The Mystery of the Cross-Dressing Pre-schooler...

So, I am sure you are intrigued by the title! And that's what I am gonna tell you about today. I got an email from BlogHer saying that due to a new regulation, I cannot run contests and reviews next to their ads that I am getting paid for having on my blog. I TOTALLY get that and must have overlooked that on their latest UPDATES. So, I chatted with Laura (a totally awesome gal) and we figured out the best way to handle the current post for the contest I am running. Neither she NOR I wanted to delete that post and cheat those of you who entered out of your entry so we came up with an idea. I promised Miss Laura that I would jump right into the new project as soon as I laid my youngest down for his nap. 1:00 came...."Oh, Izaaaaaaaaaiiiaaaaaaaaah....nappy nap time!" Some whining. Kisses. Blankie. "I love you." Ahhhh, peace! I cop a squat in front of my laptop and start creating...at this rate I will have 10 blogs by the time next year rolls around, but anyway....... Dum, dum, dah....Announcing the new SANITY'S REVIEW!

This is where I will review entertainment, media, products and places. All with the main theme of THINGS that will either KEEP your SANITY or make you LOSE it! And, while my brain churned and my fingers flew across the keys to rectify my "oops" on THIS blog, my little man had gently climbed out of his crib, tip toed into his sisters room, pulled EVERY article of clothing she owns out of her closet and was having a fashion show when I walked in. (Now, this is the after-I-ran-back-downstairs-to-get-the-camera photo.) When I walked in, he had the striped shirt over his head, pink undies, argyle socks and was peeking out the armhole with an "OHCRAPSHECAUGHTME" look. So, Laura, thanks for your help. When can I expect you and your clean-up crew? Just kidding, it is not Laura's fault that when I get into something artsy I can't hear a DAG GONE thing! He finally went to sleep at 2:30.

*sigh*

Peace.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Nevin & Leslie Stoltzfus

Two beautiful people pledged their love and promised their lives to each other yesterday on the beach of the Outer Banks, NC!

So, baby brother, I wish you a lifetime of health and happiness and I pray your marriage is filled with enough love to overflow the ocean.

Leslie, welcome to the family. You are a perfect fit!

We love you both! See you soon!!

Kanye West + Lady Gaga = This is Why My 'Tweens DON'T watch the VMAs!

Last night, our guests left from my oldest's 12th Birthday Bash. I came down stairs from getting all three kiddos in bed and 1/2 way to dreamland to find my husband asleep and the TV on. I pryed the remote from his death-grip and flipped through the channels.

Now, I am 39, I know I am not as "with-it" or "hip" as some moms are but I stay involved in the media/music/news of Teens & Tweens so that some arrogant freak doesn't feed my children lines that will distance them from the morals and values I have spent 12 years instilling.

So, I get to MTV and find the VMAs in the middle of Lady Gaga's performance. Now, I am "hip" enough to know who Lady Gaga is. My kids have asked if they can have "Poker Face" on their iPods. Most of you probably know the song...it's the kind that if you hear it once you will be humming it for the next, oh I don't know, the REST OF YOUR GOD-GIVEN LIFE!

When my 'tweens approached me for permission to download Poker Face I said my usual answer to that song, "Let me find the lyrics and I will let you know." I have to be honest, I was thinking, how bad can a song about poker be? But I am glad I checked because The Lady, Ms. Gaga, sings of how she is "bluffin' with her muffin'!" K! NO POKER FACE ON THEIR iPODS!

So, back to the VMAs and my censored-from-THIS-house Lady Gaga. While singing her hit PAPARAZZI, THIS is how she greeted me from the VMA stage:

Photo courtesy of Popeater Now, this was FAKE blood, I assure you she was not hemorrhaging. By the end of her garish performance, she was hanging by one arm 10 feet above the stage with a red bloody "x" on her chest and blood in her eye. The rope spun as she pretended to be dead and then the stage went black. . WHAT THE....?! . Now, this morning I read that some people are likening this insanity to Madonna's LIKE A VIRGIN surprise at the VMAs way back when (you know, in MY day). Let me get this right, a woman singing that the word virgin means, "being touched for the very first time" is just as horrifying as someone giving the illusion that she KILLED herself because of what the paparazzi did to her? . So, I promptly switched the channels to watch something LESS ICK! . This morning as I packed lunches I was listening to the EARLY SHOW and they mentioned something about KANYE WEST and TAYLOR SWIFT. My ears perked up because Taylor Swift is my daughter's favorite person on the planet! (Besides me. Um. I think.) . I walked over just in time to see the replay of what all the hubbub was about. Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone This sweet young lady (let me reiterate, YOUNG LADY) was in mid sentence of her acceptance speech for Best Female Video (for You Belong to Me...the song that is played on REPEAT in our house on a daily basis) when Kanye West grabbed the mic from her and started yelling from the stage that Beyonce's video was the "best of all times!" . Let me break this down for you...GROWN MAN, YOUNG GIRL...SEASONED PROFESSIONAL, NEWBIE....COMPLETE IDIOT, COMPLETELY EMBARRASSED!

