A Great Day

It has occurred to me over the last week as I've recovered from a pretty intense surgery, just how blessed I am.  For the most part, I've been alone in my house since I've come home from the hospital, and in between my haze, halluncinations and delusions, I've had quite a bit of time to think.


I'm not used to being here alone.  Von, of course, has checked on me frequently throughout the day and night, and at times, I think he has been convinced that I wasn't going to live.  I too thought that I was going to just lay down and die.  I thought of my Mother in her final days and imagined that she felt just like I did.  I dreamed of her.  I visited with her.  I saw me hugging her.  I spoke with her and I heard her voice tell me that everything is okay.  I felt like I was on the inside looking out at my life in a very strange sort of way.  It's so funny how pain medications can effect certain people.  I can not take them.  Strangely, the pain is more tolerable than the effects to me.

At five o'clock this morning I woke up nose to nose to a sleeping little boy on my pillow.  I laid there and looked at him and wondered how I could miss a week of his life.  I felt guilty for pawning my children off on relatives while I slept off the effects of pain medications.  There were times that I wasn't even aware of them being in the room with me, and the time I let a popsicle melt all over me while I slept sitting up.

I was close enough to smell him and reach out and kiss his cheek without moving.  Then with his eyes still closed, he smiled and said, "This is a great day."

Today is going to be a great day!  I am loved.

Ditched the Kids for Vegas

In just a few hours I'll be boarding a Jet and leaving for Las Vegas!  By myself, and leaving my kiddo's and husband behind. 

Am I sad?  Oh how I wish I had just a bit of guilt ... but I don't.  Am I scared?  Yes, I am.  I'm always a bit scared when I leave them.  Even when I just drive to work, or when they are with other relatives.  No one loves them as much as me, and no one can coddle, cuddle and take care of them as well as I can.  I know they're loved and safe, but I'm the Mom.  It's that simple.  I'm their Mom.

But Mom will be flying off leaving them on the ground with their Dad, and waving as I disappear into the clouds.  At 2:30 this afternoon, I will be meeting up with some of the most wonderful women I'm yet to meet.  More than a dozen of us will be in the sky, on different airplanes, coming from around the nation, and we're all so excited.

We're all Mom's of multiples, and we've all been in an online group for several years.  Even though we've never met face to face .... we know each other well.  We've been a tremendous support to each other through good times, bad times and hard times .... and it's time we met.

So please keep us in your prayers, that we all land safely and have a great weekend, and when I get back, you'll get the full scoop ... and a whole lot of pictures!

Oh, I almost forgot ... (not really)  Thanks Von for the plane ticket and for making it so easy for me to go!  I really love you!

The Sick Kid

Just a picture of a cute kid .... one that is sick.  Sick with the stomach flu that caused him to stay home with his Dad today while Jay and Meg went to preschool and daycare and I went to work. 

He farmed today ... and the highlight of his day was playing on the fence by the cow lot.  He learned a lot today as well.  He learned that when you're the only one .... you're special.

He strutted and bragged all evening ... and it wasn't pretty to the ones that got left out today!

Sometimes it's nice to be sick all by yourself!

Chicken Frying Fool

All the kids were here last night ... and I was ordered to fry chicken. Lots of greasy fried chicken! We had a Happy Birthday Everyone" party since it's pretty rare to get everyone together these days. As it ended up all of my kiddo's ended up here and all the grandkids except Carter. He's a little snotty right now and was with his Mama. Today's Carter's birthday as well.

Today is Jared's birthday. He's twenty-four now. Unbelievable in my eyes. He was my baby until my little babies came along ... now he's my big baby! Last month Joey and Mariah had birthdays and Elissa's was in October! Juli and Josh will have to wait for the Summer "Everyones Birthday Party!"

Since Jared and Elissa didn't make it home for actual Christmas last week, we celebrated that too last night. The kids had a ball opening presents again. I can now say that Christmas is officially over for this year!

Happy New Year ~ 2009

Happy New Year Everyone!

I am sitting here all alone enjoying the peace and quiet and knowing that my littles are all tucked up in their beds sound asleep. I kind of miss the excitement of bringing in the New Year, but for this year, I think I'm enjoying knowing that everyone here is asleep.

Bring on the New Year with health and wealth and good times!

