At dinner we tell our "best part of the day." In November, we mix it up and tell one thing that we are thankful for each night. Both of these allow us to really focus on the positives of the day. It keeps us connected to each other.
It's always great to hear what my kids are thankful for. I hear school, tacos, family, drama class, friends, etc...I love hearing how they handle the things going on in their lives. I love learning about new friends, old friends, the days activities.
Tonight, Ariez told us he was thankful for death. Whatever you say you're thankful for, you have to tell us why. He said "death gives us a chance to realize how awesome life is."
Wow...this boy! The wonderful, beautiful, energetic, thoughtful boy. This boy who has lost more in life than most of us could ever imagine. This boy who would have any and all right to be moody, depressed, act out...any of those things and many more. This boy who has been so hurt in life.
He gets it. He knows. He's right. He knows that being thankful for death doesn't mean it's not okay to be sad about death. He knows being thankful for death doesn't mean we don't miss those who've died. He just knows that we need death. That sometimes death reminds us how awesome life is.
Wow
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Monday, November 3, 2014
Halloween
Thursday was trunk-or-treat at church. It was SUPER cold but the kids didn't seem to mind. They ran around to each of those trunks as many times as they were allowed. There were hot dogs, chips, bounce houses, a giant blow-up slide, a cake walk. I think the kids did the cake walk about 10-15 times and still couldn't win! As if we needed the extra treats.
On Friday my work hosted trick-or-treaters. My phone is full of pics of so many cute kiddos. Sadly, it appears I didn't take any pictures of my own cute kiddos! Epic MOM FAIL moment!! For work we made "mummy bars" (Hershey bar wrapped in streamer and googly eye stickers) and we had juice boxes decorated as pumpkins and Frankensteins.
That night our friendly neighbors came over for 50 cent corn dogs. The kids had a bobbing for apple game and some kind of nasty green slime game. They trick-or-treated while the grown ups played games. It's so nice having a teenager who likes to take the younger ones. Much warmer for mom that way.
Ariez didn't make it long before his leg was really bothering him but his siblings and friends shared some of their candy with him.
Oh...even though we have no pictures, we had a baker (bet you can't guess who that was), a ninja (another tough one), a Scream costume (G), and a nurse zombie (R). Trey has never really been excited about trick-or-treating so he stayed home.
On Friday my work hosted trick-or-treaters. My phone is full of pics of so many cute kiddos. Sadly, it appears I didn't take any pictures of my own cute kiddos! Epic MOM FAIL moment!! For work we made "mummy bars" (Hershey bar wrapped in streamer and googly eye stickers) and we had juice boxes decorated as pumpkins and Frankensteins.
That night our friendly neighbors came over for 50 cent corn dogs. The kids had a bobbing for apple game and some kind of nasty green slime game. They trick-or-treated while the grown ups played games. It's so nice having a teenager who likes to take the younger ones. Much warmer for mom that way.
Ariez didn't make it long before his leg was really bothering him but his siblings and friends shared some of their candy with him.
Oh...even though we have no pictures, we had a baker (bet you can't guess who that was), a ninja (another tough one), a Scream costume (G), and a nurse zombie (R). Trey has never really been excited about trick-or-treating so he stayed home.
Monday, October 27, 2014
The Stick (weekend pt. 2)
It was a little bigger than a stick but not quite the size of an actual branch really. Either way, when you see it sticking out of your son's leg, it looks huge!
Ariez, Trey, and M (neighbor boy) were playing swords, as all good boys do. Something went terribly wrong. While testing the strength of the Ariez' stick, he missed Trey's stick and it ended up right in his leg.
It stayed there while we called 911 and held onto him, waiting for what seemed forever for the ambulance and the professionals to get there. It turns out that dispatcher sent our ambulance to the wrong house but they got here. Our wonderful neighbor came and helped hold him down and helped to keep him calm so I could talk to the 911 operator and Steve could keep the stick from moving and doing anymore damage.
In all, we had 2 cop cars, 1 ambulance, 1 firetruck, and 1 Rescue Suburban in front of our house. The kids without sticks in them did a great job staying calm and directing the EMT's to our backyard.
Ariez rode in the back of the ambulance and I in the front for the ride to the hospital. No sirens or lights so the ride seemed to take FOREVER. Of course, that could have just been worried mom time. Steve took kids to grandma's house and then met us there.
At the hospital, the doctor asked to take pictures for learning students. I agreed as long as they did not take pictures of his incredibly, played-outside-without-shoes, dirty feet.
Ariez held on like a champ while they gave him 5 shots in the leg to numb the area. Once it was numb, and Ariez quit screaming, they pulled that stick right out and handed it to me. Ariez thought we should burn it. It stayed at the hospital after we were discharged.
