Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Birthday Rebecca

The host site is down at HSB where I typically blog, so I'm taking this time to try out a new host.  So far it has taken me a LONG time to load the pictures individually.  Not sure if there is a trick that I'm missing on this!  (Please share if there is!)

This year Thanksgiving fell on the same day as Rebecca's birthday.  I remember a friend telling me when she was born that she really loved having her birthday close to Thanksgiving as an adult - because it meant she spent it with family.  I hope Rebecca will enjoy that too.  I will admit that it was a little challenging trying to celebrate both on the same day. 

We drove up the mountains to spend the holidays with my parents.  My sister and her family met us there.  Rebecca again baked pies.  Eliana found them while she was getting them ready this year and decided to try them out - before they were cooked!

We enjoyed playing games.

And of course cooking.

The girls had fun making and decorating cookies.  The boys liked eating them!

The boys received "money machines" as a late birthday gift.  It's a box with a tab sticking out of the top.  When you pull it, money comes out and out and out.  They both loved this!

I love spending time with my family!  I'm very blessed!

Rebecca and Keri making placecards for our table.

Keri and Laura made these great cupcakes!  Aren't they amazing looking?!

We celebrated Rebecca's birthday with gifts.

And a "birthday pie" (yes it is one that she made). 

Happy 15th Birthday precious girl!

Cousins having fun!

Some photos of my kids

Eliana found the chocolate in the pantry.

My sister and I with our hubbies.

Another tradition - a group shot of our children on this wall.

I love the tradition of being with my family at Thanksgiving.  I love that our children have things that they know "we do" each year.  This is such a fun holiday.  We relax, eat food, play games, read books and watch football (or the cooking channel).  Its sweet being with people you love and I'm grateful for my wonderful family!

Love
Leslie

Seeing Stars

I'm going to try to move some posts from my old blog to this new one.  We'll see how it goes.  I haven't found a way to do it quickly.  Would love tips if anyone has them!

Ever have a time when things that you thought were one way, were suddenly revealed to be another?  As if your eyes were opened in a different way?  It reminds me of the Bible verse about how we see through a glass dimly now, but one day we shall see face to face.

I think there is much in this life that we don’t see like He does.  I often pray for God to give me His eyes.  I sometimes wonder if or how He might answer that prayer.  For me, I want to be more compassionate and more understanding.  I want to view  people like He does and not through a distorted or judgemental lens.  What I didn’t realize when I first asked was that this was not something that was just given, but rather had to be learned.

It is when I walk through difficulties that often my vision is changed.  I’m able to see more or see things differently.  I can look back on the hard times in my life and see how God used those to open my eyes a bit more.  To teach me and challenge me.  Hopefully to mold me into someone that is more like Him.  I still have a long way to go.

I love it though when there are times when you know it is God opening your eyes to see something He wants you to see.  It is a glimpse I think of what heaven must be like.

Thank you Father for trials for they cause me to turn to you.  Thank you for the challenges that face me as it helps me to realize how very much I need you.  Thank you for difficult times as it helps me to be more understanding of others.  Thank you for holding me and carrying me when I don’t have the strength to walk.  Thank you for loving me when I did not deserve it.  Thank you for your promises to be with me always.  Thank you that your ways are good and perfect and that when I walk in them it gives me an opportunity to bring you glory.  What an amazing and humbling thing!  To think that the Creator of the Universe could use me.  I thank you and praise you.

In His Love,
Leslie

Seeing stars

Ever have a time when things that you thought were one way, were suddenly revealed to be another?  As if your eyes were opened in a different way?  It reminds me of the Bible verse about how we see through a glass dimly now, but one day we shall see face to face.

I think there is much in this life that we don't see like He does.  I often pray for God to give me His eyes.  I sometimes wonder if or how He might answer that prayer.  For me, I want to be more compassionate and more understanding.  I want to view  people like He does and not through a distorted or judgemental lens.  What I didn't realize when I first asked was that this was not something that was just given, but rather had to be learned.

It is when I walk through difficulties that often my vision is changed.  I'm able to see more or see things differently.  I can look back on the hard times in my life and see how God used those to open my eyes a bit more.  To teach me and challenge me.  Hopefully to mold me into someone that is more like Him.  I still have a long way to go.

I love it though when there are times when you know it is God opening your eyes to see something He wants you to see.  It is a glimpse I think of what heaven must be like.

Thank you Father for trials for they cause me to turn to you.  Thank you for the challenges that face me as it helps me to realize how very much I need you.  Thank you for difficult times as it helps me to be more understanding of others.  Thank you for holding me and carrying me when I don't have the strength to walk.  Thank you for loving me when I did not deserve it.  Thank you for your promises to be with me always.  Thank you that your ways are good and perfect and that when I walk in them it gives me an opportunity to bring you glory.  What an amazing and humbling thing!  To think that the Creator of the Universe could use me.  I thank you and praise you.



