post stealing, yet again

Blue Rose
So every once in awhile as I am reading through my friends blogs I read something truly inspirational. Sometimes what I read are things my friends have wrote or are things they got from other people. Either way they are amazing and touch my heart.

Here is one of those stories.

Blue Rose

Having four visiting family members, the wife was very busy, so I
offered to go to the store for her to get some needed items, which included
light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags, detergent, and Clorox. So off I
went.

I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies, and headed for
the checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man
who appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I
patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he
waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy,
I'm over here."

It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged, and also startled as
he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His
eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy, what's
your name?"

"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded
proudly. "Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but
my name is Steve."

"Steve, like Stevarino?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny?"

"How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over
from the next aisle.. "You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy
and let the man pass by."

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more
minutes about summer, bicycles, and school. I watched his brown eyes dance
with excitement because he was the center of someone's attention. He then
abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking
the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even
look at him, much less talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure and
then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the
prompting of the Holy Spirit.

I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in
God's Garden; however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated
for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a Blue Rose and if
someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that
rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God.

She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked,
"Who are you?"

Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion but I sure
love living in God's garden."

She reached out, squeezed my hand, and said, "God bless you!" and then
I had tears in my eyes.

May I suggest that the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, don't turn your
head and walk off. Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why? Because, by
the grace of GOD, this mother or father could be you. This could be your
child, grandchild, niece, or nephew. What a difference a moment can mean to
that person or their family.

From an old dandelion!

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the
rest to God.

"People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel."lue Rose

Craziness

Life at our house has been crazy. I've been meaning to post for quit sometime, but the summer days are getting the best of me.

So let me back track. On May 23 my baby turned 3yrs old. WOW, where has the time gone. 3 was a big number for Fay, it meant lots of changes for her. We had her IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting with the school district. This meeting was to go over our goals for Fay as well as what the school district would be providing for her in terms of therapy. For the most part the meeting went well. After 2 1/2 hours of discussing your child's care and arguing over the amount of therapy provided I was broken. I know Fay will benefit greatly from school, but I am torn up about it. I will have to give up her care for 3 hrs a day 3 days a week to people I don't know. She is sooo tiny I worry about her safety. I also struggle with the fact that my baby is going to school. My last child. I can't imagine not having a child to care for. I am so saddened by this. Maybe it's time to have another child! Hmmmm.

Fay has been progressing nicely. She is crawling all over, started to pull herself up on furniture, and is very social. She has become quit vocal, although no words yet. Her lack of words are making her frustrated. I bought her an ipad in which she will eventually use it as a communication device. So far it is an unfamiliar toy so she isn't very interested. She has decided to forgo naps and it has become a challenge to get her to bed at night. She is experiencing separation anxiety. I can't leave the room without her freaking out. Emotionally she has become a 3 yr old, trapped in the body of a 1 yr old.

During our visit to the pediatrician for Fays 3 yr check up, we noticed she only gain 1lb in a year and nothing in length. We proceeded to do some testing on her thyroids and growth hormone. It ends up her growth hormone level is low so we will see an endocrinologist at the end of the month.

The rest of the crew has been really busy. Roc made the allstar team. Baseball is all consuming. He has a tournament every weekend and Jayme is the coach, so he is consumed as well. Paris has been busy with dance. She just had her Hip Hop dance recital. WOW, that girl has the moves. She will also be joining the HIP HOP dance competition team. Rex has been up to his usual antics. He is also becoming quit the swimmer. The kids are so exhausted by the end of each day that they pass out at night and sleep till 9 or 10 in the morning.

Meanwhile the month of June is birthday month in our family. We celebrated Jayme and Roc's birthday, as well as my moms, step dad, and a hand full of friends birthdays.

Our family has also grown in the last month. My brother-in-law's fiance officially moved to the U.S with her son. They have now become a family of 5. We are all so pleased to have them here.

Summer wouldn't be summer without a few vacations. Jayme and I are taking Paris, Roc and Rex to Hawaii in July. Then Jayme has planned a golf weekend with his buddies and I have a Vegas weekend with the girls. At some point I will be taking all the kids up to Santa Cruz to visit my sister-in-law and our ex-nanny. We end the summer with a family trip to bass lake, where we rent a house with 5 other families. fun fun fun fun.

We'll that's all for now folks. Have a wonderful summer.

Jayme's Birthday

watching tv

winning their 1st baseball tourney

playing dress-up, hee hee, blackmail

pool fun

Fay's Birthday

stolen post

A SPECIAL MOTHER - By Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children.

Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen? Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

"Forrest, Marjorie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."

"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew."

Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has her own world. She has to make her live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."

God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect -she has just enough selfishness."

The angel gasps - "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'". She will consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it! I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".

"And what about her Patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."

I am so blessed!

Believe... Prayer Works!




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Where would we be right now.

Where would she be right now. She could been all alone, hungry, crying, cold. She could be lying in a crib or on the floor so far gone from this world. She could be neglected or malnuorished, starving for food and love. She could be in pain and suffering. She could be abused or mistreated. She could be DEAD. And where would we be? We'd be just where we are. In a beautiful house, with food on the table, with a family to love us. We'd have an education, money,etc.. but,We would be void of all the possibilities. We wouldnt know what it would be like to open our hearts, we would have never given ourselves to the unknown.

I thank GOD that she is with us and we are with her.

Time flies when your having fun

GOTCHA DAY.

Two years ago today Faith was placed in my arms forever. Little did I know how she would forever ROCK my world. My life has been all that much more blessed and fulfilled since she has entered it.

Two years ago, at 11 months old, my baby girl weighed 13lbs and couldnt hold her head up. Since then she has grown and developed leaps and bounds. She can now crawl, say mam and dada and is trying so hard to do many things. She has a long road ahead of her, but I couldnt be more proud.

THEN
My favorite picture from that day, my MOM and Faith

NOW

Here's a little something I found (stole from another blogger)


Disability Beatitudes".

Blessed are you who take time to listen to defective speech, or you help us to know that if we persevere, we can be understood.

Blessed are you who walk with us in public places and ignore the stares of strangers, for in your companionship we find havens of relaxation.

Blessed are you that never bids you "hurry up" and more bless are you that do not snatch our tasks from our hands to do them for us, for often we need time rather than help.

Blessed are you who stand beside us as we enter new ventures, for our failures will be outweighed by times we surprise ourselves and you.

Blessed are you who ask for our help, for our greatest need is to be needed.

Blessed are you when by all these things you assure us that the thing that makes us individuals is not our peculiar muscles, nor our wounded nervous system, but is the God-given self that no infirmity can confine..

Blessed are those who pick thing up without being asked.

Blessed are those who understand that sometimes I am weak and not just lazy.

Blessed are those who forget my disability of the body and see the shape of my soul.

Blessed are those who see me as a whole person, unique and complete, and not as a "half" and one of God's mistakes.

Blessed are those who love me just as I am without wondering what I might have been like.

Blessed are my friends on whom I depend, for they are the substance and joy of my life!!!

Crawling?

Watching Fay grow and develop is not like watching a "typical" children. Everything she does from picking up a toy to sitting up to crawling takes 6 months to a year. Walking may even take years. Fay goes to therapy everyday from an hour to 4 hours. She does Speech, Occupational, Physical Tomatis, Neurosuit and Equestrian therapy. She often gets frustrated, upset, tired, but more than not she is HAPPY. Soon she will have been home with us for 2 yrs. I think back to the day they handed her to me and then think about today. Watching Fay is watching a MIRACLE. GOD is so good.

Here is a video of Fay starting to crawl.