Kanye West: A role model I want for my children? An artist whose music will EVER be purchased by someone in MY home? I don't even need to answer! You know what I am thinking! . And these are the people (Lady Gaga, Kanye West) whose messages and voices are being PUMPED into our kids brains hour after hour, day after day? And I repeat, "NOT IN THIS HOUSE!" . But, there was a portion of the VMAs that I WILL let my children see and it is THIS: (even though the BIRD'S NEST on Lady Gaga's head is a bit distracting!) BEYONCE won my vote for TRULY A CLASS ACT! . Please invest your time into finding out WHAT your children are listening to and watching. Be proactive in their lives. Be present! . I would love to see your comments! . (DON'T FORGET to check out the contest, still going on, for the LeapFrog TagReader! 10 ways to win one for your little bookworm!) . Peace.

LeapFrog Tag Reader GIVEAWAY!

BIG CONTEST NEWS and more reviews...

Head over to SANITY'S REVIEWS for the latest!

Good luck!

"Goodbye" at the bus stop...

*photo by H. Kurtz Photography

This precious face is my youngest son! He is ALL boy. He tears around the house like a bull in a china shop and is a no holds barred kind of kid! It's all or nothing with my sweet Izaiah!

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But this kiddo will be the one who sends me to the looney bin. PUH-lease don't misunderstand me...he was completely a GIFT from GOD and I do not take that lightly. In April of 2008 when the judge finalized our adoption I was as giddy and teary as I was giving birth to my other two children.

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But I'm not sure if it's because our DNA doesn't match or if I am just getting old but I can't seem to predict his next move like I could my other two. And because of this I am usually ready to pull my hair out...and in the next breath I am smooching all over his little face!

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Well, yesterday was his first day of school. This is his second year leaving on the bus early in the morning and not getting back until after lunch so he was excited! I was excited...not that he was leaving but that he was looking forward to something that was going to give me a chance to breathe, go to the bathroom, have a complete thought or chat with my mom without wiping soup off the dog, disguising the flying-hot-wheels-dings in the cabinets with marker, discouraging swinging from the light over the breakfast table or getting a drowning "Blankie" out of the toilet.

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Yesterday, this child that I fought with about coming inside for dinner, taking his shoes off @ the door, NOT searching God's green earth for his winter gloves because his handlebars were cold @ 6:45 am (yes, we ride bikes before my heart is awake!), staying in his crib, not making the nick in the drywall a gaping hole with his fingers...this precious little man barelt looked back as he hopped up the steps with his Dr. Seuss backpack.

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He not only started school without a tear...

He had an awesome day (said the note in his backpack)...

He rode his bike without training wheels for a significant distance...

And for the 1st time EVER, he didn't need his "boo" (pacifier) at bedtime!

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I will never forget the day the social worker put his 14 lb body in my arms. This malnourished, precious 9 month old who had cried himself to sleep on her chest was never going to leave my arms again. I didn't know that then. But God did!

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So, Izaiah's yesterday was HUGE!

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Honestly, (although in the moment I will deny saying the 1st part of this sentence! LOL!) I don't care if he paints the TV with peanut butter, he is such a precious gift who was chosen specifically for our family and I cherish EVERY moment with him!

. Happy 1st day of school little buddy...sorry it's a day late...you kept me kinda busy yesterday, thank you!

I LOVE YOU!

My Back-to-School Resolutions...

I don't know about you, but when the school bus pulls away that first day of school, although I am sad to see the kids go back, I often liken it to New Year's Day.

Today 2/3 of my brood left on that big yellow bus. Tomorrow the last 1/3 heads off, too.

It's a new chapter. A time for goals to reset (or be thrown under the bus). And I finally find myself re-connecting with ME!

"Well, hello there!"

"Hey. Wow. It's been a long time."

"Yeah. So, how are you?"

"Hangin' in but MAN, you look like DEATH! Did you sleep AT ALL this summer?"

"Nice."

"So, what's your plan of attack today? Where are you going to start? What are you going to clean? Which closet will get organized first?"

"Are you nuts? This is my plan of attack..."

* Drink my coffee while it is still hot!

*Sit still for longer than 3.7 seconds!

*Start a cleaning project and actually FINISH IT!

*Watch finished cleaning project STAY finished for the WHOLE freaking day!

*Use the bathroom ANYTIME I want instead of crossing my legs until naptime!

*Read while using the bathroom...and what I read will not include the words, MONSTER TRUCKS, LIGHTENING McQUEEN or EVERYBODY POOPS!

*Talk on the phone with my feet up instead of making skid marks with my shoes as I chase an uncontrollable child running with scissors around the kitchen and flagrantly saying, "uh huh" and "Ohhh" when I really have no idea WHAT the person on the other end is talking about...who am I kidding, I am usually so distracted once the phone is on my ear, I don't even know WHO is on the other end.

*Take care of myself! This will include morning devotions and some time with God, a long walk (without a trike with a flat tire being dragged behind me) or exercise tape (it will be nice not to kick a small child in the head while doing Tae Bo), eating right and not just stale PB&J crusts and the squishy grapes no one wanted.

It's going to be a good year! I PROMISE MYSELF!

Bus is pulling up. Time to see how their day went! And they get a fully-refreshed, showered, pleasant, relaxed, focussed mom!

What will YOU resolve this school year?

Peace.

"Your call will be answered in...300 minutes."

