Happy Halloween!

HAPPY

HALLOWEEN

     Last night I braved the craziness and took all 4 girls downtown Prattville to the city candy walk. The girls loved it! We seen several of our friends from preschool and seen alot of cute and SCARY costumes!  Gabby and Lily liked dressing up as well as Giovanna and Isabella. Last year Gabby and Lily had only been home a few months and dressing up, walking around town and getting candy was new for them. I have to say Gabby really got the hang of holding her bag out and wanting it to be filled.  Its so funny watching her!

Today, both of their schools had their parties and little activities, so I will post pictures later tomorrow of all the girls.

Tonight, William will come home and we will take the girls around trick n treating and possibly to the church for our festival. This time of year is alot of tun with the kids. I remember when Lyndsey and Michael were little...they both loved to dress up and go out! 

Lyndsey come home this weekend so she could go to the Dr's. Her and several of her friends are dressing up to hand out candy at Amanda's house... 

 MIKE we wish you were home buddy!

Too cute...Its not my fault!

A woman in a hot air balloon realizes she is lost. She lowers her altitude
and spots a man fishing from a boat below.

She shouts to him, 'Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would
meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am.'

The man consults his portable GPS and replies, 'You're in a hot air balloon,
approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level.
You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.0 9
minutes west longitude.

She rolls her eyes and says, 'You must be supporting John McCain!'

'I am,' replies the man. 'How did you know?'

'Well,' answers the balloonist, 'everything you tell me is technically
correct, but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still
lost. Frankly, you're not much help to me.

The man smiles and responds, 'You must be for Obama.'

'I am,' replies the balloonist. 'How did you know?'

'Well,' says the man, 'You don't know where you are or where you're going.
You've risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a
promise that you have no idea how to keep, and now you expect me to solve
your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met,
but, somehow, now it's my fault.'

GUESS WHAT??????

EXTREME HOME MAKOVER IS COMING TO OUR AREA AND ARE LOOKING FOR A FAMILY TO SURPRISE!!!! WE WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU WOULD WRITE SOMETHING UP FOR US AND SEND IT TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED BELOW!!! THIS WOULD TOTALLY BE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR OUR FAMILY....WITH 6 KIDS AND 3 BEING SPECIAL NEEDS-HAVING A HOME FOR US ALL WOULD BE AWESOME!!! MILITARY PAY JUST DOESNT ALWAYS CUT IT WHEN NEEDING A LARGER HOME FOR A GRAWING ACTIVE FAMILY!


ABC’s EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION SEARCHING FOR HEROIC FAMILIES

HOLLYWOOD, CA –October 20th, 2008
Do you know a hometown hero whose home deserves an Extreme Makeover? If so, the producers of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition want to hear from you.

Ty Pennington and his crew have been all across the map and now they want to drive that famous bus to Alabama!

“We are looking for inspirational families that America can really root for,” says Casting Director, Quintin Strack.

What does it take to be picked for an Extreme Makeover? Strack says, “we are in search of real heroes…people that have amazing strength and who have put their own needs aside to help someone else.”

To be eligible, a family must own their own single family home and be able to show producers how a makeover will make a huge difference in their lives.

Interested parties should e-mail a short description of the/their family story to at: castingalabama@gmail.com
DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 31st!


Nominations must include the names and ages of each member of the household along with a description of the major challenges within the home. Also be sure to explain why this family is deserving, heroic, or a positive role model in their community. If possible, include a recent photo of the family. Don’t forget to include a contact phone number.

The deadline for nominations is October 31st, 2008. Don’t Delay!


Each episode begins with team leader Ty Pennington’s now-famous “Good morning!” wake-up call, when he, along with the other designers, surprises the unsuspecting family with news that their home has been chosen to receive a makeover. Then viewers witness not only the unbelievable transformation of the house, but during the final and emotional reveal, they see how the home makeover has impacted the lives of the deserving families.

The design team includes team leader Ty Pennington, with designers Paul DiMeo, Paige Hemmis, Michael Moloney, Ed Sanders, Tracy Hutson, Tanya McQueen, Eduardo Xol and John Littlefield. New designers for this season will be Rib Hillis and Didi Ayer.