On a another note, I just talked to all my big kiddo's as well to wish them a Happy New Year! Here's the run down:

Josh - I believe my oldest son is at a party. He thinks it will help ease the loneliness and heartache that he's had lately with the breakup of his family. Mama doesn't believe in parties! They only get you in trouble. He has partial custody of Luke and it's been trying times the last few months or so to get through all the battle and bitterness that breakups can cause. He doesn't get Carter as much as he'd like, but as Carter gets older I'm praying that everything falls into place, for both Josh and Amy. So Happy New Year Josh ... Mama loves you even if I did get the big brush off just a few minutes ago when the bells were ringing! I understand ... I'm just your Mother! I have this feeling in my soul that Josh is in for some very big changes in his life and that he is on the verge of a very radical soul cleansing with God as his Pilot. My prayer and wish for Josh in this new year: Hope, Happiness and Trust in God.

Juli/Derek - Juli and Derek spent the evening with a few friends and all the kids. It sounds like they spent New Years Eve entertaining little folks! Juli said they played Wii and watched movies! It's been a good year for Juli. She married Derek this past August and not only did she find a wonderful husband ... she gained a beautiful little boyfriend named Landen. She's also been busy in school finishing her degree to become a Engineer. You go Juli! Derek works for a Coal Mine and can you just imagine being 6'6" and working underground!? That guy needs to go back and finish his Architect degree. One semester to go and he'll be done. I'm going to have to have a talk with that boy! My prayer and wish for Juli in this new year: Joy and Faith

Joey/Mariah - Joey called me at exactly midnight on the dot a little bit ago and I could barely hear him yelling at me. For the past three days, this kid has been out in Kansas City, MO with 16,000 other young adults at IHOP (International House of Prayer) at Mike Bickel's 'One Thing 2008' conference. Joey's words to me after telling me Happy New Year was, "Mom ... just listen to this! The concrete floor is shaking. There is over 16,000 people in this building praising and worshiping God at the same time. It's an eruption Mom!" How lucky am I that he chose to call his Mom to listen to it. Joey's dream is do an internship at IHOP for three months after graduating from St. Louis Christian College next year. Joey and Mariah will be getting married July 18th of this year and we have a lot of wedding planning to do. My prayer and wish for Joey in this new year is: Peace and continued love for God.

Jared/Elissa - They spent the evening in a more quiet manner with some friends. My kind of evening! They're settling into the "old married folks" routine. I like it that way ... I don't have to worry about them being out on the roads! Elissa has two years to go in Optometry school and they'll be moving back home. If all goes well, Jared will teach around home and Elissa will start a practice. I miss them so much. But I'll be seeing my Mississippi kids here this Saturday to celebrate Christmas and Jared's birthday. I promised that kid of mine some homemade fried Chicken ... now I've gotta keep my promise and follow through! It doesn't seem like they've been married for a year and a half. I'm still waiting for them to walk through the door like they did a lot while they were still in college. How does a Mom let her baby grow up?! My prayer and wish for Jared in this new year is: Strength and Love.

As a Mom to seven kids I think my prayer and wish for myself this coming year is all of the above. I'm praying for Hope, Faith, Love, Happiness, Strength, Joy, Peace, Trust and for my kitchen to be finished!

Do you have prayers and wishes for your kids and yourself? ... and may you all be blessed and have a wonderful New Year!

Tanya

Keep Mira Smiling

Mira. She's a 2.5 year old little ball of fire ... and she's a triplet. Mira has end stage renal failure and will be having a kidney transplant soon. She was born prematurely and had some serious problems at birth. Today she is a smart little girl with a whole world ahead of her ... and we are hoping that she receives two wonderful kidneys to make that happen for her.

Her Mother Sheryl is in my online triplet group, and over the past couple of years we've all watched Mira grow and heard her stories and have grown to love her.

There will be a fundraiser in Wisconsin for Mira soon and the Mom's in our group are helping out by painting this canvas for the upcoming auction.

We each have a square and we each have painted our message on the canvas. All of our kiddo's have signed it with their handprints. The picture above is Me and my Littles as it passed through here. It's exciting to see the progress as it goes from California, Nevada, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana. We even have a square reserved for our Mom and kiddo's that are in South Africa. Our canvas is traveling around the United States with love from all of us ... and we all want to Keep Mira Smiling!

