Awwwwwwww

Teeth..

We brush............


We lose.........


We wait for new ones!

When you give a brother your Elmo stamper

This one is for

my oldest brother...... a drummer FOREVER; and shall I just say this IS entertainment!
Besides Bug loves to drum on everything in sight these days.

Thinking about.....

those white sugar sand beaches I grew up with in the Gulf........


“The age of reason, is out to lunch.”
- The Vapors, "Letter from Hiro"

My heart cries............. as I know He cries

Memorial Day

"America is the greatest, freest and most decent society in existence. It is an oasis of goodness in a desert of cynicism and barbarism. This country, once an experiment unique in the world, is now the last best hope for the world."
Dinesh D'Souza
So while you are out with family and friends, enjoying this Memorial Day weekend, please take a moment and remember our service men and women whom are, with honor and integrity, quietly defending our country so that you may be "playing baseball and eating apple pie with Mom".

RED SHIRT FRIDAY

Are you wearing yours?

The gulf/BP oil spill is one of the new domestic scenes calling on our troops to assist in the disaster. U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Hilton R. Lloyd, left, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kevin P. Dares discuss flight patterns with governor Bobby Jindal's state office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in Baton Rouge, La. National Guard troops and Coast Guard troops are assisting with the oil disaster.

Are You Really Prolife, Really?

Tuc, theunknowncontributor, posted this and I was so struck by it that I had to share....

I think most Christians would be quick to say that they are prolife, and to their credit for what that label is worth, they most likely are. But in our culture isn’t that label just a more positive way of saying anti-abortion, or perhaps pro-birth?
I am not writing today to argue the issue of choice. Nope, today I am thinking about what it means to be prolife. To me, being prolife means you “do things to give a person all the life to which he or she is entitled (C. Everette Koop)."


But the question is, who am I responsible to do this for? Certainly not just my own children... surely orphans are “entitled” to live as well... aren’t they? “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” Prov 24:11.
So here is my big question... why are so few Christian families adopting orphans? Is it just that they are blissfully unaware that there are languishing children out there desperate for a loving home? If so, news flash friends... there is a child waiting for you.


No, not a cute white American made newborn... other children await you. Children who are facing life in mental institutions... children with repairable medical issues who will eventually die if they are left untreated.


“Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act." Prov. 24:12

These are real people, real children living in orphanages, real children just like (MINE)... waiting, waiting. How can you look at them and then turn away? Their pictures haunt me. I dream of going to get them.


Here are two very good reasons why you might not want to go rescue them; You do not have enough money or space for a(nother) child and You couldn’t handle a (special needs) child. Did you know those are the two biggest abortion reasons? Not enough resources and can’t handle a child. You don’t accept those excuses from pregnant women...


I attend a large church. I am part of a large Christian circle. There are very few families who have adopted orphans. I see so many perfect families around me. Happily married, middle-class parents with two or three darling home-made children. They say they are prolife and when it comes to voting against abortion rights, they are.

But what about when it comes to Anna?

CHRISSIE'S CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Chrissie is now at Home with Jesus. A celebration of her life is scheduled for Sunday. She fought a brave fight and taught so many on this planet to open their hearts and look with open eyes. In her very short life, she travelled from an orphanage in Serbia to the USA. She knew, for 8 bright months, the love of a mother's arms, the soft touch of a father's hand, and family that adored her, simply for who she was.
Lorraine we are keeping your family in prayer.......

Smile

Beyonce' you got nothin girl........

All The Wrinkled Ladies - More Things to do when you're bored

Red shirt Friday

Sergeant Clifton Shackleford, Bravo Company, ‘elevates’ the spirits of several local children whom reside in the village outside Combat Outpost Cafferetta. The Marines conducted a series of combat logistics patrols in the region and spent the afternoon with dozens of locals from a nearby village whom welcomed the Marine’s presence in the area.
Photo ByLine: Sgt. Justin J. Shemanski

Cyclone Laila PLEASE HELP

I received this email today from James, before they lost power. He and my dear friend Sarah, have a ministry and run orphanage homes in India, for special needs children. I am heart sick and praying hard for all there. If you feel called to help, the post title will link you to Indian Christian Ministries, or there is Banking info toward the end of the post. This is a real and very vital ministry. Sarah and James live very frugally. Check them out and may you be called to help.

