Dear Sierra..

Dear Sierra,
Today is Election Day 2012.  Not a day I have been looking forward to.  I hate politics.  I hate all the name calling and people bashing and all the lies and promises and the gloating and it all.  I hate it.  But I do love the fact that as a country WE get to pick who our leaders are.  Now it is complicated beacuse the person who wins the popular vote..who gets the MOST votes..may not be the winner... but that is another story.

Tonight at dinner you asked me who I voted for.   I wasn't sure I would tell you..its private I said...people don't have to share...and then I told you anyway.  You asked me why I voted for Mitt Romney and I said because of you.  You looked at me questioningly and I  said I would explain it some day.   I mean how  do you explain abortion to a six year old....

You see Sierra..it was a difficult year for me this year.  I don't fall into one political party or another.  I maybe should...but I don't.  I feel strongly about many issues but they don't fall into one party's agenda or another.  Its hard.....  But this year  I voted in honor of you Sierra...in honor of you and Grace and Izzy and Ivy Joy  and Julia  and Brianna and Mary Elizabeth and all the children we know who joined their families through adoption.  Seven and half years a go Sierra, your birth mother in China found out she was carrying a baby. She chose to carry you for nine months    and then brought you somewhere where you would be found.  Some of the birth Moms may have full intended too keep their babies, some may not have...but they chose to give you life.  Some people may say they had no choice...maybe there was no place to get an abortion...maybe they couldn't afford it.  Exactly my point....they carried you and you were born.  A beautiful, smart, joyful, little girl who will grow up and do great things some day.When I think of what the alternative could have been been...I cry.  You are here because for some reason..abortion was not a choice.  I don't think it  should be.  I don't want ANY of my hard earned money going to fund anyone's abortion,   From the time a child is conceived it is a growing living thing  whose life should be valued not extinguished.  You will here a lot of talk about a women's right...but I care about the unborn babies right...I believe they have a right to be born...its what God believes too.  I am a woman and I am against abortion.

So Sierra...you helped me .  You are a constant reminder to me to value life.  Mitt Romney is against abortion and although he stands for some things I don't agree with, it is enough for me.  I pray for our country as it is so divided.  I pray that we can come together , put aside our differences, work together to become the great nation we should be.  But this year Sierra, I chose life...because of you...
I love you baby girl...to the moon and back...
Mom

Today is the Day

Today is the day.. Please keep sweet Ivy and her entire family in your prayers as she undergoes a huge operation that can fix her beautiful but broken heart!!



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Ivy Joy

Please pray for Ivy Joy!!!

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Gifts from God

A few weeks ago Sierra's older brothers came across tow monarch caterpillars while at work. They brought them to her and we have watched them incredibly go through their change.  This was the end result!


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A Special Picnic at Minnewaska

Today, Sierra and I finished camp around 12 noon.  I was trying to figure out what to do for the rest of the day.  It was gorgeous, the kind of summer day I love.  The sky was blue, the grass was green, there was a breeze and the temperature was in the high 70s.  No way I wanted to go home and clean, or do anything in the house!!  We live in an area called the Rondout Valley.  We are nestled between two mountain ranges.  Close by are two mountains, each have beautiful lakes.  When they boys were younger I used to wait for a summer day like this and take them hiking on one of the mountains.  It was always one of my favorite days.  We used to watch the hawks when we were on top of the mountain. They would fly out and glide down below us.  Anyway...I digress!!!  Since it was already after noon time I decided we would go on a special picnic.  One of the mountains has a road you can drive up right to the lake.  There are plenty of hiking trails once you get up there.  Since I didn't have a lot of time...that is the option I chose.  We stopped and got some lunch and then drove to the mountain.Sierra hadn't been there before.  We parked the car and walked up the path.  I told her to run ahead to see what she could see.  When she saw the lake she simply squealed in delight.  " Mommy..its the most beautiful lake!!"  We found a rock and had our lunch.  She just kept saying how much she loved nature and we were really in nature now!!  After lunch we walked around a little.  The mountain is a state park and they even have a swimming area.  It was the perfect thing to do on a perfect day!