***About ABC-TV’s Extreme Home Makeover Edition***
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is in its 6th season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Anthony Dominici is the executive producer; and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.

Got alot done today...

This morning was Angel Food pick up... I headed out and ended up having to wait as the truck was late getting to our site. William kept all the girls so that was nice! When I got home and unloaded everything, I made lunch and then Will took all 4 girls outside and set up their moonwalk. they played outside all afternoon while I went through all their clothes and weeded them out!!! Man, can you say we have alot of good clothes to bless someone else with??

Once the girls come in we gave them all showers and sat down for supper! Finished supper, got them all in the bed and baked a large brownie for william to have some guy friends over to watch UFC! They love watching this! I sat down with them for a while.....now here i am!

The Alabama game was a good one!!! ROLL TIDE!!!

Well not much more to say, Im tired and need to hit the sack!

Some brain info for ya,,,

This is really intresting. William just sent it to me and I had to share it with you all.....

Kinda makes you really think about things....


http://release.theplatform.com/content.select?pid=x7aVOMrlfkkijQwcLllwk6WjB5JE0zrF

Why I CAN NOT vote for Obama...LONG POST

Why I Can't Vote For Obama
By Huntley Brown

Dear Friends,

A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent out an e-mail with a few points. With the election just around the corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list have seen some of this before but its worth repeating..

First I must say who ever wins the election will have my prayer support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need to explain why I will not be voting for him.

Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness.
I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ follower) means he leads I follow. I can't dictate the terms he does because he is the leader.
I can't vote black because I am black I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first black second. Neither should anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I know Jesus and accepted him as Lord and savior.

In an election there are many issues to consider but when a society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning to name a few wrong economic concerns will soon not matter.

We need to follow Martin Luther King's words don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I don't know Obama so all I can go off is his voting record.
His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in the US Senate in 2007.
NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (01/31/2008)
To beat Ted Kennedy and Hilary Clinton as the most liberal senator, takes some doing.

Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what would happen to America if he had four years to work with.

There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 % ratings.
There is a reason the homosexual community supports him.
There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc loves him.
There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court.
There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill.
There is a reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
There is a reason he voted no on partial birth abortion.
There is a reason he voted no on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito.
These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.

Let's take a look at the practice he wanted to continue.

The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedure:

A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg with forceps.
(Remember this is a live baby)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.
God help him.

There is a reason Obama opposed the parent notification law.
Think about this you can't give a kid an aspirin without parental notification but that same kid can have an abortion without parental notification. This is insane.

There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years.
Obama tells us he has good judgment but he sat under Jeremiah Wright teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wrights sermons. I wonder why now?
Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28 v 19 - 20: "Go and make disciples of all nations". This means reproduce your self. Teach people to think like you, walk like you, talk like you believe what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah Wright teach him?

Would you support a White President who went to a church which has tenants that said they have a
1. Commitment to the White Community
2. Commitment to the White Family
3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the White Community.
5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions 6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace the White Value System 7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System."
Would you support a President who went to a church like that?
Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenents of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been marching outside.
This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up after 20 years and just discovered he went to a racist church. The church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race. He came for the whole world.
A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if it's a white church or a black church its still wrong.

Anyone from either race that attends a church like this would never get my vote.
Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book A Black Theology of Liberation. Cone once wrote: "Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him.
Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. D oes Obama believe this?

So what does all this mean for the nation?
In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing judgment.
Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king.
First God says 1 Samuel 1 v 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.'
Then God says
1 Samuel 1 v 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king
you have chosen, and the LOR D will not answer you in that day.'
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they said. 'We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.'
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LOR D . 22 The LOR D answered, 'Listen to them and give them a king.'

Here is what we know for sure:
God is not schizophrenic
He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote for McCain. As the scripture says a city divided against itself cannot stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God.
Maybe I am the one not hearing but I know God does not change and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.

