Pet Picture!

Although Emma, our Australian Shepherd ,is a bit on the crazy side, we do love her.  And I have to admit she is a beautiful dog.  I love this picture.  She loves the snow so doesn't mind being out in it.  I like how the snowflakes are on her head and with the white snowy background you can see how striking she is!!  So this is my entry for I Heart Faces   pet challenge.

The theme is teens!

This week's I Heart Faces theme is teens.  I love this photo of David and Sierra.  It was taken at the Civil Affairs Office shortly after meeting her for the first time.  She bonded with David quickly.  By photograpy standards it isn't anything spsecial but just look at the happiness on Davids face and the trust on Sierra's!!

Lucky? Not so....

There used to be a time when I thought it was my dream to live on a mountain far away from everything.  But as I became an adult I realized that the dream was not me.  You see, the problem is I like people too much.  All kinds, young, old, male, female, worldly, not worldly, just people in general.  I believe that everyone has strengths and weaknesses and you can learn something from everyone.  I also know that people aren't perfect, and people come from different backgrounds, and  people don't always say things that I agree with.  There are times when I speak my mind against something that is said to me and there are times when I let things roll off my back. 
This is now the time for me to speak my piece. Since we have been home with Sierra I have heard the following phrase too many times to count. "She is so lucky!"  Let me start by saying that I know what people mean.  Really.. I do.
I was there...I know too well the differences in her life now as compared to before.  But to say that she is lucky????  Is it lucky to be abandoned at the age of 1 day old?  Is it lucky that her birth parents, for what ever reason, felt they could not take care of her as she needed?  Is it lucky that she spent the first 3 years of her life in an orphanage with all that it implies? Is it lucky to have strangers come and whisk you away from your birth country, your culture, your friends and everything that is familiar to you???? And if people mean she is lucky that we went to China and adopted her  does that not imply that she might owe us something in the future?  That is my greatest fear.  That if Sierra hears that particular comment enough she may feel that she will have to repay us in some way for her "Luck"  Yes she joined our family through adoption not through birth. She WAS adopted but it does not define who she is.  She is Sierra, my daughter , as Tim, Paul and David are my sons. And although I expect them to have grateful thanksgiving for all the blessings they have received in their lives, I don't expect any of them to feel they owe us. So if you are friends or family that see Sierra, please try and refrain from telling her, what a lucky little girl she is.  Because truly it is our family , who are the blessed ones!!
Again, I know people mean well...I know where they are coming from...honestly it didn't even bother me in the beginning,  but now I worry about the implications. 
Thanks for letting me speak my piece!!!

Memorial Day!

I love our community's parade!  It goes right by our house.  It's definitely  small town USA.  My husband and sons are very active in the local fire department.  Its a big thing to me...giving back to your community.  I am so proud of them.  This year David carried the flag, Paul wore the white hat of the Assistant chief and Sierra ran out to give her Dad a kiss as they went by our house.  And all the time we were remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their  country...and for us!!!

Water Play!!

This week's contest theme is Play!  I love this picture of David throwing Sierra in the air.  I love the look on her face and her clenched fist.  Notice the look on on Daivd's face.    And then there is all the water droplets!  I never expect to win these contests but oh how I love looking back at all my pictures!!!

Prom 2010!

The last game!!

It was more than just David's last baseball game of his high school careeer.  It was his last game of any kind wearing his high school colors.  For me it was also the end of an era that began when his oldest brother started playing Little League almost 19 years ago.  19 years filled with many baseball, soccer, and  football games,  track meets, ski club trips and many other sporting events.  And then when they reached 7th grade they could play wearing the same blue and white colors that I did over 30 years ago.  ( Yes, my kids attend the same high school that I did!!).  I wanted my kids to play sports for many reasons.  It teaches you discipline, it teaches you to try your very best, it can teach you good sportsmanship, being a team player, how to lose gracefully, how to WIN gracefully and it helps keep you healthy.  My boys learned alot of these lessons.  We didn't go crazy...we didn't do any expensive travel teams.  We didn't spend weekends away from home, mostly it was school sports.  My boys learned alot of the lessons I wanted them to and some I didn't.  The coaches weren't always the role models I hoped them to be and neither were some of the parents.  But that was a lesson in itself.  And then there was the painful football season that wasn't this year.  Our school cancelled the season when not enough kids showed up!!  (But I am happy to report that our school made a bold decision this week...they told the old coach, the coach who had won them a state tournament who was also the same coach that no one wanted to play under, that his services were no longer needed and they hired a new coach!!!)  I loved watching the boys play and a few times the two older ones played together.  But now David has played his last high school game.  And as it will be awhile before Sierra will get to HS we will have a period of time that will be gameless.  And I am one Mom who will miss it!!!!

David up at bat

Playing shortstop

His biggest fan

After the game( which they won ) Sierra is trying to find David in the crowd of players.  She can't find him.  ( He is the one who took off his jersey and has the gray and blue shirt on)

I wanted to get this picture all year.  David is 10 his brother Paul  ( the asst. Coach) is 11 and the Coach is 12!!

Very last baseball shot of the year!! And look who had to be in it!!!

                                             

Barefoot!

 Thiis weeks  non competive challenge is barefoot or foot related.  I love this picture especially because David is holding his little sis' tiny sandals!