Dear Friends,

As you may know, Coastal Andhra Pradesh has been was just hit by a major cyclone today. The news reports it is the worst one since 1977 in which 10,000 people died. So far, casualty reports are just coming in.

Our Victory home for children with special needs has had their ground floor completely flooded and all the children are safe on the second floor. We have not been able to make contact with the sister, Angel home which is closer to the coast.

ICM is always quick to respond to these types of disasters and will be providing relief to many of the affected people. Every donation at this stage is vital to ensuring these people will be provided with the food, clothing and medicine that they need. Below are just a few samples of the basic costs as well as the wiring information for sending funds.

We need your help.

"A Kilogram of rice is anywhere from 30 rupees to 35 rupees depends upon the kind and availability. They come in 25 kilogram bags.

Lentel kilogram 75 rupees

Blanket. 400 rupees.

Cooking oil. 48 rupees per kilogram. (palm oil). Ground nut oil per kilogram is 68 rupees. "

45 rupees is about 1 dollar

Every dollar goes a long way. Whatever you can give at this stage is crucial.

Please wire the funds to:

Pacific Western National Bank
ABA Number 122238200

India Christian Ministries
Account Number 30204611

Dana Point Office, Branch #30
34180 Pacific Coast Highway
Dana Point, CA 92629
Tel: (949) 661 4100

Thank you so much for your heart to help during this time of need.

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8693642.stm
beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article434030.ece?

India Christian Ministries
James Rebbavarapu
Director

Seriously? McDonalds?

Do you remember Jerry Seinfield and the "Soup Nazi?"".........
Well, now we have the happy meal nazi "no happy meal for you!"




According to major polls, the three top issues that are of great concern to Santa Clara County, CA residents are the economy, health care and the environment.

Unemployment in Santa Clara County is a staggering 11.7 percent.

By a 3-2 vote, Santa Clara County approved the nation's first childhood obesity ordinance targeting toy giveaways with fast-food meals. The ordinance would prohibit restaurants from giving away toys with kids' meals that are high in fat, sugar and calories.... i.e., Happy Meals.

Really?! Does anyone believe the average American kid would be chowing down on bean sprouts and carrot sticks were it not for some evil fast food company hooking them on burgers and fries?

Saratoga Mayor Kathleen King, a parent of five children, said the toys influence her children's meal choices. But she agreed with the ban and thanked the county for taking the lead in the debate. "I'm happy to see the county I live in taking a very proactive role," said King.

If your kids have that much control over you and your wallet, get rid of your radio, television and use blinders on the kids when you drive so that dangerous marketing will stop making them fat.  Why not just teach your kids that marketing is a tool designed to take money from your families pockets and put it into some rich corporate guy's pocket?
Do you do your kids homework too so they have time to play all those violent video games that have been marketed towards them and that you were forced to buy?
Such a huge lack of personal responsibility these days.

Wow and county residents were concerned about the economy, healthcare, housing, education, and rising crime.

With all due respect, when a parent of 5 children seems to be unable to direct what her children do and don't eat, I wonder what other legislation is required so that her kids stand a chance of growing up healthy and I wonder what kind of leader she is in her community. Perhaps Saratoga should seek out a new mayor.

And I always thought us parents should be able to make decisions for ourselves and for our children? That's crazy!! The government must show us the way to healthiness and happiness. We are way too weak to do it on our own!

In a single sentence? They want more power and control over people. Isn't the liberal mind a wonder to behold?
The people wanted "CHANGE"! Enough said.

Who I am

I am a King’s Kid.
I have Faith.

I like farmers markets, cupcakes, and Martha Stewart.
In fact, I used to think I would like to be re-incarnated as her....I’ve grown out of that thought.

I love to bake, and create.