For all my friends who are voting for Obama can you really look God in the face and say Father based on your word, I am voting for Obama even though I know he will continue the genocidal practice of partial birth abortion.

He might have to nominate three or four Supreme Court justices, and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will be making laws that are against you.
I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the other way because of the economy.

I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions. Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends.
Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the nation;
1 Whose value system should be placed on the nation?
2 Who should determine that this is the right value system for the nation?

Blessings

OH MY OH MY OH MY!!!!

You all have to see this...WARNING.....DO NOT LET LITTLE ONES SEE THIS..IT IS VERY GRAPHIC.....

This happens everyday here in America....oVER one million BABIES ARE KILLED each year in America....I have ALWAYS believed in PRO LIFE and after this video my convictions still remain and now they are even stronger...HELP us America....Obama is for abortion even up to the 9th month... DID YOU HEAR ME???? THE 9TH MONTH!!!!!

Please watch this video and help spread the word....every single child is GOD'S CHILD....He planned each and everyone of them.....If a woman gets pregnant, and doesnt want to parent, there are so many families just waiting on the sidelines to have that blessing......

http://www.durarealidad.com/

REMEMBER THIS IS VERY GRAPHIC BUT OH SO REAL, AND MUST BE SEEN AND HEARD!

Be a blessing...

Revelations 3:8

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly! 'The power of one sentence! God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close. Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing...

God is really teaching me the true meaning of totally trusting in HIM ...there are some things I am dealing with on a personal note and I really could use some good ol Prayer! So, my moto is totally.....TRUST HIM AND LEARN TO FLY! This is exactly what I am doing right now..,,just trusting in the only one who knows whats best for me....my LORD!

People who want to follow our journey

To the Right side of our blog there is a spot for you to click and follow along with our blog...I would love to see you all do that...It is so neat to see who all follows and from where you all are at in the world..

SO PLEASE sign it to follow our blog

Tonight

Tonight my sweetheart and I will go to dinner. I had signed up to do a mystery shop at the TEXAS Roadhouse Bar and Grill...its new here to Montgomery...so this should be fun!!! A FREE dinner at a nice place with just my baby and I!!!

My girlfriend is gonna come over when we put the girls to bed and off we will go. My girls are so good about going to bed right at 7pm.....Im ever so glad we got them on a consistant schedule...their little bodies need it! We wake up and start getting ready for the day at 6am (well that is IF Bella doesnt decide that 5am sounds better!! And believe you me that is about 6% of the time!)

So I wont be back on tonight...have a great one!!!

Just precious!

You have gotta go check this out!
http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2008/10/marie-thrse-gown-giveaway.html

URGENT prayer request

Subject: Urgent Prayer Request For YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Missionaries In India

This is a request for prayer for YWAM missionaries and their churches in Orissa , India . Please read and make this a matter of urgent prayer.


Dear beloved sponsors and friends of Good News India:

We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile State in India as far as the Gospel is concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work. But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage.... And it seems to be totally under the radar of the Western Media ....

Let me explain.... A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and 'reconverting' people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last weekend. Immediately the Christians were blamed. The cry rose up...'Kill the Christians!' And the horror began.... In the past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of Christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ. Night and day I have been in touch with our Good News India Directors spread across 14 Dream Centers in Orissa... they are right in the middle of all this chaos. In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of 70 blood-thirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc. They have promised to come back and 'finish the job.' Our kids and staff are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors and windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer. More police have come to offer protection. In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minutes notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes or any personal belonging. As they fled, the blood thirsty mob came to kill everyone in the building. We would have had a mass funeral there, but for His grace. In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions.

