Joy and sorrow

They often go together and give life it's distinctive addictive flavor. We can't know one without the other. The flavors get more intense as we age. I sometimes wonder how deeply one can feel the hurts and sorrows of life and yet, continue to get out of bed each morning. 

My joy today: The matching grant for Dmitry's family was met in a little over a day. Not just met, but unmistakeably blown out of the water. Big gifts and small added up to over $3000...$4000 with the match. Big gifts and small added up to a huge blessing, for the givers and the receivers. A love bomb!

This is joy! The little boy known to us as Dmitry, and who his family will call Zebediah, may never know how you helped his family perform this mission of love, but his life is about to change for the better. And we got to take part in this! 

My sorrow today: My dog, Gunther Apollo is dying. He has claimed the love seat in the front room and refusing to move, or eat. He has lost a shocking amount of muscle mass in just a week. I'm giving him some over the counter meds recommended by a vet friend, just in case it's something else and he might get better in time. But at the age of 13, we all know that his time is coming soon. 

Soon I will have to answer questions like, "do animals go to Heaven?" My answers won't be good enough. I hope so, though, handsome boy. 

For the Birds

Keeping little ones out of trouble over the weekend is always a challenge. I am not the best at planning activities, but we have something fun today.

We are recycling wedding reception decorations. Cranberries and marbles in mason jars made cute candle holders. They have been sitting around for a month. Time to do something new.

Little hands can string berries. I'm sure the birds will be pleased. 

Who says this is only for Christmas? Check out this intense concentration. 

I'm using needles and thread from my gram's sewing box. Wonder how old this spool of thread could be!

Don't forget about my birthday wish...the matching grant is about 50% matched! Go here and give a little: 

http://www.theshepherdscrook.org/#!2601-Zebadiah/c1zg4/i4qdgz01128

Birthday wish...

My birthday snuck up on me! Actually, don't tell anyone, but my recent anniversary got forgotten in the middle of our house of sick horrors. I guess both of these make me old.

So what do I want for my birthday? I'm so glad you asked!!

Five years ago I made a deal with my husband...I told him I wouldn't need another birthday present ever, if he would agree to adopt Theo. He did. We did. And I'm so glad! It is probably the best good thing we will ever do in our lives.

But, it did open this can of worms. We will never be the same after the experience. The kids we left behind are never far from our thoughts. Many of them will never have the chance to experience the love and care of a family. Some have a chance, though. The odds are long, but a chance.

Baby Dmitry

I started advocating for Dmitry in 2011. His head was shockingly large, even at eight months old. He needed out quickly. He needed medical care right away. Road block after road block was thrown up...missed opportunities and shady excuses. By 2013 I was sure that he had died.



About a year ago a dear friend asked me to help her find an adoptive home for this amazing boy. She sent me this photo. It was Dmitry!! Amazingly, he was still alive...and happy. He talked and laughed.

Dmitry is alive!

I used my contacts to try to get this boy some immediate medical attention. Between red tape, egos, and a war, this proved to be impossible. The only chance was to find a family to adopt him. 

Long and winding story short...for my birthday, I would like to show some love to the family that is now working like crazy to bring him home. And I would like to invite you to join me. Really. I'm giving for my birthday, not just asking. 

I know that a lot of you are struggling...we all are, and yet, we find ways to do things that are important to us. Seriously, send me a dollar bill and it will go to this boy. A five spot, even better. You could make an online donation and read a little bit about the family HERE. 

This adoption is moving fast and the family needs a few funds to move forward. There is an $850 matching grant set up for them. If we can raise this much by February 7th. You could be part of the best good thing to happen to Dmitry!

This is my birthday wish. Thank you!

Week three...and counting...

We are in the thick of it. Our third week of sickness.

I'm convinced it started before Christmas...with countless parties and junk food. We were all feeling strong and healthy, then the holiday party scene started. Cookies, candies, orchestra parties, parties for this class and that class. Sugar out the wazoo! The kids get all sugared up then dumped at home for three weeks.

We fought valiantly...limiting sweets, diffusing oils, sinus rinsing, hand washing, you name it. A teenager went down first...formally diagnosed with influenza A. The poor kid had just started a tough semester with several honors classes. He missed a whole week and I was sure this would result in failing grades.

Poor Ralph got it the worst. He was fine one day and feverish the next. He's better now, but still looks run down. The house is wrecked, as I am still super tired. Ralph's glasses are lost. Theo and Max held out the longest...and now they are beginning to show signs of illness. Things are just looking very impossible right now.

I can't wait to feel better...I have much to share. And I can't wait to see these two kids smiling and healthy again!

Making writing a priority

Writing is difficult. Good writing is even harder. It's the most difficult part of our school day. Shhh...sometimes it gets skipped altogether.

Getting started seems to be the key. Setting aside time is not enough. Physical or mental tiredness prevents me from writing, even when I have the time to sit and think.

Today I have changed up our schedule to make writing a priority. The first 30 minutes of the school day will be devoted to writing. The kids are fresh, the day is new, and I am here to sit on them if I need to!

We used to work on math first. It's my highest priority for the kids and my favorite subject. I have to be the grownup though. We gotta take our medicine first thing and get that awful writing done.

I'm assigning 30 minutes of writing to myself as well. Let's see how this goes...

My God Groove.

I'm enjoying this advent season quite a bit! After a busy and stress filled summer and fall, I have found a groove where I can do my best and let God handle the rest. My God groove.

There is a local radio station that plays all Christmas music, all the time, during this season...but I can't handle hearing WHAM! and Mariah Carey over and over again. A quick search turned up CBN's streaming Christmas radio station. What a breath of fresh air! Really beautiful and meaningful Christmas music that I don't have to explain to my children. Ha!

One of the most stressful parts of my life involves managing the Project TLC caregiving program. I feel such a huge responsibility to the children. Meeting them and hearing the stories of how their lives are being changed had cemented my resolve to help them in every way possible. Every month, by the grace of God, we seem to scrape up the funds needed to continue.

God loves these kids...more and better than I do! How do I know when I have done enough for them? Can I give just a little more? Try a little harder? It's difficult to keep myself in check.

I'm finding peace and perspective in my Christmas music. Today I'm meditating on Oh, Holy Night. One verse proclaims:

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease. 

Get that? Jesus will free the captives...not only you and I, captives to sin but ALSO the locked up and abused children. In HIS name ALL oppression shall cease to exist!! This is such wonderful news!! Ponder it!!

No, Christmas hymns are not scripture, but they echo it...read Isaiah 61:1.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

    to proclaim freedom for the captives

    and release from darkness for the prisoners..."

Jesus is responsible, He's got a plan. We can't do anything on our own anyway. Let us get on His team, give our best and let him do the heavy lifting...get in a God groove today.

Wahoo!!

Well, it's October again! It's the BEST month of the year, in my opinion. I just LOVE crisp fall weather, the changing leaves and BIG pots of chili! If you have been here awhile, you might know that October is Down Syndrome awareness month. It's no accident that DS Awareness month happens during the BEST month of the year.

I am not going to even pretend that I will be able to complete the 31 For 21 blog challenge of blogging every single day this month. I've already missed day 1 and 2!! Who knows, though...maybe I'll surprise myself...

Grab This Button

If you want to join the party, the 31 For 21 challenge is being hosted by Michelle at Big Blueberry Eyes. Head over there to sign up for the challenge or just to find some new blogs to read. 

Happy October!!