The Clown of God

This passage is from a book entitled, The Clowns of God, by Morris West. In
the
book, a deposed pope has gone through many trials and tribulations and it is
the
time of the Second Coming. When he meets the Returned Christ, the former pope
is
afraid and unsure much like the apostles when Christ first arose. This passage
takes place in a mountain hideaway where children from a school for Down
Syndrome are among those present. The Returned Christ is speaking about one of
these children as he holds her.


"I know what you are thinking. You need a sign. What better one could I give
but
to make this little one whole and new? I could do it; but I will not. I am the
Lord and not a conjurer. I gave this mite a gift I denied to all of
you--eternal
innocence. To you she looks imperfect--but to me she is flawless, like the bud
that dies unopened or the fledgling that falls from the nest to be devoured by
ants. She will never offend me, as all of you have done. She will never
pervert
or destroy the work of my Father's hands. She is necessary to you. She will
evoke the kindness that will keep you human. Her infirmity will prompt you to
gratitude for your own good fortune... More! She will remind you every day
that
I am who I am, that my ways are not yours, and that the smallest dust mite
whirled in the darkest spaces does not fall out of my hand... I have chosen
you.
You have not chosen me. This little one is my sign to you. Treasure her!"

I'm back, little buddy!

I prefer the solitude of the cave. With my furry friend :) Facebook is not really my thing. But I'm going to stay on it to check out what everyone else is doing :) But I'll be too busy working out in the cave to post much. This is what I look like now.....

I think it's been paying off.

I'm comin out......

Sort of.



Lindsey is working on a facebook page for me.



I have mixed feelings about it, but we'll see how it goes :)



........I'm gonna miss you Chaka.

Toma at the festival and my creative Michael

I have to get a picture of Artiom on the pony.....it's on my moms camera. But here he is at the Republican stand :)

Michael has been working in the garage on art stuff lately. This is a cute little mushroom man he made :)

Artiom

Someone asked how he has been doing, so I'll fill you all in on Toma. He's been home 6 months, and is adjusting very well. He still does not talk at all, but he gets his point across in other ways.
He's scheduled to have another sedated MRI this coming week, and then at the end of the month we go back to the reconstructive surgeon to set up the cleft palate surgery as well as seeing the dentist to have those cavities fixed at the same time. And a circumcision as well.

We're still waiting to get the baha's for his hearing.

He hasn't started speech therepy, we are waiting until after the palate surgery.

He gets along very well with the other kids in the family, and they all know he's 'special' and treat him that way. Even Alex, who is 3 is like the older brother to him.

He's eating a little more than just rice cereal. He likes yogurt, and hot cereal and pediasure with bread in it. He has pediasure with all his meals. He was 22 pounds when we first met him and he just hit the 30 pound mark!

His 'naughty' side seems to have come out now that he's been here 6 months. He gets into everything! loves to dump out everything he can get his hands on, including the laundry soap in the dog dish :)

He still sleeps in a crib, with a crib tent over it. He doesn't take naps but some days I put him in his crib for some rest time (for me!)

His favorite toys aren't toys at all. He still loves an empty milk jug, or spoons/forks, and the hair dryer.

He rode a pony for the first time last weekend at a festival.

He's still not potty trained.

He slaps the other kids and himself, but we're working on that.

If you say 'looby loo' (for I love you) he puts his cheek out for a kiss :)

He prefers Rich over me still ;(

He is a sweet, sweet little boy who is just now learning how to be 'a little boy' :) since he spent the first 5 1/2 yrs of his life doing very little of anything.

The amazing race starts tonight!

Whoo-hoo :)

I gotta make sure my rabbit ears are working!

Something creepy is going on .......

The other day Alex and I went up our hill in the back yard to the place we affectionately call 'Pet Cemetery" to put some flowers on Henry's grave. You remember our Henry....who died about a month ago.....



But when we got there, this is what we found. An empty hole.

No Henry......we looked and looked and found no sign of him.(or the big baggie he was buried in)

At first I blamed Cooper, our huge dog who likes to dig.....

but, then I remembered a similar issue we had with Summer this spring when a poor bird flew into our window and died and we buried it, and she later DUG IT UP and was carrying it around in a basket like this:

Well, she got scolded for that and said she wouldn't do it again.

