRwcwg2SAprJkVrNNwAQD-8uRbyA4WYRrNzuLU/s1600/DSC_0330.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1jrz_nYA3NgZTCr8uwR3gRGvODQfobxUcIWCTOqpxDaZVKbr4QHhMVo2hyPDf7u0EwxHzcB8QcHnkh4tV_J9tp_f0KO4jfxCaXjDtBRwcwg2SAprJkVrNNwAQD-8uRbyA4WYRrNzuLU/s320/DSC_0330.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561565361159600482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPhsT8hnhq0JsFsdyNyoaOX0Ge7PGX5ZjlwN67y5uhyBSeAtoD9vLbMJttzyAKQa8yiUkFaP0b2_f5gafl2vjLLrgm_ZCDnOquKwnYrJjYrUP-9tJ_Iw0H01kk3UOnIfF79DYFG8hStg/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPhsT8hnhq0JsFsdyNyoaOX0Ge7PGX5ZjlwN67y5uhyBSeAtoD9vLbMJttzyAKQa8yiUkFaP0b2_f5gafl2vjLLrgm_ZCDnOquKwnYrJjYrUP-9tJ_Iw0H01kk3UOnIfF79DYFG8hStg/s320/DSC_0319.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561565353494530738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtqatUGUS0Uh54NhLbZirf8KQBp_HghrpEGasvZX6DrwjGtjLKi9Yy0ytO5ds8aCBXgqcNsHPL7UN4DHx0jpfMeLYHRVINlq6LFa82wtflTLKhPswOECk9ttLFg7bEclO_uH8SXuhMqY/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtqatUGUS0Uh54NhLbZirf8KQBp_HghrpEGasvZX6DrwjGtjLKi9Yy0ytO5ds8aCBXgqcNsHPL7UN4DHx0jpfMeLYHRVINlq6LFa82wtflTLKhPswOECk9ttLFg7bEclO_uH8SXuhMqY/s320/DSC_0316.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561565346427785234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWvSKJfYFRG9HuI7u92Wtw-m5VLW7SSD_XWIii2I4PbtGiUqjBDAtrDoyBFHnyADnc1ww2_mHc2COgBMirJ5sEcKVyVTOjWDQ260h7J2oS1dQR6E857IQUOpTIajz3LoesjH_cXG8Aqk/s1600/DSC_0314.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWvSKJfYFRG9HuI7u92Wtw-m5VLW7SSD_XWIii2I4PbtGiUqjBDAtrDoyBFHnyADnc1ww2_mHc2COgBMirJ5sEcKVyVTOjWDQ260h7J2oS1dQR6E857IQUOpTIajz3LoesjH_cXG8Aqk/s320/DSC_0314.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561565349177027202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqEkwbcUHHeWc4uCw6wcIOq7GiRx8Fe3N2uZpDcETdWh-saFGx7yPIDGaVCyjgltt_cQsjaBD9JMLnoEPW5_NYE_6rVlGOPxHq88kGCisOpRmr9m7JkQyQTffPMGKxrQW-nBCgJ1EZNg/s1600/DSC_0311.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqEkwbcUHHeWc4uCw6wcIOq7GiRx8Fe3N2uZpDcETdWh-saFGx7yPIDGaVCyjgltt_cQsjaBD9JMLnoEPW5_NYE_6rVlGOPxHq88kGCisOpRmr9m7JkQyQTffPMGKxrQW-nBCgJ1EZNg/s320/DSC_0311.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561565337335747698" /></a><br /><br /><br />For the last week we have been singing praises to God. My friend Racquel and her husband Jonathan welcomed adorable twin babies to the world! They are tiny, born by c-section at 34 weeks, these babies have been prayed and longed for by this sweet family. Sweet Noah and Lucy just might be the luckiest babies born in a long time. I have been blessed to visit them a couple times and they are so precious! When it was time to discharge Racquel they found out that the hospital has a policy that allows her to stay at the hospital in her room until the babies can be released! Great news with the wintery weather and slippery roads. <br /><br />big prayers for the Stewarts and the Flemmings.... (sweet Bennett gets to come home next week!)Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-71530078073232769962011-01-01T19:10:00.000-08:002011-01-01T19:35:01.826-08:002011 is here!?!?!How did that happen? Another year just slipped under the rug, a year full of activities and memories... Last night I packed up 4 of our 5 kiddos and drove them the 2+ hour drive to my parents house. You see, last night was the infamous BIG party! My parents have been hosting a kids only New Years Party for almost 30 years! 30! They invite all the grandkids and any of their friends, any of their friends. They spend the days right after Christmas until December 30th preparing for this no holds barred, no rules, night of fun! Well, atleast thats what I hear.... as an adult I am not aloud to enter and be a part of the fun.<br /><br />I then hop in the car and drive 2+ hours home and get ready for our "party". Tim picks up wings for him and chinese for me. We sit and watch a movie and sometimes even fall asleep. This year we actually missed the ball drop, yep, we got engrossed in the movie and missed it totally. But you know what 2011 came anyway.....<br /><br />Then today I got up hopped back in the car and drove the 2+ hours back to Mom and Dad's to have our traditional New Years lunch. We all had a great time and once again Mom and Dad outdid themselves, love love love to keep traditions!<br /><br />Back in the car and head home..................... ugh! the only bad part is that darn car thing!Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-4509778463649217832010-12-30T19:54:00.000-08:002010-12-30T20:30:42.837-08:00Saying Goodbye to 2010<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJJfhp6GkJPdTq1J1cgtYhH-jG3xsAnAqVc06IZY4BTGfawrelJnGuSxfzJLiEuw8ZzbilZNEZgdBhNV2SvsHZwiqpOaIt93LdwfWYfV7BEm0lsLCqAcJTLWBOCYmOlNDZU1lkx77BBk/s1600/DSC_0300.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJJfhp6GkJPdTq1J1cgtYhH-jG3xsAnAqVc06IZY4BTGfawrelJnGuSxfzJLiEuw8ZzbilZNEZgdBhNV2SvsHZwiqpOaIt93LdwfWYfV7BEm0lsLCqAcJTLWBOCYmOlNDZU1lkx77BBk/s320/DSC_0300.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556698441817031778" /></a><br />Kendall with he dollhouse, she loved the dollhouse and Fancy Nancy Princess bed from Santa<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS07crmU7-Mevf3ZneNLu9serMMkcUKjavaUUKKitvatNdL9H9sMqK9lsu52IHUepWS7k2NWEz5zj6fSuGVw5RO_h39VyQMNOOETt2qNubn-nDsZu6jORYFOf3BjkDPKCW1ojZPrKukE4/s1600/DSC_0288.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS07crmU7-Mevf3ZneNLu9serMMkcUKjavaUUKKitvatNdL9H9sMqK9lsu52IHUepWS7k2NWEz5zj6fSuGVw5RO_h39VyQMNOOETt2qNubn-nDsZu6jORYFOf3BjkDPKCW1ojZPrKukE4/s320/DSC_0288.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556698436350736434" /></a><br />The boys love their new Nintendo DS's<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy9J6G3Q_toht0rZfxfivrLgPqEecFHySNTx3wgrbREeMsUeOC_hItQBv6BKSCwYFHQe8re2K8WVy1jHgO9xE0fB609ocq3VL8FYN6xopbfsBmCpGiTS4uj6hdsus532LkwR8SBQvTPI/s1600/DSC_0287.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy9J6G3Q_toht0rZfxfivrLgPqEecFHySNTx3wgrbREeMsUeOC_hItQBv6BKSCwYFHQe8re2K8WVy1jHgO9xE0fB609ocq3VL8FYN6xopbfsBmCpGiTS4uj6hdsus532LkwR8SBQvTPI/s320/DSC_0287.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556698432543966770" /></a><br />The girls opening Christmas gifts<br />Wow! Where did the year go? Every year I find myself sitting wishing I had done more.... more one on one kid specific things, before I know it my little brood is all going to to way to busy to spend time with me. Here I sit again this year, we had a great time this year. I absolutely love homeschooling the kids, I get great joy in seeing them learn and grow. The boys are growing so fast, they are becoming such big kids. <br /><br />Logan is working primarily on 5th grade work with the exception of Math. In Math he is ahead of the grade and works at the 6th grade level. I'm so proud of him, this Math mind did NOT come from me! He is just a smarty. Continuing with Piano and soccer, he also added baseball this year. Logan's asthma and allergies continue to be a problem but not as bad as in the past.<br /><br />Taylor, also really blossomed this year, he was able to go a group ahead in his Sunday school class. His ability at the piano just amazes me, he truly has a gift with catching on. This year Taylor also got his first pair of glasses. He looks so cute in them. He even learned that he does like to read when he likes the topic... yay! Piano and soccer were on his list of activities and this year he also thinks that he would like to join in baseball.<br /><br />Our little princess is just that... a little princess. She loves all things princess! She loves tutus, and "glass" slippers, babies are fun and she loves being a girl. She potty-trained in a week after being told that she couldn't go to dance class if she pottied in her pants... if only I had tried that earlier. She is a true performer and loves to sing. This little one wakes in the morning singing and given the chance to get on stage she loves to belt out a tune for a crowd. Love her enthusiasm! She even got a taste of skiing this winter, so far she is a great part of the group and loves it!<br /><br />The big girls also had big years. Courtney was accepted and started into Radiology classes and hopes to have a degree in 1 1/2 years. I hope in my heart when the time comes she heads back towards home to carry out her career. I LOVE it when she gets to come home and spend a bit of time with us. Tiffany also had a big year passing the first part of the RN coursework and getting her LPN degree. She is loving driving her new car and is still working at Lowes. I hope she gets enrolled in school and can find a job that she loves.