The local Hindu people, our neighbors turned them away by saying that there were no Christians in this area. So they left. We had favor. The same thing happened in Balasore. All our dream centers are under lock down with the kids and staff huddled inside and police outside. The fanatics are circling outside waiting for a chance to kill. Others were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a computer teacher in house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left on the road.... even women and children. At another orphanage run by another organization, when this began, the Director and his wife jumped on their motorbike and simply fled, leaving all the children and staff behind. Every one of our GNI directors that I have spoken to said: 'We stay with our kids.... we live together or die together, but we will never abandon what God has called us to do.' More than 5000 Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living i n great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen. This will continue for another 10 days.... supposedly the 14 day mourning period f or the slain Hindu priest. Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many more churches will be smashed down. The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm down. We ask for your prayers. Only the Hand of God can calm this storm. None of us know the meaning of persecution. But now our kids and staff know what that means. So many of our kids coming from Hindu backgrounds are confused and totally bewildered at what is happening around them. So many of their guardians have fled into the jungles and are unable to come and get them during these trying times. Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children. Orissa will be saved... that is our heart's cry.

If we can take these thousands of throw-away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they will transform an entire region. It is a long term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great Commission. What can you do? First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer. Second, pass this e-mail on to as many friends as you can. We must get the word out and increase our prayer base for this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning. We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His Kingdom. The next 10 days are crucial. We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations.... Prayer works!

Laulima Ministries InternationalP.O. Box 30606Honolulu, HI 96820 Phone: 808-486-4777 website: www.laulimaministries.com

Lily and Isabella

Yesterday Lily and Bella didnt have school (thats a norm since they only go MWF) and I headed off to Montgomery. Lily turned 5 in Sept, but with so much going on I was never able to get her to have a birthday picture taken so that's where we headed first!! Bella did so well while she was in the stroller watching Lily that she decided she needed a picture too!!! Lily made it look so much fun! So out she came and away they started snapping.....they turned out so good of both girls, BUT I had made up my mind, that since Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas pictures are all within the next YIKES 8 weeks I wasnt gonna buy them all....so I think I did great. I only bought ONE pose of each girl!!!!

Happy Birthday my sweet Lily! Im so glad you are forever my daughter!

After we got our photos back we called Daddy and met him for lunch... YUM YUM! Then the girls and I headed to Hobby Lobby and Hancock Fabrics...2 of my favorite stores! We made it home just as the bus was coming in with Gabby and Giovanna....talk about cutting it close!

Overall, we had a great day, just Mommy and the girls!!!

The homecoming queen

What a wonderful story...I watched this sitting at the table with William on Monday....What a awesome time of life this girl is having...

My first two babies!

Here are my homegrown babies!!! Lyndsey and Michael just turned 19yrs old....Man, where did the time go. They both are now living Beach in Panama City with my parents. Mike is working at Rosemary Beach and Lyndsey is working as a secretary/bookeeper fulltime and going to school at night.

She is getting ready to buy a major purchase, a new car! She is excited about that...stay tuned for the picture of her with her new ride.....

Love you both!!!

Mom

Ramblings...

Flashback for a Tuesday!

This is William holding Giovanna on our visit trip to Guatemala. She was 15mths old and weighed only 10 pounds!!!

This was my favorite picture from that trip. She loved feeling her Daddy's face, and the bond that formed between them will NEVER be broken! She is definitely one Daddy's girl.

Well I finally cut my hair off. I had let it get alittle longer past my shoulders and had finally had enough! With 4 little ones and the busy life we have, fixing my hair and it taking a while was just alittle too much for me!!! Iwill try to post a picture later.

The girls continue to do well in school... I cant believe that it is already mid month October!!! Where did the time go?? before we know it we will be sitting down for Thanksgiving.....oh my!

Who's started Christmas shopping?? ME! I have and I think it wont be too much longer and I will be done with all the little ones and just have to focus on my big kiddos!!! Man, they get harder and harder to buy for! So Lyndsey and Michael, you know the drill, start making a list and get it to me early.

I have bought all our teacher gifts, made some others, and will be glad to say Im finished hopefully before December 1st. ANyone else???

Have a great evening...

Buddy walk

We had our Down Syndrome Buddy walk on Saturday at the Montgomery zoo and had a blast. The girls were so good. Most of our team members showed up.. This year we had a sign made...and it was a huge hit with all 4 girls. Lily was our team captain, so her picture is alittle smaller on the banner(totally an after thought, because she doesnt understand why all her 3 sisters, close in age to her are on the banner and not her....they all have DS and she doesnt understand that part, because we make such a huge deal out of them all being the same, but a little different) so she became our team captain and had a few jobs to handle at the walk...like handing out our crown pins and making sure we all were accounted for and dresses straight before picture time...lol!