You can read about Mira at her website or leave a good wish at www.keepmirasmiling.com She's a cutie and we all hope she gets her new kidneys and a new way of life without pain or suffering. I'm not asking my readers to donate, just read about her and IF you want to donate .... follow your heart.

We Love you Mira!!! Keep on Smiling!!!

Will You Marry Me?

Last night Joey ask Mariah to marry him. I haven't heard the details yet and knew better than to call and ask, but I know he did it, because he told me he was going to, and told me where and how. This is the big secret that I posted a couple of weeks ago!~ Now I can tell it!

Joey had called me and told me he was going to ask her and he ask me if I would help him pick out her ring. I was so honored to think that he would ask me to do that. The sentimental part of me thought that was the sweetest thing ... to ask the woman that he loves so much, to help him do something so important for the other woman that he loves as well. I am so proud to be Joey's Mother.

Mariah's ring is so beautiful. It's style is antique and the center diamond is princess cut. While we were looking, Joey kept saying to me, "she deserves so much more" ... then he found the one. The perfect one that she deserved. Mariah will have two thin wedding bands ... one on each side of her engagement ring. I haven't ask Joey this yet ... but I'd like one to be from him and God, and the other to be from me. One to symbolize their unity .. and the other to tie this new Mother-Daughter relationship that is meant to be.

The plan was to take Mariah to a really nice restaurant, the FishBone Grill, then on their way to take Mariah back home last night, Joey was going to drive between the lakes near her house ... and under the stars, he was going to ask her to marry him.

I can just picture it in my mind ... this romantic kid of mine proposing to this wonderful young woman, on his knee out in the wide open, with the water glistening from the moonlight, and God looking down and nodding his head ... that this is right.

If only I could have been there with my camera to capture that moment! Mariah's Mother is just as excited as I have been. We've been "talking" and waiting, and now it's happened.

Mariah?? We're waiting to hear from you!

Be Blessed Everyone.

Dear Littles - Chapter Six

Dear Littles,

As I sit here and think about what I want to write to you tonight, I hear the song, 'Ordinary Miracle' playing in the background. It so describes exactly how my heart feels about you, and says every thing about how you've changed my life. You are miracles, and I'm still in awe at what I accomplished when I gave birth to you.

Just the fact that I, at my age, could birth you ... all three of you, together, and successfully, still astounds me. I sometimes ask, "Why me Lord? Why Me?" ... but I already know that answer. Because I was chosen. Because it was meant to be. For as long as forever is ... I will always be your Mother.

When my life was dark from the pain of losing little ones before you, you came. You were born, ... and the light that you brought into my life was spectacular and beautiful, and it only gets brighter as each day passes.

I love you. No more than other Mother's love their children, and no more than I love your older brothers and your sister ... but just as much, and that is enough. You fill my heart completely.

I watch over you in awe and amazement at the little things you do, and I listen in wonder at the things you say to me, and to each other, and I catch my breath when I watch the love you have for each other. Yes, I tell you this often ... but it's so important. Love is probably the most important thing you'll ever have in your entire life ... and for me to visibly see it, when you're only three years old, tells me that I'm doing something right.

Then there are the days that you exasperate me. But I never falter in my love for you ... not even the days that you run from me and you laugh as I chase you, and you go three different directions. Like this evening, over at the farm. You divided so equally, at the same time, and the giggles that came from you rose up, and chimed like bells. It was simply beautiful. Just like a fairy tale.

But this evening didn't end like a fairy tale. No, it ended rather unhappily for you and me. Mainly for me, because tonight was one of those nights that I came down out of my castle in the sky and reality shook me to my core. The reality that there are three of you and only one of me, and that you are three years old, in a world bigger than you. In a world that you are still exploring, and to you, all things are miracles. Ordinary miracles in your eyes.

In that moment, you had fun. In that moment, it was exhilarating for you ... until you stomped in the wet cow poop and covered each other's legs with goo! Then the reality of "real life" reared it's head and my fairy tale moment disappeared! But not once, did I falter in my love for you ...

Love,

Mom

The Heartbeat of Motherhood

The gals over at "5 minutes for Mom" are having a contest. A photo contest, and the prize is a $1,000.00 gift card. Go enter! Click the logo on the sidebar to get there.

