tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46615928250562078822024-03-13T01:54:23.938-07:00Torres Family....and AdoptionIf you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? Proverbs 24:12
........Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer and to remain uncorrupted by this world. James 1:27
"Because every family deserves the blessing of a child with Down syndrome...."Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger417125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-65137002592129747962013-07-29T09:50:00.001-07:002013-07-29T09:50:13.168-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ruben and JoAnn are married 20 years and are no strangers to International Adoption. They have a large quiver full of 11 children, biological and adopted, five of which have Down Syndrome. They had a desire to adopt early in their marriage but the idea was put on the back burner while they had their six biological children. Their fifth daughter Amelia was born with Down Syndrome. Adoption was reintroduced to the Torres family through friends in their church. In 2005 after searching the adoption websites, the child that grabbed their hearts was a little girl from Russia named Yulia. She was 2 ½ and had Down Syndrome. It became clear to the Torres family that God was preparing them for a calling to care for special needs children. A couple of years later in 2009 they found Reeces Rainbow and adopted 3 little girls with Down syndrome, Masha, Milena & Luda, from the same orphanage in Ukraine. In 2010, they returned to Ukraine to adopt a teenage boy, Marco.</div>
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Please help the Torres family through prayers and donations bring home another 14 year old girl with Down Syndrome & Alopecia who will soon age out of the system. Stephie will end up in an institution if not adopted soon. The Torres family believes that adoption is true religion as stated in James 1 :27</div>
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Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-52700577668371311382013-07-24T17:30:00.002-07:002013-07-24T17:31:57.044-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: maroon; font-size: x-large;">The Boy and the Starfish</span></h1>
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<basefont size="7"></basefont>A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset. As he walked he could see a young boy in the distance, as he drew nearer he noticed that the boy kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water.<br />
Time and again he kept hurling things into the ocean.</div>
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As the man approached even closer, he was able to see that the boy was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time he was throwing them back into the water.</div>
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The man asked the boy what he was doing, the boy replied,"I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die through lack of oxygen. "But", said the man, "You can't possibly save them all, there are thousands on this beach, and this must be happening on hundreds of beaches along the coast. You can't possibly make a difference."<br />
The boy looked down, frowning for a moment; then bent down to pick up another starfish, smiling as he threw it back into the sea. He replied,</div>
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<b>"I made a huge difference to that one!" </b></div>
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~Author Unknown~</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-86710276303336261212013-07-24T17:28:00.002-07:002013-07-24T17:28:51.384-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px;">Thank You to those who have already donated to "Stephie's' fund through Reecesraibow.org. If you are not able to make our fundraisers, but would like to join our journey to get this child home...please go to reecesrainbow.org and click Sponsor a family...then New Commitments and scroll down to Torres Family! Your donations are tax deductible through Reecesrainbow and will receive a receipt for your taxes. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px;">I need to get busy with the paper work soon..One of the </span></span><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">first</span></span><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px;"> steps is applying to Immigration...Then our Social Worker comes for a visit to start our home study...Then a 10 hour online class for Hague Country adoptions..then the paper work begins! AHHHHHHHH and what a stack it is! Here we go again! Thanks to all who want to follow our adoption journey..</span></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-15384785576953328302013-07-14T16:36:00.001-07:002013-07-14T16:36:18.925-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-13502766570528106272013-07-14T16:06:00.002-07:002013-07-14T16:36:06.127-07:00Please help us bring Stella home...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Please help us bring Stella home....<br />
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Our mission is saving special needs children from countries who look upon them as a curse or tabu on their family or culture. To us this is nonsense.. We believe all of God's children are worth loving and He has called us to care for orphans with special needs. Many say to us.."oh you are crazy!" Well to us James 1:27 strikes a cord in our hearts and we hear God's calling.. It's not something we would expect everyone to do, but we are willing and to sacrifice for a child who is in need....Please join us with prayer and donating to our chip in to help bring Stella home..<br />
