SpRiNg..

I can tell Spring is coming soon! Today is absolutely GLORIOUS outside! February is over in two days, that means March is just around the corner. That is the month where we start getting severe weather though, but it also means it is warm enough outside the kids can go out to PLAY! They NEED to go outside! I have also had the day to myself. I took myself out for lunch and cleaned a little house, but other than that, I just slouched it away. HOW NICE!!! Matthew and Madison went to grandma's house, Bethanie is at school. Matthew has school work to do when he gets home, and he knows he has to do it. Bethanie and Madison have a date tonight....yep, a date. They are going to a Daddy-Daughter(s) night at Club 81, dinner, movie fun and games! So its me and Matthew together!

LiTtLe ThiNgS...

It doesn't take much to make my day, but someone sent me some beautiful flowers! Oh they smell so pretty! The cat wants to eat them. I just want to sit and look at them and sniff all the smell off of them. It made my day!

NeW EnDeAvOrS...

Jeff and I were fortunate enough to be invited to teach at the college where I am taking classes from. I have taken several classes in Psychology, Human Growth and Development, and Abnormal Psychology. I have LOVED these classes way more than I ever dreamed I would. My instructor (the same lady) was EXCELLENT, and so encouraging. We got to know each other very well, and she helped me stay strong during the tough moments with dealing with the school situation with Matthew. Well, last semester in Abnormal Psych, I had to write a paper and then talk on it during class as part of the final grade. She loved it and invited us to come and do this presentation for future classes she has in these subject areas. So I graciously agreed! This is our passion!

We know that to help Matthew and others like him, we have to educate anyone and everyone, so there is greater understanding of what it is like to be him. When people can understand what is going on, they will be more kind and tolerant. Believe me, we have seen people be down right cruel to him (they no longer exist). :O)

So today we went and taught two of her classes and have one more on March 2. She also asked us to come back over the summer and fall to do more!

The newest thing is that a woman at the college approached us (she sat in on our class) about doing continuing education classes in our community and 3 others. How exciting! This is what we have wanted! Plus it is a paying gig, not much but worth the time and effort!

One more thing, kind of ironic since I am anti-pawnee (its a mental health facility in North Central Kansas), they have called me and asked if I would be interested in sitting on their Board of Directors, representing a parent with a child on a specific waiver. :O) How funny. I cant STAND Pawnee. Who knows what will come of that.

GEtTiNg cLoSeR!!!

I will be finished with my 3rd out of 6 classes by this weekend. I am so close to finishing it I cant stand it! I ordered my cap/gown this week. No word on what I need to do for the honors cords, but it is getting so close! Less than 3 months! How exciting. I never ever thought I would have a college degree. I cant believe it is almost over! Next week I will be starting my last two courses (they are the same, one is the main class and the other is its lab). So it will actually only be 2 classes and one lab. WAHOO! When it is all over with, I wont know what to do with myself!

A NeW SuN...

Did you know that on February 18, 1999, a new Sun joined our galaxy? It is true! A new Sun to light up the lives that surround it! I remember exactly where I was that day, and how I felt. I was at a friends house (she lived a couple houses away) and she was throwing a baby shower for her sister who had just delivered a new little baby boy. There were so many people there! The baby was so cute! He was being passed around to everyone. I finally had the chance to hold him. I wanted to so badly. I knew that if I did, I would feel happier. Silly, just holding a baby could make me so happy! I finally held him in my arms and felt his warmth when someone whisked him away from me. I quietly excused myself from the party (trying to hide my heart ache) and departed on my walk home (two houses down). But along the way, I remember saying a prayer to my Father in Heaven. It was really more like pouring my heart out to Him. We had been married 7 years at this point, with no hope for a child of our own....Why did we have to continue waiting? What have we done wrong?
Two weeks later, my prayers were answered..... The night of the baby shower was the exact time my sweet son was born. I didn't know it yet. It would be two weeks before we would get the call saying we had been selected to be the parents to this sweet child! Needless to say, we were ecstatic! Our prayers were finally answered. It would be a couple weeks before we could bring him home, and with a flurry of paperwork, and emotions, that day finally came. We saw him first, then had to go to court to get custody of him because it was out of state. But finally, even through some adversity, we brought his sweet little boy home. He IS a Sun. He has lit up my life like I can not explain! He has taught me so much about life, myself, and others like I never dreamed anyone ever could. I am so glad to be his mom. I cant believe how blessed we are to have Matthew Reese as our son. He is a living dream, and I thank the Lord every single day for him. I know that he (and my girls) are in a home where they are safe, loved, respected and that they each were meant to come here. Happy Birthday, Matthew! I cant believe it has been 11 years! I love you so much!

First food at 4 months, barf and all!

