Making blankets

I'm going to use this week to recap some of our activities this month.  With our FIAR group, we made fleece blankets to donate to a couple of local charities.  We chose 2 that also share the gospel and it is my prayer that these blankets will truly make a difference in someone's life for eternity.

We have done this project for several years now.  We like it because it is easy to involve people of all ages.  In addition to making the blankets, we make cards to go along with them. 

We ask each family to bring fleece.  Many choose patterns (girl or boy) to go along with their family members.  We also suggest various sizes for blankets from baby to teen.  Its so much fun to sit around working on the blankets. 

It's just a sweet time of fellowship and fun for all of us.  The Moms all thought it was like being at a quilting bee.  Quite fun!

Of course, there is time for goofing off and having fun too!

We enjoyed a potluck lunch together.

Gathering most of the group for a photo with the blankets.

The kids were proud of their work and I love them having as many opportunities as possible to give and serve others.

I am thankful for friends who are willing to take time during a hectic time of year to do something to bless others.  It's always a sweet time together with friends.  Praying that God would use this to bring glory to His name!

Blessings
Leslie

Merry Christmas from the Nelsen Family!

This is a little late (computer problems), but heartfelt nonetheless.

 

Merry Christmas!

Hands ... a sweet tradition

I love traditions as do my children.  Its a way of knowing that this is our family and this is what we do.  It can be something that ties generations together too.  It gives stability in times when things around us are rocky.  It can also just be fun.

Some years ago I read about a fun tradition and decided to start it for my family.  Its our Christmas tree skirt.  Each year we add to the skirt - handprints of the children in the family. 

Some years I haven't yet added on the names or the years (not sure why?).  I even have one small handprint that needs to be added to it.  (I traced the tiny hand so it could go on later.)  I love seeing the number of hands grow along with the size of the hands.

Check out Christopher's hand this year!  So big.

Now look at the first year we did this.  My sweet children were 3 months, 2, 6 and 8.  It was 9 years ago.  Seems so long ago in some ways.  I love the years when they are little and I love the years when they are big too. 

God is good.

Just wanted to share a fun and sweet keepsake tradition.  I'd love to hear about some of your favorite traditions too!

Blessings
Leslie

The Big Envelope

We got big news last week.  It was a bit overshadowed by the sickness.  For my son who is ... less emotional than his mom, maybe that was a helpful thing.  Ummm ... not really!

Christopher first heard the news online and then a few days later he received "the big envelope".  I picked up the mail and knew right away what it was.  I remembered getting a skinny envelope and knew what that entailed as well.

The turkey Christopher would not let me take a good picture of him with the envelope.  I told him that one day he would appreciate all of the pictures that I took, but clearly that day has not yet arrived.   

Do you recognize what it is?  He has been accepted to college!!!  I think I'm more excited than he is.  (At least on the outside!)  He has been accepted to NC State and also been invited to apply to the Honors program. 

I know that by homeschooling we have done what was best for our family.  We have chosen the route that we felt God led us on.  Even though it has been challenging at times, I've loved homeschooling Christopher!  I'm so thankful to have had this time with him.  It has been a blessing for our whole family.

This year though, when it was time to apply to colleges, I wondered how he would measure up.  Would they see his potential?  Would they take a homeschool diploma seriously?  I hear that many colleges do appreciate homeschoolers, but wondered how it would all play out for us. 

Christopher has been a great student.  He is bright, motivated and curious.  He has persevered through a lot of challenges while he was in high school and his mom/teacher has been distracted with a multitude of medical issues with his siblings.  I'm proud of how he has taken the initiative to learn and do things on his own.  I think that these skills will serve him well in college and beyond.

I know this acceptance is Christophers, but I can't also help but feel that I've been validated too.  Not that I did this for the approval of others, but it is still a nice thing.  And did I mention that I'm excited for him?!

He is still working on finishing up essays for a few more colleges.  I'm proud of the work he has put into applying to college from studying for the tests to writing essays.  I'm proud of him.  Despite our shortcomings, he is a fine young man. 

Christopher, I love you and am proud of you! 

Thanks for letting me share our excitement!  I'm hoping we'll have more of this type of news coming in the future!