...that's 5 HOURS incase you were wondering! Is it really possible that THAT many people call the same place all at the SAME stinkin' time? Really? I don't know, because as I hold the phone with my shoulder trying not to press my cheek into the buttons so hard that I hang up on myself, all the while using both hands to do my mom-stuff around the house...which is sometimes harder than herding cats...I imagine the people sitting in the call center doing their nails, standing at the vending machines chatting, talking on their cell phones, searching FACEBOOK. Maybe I am bitter, but maybe you can answer the DANGED phone before I die of old age! So, then the line clicks...your breathing quickens as the very next sound you hear may just be a human's v ..... NOPE! Recording! "Please clearly state your first name." Michelle. "You said, 'Nickel,' if this is correct, please press 1. If this is not correct, please clearly state your first name after the tone." Multiply this 3 times, but substitute the following words for "Michelle:" pickle, seashell, shoopell. That's when I lose it! I know the automated freak on the other end isn't real but I respond sharply, "Shoopell? Really? Have you ever MET or ever HEARD of someone named Shoopell?!!!!!!!!!!! " "You said, 'Michelle,' if this is correct, please press 1. 1, 1, 1 "I'm sorry, you have pressed an invalid number, please press 1 if your first name is 'Michelle.'" With every ounce of self control, I gently press 1, once! You can't tell me this is more efficient than having an actual HUMAN answer the phone! Then starts the detailed questioning: "Please enter your zip code and then press the pound key." "Please press 1 if you live in Lehigh, Bucks or Montgomery County or 2 if you do not." "Please press 17 if your second toe is longer than your first or 0 if it is not." "Please press 918 if your first boyfriend's name was Greg or type in L-O-S-E-R if you still don't have a first boyfriend." "Please press the following numbers in order, within 3 seconds of the beep ... 34567890987654312347890098765." 3 2 1 BEEP! "Please hang up and place your call again. Thank you and have a nice day!" Why?? Why?? I seriously was just looking for a pediatric dentist that takes our insurance! Is that too much to ask? And I am still grumbling about all the FACEBOOK-ing and manicures that got done while I was trying not to drop my phone in the toilet as I cleaned and punched in numbers. Grr!! Peace.

Texts to my husband...

Throughout the day when things go awry, I often think of my husband sitting in his comfy chair, in his quiet office as he jokes with a colleague.

I feel jealous some days as he walks leisurely out the door to his car while I am running around with my butt on fire making lunches, picking up friends to play, dropping off over-due library books and standing on my head entertaining 3 booooored kids.

I am often envious of his freedom to have lunch with someone who doesn't throw food or spit milk out his nose.

So, to help him feel involved in my day, I have started texting him. You know, I am sure he is wishing he was home to take in all the pleasures that I deal with each and every day. Maybe he is sitting at his desk wishing he was unshowered and wrestling a preschooler onto the potty seat. Maybe. Or maybe my texts are simply subliminal messages from which he better translate, "If you are one FRIPPIN' minute late getting home someone will be bouncing off the walls and it just may not be ME!"

I choose to keep him informed throughout the day with texts...it helps me vent let him know how much I appreciate his hard work and it keeps him up to speed on how many dozen roses to bring home. It also keeps my fingers busy so I still don a headful of hair!

As we have all seen on the news...kids have their own texting shorthand, well feel free to grab what you need from this list!

hubbyTEXTING!

ILU! - I love you!

T4aUdo! - Thanks for all you do!

TaWo.WUWH! - Taking a walk. WISH YOU WERE HERE!

HsfPfLwB! - Had smiley face pancakes for lunch with kids!

WaUCH? - When are you coming home?

G?WitP! - Guess what's in the potty!

SC! - School CALLED!

KHWiurC! - Kids homework - in your car!

SCA! - School CALLED AGAIN!

KLMiurC! - Kids lunch money in your car!

SFCA! - SCHOOL FRIPPIN' CALLED AGAIN!

TBPAIURC! - Their BACKPACKS are in YOUR CAR!

AUtaMCbaBHoT! - And you talk about MY car being a black hole of trash!

UG! TaSOurK! - Ugh! They are SOOOO your kids!!!

911!PBotFS! - HELP! Peanut butter on the flatscreen!

TBitT! - Toothbrush in the toilet!

IAA2LI! - I am about to lose it!

911!DHRA! - HELP! Diarrhea!

911!DHRA!LD! - HELP! Diarrhea! LAST DIAPER!

CHN! - Come Home NOW!

BW! - Bring WINE!

ItInRx! - I think I need MEDICATION!

IhstTWCH! - I have started to TWITCH!

WAUAMTXT?! - Why aren't you answering my texts?!

IIcmtlabIW! CHN! - If I could make these letters any bigger I WOULD! COME HOME NOW!

K,LS!911!KAH!NG!NG!BPZWaDOE! - OK, LAST STRAW! HELP! KIDS ALL HOME! NO GROCERIES! BRING PIZZA, WINE AND DIAPERS, OR ELSE!

Ct10! TiurLC! IudwttdwaDZr,aBPoDaMoWaaFPuwN( )A! - Counting to 10! This is your LAST CHANCE! If you don't walk through that door with a DOZEN roses, a bulk pack of diapers, a magnum of WINE and a FAT PIZZA you will NEVER (fill in blank) AGAIN!

"Honey, I'm home!"

Now, that's more like it!

