NOT what but how I want to be when I grow up!

In school this was one of those things that was asked many times, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" In the younger years it was something that changed just as much as you would change your socks. Some really did know for sure what they wanted to be.... others had no idea, actually some still don't at all and will spend a lifetime trying to figure it out.

For the most part growing up I knew I wanted to do something with business, I understood from a young age that God had given me talents in this area and that is what I wanted to use. After high school I when to college got a degree in marketing and management only to find out that God had an even more wonderful future in store for me. A bigger responsibility than even running my own business.... raising children! =0)

Now I don't look at what I want to be when I grow up BUT how I want to be... it honestly makes so much more sense to me now to think like this. God is the one whom I put my trust in and who's will I want to be apart of. I want to be used for His glory and honor!

So you ask HOW do you want to be when you "grow up"... well to start with I want to be a person that someone can count on, a Godly example, a light for the Lord, a mother who's children and husband raise up and call her blessed. Pretty much everything God wants me to be, reaching for the highest goal He has willed for my life.

Another big one is Lord Willing if God blesses us with grandchildren we want to be grandparents like my parents! My parents, Don and Sandy have scarified over and over again for our children. They love each of them for who they are. Even though they live 40 minutes away they take the time each week to come over to visit us at least 1-2 sometimes more times a week. They make it a point to call and talk to our children, love on them and share every special moment with each of them. Even for Zach and Wylie's birthdays which are two days apart and we had a bowling party on the day in between they came over to our house all 3 days just so that each boy would feel loved on their own birthday! What a blessing it is to have someone I can always count on to call and share my fears, joys and needs and know they will listen with understanding ears and willing hearts. I don't ever have to worry about help with appts. if I need a hand mom and dad are always ready even willing to change their plans to help me. Mom even has taken on the hard job of holding all of my children while they have gotten their shots just so I can love on them as soon as they are done! WOW I honestly could go on and on. We want to be a meme and papa like that, I pray our children always feel comfortable asking for help or things they need. I pray they consider us not only their mother and father but great friends like I consider my parents.

Yes this post is about how I want to be when I get older but also a thank you to my wonderful loving parents, who as I write this are watching our boys since Kate and I have had sinus colds and a dr. appt. today. I am so thankful for your love, friendship, example and help you offer us everyday and I want the whole world to know how blessed we are to have you as meme and papa to our 4 children! I love you mom and dad!

Learning a new Language

Remember when I wrote earlier this month about my family trip and how God has thrown in some detours along the way of my great adventure. Well as I wrote before Katelyn is one of these amazing detours I never pictured I would be apart of but so very thankful I am! She is a wonderful little girl who has completely stolen my heart along with her daddy's and brother's, not to mention most people she comes in contact with!

At 6 months old baby Kate can do most things other babies her age are able to do, somethings she actually has done before the normal milestones are typically reached. Like rolling over at only 6 1/2 weeks old. What a huge surprise that was to us! Since the moment Katelyn was born she has been putting us and everyone else in awe of the things she can do, I know we like most parents with a child with special needs thought the worst. Granted that's all the doctors and other professionals tell you, which is sad since these children really are able to do pretty much anything any other child can do some a little slower but sometimes even faster than others. One of our friends, Lynette said something to me while I was pregnant with Kate that has really stuck with me and was a great encouragement to me... she said "all children do things and learn things at different ages and stages no matter if they have special needs or not." WOW how true is that just looking at my boys I can see a difference in each of them! And if I haven't told you Lynette thank you for those words of wisdom God used you to comfort a mother's heart! =0)

Knowing we had a chance of having a baby girl with Down Syndrome I did alot of research before she was born. Found out about different therapies she would and could have to help her. Plus anything that would be helpful to communicate with us. I want to be able to offer her every chance possible to reach whatever level of development God has given her actually not just her but each of my children.

That's were the learning a new language comes in. For about 8 years now I have been blessed to know an amazing woman by the name of Sue Stephenson, whom I can say is one of my dearest friends. Sue is also a stay at home mother who homeschools her children, PLUS she has her own small business teaching Sign Language to children and adults. Before having Katelyn I always thought it would be nice even neat to learn the language and teach it to my boys but never committed myself to take one of the classes.

Finally after years of thinking about taking a class I actually decided it would be best for our family if I took the time and effort to learn this language that most say helps not only children with Down Syndrome but young children in general communicate even before they talk. All I can say is WOW.... I have learned so much through this class! Plus my children have picked up on the signs so quickly too, they hunger for more each week! Now at lunch time Logan will sign I want more food please mom! Or more juice please! It's amazing! Even Wylie at 2 years old can sign please, thank you, mom, milk, more, all done, bath, help and a few other ones that it seems he is trying to make up himself! haha Some people think that by doing sign language it will hold off a child from talking or using words, this completely isn't the case. Wylie has gone from using only a few words a few months ago to using many more.

I am so thankful to Sue for offering this class, and to God for placing her in my life. She is such a blessing and I find it amazing how God knew how much I would need her even before we met each other!