Ten days of strong antibiotics. No stiches, just an open hole so that slivers can work their way out, if there are any. Antibiotic cream and gauze to cover and let it heal.
Stick-1
Ariez-0
Ariez, Trey, and M (neighbor boy) were playing swords, as all good boys do. Something went terribly wrong. While testing the strength of the Ariez' stick, he missed Trey's stick and it ended up right in his leg.
It stayed there while we called 911 and held onto him, waiting for what seemed forever for the ambulance and the professionals to get there. It turns out that dispatcher sent our ambulance to the wrong house but they got here. Our wonderful neighbor came and helped hold him down and helped to keep him calm so I could talk to the 911 operator and Steve could keep the stick from moving and doing anymore damage.
In all, we had 2 cop cars, 1 ambulance, 1 firetruck, and 1 Rescue Suburban in front of our house. The kids without sticks in them did a great job staying calm and directing the EMT's to our backyard.
Ariez rode in the back of the ambulance and I in the front for the ride to the hospital. No sirens or lights so the ride seemed to take FOREVER. Of course, that could have just been worried mom time. Steve took kids to grandma's house and then met us there.
At the hospital, the doctor asked to take pictures for learning students. I agreed as long as they did not take pictures of his incredibly, played-outside-without-shoes, dirty feet.
Ariez held on like a champ while they gave him 5 shots in the leg to numb the area. Once it was numb, and Ariez quit screaming, they pulled that stick right out and handed it to me. Ariez thought we should burn it. It stayed at the hospital after we were discharged.
Ten days of strong antibiotics. No stiches, just an open hole so that slivers can work their way out, if there are any. Antibiotic cream and gauze to cover and let it heal.
Stick-1
Ariez-0
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Haunted House (weekend pt. 1)
We had a BIG weekend at our house. It was supposed to be busy...we just didn't know how busy it was going to get! That will be another post. We'll start with Friday.
I don't do haunted houses...usually. Genna and her Big Friend (older) V thought it would be fun to go to a haunted house. They were gracious enough to invite Trey and Kylie. Steve was going to take them but he ended up with the flu for his weekend so I decided I would take them. I was going to just sit in the van and read. Then I thought I should concur some fears. They promised it wouldn't be so bad.
We had dinner at Don and Millie's and started the drive to Eagle Haunts at sunset. Turns out you can't see the raceway quite as well in the dark as you can when the sun is out. I drove us all the way to Elmwood before I realized we had gone too far. Thank God for GPS!
The parking lot was scary. That should have been my sign to turn around. But we met a nice man who gave us coupons for $2 off so that was a bonus!
We met this guy while standing in line.
The first haunted house (under the bleachers) was really scary. Here's the thing though, when your kid screams, that "mom" thing kicks in. Great adrenaline to make it through the crazed tour! At least that one!
We rode a bus to get to the 2nd one. The bus driver was standing up at one point. That was terrifying! They drop you off in the dead of night and make you go through torture. There were zombies, booby traps, clowns with chainsaws! We had to go down a tube slide on a potato sack...IN THE DARK! The kids left me in the maze of scary clowns. Left me! At one point someone, I won't name name's but it wasn't me, screamed and declared "I peed my pants a little!"
They give you cool 3d glasses to wear! How bad can it be? HORRIBLE!!! TERRIFYING AND HORRIBLE!!! Things kep screaming jumping out of the walls and screaming at me. Floating bodies coming at you in the fog with screaming mouths. It was insanely scary!
It was SO MUCH FUN!! This experience will be one that I will remember forever. I'm not sure I'd go again but this is a moment I wouldn't give back for anything in the world. 
I don't do haunted houses...usually. Genna and her Big Friend (older) V thought it would be fun to go to a haunted house. They were gracious enough to invite Trey and Kylie. Steve was going to take them but he ended up with the flu for his weekend so I decided I would take them. I was going to just sit in the van and read. Then I thought I should concur some fears. They promised it wouldn't be so bad.
We had dinner at Don and Millie's and started the drive to Eagle Haunts at sunset. Turns out you can't see the raceway quite as well in the dark as you can when the sun is out. I drove us all the way to Elmwood before I realized we had gone too far. Thank God for GPS!
The parking lot was scary. That should have been my sign to turn around. But we met a nice man who gave us coupons for $2 off so that was a bonus!
We met this guy while standing in line.
The first haunted house (under the bleachers) was really scary. Here's the thing though, when your kid screams, that "mom" thing kicks in. Great adrenaline to make it through the crazed tour! At least that one!
We rode a bus to get to the 2nd one. The bus driver was standing up at one point. That was terrifying! They drop you off in the dead of night and make you go through torture. There were zombies, booby traps, clowns with chainsaws! We had to go down a tube slide on a potato sack...IN THE DARK! The kids left me in the maze of scary clowns. Left me! At one point someone, I won't name name's but it wasn't me, screamed and declared "I peed my pants a little!"