SWAT COP goes LIVESTRONG

There he is! He was featured on Mommy Blogger Monday a few months back and has created a bit of a FAN CLUB for himself! . Now, as if that handsome gaze wasn't enough... He is a cop... He is on the SWAT TEAM... He is a foster/adoptive dad... He is a Christian... AND.....AND.... And now he is riding a BILLION miles on a bike for CANCER! If you have been touched by cancer in some way, please consider supporting Todd on his ride! CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO TODD'S LIVESTRONG RIDE! If you can't donate - PLEASE just pass along this link so others can show their support for this great guy making a difference in the lives of so many touched by the beast we know as CANCER! CANCER SUCKS!

If cancer hadn't stolen them from us, you could ask some of my friends what they think of CANCER:

Julian

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Coleman

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AJ

. John Eric . Cole . Andrew . Max . Katie . Jessica PLEASE HELP! Won't you?!

Guest Blogger ... Kat Sanders on Healthy Kids

How to Keep Your Kids Healthy

When it comes to our children, we want to give them the best we can, and when it comes to their health, nothing can be more important than safeguarding this precious asset. And the best way to do this is to teach them how to look after themselves; right from the time they are able to understand the significance of things. To this end, here’s what we need to do:

· Encourage them to make healthy food choices: We are what we eat, and the more junk we put into our bodies, the more we become like garbage pails. So encourage them to choose healthy food from the time they are able to eat on their own and begin choosing the meals they would like to have. Give them a variety of healthy options and try new foods every day so that they are not bored. If you make eating healthy a regular habit, it will stay with them for life.

· Get them to reduce time spent inactive: If they’re in the habit of slouching on the couch in front of the television or staying holed up in their rooms with their computers, mobile phones or video games, get them to go out and become more active. If the weather is bad, involve them in activities with the entire family at home or give them chores to help you around the house.

· Help them take up a sport: Playing a sport when you’re a child does wonders for your health, both the physical and mental aspects of it. Get your child to sign up for basketball, baseball or any other sport of their choice, and help them in their endeavor by driving them to games and practice sessions and being there in the stands to cheer them on loudly no matter how they perform. Ensure that you instill confidence in them by not insisting that they win – instead, tell them that the way they play the game is all that matters.

· Set an example for them to follow: And finally, your kids are never going to listen to a thing you say if you do the exact opposite when it comes to your health. You must be willing to walk the talk and eat healthy yourself. And this means no fatty and unhealthy snacks, no matter how tempted you are. You also need to keep your weight down with regular exercise and constant activity.

The most valuable asset we own is our health, and by teaching our children how important it is, we are giving them an invaluable inheritance. This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly blogs on the topic of radiologist technician at her blog The Overwhelmed Student Blog. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: katsanders25@gmail.com.

Thanks, Kat! Nice having ya! Head over to Kat's blog and fill your head with a boat-load of good info!

Peace.

I'm a BIG loser!

LOL!

So, apparently this summer has not been my BEST blogging summer!

I think I posted 3x, BlogHer dropped me temporarily for not posting often enough, I went from about 250 hits a day (which was on the low side for me anyway) to about 30 hits a day, so much has been going on I don't know where to start!

Come back! Come back! Wherever you are!

I'm BACK!

Saturday Sound*Off!

Well, it has been a busy summer. And not one without moments that I thought to myself, "I need to blog that!"

I have been working very hard on my children's books and I thank all of you who get out your pom poms every time I talk about an idea or share some news of anticipation. I do have to say that all of the critique groups, online courses, books, etc have really readied me for publication. I am actually blessed that it has taken a few years of hard work to get to the point I am now. Through those years I have had the opportunity to make some amazing writer friends who "say it like it is" when I need them to and hold back a little when I am tired of the rejection letters.

I have really put my blog on the back burner to focus on writing for kids. I have quit all my freelance parenting gigs to focus on speaking to KIDS not ADULTS. I was finding it very hard to turn that channel. After spending a day crafting an article on SUMMER CAMP CARE PACKAGES, my brain was not changing gears and therefore my writing for kids suffered. So, I sacrificed the income for the kids. :) With pleasure!

ButI have missed my blogging family! So, I return to you. I know I can talk to you all like a child and you think it's fun! :) You are my childish sounding board, and I say that with love!!

Glad to be back!

So, I welcome you to the first installment of SATURDAY SOUND*OFF !

This is your venue to let it out! Speak your mind! Share your joys and sorrows! The subject can be anything you choose as long as it is not offensive or rude. You can also comment on someone else's sound*off as well, just NO BASHING!

So, GO!

Ready-Set-Go!

(Mommy Blogger Monday will return next week and we will have a special guest in addition to the new Monday Mommy!)

What's in your VIEWFINDER?

