tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80738697647535884242024-03-05T13:46:03.972-08:00All Life's BlessingsCheryl Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382049653760322112noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-16196659179139147262011-05-24T09:42:00.000-07:002011-05-24T09:42:56.727-07:00Migraine blessingAs background, I am a migraine sufferer. Before kids, I would get them a couple times per month. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, I usually got a reprieve and got them far less often. I was telling my BFF last week how it had been almost 2 years since I'd had a migraine. Huge blessing. :) However, somewhat ironically, last Friday I got a migraine. <br />
I'm the Teachings for our Times teacher in our RS. I was scheduled to teach on Sunday. For me, the best way to "treat" my migraines is to take medicine when I get the aura, then get to sleep. So, that is what I did. Unfortunately, it didn't kick the migraine this time. I woke up on Saturday still with an awful headache. I rested, I napped... I took medicine, but I could not focus at all. <br />
I knew I needed to finish preparing my lesson, but I was feeling completely useless. I could see the words on the page, and I thought I was reading them, but I could not seem to retain them or make any sort of coherent thought about them. I wanted to pass off the lesson to someone else, but my "backup" teacher was out of town and I didn't feel right about passing it off so late to anyone else. So, Saturday night, I sat down at the computer and forced myself to create an outline. I really don't even remember any of it making sense STILL at that point, but I got some questions ready to ask and made some handouts with quotes from the talk I was supposed to be teaching. <br />
I went to bed early hoping to kick the migraine and wake up with some clarity of thought so that I could fix the lesson plan I started. No such luck. Still foggy and hurting Sunday morning. Begin super praying. lol. really though, I was not feeling capable of teaching, so I prayed as hard as I could muster that the Spirit would teach the lesson that day. <br />
As I got up to teach, I hoped that the migraine would melt away for at least the time I had to stand up there. It didn't. But something else happened. Despite my feeling as though I couldn't make a coherent thought, and could hardly read the words on my paper, I WAS able to teach. It was as though my spiritual self took over for those 45 minutes. I had people tell me that they never would have known I had a migraine unless I had told them. My body was weak at that moment, but the Spirit was strong. I honestly don't remember a lot of the lesson, but I know there was good discussion and a feeling of peace and hope in the room. <br />
The Lord doesn't always remove our physical challenges, but He DOES strenthen us when we are striving to do His will.Cheryl Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382049653760322112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-39881576354602691022011-04-28T13:47:00.000-07:002011-04-28T13:47:03.189-07:00A miraclePosting this from my friends blog. Her daughter has been going through a really difficult trial for the past month, but Heavenly Father was busy preparing the right people to be available to help her. <a href="http://thenaulutribe.blogspot.com/2011/04/oh-life.html">Read the story here to find out more.</a> Such a testimony of his love for each of us.Cheryl Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382049653760322112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-18860611548912590962010-10-26T23:15:00.000-07:002010-10-26T23:24:26.293-07:00ABOUT TIMEI haven't posted on here in forever. To say I have nothing I have been grateful for would be a flat out LIE.<div><br /></div><div>Most recently, I am grateful for helpers. I am grateful for guidance and patience of friends - even that gracious patience that we all need when we have a tendency to put our foot in our mouth. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am grateful for all of the people who have held my head above the ocean of my life in the last six months - some not even wondering why I need it, but just doing it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am grateful for prayers, and answered prayers. For learning about faith, for making mistakes and learning from them. I am grateful for learning the value of the little things - and learning that the little things are the roots of that vital tree. I am grateful for my freedom to pray, and read my scriptures.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am grateful for my freedom to parent my children as I wish. I am grateful to have two amazing children who are gentle and kind. I am grateful for friends who remind me that my kids are doing ok - when I am feeling especially frustrated over something minuscule, and realize I am a perfectionist in everything. I am grateful for my talents, even if I feel a jack of all trades and a master of none. I am so grateful for a supportive family.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am grateful for a friend who died this past April, teaching me when I was angry, and then sad - that life is too short. That now is the time, and that everything should be appreciated. He was 23. Every choice matters!