Do you have a picture, that as a Mom, it makes your heart beat just a little bit faster and catches your breath when you look at it? I do. I take so many pictures of my kids, it's hard to pick just one, but for today ... here is my newest favorite picture that makes my heart melt, and tells me that it is a wonderful thing .... being a Mother.

It's Megan and Kelcie. I was taking pictures of these two the other day, and without prompting, they just leaned over and kissed each other. It was a true Motherhood Moment for me!

As most of you know, Megan (on the right) is Kelcie's Aunt (on the left). My first Grandchild, Kelcie, was born two months before my triplets were born.

It was a Motherhood experience to be pregnant at the same time as my daughter Juli. We shared a lot together. We shopped a lot together, and in the end, we shared the joy together .... these two beautiful daughters that truly love one another.

When I look to the future and imagine their life in twenty-five years, I hope they are as close then as they are now .... and I hope they both are blessed and experience The Heartbeat of Motherhood together ... just as my daughter Juli and I did.

Not to leave the boys out ... this was just a girlie moment. We have those when Kelcie is here visiting! It's a girl thing you know!

Be Blessed.

This Girl

This sweet girl with braids and boots is strong willed. She is independent and can hold her own. She is Woman! The next generation. She will defend the sisterhood someday, and stand up straight and be heard. I want this girl child to always be equal. I want her to be a Christian woman and loving Mother. My wish for her is to be assertive, and to find her place in this world and leave a great mark. I want her to be strong of heart and soul. I want her go grow into a woman that is respected and loved ... and mostly I want her have a faith that runs so deep that no one can shatter it.

I want her to reason and be rational, and never take what's not hers. I want her to respect others and grieve for losses of the heart. I want her to always give more than she takes in life. I pray that she lives long and easy, that she has many years to give to others. I want her to share life, love and laughter with everyone that knows her. I want the world to remember her long after she's gone. I wish her great love in her life. My wish for her is real life.
I hope that she never raises her hand against mankind. I wish her calm and peace. I want her to have sweet dreams. I pray that life doesn't throw her a river of turbulence and strife. I wish only the very best for her in everything that she does. I hope that she sees life as a great gift and never finds those rose colored glasses. I want her to speak to God, and know him personally. I pray that she has a deep trust and values what she has been given.

I wish her complete happiness, and many accomplishments. I want her to dance and to fly, and encircle the world and never leave the ground. I want her to be free. Free from heartache and free from hurt. Although I know life throws us curves, I pray that she will handle them well and always come back stronger than she was. I wish her to be a Reflection of Grace.
These are my prayers for you Meggie. ... but for now, I really wish that you'd stop bullying your brothers. Jay had that tree first. You can't hit him and run. One of these days, he'll catch you, and I'll let him. Though I won't let him hurt you ... I will let him get the best of you, and teach you a few lessons. But I promise, when he's through with you ... I'll make sure that I wipe your tears and give you a hug.

You're just beginning your journey little girl .... may it be sweet with not many scraped knees along the way.

Be Blessed Everyone.

Planting a Garden

This past Sunday afternoon was the beginning of our garden. Notice how I said the "we" word? Marlboro Man doesn't like it that I give myself credit when no credit is due. He says the garden is not a "we" project. I think that means that I don't do anything productive in the garden, and it's his garden. Not mine.

I think I'm very productive. I work very hard. I work so hard I sometimes lose my voice. It's hard work being a great gardener. I should know! Trust me! I have to yell at everyone, "hey ... look at me guys! Look at my camera!" ... and they won't. They ignore me, and I have to yell louder. Then sometimes I get really loud and jump up and down and wave my arms and say things like, "hey guys, look what I have ... ah-ah-ah, what a cute puppy," ... and they still won't look even when I try to trick them. They just think they're smarter than me.

Sam and Jay each had a pair of pliers and they were helping plant onions. I really don't know why Marlboro Man gave them pliers to plant a garden. Maybe it's a man thing. But he did. I think he thinks he's smarter than me too. But I know better.

Then I got to thinking about it .... he was just trying to entertain them. Keep them busy. Keep them from running two miles up the road, and away from him. That way he didn't have to chase them down. He thinks his noodle is always a step ahead of mine.