<br /><br />We learned so much this year and life is sweeter and more precious if that is possible. We became acquainted with SMA this year, a horrible killer of children. We have changed how we live our everyday lives trying to make sure we make more people aware of this disease in an effort to raise funds to find a cure so no family has to say goodbye to their children because of SMA. Our little business more than doubled in sales and we have added a lot of extra items to the store. Our hopes for 2011 include continued growth and the ability to keep caught up....lol. I LOVE the work and passion that we have put towards the fight against SMA. The families we have come to know are precious and we would do anything for them.<br /><br />Tim is moving along and changed stores this summer, he is closer to home and we like that a lot. He hasn't spent as much time working on his appraisal license this year. Hopefully we will tackle that next year. We didn't spend all our free time working on the house for the first year since we lived here. We are getting there, moving along and soon we will be able to finish off the garage giving us believe it or not more needed space.<br /><br />I have great hopes and prayers for our friends and family in 2011. I have a huge hole in my heart in loosing my sweet Sushi. She truly was a one in a million. I could nap with her beside me in the chair with Max 2 ft away and know she wouldn't bother him. I could tell she knew how much I loved her........ the hole is the pits and one look down our road and the tears fall over the brim of my lids...... I miss her sooo much.<br /><br />Have a wonderful 2011! I hope to make better use of my blog, I want to document the crazy insane life we lead. IPennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-73970874075617104802010-12-28T22:42:00.001-08:002010-12-28T23:10:12.525-08:00Postworthy Post<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGEQzqr4VrzVqmjw16Y63pg98T-rOt9SnYMvjz0kNMCciQoDTHnMXu1jq6CoznBkEx1jLuhP1iaBGaHoMg1wheknGprQnohkLVXDIMSg88ZZzV_VCb1RSJA4njgqzcaWENjTGr1bz7N8/s1600/DSC_0206.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGEQzqr4VrzVqmjw16Y63pg98T-rOt9SnYMvjz0kNMCciQoDTHnMXu1jq6CoznBkEx1jLuhP1iaBGaHoMg1wheknGprQnohkLVXDIMSg88ZZzV_VCb1RSJA4njgqzcaWENjTGr1bz7N8/s320/DSC_0206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555998018632950738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LhHRF5IyBvpQtRF6tzTvm9zsQN0VDwP6XhiFnrnQnvImSlF5B2Uqm5tBOLeKjn0Mig1G8pRo4qnmYWIQBRcNpvDxIcepA4vIyPkOmCM4EMTuhoXN-jVYGmKeCJvaekeHFW2TwGbKIQ0/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LhHRF5IyBvpQtRF6tzTvm9zsQN0VDwP6XhiFnrnQnvImSlF5B2Uqm5tBOLeKjn0Mig1G8pRo4qnmYWIQBRcNpvDxIcepA4vIyPkOmCM4EMTuhoXN-jVYGmKeCJvaekeHFW2TwGbKIQ0/s320/018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555997724901089250" /></a><br />I know, I know............. it's been a long time. A really long time... My life has been spinning, spinning on a small base. My homeschooling boys and Kendall keep me hopping and along with their big sisters I am truly blessed.... I mean big time flat out blessed. Then along came my awareness about SMA through our little hat business and well, life has not been the same since. I'm glad that it hasn't.... we spend time in our everyday life trying to bring awareness to this horrible genetic killer.....<br /><br />But today, today I spent a great time with my kids. We got out the Santa given skis and gave them a spin. A great time was had by all and the day flew. We were having such a wonderful day, a day of laughter and smiles.<br /><br />That is, it was until we topped the crest in the road by our house.... and in the brief second life once again changed.... the cogs in the wheels came to a screaming stop as I looked out and saw my 2 kittys laying in the road. DEAD...... I really hate dead.... These two were SO special to me, Casper a gorgeous long-haired black kitty had come such a long way. Traumatized by a neighbor dog when tiny, she had such a hard time trusting but she was coming along and even coming in to the edge of the sunroom. And then laying beside her in the road the most horrible shock of all. My sweet Sushi, although she was a "barn" cat she thought she was the queen. She spent most of our awake hours in a chair mostly with me sitting right beside her. A gorgeous cat she was one in a million. She never left the chair unless it was time to go out. She never minded the bird 1 1/2 ft from her. You see I think she was my angel, after Maggie died Sushi started to beg to come in and she sat right with me never trying to move around or be nosey. She was my companion when Maggie couldn't be..... my animals have been such important characters, especially after we lost Mackenzie. I could cry when I wanted and they never got tired of me talking about all things Mackenzie. I couldn't lay that burden on my family but my animals were always willing and eager to be a listening ear.<br /><br />But why did they have to be taken?? I know this won't stop me in my tracks, I know this is probably part of some grand plan, (I don't think I like the plan very much at this moment). All I do know is that my chair is going to be lonely and not as warm as it was for the rest of the winter. My heart is broken and my heart just can't believe I will never see her again.<br /><br />I know, I know.......... she is just a cat... they are both JUST cats. So try and tell my heart that one.Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-24467217483456656092010-09-16T12:30:00.000-07:002010-09-16T13:20:27.046-07:00SMA what does it mean?Today is the biggest Blog Post Party ever! Well, I wanted to be a prat of that wouldn't you? We all want to belong right? Well, for some people SMA means belonging to a group, a group of people in the fight of their lives..... a fight to save their incredibly beautiful children.<br /><br />SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) is a disease you see. A disease that not enough people know about. Being a part of this group is not always fun, exciting, or where you want to be. You see these are the facts about SMA<br /><br /><strong>SMA is the leading genetic killer of infants.<br /><br />SMA steals these beautiful children's ability to move.<br /><br />SMA robs children of the ability to cough or breathe unassisted.<br /><br />SMA affects seemingly perfect babies.<br /><br />SMA is an orphan disease and due to lack of future profits drug companies are not interested in spending research dollars.<br /><br />1 in 40 people carry the gene for SMA!<br /><br />SMA steals over 90% of its victims before they turn 1 year old.<br /><br />The National Institute of Health says that SMA is the closest neuro muscular disease to treatment or a cure.<br /><br />SMA does not affect the mind. These incredible children are bright and love to interact and play.<br /><br />SMA is causing families to band together in a way that many families would love to.<br /><br />SMA families have incredible tenacity, they will do anything to raise funds and awareness to save their children and thousands of others....</strong><br /><br />My introduction to SMA was not through one of my children but through a blog post, it was asking for votes to get funds for research. The little video clip that came with it changed my life..... Through our own loss of a child my heart was broken for these families that are given such a diagnosis. To have no choice but watch the child you love more than your own life suffer and die. I knew at that moment our little shop needed to become involved. I knew that if we all became involved and we all spoke about SMA that changes would happen and cures could be quicker. Funding for this disease should not fall on the shoulders of sweet families living in the moment with their precious children. <br /><br />So, our little store www.Bebessentials.com has pledged to walk alongside families fighting this monster. We will continue to donate money, raise awareness, and celebrate the lives of these children! We hand out magnets, bracelets, and sell butterflies. Oh, these very special butterflies with incredible Gwendolyn's name on them. We created this special design as a symbol of hope. As a reminder that with funding comes a cure that will allow these children to move and jump just like a butterfly bursting out of its cocoon. These special butterflies are little pieces of art. Each one is designed with hand painted threads, hand blown beads and colors that will knock your socks off. The sale of each of those gives a 60% return to the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation for research. One of the ways we can continue to raise finds and awareness. <br /><br />Watch the clip and see how it moves you!