Hugs

When you are a mommy and a gramma you just can't get too many hugs. :)

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Yesterday, August 6, was my birthday. I had a wonderful 50th Birthday, complete with a show put on by the girls, and watching the movie Nim' s Island.

So why the title Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Well, My entire life, on my birthday when we watched the news, there was the infamous laying of the wreath in Japan to recognize those who perished by the first and last atom bombs ever dropped on human beings during a time of war. August 6, 1945 Hiroshima was attacked. On August 9, 1945, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

I have noticed over the last few years there has been less and less coverage of the event. As a child, I would have welcomed not being born on that day, as every birthday was the somber reminder of Nuclear War. But now, as an adult, I was a little sad that there wasn't more media coverage, especially in the times in which we now live. We are on the verge, if not already there, of another cold war. Pakistan has Nuclear capabilites and the political picture in the Middle East is not good. Iran either does or is close to having nuclear weapons.

One of the problems with history, is if we forget how terrible it was, it will repeat itself.
Some of us are old enough to remember the cold war. Russia was supposed to bomb us at any time, and we were supposed to bomb them at any time. Thus, at school we had bomb drills where we got under our desks and covered our eyes, as if that would help. When we were in Ukraine, our translators told us they did the exact same thing!

I fear that the realities of war are so far removed from us that many younger people see it almost as entertainment. Movies are so realistic and violent and the instant reports of war news on the internet both video and photo numb us from the true horrors of war.

The Nuclear attack on Japan ended the war, but the atrocities continued for decades, with children being born with deformities, and people continuing to die from radiation and radiation related cancers.

Just the accident in Chernobyl, Belarus, caused many cancers and birth defects and deaths, and many don't know that the radiation and fire is still buring today 2 decades later. There are teams that go in for short periods of time and are working on covering the area to keep it from leaking radiation.

So, let's remember to pray for those effected by war, by Nuclear Fallout, and for those who might hastily enter into Nuclear Engagement without thinking through the results.

http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/hiroshima.htm

Grandaughter's and Junior High

I can't believe it! My grand daughter is about to embark on Jr. High School! She is playing in the band, and it seems like just yesterday she was starting Kindergarten!

Here she is on our latest Zoo Adventure. I don't think she cared too much for touching a sting ray. :)

Conversations With a Four Year Old

Lilly:Can I help bake the cake?

Gramma:Yes you can.....

Lilly :Ummmmm..... after she has licked her hands from all the batter.....

Lilly: I'm clean now, I don't have diahrrea any more!

Gramma: That's good. I'm glad you don't~ :?/

Lilly: Yea.....

Lilly : Gramma, Can I go see Grampa's "toodles"?

Gramma: Do you mean his "tools"?
Lilly: Yea.....

Gramma: I love you Lillian!


Pause......

Lilly: You have pretty eyes gramma!

Gramma: Thank you.

Gramma: You have pretty eyes too.

Lilly: No, I have dark eyes.

Lilly:Mama has dark eyes.

Gramma: What kind of eyes does daddy have?

Lilly : Daddy has Guitar Eyes. :)

Lilly: I have to go see what the girls are doin'...........

Bye Lilly......
Bye Gramma......

Feeding the Sting Rays

Anna was really excited about feeding sting rays. They were very slimy and really neat. Glad their barbs were removed. Some of the bigger ones would splash us when they swam by. Pretty funny.

Lilly and the Carousel

I took all the girls to the zoo today. This cracked me up.....

Reflections of a Sinner Saved by Grace

When we were at camp last week, a young man began to play the piano and sing.
"Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound, that Saved a Wretch Like Me!"

This young man, is Autistic, blind, and has multiple limb loss. Both lower legs and both arms are effected. How can he play the piano? I don't know, but he can, and played it beautifully.

I looked at him and thought..... I don't see a wretch. I see such a pure individual.
Yet, God has revealed to him his true nature, and he has received salvation.

I am a wretch. NOT HIM! The truth is, we are all blind, and naked, and we are all wretched individuals, apart from Christ.

I am so thankful that in my wretched state, God saw fit to reveal himself and opened my deaf ears and caused my blind eyes to see.

He continues to prune me, break me, and throw the bundles of chaff that my life produces into the fire in order to be refined.
Oh how patient He is........

Would I be singing amazing grace if I were physically blind? How about if I didn't have my arms or legs? How about if I were crippled? What about if I were destitute? What if I lived in a war torn country?

I have not had these experiences,(besides being destitute for a while) but I have had plenty of experience God has chosen to bring my way. He causes the rain to fall upon each individual to bring about his specific purpose in each person's life.