While the boys were standing there discussing the intelligence of their parents, and right before I took this picture, I ask them if they liked bubble gum. Then I said to them, "hey guys ... am I smarter than your Daddy?"

Jay answered first. He said, "If I tell you, can I have a piece of gum?" Of course I said, "oh yeah baby" ... then he rolled his eyes and said, "Give me the gum first." So I did. Then he said, "Mother, I know you're the smartest ... and the coolest too. Way cool. Way too cool. Me and Sam have a bet going on who has the highest IQ ... I'm betting on you Mom. Now can I have that other piece of gum?" I gave him two pieces.

Then I ask Sam if I was smarter than his Daddy. Sam is so slick. He won't lie. Not even for candy. He just nodded his head, winked twice, gave me a thumbs up and said the word "YES" in twelve different foreign languages. Then he held his hand straight out, and I gave him the whole dang bucket of gum.

I work hard. It's a hard job being me ... but somebody has to do it!

Be Blessed Everyone.

What's in a Name? .... Joey

(click the picture to enlarge)

Today I had lunch with this man. His name is Joey ... and his name means, God will increase, enlarge ... multiply. I never really thought much about that before today, even though I gave him that name twenty-four years ago. I never realized to what extent he would live up to that name.

We didn't talk about his name today. Instead we spoke of the poor, and not the physically poor, but the poor of spirit and the homeless. This child of mine gripped my heart all over again today. I listened to him tell me the stories of the people he sees every Sunday afternoon at three o'clock. He is always there, and they trickle in. He feeds them. He feeds them scripture and he feeds them wisdom ... wisdom far beyond his young years. They feed him strength, and he is their trumpet, and their hope for something better.

He has no fear. I do. He has strength. I have none. He has belief. I am scared. I am his Mother, and I want him to be safe. So I dwell on the good that he is doing ... and I pray for God to keep him safe.

When I gave it more thought, it awed me to think that forty-five thousand people can be exiting Busch Stadium, after a ballgame, in St. Louis, Missouri on any given Sunday afternoon ... and it is "my kid" that is standing beside the Arch, the gateway to the west, preaching to the homeless. It is my kid, who has given his heart to Jesus and who is destined to increase, enlarge and multiply.

Just like in "The Field of Dreams" ... if he builds it, they will come. ... and they are. One homeless person at a time. One baseball spectator at a time. One person at a time. ... and he is leading them, and they keep coming back, every Sunday afternoon at three o'clock.

I know now what "Joey" stands for ... it means that he will draw them in. From the streets, the gutters, the bars, and the alleyways of downtown St. Louis. .... and they will increase, enlarge and multiply. They will come, and they will listen ... and he will be heard.

In two weeks, I will be there with Joey as he preaches beside the Arch in downtown St. Louis ... and I won't have fear.

Be Blessed Everyone.

My real fear will be when he leaves for a mission trip to India next month. I want to keep him grounded, guarded and protected ... but he is on a mission. A mission for God ... and a mission that I can't stand in his way.

Sam

Chocolate Cookies ... "remnants of love."

Sam loves chocolate. It's his favorite thing. Brown is his favorite color. I think it's because he loves Chocolate so much. Sam spent his day in the sandbox. He ate his cookies there too. I spent my day with a camera, just outside the sandbox .... waiting and waiting to get my Chocolate. I got Sam.

I couldn't resist this picture. It has found a home on my desktop ... until the next "moment" comes along.

Be Blessed Everyone.

A New Season ... Spring!

I think Spring is really here now. It's been a long time coming. Over the winter we've accomplished a lot. More than I ever thought possible ... and more than I dared to hope for.

All the baby things are a thing of the past. We pretty much have our house back now. Our toys are now activity or educational things, and things they can pretend play with. We've cleaned house "by the bags full" with things they've outgrown or no longer play with.

They sleep in big kids beds now. Cribs are long gone. So are the crib tents that kept them in bed at night too. I have to admit ... I miss those! A lot!

They talk. They talk a lot. They are mini-recorders and repeaters. Their favorite question is, "Why?" Then it's endless explaining. The greatest thing now is their memory. They remember everything ... and are like sponges. Soaking up their great big world.

They know numbers, and ABC's. They know shapes and colors, and are identifying letters and sounding out words. They are singing songs and praying ... and they are still best friends.