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Another way you can help if you are loacl is to come to our Hair Cut a Thon for back to school haircuts for the whole family! This will be held at BeautyWorks at 296 Washington Street East Stroudsburg, PA Date TBA soon!..Haircuts will be $10 for each..Men, women & children!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-28996739262111682042013-07-09T17:53:00.001-07:002013-07-09T18:08:27.328-07:00SAVING STELLA...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well... we are back in the race! The Adoption Race! Meet Stella...She is 14 and will age out of the adoption system if not adopted...Our hearts are heavy and we will do what we have to and bring her home.. Stella also suffers from alopecia and is wearing a wig in this picture so the kids at her school do not tease her. The kids in Eastern Europe are usually not too nice to kids with a disability. They are already taught that these kids are a curse or taboo on the family they were born into..It is heartbreaking to us having hosted a girl with Downs last summer and she was abused by the kids in her boarding school. She went to school with typical kids and we could tell she had been through a lot there. My son translated the things she said to us showing she had been teased & called those very names herself...It broke my heart we could not adopt her due to her combative behaviors. I had to make the decision to protect my children here at home.<br />
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Stella comes with a good report and a calm disposition. We are very excited to bring her into our family and give her the love she deserves...Please join us by praying for God to meet all the needs to make this happen! Safety & health for Stella and our family, and financial needs as well.<br />
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Please follow our adoption journey and follow our blog to find out what's happening!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-47405923469350022562013-07-01T18:39:00.000-07:002013-07-01T18:39:33.671-07:00SAVING STELLA...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-61316545219828156942012-03-26T11:56:00.002-07:002012-03-26T11:56:59.061-07:00Our little Host Child..Summer of 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKPyZ2bmWV5vTg-dGxfxDeFd71Qj7UseVBBejBO085CcQyWxgfNkjZJs-Lgg6f4xsu03W9KtlDy76x3n5yncRsJp4HZk7Ma8fCfPaVqpfD2GoBXIoogbknYa69k0U3BxKP3b3Gq3pcgi6/s1600/yulia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKPyZ2bmWV5vTg-dGxfxDeFd71Qj7UseVBBejBO085CcQyWxgfNkjZJs-Lgg6f4xsu03W9KtlDy76x3n5yncRsJp4HZk7Ma8fCfPaVqpfD2GoBXIoogbknYa69k0U3BxKP3b3Gq3pcgi6/s320/yulia2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Meet our little host child from Eastern Europe..Arriving Last week of June....First little girl with Downs coming with our agency! So exciting..but I have to protect her & love her and give her a great summer with a family who is Up for Downs!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-60330208744676122472011-10-14T14:24:00.001-07:002011-10-14T14:24:45.568-07:00Building a new future for Ukrainian people with Down syndrome<br />
Posted on October 2, 2011 by Frank Buckley<br />
Last year we began a three year outreach project in Ukraine. Just one year on, the project is already making fantastic progress improving support for people with Down syndrome throughout the country – far more than we could have initially hoped for.<br />
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We estimate that there are 10,000-15,000 people with Down syndrome living throughout Ukraine, including 6,000-8,000 children<br />
I first visited Kyiv in September 2008 at the request of (what was then) EDB Business Partner (which, following a merger, is now EDB ErgoGroup). EDB was considering options for a new corporate social responsibility project and wanted to know if we could develop a project that would deliver a marked improvement in the lives of people with Down syndrome living in Ukraine – one of several countries where the company has significant investments.<br />
Kyiv is a former member of the Soviet Union and a country which suffered great brutality in the first half of the twentieth century – first through the two Soviet famines of 1921-22 and (the arguable genocide) of 1932-33 in which over 8 million people died, and then subsequently at the hands of German and Soviet armies during World War II (when a further 7 to 8 million people lost their lives). Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the legacy of state control and corruption hindered economic and political progress. Economic output fell 40% during the 1990s. The Orange Revolution of 2004 promised change and despite political turbulence, the economy started to grow again until the global financial crisis of 2008. GDP then fell 15% in 2009. Per capita GDP is currently around $3,000 (around $6,700 based on purchasing power parity) – placing Ukraine among lower middle income countries.<br />
Discrimination against the disabled, violence against women, child abuse, child trafficking and child labour are all commonly reported problems in Ukraine. In general, public understanding of Down syndrome is poor and expectations are low. There are very few early intervention services and very limited educational opportunities for young people with Down syndrome. Doctors, psychologists and speech therapists receive little training in learning disabilities and the limited information available is often outdated. Parents of new babies therefore rarely have an accurate understanding of the condition and maternity hospitals do not encourage families to keep their children. Indeed, it is a legal requirement that doctors offer to take the baby into care when diagnosed.<br />