In His Love,

Leslie

Good news ... bad news

I have a lot of things to post about - Thanksgiving, Rebecca's birthday and more.  Hopefully, I'll catch up soon.  This week is crazy busy though, so we'll see.  I had something though that couldn't wait.

Eliana had her regular well child appointment yesterday.  It was long.  We met with her beloved ped who reviewed the results from her cardio visit.  I asked if they had also noted that she was unhappy with everything and did not want to be there.  She laughed and said the note was "unable to examine".  Thankfully our Dr L is wonderful and was able to do a full exam on Eliana - even though she was NOT thrilled with it.  Ears are fine.  Small murmer and leak in her heart - though nothing to worry about now.  Height and weight - on the small side.

I'm going to digress here for a moment.  For those of you with children that have Down syndrome (Ds), you know about the height/weight chart for kids with Ds.  Since kids with Ds don't grow at the same rate as kids without the extra chromosome, a growth chart to match their growth was developed.  I liked this and found it really helpful.  Well, turns out the governing bodies (not sure which one) decided this wasn't necessary, so now they will be measured on a typical chart.  Umm, well great.  I know she is tiny - and likely always will be.  She is at the 1st percentile for height and weight.  I looked her up on the Ds chart though and she is 25th for weight and 60th for height.  :-)

Back to the exam.  We have missed our appt at the local Ds Clinic due to them changing our appointments in the summer.  Its on the ONE day during the week that I can't go - our field trip/co-op day.  We are scheduled there for next summer.  Since we haven't been able to go, we decided to go ahead and do the necessary lab work.  I know too she needs to get a neck/spinal x-ray.  Dr L wrote a script for her to have that asap - though after examining her she changed it to "during the next year".  LOL  She would not be sedated for this and given her extreme anxiety with doctors, I don't think she would cooperate at all!  Not really sure how to change or help this and if you have suggestions - I'm open to hearing them!

So, she had blood drawn.  Don't you know that this helped greatly with her fear of being at the doctor's office?!  I held her down while she cried and cried.  I hate doing that.  I sang to her and tried to make it better, but not sure I helped at all.  The blood drawn would be checked for a number of things including leukemia, thyroid problems, celiac, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc.  That's all that I remember.  She told me the results would be in by the end of the week.

When I got a phone call this morning - I knew.  I knew that something was wrong.  Dr. L (who came in on her day off to go over the results and talk with me) told me the good news first.  She does not have leukemia.  Praise God!  This is still something she will be tested for yearly, but for now it's clear.  Her thyroid looks good too.  All of these screens are done because children with Ds are at a higher risk of having complications in a variety of areas.  Can you guess what is coming next?  I really didn't think she would have this.

Celiac disease.

My sweet baby has celiac disease.  She tested positive for the antibodies.  (For those in the know, her IGA was normal so there is a lesser chance of this being a "false positive".)  The next step is a biopsy of her intestines.  This may take several months to schedule.  We'll just wait and see.  Until then, we aren't to change anything in regards to diet so that they can get accurate results.

This is an autoimmune disease.  Since we already have one child with an autoimmune disease (diabetes), there is a risk for all our children and Dr L wants all of them tested for celiac.  (Needless to say they were not thrilled to hear that!)

Dr L told me to stay calm and not panic.  This isn't as bad as some of the things we have dealt with.  I know I will try not to think about it.  It will be a big change though - big.  And I'm guessing expensive?  Just seems like one more loss of normal when it comes to food.

So, it looks like I'm still in continuing education when it comes to getting the medical degree.  (Just kidding here!)  More to learn and process and manage.  More reason to fall to my knees and lean on the only One who can give us the strength to deal with this.  This is no surprise to God and I know He will use it for His good and His glory - if I will let Him.  He is the giver of all good things.  While I don't view this as a good thing, I know that He can use to for good in my life, in my family's life and in the lives of those around us.

Please pray for us as we walk yet another new path.  If you have advice or suggestions - please share.

With love

Leslie

Pampered Chef Fundraiser

Just a few updates.  This is a sticky post so scroll down for newer posts.

Pampered Chef party at my house TODAY  - December 3rd at 7pm.   

Please come and bring a friend if you want!

If you would like to order online, go to this site.  Please make sure that I'm listed as the hostess.  We will close this show on Monday 6 Dec

www.pamperedchef.biz/30mintdinr

Thank you for your help!  If you have questions, please ask!

Blessings

Leslie

Adoption

This has been a hard post for me to write.  I've been working on it for days.  I think sometimes I feel like it's not really something I should be talking about - adoption.  Its not like I've adopted, so who am I to talk?  I figure too though that there are probably a lot of people in the same position as me.  Even though I'm not adopting, I can still make a difference.  And so can you!

It's National Adoption Month.  Its being talked about in a lot of places now.  Adoption.  What does the word conjure up for you?  For many it is a word filled with emotion - exciting, frightening and overwhelming.  I think the sheer numbers alone overwhelm us.  147 million orphans.  Can you even wrap your head around that number?  I know I can't.



