The Perfect Party - Just for Me

How to Make Sure You Have a Perfect Party

Advise from a one year old expert

1) Always eat before going to party!

And during, and after

2) Helping Mommy with party prep is almost as fun as the party itself

More for me than Mommy

3) Ducky Decorations

Which are all about me!

4) Got to have perfect party attire

Complete with tutu and Rapunzel hat

5) What would a birthday be without Fairy Godparents?

I've got mine: Uncle Mark & Auntie Kim

6) Ducky Food!

I could eat all day - oh, yea, I did!

7) Lots of Good Friends

Tip: Invite families with lots of kids - and you're sure to have a full house

8) Opening Presents

With a little help from my friends

9) After the perfect party -

for dramatic effect -

Ride away into the sunset

10) Thank all those who love you

and

chose to spend their day

making you feel special

Thanx:

Grandma & Grandpa

Here's a smile for grandpa!

Emylee & Stephan

Thanks Em for all the help you gave Mommy

for weeks before my party &

thanx Bubu for taking off work

I know you love me

Andres

who always makes me laugh

Mandy & her peps

who knows how to liven up a party

Uncle Mark & Auntie Kim

my other favoritest people

Brauns & Teters

11 kids and 2 Mommies

Lisa

who forgot to bring her kids

Emily Clara

who remembered to bring

her Mommy and Daddy

And most of all to the best Mommy & Daddy Ever!

A Chord of Three Strands

Reprint: In honor of Kymee's Birthday

Preface: I am in awe of God. How he sets things

in motion and carries them out to his glory. I am honored that just once he has allowed me to witness the different avenues he works in and ho

w he brings things together to fulfill his purpose. This is His story of His actions and how He has blessed me through working in various people.

“A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart” Eccl 4:12

Strand One

“You need to abort the baby.” Both the second and third doctors encouraged the same thing. “She really can’t physically or emotionally deal with the

birth of this baby.” “Besides, the medications that she is on will harm the baby and the baby will surely be born deformed, have serious issues, or it could even be a stillborn birth.” “It’s cruel to make her go through the pregnancy and labor, you have to abort.”
I looked at my grand daughter, who I had legally adopted

when she was 10. She had grown into a beautiful young 21 year old woman, yet she still had the mentality of a child maybe of 7 or 8. She had been through so much in her lifetime. She was beaten up when she was little. Now she’s got both mental and emotional challenges. She’s bipolar, and can never get off the medicine, or

she becomes angry and violent and could hurt herself or someone else. Now she’s been raped. I know who’s done it, but the police say she ain’t got the mental capacity to testify. But now we find out
she has this baby inside her. What am I going to do? What is best for my little girl?

“Mama, I want to keep it.”
“Honey, you know you can’t keep the baby, you can’t even remember to take a bath or brush your teeth.” “I don’t want to kill it.”

But I’m too old to take care of a baby. Besides that, I’ve got enough people to take care of without this one. I adopted both my grandkids, and neither one of them can care for themselves. I watch my other three grandkids, cuz their

daddy works nights and just ain’t home with ‘em. And Papa, he ain’t in the best of health. He’s just not doing well. Lord, I know I can’t take care of this young ‘em. Besides, I think the doctors are right, I don’t know if My Baby can handle going through this. I think we better do the abortion.
I told ya Papa wasn’t too well. He had a heart attack and had to have surgery. They put in a pacemaker. By the time I got him home from the hospital, she was way past the point to do the

abortion. I guess we best just give the baby to a good family.

“Honey, I think we should give the baby to a good family.”
“But I want to take care of the baby, Mama.”
“I got you a Chihuahua.”
“I’ll name her Sugar. She’s more fun than a baby. But

can I name the baby too? I always wanted to grow up and have a Baby Rose.”
“Sure Honey, we’ll name the baby Rose.”“And I’ll always be a Mama even if I don’t take care of the baby?”
“Yes Honey. No one can take that away from you. You’ll always be a Mama.”
“Come on, Sugar, let’s play house. You be the baby.”

“Mama it hurts. Make it stop.”“It’s almost over, Sweetheart.”
“Ma’am, you have a baby girl. She has a cleft palate, so her lip looks kind of different.”
“I don’t want to see her. She looks funny, and she hurt me. Take her away. . but please call her Rose. . . Mama, I want to go home and play with Sugar.”“OK, Honey, we will, as soon as you feel a little better.”

Strand Two

“Lord, I don’t get it.” Tears evaporated from my face as the steamy shower water hit them. “I am more than qualified to be a nanny. Why haven’t I

gotten a job yet? Others are getting jobs who are a lot less qualified then I am! I just don’t get it.”