We had our online friends from our Reece's rainbow group also at the zoo. Shelley and her family joined our team and Amanda and her husband formed a team for their new son they hope to adopt Ean. I love this time of year...when we get to meet and see friends from all over the south east part of AL for our Buddy walk. We meet new friends each year. This year Sock Monkey Ministries was at our Buddy walk and gave every individual person there with DS a beautiful sock monkey. Our girls love theirs! Thanks so much Sock monkey ministries!!!!!

I am proud

Watch this whole video because it will give you acurate information about Down Syndrome. Our children DO NOT have a disease, and NO they DONT suffer from anything....

Enjoy! Dont forget to turn off the music to the right!!

Thank you Lord...

Amen

Every call has a beginning
A quiet moment when God whispers a promise to a mother’s heart
A holy place where a father bows and faithfully accepts the journey set before him.
A miraculous morning that unexpectedly dawns…casting its first light on a chosen threshold.
A gentle knock..a closed door opens.
A sacred invitation sent by the Father..Leads to the other side of the world.
Where lonely hearts stare out orphanage windows
Praying for someone to care..
And then one morning,On an ordinary day an orphan’s life changes...
God sends them a second chance...Through you.

--author unknown

gearing up....

We are Gearing up for the buddy walk on Saturday. If you look to the right there is a chipin button. We are still not to our goal. If you have any extra you would like to our PRINCESS team goal, we would really thank you. All monies raised goes to our local DS organization and they keep some to help with our local group and turn over a portion to the National organization to help raise awareness. What a awesome thing the NDSS and NDSC does for the Down Syndrome community. We are so thrilled to be apart of them all.

My special K's (Kennedy's momma blog) has had her one year anniversary with her blog site and is having a nice give away so go check it out....

http://www.myspecialks.com/2008/10/todays-day.html

God's Artwork

Dont forget to turn off the music on the right of the blog.

I hope you will take the time to watch this 4 min short video. It is a great way to describe my girls....they are God's artistry!!!

Fireproofing!!

I just wanted to share this link to the movie Fireproofing and the stories that have been shared....to see them go HERE.

This was a incredible movie to go see with my dear sweetheart! Watching it, I remembered all to well, the feelings we had about 8.5 yrs ago....THANK GOD FOR HIS INTERVENTION AND THE LOVE OF MY HUSBAND....THANKS BABY.... FOR STICKING IT OUT WITH ME!!!!! I LOVE YOU WILLIAM MORE THAN WORDS CAN EVEN EXPRESS......

I am so happy to see so many people sharing their stories of how this movie has impacted their life....their families...their relationship with their spouse....What a awesome time.... its funny, overwhelming at times, and very emotional.....WELL worth the 2 hours it takes to watch it....it will change your way you view your spouse and make you realize that your marriage IS WORTH fighting for................Im so glad it was made.....I pray it saves many marriages!

This movie is a must for all ages, teens through older adults. It shows a true example of what today's couples face, and how to overcome the obstacles...............ITS A MUST SEE! Can you tell I loved this movie!!!

Lyndsey and Michael, I would love for you both to go see it!! You will like it!

SCROLL DOWN TO OCT 3 BLOG

I typed this that day but didnt upload my pictures, I thought it would save the draft and date it the day you posted it but it didnt....

So scroll down to Oct 3 and view Lily's day at the pumpkin patch....she was so cute!!!

Look at this great site...its closing today..get a good deal!

Today is the last day for a great online store. It sells all organic things, and also great baby carriers and cloth diapers....check them out... www.wildoatsandsunshine.com

I love all the organics, and i would definitely be buying some of the clothes if it wasn't for my girls being so big....so check it out!!! Get ya a good deal at over 50% off!!! Cute stuff!!!

