What lengths would you go to to save your child?

I have often written about the O'Malley family. Their son Jonathan is 17 and fighting for his life. He's losing....He is in desperate need of a bone marrow donor. He was on the Houston news last night. Please watch the piece...it makes you think! Click on the title and you will be directed to it.

Count your blessings...

The Guess? Belt

When I married my husband many years ago, I had this cute black Guess? belt. Over time, I grew completely out of it and it would only fit about three quarters around my waist. So I put it away. First, in a closet in the first home we owned in St. James, Missouri. I remember the exact shelf inside our modest master bedroom closet.

Over the years, we have moved from St. James, Missouri, to Rolla, Missouri, to West Plains, Missouri, to Honolulu, Hawaii, to Houston, TX and now to Lumberton, TX. I have learned that when you move nearly every two years, if it wasn't taken out of the box from one move, we didn't need it. You can imagine how many things we've rummaged through and give away before the next move. For some reason, I never parted with that black Guess? belt. I am unsure why. Maybe to hold onto what I once was, or my 20's...who knows.

Here we are in Lumberton, TX and there the belt sits on a shelf in our master bedroom's closet, just as it did years ago. I have been on a weight losing/ health kick first in Hawaii (4 years ago) when I lost 36 pounds and now again where I have a goal to lose an additional 30 (17 are gone!). So today, I pulled out some of my smaller jeans trying to find some to fit and they are too big now too! So, there I went looking for a belt to hold them up, until I can get some jeans that fit. Low and behold, there lies the black Guess? belt. I thought about it and decided to give it a shot. It is 2 holes away from where I once wore it, but as the photo shows, it FITS!

Who knows why we hold on to some of the things we do, but we do. Whether it sentimental reasons or not, it's human. Even though I am unsure of why this belt held such a place with me that I just could not part with it. I am glad that I didn't. I can not remember being this excited about an item of clothing since the 80's! All because of a black Guess? belt!

My new job continued...

Here are some more items I've created!

My new "Job"

I have loved Uppercase Living as a customer for a couple of years now, but I have a whole new love for it now! I have made transforming homes and personalizing walls and crafts my new j-o-b! It's been 3 weeks now and I am constantly busy and loving every minute of it. People here in Lumberton haven't really heard of it, so it's been a unique and fun experience thus far. What will inspire you today?

Halloween 2009

We spent Halloween at the fall festival at church this year. It was great to be surrounded by our church family. The kids had a great time and ended up with enough candy to last until next year! Seriously, we've never had this much candy!
This is Cami and some of her friends, 2 of these girls are like daughters to me (not counting Cami). Marissa the clown, Cami the lady bug, Bailey (Raggedy) Ann, Jaci the hippie, and Amanda (or Dorothy).
Kailyn was nominated to be the photographer of the evening. She did a great job! She did manage to take some pics with her friends on the hayride.
And, we took the camera for the pie eating contest! She's still undefeated.

Halloween is so much more fun without the devils, witches, and sexy costumes! We were blessed to have good clean fun!
Happy Fall Ya'll!

A Thorn in Thy Side...

Well, not actually in the side, but the shin! Sunday night our friend, Mike and his kids were visiting. The kids were playing outside while we were talking in the driveway. Bailey came to me and said, "Kenzie has something in her leg! It's a circle!" We all looked at each other confused and I proceeded inside. Just inside our front door, Kenzie sat rocking back and forth in our love seat like a crazy person. She was in pain, but knew we would pull it out, so she was "hiding" from us.
Kevin, Mike and I all looked at her leg, and it was weird. It was like an hour glass half in her leg. Kevin and I held her while Mike got it out. We felt it, and didn't know what the foreign object was. Then we looked closer and realized there was still something in there. We figured she was traumatized enough and left it alone.

While at Kai's volleyball game on Monday, Kenzie kept crying, "I want it out, It hurts". She even skipped cheerleading, then we knew it was bad. When we got home, we tried to get it out, without any success. So Tuesday morning, I took her to the ER. The doctor looked at me like I was crazy. I could tell she didn't think there was anything in there, but was going to cut on her anyway, just to be sure.

They wrapped Kenzie up in a sheet to restrain her, along with 2 nurses and myself, while the doctor gave her 5 numbing shots. It wasn't pleasant to watch her scream in agony! The doctor cut above the scab... nothing. Then below the scab and she said, "Oh my goodness! I got it!" She proceeded to tell me that she did not think there was anything in there at first. I told her I could tell that, which made her a little uncomfortable, I think. (A MOM KNOWS! When will doctors give us credit for knowing our children?) So, there it was, but what was it?

When Kevin got home Tuesday evening, we went back to the scene of the crime (it was too dark on Sunday) and Kenzie showed us exactly where she was when she got hurt. I had pruned my only rose bush a couple of weeks ago. We are pretty sure that it was the thorn inside her leg and part of the dying limb broke off that we originally got out! What a big deal a little thorn made. It kind of gives a new meaning to the old saying, "A thorn in thy side"...