“Yes, I am looking for a job, but I can take another baby until I have one.”
“The adoptive parents decided they couldn’t handle

it when they saw her cleft lip, so we’ll have to look for other parents. You may have her for a while."

“As long as I’m available, I’d love to have her.”

“Oh, look at you. You are so beautiful, and so so sweet.That lip doesn’t take away from your beauty,it just adds to your character. It will be fixed, and you will be as good as new in no time. You’re new Mommy and Daddy will be shooing the boys away soon enough.”
“We haven’t found parents yet.”

“You are so special. Can I tell you a secret, Rose?

I have never loved another foster baby like I love you. I shouldn’t even have you - I should have a job. But I’m so glad I do. ” I promised myself I wouldn’t fall in love with my foster babies. Of course, I love them all, but you know what I

mean. I always somewhat guard my heart, so I can hand them over to their new mommies. But there is something special about this one. I don’t know what it is, but the walls of my self preservation have come tumbling down. I know she’s not mine, and I can’t keep her, but I can’t seem to stop myself from loving her.

“How can that be? Are you telling me that you have

gone through your list of possible parents registered in the agency, and no one wants this baby? That’s impossible. Did you tell them her lip can be fixed? Did you tell them how beautiful she is? About her perfectly round head, that looks like a baby doll mold? And her Big beautiful blue eyes? Did you tell them about her perfect fingernails, that look like she just had a professional manicure? How she is the sweetest little thing

ever? That she smiles, even though she is too young to smile? . . . I have a friend. . .”

Strand Three

Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slainHoly, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat
“Be willing to take the baby.”
I’m trying to sing - why won’t this thought leave my head?
“Honey.. . “
“”Shhhhh. We’re worshiping.”
“Honey, I can’t get this thought out of my head. It’s like I keep hearing a voice say, ‘Be willing to take the baby.’”
“What baby?”
“I don’t know, but I can’t get the thought out of my head.”

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,

“Thanks to you, now I have it in my head too”

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!

“Let’s stop whispering and pay attention to the sermon.”
“LISTENING TO THE VOICE OF GOD . . . If God is speaking to you this morning, I invite you to come forward and pray with our Care Team.”
“Honey, I think we should go forward.”

We prayed. We didn’t get it. That was a year and a half ago. But we prayed because we thought we heard the voice of God.

Three and a half years ago God had called us to foster and adopt children - older children. There are lots of people who want babies, especially white ones. We wanted to adopted children the state deemed “unadoptable” meaning older, sibling groups or not white.

But after that day at church, I couldn’t get the idea of adopting a baby out of my heart or mind. I thought about raising another child. I dreamed about it. I imagined it. I researched it and planned all the things I’d do differently this time around.

“Honey, I really want a baby.”
“Why don’t we wait for grand kids?”
“I can’t wait to have grand kids! But it’s not the same. I want to raise another child. I love being a Mom.”
“That’s crazy, but why don’t we talk to the foster agency and see if they can place a baby with us.”

“We asked you 10 months ago to place a baby with us. Why are you telling us now, that you can’t put our name on the list for a baby, it has to be for a child between the ages of 0 - 5 years? And we have to take two? We already adopted one, doesn’t that count as half of two? No? We have to take two more? ”

We can’t do it. We talked to the kids. Both were overwhelmed with the idea of having two preschool/toddler/babies in the home. It simply isn’t fair to them.

“Honey, please take down the crib. I don’t want a visual reminder of not having another baby staring me in the face every morning when I wake up. I have to refocus on something else.”

I spent a day curled up in a ball and crying over the lose of a baby I’d never have, over the lose of a dream.

“Please God, take this desire from me. I feel like You opened up my heart to a baby that morning in church. I really thought it was You speaking to me. Maybe it wasn’t. Lord, take the desire or You give me a baby miraculously. If you can impregnate Sarah in her old age, or Mary in her virginity, you can give me a baby if you so choose. I promise to never again pursue a child on my own, if you want me to have one You make it abundantly clear that it is from You.”

“Hello. What do you mean that no one wants Rose?”
“Of course, I will talk to him, but I know he will say no.”

“Honey, about that baby. . .”
“Don’t you think we’re too old?”
“Speak for yourself!”
“What about the money?”
Taken care of.
“What about the medical expenses?”
Taken care of.
“What about our not being with the same agency?”
Taken care of.
“What will the kids think?”
Taken care of - in fact - the one you were the most worried about is begging to take the baby.
“Let’s call the agency, and if it is God’s will, it will happen, if not, God will put a stop to it.”

Clear sailing, just enough wind to carry us across a sea of paperwork.

“A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart”

Birthday - Eve Meltdown

Don't let the sweet face and twinkle in the beautiful blue eyes fool you - this little girl can be a stinker!

Tonight she had, what I am going to refer to as, a "melt-down."