It was the 70’s version of the iPod. We all had one and traded the disks with our friends. “I’ll trade my Scooby-Doo for your Speed Racer!” I can still hear the crunch-slide sound of the handle advancing to the next frame. The View Master™. Very similar to binoculars in shape, this toy was good for hours of enjoyment as my cousins and I relived our favorite movies and cartoons frame-by-frame. The images on each slide were incredibly lifelike as they jumped off the plastic squares set inside the white cardboard disk. I am sure this toy was not meant to be life-changing but this week during a moment of nostalgia I was struck by a new view. Like the View Master™, can you maneuver a quick change? It is 3:55 pm and you have just walked in the door from work, ready to get the kids off the bus. As you enter, you realize something has gone completely awry. It appears as though the dog wasn’t in his crate when you locked it this morning in your mad rush out the door. As you can hear the dog’s whining coming from behind your youngest child’s bedroom door. As you walk closer toward the room you see a strange pattern in the living room rug that you had not noticed before. In a panic, you throw the door open and there is your mutt bounding around in a fluffy pile made up of one single strand of what used to be your living room carpet. One taste of a loose thread on the bedroom side of the door had that dog pulling for all he was worth – all the live-long day. You now own a visible illustration of the word ‘zigzag’ down the center of your family room rug. You sink to the floor imagining your spouse finding out about the “Incredible Unraveling Pooch” when your attention is diverted by, “Mom! Mom! I made the team/got the lead in the play/got an A on my test!” Crunch-slide Time for a quick change. Choose to be in the moment – the good one. Like the View Master™, can you look beyond the foreground? When my husband came home for lunch on Wednesday what he witnessed upon walking in the kitchen almost made his head turn inside out. There were six women sitting around our kitchen table and seven children darting over, under and through every bit of available space. Two two-year olds were screeching and pulling on opposite ends of a tricycle. One little one was skipping aimlessly and bumping into everything. A mom was giving her daughter an insulin shot while the girl’s two brothers took turns throwing a ball at our ceiling fan. And then there was the sweet little boy using a mallet to smash the bajeebies out of a cracker on the linoleum right at my husband’s feet. My husband chose to focus on the foreground. The women around his table were planning the Holiday Party for Berks County’s children in foster care. Over two hundred children will be treated to quite the event this December. These children who have been removed from their homes (albeit with their best interest in mind) will craft, dance, play and receive gifts and a visit from Santa. This happy day will create smiles on faces that may not have stretched in that direction for quite some time. They will reconnect with their innocence, something some of them lost way too soon. This apparent chaos was simply the background for something priceless. Like the View Master™, it might be time to change the disk. How many times did you crunch-slide through the “if it hadn’t been for those meddling kids” frame before you begged for a new disk? How many times could you stand to watch Speed Racer win before wanting to frisby-toss the disk across the room? How many times are you going to say, “I will never act that way/lose my temper/be so gullible again!”? How many times will you oversleep/be irresponsible/act disrespectfully? How many times can you stand to watch this disk you have come to know as your life? As Dr. Phil would say, “How’s that workin’ for ya?” You know it’s time to try something new, change your pattern or make a choice for the better, so do it! I am not sure why the View Master™ struck me this way after so many years but I believe many of us need to experience this new twist on a classic toy; one that evidently can teach a huge lesson. Everyday we need to know when to make a quick change, when to focus on the foreground and when to change for the better. Life’s too short to crunch-slide through the same old patterns. Change your disk, make a difference! ---------------------------o0o---------------------------- As always, I write to touch the lives of people I may never meet so if you enjoyed this post PLEASE FWD this link to those you think it could touch who may NOT stumble upon my blog otherwise. Thanks!

Our Adoption Story!

This is worth the "rerun" time!

THE BIG DAY!!

My 3 monkeys before we left for the courthouse.

I just had an awesome experience; something I have never done before. I was shaking with nerves and there were tears. And then the attorney said, “Please tell the judge why you want to adopt Izaiah.” How could I explain to the judge how the baby that came into my life almost 2 years ago immediately fit into our family like the last piece of a puzzle? In a few short sentences, how could I sum up how the size of my heart has grown over the past two years to make room for one more set of first steps, one more first word and millions more hugs and kisses?

When we started our foster care journey almost four years ago, my husband was stumped. He couldn’t understand what made me think we needed to have another child. Matthew and Emily were finally at the age where we could take them anywhere and it was easy. No U-Haul of paraphernalia followed our minivan anymore. We are an on-the-go kind of clan. “We have one of each, they don’t make anything else,” he would say. The only way I could put into words the ache in my heart for another child was a visual that had flashed through my head from time to time for over a year.

I explained to him that when I look into the future in my mind, that proverbial “where do you see yourself in five years,” our family is sitting on a couch posing for a photo and I can clearly see Ken, myself, Matthew and Emily but there is one more joining our group. A small child sat on my lap but I just couldn’t see its face. I truly believed God was saying, “I have one more.”

Many years ago I was talking to my mom about having more children and she was thinking I had lost my mind because Matthew and Emily came into the world one right after the other. “Well, how many more,” she asked. I explained that I would never stop at three because that would make Emily the middle child and she is the more sensitive of the two so it would have to be two more. Four children. “Unless,” I clarified, “I could guarantee that 3rd child was a boy, then she would be the only girl and maybe that would off set that middle child syndrome.” We both agreed that it was not a possibility to guarantee gender. Now, I know, never say never.

Almost four years ago, when we were starting our journey with the Child Welfare system my friends would ask me, “How are you going to give the children back?” They knew me and if you know me you know that my love for children is embedded in my fingerprints. It is just a huge part of who I am. I had no answer. I didn’t want to think about it. I couldn’t explain. I, too, couldn’t fathom how I would be able to give back the scared and abused children we would love but I had an unexplainable peace about it so I just trusted God.

