Eliana's birthday

We spent a simple day with our girl.  We were scheduled to have physical therapy, but it was cancelled due to her therapist not feeling well.  That was probably a nice thing for Eliana as this is the hardest of her therapies.  It also allowed us to get in a nap before the party started. 

We had some friends join us for food and fun.  Eliana was wearing a cute little apron that her Nana made with a birthday cake on it (with 2 candles).  We took this off once the eating began so that it wouldn't get ruined.  (Not the best pic of Eliana, but you can see her cute outfit.)

We decorated simply - a princess theme for the table and pink and white balloons.  We had a dinner of one of her favorite foods - really one of the only "real meals" that she eats - spaghetti!

I made a yellow cake with chocolate frosting for our birthday girl.  After I looked at pictures, I realized that it was almost identical to last year's cake!!!  I didn't write on it which may be why the lettering looks different on them. 

Eliana tried blowing out the candle.  I'm not sure if she actually did.  We thought she did until one of her brothers confessed that he had been blowing.  lol

Eliana ate a little bit of cake - but mainly she was thrilled to have a fork.  I haven't given her a fork much as she mainly feeds herself with a spoon (with help).  So, she was intrigued with this fork.  She did stick it in the cake and sometimes got it close to her mouth.  I'm not sure if she actually ate any cake, though she did have some of the frosting.

What she did enjoy was ice cream!  Eliana loves ice cream and does really well eating it.  I think that the cold of it helps her to close her mouth better.  She ate a big bowl of it.

We opened gifts.  She received some new toys, a new Baby Signing Time DVD and a rainstick (with mirrors on each end).  She also received a musical card from her aunt which delighted her.  She would open it, listen and laugh.  It was playing the song "Who Let the Dogs Out".  I was delighted to see Eliana signing "dog" after she listened to it. 

She received another musical birthday card from a dear friend which also delighted her - it was Rachel from Signing Time singing Happy Birthday.  You can view it here if you want. 

It was fun celebrating our sweet girl.  I can't believe that she is 2!

Blessings,

Leslie

Yippee!!!

Most of my blog sidebar is recovered - and the parts that aren't, can be added.  I could never have done this on my own and have to thank some friends. 

Thank you to Renee who helped retrieve the buddy links from hsblogger.  This is a sweet gal that I just met via my blog a couple of days ago - and she volunteered to help me.  She worked me through finding and posting the list.  What a sweet new friend!

Thank you to Leanne and Abbey.  Leanne is a friend I've known for years.  We met because we used the same curriculum when our teenagers were young.  We've never met in real life as she lives across the world, but I'm thankful for her friendship via cyberworld (and would love to one day meet her).   She and her daughter helped set up and make my blog pretty - they added all the graphics and designs.  They also saved my template and thus were put things back that I had accidentally lost!  I'm so glad to have things back like they belong!  :-D

Oh, and I did copy the template so that hopefully this won't happen again!

I still need links from non- hs blogger friends.  If you comment, would you add in a link to your blog just to make it easier for me to link back to you?  Thank you!

I'll try to get back to posting more soon.  I need to put in a birthday pic or two.  :-)

Blessings,

Leslie

I goofed on my blog ...

and would love some help please!  I tried adding in a button to my blog a couple of days ago.  I put it in the side bar.  I have done this before and didn't think anything of doing it again.  Well, I learned a lesson. 

***You should have a recent and updated copy of your blog template saved in a separate location.  I thought I had done this, but  it was long ago and I can't find it.  It probably would have been missing a lot of things anyway.***

So, I've lost a lot of information that was in my sidebar.  Some of the things I'll be able to recreate (hopefully).  I would love some help here.

If you are one of my blog friends, could you post here or send me an email with your blog address so I can work on making a new "friends" list of blogs?  I know I can find a lot of them, but it would be so much easier if you could post and help me out - please.  :-D  Those that are on my friends list with homeschoolblogger - I can retrieve that list!  Whew!  It's all the others  that are hosted by different blog sites that will be a bit harder to get.

Thanks friends for your help.

Merry Christmas!
Leslie

Two Years Old!

 

 Happy Birthday Eliana Joy!!!

I can't believe that you are 2 years old! It just doesn’t seem possible. In some ways it seems like a much longer period of time and in other ways it has flown.  The first year was difficult in a lot of ways - feeding struggles, heart failure, open-heart surgery, salmonella, feeding tubes and more.    