</div><div><br /></div><div>And - before my post gets too long - I am so, so grateful for conference earlier this month. A specific talk by Larry R. Lawrence of the Seventy gave me the courage to talk to a friend about an issue they were battling, in a way I never would have approached it before - because the words that were spoken rang true, and rattled my bones. I think that his talk titled "Courageous Parenting" could easily be translated into many titles - "Courageous Friendship", "Courageous Sisterhood", I think we should all be Courageous Women. </div>Trishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08087031220655696989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-2622884814391223052010-01-08T07:12:00.000-08:002010-01-08T13:49:55.618-08:00Just a little miracle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBX_nYhdSSHSHNt2SKDRRkPtv4SHdON3E-4h8-xAqqAlJqpKJrgjCpx5swCaLz_ndyXlFWITQLlgBhcLwNgaQh1d9XCMmIbW2P0IhWOFZxISqBuvrChNABAI8uHAkNfnsWkmjklWn7yE/s1600-h/IMG_4070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBX_nYhdSSHSHNt2SKDRRkPtv4SHdON3E-4h8-xAqqAlJqpKJrgjCpx5swCaLz_ndyXlFWITQLlgBhcLwNgaQh1d9XCMmIbW2P0IhWOFZxISqBuvrChNABAI8uHAkNfnsWkmjklWn7yE/s320/IMG_4070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424385791211480914" border="0" /></a>We've had a LOT of snow lately here. Last fall, we didn't get our trampoline taken down, so it was being weighed down by the snow. Yesterday Benson decided to take the net down in hopes that we don't ruin it by leaving it in this weather. Tank joined him outside and enjoyed playing in the snow.<br /><br />Later in the day, Benson needed to leave for work, but couldn't find his keys. He looked all over the house, in his coat pocket, in his pants pocket.... they were not to be found. He finally asked Tank if she knew where they were.<br /><br />"Yes Dad, they are under the trampoline."<br /><br />Apparently they fell out of his pocket while working on the tramp. They surely would have been lost until Spring if our little Tank hadn't kept her eyes open. It may be a little miracle, but I'm sure glad for it!!!Cheryl Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382049653760322112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-43261457011847147622009-11-28T13:16:00.000-08:002009-11-28T13:16:31.877-08:00Garbage picking miracleWe've been working really hard on our house lately, and with all the construction, we had gathered an awful lot of garbage. We've been putting it out to the road a little at a time and making a great dent in the pile of junk. We had 2 things that the garbage man wouldn't take without us paying for it... a dryer and a water softener. We put both items out by the road in hopes that some garbage picker/scrapper would pick them up. The dryer disappeared within a day! However, the water softener just sat... and sat... for 2 weeks. I finally called the garbage company and asked them to pick it up despite the $45 charge they were going to add to my next bill. <br />
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By some little miracle, someone decided to pick up a water softener that night. I was able to call the garbage company and cancel the pickup, and save $45! This Christmas season, that is no small miracle to me!Cheryl Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382049653760322112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-16598366284640066522009-11-15T14:32:00.000-08:002009-11-15T14:43:38.977-08:00A "lucky" pickMy son finds sitting in primary very difficult. Lately he has started to show some improvement because he has decided that he would like to have a turn during sharing time. Today he had his arm held up as high as he could because he wanted a turn very badly. His teacher reminded him that he needed to sit reverently so that he could get a turn. The Primary President was choosing children using the sticks in an effort to make her choosing as fair as possible. My son tried to sit as still as he possibly could so that she would call on him. I quickly said a prayer that he would be chosen and his good behavior would be rewarded. The next stick the Primary President chose said his name. She made the comment that it was a lucky pick because I think she was silently rooting for his name to be picked as well since she knows how difficult it is for him to sit still. I knew that it wasn't a "lucky" pick at all, rather it was an answer to a prayer and a very special blessing for a little boy learning to be reverent in primary.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03647471034822044178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-1476779547059391232009-10-29T22:32:00.000-07:002009-10-29T22:35:37.873-07:00A Mother's Wisdom<div id="ms__id154">This past week, I am grateful because I have learned a valuable lesson - </div><div id="ms__id156"> </div><div id="ms__id155">That sometimes, when you are at your wit's end - when you refuse to ask for help, and aren't even looking for it - another mother's wisdom can be a diamond in the rough.</div>Trishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08087031220655696989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-24685410359988792852009-10-21T19:28:00.000-07:002009-10-21T19:31:46.291-07:00Photographic Blessings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEK8Ef_Fx7_TIY-OS1ozLG0a2rqNvkNv83IHSRc-35H7kfHuuY7bj7xaiE3jLgc3iEG_GQj2bgSptx6TnQsi7bn1msq4UBnsDm4-q42-l6Xq37lRKZJskBxsR50t9Jl0_CC7jgaEg-42-/s1600-h/claire+black+andwhite.