Kayden and her first party

Kayden was invited to her first birthday party this month. I couldnt go cause I was getting Teresa ready for Prom, so Robert took the girls. A friend took these and I had to share. She didnt enjoy the slide much (see her face) but she loves that exercise ball !!!

Another poem to share

"My Own Special Angel"
by Norma Henneke
1977

As we walk to your classroom my heart swells with pride
for the children all run to you to walk by your side.
They hug you and greet you; they all seem to know
just how much you need them and love them all so!
You march down the big hall with your most grownup stride
and turn and wave bravely, "Bye, Mommy! Bye-bye!"

Such a big girl, my Misty! You give life your best
though sometimes even the smallest thing can be a big test;
like struggling to run just as fast as the others
or trying your best just to straighten your covers;
things like coloring, swinging or brushing your hair.......
Sometimes Mommy feels that it just isn't fair!

Once late at night as I lay in my bed
I cried just to think what a little girl had said:
"Why's Misty so dumb? Can't she talk? Can't she run?"
I said, "Please be nice to her, please don't make fun.
See, God didn't make her as perfect as you
And I think he would want you to help her, don't you?"
She shook her head slowly and gave a small smile.
She had understood perfectly and that made it worthwhile!

Yes, sometimes it hurts and I don't understand
How God could have done this as part of His Plan.
Yet each time I hold you or we kiss goodnight,
I know in my heart He did everything right!
You're my own Special Angel, and how lucky I was
To be chosen by God to receive your sweet love.

My own Special Angel, sent straight from above!

We met a hero this weekend

I know I havent blogged in a while but things have been so crazy here with the end of school approaching and Teresa graduating !

I do want to share something exciting that happened over memorial day weekend. We had the wonderful opportunity to meet and talk with Craig Blackburn. If you have never heard about Craig, he graduated from regular classes from a school in Louisiana, he holds a job and the grocery school, he is a member fo the knights of Columbus, he helps run a program called best buddies which matches special needs students with typical peers, he is a Motivational Speaker who travels around the world speaking, and he is engaged to his girl friend, Heather. And if all those things are not impressive enough- Craig has Down Syndrome. Take in mind, that I am a GODA- Grandchild of deaf adults- am are aware of some of the limitations of special needs. But I have never met an adult with special needs to the extent of someone with Down Syndrome. I was very impressed with everything that Craig has accomplished. He had just come back from a speaking engagement in Qutar and has been asked to speak in England, Iceland, and Bangladesh. To say he is limited is a misinterpretation- he has done more and traveled farther then most people I know who don’t have “limitations”. Craig had also travel to Las Vegas with his step dad, who was there for work. Craig traveled the strip and even took public transportation. On his own while his step dad was working. Something I don’t even know if I would be willing to venture. My girls all sat and listen to Craig and his mom talk. Caitlin said she felt really good after meeting him- she is so soft hearted you could tell it touched her. And then I spoke with Teresa about everything Craig has on his resume and what could she say. I know that Craigs presentation “We Can” talks about special needs, his new power point is “Don’t Judge a book by it’s cover” . But after spending time with Craig - it gives you a new perspective on your own life. “If he can do it, I certainly can” Not only does Craig show you what people with special needs are capable of, but it motivates anyone without special needs and limitations to apply themselves. Craig is going to be back in town hopefully this summer, where we can actually watch him gives his speech- I can not wait !

We gave Craig Robert’s police baseball cards and Caitlin included a sticker- you could see Craig get lite up over the police sticker ! Boys will be boys ! Any of us who are married can tell you that our husbands are little boys at heart so.... We got the keys to the police car ... yes you know where I am going.... Daddy was upstairs asleep (of course Daddy wouldnt mind)..... We let Craig sit in the police car and Teresa showed him what everything was- but we didnt turn on the lights cause we didnt want to accidentally turn on the siren (didnt think Daddy would like to be woken by his police car going off) And we took his picture in the police car ! LOL Hopefully we were able to give Craig a little “feel good”in return for the one he gave us.

Better late than never...

computer problems fixed..... here are Teresa's senior pics !

Emotions

My sister called me yesterday sobbing hysterically.

She has a Friend, L, who she has know since she was 14. Around 3 years ago, L married P. Three months later he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The had treatments done and it appeared to be improving. Last year they had a baby girl, A. Well the tumor got worse and earlier this week she called to tell me that they were stopping the treatments because they werent sure why he was getting worse- fromt he tumor or the treatments. Yesterday P had a stroke and died in L's arms. At 29 years old, L is now a widow.And this baby girl will not get to know who her daddy is.

I know that we have been through so much this year but I can not imagine what she is going through ! I feel so horrible and sad for by sister who was close to them. I dont have the words to tell her it will be okay. There is nothing I can say to make it better or to explain why life is so not fair ! Why do these things have to happen especially to good people. She works for the boys and girls club and he helped save trees !!! Why did my husband live and he husband die. I just dont understand why all these things happen.

Please pray for this family- help them to find the strength to deal with it and to be able to accept it.

And as usual- my work gets to see me with black smears down my face and puffy eyes. Although I am not too happy with work right now. They assume way to much. I am sure that they will see me and assume it has something to do with work and say crap about it having to do with something else- not knowing the truth- but what else can I expect from them. Oh well- guess I have to deal with it until I change jobs !

I know I am grown

I know I am a grown up but I am a Miley cyrus fan ! Runs in the family, not only is my daughter a Miley fan but I even saw her dad in concert (and have the shirt to show it !)

It is her last song ! thne climb. I looked up the words for robert and I am going to share them with you. I dont think any of us can read them and not be able to relate.....

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

The weekend

Last week I had been in a funk. It was one of those really bad weeks. I can not stand when people make assumptions. I dont like when people are in supervisory roles and have not idea how to be a supervisor. And sometimes, I dont like having to be PC and unable to express everything cause this blog is not private and anyone can read it. And lastly, I hate that I dont play the lottery, cause I really need to win so I can just quit my job !

Okay, off the soap box. On the positive note, I got to have lunch with a friend I hadnt seen in a while and it was fun to hang with another mom. and Friday Robert was off and we got to spend some quality time together- that was nice. Saturday we went to a potty training class. YES, I know Kayden is a little small to start that but you never know when they will have these things, so I would rather attend early and store the info then miss out completely and then they wont have another one until after that fact (seems to be the story of my life). that afternoon,robert took Kayden and Caitlin to a friends birthday party. this was Kayden's first party ! I was bummed to miss it but I had to get Teresa ready for prom ! Everyone liked her hair and asked who did it. Which made me feel so good cause it was me : ) I took Teresa and her date to a friends house where they were going with a nother couple and the other girls parents arranged for a car (hummer). To make a long story short- the guy driving the hummer was an old boyfriend...lol After I got her off, I took Caitlin to the movies and we saw Hannah Montana. I sat there in the theater thinking... I can not remember when I sat still for 2 hours. I really liked the movie and LOVE her new song the climb. If you have not heard it yet, go google the words. It really hits home and yes,...... I cried watching Hannah Montana ! On Sunday we got some things done and Teresa addressed her graduation invites. My fault but I didnt pay attention when I gave her the envelopes.She didnt realize there were 2 sizes and you only address the outer ones... well, I spent most of the day trying to fix it and thing who didnt need 2 envelopes..lol Cathy came over last night. i am sad to say that she broke up with her boyfriend saturday. We liked him, but as i told her, you dont stay with someone just cause your family likes them. If you know Cathy, you wont be surprised to hear she already has another love interest. GOSH these girls kill me sometimes.