I love the color purple, especially auburgine. If your a woman you know what color I mean, if your a man, I just like purple.

I am stubborn….and impatient.

I love to read, even things like poetry, and Shakespeare. There is a lot of beauty to be found in words.

I have 5 sons that have Down syndrome, they rock that extra DNA.... it does not define our family.

I love my mini-van’s DVD player. If it were a person, I would hug it everyday.

I am intolerant of rudeness, ineptness, and loud “boom-boom music” from cars.

I love to twirl in circles, dance while cooking, and sing off-key.

I have more faith in mankind than I should, I often get burned by it. I love too freely, trust too openly, and give too much.

I love the ocean, but am deathly scared to be in the deep end of a “too big” pool.

I'm conservative although most of my friends are liberal. Go figure.

I say things I shouldn’t, before I even realize I have said them. My mind just happens to think a little faster than my mouth.

I like the smell of citrus, a bleach cleaned house and my youngest son, pee wee.

I love to write and have been writing in some form since first grade.

I abhor ignorance, lack of common-sense, numbers, selfish people, and HTML.

I have extremely strong held beliefs that I will fight for... hell or high water.... Adoption over abortion and Biological children are no more significant than adopted children!

I like to daydream…… a lot.

I love my Mom.

I sort the laundry by both color and texture (reds/oranges, blues/greens, white towels, white tees, etc). It leads to lots and lots of laundry. I’m a little OCD here.

I love to take pictures, but I by no means know what I am doing.

I live in the Northwest, but am a Caribbean girl at heart.

I am a Survivor (the TV show) junkie. I like Bon Jovi and “chick flicks.”

I have a child, actually 2, just like me......... even though they are adopted. You were right Mom.

I love the spontaneity of “little adventures.” It’s a little harder with 5 kids, but we still manage some great spontaneous day trips.

I have close family (read that as NOT all) and Quasi-family of chosen friends. We love each other despite all of our quirks. We are all “SPIRITED”. These are my people. They are who I am, they define me.





Sunday Morning.....

Sunday Morning concert..... singing Mercy Me
and then ALWAYS Blueberry Pancakes.............Yummmm

Just a Friday Afternoon

Red shirt Friday

A U.S. Army soldier bumps fists with an Afghan child
during an operation to transport patients in
Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, earlier this week.
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nicholas T. Loyd

Safety

Each of the boys now have some sort of ID bracelet....
I feel much better knowing that should they get lost, OMG happened once with "Little Man"
(see the old blog@http://5boysandagirl-thejourney.blogspot.com).
Little Man's cannot come off, it is stainless steel links. JR, AJ, Boobah and Peewee all have removable ones.... but they won't!

Rock Star

Boohbah, just kicking back. Must have been a tough "gig" last night.

Since this is the NEW blog.......

these haven't been seen :)
the "big boys" think they are too old to dress up :(
the "littles" were THE LOLLIPOP GUILD....... awesome

Being A Mom

Often times I find myself being still; quietly watching my children. I love watching them together or alone; to watch them play with their multitude of toys, to make up games together, to show kindness and tolerance to each other, to help each other. Our house is full of noise and chaos, toys will reach out and grab your ankles as you walk by, there are cookie monster slippers and monkey rubber boots laying about, books about all subjects and of every reading level lie on floors, beds are not perfectly made and seeming chaos abounds. With the play furniture (including kitchen set, washer/dryer and ironing board), the puzzles and building blocks, train table and numerous vehicle garages/playsets, etc, I'm sure we could pass for a preschool. The most wonderful sound in the world is a child's laughter. From the time I was a little girl, I wanted to be a mother. I love being a mother. There is mess and noise in our house but more importantly............ there is love and laughter, forgiveness and do-overs, there is exploration and infinite ways to do something. There is Faith and the love of our Father. I am truly blessed.

Random Easter Pics

Remember the scene in "A CHRISTMAS STORY" when Ralphie is made to tryon the bunny pjs his Aunt made...
this is the same LOOK..... "Aw Mom, I don't wanna"