LHS Football

We were able to have our photo taken by a local TV station last night. Click the link to see us at "The Tailgate Party"!

Please Pray for the O'Malley Family

This is an alert to all of my Southeast friends! One of the churches we attended here in Lumberton has a wonderful preacher with a wonderful family. Even though we chose not to go to make this our home church, we have kept in touch with the family. They have 5 children. Their oldest, Jonathan, who is 16 was living at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston fighting Leukemia. He was sent home over the summer cancer free!

This morning, I got an alert to look at his Care Page (See attached link) and at my dismay, he is in remission. This family is in need of financial assistance! They will have to attain an apartment in Houston again with the mother, Melanie and the younger children. She will homeschool them there. Kevin, the father and preacher of Lumberton C of C, will be back and forth with his preaching duties and his family. Please keep them in your prayers. If you can help financially, please do.

The family is Kevin and Melanie O'Malley and the son's name is Jonathan.

Thank you!

The $250 Magnet!

On Sunday, Kaden was playing at a neighbor's house. I got a phone call around 3:30. The neighbor told me that Kaden just swallowed a Magnetix magnet. He wasn't choking, but it was in his system. I went over and got him. I called our insurance's nurse hotline. Since it was a rather large thing for him to swallow, she told us to go to the ER. We went on Sunday night ($125 copay) and again on Monday morning ($125 copay). He had max. dosage of M.O.M. on Sunday night...nothing. Again on Monday morning...nothing. It had moved, but nothing else had (ha).

Today, Tuesday, I called his pediatrician and she wanted to see him. Low and behold, I fed him a Fiber One bar and 30 minutes later, Cami came in (while I was showering) with the butter container which held the magnet, among other yucky things. She had "caught" it since I was in the shower. Way to go Cami!

I sifted through the mess and cleaned it up to keep as a souvineer. Here it is up close. Kaden has vowed to only swallow food and drinks from now on. Lesson learned, I hope!

Fun, Friends & Gators

When we took our first trip to Beaumont, prior to moving here, we spotted an attraction that excited our family, but mostly me! After moving here, our friends came to visit and commented that they saw the attraction as well and had to go to the Gator Country. After 9 months, we finally made it. It was worth the wait! Kenzie-Mae got to have the first half of her 4th birthday party there. We were educated, excited, met some awesome people, and just had a great time.
The owner came up to us and we all started talking. He told us that Animal Planet has been pursuing the idea of having a reality show about Gator Country because all of the alligators, crocodiles and other reptiles are rescued animals. He invited us into the restaurant to view the teaser for the show. It was so exciting! We also got to meet one of his trusty wranglers, Damon, who has been working with him for the last 4 years and is only 18! We saw him on film catching a 5 foot gator in the wild. He was amazing.
Gator Country is also the home of the largest gator in captivity, Big Al. He is 80 years old. over 13 feet and 1000 pounds! He was absolutely beautiful. The "handler" Colin got him to come out of the water and showed us some amazing things. Did you know that an alligator that size has 3000 pounds of pressure in his jaws? Colin swayed his hat through the mouth and it was a pretty wowing sound. We really did get the VIP treatment. I would recommend anyone to go for a great time.

I was affirmed about my love for these wonderful creatures God created during my visit. The reason an alligator is my favorite animal is because they are vicious, sneaky, strong, scary, beautiful creatures that can rip an animal to shreds in one bite, and then carry their babies in the same mouth and be so gentle. God is creative in His teachings.

What 2 Years can do!

A couple of weeks ago, we went to get family photos taken at the same place we took them nearly 2 years ago. It is surreal looking at how everyone in our family has changed in only two years. I find it interesting that the photographer intentionally left "an empty spot" in our photo, once again as if we were missing someone (like our new son we are trying to adopt). Just think how different we will look after the adoption happens! Either way, I can not imagine how different we will look in two more years. They grow up fast ya'll! Love them all you can while they let you!

Forever Friends!

Last weekend, I attended my precious friend's graduation party. Upon our arrival, I couldn't help but notice a theme in color. My friend Amy (front), Sarah (middle) and myself all wore purple without planning it or even talking about it. What's really strange, is this is my only purple shirt because I don't wear this color often. It was so nice to go back to Houston and see my wonderful friends! I look forward to the next visit. I love you ladies!

First Tooth Gone!

After graduation, I brought Kaden home for a special day with Kenzie and I. His loose tooth got so loose I was afraid he would swallow it. So he said I could pull it. Then freaked out, so I yanked it out and he said, "That didn't really hurt!". I apparently don't know anything (ha). It's a really special day now... graduation and then loosing his first tooth. He's growing up!