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395246395664510050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEK8Ef_Fx7_TIY-OS1ozLG0a2rqNvkNv83IHSRc-35H7kfHuuY7bj7xaiE3jLgc3iEG_GQj2bgSptx6TnQsi7bn1msq4UBnsDm4-q42-l6Xq37lRKZJskBxsR50t9Jl0_CC7jgaEg-42-/s400/claire+black+andwhite.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Y-iBrmBJf1pEEsyiqfx1qjLSytql8ZjGJZWalgbBBZhNh6qZN-9ygvSRjByPPRbYvz0-ZviuFPGPJPHHeMn1eppSttIvGumGs1YpljY8zOpXmh7JKuZq8_HgI-KaBGaYDntkQXovVY65/s1600-h/DSC_0793.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395246384873875202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Y-iBrmBJf1pEEsyiqfx1qjLSytql8ZjGJZWalgbBBZhNh6qZN-9ygvSRjByPPRbYvz0-ZviuFPGPJPHHeMn1eppSttIvGumGs1YpljY8zOpXmh7JKuZq8_HgI-KaBGaYDntkQXovVY65/s400/DSC_0793.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Lately I have been feeling a little talentless...and anyway I had a friend just have a baby and took this picture, and I know it may sound silly, but it just gave me a bit of hope that maybe every once in awhile I can do something ok :)</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>I do have more of my photography over at corrinescapturings.blogspot.com if you want to see some more.</div></div>Corrinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15258823571647478322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-10543006829593572812009-10-10T20:42:00.000-07:002009-10-10T20:48:41.685-07:00Teaching Reverence<div id="ms__id37">This past weekend, we were watching the Sunday afternoon session of conference. My three-year-old son looks up at me from his lunch and asks, "Mom? Can you turn off the church now?" </div><br /><div id="ms__id42">Trying to hold back a laugh, I explained why we were watching conference. Satisfied with my answer, he sat still for a little while longer, and I watched him as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang - followed by a very powerful talk - and my three-year-old sat with his arms folded, eyes locked and mouth gaping - as the song came to a conclusion. </div><br /><div id="ms__id38"></div><div id="ms__id41">Sometimes teaching something to a three-year-old feels sooo frustrating, but there were no more complaints through conference - and later in the day, he was even talking to me about things he had seen and heard.</div><div id="ms__id48"> </div><div id="ms__id39"></div><div id="ms__id40">I believe Heavenly Father is helping us - patiently - to work with our children. I am grateful for his guidance.</div>Trishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08087031220655696989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-9995474761419432782009-09-22T08:04:00.000-07:002009-09-22T08:30:57.690-07:00I am my Kids' MomI was at the grocery store the other day and a woman came up to me and said, "I work in a daycare. Please tell me that you stay home with <span style="font-style: italic;">him</span>." (I had just my baby with me.) I smiled and said, "Yes I do. My husband and I were just talking today about how grateful we are that I can." She said, "I hope you thank your husband and God everyday that you do." How sweet was that? She has a job because people take their children there, but she sees the value of Mom (or Dad) staying home.<br /><br />That is truly one of life's greatest blessings.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">If you're interested in what Dr. Laura had to say about it, go <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwg3FKawIa4">here</a>. She'll give you an earful. :) </span>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15618610211969284190noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-87723820093258255242009-09-17T10:34:00.000-07:002009-09-17T10:34:50.316-07:00Life sure gets busy... but the miracles continue. <br />
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Without going into too many details, I had to ask for help yesterday. The person I asked said that they knew we needed help and it had been previously sent and would arrive in the next day or two. I started to cry. Someone is watching out for us.Cheryl Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382049653760322112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-20063987807946180302009-07-31T16:10:00.000-07:002009-07-31T16:12:13.932-07:00Today's miracleI made dinner tonight as usual, however the miracle of the day is that no one complained about what I made, and everyone ate everything on their plate. INCLUDING ALL THE VEGETABLES. That includes the 9 year old, 7 year old, 4 year old AND 1 year old. That must qualify as a miracle. :)Cheryl Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382049653760322112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-26799961127475948092009-07-28T20:24:00.000-07:002009-07-28T20:33:52.174-07:00A Kind ActI was in downtown Chicago yesterday and it was a beautiful day. Every time I venture down there I am always amazed by the look of the city...the high-rise buildings, the parks and gardens, museums, Lake Michigan, etc. What an incredible blessing to live by such a remarkable city. And even though there is traffic and smoke and whatnot, there is so much good there. One thing in particular left an impression on me. I