And yet, the joy is also overwhelming. I don’t know that I can ever convey what an incredible blessing Eliana is to our family. And not just our family – she brings joy to so many others. I watch people who are just taken with her sweet personality (and she is incredibly cute too!)

When she was born, I wondered how we would handle having a child with special needs.  Would our lives be changed in ways that I didn't like?  Would we ever find "normal" again?  I found that having a child with special needs caused me to depend more on God - the One who could help us.  It meant changing the way that we lived.  It also meant that we would be changed - our priorities, our views and our values.  I'm so very thankful for that!

Eliana is such a joy!  (What a great middle name for her!)  She is loving and forgiving - incredibly so.  We can all learn from her example.  She is curious and smart and funny.  I love her sense of humor, her independence and her love of music.  I love her giggle and her smile and her signs.  I love watching her siblings love on her and have fun with her.  I love the changes I've seen because of her. 

Thank you God for blessing our family so richly two years ago.  I didn't realize then what an amazing gift you were giving us.  I'm so glad that You knew better than we did.

Here are some photos during her first few days. 

This is her first birthday. 

This is a picture of Eliana on Sunday.  

I'll post birthday pictures as soon as I'm able to.  We are planning a low-key party - ice cream and music are sure to be on the agenda. 

Happy Birthday my beautiful Eliana.  

I love you so very much,

Mommy

 

Adoption and Redemption

At this time of year, so many things go through our minds.  No matter where we are, I think that there are many memories associated with holidays.  There are many emotions too.  Thankfulness, joy and love and also sadness, loneliness and pain.  I am grateful that at this time of year many are looking for ways to reach out to others and make a difference.

Can I share again about the Angel Tree at Reece's Rainbow?  I think this is an amazing ministry that offers hope to children that need a family.  Children that due to their special needs may be less likely to be adopted than others. 

If you are still searching for a Christmas gift for someone, please consider sponsoring one of the beautiful children on the Angel Tree.  www.reecesrainbow.com

Since the Angel Tree started on Nov 1st of this year, 9 children have found their forever families.  There are still 98 children waiting.  There is great need and any gift is tax deductable. 

 I also wanted to share this amazing blog entry with you.  Please take a few minutes to go read it.  I think your heart will be touched.  It's the entry for today Sat 13 Dec 2008 if you happen to be reading my blog on a later date.  It's a beautiful story and a reminder of how adoption has touched all of our lives.

Reece's Rainbow Blog

Merry Christmas.

 Leslie

Eliana's dedication

We dedicated Eliana at our church on Sunday 15 November.  All of our children have been dedicated here - usually as infants.  Given Eliana's rocky first year, this was when she had her turn.

A couple first prayed over the children and families present.  Then each family had the opportunity to introduce themselves and their children and share a little bit.  Roger asked that I share and I happily did.

I shared that when Eliana was born with Down syndrome that it was a difficult path at first.  I know I've shared here that the book I studied when pregnant with her was James.  You know, the passage on "consider it all joy when you encounter trials".  I felt like this was a preparation for the trials that were to come.  At the time though, I didn't see clearly the end of that same chapter.  "Every good gift comes from above."  Eliana is a good gift from the One who made her perfectly - and in His image.

I shared about what a joy Eliana is to our family.  She is not what I prayed for - but is exactly what I needed.  I have grown so much in my faith through having her join our family.  I've learned more about God's grace, truth and faithfulness by walking this path with our sweet girl.  I know I still have much to learn.

I don't have a good picture of her at the dedication.  But here is a picture of her from that day.

We all then prayed and pledged to raise our children in the faith and to be a part of the church body that encourages, prays and helps all of the children grow to know more about God.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to have another child to raise - another opportunity to share God's love and to grow in the experience.

Feeling very blessed,

Leslie

Angel Tree

I wanted to share with you a group that I think it pretty special.  I've mentioned it before, but want to write more.  It's Reece's Rainbow.  This is a charity which promotes and facilitates the international adoption of children with Down syndrome.

Last year our family sponsored a child as Christmas gifts to some of our family.  I'm thrilled to see that this year, this little boy has found a family and hopefully will soon be home with them!

I've visited this site often and have to say that these children just tug on my heart.  I see such beauty and innocence.  I pray for these children every day - that they would be loved and that they would soon find a forever family.

You can help!  Won't you please visit this site and look at some of these precious children in the  Waiting Christmas Angels Gallery .  The cost of international adoption is high ($25,000 on average) and by sponsoring a child or a family, you can help a child be rescued and brought home to a loving family.