Sue has a website as well were she lists her upcoming classes and some AWESOME resources if you would like to check it out here is the link:

http://suestinysigners.webs.com/

Finishing Strong

Today starts week 32 in our homeschooling year! Only 8 more to go and than on to finish planning for a 1st grader and pre-ker! WOW did I just say..... 1st grader! Almost 2 years of homeschooling down already. Thank you Lord for seeing us through this far!

The past few months have been a little bit of a hard time for me, the weather has started getting nicer and I'm sure like most teachers by this time of year it's difficult to stay focused on what we need to cover. Along with the weather being a distraction, we have had many appts. lately to keep us just as busy. Not to mention the normal everyday needs of a family have taken a toll on me.

Saturday night Matt and I decided we were actually going to sit down and watch a movie together, seems like something most people do at least a few times a week. Us on the other hand, we don't watch much TV and if we do it mostly with the children as a treat for them. The movie Matt picked out was called Indoctrination a film by Joaquin Fernandez and The Gunn Brothers.

God lead us to this movie by a EBay purchase for our Weaver Interlock pre-k curriculum. The wonderful woman we were blessed to purchase this curriculum from was Joaquin's wife, we got a chance to email each other about homeschooling and she shared about the movie and it's website with our family. After purchasing a Backstage Pass to help support the movie we honestly didn't think much about it, only had a chance to visit the website a few times. With the backstage pass we were also told when the movie came out we would receive a copy which we got last year sometime and have had on the shelf for months now waiting for a chance to watch it.

Again God always has perfect timing... Just in the middle of my dry season He delivered this amazing video to bring on the rain and grow a new understand and love for this calling in my life. I would completely recommend this movie to any Christian parents out there, it truly will change your heart and make you consider your schooling opinions.

Not only has this movie helped me grow it also has brought back a desire to do my best and give my whole self in training our children for the Lord. I am so thankful to the filmmakers for this DVD and thank you so much Monica for leading me to this website and sharing your love for homeschooling with our family! God Bless your family!

http://www.indoctrinationmovie.com/

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Family Trip

Spring and summer are right around the corner now, is your family planning any special trips or vacations? With any kind of family trip there is always TONS of preparation and planning to do. With children these preparations are even more crucial. It would be horrible to forget to pack something you will need or more importantly to actually forget one of your family members!!!

Now I am going to let you in on an amazing adventure or journey that I am on and where I am planning on going! It's super exciting so you don't want to miss out on all the details PLUS anyone is welcome to come along with me if you would like. So do I have your attention?!?!

First step in planning a trip is deciding where you are going to go, I chose this destination when I was 13 years old. I set off on my way at the time I didn't know much about the location or even how to pack my luggage. Throughout the past almost 15 years I have gotten guides and learned more about my choice. While traveling I have been down many roads to get this far, most have been smooth, some bumpy and some planned out, others have been detours along the way. As any trip I have done alot of planning and preparation for many little things but some turns up major highways like getting married and wanting to start a family along the way.

Now my solo trip has turned into a family affair. I no longer am just responsible for keeping myself on the right road, I have a family to make sure I guide and direct along the way. I must lead by example, show them how I pack my luggage and handle the detours that show up unplanned. I must share with them that even though it is a journey that takes time and is sometimes difficult it is worth it that way when they are older my children will make the decision for themselves to continue on towards this destination.

Most I'm sure have figured out my chosen final destination : Heaven. At 13 I gave my life to Christ, knowing He came as a baby, grew to be a sinless man, died on a cross to pay the price for my sins, rose again on the 3rd day and is now preparing a place for me in Heaven! I'm not sure when my time will come to reach Heaven, but I know once I get there all of my luggage I have packed long the way will be unloaded. It will be examined by fire, whatever I have packed is all I will have, there is no going back for something else. This is why I ask God each day to help me live each day as if it's my last, to love as Christ loved. To help me teach my children His ways and be used for His glory.

I have put much time in planning this trip and sometimes things go just as I have planned other times God knows a little detour is just what I need to keep me on track and keep my focus on Him. Throughout these detours I have grown and trusted God more, realizing He really does know best. Before having children I never could have pictured myself a stay at home mother, let alone a mother that homeschools her children. Thankfully God has helped me along the way knowing just what things are worthwhile packing in my luggage. Spending the time molding and teaching our children is one of these things.

God blessing us with a beautiful little girl with Down Syndrome has also been a road I never thought I would have to go down. Looking back now I am so thankful He closed one road to open up the chance for us to experience something so much more special and wonderful than all of our planning could have ever brought about. Through Katelyn God has opened my eyes to even more things that are worthwhile like raising funds for the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk to raise awareness for DS. That way other people can see how wonderful these gifts truly are. We have decided to have a public auction and a candle fundraiser to help raise money for this cause, more information to come about these later on and how you can help and be involved in this part of our journey.

For now though we will continue down this family adventure together, hand in hand, trusting God along the way and welcoming any detours He sees fit. Serving Him with joy until we reach our final destination.