 No matter where we are Sierra always spots the new moon.  Do you see it??

Three and a half years later...

I remember when my boys were babies.......I remember their little arms reaching back out to me when someone else was holding them...and they had had enough...and wanted me back.  I remember when they fell as toddlers, again they ran over to me, crying and wanting me to pick them up to kiss away their boo boos, and wipe away their tears.  They came to me and I took care of what ever their needs. It came naturally...for them and for me.
When you adopt a child at the age of three, it is not the same.  The first time Sierra fell and got hurt, she lay there, not  crying, not moving, NOT reaching out to me.  She really didn't want me to pick her up, but I did anyway/. That incident was over three years ago.  Since then we have spent   much time teaching Sierra what the role of parents are.  She didn't know....there had been no one for the first three years of her life that was there for her.  We knew we had made great progress, we knew she loved us and trusted that we would be there for her.  But still, the other night, an incident brought home to us, how far she has come.  We were at a friends house for a graduation party.Sierra was playing with a group of children.  We were near by but not in sight.  All of a sudden she came tearing around the house, crying.  She was looking and looking, amongst the  many people there, for me.  She found me and I picked her up and held her close.  She had gotten hurt, she had fallen and hit her ear.  I brought her in the house and Scott followed us.  We put ice on it and with in 5 minutes she was good to go!!  She ran back out to rejoin her friends.  I started to get teary eyed.  I looked at Scott and I knew he knew what I was going to say.  "Do you realize that it was  the only time that I can remember that she has run to me when she has gotten hurt?"   I could tell , even in her frenzied state, that she was looking for us.  Not just anyone...us!   Three and a half years.......she is finally....really....truly......home!!!

I'm baaaackkkkk...

I so miss writing here.  I really love writing...I always have...almost as much as I love talking!  LOL  I love being able to post pictures as I love taking p hots too.  And blogging is really a way to do both.  But it takes time...and our days are so full.
  There is a  very sad update to Spencer's story.  About three weeks ago...his  Dad committed suicide.  He also had battled alcoholism and had been doing great.  But Spencer's death ( also by suicide )  caused him more pain then he could handle.  Please keep Spencer's mother and younger brother in your prayers.  I can not even begin to imagine.....
The boys have been busy working.  ALl three of them work together for the dame lawn maintenance
company.  The other day I looked out the window at school and saw them mowing the cemetery across the road.  I love seeing them together!  AND I am so glad their job provides them with health insurance.  It sure puts my mind at ease.  They are good men and I am proud of them. I find it hard to believe that David will be 21 in a few weeks...How has the time gone so fast...but of course Tim will be 29 in Oct. and Paul is married!!

Here we all are on Memorial Day!

Sierra is doing well.  She had blossomed in kindergarten and has become quite the reader.  We take turns reading to each other now at night and i love it.  She is so enthusiastic about it.  She is so stinin smart  its hard to stay one step ahead of her.  Yesterday I asked her what she wanted for breakfast ...she replied" an egg"  I said what kind and she said  " a chicken egg!!!  Too funny...right!  She is a handful at times...still has a mind of her own...is still having some problems with boundaries and doing what she wants even if she has been told no.  But she has come a far way and she is such a delight!!  But we are working hard on behavior and focusing!!!  I am diligent as a parent.  I have been having such a hard time lately seeing the parenting, or better yet, lack of parenting, that is occurring.  I will be posting about it soon.  It really has me worried....

Next Friday brings the end of the school year.  We will be leaving on Saturday for our first camping trip.  The following week I start( July 1) summer camp.  I am thinking that this may be my last year....after almost 25 years of doing camp  I think it is time to pass it on...Time for some new blood!!!

I will be posting again soon...some photos showing what we have been doing!!!  if you stop by please read a comment so I know you have!!!