I pray that the rest of my life will reflect that Amazing Grace that he has so abundantly poured into me.

I put a link to a very special web site of a young man who has come to know the Amazing Grace of our Lord Jesus. http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/

What's A Kid To Do?

If you have just 2 hands and you need to use those to eat breakfast, but you don't want your ball to roll away, you get creative and use other body parts to make things work! This is our 4 year old grand daughter Lillian making things work! :)
We get to have the grand girls for a week!

Baptism Delayed

Erika had a meeting with the elders and didn't answer the questions to satisfaction. I think part of her expressive language is a problem. To articulate in English, complex ideas is hard for her. So, we are going to work with her a little more and help her understand.

We had a great talk with one of our elders tonight. He said they did not question her faith at all, they just want her to be able to express it verbally.

I have many questions about the baptism process and probably fall more along covanental lines regarding baptism.

This same elder plans to talk with Erika Sunday to make sure she understands that they are not questioning her faith. She thought they had said, "Think about it a little longer if you really want to follow Jesus."

So the August 31 date is null and void. I'll let ya'll know when it happens.
I wouldn't have posted it WAS going to happen until after the elders visited her.
There was abit of confusion. 2 elders approved the week before, but then there were some more that wanted to meet. The 2nd meeting is the one that took place today, and they have asked her to wait.

So, we'll wait some more and maybe learn abit about patience and study up some on doctrine.

The Turning 50 Hair Cut

I said I would cut my hair when I turn 50. I did it 4 days early. :)

To Zip or Not to Zip

Erika and her friend Brittany, watching Jerroth go up the zip line.....




THE MANY FACES OF ERIKA IN THE MIDST OF DECISION ON WEATHER OR NOT TO GO ALL THE WAY UP THAT ZIP LINE AND SLING HER BODY OFF INTO OBLIVION.........







She went up 1/2 way, touched the wood and then chose to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground! There is NEXT YEAR! :)

Camp Out On A Limb

We always joke that it should be called Camp Out OF A Limb.... Erika and I had a wonderful time once again at Peaceable Kingdom Camp for Children. As for me, I waited an entire year just to go down that Zip Line once again! Erika was looking so forward to horse back riding. On the way home, I asked her, "What was your favorite thing about Camp this year?" There was a thoughtful pause, and she said, "Horses, Golf, Swimming,Scuba diving, Movies, Games, eating in the cafeteria, talking with Shawn late at night in the bathroom, and making friends with Brittany.

Shawn had a pow-wow meeting with the girls late on the last night we were there. She was so funny teaching them a special signal to use if they wanted to talk. This time it was the "blink your eyes if you want to speak signal". It was comical watching a bunch of little girls blinking frantically to be called on. Erika enjoyed the talk in the bathroom after they finished scaring the boys. Shawn asked about what they do if others make fun or tease them. Erika listened to the answers, and then poetically, when we got home, we played the DVD handed out at camp called, "No Arms, No Legs, No Problem". He covered some really great answers to that issue, and talked about who we are on the INSIDE is what matters.

What our children look like on the outside is not what defines them, but who they are on the inside. This is really what Peaceable Kingdom Camp brings out in our kids.

Imagine a young man 14 years old with no arms and no legs, dancing his heart out, and everybody just loves it. How about an arm wrestling match between a guy with 1/2 an arm against a guy with no legs? How about a little girl doing ballet taking her legs off to perform? How about a little boy with one arm doing hand stands, hurling his body into the air to balance? How about a child who is blind, autistic, missing lower legs, has just one finger on one hand and a nub on the other, playing the piano beautifully and singing Amazing Grace? Let me tell you, I don't know if there were any dry eyes.

There were the typical pranks and kids play, or was that the adults pulling off those pranks? There were Bugs and snakes, saran wrap on the toilet seat, sneaking over and knocking on the window late at night, and the typical, "I don't know WHO used all that toilet paper!" "Silly String?" "Isn't that a thing of the past???" The swim basket ball games and just great fun hanging out together.

The children were drawn together for a wonderful week of friendship and partnership. I saw children help each other, build each other up and just have an all around great time. It didn't matter that the cabin was strewn with extra legs, prosthetic socks, little kids looking for their own....."Mom, do you know where my leg is?" "Take your legs off sweetie." "Do you need to put your legs back on?"
It was all pretty normal.

There were also the important friendships developed among the parents. Other than going to the hospital and camp, we have never, ever, seen another child who has limb loss or limb differences. It is refreshing to be with other parents who live similar lives with their children, who hurt for their children's losses, yet cheer them on to do wonderful things in life. These parents have the patience of Job. They have deep abiding love, they are proud of their children, and they are brave enough to let their children fall, try and try again, which will result in them blossoming and growing in both personal strength and creative independence.