was walking down Michigan Avenue and in front of me there was a woman who looked in very bad shape. She was in a wheelchair and was missing teeth and was holding a cup. It is sometimes easy to dismiss these people as they are not uncommon in the city, and I often struggle with what to do when I pass them. Having lived in China where the homeless and lame grab at your clothes, and it's impossible to help every single one of them, I tend to rationalize not helping, which is very wrong of me. But there was in front of me, a kind person who stopped to talk to this woman. She smiled as she gave her a sandwich from Subway and even slipped some extra money into this woman's hand. She said "Good to see you!" as she walked away, which made me think she has befriended this person or at least seen her before. What a great thing! It made me want to show love to all those who are alone or suffering in some way. Heavenly Father truly has put us on this earth to help each other and how peaceful and comforted do we feel when we help and when we receive help. I am thankful for this example of love and kindness!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-4585867053218964422009-07-25T08:57:00.000-07:002009-07-25T09:14:16.883-07:00Sick As A DogSo this past week, we played host to my brother-in-law, who is 14. When he arrived on Monday, we all ran out for errands - first to Meijer, and then to Costco. I pushed the cart at Meijer, and touched everything in the store. Then in the car on the way to Costco, we were all in a silly mood and my husband was trying to lick his hand and put it on my face (he knows I hate it!!) - so I thought I would do one better and get him first - I licked my hand ---and realized I hadn't used any hand sanitizer. :oP<br /><br />Monday <em>night</em>, I started feeling sick. I caught a cold - and it was my own fault. A few days went by, it was getting really bad, and I was complaining... more than I should. On the worst day (Thursday) I <em>totally</em> lost my voice. I started my day feeling frustrated that I couldn't talk to my family or tell them in anything but a whipser what I was trying to get across to them.<br /><br />BUT<br /><br />As the day went by, I started to notice that when I talked to my son, he would answer me back quietly, or by whispering...<br />It was such a powerful moment for me, to realize that sometimes when he is yelling, maybe it is because of how <em>I </em>sound to <em>him</em>.<br /><br />Having this cold, and losing my voice, has been <em>such</em> a blessing. It has taught me to be more gentle, to take the perspective of my child, to be more patient... I know that I can get the message across without having to repeat it several times, or get frustrated.<br /><br />...I feel people listen harder when you are whispering than when you are yelling.Trishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08087031220655696989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-23779218433342554842009-07-25T00:10:00.000-07:002009-07-25T00:17:29.362-07:00Diapered blessingsI don't know most of y'all here, so just a little background, my husband lost his job in December we are living in our fourth home since then, we just opened a restaurant and I have four kids. <br /><br />In order to save costs at the restaurant, I work a few days a week for free. And, something that doesn't really make sense, I pay a babysitter to watch my kids....so actually not really saving any money. But every once in awhile a dear friend will watch my kids. I feel <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">guilty</span> asking others to watch them for free because I am working but at the same time it has been since December that we have brought any money home, minus the two months I worked at the school. <br /><br />So anyway, my friend offered to watch the kids, well I think I asked this time around but she has been willing to help out before. I dropped the kids off with some lunch, and big thanks, and she hands me a pack of diapers....which I so needed to buy but literally don't have any money to do so, and some laundry soap and dish soap, all things that I have run out of and she didn't know. My eyes welded up in tears as I said thanks, and ran out the door to work.<br /><br />I truly felt blessed and knew that I was being watched out for in more ways than I had even known.....<br /><br />Now to find a plumber to unstop the kitchen sink so I can finish washing the dishes....Corrinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15258823571647478322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-85213284121104829702009-07-19T14:38:00.000-07:002009-07-19T14:58:56.818-07:00Problem solvedOK... so quick little background, my husbands car is in need of serious repairs that we aren't going to do, so we are currently a 1 car family. I've been trying to figure out how we are going to shuttle my 9 year old to and from cub scout day camp on the days that Benson needs to work. My parents had said they could help, but they are actually down a car too because my other brothers car broke down and he is borrowing theirs. <br /><br />SO! During church today, one of the men came up to me and asked if my son was going to camp... yes. "Can my wife pick him up all this week and bring him to camp?"