They are potty trained. Completely. The days of thousands of diapers are long gone. I thought it would be a bad memory, but it's fading slowly ... and they now just go on their own. ... and they go, and they go .... and they go. They go, every where we go. It's endless the amount of time we spend in a bathroom. Just like in the beginning, it almost has us home bound again. Of course, being triplets and in every thing together ... when one goes, we all go! But, it's progress!

It's a new season. One with many changes from last year ... and one that I've been looking forward to for a long time. It's Spring!

Be Blessed Everyone.

The FarmHouse Kids - 6 months old

Them!

Him!

Triple Trouble

No words are necessary .... they're just plain downright cute! What do you think? Come on ... feed my ego!

White Chocolate Raspberry Creme Lipstick ... Anyone?

Night before last, Meg found a Christmas present that I hadn't given her yet. Well, actually I've been hiding it from her ... and probably would have forever, if she hadn't found it. ... and find it good, she did. A big double sided "Dazzle Dream Make-up Case" ... full to the brim!~
Of course, she couldn't dive into it all alone ... so I let them all sit on top of the dining room table and put their "lipstick" on. They were loving it. Meg barked out orders to the boys, on how to apply lipstick correctly. They didn't listen though. They were too busy digging their fingers into the little containers and smelling it. I'm thinking that "the more they use now, the sooner it will all be gone!" Plus, if they're sitting on the table, they can't get it on anything except themselves.Meg actually rubbed half of that tube of lipstick/gloss/chap-stuff/wax/pink-stuff on her lips. All at one time. Back and forth 33,478 times. I counted every time she slid it across her lips. The entire time she stared at me and puckered them babies up!
Sam was eating his, as much as he was rubbing it all over his face. He's just not feminine enough to apply it correctly. He has no idea ... only that it smells good. He does have a good pucker though. ... and he is cute!

Jay, on the other hand only used a tiny little bitty speck of lipstick. He likes to save things. For later. Like hide it in his sock, to keep it later after everyone else is finished with whatever they had, and he can bring it out and tease them with it. He does this. He hides his bubble-gum in his sock too.

Final shot. ... and she's telling me to put the camera down and hide her lipstick from the boys. It's a girl thing she says .... and they're only boys!

Be Blessed Everyone!

The Babe is Home

He is home. I spent the entire afternoon, evening and into the night visiting this little guy. I fed him, bathed him, changed him and photographed him. I love this picture the best.

My daughter Juli met me at Amy and Josh's, to gift Amy, with a total cleaning and reorganization of her entire house. Room by room we cleaned, organized and revamped. She was ecstatic. It was a fun day, and as tired as I was by the time I came home ... I just felt so good.

The highlight of all this was putting the finishing touches on Carter's room. His room is "classic pooh" and painted in Khaki and Sage. We decorated the walls and went through all the tiny little preemie clothes and baby things. We "toted" up by size, and arranged everything for her, so that all she has to do is take down one tote a time. Completely organized ... in a very pretty nursery for a very precious baby named Carter Joe.

I had saved everything from my babies in case another Grandchild came along .... and Carter happened to be the winner! As Juli said, "Wow Mom! Carter scored!"

Luke, who is three, was loving his baby brother being home. As was Buddy ... the dog. He "slept" on guard at the feet of whoever held Carter.

Then, during his 7:00PM feeding ... Juli was holding him and giving him his bottle, and he suddenly stopped breathing. I noticed the odd look on Juli's face from across the room as she was watching him. She calmly said, "Mom, is he okay?" I ran over there and took him from her. He was completely apneic. Not breathing. It's funny, it doesn't matter how long you've been a Nurse, or how much experience you have ... when something like this happens, and especially to your own child, you forget everything you know for a split second. I never thought I'd have to resuscitate my own grandchild. Just as I was about to start giving him breaths, he sputtered and started breathing again.

Of course, I called the Neonatologist in the NICU he had just come from. He felt sure that it was an isolated event due to gulping too much too fast and gave instructions to watch him for a couple more feedings, and keep him upright for about thirty minutes after each feeding. Or if he did it again, he would put him back in the hospital for a bit longer. We watched him, and he's perfectly okay. Let's just pray that he doesn't do it again. My heart can't take it.

Whew! Carter is okay. It was very scary ... and I got home in the wee hours of the morning. So today, I'm Mommy again, until the next visit with this little man that I love so much ... and his big brother Luke.