They give you cool 3d glasses to wear! How bad can it be? HORRIBLE!!! TERRIFYING AND HORRIBLE!!! Things kep screaming jumping out of the walls and screaming at me. Floating bodies coming at you in the fog with screaming mouths. It was insanely scary!
It was SO MUCH FUN!! This experience will be one that I will remember forever. I'm not sure I'd go again but this is a moment I wouldn't give back for anything in the world.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Washington, D.C.
The boys are going to Washington, D.C. in March! We've made the commitment to them and now we just have to come up with the money. The whole family is in on the fundraising. It's so amazing to see my kids rally around each other to help each other reach their goals.
The trip is through the school. Tai went when she was an 8th grader. It's so much fun and they learn a LOT! It's such a great experience for them. I'm excited...and nervous (cuz I'm the mom and I'm supposed to be!)
If you'd like to donate and haven't received an email or seen it on fb, let me know! I would be happy to send you an email.
The boys both have separate accounts. I am sending out two emails because there are two boys. If you are able to donate, please don't feel like you need to donate to both. Any amount gifted is incredibly appreciated. The boys don't even see these accounts so they have no idea who donated to who.
And we're off on another adventure!!
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day
Today is the day set aside to remember all of our angel babies. Not that we would forget them if we didn't have a day but it's nice that the exists.
In 2004, (I know it's a really old study) 15.6% of all preganancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth. I'm not sure if that seems like a lot to you or not. I know if I'm told I only have a 16% chance of something, I don't get too excited. The 16% percent doesn't mean anything to you if you have an angel baby either. It doesn't make you feel any better to know that 16% of the pregnant population is experiencing the same thing.
Most of us know somebody, or are somebody, who has an angel baby. Steve and I have 6 angel babies. I have one more so that makes 7. Each loss effected us in different ways.I think about our angel babies. Some days I think about them a lot and some days I not as much. They are missed and loved. I know I'll be with them again.
Our children know about our angel babies. They think it's funny that they could have 6 other siblings. I've told them that it doesn't really work like that.
When Anitra died, G told me that she could now be with our Heaven babies while we are with her Earth babies. That sounds okay to me. They are all safe.
We love you angel babies. We miss you and getting the chance to know you. We will meet someday.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Women of Faith
I was so blessed this weekend to attend the Women of Faith Tour this year at the Pinnacle Bank Arena. When it was announced that they were coming I desperately wanted to go but did not see how that would be possible. I didn't want to go alone and the tickets were a little expensive. I prayed about it...many times.
As always, God provided a way for that to happen. It was a blessing to be sure.
Here's the biggest thing...Women of Faith...THEY ARE JUST LIKE US!!! They make mistakes, they fail, they struggle to always do the best things, they live lives just like us, they struggle with the same daily issues that all the rest of us struggle with. They are really just like us.
That's probably because anyone woman can truly be a woman of faith. Not all of us can be in the ministry like they are, leading us to be our own women of faith. But all you have to do be a woman of faith is have faith. And it's even ok if somedays, you can have more faith than others. Even if sometimes, you don't think your faith is strong is enough.
The last day and a half are ones that I will keep in my soul forever. These beautiful women had the faith in us to stand up in front of thousands of people and share their lives with us. They shared their very real, not always perfect lives with us. They shared with us how to be better women of faith, knowing that we too have made mistakes, knowing that we WILL make mistakes, and knowing that being a true woman of faith makes all of that okay.
Thank you to my beautiful friend and mentor Heather who has been with me every step of my walk of faith. Being there with you is something I will cherish always.
As always, God provided a way for that to happen. It was a blessing to be sure.
Here's the biggest thing...Women of Faith...THEY ARE JUST LIKE US!!! They make mistakes, they fail, they struggle to always do the best things, they live lives just like us, they struggle with the same daily issues that all the rest of us struggle with. They are really just like us.
That's probably because anyone woman can truly be a woman of faith. Not all of us can be in the ministry like they are, leading us to be our own women of faith. But all you have to do be a woman of faith is have faith. And it's even ok if somedays, you can have more faith than others. Even if sometimes, you don't think your faith is strong is enough.
The last day and a half are ones that I will keep in my soul forever. These beautiful women had the faith in us to stand up in front of thousands of people and share their lives with us. They shared their very real, not always perfect lives with us. They shared with us how to be better women of faith, knowing that we too have made mistakes, knowing that we WILL make mistakes, and knowing that being a true woman of faith makes all of that okay.
Thank you to my beautiful friend and mentor Heather who has been with me every step of my walk of faith. Being there with you is something I will cherish always.
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