Tonight

My dear sweetheart and I are going on a date. We are excited to go see the great movie FIREPROOF. It was made by Christians and I hear it is just awesome!!!! We werent able to go last weekend on the opening weekend, but PRAISE GOD it was sold out at just about every showing here in town.

I so look forward to seeing this....Everyone I have talked to said it was wonderful. So Im grabing my honey by the hand, and buying a bag of popcorn and drink and snuggling up together at the movies.....I will post my review tomorrow..

Take a peak at the trailer... DONT FORGET TO TURN OFF THE MUSIC TO THE RIGHT OF THE BLOG.

Today is......

Today is a day that not many orphans like to celebrate....it is a day that they are sent away to mental institutions are left there to basically die. I am not sure the whole process in India, But I do know that the society there doesn't embrace a child with a disability like we in America do.

Today, is a very special day for a very special little girl. This little girl, we will call her V, currently lives in a orphanage in India....she was brought there at 1 day old, and was found abandoned in a train station by a police officer....she has Down Syndrome. This little girl has stole my heart and she doesn't even know it!!!

I found V on a website the very first day we were in Colombia 17 mths ago to adopt our Gabby and Lily. She is a very healthy little girl and today she turns 6. she has never had a family to celebrate her birth, she has never known the love that only a Mommy and Daddy , a big brother and big sister, and 4 other sisters can give...she has never had the cuddles that only a Mommy and Daddy can give, she has never had the airplane ride in Daddy's arms around the house, she hasn't had the rough tickle time and ring around the rosie time like only a Daddy can do...she has never had the opportunity to be a DADDY'S GIRL.....

I so want this little girl to feel the love of a Momma and Daddy even if its for only one day!!! Please say a prayer for this sweet V as today she will be 6yrs old. Her orphanage very well will celebrate for her in some way, so this I am thankful. Please help me raise awareness for this sweet girl, and for all the children born with Down Syndrome all around the world, that long secretly for the love and attention that only a family can give.

V is a healthy and outgoing little girl, she goes to a school during the day and is sad when school is out for the summer. She loves playing with the other kids, eats well, dresses herself, is potty trained, uses some sign language, trys to talk, understands everything that is spoken to her, and has no heart conditions. She isnt on any medications on a daily basis....could this little girl be your long lost daughter......

Our life is not always a bed or roses with the sometime craziness all our little ones can dish out, BUT I am thankful that our girls do have a family to call their own. They have a Momma and Papa to love them unconditionally, they have a bed of their own, they have plenty of clothes and toys that are just theirs, they have older siblings that love them, they have a F A M I L Y and they now have the opportunity to know that LOVE that only our JESUS can give them...they have a HOPE for the future!!!

Lily, this week has reminded me on numerous occasions that she is so happy and glad she has a mommy and daddy now....it melts my heart!!!!

How did we choose them?

Well like I said I wanted everyone to ask away in the questions, so we can share with you all about our family....Like the saying goes, there are no dumb questions, just the ones not asked.... so here ya go...

How do you choose the child? And the country where the child comes from?

Well for us, its always been a total God thing.... When we went to Guatemala the first time, William and I so wanted to bring home a few kids, but from the Casa we were working at they do not adopt children out.....When we got home, we found Giovanna and she just happen to be in Guatemala....so there ya go!! (I cant believe that was the extremly short version...William would be proud of me!! LOL) And 11.5 months later we had her in our arms...FOREVER!!!

When we were home only a few shorts months, I knew I wanted another daughter with DS so her and Giovanna could grow up together (the twins were 15) and would have one another when they really started facing the changes of life.....and we started doing some research and WAA LAA totoally another God thing, we found out Bella was born in NYC to a East Indian woman here on vacation, with Bella having DS and heart issues, the woman felt she could not return to her home country and give Bella what she needed, so she went to a agency in NYC and placed the baby for adoption,,, We were one of 300+ families that applied for her and we were chosen by the birthfamily......so Bella was always an american citizen since she was born here....even though the birthmother was not. Talk about an easy (international) adoption. From start to finish it took us 2.5 months... and she was with us FOREVER at the age of 3 mths old.

