Spread the Word...

David's 2nd Annual
Pay It Forward Day
December 1st, 2010

‘Tis the Season! A random act of kindness goes a long way so…

PAY IT FORWARD!!!

What can you do?
ON DEC. 1st...
• Pay for someone’s cup of coffee…
• Buy someone some groceries…
• Get the next person’s gas…
• Help someone out…
• Donate something…
• Be creative!!!

When you do something for someone there’s a good chance they’ll do something for someone else. If not, at least you’ve done a good deed for someone.

So on December 1st share some kindness and spread some joy! It can be as little as a few dollars or as much as you want. No one needs to know!

To Grandmother's House We Go

What an awesome Thanksgiving we spent with Nana and Pop! The weather was great. The food abundant and delicious. Most of all, the visit was exceptional. We all had a wonderful time.
We road 4 wheelers and picked up eggs and fed cows and hoped the horses would deliver their babies (but alas, they did not) and walked around the pasture for exercise (but Ansley didn't really like stepping around the poop). We ate and ate and ate. We shopped (but not til we dropped). We watched football. Every time Auburn scored, the kids got to rub Daddy's Auburn shirt for good luck. Not much rubbing the first half but the second half almost caused Dad to chafe!

Saturday Stuff

So what did Dad do this Saturday?
Get tires for Mom's car AND help Judson deliver Scout popcorn.

Look at this Face!

Sweet Carmen. Oh my, couldn't you just kiss that face all day long!

She is in Russia. Single moms can apply!
http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorship/angeltree2010/angeltreesponsorpage

Sawyer's Day

Sawyer gets off the bus today and says (totally unprompted): "Great Day Today"
I answer, "You had a great day at school?"
His reply, "YES"
I ask, "What was your favorite part?"
His answer, 'DAD!'

As you can see, there are a few kindergartners at the school.

Thank Full!

Can I just say how very THANKFUL I am for MY HUSBAND

He took off work and hiked 13 miles (round trip) taking his 8 year old son because he thought it would be a good experience for him. He is up early this morning to get to work early, so he can take off a couple of hours to go to Sawyer's school for their Thanksgiving Feast. He took off work a few days to take Ansley and Judson to Nana and Pops for a visit. He is always making sure each child has their special Daddy thing. He has promised Ansley he'll be at her recital in May/June. He's always playing monster with Turner. At the end of each day when it is 'night night' time, the kids go and 'hide' for Daddy to find them. They hide in the same place EVERY TIME. Dad is ALWAYS surprised and ALWAYS has a hard time finding them and ALWAYS makes a big deal of how hard it is to find them. He traveled half way around the world to pick up two of his kids. He was in the hospital delivery room for the other two. He is a very hands on kind of Dad. He helps them with their school work, even teaching Judson how to play the piano.

So in this time of being Thankful (and every day of the year), I'm very thankful for my husband!

You Can Help. Really you can!

You can go right here and donate:
http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorship/angeltree2010/angeltreesponsorpageYou can say a prayer.
You can spread the word to others.
Maybe even you can adopt.

Look at their faces.
They deserve a better life.
They deserve a Mommy and/or Daddy.

Thankful!!!

While Mom Is Away.....

Square Peg/Round Hole **EDITED**

Had Sawyer's Parent-Teacher meeting today. Why is it, none of my kids fit the mold? I mean really.

There is no good fit for my child in the Special Education world in our county. I figured that because of last years disaster of an IEP transition meeting. Today, I have confirmation.

There are 3 options:

1. Totally self-contained. Meaning, he'd only have interaction with other special needs kids. There would never be inclusion with typically developing kids. This is usually reserved for kids who will not be traveling an academic program but will be learning basic life skills. This is NOT Sawyer. Sawyer needs interactions will all types of peoples. He is capable of learning academics.

2. Totally included. Meaning, he'd be in a class with typically developing kids and might be pulled out for speech, OT, PT type stuff as needed. Again, this is NOT Sawyer but with the caveat YET! At this point, Sawyer needs to mature. He needs help redirecting and keeping on task. Can he get there? Sure. Is he there NOW? No.

3. Then they have the middle of the road class. Academics and social interactions in a slower paced setting. This is where he is. This apparently is still not a good fit. He was doing well at the beginning of the year with only 5 kids and 2 teachers. Now the class has grown to 10 kids and still 2 teachers. So he struggles. He needs a smaller classroom setting but still emphasizing academics. Not going to happen in the public school setting in this day of budget cuts.