Around this time I had a dream. You know those dreams that stick with you for days. The ones you just can’t shake? That was what this dream was like. There was a baby, a strawberry blond, tiny little boy. The dream lasted only a few scenes and I awoke but I felt like I knew that baby. For days I would get a jolt only a mother could get, “Gasp. Who’s got the baby?” It was almost as though I had been given a divine responsibility to that child. Little did I know, I had. Just the other day as I was looking through an old journal, I came across the entry about that dream. I did the math. I had that dream right around the time Izaiah was conceived. The time was coming.

April 25, 2006 our third child came into our lives as a scared, very tiny, strawberry blond 9 month old. A child that would nervously visit his birthparents at the courthouse weekly. A child who we were told would go back home soon. Well, because God works miracles, today, April 9, 2008, twenty of his fans (closest family and friends) filed into a courtroom and witnessed Izaiah’s adoption finalization. And then there were three.

The past two years of first words, scraped knees and other childhood milestones was summed up in four words.

The judge declared our adoption final and our five best friends held up an Izaiah-sized t-shirt with the words, “FINALLY A BROWNLOW” printed on the front.

Izaiah reached for the shirt and squealed, “ME!”

Happy Adoption Day, buddy. We love you!

The shirt!

Such a blessing from God! Such a beautiful day!

Kim at Bugs and Bunnies was quick with the fact check today... TODAY IS NATIONAL SIBLINGS DAY!

Mommy Blogger Monday...Meet Colleen

Alright Ladies, I am ON TIME, ON TIME, ON TIME this week! WooHoo!

I am really enjoying introducing you all to each Mommy Blogger...I just wish I was finding some more time to blog our daily chaos!

So, in the spirit of MY SEMBLANCE when she has enough time to blog...you can flashback to these doozies: My Island Thanksgiving SEMBLANCE Style My First Trip to Hollister OK...now that you are bored with my ramblings I am thrilled to introduce you to...Colleen! Colleen Milwaukee, WI http://www.mommyalwayswins.com/ This writer mom has 2 children and has been blogging for 3 years. Thanks for joining us, Colleen! Now, let's pry a little and get to know you! So, Colleen, we all have those moments that define us as "Mom." Years later we can recall every second in that moment as if it were tattooed on the inside of our brains. What MomMemory is tattooed on the inside of your head? The first day my youngest son was home from the hospital (I'd had a C-section) it was snowing and Hubby went out to clear the driveway. I tried to get my older son (then 2) ready to leave the house. I had a screaming baby who wanted to be fed, a sore belly, leaking boobs and a 2-year-old with poop in his pull-up standing on my bed. Oh, and the pull-up? Was around his ankles. I was sure he was going to fall and get poop EVERYWHERE. Somehow I was able to deal with it all - myself crying the entire time - and when hubs came in everyone was happy and quiet, and he wondered why I was shooting him the look of death. This mom deserves an award! Actually, we ALL do, right? Now, Moms ask other Moms for advice all the time. I am always hitting up my BFFs for their advice on everything under the sun. Give us a short product review of something you can’t live without. Right now I'm really loving the sugar body scrubs from Solessence. They're made by a Mom-owned company and are completely organic. They do wonders for my Midwesterner's dry winter skin and smell yummy! Thanks! I don't know about the rest of you but I am on my way over there now! You had me at "Sugar..." Moms teach lessons everyday. What has been your biggest life lesson. I'd have to say I learned invaluable lessons while in college. It wasn't so much the curriculum that taught me a lot, but rather going in as a poor student and making my way applying for loans, scholarships and financial aid. When I left college (albeit 6 yrs later) I had a great paying full-time job (that paid my tuition the last two years in full) and had worked my butt off for everything I had. I would never have appreciated it as much if someone had given it to me. OK, Colleen, you need to copy and paste that answer, print it out on archival paper (twice) and put it somewhere where your children will see it daily...and then put it on their dorm wall! OK, I feel like we have known wach other for a while, so I feel comfortable asking... What is the dorkiest thing about you? Um, everything? I've learned to embrace my inner dork. Long live nerds! Seriously, I am a Web developer nerd at heart and my idea of a great day off includes a coffee shop, a cozy chair and a book. Can I come on that "great day"? That is my Utopia, too! What’s your biggest passion? I honestly would say I'm really passionate about raising my kids to be decent, well-balanced people. I try to introduce them to lots of new things, and don't shelter them from the way the world really works (they just get a 4-year-old's version of it, or 2-year-old's). I want them to grow up to be decent, smart human beings. I LOVE when moms say that! Thanks for the reminder!! What’s your guiltiest pleasure? Starbucks coffee. MMMMMMM.... See, you ARE my new BFF! What do you wish for? I wish that we could be done with our home remodeling projects and put it up for sale already. I wish that finding a new one and selling this place to go smoothly, and relatively quickly. She's moving to be closer to me! J/K We are gonna pull up a comfy chair and drink Starbuck's all day while we write to our hearts' content! What do you hate? Gossipy people. Amen, sister! If your spouse would agree to let you go on a date with ONE celeb…list your top 3 picks. Gosh, this is hard. I'm not really a "celebrity" type of person. Here goes anyway! 1) Hugh Jackman 2) James Marsden 3) Pierce Brosnan Your most vivid high school memory. Meeting my husband. AW, that's awesome! What can you, under no circumstances, tolerate? Toys that make the same noise or play the same song over and over and over again. I've been known to take batteries out of toys that annoy me and claim them to be broken. If they play with the thing w/out sound, well, they never really needed it to make that noise anyway, did they? ;-) If you could speak one sentence for the rest of your life, what would it be? I love you. What do you always hope people see on YOUR inside? Kindness. Colleen, it has been so nice chatting! Good luck on those house projects...and here's to hoping you sell quickly! Ladies, raise your java cups to another AWESOME MOM! Peace.