Kaden's Kindergarten Graduation

Today, Kaden graduated from kindergarten. I loved the cute little ceremony they had. They sang 3 songs, one of which was the Lumberton Fight song, Kaden's favorite. How cool for all the kindergartener's to have such schoool spirit already. My favorite part was when Mr. Kevin Wing, the principal (also a member of our church), closed with a beautiful prayer. Way to go Kaden!

My Soul Has Opened Up

It's been a few years ago, but Oprah interviewed the writer of One Day My Soul Just Opened Up. She just bragged and bragged about how wonderful this book was. So, I bought it. I read some of it and didn't care for it. Since then, I have grown and matured as well as been through more trails in life. As we officially began our adoption journey this weekend, I can't help but continually think to myself that exact phrase...my soul just opened up.

Saturday, Kevin and I sat through 8 hours of our first PRIDE classes which are mandatory for foster or adoptive parents. In the class we were asked to participate in some group activities as well as some personal exploration. I expected some of that, and I am thankful for the great group of people who are in these classes with us. But, there were some things I didn't expect too. I even found myself emotional at points.

Since these were our first classes, I expected them to be rather informational and broad. Much to my surprise, it was so much more. Having the desire to adopt since I was 5 years old, and being the kind of person I am, I have done my research. I knew what kind of issues come along with adopting from the state of Texas. I expected to deal with neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse, but there is so much more to it.

I didn't think about how the minds of children operate, how they would want to go back to the way things were, no matter how bad, because they missed their parents and that is all they have ever known. I didn't think about how these biological parents are not horrible people, they are people like you and me, with just more problems. Problems that I can not fathom to understand. And I am signing up to take their child from them forever.

I have often put myself in the shoes of a woman who has chosen adoption in lieu of abortion, but never in the shoes of someone who loves their child, they just don' t know how to get off the drugs, or deal with anger properly, or just not find enough work to make enough money for food. The masks of these villains came off in this class and these people became parents. Many of these people are victims of circumstance. How can I be so judgemental when my circumstances could have easily been just as horrible? I lucked out.

Kevin and I went into this with never wanting to have contact with the birth parents. We would see children with biological family contact and say that child was not for us, but it's not about just us. A child somewhere out there has been hurt beyond my imagination and it's going to be my job, as his parent to ease the hurt. How is taking them away from the only family he's ever known accomplishing that? Of course, it will depend on the people involved and the situation, but there is so much more to it than we expected.

So, I began putting a Biblical spin on the situation, as I often do. None of my children are truly mine, they belong to God. In a sense, they are adopted as well. Don't they deserve to know their real Father? To know where they come from? Isn't it my job to make sure they know their Father loves them and has trusted me to care for them until He decides to call us all home? As hard as that is to swallow, it's not about me, it's about them. It's about making these children into wonderful world-changing Christians who have a wonderful relationship with their Father.

We have 6 more Saturdays of 8 hour classes to attend. I can only imagine when we get into the really deep topics how much more I will learn about people and about myself. God works in peculiar ways sometimes. I have wanted to adopt to change the life of a child, and in turn, I am being changed before a child ever has entered the picture. What a wonderful soul opening emotional journey we are on. I know that God will guide us through this and make us stronger better beings because of it.

Thank you Lord for your lessons, especially those that are unexpected. Sometimes those lessons open my heart and my mind more effectively. I know you are constantly working on me, as I am a work in progress, but it is good for me to recognize the changes from time to time. Thank you for allowing me to care and nurture and love your children here on earth, for they are my greatest joy. I ask for your guidance as we raise them to become a Godly people. Thank you for all of your many blessings we have received from you, both great and small. Thank you for the sacrifice of Your Son. I can not imagine such sacrifice. Your plan is amazing and I am so thankful for the opportunity to benefit from it. Please give me the strength to get through the tough times and the words to praise you in any storm. Please help me to always remember how far I've come and how much further I have to go. Thank you for how important I am to you as you are always there by my side. Please help me to share your word with those around me. Help me to always be an example to my children and to everyone who comes in contact with me. Help me to radiate on the outside what wonderful things you have done on the inside of me. Forgive me, please Lord, for all my many sins. Thank you for making me perfect again by forgetting all I have done wrong. I love you Lord. It's in you precious Son's holy name I pray, Amen.

Our Baby Is Growing Up!

Kai and Cami had basketball pictures taken a couple of months ago and Kaden just got his kindergarten graduation pictures back. I wanted to send a photo of Kenzie to family as well. Here are the four that I chose that show her woderful 3 year old personality. She picked where to take the pictures. I think they turned out sweet.

Kenzie-Mae will be 4 in July. I can not express enough how much I love this age. I am so blessed to be able to stay at home with her. We only have one more year left until she goes off to "big kid school". I will always cherish all the time I have had with each child at home with them.
She loves to swing on the swingset Daddy built for her.
Who can resist this face? Kenzie-Mae, mommy adores you...