<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/gsfoundation"></a><br /><br />Here is a Gwendolyn butterfly, isn't it beautiful?!?! If you would like one just go to the Bebessentials site and pick one out. Then sit down and think of a way YOU can make a difference. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpv2JPKCn1QP4izdh8vMWZw2ST8KU_JZ8y52KO30PTWf8sAgKybMgUhTL9D9H6HUYs0V-VrNOtOwAsz20Zb4Dafk3_YvxWNV0Xfgr84A8hM6PPDKYyy-7R5y8-KEGgb59vlKYgyOZLb_Q/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpv2JPKCn1QP4izdh8vMWZw2ST8KU_JZ8y52KO30PTWf8sAgKybMgUhTL9D9H6HUYs0V-VrNOtOwAsz20Zb4Dafk3_YvxWNV0Xfgr84A8hM6PPDKYyy-7R5y8-KEGgb59vlKYgyOZLb_Q/s320/002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517604670938591778" /></a><br /><br />You can also go to this link and vote for GSF to receive a 20K research award! Please copy and pste the link, I couldn't get it to work in link form.... Just a few clicks for research funds for SMA.<br />http://www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org/Events/Samsung-Helmet-of-Hope/Vote-Samsung-Helmet-of-Hope-For-More.aspxPennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-36839102898331933202010-08-20T18:41:00.000-07:002010-08-20T18:46:19.138-07:00How will your tapestry look in the end.....The Weaving <br />My life is but a weaving, between my God and me; <br />I do not choose the colors, He works so steadily. <br />Often times He weaves in sorrow, and I, in foolish pride, <br />forget He sees the upper, and the underside. <br /><br />Not till the loom is silent, and shuttles cease to fly, <br />will God unroll the canvas and explain the reasons why. <br /><br />The dark threads are as needful in the skillful Weaver's hand, <br />as threads of gold and silver in the pattern he has planned. <br /><br /><br />This is so inciteful to me, the tapestry that we sometimes see is so dark and hard. The journey painful, but then as the entire picture becomes more visable we see how necessary the painful time was for us to enjoy the beauty of the complete picture.....Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-60149933735624499842010-08-07T20:50:00.001-07:002010-08-07T20:50:32.117-07:00Miracles take more than a moment!Since it is SMA Awareness month I wanted to share a story.....<br /><br />Do you believe in coincidence? I don't and really never have, I was blessed to be raised by parents that were able to point out those little "coincidences" and show the BIG picture. This summer I lived one of those miracles, right in front of me, like the magic trick of a great magician. See what you think..........<br /><br />My friend Melissa & I own a hat and hair accessory business called Beb-e-ssentials. We sell online or at craft and art shows. Every since we started the business I have wanted to go to the Troy Strawberry Festival, it is legendary in the food department around here and well, for obvious "strawberry" reasons I wanted to go. When we looked it up the deadline had already happened and they said NO LATE ENTRIES. Bummer! I sent off an e-mail anyway trying to beg our way in. Then we looked again and the site said that they were still accepting a few entries (miracle 1) So Melissa sent in our application with pictures of our crafts to see if we would be selected. A few days later we found out we were in! <br /><br />A couple months went by and we busily prepared for the show. We wanted to take a good selection and also take our SMA/Gwendolyn Strong Foundation information and butterflies. As the time got closer our excitement grew. Finally it was the day of the show! the plan was for me to go ahead, set-up, and work the first part of the day. Melissa would be home with Caitlin working at her garage sale. I got everything set-up and as I hung the Gwendolyn Butterflies on the board I prayed that we would sell all 12 over the weekend. You see for every Gwendolyn Butterfly sold we donate 6.00 or 60% to the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation. I have been prodded and led to work hard (God can do that you know)to promote awareness for SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) and help to raise funds for the much needed research to find a cure. We did a fund raiser over Mother's Day and did very well but I wanted to be able to start giving more often. So as the show started things were moving but not the butterflies... then the clouds rolled in. Very threatening clouds, clouds and storms that were bad enough to evacuate people to the stadium. I asked the man beside me, a army veteran, what we should do. He had told me he been working shows for over 40years! He calmly looked out from under his awning and shook his head.... "Nah, it not going to be bad, the most of it will blow over. I'm staying right here...." so after he declined my offer to sit in our tent with the sides on it, I rolled down the sides and put my chair in the middle and waited. As the wind howled and rain beat the little tent I got a bit scared and aggravated. I started praying in aggravation that with this weather we would never sell the 12 butterflies I had brought. We wouldn't be able to donate the money! The wind and rain whipped the tent around for what seemed like forever.... I think it was more like 30 minutes.<br /><br />When it all settled down there was mud EVERYWHERE! People were walking along their shoes covered and with mud up their legs! But the shopping continued and I got busy and didn't think anymore about my prayer. When Melissa came I escaped long enough to go find something Strawberry to eat. Once I got up on the levy I shopped and tried to pick the best strawberry snack. I walked back and forth a couple times looking for the best deal. After I got my food I headed back to the booth but on the way I heard a voice saying "ducks for sale, anybody want to buy a duck?" (# 2 miracle)I walked over and asked a few questions of the sweet ladies behind the table. They were selling rubber ducks as a fund raiser to raise money for next year's event. Ducks were 5.00 each and the plan was to dump barrels of rubber ducks off one bridge and award prizes to the 1st through 4th place ducks as they made it to the next bridge. 1st place was $1,000.00, 2nd through 4th were local food places. They also gave a prize of a 500.00 gas card to the last place duck. I thought about it for a moment and then I was given a wonderful idea the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation needed a duck! I told the ladies selling the ducks about SMA and let them know I would be back in the morning. I ran back down the hill to our booth. That night I posted as a last minute thought that we were buying a duck and anyone that wanted a duck could message me. Well, after the long day I got a late start in the morning and forgot to check the messages. Once Melissa got these she asked me if I saw the message. One of the families dealing with SMA posted to buy 100.00 worth of ducks.... Wow! (#3 miracle)So I grabbed our SMA information sheet and some Gwendolyn Butterflies and I went up to buy our ducks. <br /><br />I got all the information so I could photograph the "duck launch" and put the event in pictures. I wanted to give a smile to the families and spread the word..... I stood at the bridge for a long time..... a very long time. Finally I ran back to the table and the ladies told me that the water was too high from the storm and the ducks would be selected out of the community pool. I found out where it was and off I went camera in hand! I wanted to get pictures of Gwennie, our ducks! Once I got there I had a really hard time seeing to get pictures so I went around to see if I could step in. A really BIG guy came and told me nobody was allowed in, after I explained our story he said "Okay, you and only you!" (#4 miracle) Wow, I thanked him and headed in staying WAY out of the way. I started to snap shots when the girls came in. The Queen and her court would pick the ducks. They were given strict instructions on how to pull a duck from the wading pool. I snapped and snapped till the ducks were picked. Then I ran back to our tent and told Melissa how it all went. We got back to business and forgot all about it.