JDRF Walk

Our local Walk for the Cure was held the last week-end in October.  This was our second year attending and this year we asked friends to join us.  I wasn't really sure what to expect - and was thrilled when people came with us.  It blesses me greatly to see that people care about this our family, our precious son Joshua and finding a cure for this disease!  (Yes, I teared up with each walker and each donation.  It really does bless me!)  This disease is relentless and you can never, never take a break from it.  I'm thankful for the unceasing work of the JDRF in trying to find a cure!

A friend asked me recently how did I handle it when people close to you didn't seem to care about the same causes that you did.  I told her that *for me* I try to have no expectations of others - and then everything - everything - is a blessing!  I'm truly thankful for the support we received.  It's a hard thing for me to ask for money and I didn't really get the word out as well as I probably could have.  (Several people asked why we didn't tell them about it.  I guess I just don't want to be a pest, kwim?)  It is for a good cause and finding a cure would be an amazing thing for many, many people.

Our day started early.  Last year we were stuck in awful traffic so we decided to try to beat the crowd this year.  We succeeded.  We also went in a "back way" thanks to a friend which was also a great tip!  We caravanned in with most of our team so we wouldn't struggle in finding each other.  (The crowd was about 7000 strong.)  We parked and then headed in.  The day started out chilly, but warmed up nicely.



We bought t-shirts this year which was really fun.  Seeing so many of our friends sporting the shirt just warmed my heart.  (Yes, teary.  It happens a lot when I'm feeling blessed.)  This is our team!  If you want to join us next year, we'd love to have you on our team too!



We had time to spend checking out some of the activities.  Next year, I think getting there even earlier and participating in some of the games and other booths would be a fun thing to do!  I spent time following these two little cuties around.



The girls found a booth where they could spray paint color and/or glitter into their hair.  They thought this was great fun.  (And the fun continued at home the next day!)



I'm not a detail person, but I love seeing someone else's attention to them.  These logo painted on the path was a fun addition to the walk.



There was popcorn and water given out along the route.  It isn't a long walk - either 2 or 2.5 miles.



It is a crowded walk however.



Sometimes it is fun to find your own path.



Friends are fun and make the days sweet!



After the walk, we were all treated to lunch provided by Jersey Mikes!  We ate in the amphitheatre which was a great lunch spot with tables and chairs.





There was also really delicious bananas which they were giving away at the end of the event.  We were happy to help take some home.



There were other activities to be enjoyed, but we didn't make it to many of them.



That's alright though as we all had fun just being together - and kids can have fun just about anywhere!



Soon it was time to head home.



My motivation to walk is this incredible young man.  He has endured a lot over the last year and half - pokes too many to count (at least 5 per day and sometimes 10), shots, site changes, medical procedures and the constant couting of carbs.  I pray that he will learn from this hardship - that he will learn empathy for others, grace to handle trials and strength to endure.  I pray that he would learn to lean on God for all of this.  I pray too for a cure.  No more needles.  No more pokes.  No more insulin.  No more watching every. single. bite. you put into your mouth.



Joshua, I love you and am proud of you.  I'm honored to be  your Mom and part of your team!

Thank you to our friends and family for your support.  We raised over $800 this year!  Thank you!

Blessings

Leslie

Beyond Co-op: Homer Price Chapters 3 & 4

Oh how I look forward to Thursdays - field trips or co-ops.  What could be more fun?!!!

We were greeted by fun signs as we entered this co-op letting us know what lie in store.



The children were given a very short amount of time to tie together as many of the small pieces of yarn as they could.  When they were finished, their yarn was put into a labelled bag for later.



We then moved to the sunroom for some learning.



The children learned about the Red Cross.  We also shared Family Traditions and which ones meant the most to the children.



Our next topic was Economics.  (I didn't share until afterwards that this is what I had studied in college.  Shhh ... and grad school.)  This was a tough topic but one that the children were definitely able to grasp because it was presented in such a FUN way!  They first learned about supply and demand.



To make it practical, various scenarios were presented and the children held up arrows to indicate whether they thought the scenario would make the supply or demand go up or down.



Next they worked in small groups to create their own scenarious about a product they were given (like video games) and what might cause supply or demand to rise or fall.  They did a great job with this too.

The final activity was to show supply and demand in a real way.  They were each given a picture which required 3 colors to complete it.  They were given $100 in which to purchase crayons.  They could purchase the first crayon and then had to wait until everyone had gotten a crayon.



Oh the frenzy that ensued when the bidding started was great.





After coloring using the first crayon, they were then able to buy, trade or bid on another one.  They only had 15 seconds though to do this.



As they started planning and making deals, the began to notice that it was harder to get crayons the second round.  What they didn't realize was that there were some who had the only picture using a particular color (so nobody would trade for that one).  Or that there was a shortage of one color that many of the people needed.



By the third and fourth round, some were frustrated but as the game was explained, they gained a better understanding of how supply and demand really works.  It was a fabulous hands-on game!

The kids were able to use some of their extra money (they all had some) to purchase snacks.   The doughnuts went for more money than the healthier snacks.  LOL



Do you see the tubing on the child in the gold shirt to the right of the eggs?  That is part of Joshua's pump.  (Just an fyi for those who haven't seen it.)



Mmm ... nothing quite like a Krispy Kreme!

The children then worked on making their own "sandwich boards".  I loved seeing what they wanted to advertise and how they went about it and the fun they had making them!





We had a "Sunday Dinner" together just like in the story.  We all brought foods to share and enjoyed lunch together.







We finished the day by finding out who had the longest mystery string.



By now, their signs had dried and were made into sandwich boards to wear.









