Adoption Gift

This was a fast, cheap, & precious gift for my family. Walgreens had a coupon for a free 8 x10 collage print. I took some of the pictures that I had from "T" and his first year of life in our family. He had a very eventful first year of life in our family. I graduated, we went to the St. Louis Zoo/Arch, he had is 1st birthday, he became a Uncle, and the list goes on. We all love and adore him, he is a joy and I am so grateful God gave him to us.

I purchased a frame at Wal-Mart for $3 and released when got home it was matted for a 4 x 6. I just left the mat in the back of the frame.

I printed this for FREE at Walgreens.

Adoption Day

Today my family adopted Travis Lorenzo! We are so excited to have him in our life. He came to my family at three days old as a foster child. There is now five boys that are a huge part of my heart, I can't imagine life without any of them. Travis is just the most adorable 13 month old boy ever, and yes I am biases. I wish I could have gone to be apart of the day, but a ten hour trip there and back would be much right now. I have already seen pics and heard about the day. I am so happy for my family that he is officially ours. God is so good.

Grandma Fern

November 3 is a day I always remember it would have been my grandma's birthday. This year for some reason I miss her very much, maybe because it has been a hard few years?!? I wish I could have just one more kiss, hug, or conversation with her. I sure wonder what she thinks of our crazy world and this big election tomorrow?!? I miss her very much and can rest assure that she is waiting for me in Heaven.

Kids are funny!

I was back in Iowa a few months ago. Ellexa (I call her Lexie Lou) is an adorable little 3 year old foster sister and her along with her sisters...captured my heart. I think that this little girl did not just capture my heart but..stole it!Don't get me wrong I love my boys but girls are very different. Plus I love the toddler age...and hello, she wears PINK! :) Anyway, we were sitting in the living room and she walks up to the computer and says "I need to check my Facebook"....I looked at my mom and the boys and we all started laughing. I think she picks up just a little on what the boys say....what do you think?

It is well with my soul

"It Is Well with My Soul" is the song that we sang together in worship at my Aunt Joyce's funeral...just a year ago. As I was traveling down to Jefferson City on that Tuesday I spent the afternoon in worship through singing and prayer. I came across one of my favorite hymns on my Shane and Shane CD. As I was driving I could not stop but listen to the lyrics and think of Aunt Joyce. My lips mouthed the song but I could not sing. I stopped and listen.

"It is well, it is well, with my soul"  I was thinking of all the struggles and pain she has endured and now "It is Well" she is free. My eyes lifted and I started to look at the clouds about that time the song sang these lyrics "And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul." I was amazed that I found myself singing this song again at her funeral. It almost seemed like God was sending me a big hug. I tired to bellow out the song as hard as I could a few times I was choked up...but for the most part I wanted to sing the song from the depths of my heart. I know that she is dancing with the Angels. I know that there is no more pain for her. We were blessed to have the opportunity to have her in our lives. If you knew Joyce her smile could light up a room. Her gentle spirit could touch you. She was an amazing Godly woman who will always live in my heart as well as many others.

25 years together!

May 19, 1983-Steve and Kay were married 25 years ago!

This is one amazing couple who love Christ and each other deeply. They are best friends and it is obvious. The journey in these 25 years have made them stronger together. I love them deeply and pray that God will bless me with a love like theirs....

I miss you.

IN LOVING MEMORY

OF

PETE CASTANEDA

March 13, 1943~April 10, 2007

I miss and love you, always.

I'm 33 for moment

I have struggled with the last few days of knowing, today I was turning 33, don't get me wrong..I LOVE MY BIRTHDAY(S) but this was hard. I thought I would be in a very different place in my life, on so many levels. I haven't reached my goals and dreams. I think of Brody, turning 15 yesterday. I think about his life and where he at and the amazing young man he is becoming. I think of all the time he has left at home and sharing each day with my family. I start to think about how of all the four boys, we have known him for each of his birthday.
I start to reflect about my life and where I was at 15 years. What happened during those years who my friends were, school, and plans for the future. That leads me to down the memory land of where I am at today. In a blink of an eye....it doesn't seem like that long. Just yesterday, I was 15 years old.
This morning, I was getting ready and a familiar song came on. I have heard and loved this song over the last few years. I started singing it.....I didn't realize what I was really singing. Each lyric rolled off my tongue. I sang..."I'm 33 for this moment" wait, I AM 33, right now, today, for this moment.
Five for Fighting
"100 Years"

I'm 15 for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

I'm 22 for a moment
She feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose 15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live

I'm 33 for a moment
Still the man, but you see I'm a they
A kid on the way
A family on my mind

I'm 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy,
Time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
15 I'm all right with you 15,
there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live

Half time goes by
Suddenly you're wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We're moving on...

I'm 99 for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
15 there's still time for you
22 I feel her too
33 you're on your way every day's a new day...