Blessings

Leslie

Donating to Reece's Rainbow

Just a quick note to say that if you are interested in making a donation toward Anya's fund (or any of the other children at Reece's Rainbow), it is not too late!  I didn't realize that I set my chip-in to end on December 15th.  I apologize for that! 

You can mail a check to the following address.

Reece's Rainbow, PO Box 4024, Gaithersburg, MD 20885

Thanks!
Leslie

Happy Birthday Eliana!!!

I can't believe you are 4 years old!  It doesn't seem like you should be that old, but perhaps that is just because everything moves at a slower pace developmentally.  It seems like a long time ago though that I was at the hospital - in a room by myself - because my baby was in the NICU.  I thought of that tonight as I put my sweet girl to bed.  I loved that I was able to be with her, holding her and loving her.  Even though it was a tough start, Eliana has been a blessing from the beginning.



Today we awoke to snow - though a pretty light one.  (Or pitiful according to Christopher)  Eliana was treated to one of her favorite meals - pancakes.  And look at these pancakes her Daddy made for her!  (It was Rebecca's idea to spell out her name.)

As a treat, Rebecca painted Eliana's fingernails.

Next it was time to open a present.  Rebecca picked this out for her.

I know I'm biased, but isn't she beautiful?!!!

Next it was time to play with play dough.  Boy was she excited about doing this!  She made a cupcake with a candle and even "blew" it out. 

Eliana really enjoys opening gifts.  She tears off the paper bit by bit.  She was delighted with her gifts too!  I love that she finds joy in so many things. 

Rebecca made a beautiful cupcake birthday cake for Eliana.  (I love that my oldest daughter loves to bake!)  Didn't she do a great job!

Group photo

Time to sing - and Eliana joined in our singing to her.  (Too cute!)  She really did a great job blowing out her candles. 

Happy Birthday Eliana!!! 

We pray that this is the beginning of a wonderful year.  I thank God for you as you bring joy and laughter to our lives.

I love you

Mommy

Rebecca

My beautiful Rebecca.  I wanted a "Rebecca" long before I had children.  My Mom had even given me a little figure of a pregnant mama that was called "Rebecca's mother" before I had her. 

I loved having a son.  Adding a daughter to our family was equally as joyous.  She was beautiful from the start.  (Yes, I'm biased.  I'm allowed as I'm her mom.)  I've loved watching her grow and become someone that was not only lovely on the outside but on the inside as well.

I love that she has a huge heart.  She cares for others and wants to make a difference.  She doesn't just "want to" though - she does it!  I love that at age 11 she started a ministry making bracelets to raise money for babies with heart defects. 

I love watching her with children.  She is great with children and really enjoys being with them.  They love her too!  She volunteers at church in the Sunday School program and often tells me stories about the children in her class.  She has a heart for orphans and is praying for them too.

Rebecca is creative in so many ways.  One of our family's favorites is in the kitchen.  She loves to bake and we are often blessed by her efforts. 

I love seeing her include her siblings in the process.  Did I mention she has a sweet heart?

Rebecca enjoys traditions and knowing that "this is what we do" for certain events or holidays.  She is helpful in carrying them out when I can't.  That has been a huge blessing over the last several years too when I was not able to do all that I would have liked.  Even today she started a countdown chain for her siblings with a fun thing to do each day. 

Sports have always been a part of her life.  I love that she is athletic and competitive, yet keeps things in the proper perspective.  She is able to win and lose graciously.  That is not a lesson easily learned sometimes.

Rebecca is curious, quiet and confident.  I love that she is able to be "different" from others by being true to herself.  I'm thankful she does not feel like she has to do what others are doing in order to fit in.  That too can be a hard lesson to learn.

There are so many things I could write.  Rebecca loves to read, laugh and spend time with family and friends.  She can be silly and goofy and yet also mature and responsible. 

Thank you God for blessing me with this beautiful daughter.  She brings joy, happiness and laughter to our family.  We are better people for having her in our lives.  I pray that you would continue to teach her, guide her and show her your path.  I pray that she would follow you with all of her heart and bring glory to your name.