Thank you so very much Peaceable Kingdom Camp for Children and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and your awesome dedicated staff. Had it not been for you, Erika would not know that she can do so very many things like SCUBA DIVING and I STILL would have never gone down a zip line. And that zip line is WAY COOL!

Miracles

You know, there is a time to talk about Miracles. REAL Miracles. For me, the time is now, as it is on my heart.

Just a little over 4 years ago, Mike and I were near empty nesters. Our last son was in college and had moved home to save for marriage.

Then came our Anna. A little girl who had been in the foster care system. She brightened our lives and through her simple little prayer of wanting a sister, drew us into a whole new world of girls, adoption, private adoption because of disruption, international adoption, early childhood trauma, attachement disorder, reactive attachment disorder, post traumatic stress, restrictive band syndrome, arthrogryposis, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, bilateral foot amputation, hip surgery, boney overgrowth surgery, hand surgery,knee surgery, therapy, Ukraine ministry, the plight of orphans in the world, Russian, Home education again, Out on a Limb Camp, and much, much, much more.

IN ALL OF THAT..... numerous miracles took place in our lives. Engergy for one. :)

But seriously, introducing the gospel of Jesus Christ, the fact that we are born "dead", but are only truly alive in Christ Jesus, to an international child is an amazing experience.
I remember the first time that Erika watched The Gospel of John on DVD (the word for word put to video) she had just been speaking english a few months so her understanding was limited. But we were able to communicate with her the basics. She saw that they were putting Jesus Christ on Trial, being mean to him, and then crucifying the one she knew we loved. This look of perplexed, mournful sadness overcame her and she began to weep.

"Why did they do that to him? WHY?"

We began to explain that God KNEW His son would be crucified for our sins. That BECAUSE of what He did for us, we can now live. A little light turned on in her heart.
She had been exposed to the gospel with Papa Dima in Ukraine, but there were parts she didn't yet understand. Some of these things are hard to grasp even for adults.

Yet, she DID grasp it, and about a week later, trusted Jesus Christ, with full understanding for her salvation.

It is a miracle. It is THE miracle, of going from Death to life.

Why do I post a picture of her standing at the table without feet?

Because some would see that a real miracle would be for God to give her new feet.
Indeed, that would be an amazing miracle, and I truly believe GOD COULD, if he so chose.
BUT what many of us fail to see, is the real miracle of being RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
Erika is ALIVE in Christ. New feet wouldn't make her alive in Christ, but a renewed SPIRIT does.

Each of our girlies have gone through the same process of understanding, and each have received Jesus Christ as their savior. And we truly praise the Lord for that.
Because with HIM, all those beginning things I wrote about above, would be the things that took over their lives.
Instead, the LORD has taken over, and those things are fading, faded, and many times just gone.
Their old lives are just a shadow of their new lives. Their new lives are exciting!
They are full of life. They are ALIVE.

Oh, rejoice with me, as I have witnessed so many miracles in their little lives. The miracles of forgiveness; forgiveness of those who hurt them, abandoned them, harmed them, rejected them; just as we had rejected Christ, hurt Him, abandoned HIM.
For THOUGH WE WERE YET SINNER'S, CHRIST DIED FOR US.....

On August 31,2008, Erika will be baptized. She will make a public profession that Jesus Christ is her Lord, Her Savior, Her King, Her All!

And, I am so very HAPPY, that we get to be a part her life.

Soakin' Up Love

Daddy caught Anna and I in a love soakin' moment. :)

School or School? Part 2

Well,
Mike and I have had some talks, and come to the conclusion that we are already doing the right thing. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" came to mind, after a friend mentioned it to me.

I really like that phrase. It makes so much sense.

The girls are not cookie cutter children. If I were to put them into school, I don't know that I'd get much rest anyway. I'm already exhausted just from the few conversations I have had about what it will require to get the right services and placements. Then, the politics, and then of course I'd want to volunteer etc.

I'm having dejavu' flash backs of when the boys went to school.

Thanks too Melissa for making me look at what I was saying. I don't have time to be tired. If I'm tired, I need to take my iron like I'm supposed to be doing. :)

So, it is time to get lesson plan's going for next year. Erika and I go to camp next week and then it will be time to buckle down and finish our plans.

Thanks so much for all of you who have prayed and made me think.

Sarah's Story

This is Sarah, reading to us her latest words from her heart:




She has started a diary. Right now she is writing about her life. so far.......