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live

Time tics on by as if it meant something. Marking eternity is all; it is always right NOW, and in a moment it will be a new NOW. If you think there is only so much time to live then you are living in time. We are timeless and are only vacationing here believing we are this body and identity. It's a fun for a while, or it can be tragic sad story; choose whatever genre of film you like. Or perhaps you came here to pay a debt? An eye for an eye is the law, or will you choose to forgive and live in Grace? So many choices of what to believe in or better yet you can choose to believe in not believing. It's a predicament for sure. One thing I can tell you with complete confidence and abandonment. Love will open any door, it will guide your life in ways your mind cannot. If you like joy, then listen to Love and follow Love without fear. Open your heart even if it hurts, and threatens to destroy who you think you are. The worm cannot become a butterfly without transforming itself. Allow Love to have its way with you. If you think you are 15 then enjoy the ride. If you think you are 33 have fun. May as well enjoy, but if you try to wring every ounce of life out of life the warning sign is there to show you your fear of dying. No one really dies, but man what a drama; Wow how scary is the idea of not existing anymore? What would that be like to be erased? What can be even more scary is what if life just keeps going on? What will you do
then? Maybe you will want to take a vacation again.

Happy Birthday Brody!

Brody,

Today is a very special day. It is your birthday. It is crazy that you are 15 years old! You have a very special place in my heart. You are the "baby" and we share our birthday with each other. You have grown (yes, you are taller than me..and EVERYONE in our family). I have loved that I get to be apart of your life. I have watch you grow up to a be an amazing young man. I can't wait to see you continue to mature in Christ and as a man. I love and cherish you, very much. May this year be a great year for you. Happy Birthday Tater-Tater! I love you

Happy (belated) Birthday Alex!

Alex,

Happy (belated) SWEET 16 AGGIE!! You have reached a large milestone, and you are now 16 years old! I really didn't think this day would come, well so soon! You are such a blessing in my life and I love how you are growing. It has been fun to watch you try new things, don't be afraid to keep trying! It has been so fun having you in our family. I love you, you are very special to me. I pray for you daily, as you continue to grow. Happy Birthday, I love you!

2008 recap..

April is just around the corner...where has this year gone? I haven't posted any thing since the first of the year....so a recap of a few exciting things in 2008, so far!

January

• My family received two foster girls! They are sisters and are adorable I am officially in love. Ellexa came to live for a short while last year, she returned this year with a baby sister, baby Olivia (aka Baby O). I am unable to share pictures due to privacy, but they are ADORABLE.

February

ALEX turned 16years old. I was able to celebrate his big 16th b-day with my family. I had not been t o Iowa to see the new home my family purchased in the fall. Along with the excitement of Alex b-day, the new house, I also got to meet Ellexa "Lexi Lou" and Baby O!! While I was in Iowa, I went to the movies with Alex, Brody, Tyler down town...we went to see Veggie Tales, on Alex b-day. I most confess that I was so tired, I fell alseep during the movie. I was able to spend time with my family, hanging out. We also spent time with the Strackes, they are such an awesome family. I am glad my family has them! I did lots of picture taking of the girls and boys. I had a blast!!! We had a great time and I was suppose to leave on Monday but was snowed in!!! I stayed in Iowa until Wednesday!





March
My friend Mandy (co-worker) celebrated her 30th birthday! We went out to eat and then I threw a little party at work, it was fun! My good friend Heather is pregnant with her third baby, very exciting. Work has been interesting...well, lets just say I had a little "challenging situation" but I am grateful for the support of supervisors, co-workers, family and friends. Oh...and one more BIG thing...but you will have to wait!

Happy New Year!!

I can't believe that it is the year 2008!!! I mean where does the time go? I think it may have to do with getting older? I remember when I was younger. New Years Eve was such a big deal. Staying up all night at overnights was the normal in Jr. & HS. This year was not a big deal...but I must confess I had fun. I did stay up all night with my friends. It was snowing and at midnight we ran outside in the snow and lit sparklers.....it was fun. Our evening consisted of Guitar Hero 3 and scrap booking. We had a blast and ended up going to bed at 4:30am! Lots of laughter and that what makes a night!!

I sit here and think about 2008 and dream of what this year will hold, I believe that I am very optimistic for this year. I have to think the best is yet to come. I can't happen to think of last year. In a nutshell 2007 was the hardest years of my adult life. I learned so many lessons and through it all I learned that I am STRONGER that ever before. I am very grateful for it all...the good and hard times. I am grateful for this little gift of time that has catapulted so many friends who love and support me no matter what I do, say, or am. Today, New Years Day was a start of a new year. I hope that this road will be full of wisdom, love, happiness, prosperity, and peace.

A big congratulations to my MIZZOU Tigers who won today!!! They played Arkansas 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl!!!

An even bigger congratulations to my Uncle Gary who was married today. Welcome, Gale to our family!