<br /><br />During the last hour of business we heard an announcement about all the winners of the several awards given during the show. They started with the duck race and the first place award, as we listened they announced The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation as the winner!!! We about jumped out of the tent!!! We scared the ladies in the tent shopping! $1,000.00 for RESEARCH!!! (#5 miracle, a BIG one!) We had 21 ducks in the race, 21 out of 1,007!!!! I checked the pictures that I had taken and I actually took the picture of the Queen pulling her duck from the water! How cool!!!<br /><br />When I got a call the next day they told us we had won. I guess they didn't hear us yelling during the show! I went to the office the next day and picked up a check, posed for pictures, and met the Duck Race organizer.... none other than the BIG guy that I had met at the pool! I gave a interview about SMA to the newspaper and got some GREAT news! They asked us if we would partner with them next year. (#6 miracle)They want to give 1.00 of every duck sold to the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation! Remember this year they sold 1,007 ducks. Next year they have asked us to work with the Duck Race booth to sell more ducks! What that tells me is more Awareness!!!<br /><br />When we did a final check I found another little "God thing". We took 12 Butterflies to sell, we sold 5. If you remember in the Bible five fishes fed thousands.... we had 7 left. Seven loaves of bread was fed with the 5 fishes... I was SO worried and disappointed when the rain came that we wouldn't sell the 12 butterflies, if we had sold them we would have donated $72.00. Instead, God took control and we were able to do "infinitely more". $30.00 for butterflies and $1,000.0from our winning duck! ..... one of my favorite verses......<br /><br />Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power <br />at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.<br />Ephesians 3:20 <br /><br />Who says prayers aren't answered?!?!!?<br /><br />Don't forget August is SMA Awareness month!<br /><br />Enjoy a few pictures from the race!<br /><br />our entry form<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IR_esAfMz45bI9yzUmcIkro6t1ARf996PJ9tikzKLFGZn_asEB3WBU-KOf8Qk23E0z0j6qtObRnLi0ZdNAmyrlfZTuEZikF1W7Qejh4_iJYlI-0vfoIKF7ykBRcSbS2MDHmpRaFPRj0/s1600/047.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IR_esAfMz45bI9yzUmcIkro6t1ARf996PJ9tikzKLFGZn_asEB3WBU-KOf8Qk23E0z0j6qtObRnLi0ZdNAmyrlfZTuEZikF1W7Qejh4_iJYlI-0vfoIKF7ykBRcSbS2MDHmpRaFPRj0/s320/047.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502825990575396482" /></a><br /><br />the pace duck<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTQ6NG_R4tXACKG-a8d-X9Ol14die_aJhi5kbRSw3V4DxT6RynAtmO-5jHtUPHT8PxpiWOr-JIC_UOdNAY0lNVGohE2_u5DzDdwP7Q1pMnHnam6pVRnvjbGNFqLhx3JmuaDZFA8adpnc/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTQ6NG_R4tXACKG-a8d-X9Ol14die_aJhi5kbRSw3V4DxT6RynAtmO-5jHtUPHT8PxpiWOr-JIC_UOdNAY0lNVGohE2_u5DzDdwP7Q1pMnHnam6pVRnvjbGNFqLhx3JmuaDZFA8adpnc/s320/003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502825966228104178" /></a><br /><br />ducks in the wading pool<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6EX1pEYQ2JA7IP1Ols5pH3SADf2SqnRJiUj5gyVpeJuhRjDHA7ltRALjTH_kNcOGim3ssThqzIBuvWcTVv9VI-KLrq8H68EhGwn3fhcR10A_g1qT4ZDFfDEoJYs_zRf4fYYuv5BfGIg/s1600/025.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6EX1pEYQ2JA7IP1Ols5pH3SADf2SqnRJiUj5gyVpeJuhRjDHA7ltRALjTH_kNcOGim3ssThqzIBuvWcTVv9VI-KLrq8H68EhGwn3fhcR10A_g1qT4ZDFfDEoJYs_zRf4fYYuv5BfGIg/s320/025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502825974866924434" /></a><br /><br />ducks ducks ducks...... do you see Gwennie?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqpgMoDrGd7BRBtiV3Ssry2kI9VjgG4tCOx6IDWcITarzQrv71jZRW8CSsxvodGehO0dPSp2aIqlE-6CD_20Ap9F1UiyNF3P3YxN5-CUaXDMwJNVrh8Bs2d6vsf8Sa8n_UWOlyWkaCjg/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqpgMoDrGd7BRBtiV3Ssry2kI9VjgG4tCOx6IDWcITarzQrv71jZRW8CSsxvodGehO0dPSp2aIqlE-6CD_20Ap9F1UiyNF3P3YxN5-CUaXDMwJNVrh8Bs2d6vsf8Sa8n_UWOlyWkaCjg/s320/027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502825980074256386" /></a><br /><br /><br />The Queen saw her, and picked her!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRWysxphBFqwBoVzP7y-f0WLMw0Z_5iCnrBtZ23zMwxz2XMyFdqxyZvxRHV1xtpeQwDXxBIWwHXni3hbDmFvQHGo8AaQ60Yls-5YVYznRrY0n6JuX_377PudNF7XS70ruZEnadbs8aIE/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRWysxphBFqwBoVzP7y-f0WLMw0Z_5iCnrBtZ23zMwxz2XMyFdqxyZvxRHV1xtpeQwDXxBIWwHXni3hbDmFvQHGo8AaQ60Yls-5YVYznRrY0n6JuX_377PudNF7XS70ruZEnadbs8aIE/s320/035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502825989032543570" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-57580266095749296732010-08-03T09:34:00.001-07:002010-08-03T12:59:50.400-07:00Jimmie Johnson Helmet of HopeThis is a portion of the notification from the foundation, another avenue for awareness has opened up!<br /><br />Johnson Adds 2 More Charities to Samsung Helmet of Hope<br />8/02/2010<br />Foundation for Faces of Children and The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation Newest Additions <br /><br />CONCORD, N.C. (Aug. 2, 2010) – Foundation for Faces of Children (Brookline, Mass.) and The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation (Santa Barbara, Calif.) are the newest additions to the Jimmie Johnson Foundation’s Samsung Helmet of Hope, the race helmet Johnson will wear during the Sprint Cup Series event at Auto Club Speedway in October. <br /> <br />Each organization will also receive a grant of $10,000. <br /><br />Bill Strong of Santa Barbara, Calif. nominated The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, which seeks to raise awareness about and fund research for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic killer of young children. <br /><br />“Our daughter Gwendolyn was born in October 2007,” explained Strong. “She was perfectly healthy at first, but was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at six-months. SMA is a genetic disease that affects children all over the world and is currently a death sentence with no treatment or cure.” <br /><br />“As parents, it was impossible to do nothing,” added Strong. “In 2009, we started the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation to raise awareness of SMA and funding to accelerate groundbreaking research towards a cure. Including the foundation logo on Jimmie's helmet would be incredible in raising much needed awareness of SMA and furthering our cause to end it.” <br /><br />In its third year, the Samsung Helmet of Hope program is a partnership of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, Samsung and Lowe’s. Fans and media members across the country have the opportunity to nominate their children’s charity of choice to be featured on Johnson’s helmet for a select race. New this year, selected charities will also receive a grant of $10,000. This partnership is part of the Samsung Hope for Children program, a corporate giving program that aligns athletes and retail partners to help children learn, live and thrive. <br /> <br />Johnson will draw one winner from a list of media submissions and one from a list of fan submissions each race weekend through the Atlanta event in September. The first two charities selected were Beads of Courage (Tucson, Ariz.) and Hunter's Hope Foundation (Orchard Park, N.Y.) They join the Feeding America® Kids Café program, which was nominated by Samsung to kick-off this year’s campaign program. The Kids Café program works to address the growing epidemic facing children’s hunger. <br /> <br />Fans and media members may nominate their charity by visiting www.helmetofhope.org. <br /><br />For more information about the most recently selected charities, visit www.facesofchildren.org and www.GwendolynStrongFoundation.org.<br /><br />Pretty cool huh? It is like SMA families have been given an open window to share their passion and message to save their children by curing the SMA monster.Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-71855048692512972572010-07-31T22:53:00.000-07:002010-07-31T22:58:53.555-07:0019,998Hmmmm that is the number on the counter for the blog..... I thought for the most part I was alone here. I know I have some faithful readers but 19,998 is kind of a big number!<br /><br />So, I guess till my next new blog post if you comment your name will go in a hat and Kendall will pick a winner of a prize from Beb-e-ssentials. Working on the next post now so hurry with the comments......