Over stimulation?! Too much previewing of birthday sweets?! Super short nap?! Not enough time with Mommy?!

Whatever the cause, or "trigger," it was bad. Two hours of screaming, crying, kicking legs, head bagging, pulling her hair, hitting her head with her hands, pulling her ears, rolling around on the bed, thrashing her body. Two hours!

I rocker her - I cradled her - I held her close- She would cry and toss and turn, and push me away. As soon as she pushed away, she's scream and snuggle into me with her head at my breast. Then the cycle would start again.

She seemed to like being held, but being held seemed to overstimulate her and wind her up again.

Finally, I tried something different - I don't know how I thought of it - it just came to me as a answer to my silent prayer for God to help me help her. I laid her down on the bed and laid pillows all around her - two on each side - her right and left, her head and feet. The pillows were touching her - creating a soft cocoon. I then wrapped a light blanket around her and placed a pillow on top of her for pressure. Just one little head with wispy blond curls could be seen among the stack of pillows. Her crying stopped almost immediately, and her whimper turned into deep breathing. Within 3 minutes she was sound asleep.

I don't know whether it was the security of being enveloped in fluff, or that she simply wore herself out and anything I tried would have worked in that moment, but there is peace on the other side of turmoil. God is good. All the time.

Kymee's Turning One

Kymee's Turning One! June 25, 2011

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted what I asked of Him. So now I give her to the Lord. For her whole life she will be given over to the Lord.
1 Sam 1: 27-28

1 Month
For You created my inner most being, You knit me together in my mother's womb.

2 Months
I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Ps. 139: 13-14

3 Months

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offsprings a reward for him. Ps. 127: 3

4 Months
As you do not know the path of the wind,or how the body is formed in the mother's womb,so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Ecc. 11:5

5 MonthsBefore I formed you in the womb, I knew you
before you were born - I set you apart. Jer. 1:5

6 Months

This is what the Lord says, your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb

"I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens,

who spreads out the earth by myself. Is. 44:24

7 Months

From the lips of children and infants

you, Lord, have called forth your praise

Matt 21:16

8 Months
See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Matt 18:10







9 Months

He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart.

Is. 40:11

10 MonthsEvery good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

11 months

Sweet Image in thy face,

Holy image I can trace.

William Blake

Kymee or Baby Gaga?

5 Things you would never do with your first born

5.Dye her hair pink

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ~ and Mandy loves hair dye. She's been asking to do this forever, and I'm mother of the year in her eyes for having enough of a sense of humor to say "yes."

It does accentuate her eyes - don't you think?

I'm obsessively opposed to the typical.
~ Lady Gaga

4. Let her eat junk food

So, one day I feed Kymee some foam from my frappuccino and say, "I know I shouldn't do this." Grandma quietly admits she's fed Kymee whipped cream. Stephan speaks up, "Well I've feed her chocolate." Emylee, "I snuck her the inside of a twinkie." Andres and Grandpa, "Icecream."

Everyone admitted they thought they were the only one doing it, and they wanted to bribe her so they'd be her favorite!

Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos.

~Don Kardong

3. Divafy her

This is so much fun. When Emylee was little, we were so blessed to receive hand-me-downs because we were dirt poor. I dressed her in what God provided. But I have to admit, that God has blessed me this time around by allowing me to choose clothes I like for Kymee!

Divas are not made, they are born.

~ Fiona Apple

2. Spoil her rotten

I told Emylee I was worried. I'm about to have two grandsons, and they'll only be a little over a year younger than Kymee. I have to be a "mom" to Kymee, but I'll want to spoil my grandbabies. Emylee started laughing histerically, finally she said, "Don't kid yourself, Mom, you spoil Kymee rotten!"

I figure, I've had 2 14 year old girls - I know the truth - she won't always want me to hold her tight and snuggle into my neck. I'm going to enjoy it while I can!

Never fear spoiling children by making them too happy. Happiness is the atmosphere in which all good affections grow. .

~Thomas Bray

1. Trust your instincts

With my firstborn, I read all the books, listened to older wiser moms, and tried to do everything "right." I called the pediatrician if my baby didn't match the chart for their month in "What to Expect the First Year." Someplace between my first and my fifth, I realized: GOD GAVE THIS CHILD TO ME. HE TRUSTS ME. I SHOULD TRUST ME. There is no one like Kymee. God placed her in my home because He believed I would be the best one to raise her for Him, and to give her pink hair.

I still read the books (when do kindles run out of memory?) I still look for good, godly advise. But I spend more time praying and studying God's Word to answer my parenting questions. God is the ultimate example - it took me five kids to "get" it. Maybe my friends with only 2 kids aren't as hard-headed as me.

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Is. 40:11