As I was sayin'...

(Disclaimer: A contest winner, plea to vote for me, some mind-numbing rambling and a huge prayer request going on below...get ready, your eyes may burn, your mouth could go dry, you may shed a tear but it's all worth it, I tell ya. It's all worth it!) Let me start at 7:47am. Do you know what I did at that time this morning? Here are your hints: 1. I squeezed tightly. 2. Giggled. 3. Smooched. 4. Waved. 5. Cried like a baby! My youngest, only the tender age of 3, got on a bus and started his trek to pre-school. I am still in shock. My house is quiet. I have been quite productive this morning. I was out to the post office and back within 10 minutes with no shoes to tie, diapers to change, or cajoling to do. He is at school. I am missing him terribly! This child of mine has been a miracle from the start. He came home April 25, 2006 as a severely neglected and abandoned 9-month old foster child. He was emotionally inept and had the pain tolerance of an elephant. For 3 months he did not have tears when he cried. I questioned the doctors about dehydration. They told me that tears are the body's way of SHOWING a need. When needs are not met for an extensive period, the body stops making tears. Like many of his firsts to be celebrated, I remember the day his tears "came in." Then, on April 9, 2008 he became a BROWNLOW! His adoption was final. We all shed tears that day! Tears of joy! This is my baby who got on the bus today. He has issues from his past that make him quite a handful on some days. But this baby can love like there's no tomorrow. He woke his brother and sister this morning with tender kisses and said, "Me bus!" He hugged them goodbye and waved and giggled as the aide buckled him into his seat. Here's a peek at my little wonder!

(btw...YES, I saved the tears until the bus pulled away...I read the books, people, I know what I am doing! LOL!) ----------------------o0o-------------------- CONTEST WINNER!!! Wow, I heard lots of advice from your moms and got a lot of giggles, too! My mom always told me about the "clean underwear" trick, too. Somehow, I hoped that if I was ever in a life or death situation (which I have been and ironically was not wearing underwear...because I was having a baby!) the doctors would be more concerned with SAVING me than with the documentation of "clean or dirty"! But of all your advice there was one that stood out above the rest...one that I will start sharing with my children!

"Choose your friends, don't let your friends choose you!" Pink Heather from Penguin Pie is our winning entrant and Dawn of Because I Said So is the other winner for referring Pink Heather here. Pink Heather wins the AMAZING magabook, between us girls by Vicki Courtney! Enjoy! Congratulations PH, we hope you will stay and enjoy MY SEMBLANCE regularly! I love your blog! If you haven't checked her out yet...click on her...she is one talented mom! --------------o0o----------------- Check the sidebar and vote for me for the DIVINE CAROLINE contest! I could win a $250 VISA gift card! The winning blog has only 70 votes more than me! HELP! --------------o0o------------------ On a more somber note...there has been a tragedy in the blogosphere! Read this story about famed Mommy Blogger Mrs. Nielson from the Nie Nie Dialogues. Her family is in need of your prayers and support! Read the article and if you find it in your heart, search out the auctions on eBay and bid! What an amazing outpouring of love for this "virtual friend" - Go Mommy Bloggers! A friend needs us now! ---------------------o0o--------------------- Peace!