It hurts my heart to think of so many children without a mom and dad.  With no family.  I can't imagine how hard that must be.  I look at my own life and know how very much my own family has blessed me and helped to shape who I am.  They have given me hope, encouragement, courage and lots of love.  I've always been thankful for my family.  Learning about orphans though has given my thankfulness a whole new dimension.



I have learned recently that some people think we adopted Eliana.  (These are obviously new friends.)  I wasn't sure why until one friend said it was the bumper sticker on my car.  (One for Reece's Rainbow.)  Another friend said it was because I had talked about it.  (I love to advocate for Reece's Rainbow.)  In case anyone reading wonders - she isn't adopted.  As a sweet friends says, she is "home-grown".



Though Eliana isn't adopted, it was her life that opened my eyes to so many things - including the need for parents to adopt special needs kids.

I found Reece's Rainbow after Eliana was born.  We participated in the first Angel Tree the year she turned 1.  That was 3 years ago.  I've seen this ministry grow and flourish in that time.  It's truly exciting.

Still there is such great need.  For many families, money is all that stands in the way of them adopting.  Will you join me in praying for these children and the families working to bring them home?  If you are interested in finding out more, you can visit the Reece's Rainbow website.  Over the next month, I'm advocating for  Anya.  If you would like to donate to her fund, you can do so by clicking on the chip-in button in the right side-bar.  Any gift is tax deductible.

I truly want more people to know the joy of having a child with Down syndrome in their lives.  I remember being so scared of the diagnosis at first.  I wish I had known then what I know now.



I know though that I had to learn it myself - and some of it through great trials.  Her first year was filled with so many challenges.  And yet, the joy is also unmistakable.  I've learned to slow down and to let go.  I've learned to look at things differently.  I know I have much yet to learn.



Her eyes.  It was that feature that first told me that my daughter had Down syndrome.  I didn't know when I first gazed at her eyes, that mine would be changed.  I didn't know all that was in store for me.  I had no way to know of the joy that was to come.



If you want to read a poignant and stirring blog post on adoption, please visit No Greater Joy Mom and her post called Reckless Abandon.

I want these children around the world to know the joy of a home.  Of a family.  Of kisses from a mom as she tucks them in bed.  Of hugs from a Daddy that help them feel secure.  Every child needs to be loved.  Every child has gifts to give.  Every child is a blessing.  Please join me in praying for these children that need a family.

Blessings

Leslie

FIAR Co-op for Clown of God

This co-op was actually a couple of days prior to our Family Event - but here you go for details.  This is our Beyond co-op taking a break from Homer Price so that we could instead focus on a Five in a Row title - Clown of God.  I loved having this time to get our group ready for the event.  As always- it was a ton of fun!  It was a goreous day and we all loved learning and being outside!

We started talking some about the Renaissance period and music.  Check out the beautiful display.



The children were then able to make their own musical instruments from a wide variety of objects - from boxes to metal pieces, from pipe cleaners to rubber bands, from washers to beads and more!



They all loved doing this!



Just the freedom to explore and express themselves was a delight to each of them.



I loved seeing their creations.



A bountiful and delicious snack.



The next part of our morning was spent on drama - and the many facets of it!  From inflection to how you move your body, to use of props and color and more!  Again - what fun!  The children were challenged to work in groups with the colors to see how creative they could be in their display of color.





Next, some of the scenes from the book were embellished.  Or a "missing scene" might have been added.  The children learned how the tone of voice and actions could change the meaning altogether.  For example, when Senora Baptista gives Giovanni soup, does she do it with kindness filling his bowl to the top.  Or does she do it grudgingly and quickly?  Really interesting to ponder.

Each child was given a costume or prop and told to act out a bit of the story to see if by actions the others could guess his or her intent.







I'm not sure what they were supposed to be doing with the colored balls - but they had a great time throwing them at each other.



Like Giovanni in the story, the children had time to experiment with putting on a clown's face.





Some were a little less traditional.



And some a little more traditional.  Didn't she do a great job applying all of this herself?



And then some just do their own thing.  LOL



All in all, it was a wonderfully fun day.  As always, I'm incredibly thankful to be a part of this co-op!  Thanks Lynn and Julie for an awesome day of fun and learning!



Blessings

Leslie

Pampered Chef Fundraiser

I'm going to be hosting a Pampered Chef party as a fundraiser for Anya.  I'll be posting details here soon! 

This would be a great time to do some shopping for Christmas gifts or other gifts.  A neat opportunity to buy something and at the same time help a little girl find a family!

I'll be hosting a physical party on Friday Dec 3rd at my house.  I would LOVE to have you attend - and please feel free to bring friends!  I'll also be taking orders on-line if you aren't close or can't come to the show.

If you would like an evite - please let me know and I'll get one to you.  Thanks for considering this!

Blessings

Leslie