But I called her to the 'hole' and asked her if she knew what happened to Henry....she got that funny look on her face when you know dang well she knows something she's not saying.

But she swore up and down she didn't do it.

So I let it go.

Still no sign of Henry's whereabouts though.

Michael thinks one of these days Cooper is going to 'barf up Henry'.....

.but I still think Little Red Riding Hood is behind this.

Either way....poor Henry.

you ever make cake for no reason at all?

We like to do that around here.... makes the day better when there's something to look forward to, and what better than CAKE!

Michael wanted me to put these pictures of the walking stick on (Phasmatodea)

We found this in our back yard and boy, are they NEAT creatures........

Have you ever seen one?? I only have twice in my life. We let it go on our tree after we took these pictures.

my little people that make me smile :)

Artiom gnawing on the wood like a beaver.....

brothers playing in the fort.....

my little Alex and our collie/llama Cooper....

My sweet Michael with a walking stick on his face.....:)

This one just because Alex makes me smile with his cuteness....

My pretty little sweet pea, Summer.....

And this one of Toma just to show how LIGHT his hair has gotten with the SUN!!!! It's nearly blonde now. :)

Chip in if you can :)

I was reading a blog the other day that had some really yummy looking spaghetti and meatballs on it (Christine Reed's, smiles and trials) and anyway, Julia Nalle who is in 'my special country' now with her husband

was saying how much she would love to have spaghetti and meatballs, it's the one dish she has missed the most!They have had quite a time of it and you know what I mean if you follow their blog http://www.covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/ and anyway, Julia was saying how much she misses real food because all they get in the little village is soup, soup and more soup :)

They are adopting this sweet boy(above) and have 2 boys waiting for them at home.

So, wouldn't it be a nice thing if we could chip in, even a little bit, and send them out to a nice family dinner together when they get home?!

They've had a tough road to walk with this adoption, and they walked it with grace and faith. And now Aaron has a family instead of a life in a mental institution.

So, if you can....please do :) :) :)

The link to donate is http://www.psalmsixtyeight.blogspot.com/

Time to come out of the cave??

I always said I'd never do Facebook.

I didn't even want to do a blog.

I don't have TIME for Facebook...ok, I don't really know what it is to be EXACT...but it looks complicated.

Lots of stuff on there.

Feeling obligated to respond to people (right??) and having to post pictures and KEEP UP...(right??)

I don't know.

Lately, I've been thinking that there are 'things' going on out there in Facebook world that I'm missing out on.

I mean, doesn't EVERYONE have one these days??

I'm out of the loop

Sometimes I like it that way.

But sometimes I don't :) :)

So, I'm thinking about it.

What do YOU think???

a movie review

Letters to Juliet... This is a good movie. I took a break from the Waltons (shocking, I know).....to watch this last night. It's a good, clean, romantic love story. And I especially loved the beautiful scenery in this movie.

A good show to watch with your teenage daughters as well.

I love a good love story :)

Heart for Orphans necklace...

Isn't it beeeeeeautiful! I love it. If you would love to have one too, go look here:
www.gs2studios.com all profits benefit www.healinghaiti.org

Thanks Gretchen :)

p.s. hey Kristin....you're freaking me out.

I went to a party! We talked about you know who......

Hee hee he.

I went to a party at Gretchens house. And boy, it was SOME party. Kristin wanted to go so badly.

You remember Kristin, don't you....

the one who stole my sweet Alexander in 'my special country'.....

(A.K.A the nasty tempered creature above)

Anyway, Kristin wanted to go so badly. But.....it was only the VIP's invited.

But we had such a wonderful time talking about Kristin that I just had to share it with you.....see this picture, it's us saying....

pshh, pshs ,pshsh.... dainty Kristin...pshh, pshsh..little foot up in the air...pshsh,pshh..ride a book, hee hee...pshsh..school teacher...psh, pshsh..spits on people....psh, pshsh,psh...all those 'tee hee hee's'....CAN YOU BELIEVE IT..pshsh, psh....parasol prissy...psh,psh,psh.

And oh, so much more.