Protecting your eyes in the Summer...Guest Blogger and a DISCOUNT

Hey fans, we have a guest blogger today! Something I have asked for in the past but got little response.

I am excited to welcome Hillary Rubin on board today. Pour some coffee and take a peek at the wealth of information Hillary has to share with us.

Hillary, the platform is yours:

We grew up knowing that our eyes should be protected from the sun. It seems like common sense. As kids, our parents tell us "do not look directly in the sun or you will go blind!" (But imagine your mom screaming it as you look directly into the sun...) Well, here are the facts. You won't go blind. Although, it WILL cause damage. Imagine that, looking into a ball of gas will eventually cause enough damage to your eyes that you could possibly go blind! Did you know that more damage is done to your eyes with every day activities like driving or riding your bike than from looking directly into the sun? That's right! The glare from the sun on a cars hood can cause more damage to your eyes than looking right at the sun. So how do you combat it? There are three steps to lessening the damage to your eyes by wearing eyeglasses. Anti-Glare/Reflective Coating Any time you don a pair of prescription eyeglasses make sure they are covered with an anti-glare or anti-reflective coating. Both terms mean the same thing. If you are buying a new pair of eyeglasses, search online. Buying eyeglasses online will save you money in the long run and the anti-glare coating will cost A LOT less. Aside from cost, even wearing a pair of eyeglasses with this coating at the computer can help save your eyes from damage. Whether you are taking a short walk to the mail box or you are driving, protect your eyes from glare and the sun with an anti-glare coating. UV Protective Coating This seems like a no-brainer but people often forget to include a UV protective coating in their order! Sometimes people assume that if they are outside for just a minute, their eyes won't be damaged even if they are wearing prescription eyeglasses. WRONG! Even if you don't have a colored tint on your eyeglasses, you should still have a UV protective coat to ward off harmful ultraviolet A and B rays. These are the same rays can leave you sun burnt after 15 minutes in the sun, so imagine what they can do to your eyes without protection. Polarized Lenses Think sunglasses. The average pair of sunglasses at Target doesn't even have a UV filter on it much less is the lens polarized. What does polarization do? It acts as a blocker for the UV rays. With polarized lenses, your eyes aren't hit with a glare and UV light gets absorbed into the lens, protecting your eye from any damage... and they look like really cool sunglasses. My suggestions, get a better deal on polarized lenses online. They are manufactured the same way but cost a fraction of the price because most sites have low overhead. Summer should be about fun! Take on new challenges and create new adventures but make sure your eyes are protected from the hot summer sun so you can continue your journey in summers of the future! Now’s a great time to save more money too! GlassesUSA is offering a 5% discount on all orders with the code: Mommy5! WOW! Thanks Hillary for all the information!

Ladies, head on over to GlassesUSA her and take advantage of the discount!

Peace.

MoBlogTues...Better Late than Never...meet Jan!

Thanks for coming by to join us for the next installment of Mommy Blogger Monday Tuesday! Grab you're mug and pour something hot, take a seat and help me welcome, Jan! Name: Jan Your city/state: Wiltshire UK Blog URL : http://madnstitching.blogspot.com/ Ladies, Jan is a mother of two from the UK...our first "across the pond" Mommy Blogger! She has been blessing the blogosphere with her journalling of her needlework projects. Would you shareyour favorite blog with us? A Woman of no Importance http://wildatheartblog.blogspot.com/ We all have seen the untruths in tabloids as of late. If a tabloid wanted to know YOU and called for an interview, how would you describe yourself? I'm a 50 year old full time office worker , married for 23 years with two children- a son aged almost 21 and a daughter aged 9. I love all forms of needlecraft and can happily spend a day in a museum or Art Gallery. I love many different forms of music and am interested in history and archeology. I've lived in the south of England since 1975 when I joined the WRAF (I was in the mob for 13 years) I was born in Liverpool , North West UK where I lived until I joined up. I left the WRAF when my son was born. OK ladies, the "mob" in the UK is similar to the "armed forces" in the US. She was not referring to the "mob" as we know it. :o) So, Jan, now that you have gotten our attention with the "mob" thing...LOL...tell us about your best Mom moment. My best Mom memories are when my children were passed into my arms - the sense of love was overwhelming. Jan, I am a writer, as you know, and have written my fair share of product reviews. Give me a short product review of something you can’t live without. Chocolate !!!!! It's yummy , inexpensive , lightens my mood quickly and never disappoints. Oh, I am so with you on the chocolate thing *says as she pops another Hershey Kiss in her mouth*! OK, now I am drooling, let's change the subject. What is the dorkiest thing about you? I love wearing hoodie's and jeans and that is probably not a good look for a short fat fifty year old. Hoodies and jeans are my FAVORITE things to wear...while I am eating chocolate, of course!! OK, quick fire round....3-2-1-GO! What’s your biggest passion? My needlework What’s your guiltiest pleasure? eating a whole packet of jaffa cakes and reading some chick lit What do you wish for? Enough money to pay off our debts and live comfortably without my going to work What do you hate? Small minded people who talk down to others If your spouse would agree to let you go on a date with ONE celeb…list your top 3 picks. David Essex, Mel Gibson , Marti Pellow (Wet, Wet, Wet) Your least favorite house chore. hoovering Your greatest achievement. Passing pharmacy course What can you, under no circumstances, tolerate? bad manners Do you have any phobias? heights If you could speak one sentence for the rest of your life, what would it be? Yes please I'll have one of those And, last but not least, what do you always hope people see on YOUR inside? A good person and a good listener

Well, Jan, it has been a wonderful treat enjoying some latte and chocolate with you! You have blessed us with your wit and UK-isms! Thank you so much!