<br /><br />Oh,and I hear that a favorite charity of mine has been picked for a nice prize! Stop back to hear the details. I want them to tell first, afterall it is their charity. I'm just thrilled they won!<br /><br />Comment away...............Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-3392706877951005682010-07-11T19:34:00.000-07:002010-07-11T19:50:14.697-07:00A New Chapter in our lives..............We have embarked on life with middlers..... You know not toddlers or little kids. The boys have left for a fun week at camp..... yes I said a week! We were a bit nervous but the "signs" kept telling me to go ahead. They are getting SO big and were so excited. We had a lot of concerns with Logan and his asthma and allergies but they have 3 nurses on staff and they seemed to be very "on it". <br /><br />We found out a bout it all on Friday so it has been a weekend of scurrying..... all of the "list" items. clothes, bug spray, flashlights, snaks, swim suits, flip flops for the showers.... as for the showers Tim thought maybe we should just shave their heads so they would have dirty hair for the week...... yea, I just needed him to tell me that to remind me why we cut the office carpet out where Logan got sick.....<br /><br />Anyway the boys are thrilled! They had NO problem telling me goodbye.... well just that they were running so fast they couldn't turn around. I know they will have fun and make a load of memories. The 4 pack including Solomon and Elijah will be VERY tired Friday at pick up!<br /><br />What will I do.......... well my stuff plus their chores. I also plan on updating their room with "big kid" stuff!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_i5I4djhXjUUjkxHi6FsaBx5OJq_0NaFg3Mm3hCheMZD9kC1CjqfHbV78i1D1ZAbsq4F318i9O8E8_0Mx_gP09nNslPcD_ibYfdf_cM390W3ryzWGwtult5TLO6WPEI-BxpU9YA5Tdkw/s1600/022.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_i5I4djhXjUUjkxHi6FsaBx5OJq_0NaFg3Mm3hCheMZD9kC1CjqfHbV78i1D1ZAbsq4F318i9O8E8_0Mx_gP09nNslPcD_ibYfdf_cM390W3ryzWGwtult5TLO6WPEI-BxpU9YA5Tdkw/s320/022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492846278949711138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lNard6N2zBXhjTQxQPnK6m3ysJHqS4RWC2rq79MEB_8e05uZLEfeB6_uNQs-lGL3NbX2iNdhKSESr_pOmM6a-9ikIa87Tv0u1zalts2ICcb2PPHA9MOQE-v9rSD5K63ZpgMZb62-1tY/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lNard6N2zBXhjTQxQPnK6m3ysJHqS4RWC2rq79MEB_8e05uZLEfeB6_uNQs-lGL3NbX2iNdhKSESr_pOmM6a-9ikIa87Tv0u1zalts2ICcb2PPHA9MOQE-v9rSD5K63ZpgMZb62-1tY/s320/021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492846270812469282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqlb0CN_s6nVcCk49OsZ_ZCsxPhC3qDT3YGbDzITpWHA3Lvfl4kMKGPysSWeJOJwHPyoaJ7bs3wY7ggVTpjBru769KpxIJZr7wc16RxSoo7DFPSgIARE163lJpkmm8Ddlc-Vmlywl16g/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqlb0CN_s6nVcCk49OsZ_ZCsxPhC3qDT3YGbDzITpWHA3Lvfl4kMKGPysSWeJOJwHPyoaJ7bs3wY7ggVTpjBru769KpxIJZr7wc16RxSoo7DFPSgIARE163lJpkmm8Ddlc-Vmlywl16g/s320/017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492846262395587602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBZH8QN0hCK3b538iYoBFwgCTbWo-YbsplVxTxcd6Eh4nYP54hLtjUxGlw6i4JgDeo_vLEVAZ8C0AKQmB6jolztcHfCHI-N_89cNEq7L0KA5CgGjxwdVbpEiHjIZBMU7fS29R7asH2Ko/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBZH8QN0hCK3b538iYoBFwgCTbWo-YbsplVxTxcd6Eh4nYP54hLtjUxGlw6i4JgDeo_vLEVAZ8C0AKQmB6jolztcHfCHI-N_89cNEq7L0KA5CgGjxwdVbpEiHjIZBMU7fS29R7asH2Ko/s320/003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492846254440643730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1C0vztcJE-wzBZch9tX414WHTaE6UpK3fFW4ekM8K4Iwc7Yq5zbAl8l_ntzJOHnidtzkzfgXT4zaMn_1QB3Zq1DxZUGaHpZLZUw-FJj_VvQbNle7EGHzfud5mh4_U8sWC7e29qbBsTxM/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1C0vztcJE-wzBZch9tX414WHTaE6UpK3fFW4ekM8K4Iwc7Yq5zbAl8l_ntzJOHnidtzkzfgXT4zaMn_1QB3Zq1DxZUGaHpZLZUw-FJj_VvQbNle7EGHzfud5mh4_U8sWC7e29qbBsTxM/s320/008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492846248156313666" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-32383053542858946532010-07-05T20:20:00.001-07:002010-07-05T20:55:48.171-07:00Summer Fun!We have very easily slid into "summer fun" at our busy house. Our much less hectic schedule is a welcome change for all of us. We are also a bit more lazy... ha ha. Without the more rigid home school schedule we have made time to enjoy the outdoors and warm weather. The boys are up and out pretty early everyday, something that doesn't happen during the year. Kendall and I actually get to be late sleepers which I love since most nights I see 2-3 a.m. before I finish my "hat business" work.<br /><br />The boys are growing a garden again this year and everything looks great except the tomatoes in a bale. That one didn't work well at all! I think next year we need to fertilize for a longer period before we plant since we use organic fertilizers. They are also reading alot! The idea of book reports for every book has dissipated must to there happiness.<br /><br />Today we built the Little Tykes climber for Kendall, attached the new trampoline bumper, also strung lead lines up the side of the house for the vines that have out grown the trellis. The kids have had a blast watching how fast this vine grows.<br /><br />I got ready to build the fire pit for the patio but it was SO hot I whimped out. My thumb is still only working about 10% and building the climber about did me in. Instead we came in and the boys finally got to start to learn how to crochet. They have been begging for quite a while and they got a real eye-opening when they tried to make a chain. They had thought today they could make themselves hats.... hmmm they did really well but made it through chain and single stitch. Then after nap time we hopped in the car and headed to the pool. I grabbed the camera and got some fun shots of the kids so beware picture overload is attached!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbeZDdk9UllZVD5gEpA0iXl3nKA4kA2pYcmpKn51t1MMK6wFx7D_eC25t1-LwIeYyDr7BxT-kvmst4IMZPu_W4wVrSsfKZ5zqQPNe389yIt5gX_pZ2dj0OMoMGcB3mnR2UvsBkcF8RBI/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbeZDdk9UllZVD5gEpA0iXl3nKA4kA2pYcmpKn51t1MMK6wFx7D_eC25t1-LwIeYyDr7BxT-kvmst4IMZPu_W4wVrSsfKZ5zqQPNe389yIt5gX_pZ2dj0OMoMGcB3mnR2UvsBkcF8RBI/s320/019.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490632256560546194" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoHL4yG-Zkptq0DlLZ-4nVpKkRHPVQreoENTxWKJtTBUTEyzuV-QvfmD85ePnHrxmEnEl188Xli6ydpxiPLACy3BqK_QFpPNS8-aaKvQzJSMFaq67MIel4o_TAS8d86WusrDD8pHAaAc/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 149px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoHL4yG-Zkptq0DlLZ-4nVpKkRHPVQreoENTxWKJtTBUTEyzuV-QvfmD85ePnHrxmEnEl188Xli6ydpxiPLACy3BqK_QFpPNS8-aaKvQzJSMFaq67MIel4o_TAS8d86WusrDD8pHAaAc/s320/017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490632249490822546" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zTsV0I4YAqs-xLo2njA0qj1zeZnvCY9paOl0pnpqzOCBkIV3a_4RJ6Ziq_ncvoQTEE1UrxSG-dFubZytiCk6vVbPCTZHU64bamv1mnEt2l1Y4VFX6CFS_uVxrVj2nT43WILpGQO0iaA/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zTsV0I4YAqs-xLo2njA0qj1zeZnvCY9paOl0pnpqzOCBkIV3a_4RJ6Ziq_ncvoQTEE1UrxSG-dFubZytiCk6vVbPCTZHU64bamv1mnEt2l1Y4VFX6CFS_uVxrVj2nT43WILpGQO0iaA/s320/010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490632241617668658" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTg5TmXxJaoFoabZVCCcDafuTPdtDh1eHFu3wLpqNUSmtSPwZGii_wUD4ECAvvEr07yQSyNgbsT_b5tCxOZo2m0VeKyaPPHkmHiHQzb4iziaBT2Bc0fG9gOa8DWF2Fu4GwL0xVebY7Fh8/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTg5TmXxJaoFoabZVCCcDafuTPdtDh1eHFu3wLpqNUSmtSPwZGii_wUD4ECAvvEr07yQSyNgbsT_b5tCxOZo2m0VeKyaPPHkmHiHQzb4iziaBT2Bc0fG9gOa8DWF2Fu4GwL0xVebY7Fh8/s320/007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490632227907577650" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Zq2OYbRn0XL1AA7ZtG3Q_icrSjq1G-mRrWtFgQjLiKN9UcN6e38Sjpc_Mh4yxILXGwM_JSCNgJOBywrqP_Y0N_H_Rtz_uViStctg-5eNTryMFkfTNpZ3CBFq_ivSaCBzsIO0j8WIr8c/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 193px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Zq2OYbRn0XL1AA7ZtG3Q_icrSjq1G-mRrWtFgQjLiKN9UcN6e38Sjpc_Mh4yxILXGwM_JSCNgJOBywrqP_Y0N_H_Rtz_uViStctg-5eNTryMFkfTNpZ3CBFq_ivSaCBzsIO0j8WIr8c/s320/001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490632212306282386" /></a><br /><br />I can't believe how big my "littles" are getting! Kendall was a bit wary of the water at first but then easily slipped into watergirl mode. The boys are so big, they didn't even want to pose for me.... too busy Mom! I feel SO blessed to have my kids in my life. I'm not sure much of the time that I deserve them but I sure am thankful to God that I've had them.... all 6 of them. Mackenzie is never far from my mind and my driving force to be a better human.