Saturday, November 19, 2016

New Journey of Wedding Bliss


Today is a very special day as today would have been my parents forty-eighth wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! However, today is a day that has been on my mind for a while. Truly, it is not just remembering my parents anniversary or start over a year and half ago when my first born son proposed to his high school sweetheart. This day has always sat in the back of my mind on the shelf of my thinking who would take my place and love my son as much as I. Today, he is getting married to his love, his high school sweetheart, the young woman who has loved him through thick and thin and who continues to walk with him through the good and bad.

I may not have not gotten to see their relationship blossom with the estrangement that we have had but we are taking the steps to figure that out on moving ahead one day at a time; right now, I am good with that. Knowing my son, he does not do anything without going all in. So today, our family whether we have been estranged a time or not, we are gaining a daughter, a sister and more importantly an extended family. As one thing I know my son it not just marrying his love and vice versa he is marrying all of her and that includes family.

I do not know if it was different an era ago but my Mother called my Father's mother, Mom but I was not afforded that with my mother-in-law and neither were my sister-in-law's with my husband's Mother. I did some research before writing this post and it appears it is not that common as it was. Is the word Mother/Mom/ Mama so sacred? Though I do not have any expectations of any of my children's spouses or significant others calling me, Mom, Mama or Mother, I do want them to feel like home in our house just as our children do. To know they have a place to come if need be.

I will be always be there no matter what, if needed, standing on the sidelines watching their relationship grow. Listening to my son in time of need, moving in the direction to repair our relationship together and as a family. Nevertheless, my son's new wife is taking a special place today, though he will always be our first born, she is the "new Mrs.'s", carrying our name. It is her turn to love him like no other, to pray and walk the path that God has set forth, to cry and laugh, to listen and communicate and to protect him, watch over him and tell him all will be okay. My part as a Mother and Mother-in-Law is to love them both unconditionally and be there always. To support their relationship and to pray for success. To watch their journey of life together unfold. To be a babysitter and spoil the little ones they bring into the world when the time comes (hopefully not for a few years - enjoy your newlywed stage for a while. Truly I can say I am scared of losing my son but honestly he was raised to open his wings and fly. He is doing just that with her right by his side. I know in my heart Life will still be a roller coaster ride, with the ups and downs but all will continue to work with love, tears, smiles, communication, the act of listening and the support of family, All family. Today I am forever grateful to be a Mother and now a Mother-in-Law!

Congratulations, to my son and his love - Chase and Kylie

With Much Love ... GOD BLESS

Until Next Time...Make It A Great Day!


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Saturday, November 5, 2016

Tribute to Our "Red-Heads"

In our Family, we have three that get to celebrate today as it is National Red Head Day, November 5, 2016.
Our Little who we always say is a ball of spit fire, I say is it the red hair or is it just him. A little bit of both, I will say! Nevertheless, having red hair and stunning blue eyes, the sun is not his friend along with many other things that he comes in contact with. Never mind the high pain tolerance he exhibits and his uncanny way of doing things. He is on the Autism Spectrum. He have a love for everything which is great but not so great at times. Those not so great times gets him in trouble because he knows no boundaries; personal or safety. He definitely gives us a run for our money...love you little one to the Moon and Back! Happy National Red Head Day!

My Late Mother...there was not a day that did not go by that I did not see my late Mother with Red Hair. I say that as with as many times we have the opportunity to make changes at the hair stylist. She never strayed from her natural hair color, RED! She stayed true to herself and kept to the Red! She ROCKED It! With her piercing blue eyes and fair skin color, sun was not her friend either but she was always a trooper when it came to outside activities with her kids when we were little or when she became a "Grammie" she just rolled up her pants and lathered on the sunscreen and found the shade. I miss her every moment but I know she is right here with me and all the Kiddos. Love you Mom, always and forever! Happy National Red Head Day!
To My Husbands Aunt who has been a Free Spirit and A Peace Keeper in the Family. You have been a great wealth of wisdom and guidance for spirituality Always keeping your head held high. Love you Always! Happy National Red Head Day!
Happy National Red Head Day to Our Gingers and To All The Reds Across the World! Today is Your Day, November 5, 2016. Fact is the Holiday was started by two redheaded sisters who wanted to help other gingers embrace and love their fiery locks.
To help celebrate, here are nine fun facts about redheads:
  1. The highest concentration of redheads is in Scotland (13%) followed by Ireland (10%). Worldwide, only 2% of the population has red hair.
  2. People with red hair are likely more sensitive to pain. This is because the gene mutation (MC1R) that causes red hair is on the same gene linked to pain receptors. It also means redheads usually need more anesthesia for dental and medical procedures.
  3. Having red hair isn't the only thing that makes some redheads unique. They are also more likely to be left handed. Both characteristics come from recessive genes, which like to come in pairs.
  4. Redheads probably won't go grey. That's because the pigment just fades over time. So they will probably go blonde and even white, but not grey.
  5. Rumor says Hitler banned marriage between redheads. Apparently he thought it would lead to "deviant offspring."
  6. Redheads most commonly have brown eyes. The least common eye color: blue.
  7. Bees have been proven to be more attracted to redheads.
  8. Being a redheaded man may have health benefits. A study published by the British Journal of Cancer suggested that men with red hair are 54% less likely to develop prostate cancer than their brown and blonde-haired counterparts.
  9. Redheads actually have less hair than most other people. On average they only have 90,000 strands of hair while blonds, for example, have 140,000. However, red hair is typically thicker so they it still looks just as full.
Fact Credits From - www.11alive.com
"We redheads are the minority, we tend to notice each other - you know, and notice our identity." ~ Julianne Moore
GOD BLESS
Until Next Time...Make It A Great Day!