Be Blessed Everyone.

Passing it On ~ Wings of Compassion

If you've been reading, you know that a new blogging award flew into circulation Thursday. The Wings of Compassion Award, created by me. Although I created this award with my niece Amanda, aka PhotoChick in mind, there are a few more people I want to pass this award on to. So today I'll start with Rocks in my Dryer. This woman has more Compassion than I've seen in a long time. I'd like to bestow this upon her. Go read what's she's been up to over this last week. It will tear your heart out and change the way you look at life. It will make you so ever grateful for your children and your own life. We are a blessed nation ... and unfortunately there are times we forget that.

First of all, I've been reading Rocks in my dryer for quite a while, and I got a chance to catch up on Mrs. Rocks the other day. She's been on a Compassion mission trip to Uganda, and let me tell you ... that woman is amazing. What else is amazing, is how for the most part, we don't know a thing about the people behind the blogs we read, other than what we read. We come to know their hearts by what they write. This woman, Shannon, at Rocks in my dryer, has a heart. A huge heart with lots of compassion. She opened my eyes about how rich we are as a nation, and mainly how rich we are, in the aspect of health and life in general. We take so much for granted, and what we throw away would make a "world" of difference to other people that we never think about. I wish I knew of a way to give more to the people that she visited. More than prayers and more than thoughts ... they need more. Mrs. Rocks at Rocks in my Dryer has made a profound effect on me. BooMama is right there along with her, so you might want to check out her blog as well. These two ladies rock!

As a nurse, I worked Infectious Disease for a long time. The good majority of our patients were people with HIV/AIDS. But I never saw the effects of HIV/AIDS on children, or in such quantity. I never saw the effects of poverty. The people here in middle average USA live just like we do, and you don't know them from anyone else on the street. I know that in Uganda, a large portion of the Mother's have AIDS as well, and I can't imagine what these children's Mothers are going through watching their sick babies die.

The fear is surreal. Just because these people don't speak our language doesn't mean that they don't have the same feelings, the same intelligence or the same heart strings that we have. I personally know that fear. Several years ago, I was stuck with a contaminated needle used on a AIDS patient. The fear that washes over you is unbelievable. I was pregnant, and due to the prophylactic drugs I had to take ... I was very sick. I lost my baby, but everything turned out well for me, I am HIV NEGATIVE, but for these kids in Uganda it is a life sentence, and for most, a death sentence.

So, to Mrs. Rocks (Shannon), I greatly admire you for your compassion and for your Integrity, Spirit and Faith. For your Hope, Kindness and Good ... today you are my hero. I hope many people are drawn to your blog and read about your journey. I hope we all can find a way to show the Compassion that you have, and find a way to make a difference in the lives of the people, and mainly, the kids in Uganda and other countries that need our help.

Compassion is something that we all need within us. So today, being Sunday, would it be too much to ask of EVERYONE that reads here ... to just take this symbol of Compassion and pass it on. If you have a blog, you can post this on your sidebar. Or, if you know someone with a blog that has touched your heart ... just pass it on.

Be Blessed Everyone!

Tanya

Tall Tales ...

This morning Sam and Jay were laying on the floor talking to each other. I listened for a little bit, then grabbed my camera. I didn't want them to stop talking, and if they saw me they would have. I snapped these two pictures of these little guys. The story I heard, they won't remember, but I will.

Sam: The cow kick me in the nose.

Jay: In the ... nose? In the ... barn? (in awe)

Sam: In the barn.

Jay: Did you cry? (so sad)

Sam: I have a Boo-Boo.

Jay: On your nose?

Sam: On my nose. The cow kick my nose.

Jay: Did you cry?

Sam: I got a booger in my nose.

Jay: The Cow give you booger in your nose?

Sam: No ..... The cow kick my nose ... in the barn. Whitey did.

Jay: Whitey in the barn? Whitey at the Willis barn.

Sam: No ..... Whitey in our barn Jay.

Jay: I go see.

Sam: No Jay, Whitey kick you in the nose.

Jay: I be careful. (so tough)

Just bits and pieces of imagination. Just bits and pieces of life emerging. Just two brothers that love each other. Just the beginning of Tall Tales ....

Be Blessed Everyone.