Even the teacher said, There is no good fit for Sawyer. He does not fit the mold. I told her none of my kids fit the mold. That is why we home school them. I also mentioned that we were considering home schooling Sawyer. I fully believe we WILL home school Sawyer at some point in the future. When? Not sure. At this point, he does get some good out of the public school setting. For the first time today, I heard the teacher say she would consider retaining Sawyer in this setting for a 2nd year of kindergarten. That is what we have been asking them to consider. So we waffle. Pull him out before years end? Wait and see if they allow a 2nd year of K? Wait and see how he does in a 2nd year of K?

It was so easy for Judson. We KNEW we could provide all the best for him at home. With Sawyer, it's not as clear. I don't think it's a matter of will we home school as much as it is matter of when we will home school. Luckily, I spoke with our pediatrician the other day at Sawyer's well visit. (By the way, he was NOT well. Double ear infection.) The pediatrician was quite supportive of home schooling.

Life is always full of decisions, isn't it? We are the lucky ones in that we have options that many folks do not. Rest assured, we will make the best decision for each of our children. After all, that is our job.

**Edited** You are right Lori. I am quite happy my kids are unique. What I wonder sometimes is how many kids fall through the cracks because they do not fit the mold either? The mold is trying to be a one-size-fits-all. I question if the mold is even a One-size-fits-most? Thankfully, we have the option of home schooling. Not everyone has that option.

Wordless Wednesday (NOT)

Guess who is now on the growth chart????? Oh yeah, first time since he was an infant. 2% on weight and 5% on height. Pretty neat, ay?

Don't Forget

http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorship/angeltree2010/angeltreesponsorpage

Scroll Down and look at JurisDoesn't he remind you of:Back in the day?

And look at the bottom. See. Several children have found
their mommy and daddy.
Cool, ay?

Mountains and A Party

Miss Olivia's Party

Smoky Mountains

Going Up

Up TopTrip Down

The Face of Adoption

One Day after Turner Came Home

Why?

Why is a fundraiser for Reece's Rainbow so important to me?

Do you really have to ask? I mean REALLY. These kids are living without a mom and/or a dad. That alone is reason enough.

Other reason, do you want to know a dirty little secret about adoption? The vast (and mean by magnitudes) majority of people who adopt want Healthy Little Girls As Young As Possible. (AYAP)

That's why China is/was one of the leading countries from which to adopt. They have mostly little girls available for adoption. Most generally, parents received their little girls at the age of 9'ish months old.

In any country in the adoption world, older girls, all boys and children with ANY kind of disability are often shunned. You know what happens to kids who grow up and age out of orphanages? They are turned out on the streets with little preparation to be able to survive. Children with disabilities go to institutions with very little chance of survival either. I have 3 little boys, one of whom has a disability. This thought keeps me awake at night. (I will say the one bright spot I have seen is our 20 year old son in Ethiopia. He was a lucky one. He had someone pay for his education. A sponsor. Now when he leaves the orphanage he is in, he will have a job. A chance. That is highly irregular in the world of orphans.)

Not all of the children on the RR Angel Tree will find families. However since Andrea started Reece's Rainbow 4+ years ago, more than 300 children have found families. I venture to say very little if any would have found a family had it not been for Reece's Rainbow. That is huge. Amazing even.

That is why this organization and it's fundraiser are important to me. I take it personally.

Who is Your Favorite?

Did you check here: http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorship/angeltree2010/angeltreesponsorpage

Who are your favorites? Are you spreading the word around? Let me tell you, even a little bit of money could be the difference in these kids finding a mommy and daddy or being stuck in an orphanage.

Click on the link above. Check out Carlene with her blond hair and pigtails. Isn't she a sprite of thing? Such a sweetie. Judson's favorite is Andrew G. He says, "He looks like Sawyer only his face isn't as round" My two ultimate favorites are from China. Garrett, you'll be able to see if you scroll down. Andrew (China) is listed under the older boys section. He's soooo old, 6 to be precise.

All the children on here are deserving of parents. Some will find them, most will not. Sometimes the only thing standing in the way is money. To come up with $20,000+ in one lump sum can be daunting. To have a trust fund with money in it, is very helpful. The perspective parents do not get the money until they have almost completed the adoption.

I dare you to click on the link and not find a favorite. Just can't be done.

Christmas Tree Angels

http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorship/angeltree2010/angeltreesponsorpage

Click on the link above and check out these angels. Are they not the most precious little ones you've ever seen?

If you have a few dollars to spare, please consider a donation. There are so many families who would adopt if they had the funds to bring the child home. They have the funds to raise the child but the adoption can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 per child. That is a lot of money. If some of that cost were recouped through donations, they would love to be the new mommy and daddy to one of these precious children.

Tell me which child captures your heart. I have a few favorites I'll post about in the coming weeks.