I love you  Rebecca!
Mommy

Four years ago ... on two different continents

Something I've been pondering lately as I advocate for Anya.  I imagine what it might have been like four years ago.  Two women about to give birth.  Each was blessed with a daughter.  I imagine that both were surprised - along with a host of other emotions - to learn that their precious little girl also had Down syndrome. 

So many things similar and yet so many things different too.  One was born in a country in which there is support for bringing up a child with special needs.  Early intervention and therapies offered a lot of encouragement.   

I can only imagine what life must have been like for this mom - facing an uncertain future with a child in a culture that just didn't accept children with Down syndrome.  Quite often these moms are just encouraged to give up their babies at birth.  (Not sure that for many there even is another option.)  The babies are taken to an orphange to live.

In different circumstances, that could have been me.  I was frightened and overwhelmed.  I was also blessed with incredible friends and family.  A wonderful OB.  A new pediatrician.  And most of all a faithful Father.  All who encouraged me that I could do this.  I had no idea then of the amazing blessing having this little girl would bring.  I feel certain that the other mom didn't know this either.  How could she when almost all the people with Ds in her country live behind the walls of an orphange or a mental institution.

In different circumstances, this could have been Eliana.  I thank God for giving me Eliana.  I'm thankful she has Down syndrome.  He has taught me so much through her.  I wouldn't be the same person without her in my life.  Because of her, I found Reece's Rainbow.  I learned about the fate of children like her in other countries.  It broke my heart and I began to pray.  My heart became burdened for these children.  At times, this burden has been quite heavy.  I sometimes wonder if there is more I should be doing that I'm not.  I look at my beautiful little girl who brings joy to our world and think that there are so many more like her, locked away and waiting. 

Will you please join me in praying for a precious little girl who is turning 4 today?  Her name is "Anya" and she lives in Eastern Europe in an orphanage.  She has never known the love of a mother and father.  It is her birthday.  I imagine though that this day is no different than any other for her.  No cake.  No candles.  No presents.  No family.

Just this week, we were able to see new pictures of Anya and an updated description of her too.  I was excited to hear that she smiles and laughs and wants to be loved.  She sounds like a precious little girl.  I was also saddened to read about how she was treated. 



Here is the newest description of her.

From an adoptive family who visited with her in August 2010:  "Anya can smile, sit up, crawl, pull herself up to a stand using the edge of the playpen. She can hear and see well enough to have heard me call her name and to immediately sit up and crawl over to the playpen gate and stand up. She cried when I could not pick her up. Another time, she sat up and climbed into my lap and clapped my hands together over and over.   I do not think she is autistic and she does have facial expressions. She is definitely more involved than your average kid with Ds but she is a doll who is craving attention. Also, she is not aggressive… she did not bite me or pull my hair, or do anything like that.  Andrea, Anya does have a look to her that seems slightly different that just straight-up ds and she does seem to be too laid back to the point of maybe some sensory issues. But she surprised me with her will to crawl to me and her desire to come to me, to the gate, to find me.  I have to be honest and tell you that Anya is not in a good room.  Anya is ignored by the caretakers and by the other children. I really believe she will change with love and EI, but she will always be a bit higher needs I think.  She will be four this coming week, and I worry that they will transfer her to babyhouse 1, or worse to the institution. Anya will not make it in an institution.
Now that she is 4, Anya is eligible to be transferred to an institution.  As you read, this is really not a good option for her.  That last line just hurts my heart.  Please join me in praying for her family to step up now before she is transferred.  This precious little girl needs love and attention.  She needs a family so she can grow and thrive.

Please pray.  If you would like to donate, there is a chip-in on my blog or you can mail a check.  Lets not let money be the obstacle that keeps her from finding a family.  Time is crucial.

Thank you!
Leslie

Auto Draft

Home and sickness

Hmmm ... I haven't figured out how to draft a post and then have it published at a later date.  I thought I had the post below set to post while I was gone this week-end, but it obviously didn't.  Anyone have any ideas what I might have done wrong?

Rebecca and I had a fabulous week-end in the mountains with my sister, niece and mom.  I'll post more details and pictures later.  While we were gone - everyone else got sick.  :-(  The 4 youngest on Friday.  Roger and Christopher today.  I am still hoping and praying that Rebecca and I can stay well!

Blessings
Leslie