Answered Prayers!

I was checking on the RR website for our little angel Shannon that we have been praying for and she wasn't on there. I emailed Andrea and she said that she found a family. I am so happy that she did. Heavenly Father is looking out for these kids.

Cascade springs with the United Angels Foundation

Today we and the privilege of going to Cascade Springs with the United Angels Foundation. This foundation is so wonderful. They offer Support for families who have children with Special Needs. They have really fun activities for the kids and today was one. The Forest service volunteered by teaching the kids about fire safety, and we even had a visit from Smokey the bear. Home depot donated some things that the kids could make out of wood they had a bird nest, a boat, helicopter, butter fly house and a couple other things. Costco, donated back packs and some school supplies for the kids. they had volunteers come from Costco and home depot. It was a really fun day. We went a little hike down by the springs and got to listen to a story about smokey the bear. Our next activity will be the halloween party at Hee Haws.

A day at the park

   I took the little girls and Tim to the park yesterday, and at  the park there is a  stage, Mariah and Cianna love to just play on it pretending to perform she pretends to go in the dressing room and puts on her make up, then she comes out and sings and dances. I wish she would do this at her dance recitals. Cianna is right with her. It was fun to watch them. I took Tim's picture off because I don't think I can put it up because he is in foster care, but he did so well yesterday he is terrified of trees. I have been working with him every morning on the way to the bus rewarding any kind of effort to get near a tree with M&M's he will do anything for this. He walked under the trees at the park and seemed to be calm. the park is full of trees there is no avoiding them. In the past he would have sat down and refused to walk. so we are making progress now if we could do the same with hair cuts this will be a longer battle. Have any of you seen the oreo comercial with the brothers one having Down syndrome and it flashes back to when they were little all the way through college. I love it, That is how Mariah and Cianna are together always hugging each other they really are best friends. Here are some cute pictures of them yesterday. I know I post  a lot of pictures of the little ones but, the bigger ones never come.

camping with friends

Mariah and Travis

Alivia

Whitney

girls on the four wheeler

Mariah

Mike and Alivia

Sophia

Cianna and Travis

Mariah, Alivia, Sophia, and Cianna

Alivia and Sophia

Alivia

This memorial weekend Travis went with is friend Mike camping to train the dogs for the up coming bird hunts. I couldn't go camping for the whole weekend because I can't leave Tim that long and I can't take him because he is terrified of trees we are working on this and the kid will do anything for M&Ms but, the reality of it is that he hates them and we do not have a bathroom to take care of his colostomy so he stayed with his mom over night and Ivy and I (she is Mikes wife) decided to take the girls down for the day. She has four girls and I had the two younger girls. Mariah and Alivia are a couple months apart and sophia and Cianna are a week apart. She has a nine year old and baby Hallie is four months old so all together their were six little girls. It was a 2 and a half hour drive to get there and they were all so good. We had lots of fun And we were both happy to get home. That is my kind of camping for the day. I grew up camping all the time and enjoyed it for the most part except for the dirt. But, lately it just seems to be more work than it is worth and the little girls get bored after a day anyway so it was perfect. Here are some pictures of our trip.

Just a swinging

Look what Mariah can do she has learned to pump herself on the swing. That takes some coordination she pretends that she doesn't know how because she wants you to push her but,she can do it all by herself.

