31 for 21: Calendar Girl

Here is Emma's page from the calendar!

The theme of the calendar was 'Reach for the Stars'.  We were to pick something we wanted to her to become when she's older and dress her like that.  We chose for her to be a nurse or caretaker because she loves to take care of everyone. 

I scanned Emma's biography that's in the calendar.  If you click on it it will be big enough to read.

31 for 21: A Heavy Heart

Today I'm just having a hard time focusing on blogging about DS.  I have a heavy heart for a few different people I know that are going through some tough times.  There is so much that I don't understand about this life.  I don't understand the pain and suffering that so many people go through, people who love God and serve Him.  I know God can use anything that we go through and in the end we look back and can see Him every step of the way, but today my heart hurts for some friends.

One thing don't understand is cancer.  I just don't know how to get my brain around it.  My heart is heavy for  some friends who are going through this journey with their 2 year old daughter.  This family has been through this journey before 10 years ago with their oldest daughter.  She wasn't expected to beat the cancer, but she has been cancer free for 9 years.  It's a miracle that she's here still.  My heart aches so much for them, knowing that they have to do this all over again.  I wish I could do something for them.

My friend who has been married for forever and is a sweetheart who works hard at everything she does is facing divorce because her husband wants the single life.  Really, how can you just walk away from your wife and kids?  This is something that has always baffled me.  How you can adore someone and promise to take care of them forever and then you just change your mind and pick a new life.  The one thing I know and I do understand is that God is good, when life stinks, He is there, when we can't handle it, He is there.  I really don't know how people can face life, especially these tough situations without Him.  I just want everyone to know about the love and peace that only He can give.  I wish I could give them a little glimpse into the life He wants to give them.

There is a song by Lincoln Brewster that I love, it's called 'The Power of Your Name'.  It's a great song.  I love it because it talks about some of the things in life that are hard and how that's not what God wants for us, but there's hope because God has a better place for us after this and we can make a difference to people that are hurting now.  I thought I'd share it with you.  I found a video someone made on YouTube.  I hope you like it.  Thanks for letting me vent today.  If you could pray for my friends too I know they would appreciate it. 

31 for 21: Loving Where God Leads

Today I am loving where God has lead us.  I love our new small town.  It is the cutest little town with the nicest people.  Everyone has been so friendly and finding a babysitter has been super easy.  Emma was sick the week before last and two neighbors called to volunteer to pick up Abby from the bus for me, I couldn't see that happening if we were still in Vegas.  I have never lived in a small town like this so adjusting to planning ahead for shopping in Vegas is still kind of hard, but I think I'm getting the hang of it now.

A few weeks ago two ladies stopped by with cookies to introduce themselves.  They both have daughters with Down Syndrome and wanted to meet Emma.  One of the girls is 6 and the other is 2.  They both live in the neighborhood right around the corner from us.  What are the chances of that?  I am so excited for Emma to have friends that are like her.  Today we met at the park so the girls could play and we could have a chance to talk about our little angels.  It's nice to have someone to talk to who has been in my shoes, and to be able to encourage someone with a girl younger than Emma.   I love how God works!  This was something that was important to me and God just placed these other 2 families right by us.  Thanks, God!

Here are some random pictures because I just can't blog without pictures!

These kiddos can't get enough of playing in the water.

Emma enjoys following our new pup around and feeding her grass. 

The girls got Josiah a bunch of toys and then put him on the futon to play.  It was so sweet.

Dave bought the kids this water slide for their 'housewarming' gift.  It was a big hit.

Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month

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October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month so I'm starting 31 days of blogging for Trisomy 21 (aka Down Syndrome).  I am looking forward to this month and I think it's awesome that Emma's birthday is in October!  The Buddy Walk was yesterday and it was the perfect start to the month.  I loved seeing all those kiddos being loved and supported by their friends and family.  I hope you enjoy following along this month.

  

2011 Buddy Walk

Yay for another year of doing the Buddy Walk!  This is our 4th year of doing it and we love it.  It's always in the afternoon, during nap time, and HOT...but we still love it.  Getting pictures is difficult so we changed it up this year and just did one group photo.  (Deb was there too, but she was kind enough to take the picture.)

Here's our little star!

We got our calendars today.  Emma looks so cute in the pictures.  I will scan it and post about it soon!

Here are some pictures of our day.

Our New Home

Here are a few pictures of the outside.  I love these trees.  I don't know what kind they are but we have several on the other side of the house too.  The pic on the top right is of the back of the house.  The weed infested field is part of our property too.  Eventually it will have a fence around it with some animals, maybe some chickens, goats, and cows....maybe even a horse.  The bottom left is what I see out my kitchen window.  I love the view.  I can't get enough of it.  Since our last house was a townhouse our kitchen was attached to the neighbors so I had so window and that was sad for me.  I love kitchen windows.  I'm silly, but it's true.  The bottom right is the road we drive on to get to our house off the main road.  Definitely a change from Vegas!!  (If you click on the image it will get bigger, but then you have to hit the back button to get back onto the blog.)

Here are some pictures of the inside:  #1 The shower in the Master has 2 shower heads.  The kids love it.  They think it's a party after they play outside in the water they come inside to play in the shower.  #2  The playroom.  (Don't worry we got rid of those crazy curtains and broken ceiling fan.)  This room is huge and full of toys now.  This is where most of the mess now lives, which makes me very happy.  #3 My laundry room/craft room.  Once the house is painted I hope to unpack and organize my craft stuff.  I have a feeling this will be my favorite room in the house.  #4 Our nice big living room.  I love the big windows in here.  I've painted the walls so far.  Now I have the big task of painting around the ceiling.  Not sure if you can tell from this small pic, but it steps down twice, so it will take me awhile to paint that.  I'll post more pictures as I finish painting.   

First Day of School

So, I'm a little behind on blogging.  A lot has happened in the past few months.  The main thing is that we've moved out of Vegas. Yay!  Now we're in a small town an hour north of Vegas.  We feel so blessed to be where we are, but that will have to be another post.  The girls started school today, and couldn't be happier.  Abigail is super excited about riding the bus.  Just look at this happy girl walking to the bus stop.

 After we took Abigail to the bus stop we went to the school to meet her teacher.  Josiah and Emma had fun playing together.

 Here she is getting off the bus.

 Big Kindergartener

 This is her teacher, Mrs. Cameron.

 Emma goes to school in the afternoon.  Here's her new backpack, it is so cute.

 She was happy about going back to school.

 Her new bus driver.

 There goes the bus, we did not follow it this year, I guess we are old pros now.

 Josiah and I went to school to meet her teacher.  Here she is with all her classmates. 

 Her teacher, Mrs. Wittison

 They eat lunch in the cafeteria at the beginning of class.

They both had a great day and were excited to get dressed and head to the bus stop this morning.