Down Syndrome Awareness month!

Its October!!

Its Down Syndrome Awareness month!

Here is your super cute photo of the day!!

My Faith - 31 days of Joyful Blessings

Welcome!

Today starts 31 days of Joyful Blessings, where I will be sharing with you the blessings that have changed my life...

I cant possibly start off this journey with out naming #1 most important factor in my life: My faith.

Here is my story:

I grew up in a catholic family, I went to catholic schools. But I never really knew what it was about. I never really took it seriously. I hated going to church - it was so boring. I just went and "existed".  I sang the hymns, I stood, kneeled and sat when supposed to. But there was never any feeling in it. And then my mom got into a horrible relationship. I feel like my life took a sharp left. He abused her... bad... and I watched. I felt like God wasn't there. He wasn't watching over us. He was letting my mom die inside. I hated it, and I hated Him for allowing it. I didn't understand there was a bigger plan working.
Sometimes I like to look back and think, wow, look at what we over came! Its astounding sometimes.
I lived my life as an atheist for a very long time. I had heated battles against Christian friends. And felt like I won them, because I shut them up, they always stopped arguing. But I didn't realize then, that I didn't win and they didn't stop because they had no more to say. I learned that sometimes, as a Christian - you have to digress. I know and understand that now.
Back in 2008, I was going through a very tough time. Financially, mentally, physically. I felt like a no one. A nothing. My husband was out of work. We were so poor. We were about to lose our apartment, we had no food, our electric was getting turned off. We were in a bad spot. I was fighting with my mom, my boyfriend, my kids. This is not where I thought my life was headed. I was so depressed. I thought, if I leave maybe everyone will be happy...
I turned on my internet to check my email to turn on a vacation response, as it was getting shut off the next day, and there was an email from a  friend.  It was simple, just a few words..

"Was thinking of you and felt that I should ask you to come to church."

Keeping in mind, this person never emailed me. We talked on the phone, saw each other in person, but never emailed. Keeping in mind that this person has asked me to church a million times since high school, and stopped asking years ago... Keeping in mind this is the person I would argue faith about all the time.

I laughed at the email and shut off the computer. I started at the screen for a while. and my laughter turned into tears. My boyfriend came out and asked what was wrong. I asked him if he wanted to go to church. He said, "Sure"

I turned back to the computer screen, took a deep breath and turned it back on. I hit reply and entered - Yes. and hit send.

We attended church that Sunday and I didn't burn up in flames! ( I joked about this for months)
Something stirred in me. I cried. A lot.  I felt my burdens and shame leave.

We went back again and again. The first Sunday in June, we attended as usual and the Pastor had spoke his prayer to recommit ourselves to the Lord. I spoke it in my heart and on my lips. And then he asked for those who spoke it - to stand up and profess it to the world. I was thinking NO WAY am I standing up in front of all these people!!  He was scanning the crowd, people were standing left and right. Then the Pastor looked right at me. I felt his eyes burning in my soul! How does he know???  I still sat, he went through the crowd some more, and as he started to look back my way - the Lord gave me a not so gentle push. I jumped out of my seat like a rocket. My Pastor acknowledged me and I collapsed in my seat in a bundle of tears. All the weight of the world left me that day. And I have never felt the same.

Even as hard as it gets, I will never be the same.

As for the rest of the story?

My boyfriend, L.J. and I went to the church for financial help. And we got way more help then that. An associate pastor, agreed to marry us - FREE. In a few weeks!
Marriage! YIKES!!!
His only request was that L.J. live separately from us until the wedding, as God intended it to be. To show we were serious about our commitment.
And we did.
L.J. lived in a place called Calvary house for a month.
We got married December 21, 2009, at my step dads restaurant. In front of family and friends. and of course... God, Himself.

I got a new life that year. Jesus wiped my slate clean with the spilling of his blood a long time ago. But I never felt the impact until then. I never felt thankful until then.

I cannot wait until the day we go to our real home. In heaven.
Wont you join me there?
Its never too late!

31 Days of...

Hey everyone!

I know, its been a while :/

It has been crazy around here, I started a new part time job to help with the bills and havent really had much time to blog - or to myself!  But alas, I have signed myself up for more, just because my plate isnt full enough ;)

So starting October 1st, I will be joining in a blog hop of sorts... Its 31 days of (insert something here)... well whatever you choose!!

So I am not promising 31 posts, but I will do my best!!  October is a busy month for me, as its Down Syndrome Month and Halloween, and my grandparents are in town...

So here is to trying and educating...

What is my 31 days going to be about??
I am so glad you asked!!

Introducing....

A glimpse of a Sunday Morning...

My Morning:

Making my boys breakfast (waffles) I was singing away in my kitchen... I gave them some strawberry milk while they waited for the waffles. They sat and watched me as I sang and danced my heart away ... Between lyrics I would kiss one boy and then the other...

After The waffles were done and the boys were eating, I made my cup of coffee and sat down to enjoy thier company... here is how it went.

D - Mom 
Me - What honey

D - Mom
Me - What babe
D - Mom
Me - Yes, dakota, what is it.
D - boo boo boo boo ( this means potty)
Me - do you need to go potty?
D - no
Me - ok
E - Mom
Me - What Eli
E - blah blah inaudible blah
Me - Wow really that is awesome!
E - Mom
Me - What baby
E - done
Me - you are done already? I just sat down
E - Fusses and cries
Me - Ok I will let you down
D - ( pushes his plate) All done
Me - Sigh, ok boys nice having breakfast with you

Then - They both got down and cuddled on the bench I was sitting on grabbed their breakfasts and started eating, one boy under each of my arms. Oh man, this is heaven! I love them!!