Stranger under the tree

I really can't think of a good title to this post but, I want to share an experience actually a couple experiences I had this week. Today as I was driving through town for the 5th time I was lost in my thoughts of what I needed to accomplish today and how I wasn't getting anything done, when I notice a man wearing a long sleeve shirts dirty levi's his hair was long and he had a scruffy beard. He walked bent over from the weight he was carrying on his back. He had a pack the kind you wear hiking, a rolled up sleeping bag and a rolled up blanket. He looked tired and hot, as I past him I wondered what his story was, where he was coming from and where he was going. Was he a homeless guy with a mental illness or maybe he was on an adventure walking acrossed the states. My mind soon wandered back to my list of things to do. Later that day as I was walking out to get Tim off the bus I saw something under the tree that was at the end of our property and along the side of the road. I couldn't see what it was I thought someone had dropped off some garbage. As I made my way to the tree I saw him the same man that I saw earlier. He was sitting under the tree with his shoes off. I smiled and said Hi, he replied back with a smile saying that it was so refreshing to sit under this tree on such a hot day. I asked him where he was going and he said to Provo and that he had left Nephi this morning. I told to have a good day and I walked back into the house. I couldn't stop thinking about him I wondered if he needed a drink or if he was hungary, should I take a chance what if he comes back and he is dangerous no, I am going to take my chances I told the little girls that there was a man under the tree and that he was walking along ways because he didn't have a car so I was going to go and give him some water or a pepsi. So, me and the two little girls walked up the driveway to find the man still sitting under the tree. I asked him if he would like some water or a soda and he said"probably both" He took the drinks from me and then he said" can I do anything for you maybe a job or something?" no, thats ok have a good day and I walked back to my house. Cianna who just turned 3 said "mom we should build him a house and give him our car. I wish I knew his story but a very small three year old with a big heart  learned a good lesson in serving others. Then I thought to myself how many times have been to busy with my own life to notice those that could use some help.  or how many times have I been to scared to help or just figured that someone else will help.I am going to be more aware of those around me and try to teach my kids the same thing after all that is why we are here, to serve others and help those that need help.

Time flies by

That is a tricky way to drive a tractor

First day of school

first day of school and first car for Miranda

I know what a turkey says

beautiful Cianna

I love her smile

she love to pose for pictures

one of the many beauties of that extra chromosome their hands. cute little chubby fingers!

Trav and his girls

I can't believe August is almost over! Savannah turned 13. She is the happiest girl well unless she is asleep and you try to wake her. whoa watch out! no really I think we all need to take a lesson from Savannah. Her philosophy in life is just "what ever happens happens, life is good" She is always so helpful. And so loving to everyone she has many friends. When she was little we had a neighbor who called her smiley because she was always smiling. She is a great big sister. Savannah is Mariah's best friend. She always tells me that she wants to be like Savannah. Remember that Savannah you have to little sisters that watch everything you do. You are a great example to them and to me. I love you and Happy birthday! Wow, I officially have 3 teenagers. We took the kids well, (only the little ones wanted to go) on a last fun day before school started. We went to thanksgiving point petting farm and then to Cabellas. When I asked the girls what their favorite part at the farm was they said Cabellas. They love feeding the fish. I didn't get pictures in there. Mariah started kindergarten. She just kept saying "I am so excited for kindergarten." I put her on the big bus today with all of the jr. high and high school kids, Savannah was there but, Mariah had to switch buses at the high school and then that bus took her to the elementary school. I was there waiting for her and she looked a little scared but, she was more than ready for me to leave. The day before we were at the back to school night and she had to check the bathroom out. She told me" to go out I will do it by myself." she slams the door and starts singing as loud as she can. That girl makes me laugh everyday. Her aid said " She is going to be so fun."  I didn't worry to much in preschool, about kids being mean, but as she gets older and the kids get older they lose the innocence about them and they start to noticed differences. I tend to be naive and just think that everyone will love her and all kids with special needs I mean can't they see what I see? I guess not, well  some anyway. most will love her but,there will be those that make fun of her. no one likes to see their kids get hurt Down syndrome or not. Anyway, I picked Mariah up today and I asked the aide if she was shy and she said "Oh no, not shy in fact I had a hard time getting her to listen to me. She kept laying down on the rug, and when I tried to get her to stand up she did the wet noodle thing, do you have any ideas how to deal with this."  now do you think she is going to be fun? I had to giggle because to me that is awesome she is usually so shy and it takes the whole year to get her to talk, and she is giving them a run for their money already!  she wants to find out how serious this kindergarten thing is, because in preschool well, she pretty much ran the show. After I got done laughing I told the teachers that I want them to be strict with her she has to know the rules and she has to know what will happen if she doesn't follow them. I looked at Mariah and before I could say anything she said "Sorry mom I didn't mean too." ya right. Here is the quote or quotes for the week.


"Anytime you have the opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't then you are wasting your time on earth."  Roberto Clemente


"people usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle, but I think the real miracle is not to walk on water but to walk on earth. Everyday we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize a blue sky, white clouds,green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child--our own to eyes. All is a miracle"  THicH NHATHANH.


What are you going to do this week to make a difference? smile at someone, say hello? look around you there are many opportunities to make a difference even the little ones can change lives. Also, slow down and be aware of the miracles around you. The sunset, the smell of the air, the changing of the seasons. small miracles are taking place everyday.