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A Brief Moment to Share

Several months back I was approached by one of the local high schools; I was asked if I would share my life experiences to some students for a child development class. My first thought was they have no idea what they were in for then next was how honor I was to be asked.
Many of us whether we have homegrown, foster, kinship or adopted children, we, parents, are all special. We have been entrusted with precious cargo and for that it is such a blessing. However, my life was just getting to be shared with approximately sixty young adults, though some were going near the next chapter in their reality of life, Graduation, College, Leaving the Nest of Parents. The chapter of many but life of starting to begin without the umbrella of parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles or guardians. So much can happen.
Since being a Foster/Adopt parent my eyes have been opened more than once. I have a saying nothing surprises me anymore but then I am shocked when something major does. Interesting life's little curve balls but they are there so when I was asked to be entrusted with high school students for approximately an hour and half of their precious time I became a little nervous. Tough crowd more so than my Little's. Especially in a Big not so Big Community - one that somehow everyone is connected to someone.
For the weeks approaching my speaking date, I thought about what I would talk about and what I could not talk about. Making sure not to break any confidentiality of the sorts. Those who know me I do not hold back, I do not do drama, do not beat around the bush, pretty of matter of fact and when it all comes down to it, Blunt, very Blunt! Thinking of all of that I did not want to bore anyone but if in the end if I am not true to who I am then nothing else matters boring or not.
Finally, I received the call. Not one date to speak, two dates are on the calendar now the stakes were high and the pressure was on. For me the nerves began to set in along with excitement to get the time to share in these moments. The day arrived, as I dressed the Little's, I also asked my twenty year old daughter to join me. She had taken this journey right along with me and was a wealth of knowledge. Plus not so sure how the Little's were going to do with strangers overseeing them while I did the speaking so familiar face would not hurt as well.
We were off like a heard of turtles, slow but off, since my car keys had seem to disappear right before we were set leave. This is one of the instances that happens often to due one Little's obsession with things that rattle. Nevertheless, the spare worked just fine and we made it. Arrived, Little's, three in the wagon, one in the pack, off trekking through the school campus, eyes gazing and knowing in my mind the outline of subjects to speak of; effects of drugs, foster/adoption process pertaining to our situation, my continued relationship with the birth families, any sacrifices we have made and overall our day to day crazy schedule.
On both days, we were graciously greeted by a room full of young ladies and gentlemen. Patiently waiting to see what I was going to say. As I stated before the pressure was high. Young adults are not an easy speaking crowd. However, I do have to say, in the very short period of an hour and half, I spoke about the topics at hand, shared about our family, multi-tasked with my Little's and was happy as many questions were asked but the real happiness came about two weeks later when I received handwritten thank you notes from both classes. At any rate to be asked to share our story was an honor. I also believe anyone can say thank you by just writing "thank you" on the note but when someone takes the time to write more than those two words it definitely says something. Since, receiving those notes, I have re-read them several times as there are comments as to "how my speaking blessed someone and changed their view on special needs", "how I inspired someone", "how someone admired my strength", "how my speaking help someone choose their path into social work" or "my speaking was a real eye opener".
I have always said and continue to say, I am no different than the next person down the road who parents, our path that we are on just may be a little different. A roller coaster of the sort. It is hard enough to be parent of your homegrown children let alone be foster parents of someone else's children, be an advocate of special needs or needs of something daily or just PARENT. However, every child needs to be given that chance they are not asked for some of the circumstances they are brought into. I remind myself daily there is not any handbook, though many self help books and resources but no manual, so really everything is trial and error and with that said, in the mean time I will continue to do whatever it takes to Love, Advocate, Laugh, Cry and Smile with ALL with the Kiddos - Big and Small! I am forever grateful for the opportunity that I have been given to share my story, Thank you Mrs. M. and Her Classes! You Rock!!! GOD BLESS
"Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it." ~ Ralph Marston
Until Next Time...Make It A Great Day 
 
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