<br /><br />As we are pulled through our summer at jet speed my mind is ever on the SMA community. They are so desperate for a cure to save their babies and honor the ones that have already earned heavenly wings.... the pain in my heart for these sweet parents is sometimes overwhelming. We have been working working through Beb-e-ssentials to raise awareness and ever needed funds to stomp this monster into the ground. What have you done to help your cause or benefit? Don't have one??? Jump on board the Stomp SMA train. We would love some more soldiers!Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-11454322614724554262010-06-23T22:43:00.000-07:002010-06-23T19:58:25.207-07:00The walk I am on..................The walk I am on right now is one of choice. I can freely come and go whenever I choose. Well, maybe I can, part of me is sure that I couldn't walk away even if I wanted to. That little tiny 2 minute and 43 second clip changed me! I feel a peace, I feel tired, I feel so fortunate to be able to be of service. I feel heartbroke for so many families that can't just walk away.<br /><br />The SMA disease has trapped thousands into a life of uncertainty. Yes, thousands.... Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a sneaky monster that 1 in 40 people are unknowingly carriers of. Think about those odds... 1 in 40! There is exciting news on the horizon for families and children dealing with SMA. With funding the first human trials could start as early as 18 months from now! Little ones that are living with this cruel disease could have treatment before it is too late! YOU can help this be possible... think about THAT! YOU could be the person that makes the difference. You can click on our Beb-e-ssentials link in the corner or you can go to www.gwendolynstrongFoundation.org and find out more information.<br /><br />I feel a bit like a broken record and you might be thinking so too BUT I also feel lead and compelled to continue to spread the word. To find the person that hasn't heard about SMA. To find the person who cares enough to help make a difference. <br /><br />So, I guess this is the walk I have been asked to walk and you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way!Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-44479238668872522362010-06-18T21:27:00.000-07:002010-06-21T08:30:21.524-07:00How is it????If I say SMA what do you hear? Do you hear SMA- the leading genetic killer of children under 2? Or do you hear SMA- what?!?! SMA hmmm What is that? I didn't know what it was but for my one of the "light bulb" moments literally hit me upside the head when I watched the little video. My heart was in love with the beautiful children and horrified for the life that these sweet parents must live..... life on the ledge. Head over heals in love with your beautiful child, such special kids........ have you seen them? the most beautiful children. Such expressive eyes........ but at the same time these parents live with the horror that their cherished child will struggle and die a horrible death.<br /><br />Maybe the fact that we lived in a corner of their lives for just a little while. At 19 weeks pregnant with Mackenzie we were given devastating news that our child had a deadly heart defect. It would steal her away from us, how could this be happening? The sweet baby that we were blessed with would be taken. Her heart couldn't keep up with her growing body, we lived the next couple weeks in disbelief. Then as they predicted at 21 weekes 6 days her heart just couldn't keep up. Then she was gone, we had to learn a new normal, a new way to get up everyday and walk through the day and be a parent to our other children.<br /><br />So I guess I understand from a tiny pin point their life. BUT I didn't SEE my daughter fail. I never got to hold her but I never had to watch her struggle. I didn't get to spend time with her outside my body but I didn't have to spend time seeing her pain. I never got to know her, but I never had to grieve knowing what I had lost.<br /><br />SO my new life, my new passion is to see this disease defeated. To see these children given "life" sentences instead of death sentences. My tears just won't stop. I stand in awe of these sweet parents, who stand vigil over their babies. Who are fighting the fight of their lives. Who daily see people who "don't have time" to notice the pain and lend a hand.<br /><br />God is SO in this at my house. Prayers are being answered in BIG ways. Through our little company we have been able to give money that would have NEVER been available to give. Tim's income was hit like everyone else's and mine almost completely dried up.. not too many people needing to go to llama shows and blow a lot of money for a weekend of fun in this economy, and 5 kids depending on us at different levels.<br /><br />BUT Money has come in! Money that has led to awareness, SMA needs to be like saying polio. We all know what it is but nobody dies from it anymore. There is SUCH incredible hope, but it seems over-ridden by sand slipping through the hour glass of so many kids lives. My mind races, God is sending me in directions to do things I would NEVER do. But it is all good, all part of God's plan. <br /><br />How is it that the world just keeps spinning?? A few short months ago I found out about a ruthless killer of children. A killer that sneaks in a steals these sweet babies while their Mother's and Father's are praying for a cure. Praying, begging, and pleading. For me this has an importance that some people can't understand.<br /><br /><br />Here are a few pictures of some of our blessings......<br /><br />Taylor, my funny boy<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjwO5ij95IWhCEXLS6Q7XHO-LZZ5gsXWC72yztK0oiLsQVAw8KfukZU7Sot5t4W4GZz5bzuUZPCHGTEnzm6qYsZgJBSzOhRo4s_MJYHV5NJSREcuIW3TnQsjeY1Lc1I_dSZB0rAOpzw8/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjwO5ij95IWhCEXLS6Q7XHO-LZZ5gsXWC72yztK0oiLsQVAw8KfukZU7Sot5t4W4GZz5bzuUZPCHGTEnzm6qYsZgJBSzOhRo4s_MJYHV5NJSREcuIW3TnQsjeY1Lc1I_dSZB0rAOpzw8/s320/010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484344734017536482" /></a><br /><br />Logan playing piano<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpRX17sE86-aORra8TTWh5BcHiOi_MFbf9KX_8HtOZeCp8I88iHAwoQqxDY9TC5hOdAcaHgDxsSbzpHQwZN_GmjrCpE2xff_1MsE5t8wQ5H2S5iYgv9jwAd9Uk0Nm1WblFsaI9eZz80g/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpRX17sE86-aORra8TTWh5BcHiOi_MFbf9KX_8HtOZeCp8I88iHAwoQqxDY9TC5hOdAcaHgDxsSbzpHQwZN_GmjrCpE2xff_1MsE5t8wQ5H2S5iYgv9jwAd9Uk0Nm1WblFsaI9eZz80g/s320/003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484344744446587794" /></a><br /><br />Kendall on potty duty<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUTVk2tCrBwWz-8lohnlIwlyzhFaNn6HI8d-ELwLR9vAFjuDuX_aWytvSDaXkbnfQhKCOMSx2BGadyYrpxaHwrR4XfJHMfnLUcDdoURkjXtWuXKgrWi2vmwUX9H4in-WfvcBPOIQveso/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUTVk2tCrBwWz-8lohnlIwlyzhFaNn6HI8d-ELwLR9vAFjuDuX_aWytvSDaXkbnfQhKCOMSx2BGadyYrpxaHwrR4XfJHMfnLUcDdoURkjXtWuXKgrWi2vmwUX9H4in-WfvcBPOIQveso/s320/005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484344752351171250" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-18321588600456622192010-05-16T21:43:00.000-07:002010-05-16T22:11:40.798-07:00It's a bird, no it's a plane......... no it's<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc383LOhj1nXVOtNwiqVvKZVUkOkUJffZgAwppkCqs9HElQhjjwncr90f0BaBNR50DRYfgcNYEHLyfbBsIG6JmQgzw6IZqW1uds5IQcK3z9U7plGVhFrf-qQCTTe4DMdj4XcBEDkT2N9w/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc383LOhj1nXVOtNwiqVvKZVUkOkUJffZgAwppkCqs9HElQhjjwncr90f0BaBNR50DRYfgcNYEHLyfbBsIG6JmQgzw6IZqW1uds5IQcK3z9U7plGVhFrf-qQCTTe4DMdj4XcBEDkT2N9w/s320/008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472099930535502082" /></a><br />SUPER POOPER!<br /><br />I had to laugh when Kendall popped into the sunroom wearing this mask today. We have been trying, no begging Kendall to poo in the potty for about 3 weeks now. She seems to do pretty well with the whole tinkle thing. We have accidents but overall getting pretty good. BUT the poo department is a whole different thing. She gets super embarrased and after one incident months ago when she actually poo'd in the potty that was it. She absoultely would not go on the potty. Instead she would escape somewhere and then surprise us in a really bad way...... I have to admit teaching school to the boys and potty training her has been tough. It is really hard for me to watch her every minute and she seems to know it. Little Stinker! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Pph4kpTK43pYVykkL4HFvVmpGfRmxAlVn6I_Glafm25LA_kWPJA63cEGUSVd5Q8Pu4gmMHwdv41CGB4DqKsIvDyCzVF6bR-TIgCLRs3dfqcvLeC2K3RPpOSq5_KWU-nhtXyw5YapI98/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Pph4kpTK43pYVykkL4HFvVmpGfRmxAlVn6I_Glafm25LA_kWPJA63cEGUSVd5Q8Pu4gmMHwdv41CGB4DqKsIvDyCzVF6bR-TIgCLRs3dfqcvLeC2K3RPpOSq5_KWU-nhtXyw5YapI98/s320/005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472099921096708130" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCnfW6PmKAFtPiBbjqrN5LHQXtwTKn0PNwpQ2tEgI8b1UEmEE_eUSr1cY-W8nR342NSJ3NrwTIlsOKfHS8_83_VxGJRrC9Qq-KYyKY5QtwKalowu7f2PjHYjEH9xKWmKgeE2_g5wK9Bw/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCnfW6PmKAFtPiBbjqrN5LHQXtwTKn0PNwpQ2tEgI8b1UEmEE_eUSr1cY-W8nR342NSJ3NrwTIlsOKfHS8_83_VxGJRrC9Qq-KYyKY5QtwKalowu7f2PjHYjEH9xKWmKgeE2_g5wK9Bw/s320/006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472099914266318978" /></a><br /><br />BUT, after a partial miss today she got very excited and actually did the stinky deed on the potty tonight!!! Yea, happy dancing mommy here, tired of spraying out princess panties in the yard with the water hose. :( A joyful site for sure for those passing by in cars. Her reward is M&Ms and she has been bargaining for more than one M&M. She gets 1 for tinkle and 3 for poo. She has been bargaining 4.... don't tell her but by this week I would have given her the bag if she would just GO poo on the potty! After we did have success tonight I said "Yay!!! You get M&Ms how many do you get Kendall, Do you get 4"? She looked at me, shook her head and said "No, I want 2". So 2 she got as she clapped and smiled..... gotta love kids.... especially when they poo in the potty!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9U4zwJ5GiZUAw6qftU38Q2nHLcSa0g-AL3l0-pzL22vaEacu-4Af_L1sTusBystVP81YeroZEGRpcHBiy-PpZzqhug4j8NDam_NRoM4ylv-qI9rTqS3TFuZuEIVaqVGEDXiV3Eh0IwY/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9U4zwJ5GiZUAw6qftU38Q2nHLcSa0g-AL3l0-pzL22vaEacu-4Af_L1sTusBystVP81YeroZEGRpcHBiy-PpZzqhug4j8NDam_NRoM4ylv-qI9rTqS3TFuZuEIVaqVGEDXiV3Eh0IwY/s320/003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472099911004671714" /></a><br />My Baby is getting SO big!Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-78983027074159318792010-05-06T22:10:00.000-07:002010-05-06T22:21:25.754-07:00This is your chance!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijecc1-6AKjT6WblqwkpCOnvwGAYDR2lYIQ33lt3i1Vrh7fJmGb191xqiI-oXM_NfonpvUbmi9KlJE0yi-tuUWdDTxxkrUx-GnzrznogqxfpEaTTkfMeaAV6icWZ8XbUdaNYVatH9nqg0/s1600/Gwendolyn's+butterflies+004.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijecc1-6AKjT6WblqwkpCOnvwGAYDR2lYIQ33lt3i1Vrh7fJmGb191xqiI-oXM_NfonpvUbmi9KlJE0yi-tuUWdDTxxkrUx-GnzrznogqxfpEaTTkfMeaAV6icWZ8XbUdaNYVatH9nqg0/s320/Gwendolyn's+butterflies+004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468393915828806322" /></a><br />Well, we are in the home stretch of the Gwendolyn Strong fundraiser, have you placed your order yet? You can pop over to Gwendolyn's site and see pictures of all the kids wearing their hats, clippies, and headbands to support GSF. Remember these things..........<br /><br />1 in 40 people are carriers of SMA<br /><br />SMA is the biggest genetic killer of our children usually before the age of 2<br /><br />The National Institute of Health says SMA is closest disease to being cured or treated. It goes on to say that SMA a cure for SMA will be a gateway to curing many other diseases<br /><br />SMA can call on any of our families at any time, wouldn't you want a cure first?<br /><br />Your shopping with Beb-e-ssentials will give money directly to GSF. You can also donate directly.............<br /><br />Mother's Day is Sunday, think of all the Mom's that dream of having their child give them a hug, sit up, walk, jump play and not be sentenced to death. Give in the name of a family that just wants their child to live........<br /><br />Let's kick SMA in the proverbial bottom..............Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-56163599147183696042010-05-01T07:53:00.000-07:002010-05-01T08:01:32.185-07:00Got any spare prayers???I am asking for a sweet "blog" family friend. This is such a God-Loving family, living with the beast of infertility. After numerous miscarriages, adoptions and adoption attempts have left them heart broken at times and truly blessed at others. They have never been a "why me" family. Never complained that things were too hard. <br /><br />Last week we all got a peek.... a glimpse of the biggest miracle. One that they had prayed for. This week they have been shaken to their core. At her u/s there are markers for a birth anomaly. This could be a wide spectrum of things from life changing to life taking. Please pray God's protection and peace for them. Allow them to see the path and journey and rejoice in it. Give them the blessing they have longed for. I have no doubt that they will handle all this with more grace than I seem to be.... But, could you just say a few prayers, God knows who they are. He is standing beside them now as they anxiously wait for test results.Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-21806146795986143952010-04-19T17:27:00.000-07:002010-04-19T19:05:11.811-07:00Let your life be changed...... it only takes 2 minutesI have always felt like I was a compassionate person......... lover of all things kids and animals. I have felt strongly for a lot of causes.... or at least I thought so. I have sat in tears for so many children, children lost, families in pain. I have felt that pain, I have lived it. So, I thought I had a handle on the whole compassion thing.
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<br />That was until the Chase Community Give and I "met" Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn is 2 years old...... Gwendolyn is adorable, ...... Gwendolyn has SMA. SMA?? What is SMA?? Well, don't feel bad if you don't know... I didn't either. I didn't know until I spent 2 minutes watching a video clip .... a clip that took my breath, made me cry, ...changed my life. There is nothing more important to me right now than to increase awareness and raise money for treatment and ultimately a cure! I WANT THESE BEAUTIFUL BABIES TO LIVE LONG LIVES!!!
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<br />I can't imagine the pain as a parent of watching your child slowly become paralyzed. having a mind that is crisp and no way to express it. To not be able to run, jump, wave, set up, eat, swallow, or breathe. How could you do it? Well, Gwendolyn's Mom and Dad are doing it, they are living in the moment, giving their daughter fun and being the fiercest warriors I have ever seen! They want a cure and will stop at nothing less. Please!!! take a moment watch the video and ask yourself "Would I do something if it were my child, my grandchild, my niece??? Watch the clip, listen to the scary statistics.... BE CHANGED!
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<br />Beb-e-ssentials is teaming up with the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation to raise awareness and research dollars. Please click on the link and shop. This is our fund raiser details
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<br />20% of any custom bucket hat
<br />30% of any other item except our new special item
<br />60% of all Gwendolyn Butterfly sales
<br />The Gwendolyn Butterfly is absolutely beautiful. Hand painted threads are used to create this beautiful 2 inch butterfly. Each has Gwendolyn's favorite color pink incorporated in the colors. Each one is a one of a kind piece of art. Like a butterfly locked in a cocoon SMA has Gwendolyn and her friends "locked up". Let your research dollars unlock them and let them jump, hop, & fly!
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<br />We will be drawing for a fun fun prize, you get 1 chance for every 15.00 ordered.
<br />This fund raiser will run through Mother's Day weekend.
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<br />If you don't order PLEASE go to the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation site and donate! Let's make sure that no more babies have to live locked in the prison of SMA.
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<br />Please, help make a change............. it only takes 2 minutes and could change SO many lives PLEASE........
