She is 7! Hear Her ROAR....

Happy Birthday Georgia-Beans!

You are so amazing. 7 years ago today I had a beautiful 10 lb 2 oz baby girl laying in my arms. You were born at home in Arkansas in the living room. I knew you would have a strong voice since you came out screaming and continued for 3 weeks. I know I say to use a quiet voice a lot but I really want you to be loud. Use your voice to change the world. You have changed mine. You have made me really look at what is important. You are so patient in so many areas (except when you sister is bugging to you get off the computer). You look at things and figure them out. You take the time to plan and go after what you want. Whether that is to get the back off of something to put new batteries in or get something off the top of the fridge. Go for your dreams. Be strong. Say it loud. And always know I love you.

Love,
Mom

P.S. Chuck E. Cheeses isn't my first choice for a birthday party but you had this planned for months. I loved watching you enjoy your day.

Silvia VS. FIle Cabinet.....

Just click on the picture, it should play. I swear I still laugh watching it. Let's just say she has learned to open all the other stuff in this house and this is her last battle. She is still fighting the battle.....

So The Mom Van Died...

My van has seen 4 out of my 5 children as babies. It has been enjoyed in so many ways. The love to opening the doors, hanging out the windows, shoving M&M's in the tape player, sticking stickers on the windows, taking the middle seat out and making it a "Dance Floor" (I can still see my son at 2 yrs old shaking his thang on that dance floor), hiding from mom, sitting on top, riding to and from school and so much more. We have been in a love hate relationship these last 2 years. It has slowly been loosing it will to haul us around. Last year the transmission was diagnosed as being shot. We moved. The final sad ailment was that it would not go into park. It just rolled. I had to have rocks to make sure it didn't leave without me. ~grins~ Without a major overhaul it would not pass inspection. So off car shopping we went.

We discovered this summer that we need at least one extra seat so we looked for an 8 passenger vehicle. Enter the Saturn Outlook. Jeff went to the Saturn place (his car is a Saturn, my Dad used to be a Saturn mechanic, We love Saturn's). And there is was.....



Our new family car. The car that will haul us around to school, church, band, choir, Brownies, friends' houses, family outings and so much more. We are forbidden to drink, stick stickers or breath in the car for a while. Ah, that new car smell. Sigh, that new car payment book.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl....

It has been 1 year since you joined our family. It has been such an eventful year. From being induced to your dad leaving for his new job to me having 5 kids alone to moving to Arizona. We have done so much and it would not have been as much fun if you hadn't been along for the ride. You have brought so much laughter and joy into our lives. I love watching Andrew bring on belly laughs that don't stop. I love watching Catherine carry you around with so much love. I love watching Georgia try to cheer you up when you are sad. I love watching Charlotte walk you around the house. I love watching you. Thank you for such a joy filled year. I can't wait to see what you have in store for the next.

A Thought To Make You Think...

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron. ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower.

We increase the spending for the war but we can't increase the funding for a program that insures children have health care? This hits home. I did not have health insurance until I was 24 years old. My parents worked hard. We had the basics. There was always that cloud of fear that someone would get very sick. We were luckier than most. My Great Uncle was a Doctor and we did have basic health care. The running theme in the house was to not get any sicker than needing to see the Doctor.

More and more children (and adults) are not able to access the health care they need. It is not because they are not working. Most families that do not have insurance work more than one job. It is a sad state that our country is pumping more and more money into one area but can't help our children. I think someone needs a time-out to spend a day with families that are busting their tail to provide for their children/family but that one thing is just out of reach. Oh, and I think a certain someone needs to read a certain section in the Bible again.

When It Rains, It Pours....

Especially here in the desert. When the rain starts falling the kids have to play. I'll admit to being a rain chaser. I love the feel of the rain. I love the sound of the rain. I love the smell of the rain. So much joy in drops of water.








P. S. The umbrellas are more for play than actually keeping the rain off. They were soaked to the skin once all was said and done.