<br /><br />In my brain I'm wondering why they would want to do that. They would drive past camp to get to our house, then have to backtrack to go to camp. <br /><br />"Well, yea, if she wants to, but we're out of the way a bit. Not by far, but still."<br /><br />"I'll let her know and she'll contact you."<br /><br />OK. That was strange. Or was it. Suddenly I realized that a problem I hadn't even brought to the Lord was being solved right before my eyes. I really didn't know how we were going to work out Benson's work schedule with my parents schedule and my need for a car to get kids where they need to be. A sudden overwhelming feeling of love came over me, and I knew that the Lord is aware of my family and our struggles. <br /><br />When I talked to this friend, she claimed that her son really wanted to spend some time with my son. :) It will be a total of maybe 5 minutes of car ride they get to spend together. However the blessing of not worrying about the need for a second car for this week... THAT is huge. So here is my public THANK YOU to my friend for being in tune, and to the Lord for knowing my needs even when I don't ask.Cheryl Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382049653760322112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-53328361089269004142009-07-17T08:32:00.000-07:002009-07-17T08:57:12.103-07:00Some Good Little AdviceSo maybe this is just dumb, but we're recognizing even the little miracles, right? So here goes. A while back we bought a gigantic container of dish soap at Costco, and the day we brought it home it got knocked off onto the floor and the flip top broke off. I wasn't looking forward to using this whole big bottle of dish soap with plastic wrap over it, so that stuff wouldn't fall in it, or it wouldn't get tipped over again and spill all over everything.<div><br /></div><div>A few days later my mother-in-law came to visit and made a suggestion: "Every time you finish off something in the fridge, before you throw the container out, check to see if it's lid fits on the soap." (Simple as that is, it never occurred to me.) So now I think fondly of my mother-in-law every time I look under my kitchen sink and see the dish soap wearing the pickle relish lid (it's even a flip top!) Thanks, Mom!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-62369275468822279962009-07-17T06:28:00.000-07:002009-07-17T06:35:19.614-07:00The Center of a PretzelYesterday was a no good, dirty rotten, awful day. My children were acting up all day, and then my 3 year old locked us in his room, where we were stuck for an hour until a friend could come rescue us. That night we were eating pretzels at Sam's club and my 6 year old pointed to his pretzel and said, "Mom, here, I was saving this for you." It was the center of his pretzel, which he was saving for me because he knows it is my favorite part. My heart melted and suddenly we were having a very special day.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03647471034822044178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-89160130775716389872009-07-15T20:18:00.000-07:002009-07-15T20:32:49.345-07:00A Good DeedI my little town, we have a local internet forum where everybody posts about the local going ons. Occasionally, it gets pretty snippy. The other day, there were tons of incidents involving helicopters in Anthem. An accident involving a sheriff's car on the freeway, a traffic stop involving a truck full of illegal immigrants, something going down at someone's house, and a near drowning at the community pool. A floundering 3 yo was pulled out by a 10 yo. People were quick to jump in about the parents not watching their kid at the pool, how could they let their kid drown, I saw this one mom. . .yada, yada. I posted about how easy it is for kids to get away from you, how drownings can happen so quickly, even when you are watching your kids around water, so every parent really needs to know CPR. I was nervous about jumping in and getting ripped on, but I did anyway. One guy ripped on me for my attitude and said I shouldn't let my kids near a pool or bath tub. (Kids don't really need to bathe, do they?) Here's the e-mail I received from the family: <br /><br />"The little boy that this happened to is my son!! When the EMT arrived his airway was clear and he showed no signs of concern. He was taken to ER as a standard precaution to confirm that there was not water in his lungs! He was never at the bottom of the pool either. He reminds us everyday now of what happened and tells us how he was on his tiptoes and a little girl grabbed him by his arm and saved him!<br />He had gone to the pool with a friend of ours and when my wife arrived the situation was already taking place. It was not in fact due to my wife being a neglectful parent. And just for the record she is very attentive to our children (sometimes overly) and has first aide and CPR certification. Has been re certified every year since the birth of our 5 year old son!<br />Thank you for sticking up for a family that you don't even know and having positive comments on such a negative thread.<br />My wife is having a very hard time dealing with the situation and all of the false accusations are making it even harder. She calls me at work when you post something new and is very appreciative of your comments. We refuse to comment on the thread to avoid further bashing. You could if you don't mind state that he had no water in his lungs and is perfectly fine!!!