For some of these children, they will face living in an institution once they turn 4.  Most of them don't live past the first year.  This statistic just breaks my heart!

Won't you join us in sponsoring a child?  Maybe your heart will be turned toward doing more - and bringing one of them home.  Go ahead and look.  The faces are just precious.

I want to share one with you that has touched my heart.  This is Tonya.  Our family is praying for her and doing what we can to help her find a family.  Isn't she beautiful?!

If anyone is debating about a Christmas gift for me - this would be perfect - sponsoring one of these beautiful children.  If you sponsor one for $35 or more, you will receive an ornament (just do it before December 15th!). 

Please share this site with anyone you know.  The need is great and the children are so very precious.

Blessings,

Leslie

Rebecca's "Coming of Age" birthday party

We celebrated Rebecca's birthday by hosting a party a few days before her special day.  Since she was turning 13, we viewed this as a time that she is "coming of age".  We had a special time with Christopher on his birthday and looked forward to having this with Rebecca too.

We invited a few close friends to join us in a time of encouragment.  Each person that wanted to, was invited to share some encouragment with Rebecca.  I loved the variety of things that were shared from memories and Bible verses, to hopes and praises.  After we shared with her, we then spent time praying over her.  It was a sweet and tender time.

I prayed that these words would be cemented in her heart.  I pray that she will always know that she is loved, treasured and precious.  I wish I had thought to record this.  It occured to me during - but not before.  Rebecca even mentioned that this would be a good thing to be able to listen to again and again.  I did pray that God would cement these truths into her heart.

 I shared some verses that I loved with her.

God said,

"You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you."

Isaiah 43:4

Always remember how very much you are loved – by family and friends, but mostly by the One who created you and reigns in heaven.

17"The LORD your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Zeph 3:17

I'm so thankful that Rebecca was able to hear from a variety of people that she is loved.  That the gifts that God has given her are recognized and valued.  She has such a tender heart and it is something that is really appreciated by those that know her. 

Afterwards, the men and boys joined us.  We then set out for some different kinds of fun - a scavenger hunt.  The children were divided into 2 teams and given a list of things to find.  They were asked to take a photo of each item and have at least one team member in each photo if possible - and not to find more than 1 thing at each place.

Here is the list of things that they were looking for on the hunt.

__ A pumpkin

__ Christmas decorations

__Picture of a turkey

__An orange vegetable (not a pumpkin)

__A diamond that is bigger than a breadbox

__A fast food restaurant menu

__A church

__Tools

__A speed limit sign

__An advertisement for a sale

__Place with a lot of books

__An animal (can be real or not)

__A football (not belonging to our family)

Bonus:

__A person in uniform

__ A "slug bug" (VW beetle)

When they returned, the teams compared notes as to what they found - and where.  We were able to look at the pics when Roger loaded them onto the tv (via the laptop).  That was fun.

We then shared a meal together.  Rebecca helped pick the menu.

Non-alcoholic sangria

7 layer dip (There are lots of  recipes and I can't find the exact one we used.  I have it saved though if anyone wants it.)

My friend Barb's mexican casserole - YUM!

We had lemon cake and sherbet for dessert. 

Rebecca had requested that in lieu of gifts this year that money be given to a little girl named "Tonya".  Tonya is an orphan listed on the Reece's Rainbow site.  She has captured our hearts.  We pray for her - and the other children needing families daily.  We are working as a family to raise funds to help with her adoption.

We did give Rebecca a gift in addition to a donation to Reece's Rainbow.  We gave her a silver cross.  This was to signify to her where her hope lies.  I pray that it serves as a reminder to her of the One her loves her so deeply, of the One who made her and rejoices over her with singing, of the One who calls her beloved.  I'm so thankful that she is a child of the King!

We had a great day/evening celebrating Rebecca.  I wish you all could have been with us.

Blessings,

Leslie

Happy Birthday Rebecca!!!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful Rebecca! I can't believe that you are 13 years old already. That sounds so old in some ways - and yet you are still my little girl. What an amazing 13 years it has been to have you in our family!

I've been thanking God for you since the day I found out about you (on Christopher's 2nd birthday). I haven't stopped thanking Him either! What an incredible gift He has given us - and many others - in YOU! I wanted a daughter named Rebecca even before I was married. I'm so very thankful for you as you are more than I ever hoped for in a daughter.