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Around 70% of babies born in Kyiv are taken into state-run orphanages (perhaps more elsewhere).<br />
With very limited public services and little encouragement from professionals or officials, many families make the difficult decision to leave their child to the care of the state. Thankfully, this is starting to change, but we still estimate that around 70% of babies born in Kyiv are taken into state-run orphanages. From birth until around 4 years of age, these young children live in a “baby home”. From 4 or 5 years, they live in a home for mentally disabled children. From 21 years, people with Down syndrome live in a hospital for mentally disabled adults.<br />
There is limited special education provision for children with Down syndrome in Ukraine. There are residential and non-residential educational institutions (internats) for specific categories of disabled children ranging from those with severe disabilities to those with mild impairments and those with emotional and behavioural problems. According to the Ministry of Health in Ukraine, there were 136,000 disabled children in Ukraine in 2004. A reported 65,000 disabled children were enrolled in over 400 institutions.<br />
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According to the Ministry of Health in Ukraine, there were 136,000 disabled children in Ukraine in 2004. A reported 65,000 disabled children were enrolled in over 400 institutions.<br />
We calculated that some 600 babies would be expected to be born annually (though official statistics from the Ministry of Health for 2002 and 2003 only record 330 annual births). Given this, we might expect some 10,000-15,000 people with Down syndrome to be living throughout Ukraine, including 6,000-8,000 children.<br />
With substantial difficulties facing people with Down syndrome and their families in the country, a lack of public and private resources, and turbulent political environment, it was far from clear that we would be able to deliver a plan to EDB that had a good chance of succeeding in delivering marked improvements in the lives of these children and adults and their families.<br />
We had tracked down a group of families in Kyiv who had started a national charity to support and advocate for people with Down syndrome. They had already achieved notable success attracting media attention to the plight of people with Down syndrome, holding seminars for families and starting to provide information to parents of newly diagnosed babies.<br />
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The new centre in Kyiv<br />
These were considerable achievements, but this was still a fledgling charity, underpinned by a small number of families with few resources. The families told me about the challenges facing them, their aspirations for their children and how they wanted to improve support for people with Down syndrome throughout the country. We set about developing a plan.<br />
It is easy to forget how much has changed for people with Down syndrome in Western countries over the past 40 years. It may not be enough, but it is dramatic. In 1970 life expectancy for people with Down syndrome was 30 years – now (where good healthcare is provided) it is 60. In 1970, people with Down syndrome were considered uneducable. Today (with the right support), we can expect most young people with Down syndrome to achieve useful levels of literacy and numeracy skills, and to learn much from access to a broad academic curriculum. Rising numbers of people with Down syndrome are employed and living with increasing levels of independence.<br />
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Education and Healthcare Conference, Kyiv, September 2010<br />
Social change has driven much of this change – coupled with advances in our understanding of the particular medical and developmental needs of people with Down syndrome. Scientific progress driven by clinical, developmental and educational research has driven the development of effective medical care guidelines, early intervention techniques and better teaching practices. The drive for acceptance, inclusion and the recognition of the rights of people with disabilities has helped ensure better standards of care and support are put into practice.<br />
With this in mind, the plan we drew up had five main aims:<br />
Improving information and knowledge among families, and healthcare and education professionals to underpin the provision of effective, evidence-based health, early intervention and education services. This would involve the translation, adaptation and publication of up-to-date information about healthcare, early intervention and education, and the provision of conferences and seminars for families and professionals.<br />
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New early education services in Kyiv<br />
Providing evidence-based model support services to demonstrate potential and to develop professional experience and expertise, and encourage replication across the country. This would involve the development of a centre in Kyiv hosting support groups, early education services, seminars, advice and consultation services. We would recruit and train professional staff to provide these services and subsequently support others to replicate them more widely.<br />