UNCLE BOB IS HERE!

SURPRISE!

Pretty and Clean

Today we were scrubbing furniture and chairs with Murphy's Oil soap. The girls were doing a great job. Then Anna wanted to get a new cloth to go under the lamp. The one there was rather dusty. She found a floral napkin and said, "How about this?" "It is pretty and clean and that is all that matters!"

I said, "Oh, that is pretty and clean, just like you!"

She said, "Oh mama, I'm not clean, I touched Turtle poop today!" :)

School or School? That is the Question

Here is a picture of Erika and I on a field trip. We took Papa Dima to take a Hospital Tour. I think Erika LOVES her teacher. :)



My life sometimes seems like a whirlwind of activity.

I have been homeschooling kids since Marcus was in 2nd grade for the 2nd time. :)
I believe it was 1992 when we embarked on our Homeschooling Adventure, and it didn't end until Marcus went to college.

Then, came Anna. She was so needy and so fragile I didn't even consider school for her.
The same with Sarah, and the same with Erika. Homeschooling has worked out very well for them, and they are all at their grade level in most subjects. Probably in all subjects, but I don't know that for sure. :)

The truth is, however, I am tired. Very tired. The girls have all settled in, they all know English well, they are all reading and doing math and most importantly, they are all attached to us and know that we love them with our whole hearts.

I am considering checking out the local schools in our area. Schools in our area are rated quite well and we are supposedly in a top school district. I think they would all do well, and I am considering trying out the school waters for them.
I will be going on an information mission first.

The biggest thing is, I want to do what is best for them. It might be good for them to see what public school is like; what it is like to ride the school bus and have homework and what it is like to get up at 5:30 to catch the bus by 7:00.

IF, and I do mean IF we choose to do this, I will work in the office with Mike again and work on my writing projects.

What do ya'll think?

Girl Time

Our precious grand daughter Katie, now known as Kate, is visiting for a couple of days.

We started our Kid day on Sunday with a visit to Cheddars and the local water park.

Boy those places can be hard on a mom. There are so many themes I could write about I wouldn't know where to start.

I'll start with.... I just LOVE my grand daughter. She didn't come into our family until she was 5. She came with a fantastic mommy who is now my daughter.

The first time Katie spent the night, I had this great idea to buy her an outfit.
I did. I just didn't realize at that time that little girls had taste in clothing at such a young age, and my taste was definitely NOT hers. I had her try on my prized outfit to which she said, "GRAMMM! I LOOK LIKE A CLOWN!" dang..... I told her to go show grampa to which he sympathetically said, "honey, she does kind of look like a clown." To which my first gramma outfit feelings were hurt, but I bucked up and dealt with it. She wore her jeans to church. :)

So here we are, 4 weddings and 3 adoptions later and she still loves me. I haven't purchased ANYTHING for her to wear unless she gives the green light. I guess I've improved because she usually does. :) What a good sport.

So, back to yesterday.....

She was so great at the waterpark. 2 of the girls cannot wear their legs at the park so they either have to hop (sarah) or be carried (erika). Katie generously gave Sarah piggy pack rides all afternoon. Erika and I hung out most of the time in the wading pool or lazy river while Dad, and the other girls climbed all those stairs to the water slides.

I am so amazed that Sarah could hop with a big inner tube, drag that thing up all those stairs slide down and have the energy to do it all over again!

I liked the Lazy river. :)

Erika started her afternoon hoping that I would drag her up those stairs, but I just couldn't. If I had been younger, or had a different body, I probably would have tried, but that isn't my or her reality. I simply said, "some things we are going to have to accept that we cannot do, and we need to be joyful for others who CAN do it, and cheer them on!" So, her sisters and daddy and Katie thought of her often when they were at the tops of those towers, always looking down to wave and catch her eye so she could see how high they were, to which I would say, "aren't you glad you didn't have to climb that?" and she'd grin.....

She liked the lazy river too.

One great thing about their ages, is we can let them go in a certain area and give directions to where we are seated and they can meet us back after a few times on a slide. This was the first time we had done this and it worked out great.

Instead of taking Kate back home last night, she and the girls schemed for her to spend the night. I wanted her to anyhoo, all along really.... so she got permission and is here today. I have had a pedicure and manicure, a nap, and the girls have cleaned their room. Then they decided they will be putting on a play tonight and right now they are playing store. They also painted some cool pictures.

I just love having them in our lives.

Thanks Chuck and Jodie for sharing Kate with us. :)

I have pictures of today, but we forgot the camera at the waterpark.... dang.:(