There are so many things I could write about you - I'm not sure where to start. Perhaps with your precious heart. Your heart that reaches out to others - constantly. You are always wanting to help and often find ways to do things on your own. You began giving things to the homeless on the way to church. You started your own business making and selling bracelets to raise money for babies with heart problems (like your little sister). You are eager to participate in other projects like Samaritan's Purse and making things for the children in the local homeless shelter. Just recently, you decided that you wanted to have birthday gifts be a donation to Reece's Rainbow, an organization that helps with the adoption of children with Down syndrome from other countries. You are a beautiful example to me of a giving and selfless person.I love your creativity and eye for beautiful things. I enjoy seeing the things that you make – like the beautiful ornament last year for Christmas. I appreciate your attention to detail and desire to make things special – like at our recent Japanese meal. You went above and beyond anything I would have done by making placecards with Japanese characters, hanging lanterns and making the table beautiful.

 

I love your willingness to help others – starting at home. You do so much for all of us. I am thankful that you are willing to help your siblings in so many ways from fixing meals to helping with therapies and schooling. Our home runs so much smoother because you are always willing to jump in and help wherever you are needed.

I am thankful for your work ethic. You are a hard worker who will do things without waiting to be asked. You are diligent in doing your chores and ready to take on extra when asked or needed. You work hard and with a good attitude. Your example is a blessing.

I am thankful that you know Jesus as your Saviour. It’s so evident in your life – from the way you treat others to the way that you live day to day. I’m thankful for your desire to be more like Him and to reflect His love in your words and deeds. I thank God for you Rebecca and for the ways that you teach me more about Him.

There is so much more I can say about you sweet girl! Rebecca, you are beautiful through and through. You are a precious child of the King. I’m so very blessed to call you daughter and am so thankful for these years we’ve had. I’m looking forward to many more.

Happy Birthday precious Rebecca!

I love being your mom and I love you! 

Mommy

NOV - Quick Catch-up on a variety of things

Well, now that November is almost over, I'm going to write about some of the things that have been going on around here. 

Football - Christopher's team played in the Championship game the first week-end in November.  He team was undefeated this year going into the game.  It was a beautiful day - and great game too if you were a Saints fan!  I loved watching them play and appreciated again the good sportsmanship that is stressed to these young men!  It was an excited season!

Praying for a player who is hurt while the game is stopped. 

Keepers of the Faith - For the month of November, we worked on the Pie Baking badge.  Yum!  I think this one is going to be enjoyed by the whole family.  The girls learned a variety of things about types of pies and types of crusts.  They also made a pie to take home.  If you want to read more, you can visit my KOF blog post here. 

Field Trip - We had planned to attend a field trip which was cancelled at the last minute.  Really last minute due to weather.  Since we were already on the road, we made a spontaneous trip to the Science museum.  First though, we made a short stop at Krispy Kreme for a yummy mid-morning snack.  We watched the doughnuts being made and enjoyed our treats.  I had a pumpkin one and it was so yummy.  Eliana tried a little of it - though not much.

Next to the Science Museum in Raleigh - a great place for a rainy day (plus it's free!).

This little girl loves to climb and found a little nook behind a display that was just the right size for her.  Speaking of size ...

I love photos from behind and this one I thought was really cute of little Eliana and her big friend Dillon.

We attended a program on animals while we were there.  The teacher allowed the children to touch some of the animals - a rabbit, snake and bird.  Eliana was thrilled with this!  Can you see the delight on her face?  The teacher was quite taken with Eliana.  I like it when other people enjoy my children.

We spent some time in a hands-on nature room.  There were discovery boxes, microscopes, dress-up, toys and more!  We enjoyed this spotaneous outing with our friends!

Visitors  - My Mom and Dad came to visit.  We always enjoy spending time with them.  Eliana really took a liking to my Dad and spent a lot of time playing with him.  I think he really liked that too!

Here are a few more things that I'll post about separately.

*Our FIAR homeschool group's Family Event - an amazing cooperative event!

*Eliana's dedication

*Awesome field trip

*An incredible ministry that our family is supporting

*Fashion event

We also have some fun upcoming things this week, including Rebecca's birthday in just a few more days!  It's hard to believe she is almost 13!  My baby is becoming a young woman right before my eyes.  She is such a delight to me!

More later - hopefully not too much later.  I'll end with a few fun pics of Eliana.  She is enjoying this twirly dress.  I love her facial expressions!

Blessings,

Leslie