Building expertise and capacity for service delivery and support within the Ukrainian Down syndrome organisation and across state and other nonprofit service providers to create the foundations for lasting improvements and ensure the long-term impact of the project. In addition to professional staff development, this would include helping develop the charity’s administrative, financial and fundraising functions.<br />
Improving public awareness and advocating on behalf of people with Down syndrome to promote a more realistic understanding of the condition among the general public, health and education professionals and political leaders to encourage support for effective services and inclusion. This would include proactive and constructive engagement with governmental, non-governmental, professional and academic agencies, concerted PR and targeted campaigning activities.<br />
Evaluating outcomes carefully to provide evidence of effectiveness and provide the justification for wider changes in public health and education provision. This would include documenting outcomes from model services, client satisfaction, family needs and researching standards in existing education and health services.<br />
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UK Ambassador to Ukraine hosts reception on World Down Syndrome Day<br />
It was clear we could not achieve substantial change overnight and we agreed that we had to commit to a three year project to enable sufficient time to build a sustainable Ukrainian charity equipped with sufficient expertise to deliver a lasting impact.<br />
Last year we finalised our plans and the project agreement between EDB ErgoGroup, the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation and Down Syndrome Education International. The refurbishment of a building in Kyiv to house the charity commenced in the middle of the year.<br />
To mark the start of the project and to begin to spread current information about Down syndrome, we hosted a one day conference in September that offered information about Down syndrome, effective early intervention, education and healthcare, and introduced the Ukraine Down Syndrome Project. Speakers at the conference included Professor Sue Buckley OBE from Down Syndrome Education International, and Dr Phillip Mattheis, a Developmental Paediatrician and member of the US Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group.<br />
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New family services, Kyiv, March 2011<br />
Turnout at the conference was excellent, with over 200 parents, educators, healthcare professionals and care staff from orphanages across Ukraine attending. Representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health attended and the conference was reported on five Ukrainian national television channels.<br />
In November 2010 the centre officially opened in Kyiv. In the eleven months since opening, the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation has enrolled 324 families in regular services including new parent support groups, early education classes, and information seminars. In addition, information and training has been provided to hundreds of professionals through conferences, seminars and translated information resources – including the first steps in the See and Learn Language and Reading program.<br />
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Children attending a new model teaching project in Kyiv<br />
In a nearby internat (special school), a new model teaching project has recently got underway including children with Down syndrome in an experimental evaluation (officially supported by the education authorities in Kyiv) of more flexible teaching approaches designed to meet individual needs. Legislation was passed in recent years giving families the right to choose the type of school they wish their child to be educated in. However, this has not been backed up with the necessary resources and teacher training, nor the necessary flexibility with regard the state mandated curriculum taught in Ukrainian schools. One consequence has been a rapid rise in the numbers of children with learning disabilities (including children with Down syndrome and children with autism) attending academic internats previously only educating children with milder difficulties and behaviour problems. This model project, supported by funding from the Dutch embassy, Kyiv city education department and local companies, aims to develop curriculum adaptations and individualised teaching approaches suitable for replication and demonstrate how they can improve outcomes.<br />
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Addressing guests at a reception hosted by the UK Ambassador to Ukraine on World Down Syndrome Day 2011<br />
On World Down Syndrome Day 2011, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Leigh Turner, very kindly hosted a reception at his official residence to mark the occasion and celebrate the achievements of the Ukraine Down Syndrome Project. The event was attended by ambassadors, government officials and business leaders from Kyiv and was covered by the major Ukrainian TV channels.<br />
Over 1,000 people throughout Ukraine have already benefited directly from the project, which has attracted the support of the Ukrainian Ministry of Education, Kyiv City education and children’s services. Across Kyiv, some children with Down syndrome are starting to be accepted in mainstream kindergartens. The project has helped to establish parent support groups around the country, and encouraged the formation of a Ukrainian Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group.<br />