Should a been there ;)

September 11th

I love America.

Remembering the heroes that were created that day....

Praying for their loved ones who have to live on without them.

Look at this little sweetheart.....

She needs a family....OH MY GOODNESS IS SHE SWEET!

I could SO see her in our family :)

What a doll.

www.reecesrainbow.org

Praise the Lord......

Aaron is no longer an orphan. He is CHOSEN and LOVED. The Nalles had such strength and faith....and now they have a new SON!

AMEN.

Afternoon canoe trip....

Rich talked me into going canoeing with him the other
day.... I'm not much of a dark, murky water person....so I didn't want to go.

But I did so to please him :)

Now let me begin by saying that when you have to start your trip off with one of these....it's probably not such a good idea to go.

And yes, he had to use it MANY times to bail the water. ( But I just tried to ignore the fact that water was getting my pant legs wet.... rolling eyes here)

Then this happens. To BOTH of the oars. Not kidding.

Then when we finally make it down the river to the spot we had Shane pick us up at....we were met by Mr. Friendly Police officer...that would be THIS guy.

And he's sayin....as we're in the truck with the canoe on top....."Did you NOT see that sign you just drove by"???????????

ahhhhhh........(deer in headlight look, mouth hanging open)

As he's pointing to this sign 4 feet in front of us.

Yeah.

So I blamed it on Shane. (Hee hee hee.)

To top it all off, we were all going to cram ourselves into the teeny tiny truck that Shane came to get us in...with Michael and Summer. That's 5 of us....

And Mr. Friendly Police Officer was still there....watching...

So, Rich told kids the 3 of them were going to walk home. About 3/4 of a mile.

They were already really mad that they didn't get a chance to go in the canoe.

( mean old mom wouldn't let them when she saw water coming in it---Shocking!)

So they cried all the way home.

Can you say 'lovely family afternoon' .........?

At least we didn't get a ticket.

:) :) :) :) :)

Isn't he a beautiful child....

This is little Alexander. He is in an orphanage in Eastern Europe and desperately needs a family. He will be transferred to an institution soon if no one comes for him.
Just look at those eyes! So beautiful and he has such a gentle spirit. My friend Gretchen (http://www.ready4ross.blogspot.com/) was able to spend time with him recently and she just fell in love with him.
What a wonderful son little Alexander (Sasha) would make. It's also a very easy region to adopt from and I know a VERY good cab driver who could drive you all around ;)
I would love to go get him myself if I could, and so would Gretchen, but since we both just came home with a child...it makes it a little difficult.

But PLEASE look into those gorgeous eyes and picture this sweet boy in your family....adoption is such a blessing for all involved...it's a decision you'll never regret.

A very naughty 3 yr old.....

that would be this guy......decided it would be a good idea to turn the hose on and put it through the sun roof of his big brothers car.

Lets just say it was a good thing mama was home to protect him when big brother went out later that day to go somewhere and his car was practically floating away.......

thanks guys :)......................

You see, Lindsey and I share a birthday, so yesterday she was showing off all her facebook 'happy birthday's' which she had 47 at that point. Then she went over to my blog and saw a big fat 0. So, she had that " oh my! Mom, where are all your 'bloggy' friends" ?? he heee he- -look on her face. grrrrr.

So I had to put that desperate (and shameful) plea out last night to show off to her that -Yes, I do indeed have bloggy friends. Hmp.-

Teenagers think they know everything. :)

I actually didn't even leave the house yesterday, just did ALOT of cleaning. Rich got home late, so we didn't do anything. But my mom and dad came over with a pan of cherry breeze right before bed. Yum. :)

It does make me a little mad however, that some of my older kids (and YOU know who you are) completely forget their moms birthday...and mothers day.... seriously, what's wrong with this picture!!!!!

anyway, thanks everyone! Now I can call Miss L up here to show her...even though it's not 47... it will do :)

yes, we're entering that 'pathetic realm' again.....

It's my birthday today and not one single person said Happy Birthday to me

Boo Hoo.

Well... my sweetie did :)

And Michael.

More Candles....

17 years ago on what was my 22 birthday I gave birth to this girl.....Happy Birthday Lindsey!