AGAIN.. after we had both girls home and settled, I just knew the Lord was calling us to adopt again. Both Bella and Giovanna fit so perfectly into our family, it was as though they had always been with us....so I asked William about adopting again....he wasnt so jump on the band wagon this time because now we had 4 kiddos, but he did eventually say he felt the Lord saying YES... I had already inquired about a girl who was deaf and living in Colombia, and she ended up finding a family, so the agency asked were we intrested in a child with DS again....My response was YES!!!!! So they sent us the information and it took us a few months to decide and Pray about it and once we started the process was very fast!!!! This time is was alittle harder because we werent just adding a child with DS to our family we were adding 2 little girls....Gabby has Ds and a few other issues, and she had a biological typical developing sister....so we were going from 4-6 kids and this was a huge step for us.... From the date we signed with the agency to the time we traveled and had the girls with us FOREVER...was only 3 months...so off to Bogota Colombia it was!!!

NOW, I am so ready to add just one more....and I know exactly who it would be....but it hasnt been confirmed with my husband yet, so I sit back and pray every single day, that the Lord will reveal it to William OR SEND someone else to adopt her...I will be sharing more on her tomorrow as this is her birthday! I want to honor her and she may never know that someone loves her so much and is celebrating her birth, even if she is only going to be the daughter of my heart.

I hope this answered your question as to where our girls come from, how they were chosen and why we chose them.....because it was a total GOD THING and they were always meant to be our girls!!

Grand Ole Pumpkin Patch

ANOTHER FIRST.....LILY AND THE PUMPKIN PATCH!!

Friday Lily's class went to the Pumpkin patch in Clanton and we had a great time. This was really the first time out for just her and I. We went on a hay ride to the pumpkin field and picked 2 pumpkins, rode on the tractor train, rode a pony, fed animals at the petting area, and she loved the inflatable play area. She talked me into going down the 50 ft slide...man that thing goes super fast. We then had a nice little picnic and ate ice cream. She kept saying" Im so happy I have a family now and my mommy took me to the Punkin Patch!" so darn cute!!

Enjoy the pictures!!!

Her outfit turned out so cute...Thursday night I went over to Leigh's and we did some sewing, and I made this outfit.....Leigh did the pants because the top was taking me awhile...thanks LEIGH!! I wanted the outfit done so she could wear it for this fun field trip day.....

Our Banner

For the month of October I would like to use our Buddy walk banner as our header. This is to celebrate our girls with Down Syndrome............... This is the banner that our TEAM will carry during the Buddy walk here in Montgomery.... I thought it was so cute!!!


I have a question I would like to ask yall....Since I have 6 kids, 3 with DS and 3 without....how do you make they others feel just as important?? I know my older kids, now 19, understand.....but Lily is 5 and G G B are all about the same age, ....so she doesnt get it....Like on the banner, her picture isnt there....because she doesnt have DS...so i feel like im in a catch 22....how do others of you handle this??

I know silly of me to ask...but I would love to know!!

October is going to be a fun month!

Many of you may or may not know that the month of October is Down syndrome awareness month and I want to celebrate it!!

I will be taking part of the 31 for 21 GET IT DOWN blog to help bring DS awareness to all and to celebrate the birth of all my girls! Each one of our girls were born into a family and or country that didnt provide the services and have the opportunities for people with dissabilities, so we are so thrilled to have them home FOREVER and to give them the life that they all so deserve.

I have never done this before, but I know there are several of you out there wanting to know more about our family. How does it work, what are the girls like, do they all get along, how is their school, what do they like to do, or whatever you would like to know....NOW IS THE TIME TO ASK. I will be answering questions throughout the month and each day blogging something different. I know alot of people locally read our blog, and I dont know who you are...but I have been approached several times out in town and folks have commented on reading our blog....so now is your chance....ask away, ask anything you would like to know about our family, the kids big ones and little ones. All comments are moderated to noone will see your question until i post it....and feel free to post anonymously if you wish.

I cant wait to share with you all several short video clips that I have of all the girls.

Happy October!!!