Building on the successes of our first year, we are now reaching out to support change across Ukraine and to improve support for the many children with Down syndrome living in baby houses and internats.<br />
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Press conference launching Ukrainian editions of See and Learn Language and Reading, October 2011<br />
DSE has supported the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation with information resources for translation, staff training and advice, contributing to seminars, conferences and advice sessions, and assistance with fundraising and business planning.<br />
That said, the success of the project to date has largely been down to the excellent work of the families and staff at the Ukrainian Down Syndrome Organisation. Importantly, this success has been underpinned not just by cash funding from EDB ErgoGroup, but also the expertise and voluntary assistance provided by the company and, in particular, through Infopulse - an EDB ErgoGroup subsidiary headquartered in Kyiv.<br />
We are exploring opportunities to replicate this success in other countries (where there is no shortage of desperate need).<br />
How to help<br />
If you would like to support our efforts to improve support for young people with Down syndrome in low and middle income countries, please donate to our Global Education Fund either through Down Syndrome Education International (a registered UK charity) or Down Syndrome Education USA (a 501(c)(3) US nonprofit). You can also choose to specify you’re your donation supports work in Ukraine:<br />
Donate to Down Syndrome Education International<br />
Donate to Down Syndrome Education USA<br />
You may also be able to help by putting us in touch with companies with corporate social responsibility or giving programs with interests in low and middle income countries.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-30152513625906313852011-08-21T20:41:00.000-07:002011-09-05T02:51:07.712-07:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-934711150102624212011-08-21T20:34:00.000-07:002011-08-21T20:34:14.956-07:00Winding down Summer....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWTRhk6iVmrYbeiRTcmPgPxSVC8LjHagVPMNYtLQsP2X07-0KsNM-E8KWuV3JQAsDdvMl5LpPa8rkbUV42j7vFMBvzR72u3HrpfD4CMI9AI6_hvGJphcywpW2xB4apaOx85RIuAErhR1_/s1600/daytona_beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="217" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWTRhk6iVmrYbeiRTcmPgPxSVC8LjHagVPMNYtLQsP2X07-0KsNM-E8KWuV3JQAsDdvMl5LpPa8rkbUV42j7vFMBvzR72u3HrpfD4CMI9AI6_hvGJphcywpW2xB4apaOx85RIuAErhR1_/s320/daytona_beach.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Had a fulfilling summer with the family...now we will wind down and change gears for school mode..The kids are excited to be getting back to see their friends & new teachers..not sure they care about the school work....I have been up to my ears in laundry and organizing.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-7071411664388441332011-08-07T06:51:00.000-07:002011-08-07T06:59:47.455-07:00Bumps in the Road: Surpassing Those Hurdles and Learning from ThemWhat did I learn this week? That life is a lesson and I will always be a student. Why am I saying this? Because, every day is different. Our routine or schedule may be the same but at anytime life can throw us a curve ball. Your train can be late, your car can break down, the school nurse calls to tell you that your child is sick, or maybe you learn life is not perfect.<br />
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Whatever the case, your day is never going to be the same and it’s learning to manage those curve balls that enables us to be strong, capable, and valuable individuals. <br />
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I am grateful today for my curve balls and learning about myself and family..not so fun while in the midst but later comes clear if all of life’s big problems include the words “indictment” or “inoperable.” Everything else is small stuff. Thank You Lord for the small stuff...<br />
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A quote I like:<br />
A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-89264841026694156612011-08-07T06:31:00.000-07:002011-08-07T06:33:34.466-07:00Our trip to Florida & Myrtle Beach...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j7GccE-ClD8mV7-RgqppemnSwIfwfnXy0-Gil_IRPHEVoH5BrN2t-sZ2Y-Bpg9EJmAoLdyFWDlha9ejgEdekDf8OwVDHLy8om1LWnMwvcVzZ48rt8ao8E5NHwDhZLE3zDjzF4CYHnCUk/s1600/IMG_1151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j7GccE-ClD8mV7-RgqppemnSwIfwfnXy0-Gil_IRPHEVoH5BrN2t-sZ2Y-Bpg9EJmAoLdyFWDlha9ejgEdekDf8OwVDHLy8om1LWnMwvcVzZ48rt8ao8E5NHwDhZLE3zDjzF4CYHnCUk/s320/IMG_1151.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The start of our trip...driving & picnicking at the Rest area...<br />