~Blessings to all on this day! Thank you Jesus for my babies...

Sky and LJ are still snoozing by the way so they missed out - especially on my awesome singing!! ;)

Never Forget

Today is the 11th anniversary of 9/11.

Where were you that day? What were you doing? What were your thoughts?

That particular day, I was in the beginning stages of being separated from my ex husband. I was staying at my Moms with my daughter. She was only 1 at the time. I was supposed to start a new job that day. I woke up hearing my Mom saying,"Oh My GOD!"

I ran out of the bedroom and watched in horror as the news played the first plane crash over and over, on repeat. As if the first initial view wasnt enough. Over and over it was going through my head. I sat slowly down on the couch, not ever taking my eyes off the screen.

I put my hand to my mouth in disbelief! I could not believe it! Then out of no where - the next plane crashed. I jumped up from my seat! NOOOO! Oh no!

I started crying in horror, watching people run like ants through New York. My aunt lived there. Very close to the action. I watched my Mom as she tried to call her over and over, only to get busy signals.

And then...

They fell.

The towers crumbled. People screamed. People cried. I just could not believe what I was watching. I watched my Mom thinking out loud wondering if she should go and pick up my brothers from school. Wonder if we were about to prepare for a war.

I heard Skylar waking up in the room, and I ran to her. I hugged her so tightly, she could barely breathe. I cried as I held her close. All those lives GONE, in minutes! I cant imagine the panic and fear going through all the minds of the people who were in the towers. All the families watching knowing their mother, father, brother, sister etc were trapped inside.

Even now it brings tears to my eyes.

I will never never never forget that day. Ever.

I learned to hug my kids a little tighter, to always say I love you, and to appreciate this fragile life a little more...

God bless all who were effected by this tragedy and God bless all those men and women who came to the aid of others in midst of chaos.

Happy Birthday. to.. me...?

Yes, so yesterday was the day I was born. The day I came kicking and screaming into this world.
Little did I know that 34 years later this day would still end in tears...

I had an okay day. The older kids were in school and Eli and I just lounged around the house. I did not lift one finger, I played lazy Mom. I stayed in my jammies and we watched cartoons.
My mom sent me a beautiful arrangement of flowers, including my favorite, daisies. They smelled amazing.

My kids came home, gave me big hugs and sang to me...
After work my mom stopped by with a few gifts and a huge cheesecake. We had some and then my hubby got home.

We asked my mom to baby sit for a bit while we went to dinner, so we dropped off the boys and went to Outback.
We had a great waiter, he was very enthusiastic and told us lots of jokes. He even guessed I was 26, even tho I knew he was way under guessing to not hurt my feelings...

My mom texted me and said Eli had a fever so we rushed out of there to grab the boys and head home. When we got home I went in my room to grab a diaper which are located on a shelf next to my bedroom window..

When I got there and put my hand in to grab a diaper I felt a gust of heat. I looked over and noticed the curtain was funky, so I pulled it back...

BROKEN WINDOW, GLASS EVERYWHERE...

*SCREAM* - I ran out to the living room screaming, "We got broken into", L.J. instinctively grabbed his gun and went thru the entire house.

My heart was pounding so fast I couldn't even get my phone to turn on.

L.J. called the police and they arrived quickly, when the police got here they saw the blood. Whoever broke in cut themselves pretty bad...

"Is anything missing?" the policeman asked...

In my panic, I didn't even look.. I didn't notice anything. My jewelry, my laptops, my electronics, everything was still there.  Then L.J. said... "Our change jug"

See we have this OLD wine jug that we put our loose change in, well I had just emptied it for a fundraiser for VBS so there wasn't much in there, maybe $5 or so... That was the only thing missing!

The thief walked past a camera, an xbox, a laptop and stole a jug of change... So weird and it didn't sit well..

Anyways, there was blood all over the window and the sill, which they broke off... So the police officer called in forensics to take samples and finger prints...  I hope we can catch who ever did it. That would make me sleep easier...

The police seem to think that it was a teenage neighborhood kid. They pulled a plastic chair up to our fence to jump it, as its locked from the inside, and used a 5 gallon bucket to climb thru the window, which they threw not one but two pieces of concrete into, to break...

I am thankful we weren't home,
I am thankful they didn't break into the boys room,
I am thankful they didn't hurt my dog,
I am thankful they left my lap top.
And lastly I am thankful we are all safe.

My heart was hurting and I wished bad things upon the person, I even said out loud that I hope they bleed to death. But this morning I prayed that they were okay. And if they needed money that bad, I prayed some would come there way in a better form. I pray the Lord touch their hearts.

But dont think I do NOT have a gun nearby... I kept it in arms reach last night and will for a while. Dont think I wont be ready to use it. Dont think I WONT use it.

I have never felt so violated. And downright scared to death. I didn't sleep a wink.

I know it will get better, but right now, I am on edge and I am packing heat!

Happy Birthday to me, right??

I am going to try to take pics today to upload, cuz it was dark last night...
Can you believe this crime happened in between 7-9PM? Crazy!!

Quilt Along: Block 11

So I am trudging along with my Quilt along, we are now on block number 11 out of 13! I am so close!

The blocks are getting more difficult, this weeks was a real stinker! It took a lot of time and seam ripping to get it correct. But it is finished!

It is titled: Read Books All Summer

Looks simple enough, but it wasnt, trust me!

Here are my versions...

And here are my quilt blocks together so far...