Thanks friends for another stupendous day!  We had a blast and learned a lot too.

Blessings

Leslie

Field Trip - Slimgoodbody, Courthouse and the Park

One of our field trips last month involved something new for us.  We had 2 different field trips happening at the same time.  The high school students were given a tour of the local courthouse.  One of the neat aspects was that the tour was given by a former homeschooler and son of one of our members!  I heard great things about the tour and it was neat to be able to offer our high schoolers something different.  (I have no photos because I wasn't there - and neither of my children took pictures there.)

Meanwhile, the younger set was at a nearby theater to watch a musical production called Slim Goodbody.  We arrived early and got great seats!  We were in the 3rd row!  It was fun being there with friends!



Eliana enjoyed the music.  The show was interesting, funny and quite informative!  I would definitely recommend it if it is in your area.





We had a chance to meet Slim after the show.  Then we headed to a nearby park for a picnic lunch and some play time.  It was a gorgeous day and I loved watching the children play.  I love that age doesn't matter and that they just enjoy each other.



I love seeing the bigger children helping the smaller.  I love the freedom to play and enjoy and have fun!





Friendships are such a blessing and we are so fortunate to have so many dear friends in our life!



As we were talking, I started playing around with my camera some.  (I really need to just read the manual!)  We talked some about "Senior Pictures" and I volunteered to try my hand at it.  We tried some today but the time of day was not best.  Hopefully we can choose another day and get better lighting and fewer shadows.  It was fun playing though.  This tree was a great prop





Three seniors.  These three have been with the group from the beginning.  It is our homeschool groups first graduating class.  (We have one more senior not in the picture.)  I have really enjoyed watching these three grow up and become fine young people.  I like them, like being with them and am glad to have them in my life.  I started thinking that they will really be missed next year, but you know, I'm not going there tonight!



A day in which I find peace and happiness.  We had fun learning and also playing.  It it such a good balance.  I'm thankful for these days.  I'm thankful for friends to share them with!

Feeling greatly blessed,

Leslie

A Heart Check

Just a couple of fun pictures of Eliana.  She is such a happy child.  Yes, she does get angry or frustrated.  Yes, she does cry.  BUT, she gets over it quickly and forgives as rapidly as anyone I've ever known.

She keeps me laughing and on my toes.  One day she found my keys, waved bye-bye to me and headed for the door.  LOL  I'll have to keep my eye on her.



Eliana is a very polite child and I don't think it is because we have done such a good job teaching her manners.  She is so quick to say thank you when someone helps her - often needing no prompting by me at all!  (And if you don't hear her, she will keep repeating thank you until you do.  LOL)  I've pondered this trait and have my own theory on why she is so quick to say thank you.  I think it is because she has a grateful heart.  She is thankful.  I've read that those who express gratitude each day are happier and healthier people.  I know I try to focus on my blessings and sometimes/some days do a better job of it than others.  For me, it can be work.  It seems to come a little more naturally to Eliana.  I have much to learn from her.



She had her routine cardiology appointment this week.  (For those who are new, Eliana was born with 2 large holes in her heart.  She had open-heart surgery at 4 months to repair the holes.  She will always be monitored.)  It has been a year since we have been there.  Eliana was happy to be in the waiting area and enjoyed one of the computer games that was set up there.  Things changed quickly though when we were taken back.

She did not want her blood pressure taken - and fussed and cried about it.  I kept telling her that it wouldn't hurt.  I'm not sure she believed me.  After checking her vitals, (she is still a tiny little girl at 27  pounds), we went downstairs for an echo.  We were met by a sweet technician we haven't seen in quite awhile and it was fun catching up with her.  Eliana remained afraid and did not want to take her shirt off.  Did not want the electrodes put onto her chest.  Really, she just didn't want to be there.  We tried a movie, bribing her with candy, singing songs.  She looked at me at one point and just said/signed "all done".  I told her that she wasn't done and this did not please her.

To clarify, these were not tears of defiance or stubborness I don't think.  She truly seemed fearful.  It made me wonder how much she remembered.  She was so little.  She went through so much though her first year of life!

Back upstairs where we met with a student doctor who asked a lot of questions and tried to do a brief listening to her heart.  She is still uncooperative.  Down the hall for an EKG.  Yep, you guessed it.  She cried and cried until the procedure was over.  Then she was fine.  I kept trying to reassure her that none of this would hurt, but she wasn't buying it.

It made me wonder how many times God is holding me in His strong arms and telling me that this won't hurt.  That I will be alright.  And yet, I still cry and fight - not wanting to believe.  Learning to trust and relax is a hard lesson sometimes and I'm thankful for the reminder.

While we were waiting for Eliana's cardiologist, we read books.  As many as we could.  She loved this and was happy.  This was the one time I was able to take pictures.



We met briefly with her cardio and he said she was doing well.  She still has leakage around one of her aortic valves.  This is one that was close to one of her repairs.  He said it wasn't much worse.  I didn't press it.  She is doing well and I'm thankful.  I'm not going to borrow trouble by worrying about the future.  If we have to deal with more heart issues, it really isn't immenent anyway.

I'm thankful we live when we do - and where we do.  I know that in another time or place that I would have held my little girl and watched her die while she was in heart failure.  I did experience the beginnings of this and it terrified me.  I'm thankful we live in a place with such amazing medical care.  We are so very blessed.  I'm thankful for a little girl that has brought joy to my days and laughter to my soul.

As a mom, I can say that about each of my children.  My life is so much richer for being a mom.  Each child has blessed me beyond what I could have ever hoped or imagined.  Each one teaches me, challenges me, encourages me and loves me.  My heart and my life are full.  I am a very blessed woman!

Leslie