Happy 7th Birthday Sierra!!!

Its had to believe our daughter is 7!!  It seems like just yesterday we met the most precious, beautiful 3 year old. But it was 4 years ago on a  January day in 2009.  She entered our hearts then and became ours in every sense of the word.  I can not imagine my life without her.  Its hard to remember life before her.  She has brought so much joy to our family that it's difficult to even express. Her 3 brothers adore her and she thinks the world of them. When people used to ask me why I would want to start all over again at age 50..I told them that as far as I was concern I could never tire of parenting and having children in the house AND I wanted my husband to be a father.  He is amazing.  The bond he and Sierra share is special.  But it was to my side of the bed she walked the other night when she felt like she was going to throw up  "Why? "  I asked her.  She replied  " because Daddy doesn't do well with throw up and I know you don't mind it."  Love that girl!!!  Happy Birthday Sierra!!  I wish for you joy, and abundant blessings.  I know you don't like growing up and getting older but I for one can not wait to see what God has in store for you!!    I will be eternally grateful for being the one chosen to be your forever  Mommy!!
Love you to the moon and back!!!

Pray, please, for Ivy Joy!!!

She is critical.  She needs our prayers.  Her family needs our prayers!!

http://sammonsfamily7.blogspot.com/2013/01/ivy-joy-is-going-to-boston.html

With Mixed Feelings...

Tomorrow is January 2nd.  Sierra and I go back to school.  Both in the same building she as a student...me as a Teaching Assistant.  The same as before......but not really.  It is not the same...and probably never will be "the same" again.  On December 14th in Newtown CT the unimaginable happened. Evil descended on Sandy Hook Elementary School.  We all watched and cried....we all sobbed along with the families that had lost so much.  We returned to school the following Monday and had a safety committee meeting.  I am a member.  We have been working on ways to improve safety in the building for awhile now..but the reality of Newtown...was too real to ignore.  We tightened up security even more...made plans for more drills, more checks and balances, more ways to keep the kids safe.  The district even had patrol cars at the schools in the morning and afternoons.  The week went on.  We began to relax.... a little...not with security but with our minds and our bodies.  The kids began to get excited about the upcoming holiday.  Classrooms were filled with decorations, gifts for parents were being lovingly made, music was in the air.   And then the letter came. ... on Friday....Dec. 21...to our school.  Threatening.....not nice ....911 was called.  Police responded....the school was in lock out...no one allowed in.    Our afternoon, all school holiday sing a long ...canceled.  The children had no idea.  They happily exited the building at the end of the day oblivious to the fact that some sicko just had to go and write that stupid letter.  Probably just for laughs.  But I am not laughing, and the staff is not laughing and parents are certainly not laughing.  School...the place where your child spends most of their day.   A safe place.......but not really....anymore. We have met over winter break to tighten up security even more.  We will have police presence in our building.....for awhile.  We pray that the police can find out who sent the letter......and that will help.  But the truth is....the unthinkable has happened.....and every threat now ...must be taken seriously.  I am glad I work in the same building as Sierra.  I can't imagine how hard it will be for some parents to even send their kids tomorrow....and I don't blame them if they don't.  I am anxious for tomorrow to be over.  To have the first day back under our belts.  To know that we can do this...that we can move forward despite what is happening around us. Oh how the world has changed.....God please help us to  understand.