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Our villa at Wyndam Bonnet Creek Resort on Disney property..<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIxCyKJp5VN-GuN5JFoHiCF-cMpjIjGSqkL7PcwfJeDowKkJsh6lLs1rw5cfM-D_wq8Jt-x-XandeCYxg5X2hU4wIdZzfAetyxjIY2oohyphenhyphenTT3HHCsjdKr0b48Kmt8ii047uz_pquvSPlM/s1600/IMG_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIxCyKJp5VN-GuN5JFoHiCF-cMpjIjGSqkL7PcwfJeDowKkJsh6lLs1rw5cfM-D_wq8Jt-x-XandeCYxg5X2hU4wIdZzfAetyxjIY2oohyphenhyphenTT3HHCsjdKr0b48Kmt8ii047uz_pquvSPlM/s320/IMG_1204.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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Pool Time!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EgUFilyZjlRdILNOzNvrxNbaIAoqRrqpHEBBa05XcsWhcduhSVGRJ9wJNZ9eznO42FdzYazMud_5X-G2y47QDXLYm0B9H-Ckov2HvV77RY4IuhpKSJ385eAvfOFnildS_D_rcEun2s1u/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EgUFilyZjlRdILNOzNvrxNbaIAoqRrqpHEBBa05XcsWhcduhSVGRJ9wJNZ9eznO42FdzYazMud_5X-G2y47QDXLYm0B9H-Ckov2HvV77RY4IuhpKSJ385eAvfOFnildS_D_rcEun2s1u/s320/IMG_1248.JPG" /></a></div>I have set up a separate blog from this trip..It was a big fun one..so I will be added many pics for all our kids & their friends who came with us to view all year long. We had a great time..A labor of Love...www.summervaca2011.blogspot.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-87586172109739238572011-08-06T20:17:00.001-07:002011-08-07T06:23:20.169-07:00Adventure to the airport!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTv3SSWROYvHMPlpSyhpTtnWRfHVlGMAnNxt8RyRADvQjvHj1l5R-btL1csqU5hNCNDYFLKDx5WnaRKeNDvrex-ayTn_AZOht0tjkOWD0gSUWOfi-HExf6zTuKPfI6lkdIC5dTHUH3F19/s1600/boysairport.aspx" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="160" width="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTv3SSWROYvHMPlpSyhpTtnWRfHVlGMAnNxt8RyRADvQjvHj1l5R-btL1csqU5hNCNDYFLKDx5WnaRKeNDvrex-ayTn_AZOht0tjkOWD0gSUWOfi-HExf6zTuKPfI6lkdIC5dTHUH3F19/s320/boysairport.aspx" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxy4S-6TiClF9hUIhXfS_LPMH_uaSp8DtHN0-34OXBykWhzJDoY7EEBZRkydrardJU6Sfsd6dhF3ATAUgm8VKqnN1NsdF7E8huPx8L8H3cNaGUtaqAyzGiflA-v4WjhTw0OuJFC6scbLh/s1600/boysairport2.aspx" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="160" width="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxy4S-6TiClF9hUIhXfS_LPMH_uaSp8DtHN0-34OXBykWhzJDoY7EEBZRkydrardJU6Sfsd6dhF3ATAUgm8VKqnN1NsdF7E8huPx8L8H3cNaGUtaqAyzGiflA-v4WjhTw0OuJFC6scbLh/s320/boysairport2.aspx" /></a></div><br />
Marco got to spend a little time with his old pals from his orphanage in Bucha...Wish they could have had a day together but we were happy to see them even for an hour..Here are some pictures.<br />
The airport and boys together took me back to Ukraine for awhile...The airport was full of people heading back home to Ukraine and Russia & Eastern Europe..Our adoptions from Russia & Ukraine is big chunck of our lives and family...Our 6 bio children have loved and blended into a pot of compassion and culture.. not always bliss, but what family is a steady flow of that? That could get boring right? The most important thing to me is family time, and we sure have had a good time this summer together..we will be winding down soon and getting ready for school mode..The change of season and activities will be welcome although I will miss the time we had together all summer. Structure is a good thing in a big family whether you can achieve that yourself as a Mom or have the help of school etc.. I need the help of others..I am a right brain thinker and am a social director at heart...I need a good stable in put for most of the year and in the summer I get to be creative & free with our schedule & time. Too much of that is not a good thing for me...LOL Now it's time to have a little more organization and left brain thinking . Thank God hubby is a left brain thinker or we'd be a train without a driver! I married a good one...Someone once gave me advice..Marry a man that will meet you half way or further..he sure does that. I am very blessed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-3184776022141724672011-08-06T20:15:00.001-07:002011-08-08T12:40:13.992-07:00Great Day with good friends & our kids at Knoebels...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBCAswB4d0jm9D9tpvsV7IyxPxY-Gek05SKYrIDUbn7SSyKMv3N2C2OeWCpHYb60DTci5QpzSGhB7-f7_rylCbuOMwmqS_qwSkfAqD7IxFQsrsNcKF7O_13aZzgu7-Zhs70dhvxbbeNyJ/s1600/IMG_1543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBCAswB4d0jm9D9tpvsV7IyxPxY-Gek05SKYrIDUbn7SSyKMv3N2C2OeWCpHYb60DTci5QpzSGhB7-f7_rylCbuOMwmqS_qwSkfAqD7IxFQsrsNcKF7O_13aZzgu7-Zhs70dhvxbbeNyJ/s320/IMG_1543.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqG-T6TsNq9AdsgqCthqM0hgAnoFEDygRpVuREO_xb7oBt5mlRetu5kqrInlY6e9NuJLev54tMLZ2BHtMSa9I4gN3jzBsvqLdy3o7jmjZ4WZYxquS8atBduNzJpV0ZYJFbPupf_A_Cz_R/s1600/IMG_1547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqG-T6TsNq9AdsgqCthqM0hgAnoFEDygRpVuREO_xb7oBt5mlRetu5kqrInlY6e9NuJLev54tMLZ2BHtMSa9I4gN3jzBsvqLdy3o7jmjZ4WZYxquS8atBduNzJpV0ZYJFbPupf_A_Cz_R/s320/IMG_1547.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QvOmXrcrDPhLbxpTfe3ShUER7tdHhcFUkam6j9QgbZ569ulx2sccyTbK07I2ndl4bmqMjjWjEG7eZRo-ECIe_4kv3Z8ZrtZc-B-PsDBovbBB-mW9ymlOd-l0bOtgi81Y8n7tJztuNeCM/s1600/momkids.aspx" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="160" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QvOmXrcrDPhLbxpTfe3ShUER7tdHhcFUkam6j9QgbZ569ulx2sccyTbK07I2ndl4bmqMjjWjEG7eZRo-ECIe_4kv3Z8ZrtZc-B-PsDBovbBB-mW9ymlOd-l0bOtgi81Y8n7tJztuNeCM/s320/momkids.aspx" /></a></div>Great time with another adoptive family we met while in Ukraine in 2009..Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-2311367963284993112011-07-27T16:25:00.001-07:002011-07-27T16:26:51.393-07:00My 3 little pips from Ukraine! Almost 2 years already!This August will be 2 years since we brought home our 3 little angels with Down Syndrome! I feel so blessed to have been a part of a great big picture and making 3 little ones happy & secure..something they will never have felt if ended up in an institution...Please consider adoption or donating to a family working on bringing home some angels..Lord knows it's a lot of money and effort to do so. Some of the children have some big grants to help off set expenses..check out some at reecesrainbow.org<br />