These two pictures are when Matthew was 7 months old. We took him to Salt Lake City to the Temple and had him sealed to us. Poor kid was so sick on this trip. He had double ear infections and we had to cut the trip short.


Here he is at 2 years old! Look at that smile!

Here he is around 8 years old, showing his humorous side! We were at the school carnival!

This was his school picture from last year. He is ten years old here.

I love you, my sweet boy!

Bwahahahahah!

Yesterday, I had my MRI on my left hand. No, it has not healed yet! So, I had to lay on my tummy, propped up on a couple of pillows, and the hand being xrayed was sitting right next to my face while the other was way up over my head, because there was seriously NO ROOM. I was squished into this teensy tube of an MRI machine, could not move. But they gave me headphones any way. It was nice and bright, and I generally don't get claustrophobic. If I would ever, it would have been then. So a song comes on over the head phones and it was the BG's "Stayin Alive". LOL! In there is a verse in the background saying, "Somebody help me, not goin no where." I cracked up laughing. It was very hard to contain myself considering I was wedged into this weird MRI tube. No way could I get out of there without help. It was silly. LOL! Had to be there, I guess.

TuEsDaY TrEaTs...

The girlies had a blast helping me make them last night. They are quite the little bakers. They love to help mix up anything they can and then decorate them when it is time. They are nothing more than strawberry cupcakes, but they were really good and so festive for Valentine's week! I hope they liked them at work. DH was excited to take them as he always is. He likes being popular...... ;)

GoOd NeWs...

I found out today that I get to graduate in May! It will be awesome, because it is going to be on my 25th birthday! Isn't that neat?!?! ;)

I will still have to take two classes over the summer session though (pre-algebra's). But the good thing is I can graduate and then finish the courses instead of having to wait almost an entire year. I know this will be a lot of work. I am taking 6 classes this semester. Talk about stress, but hearing that I will be able to graduate really has got me fired up and wanting to finish up!!! How exciting!

My SwEeT LiTtLe GiRl...

I cant get over how big of a girl Madison has become. She is so funny. Here she is a few minutes ago with "pretend" glasses. Since Bethanie has glasses now, Madison wants to fit in. She wears them so proudly. I cant believe this is my baby......I feel like they are all growing up way too fast. My oldest child, Matthew is going to be 11 very soon. :O(

BeAuTiFuL dAy!!!

I woke up to big, beautiful flakes of perfect snow! It wont amount to much. The joy it brought me will certainly last longer than the snow its self. How pretty (and non-threatening).

I wonder if Jeff is keeping his head warm. ;P

aMaZiNg AnD SeLfLeSs LoVe...

A friend of ours (who is near my age, with three young daughters) has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is a wonderful woman who has such strong faith, remarkable courage and she is an example to me. She recently started chemo and radiation. She has just lost all of her hair. Oh, she works at the hospital Jeff works at. Some of the guys came up with a sweet way to support Sara. They all decided that when she lost her hair, they would match her head to theirs. They all came in today to shave it all off. I must say, that is such love and respect!

From left to right: Matt, Jeff, Dr. Murphey (her primary doctor) and Tyce

amazingly enough, and purely by accident they were all wearing green. Its not St. Patricks Day yet. ;P

Dont they look nervous???

The joke was that they all would start off by getting their dream styles done, you know, mohawk, and such. Jeff had a Friar Tuck. LOL! It was a hoot! What good sports they all are!

Isn't he handsome? He wondered if he had any lumps and bumps on his head. Seriously, he has considered doing this before, although I am not sure to this extreme. I think he likes it. The girls dont. Matthew does but he said it will take some getting used to. I like it. It feels really soft. I bet it comes back really silver. LOL! He is over 40 now you know. :P

After all is said and done:

Matt, Sara (the honoree), Jeff, Tyce and Dr. Murphey.

Really I think they all looked great after!

What a wonderful way to show sweet Sara how much support people are giving to her!

TuEsDaY's TrEaTs...

I did nothing spectacular for treats yesterday. I just didn't have time with all three kids home (one being really sick). So last night while I was watching LOST, I made a couple batches of brownies with chocolate chips melting on top.

I just wish I could have done something more for husband today. It has been crazy with all this homework on top of Matthew's school lessons, and Bethanie being sick for two days. I just cant keep up!

BoNkErS...

Homework, kids, homework, kids, homework, kids, kids homework, my homework, kids homework, my homework, sick kids, no homework, sick kids, no homework, going crazy, feeling stressed, going crazy, feeling stressed. I really need to find a way to balance these things....

OuT To EaT...SoRt Of...

Today I am going to Bethanie's school to eat lunch with her! She is so excited!!! So am I!!! When a parent gets to eat with their child, they get to sit in a special area on the stage with the tables, just with their kid and other visitors that come that day. I really am loving this time with her.