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<br />Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-65733233905395413782010-04-03T23:54:00.000-07:002010-04-04T00:08:20.272-07:00In your Easter BonnetSo today is the day............ can you imagine. In all your grief of your child being murdered in a cruel horrible public death you make the long trek to go mourn. You walk in your sandals along the dusty path, you drag your aching body along the path. As you turn the corner you see that not only has your child been killed but now his body has been stolen.<br /><br />As you enter the tomb you are met by angels telling you not to look for the living amoung the dead.... WHAT?!?! how can that be??? You witnessed a terrible death of your child.... and now you are told he lives.<br /><br />I think my heart would just burst through my skin if it were me..... my life would be different. Well, it did happen, ...... are you different?<br /><br />Here is just a few fun shots of our Easter egg hunt today at church. I only got to see Kendall. The kids are all in groups you see and not only are the big kids too fast to get on normal people film BUT I had to go along with Kendall and beg her to pick up the pretty eggs....... YOu see she saw them, she even liked them but she didn't really want to pick them up and put them in her bag. It was a bit like asking her to pick up the toys at home. I didn't get too upset about it though,it seems that 1 & 2 yr olds don't really like to gather eggs. We parents are GREAT cheerleaders though our powers of inspiration got quite creative!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL4-G69HrayeCO6A0p9_E3xAihzszhTo0f1MMTEws2mZbbvUEs4dxxFUBZ-y6xeRLLd_pt8ihjGC14SG8pAnt8coMt5_uKZZ2VIMBxEUINVV-5GyaZPmBkzdu54d39SLXj59nSRQgqtQ/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL4-G69HrayeCO6A0p9_E3xAihzszhTo0f1MMTEws2mZbbvUEs4dxxFUBZ-y6xeRLLd_pt8ihjGC14SG8pAnt8coMt5_uKZZ2VIMBxEUINVV-5GyaZPmBkzdu54d39SLXj59nSRQgqtQ/s320/011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456175215349498482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJ9k9zxY9_WF4KKol4ptTCsdx5gsqph7RK0Mx460_TDYXS-tYoKI8iAxT3v2VXCQmECpknGQAD0Rl-5QR5G6hUysJTATcML6BEhqWQ0Gzs3cJ4Opo-eJtqhpj4BSIbF4MdfiT1gKjq7U/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJ9k9zxY9_WF4KKol4ptTCsdx5gsqph7RK0Mx460_TDYXS-tYoKI8iAxT3v2VXCQmECpknGQAD0Rl-5QR5G6hUysJTATcML6BEhqWQ0Gzs3cJ4Opo-eJtqhpj4BSIbF4MdfiT1gKjq7U/s320/009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456175208019815282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0iavYxFYbl3og9buwjPwyKro3NCXW5YcrlTQFOsyqUo2XWULNXLd3wxPiSH0ErAf5H3ijkiFDisrlY0H4a0G1SDxje7dqslp4SzjXgjqKtzvyNh41MtrAx2LdWNgc6UkvkhhktJo5BQ/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0iavYxFYbl3og9buwjPwyKro3NCXW5YcrlTQFOsyqUo2XWULNXLd3wxPiSH0ErAf5H3ijkiFDisrlY0H4a0G1SDxje7dqslp4SzjXgjqKtzvyNh41MtrAx2LdWNgc6UkvkhhktJo5BQ/s320/007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456175203796851282" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997768319382528639.post-30107978965161641472010-03-30T22:05:00.000-07:002010-03-30T22:21:53.174-07:00My silly but oh so sweet littles...................<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7d9oaQRG_racQWhWp8CA0enkIUdxc_g4zrcEnNqdq3eaVlWLhX8zJ2SRJnyfjhVzwsHR-vJfxTyjAwmnBJ1f2IhRuruql-j78FKbETNUb20CpcQ9TvLiM9ltwoANvLCefoGu9-cIEmc4/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7d9oaQRG_racQWhWp8CA0enkIUdxc_g4zrcEnNqdq3eaVlWLhX8zJ2SRJnyfjhVzwsHR-vJfxTyjAwmnBJ1f2IhRuruql-j78FKbETNUb20CpcQ9TvLiM9ltwoANvLCefoGu9-cIEmc4/s320/013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454663588612649394" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9TXS96iz0iScXo2U3_Vjxoj_vXetETf-ee29ZX338mqukH1XkVpO7rRS5Ndsna0Kd1zY5MXC7p60RUA_MnudZtdGBPezGSAF1ouGwRvixc1HxOVwaaBxZprwyijuV5KDrQMICdn7XfU/s1600/Bebe+163.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9TXS96iz0iScXo2U3_Vjxoj_vXetETf-ee29ZX338mqukH1XkVpO7rRS5Ndsna0Kd1zY5MXC7p60RUA_MnudZtdGBPezGSAF1ouGwRvixc1HxOVwaaBxZprwyijuV5KDrQMICdn7XfU/s320/Bebe+163.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454663580613501522" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNC9HOnQm_SJ139gcarkfobGGxrnUO2kNAa_66AfMMf_2r-krAwucsF8dFeOVM6lnTbkLE0xCjl4eNRAXB9L67b1igQBDbxc5lD8_TcfIYsiO3_Vhy7J1WRuWLoEsCwwy882v4u71yXBE/s1600/Bebe+178.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNC9HOnQm_SJ139gcarkfobGGxrnUO2kNAa_66AfMMf_2r-krAwucsF8dFeOVM6lnTbkLE0xCjl4eNRAXB9L67b1igQBDbxc5lD8_TcfIYsiO3_Vhy7J1WRuWLoEsCwwy882v4u71yXBE/s320/Bebe+178.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454663572983683842" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBUEJ0KWzOwJQ6DA8CxeEJXFKkU0CVqnzqHPfdBxFwXWleSCrPOqwsbVWQ5z6W9hf260fIQBbKty-pp1Jy1lCx_jOqWMbnNpj1Sr2N3KGwcPNjM6G3f-YCIETLpHLS0pQOqz_Ol91mgI/s1600/034.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBUEJ0KWzOwJQ6DA8CxeEJXFKkU0CVqnzqHPfdBxFwXWleSCrPOqwsbVWQ5z6W9hf260fIQBbKty-pp1Jy1lCx_jOqWMbnNpj1Sr2N3KGwcPNjM6G3f-YCIETLpHLS0pQOqz_Ol91mgI/s320/034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454663566046625586" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTF0rr1b_zUZ_UNTjxD0FSFZMeol32Y7EZqXUwDJzRhn0NreTv9cZqUGotSAyjK3RO3zKHBVwE0ZTo0A9VqUWDqIIGGJ3QCUZSZaUnYdCp_PC6BlNi94SOvLadosfms9Gv0a4sl8BPxY/s1600/032.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTF0rr1b_zUZ_UNTjxD0FSFZMeol32Y7EZqXUwDJzRhn0NreTv9cZqUGotSAyjK3RO3zKHBVwE0ZTo0A9VqUWDqIIGGJ3QCUZSZaUnYdCp_PC6BlNi94SOvLadosfms9Gv0a4sl8BPxY/s320/032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454662586337085682" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lQYRZPGtHwp2MnPZAY5wJgVXvq2BpgJLF2ECBVrLAQPx-QK8Gxpo0I0wVKsgCUInP-vcViBhg5YjBdEP6Thhsw3A-EZ-PYyEJ_Nk3Dw1FaP7xW5iG2YjHmAH5p1PpLRg5oiA8XG-ZWY/s1600/014.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lQYRZPGtHwp2MnPZAY5wJgVXvq2BpgJLF2ECBVrLAQPx-QK8Gxpo0I0wVKsgCUInP-vcViBhg5YjBdEP6Thhsw3A-EZ-PYyEJ_Nk3Dw1FaP7xW5iG2YjHmAH5p1PpLRg5oiA8XG-ZWY/s320/014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454662571300506290" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXMmHNP4WGJ2Ss2vcSLLyAp2fik76-oo4EkmOgo3doH5Jt_t80JqAAg-IAfTJxeCIQs0ZXZaJ2-smQ18ARyoq9sTtU6wbRC31e5bQExs7IYSTEdN9Wv-WU8VF7t9T7YmY7ke0RP5kIhg/s1600/039.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXMmHNP4WGJ2Ss2vcSLLyAp2fik76-oo4EkmOgo3doH5Jt_t80JqAAg-IAfTJxeCIQs0ZXZaJ2-smQ18ARyoq9sTtU6wbRC31e5bQExs7IYSTEdN9Wv-WU8VF7t9T7YmY7ke0RP5kIhg/s320/039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454662565508693698" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWRSo5BgwdYxBBppanhqjBmij2Fj9jw-mHkuiQ6JKRe9wjblSANlZAhyfJ4O_L112_gsZ8HYTgQdeyinnqQHQf6XWReqvyBFQTrzfMpmCRQLWfG1yzv-XOEW8zTHaUapZHtbQVtU75eA/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWRSo5BgwdYxBBppanhqjBmij2Fj9jw-mHkuiQ6JKRe9wjblSANlZAhyfJ4O_L112_gsZ8HYTgQdeyinnqQHQf6XWReqvyBFQTrzfMpmCRQLWfG1yzv-XOEW8zTHaUapZHtbQVtU75eA/s320/006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454662553535897058" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY-O05RzESYBKBiTEa-aOoovMXoAKXssHR8ngVO5sDSbagNlvG1C3X6fyKdioYff1OjH8bZxzGMQVBMHyhsZjriQiacKZ_6pr9QfdY3YprCh-B_teuQNjpqsuDc3o5zffmNzhGmrQPr8/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY-O05RzESYBKBiTEa-aOoovMXoAKXssHR8ngVO5sDSbagNlvG1C3X6fyKdioYff1OjH8bZxzGMQVBMHyhsZjriQiacKZ_6pr9QfdY3YprCh-B_teuQNjpqsuDc3o5zffmNzhGmrQPr8/s320/016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454662544803241250" /></a><br /><br />Not a lot of words but thats okay. Pictures are usually better right? We have been crazy busy and all waiting on the edge of our seats for the weather to break. I wanted to post some pictures of my "littles" aka 10 and under group.Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027920490798367239noreply@blogger.com1