Ministry Video<br />
reecesrainbow.org<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi9Ta0EwZ_QsWu7hvEocElxIGhYjDEJ_1DufKEWAQk0y4LrwBy8KnvD-2L4EZpUg-zs9-GF7OU8GPH-Rlbcggg_za_j7XkGDDRehtVrrx9QLQbrz0WVevaGBsZuZcgHkevu4RdKMLaOHb/s1600/Bonnet+Vaca+324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi9Ta0EwZ_QsWu7hvEocElxIGhYjDEJ_1DufKEWAQk0y4LrwBy8KnvD-2L4EZpUg-zs9-GF7OU8GPH-Rlbcggg_za_j7XkGDDRehtVrrx9QLQbrz0WVevaGBsZuZcgHkevu4RdKMLaOHb/s320/Bonnet+Vaca+324.JPG" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-81601463809757425942011-07-07T12:23:00.000-07:002011-07-07T12:23:23.495-07:00From Wendy Saunders...For those who are curious about some very recent strides in research may I suggest a blog of a very close and trusted friend of mine. Her daughter participated in Dr. Capone and Kennedy Krieger's research trial. The purpose of this trial was to determine if the drug (Rigvastigmine) used in Alzheimer patients will be safe and beneficial for individuals with DS.... especially since they have linked Alzheimers patients with a 21st chromosome. I think you will find that Beth breaks down some of the more technical hard to read information into something easier to read along with some fun antics of her daughter, some endearing qualities as well as some not so pretty truths... (okay so I am partial to Hannah she is a house guest from time to time) However for those who do like the more technical information Beth does link to the original research and information. I have posted the link below which is the end of their experience of the research but if you are intrigued and interested Beth has put a link at the end of the post that will take back so you can read their experiences from the Beginning. Hope everyone has a wonderful day with all things good, calm and smooth coming your way. ;-)<br />
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Hannah's Shenanigans: Research Study 4th Visit<br />
hannigans.blogspot.com<br />
After much harassment encouragement, I entered the blogosphere to document the delightful (or otherwise) and unexpected moments of my younger daughter's life. Hannah was born in 1998. She surprised us with her extra chromosome, and continues to surprise us with her humor, intellect and obstinacy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFC7PRMwVFzdQnRtLY_mKxvWDLZ2g_FdCzeKVy2dhaLFiy9wsUIBTlmxWKpmwv5E1EElRuuMcu6gfYUiHsq9q1bgSUyEY6aiXMJuvdZcqVQeqLeaHz2tmymCAyRMkQzmRI4eMVTbuYXtHg/s1600/safe_image.php" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="90" width="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFC7PRMwVFzdQnRtLY_mKxvWDLZ2g_FdCzeKVy2dhaLFiy9wsUIBTlmxWKpmwv5E1EElRuuMcu6gfYUiHsq9q1bgSUyEY6aiXMJuvdZcqVQeqLeaHz2tmymCAyRMkQzmRI4eMVTbuYXtHg/s320/safe_image.php" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-23949750484591604342011-07-04T05:22:00.000-07:002011-08-07T06:15:15.650-07:00Reeces Rainbow Reunion...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyCVdoCGf8C1v78pwrN-IeISCcd3NkozT35R_RT1dc0H3_Frds8an0DJoVN6Y7Bi-UWWAVdPLMb3pnjtoZPmBl_Rhx0ip4dybWKXKmK-McRNswojGoH8kvohMP3h-hHwYz4C4D6EO47EI/s1600/IMG_1081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyCVdoCGf8C1v78pwrN-IeISCcd3NkozT35R_RT1dc0H3_Frds8an0DJoVN6Y7Bi-UWWAVdPLMb3pnjtoZPmBl_Rhx0ip4dybWKXKmK-McRNswojGoH8kvohMP3h-hHwYz4C4D6EO47EI/s320/IMG_1081.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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Had a great day at the Yogi Bear camp ground with all the families and Andrea! Now we can match the faces to their personalities..We almost didn't go because of the weather..It was pouring in PA and we went anyway and the weather turned out great.. Loved the campground and camping experience even if only for a day...Loved meeting the woman who brought us together with our kiddies and was so neat for her to meet them in person after only seeing pictures. Was good day over all. Long ride home though with one eye open but worth it! We left just before the fireworks so the littles wouldn't get scared.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-38675098519438405952011-06-22T13:04:00.001-07:002011-06-22T13:10:17.932-07:00Adventure Camp!We have 4 of the pre-teens/teens going to adventure camp...Seems the boys are having a better time then the girls..but they need to finish and follow through and I think they'll be glad they did..It is so neat all that they do there..The 1 st day was biking & wall climbing..yesterday more wall climbing and canoing & fishing..today not sure what they were doing, but they needed their rain ponchos..It just started about 2o minutes ago..so they're prepared..<br />
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Getting some stuff around the house done..inside & out..We made a fence to block the kids from being able to enter the pool area through the gate..Our pool guy accidentally left if open ..Uh OH! My 2 older girls with Downs found one of the younger ones near the low end..very scary..so we have finished our make shift 6 foot fence to block off that area..Also we are adding smaller wire fence to the chain link fence so they can't climb it...These little monkeys can do amazing things.. shocking & scary sometimes..<br />