<br /><br />Our son is healthy and happy thanks to this one little girl. Thank you very much for your kind words, prayers and concerns. God bless you and your family."<br /><br /><br /><br />Yay! I helped someone out. Sometimes I feel like such a screw-up, but today, I did one thing good.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-46411192786965450622009-07-14T19:35:00.000-07:002009-07-14T19:42:43.572-07:00things to be happy about part 2I'm going to start my list right now. <br /><br />Here is #1: spontaneous slobbery baby kisses. <br /><br />It was a hard day today and my little miracle was a spontaneous kiss from my little one (he's 15 months now). He will often "allow" a kiss if I ask him for one, but today he slobbered up my cheek all on his own. Seriously, the best part of my day. :)Cheryl Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382049653760322112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-72812158162945110082009-07-14T15:37:00.001-07:002009-07-14T15:46:47.219-07:00Things to be Happy AboutI recently found a journal I started a while back. It is nothing but a list of simple things that make me happy. I think everyone should have one. Here are some of the items on my list:<div>#11 good hair days</div><div>#26 doggies in sweaters</div><div>#100 little children on answering machines</div><div>#145 surprises</div><div>#173 homemade quilts</div><div>#175 hearing my watch tick when I hold it up to my ear</div><div>#231 being called "kiddo" even though I'm over 30</div><div>#238 when my mom remembers who it was that said to tell me "Hi"</div><div>#241 how the tiniest people always produce the biggest burps</div><div>#246 accordians</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-39531886860321816192009-07-13T07:43:00.000-07:002009-07-13T07:59:59.123-07:00Right place, right timeI can't stop thinking about the remains of a terrible car accident we passed on Saturday. It was the kind of thing you see and wonder if the drivers even made it out alive and then you get that sinking feeling in your stomach that doesn't go away very quickly. Then I realized if we had gone to the store when we had first planned, we may have seen it happen {awful}, or worse, we may have been <span style="font-style: italic;">in </span>it. I don't know for sure. But I am very glad that we put off and stalled leaving the house for just a little longer. I pray that the people were okay and they just have to get new cars!Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15618610211969284190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-70368023933014475822009-07-12T19:06:00.000-07:002009-07-13T07:09:00.766-07:00Mirror Miracle<div>I bought a new mirror last week that lets me see my daughter in her rear-facing infant seat while I'm driving. I'm so glad to finally have found a good one that doesn't fall off all the time, or make my baby look so tiny I can't tell how she's doing anyway. That in and of itself is a blessing in this mother's life, but this story is about my nine-month-old baby's miracle, not mine.</div><div><br /></div><div>In order to make your baby look big enough for you to see her well, the mirror has a slightly convex shape, so the images are kind of distorted--a little like the silly mirrors you might find in a carnival fun house.</div><div><br /></div><div>So last Friday Hallie and I were driving home from somewhere on a hot day. I glanced back at her and saw her typical "Oh, do we have to drive around in this hot car again?" expression. She does love mirrors though, and so pretty soon she was enjoying watching herself in her new mirror. But then she must have leaned forward to reach a toy or something, and I guess she noticed that the closer she got to the mirror the funnier her face looked, so she started leaning her head as far forward as her harness would let her, and making sort of goofy faces into the mirror. Then a huge grin would spread across her face and she would sink back into her car seat and just giggle for a few seconds before trying it again. She did this for the rest of the ride home.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was Hallie's mirror miracle, and for me, it was a reminder, that with a little imagination even the simplest thing can transform an ordinarily hum-drum car ride, (or a boring task), into a zany adventure. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-1589081921354426262009-07-11T14:56:00.000-07:002009-07-11T15:00:44.864-07:00Horray for dates!My husband and I went car shopping today. It would have been easy to be a bit frustrated over the process since it came about as the result of a sad dying car, but instead we enjoyed it as if it were our first date in months, complete with Oberweis at the end! Now THAT is a blessing.Cheryl Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11382049653760322112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073869764753588424.post-54678058511671515152009-07-10T21:14:00.000-07:002009-07-10T21:17:19.465-07:00Baby LoveNobody else in the world may be glad to see me, but when my baby wakes up after a nap, she lights up like the Fourth of July. She gives me big pats, then grabs my shoulders and squeezes! (That's Rosie's own special way of showing love) Hooray for kids' unconditional love!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0