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Need to go up in the attic today to find the goggles..Our pool will be ready maybe by the weekend...hope the weather will be good..Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-6358995512533159652011-06-21T20:25:00.000-07:002011-06-21T20:25:14.428-07:00Having a good summer ...Been so busy with the kids & Life..haven't had much time for blogging..just enjoying. Our pool is almost ready for swimming...we got a late start this year..but soon enough it'll be ready. Also off to Florida sometime this summer with all the kids & some of their friends..Should be a fun trip...Marco has blended right in like he was always here.. He is speaking English pretty well and is hoping to lose the accent..."Lose the accent" has become a joke around the house along with "It's just impossible"..you have to say that with a thick accent for it to be authentic though!..<br />
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A couple of Marco's friends will be coming to PA soon and we will meet up with them for a visit..Also a teacher..This is so exciting that they will be within an hour from us..who would have ever thought! We are so happy that he can see them. He has transitioned so well that this will make for an an more secure feeling for him knowing her can see some old friends from time to time..a couple more are being adopted..one in CA..far but maybe he can email with him when he gets to America. This can help the other boy during his transition.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-37113142839484757712011-06-10T05:17:00.000-07:002011-06-10T05:23:10.617-07:00Please Help the Duekes bring home Katya!Katya has some real medical issues that need to be addressed and needs to get to America for proper care...Please help this self-less family raise the last of what they need to break her out of the orphanage forever!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-28583649556502951432011-06-09T08:22:00.001-07:002011-06-09T08:22:04.093-07:00Every day this little boy comes up to me and talks & talks... I don't understand his language, but he is asking me questions, and saying something very adamantly. I know what he's saying... he wants me to take him home with Cole. The director said he wants a family desperately. He calls me Mama and my husband, Papa. It's tearing me up!<br />
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He wants what his friend, Kolya (my Cole) has. Someone to visit him, and bring him toys, and take him away from the groupa to play tag and hide and seek. A dad to wrestle with and throw a ball. He wants so badly to belong to someone!!!<br />
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Today Yulia said that our son was supposed to have been transferred, but the director kept him there b/c we were coming for him. He also kept Sasha and his friend Danyl, because a family had committed to them. But no one's coming now, and Yulia said there is "a man from the church" who will take these boys to live at a monastery! Sasha doesn't want to live in a monastery! He wants to play soccer and baseball, and ride a bike! I've mentioned him time and again on this blog and on facebook, but I'm flat-out PLEADING for this boy's future now! His and Danyl's.<br />
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It's not too late to start the process to bring them home! The director WANTS him to have a family! As far as I know he still thinks one is on the way... and I'm not about to tell him differently. Sasha still has a chance if someone will just step up and say, "I want him! He's my son!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6p6w9PgQcg_yOAAoilKw7CPkQODnvLhFKP_b3sEH1S94cA5tHyRh_rf7XFyo3m8ingjc6jgba6GVcOms6bYkAsmDVXenIkrYRpkgfmNeBzMBJquVFuFU2P0DZlPcMQxhe4Eqw_e_mCKM/s1600/cole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6p6w9PgQcg_yOAAoilKw7CPkQODnvLhFKP_b3sEH1S94cA5tHyRh_rf7XFyo3m8ingjc6jgba6GVcOms6bYkAsmDVXenIkrYRpkgfmNeBzMBJquVFuFU2P0DZlPcMQxhe4Eqw_e_mCKM/s320/cole.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-57688239922975236992011-05-25T10:40:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:42:24.477-07:00Life is Good...Been very busy living life over here...All is going well with Marco..He fits in as if he always was here...doing well in school and we are very proud of him and all the kids.<br />
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We are looking forward to summer and this weekend kicking off the summer for weekend trips tot he beach. We will be taking a vacation in July to Orlando to do our usual Disney trip & maybe even Universal. Otherwise the pool is all we need and the beautiful tropical resort to relax and enjoy the many amenities. We will return there again at Christmas at our timeshare and see our family who lives there.<br />
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Getting our home in order for summer...opening the pool next week and doing some landscaping around the house done too. I have been without my own washer for a few weeks and looking forward to replacing that..but in the meantime throwing mega clothes away..Becoming minimalists as much as possible with a large family..The only thing left to heave is more clothes..Otherwise we live pretty simple.. I need a sign no hoarding allowed LOL.<br />
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All the kids are doing well and transition seems to be at a minimum. Everyone seems to have found their place and getting along fine. Can't ask for anything more..Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661592825056207882.post-54005223944692918032011-05-11T10:39:00.000-07:002011-05-11T10:39:43.295-07:00Kelsey the Miracle Baby<iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LrYHcwcqiJw?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br />Beautiful Inspiring story we can relate to..<br />Praise GodUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0