Well, until next time...or until my kids make me looney...

Peace.

MoBlogMo...uhhh...MoBlogWed

So sorry, summer has kept me from my regular Mommy Blogger Monday feature! I know you all enjoy it so I am going to slip it in today instead of skipping the whole week. Put your hands together for... Hally!

Name: Hally

Your city/state: San Jose,CA

http://globalfluffybum08.blogspot.com/

Hey Hally, thanks for being here! Let's start with the question every mom asks within 5 minutes of meeting another mom...how many children do you have?

2 boys, ages 3 and almost 1.

I'm pretty sure her youngest is 1 by now...it has taken me a whilt to work down the list, she's been waiting a while to be featured....thanks for your patience, Hally!

So, you are an avid Semblance commenter so you must spend time blog-hopping. Share the scoop! What is your favorite blog?

Besides 'Semblance'?!?! :) [awwwww, thanks! *blushes*] Okay...I'm a blog fanatic, but here are my top 5 that I check daily in RANDOM order. ( in addition to Semblance)

*Because I Said So - she's on my list, too! She's my BFF Dawn! :)

*Adventures of Super Mommy & Spit Up Boy - can't find it...?

*Green Lite Bites - YUUUUUM!

*My Plum Pudding - OK....I went here, you have to check out THIS POST! You SOOOO know I am trying this!!!!

*Dalai Mama Dishes - I'm thinking Hally loves to cook!

OK...enough chit chat! Let's get to know YOU, Hally! This will be fun! Refill your latte and let's go, Mama! In 100 words or less, tell me your best MOM memory.

Oooohhhhh. A toughone right off the bat. I love the way my boys love each other. I'd have to say, that one that takes the cake so far is when my 3 yr old met his baby brother in the hospital. My toddler came running into the room and literally skidded to a stop in his sneakers. You could see the gears of his brain clanking around. Then he crawled into the bed with me and the baby and began tracing all the babies tiny features. I looked up at my hubby and to this day I will still swear that I actually felt my heart grow bigger.

OK....tears....that is beautful! Hey, gang, now we KNOW why she writes....could you SEE that scene? I could! Thanks for sharing that! I love it!

Your biggest life lesson?

Don't sweat the small stuff, there isn't time. And it just isn't worth it.

AMEN, Sistah!

Your most embarrassing moment?

They happen daily, but the latest is showing my toddler how cool his mom is that she can ride his scooter. And went toes over tea kettle over the handle bars in the middle of the park play area...husband is still bummed that he didn't have the video camera to send it to AFV.

Sorry, but I am giggling! WITH YOU....um....not AT you! *smirks*

What is the dorkiest thing about you?

I check out kids' books at the library and read them and LIKE it. :)

Ummmmmmm, and this makes you a DORK? Really? Cuz, I don't know, I think it makes you FREAKING COOL! But, that's just me...you know, me....the (wanna-be) CHILDREN'S AUTHOR! :)

What do you wish for?

Whirled Peas. no...okay...seriously, for my boys to grow up and be their father's biggest joy.

Oooo Oooo Oooo...there's a really FUN book about PEAS...have you all read it? It's by Amy Krouse Rosenthal...

Little Pea! Check it out! It is darling!

What do you hate?

Ignorance and people who preach/soapbox about topics without firsthand knowledge then get the attention because they are famous or rich or related to someone who is famous or rich.

OOOooooo that's a GOOD reponse! I like it! I get on a soapbox from time to time but I am not rich or famous OR related to anyone like that, so is it OK when I do it, Hally?!

If your spouse would agree to let you go on a date with ONE celeb…you would pick.....

Harrison Ford. Mike Rowe. And chick crush on J.K.Rowling. [tee hee, first chick crush answer! Yay, you!]

Your greatest achievement is...

My boys and letting them see a healthymarriage that includes hubby and I hugging and kissing anddisagreeing/making up and laughing in front of them. :)

WONDERFUL ANSWER!!! Could we all link to this answer and maybe most of AMERICA would GET A FREAKING CLUE about what's important??!

Oops...was that considered a soap box?

Anything whacky about you? Any weird phobias?

Yes...birds as pets...birds that swoop and eat your lunch...birds that talk...but ironically I like eagles and birds of prey that eat rodents.

So, it would be wrong to send you a singing birthday BIRD on your birthday? Right? Crap. I will have to cancel that one!

If you could speak one sentence for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Thank you.

What do you always hope people see on YOUR inside?

A sincere love for my family and a gracious heart that helps friends ANY time of day or night.

Hally, it has been a PLEASURE meeting you and chatting over a latte in our jammies...what? You're NOT in your jammies? Oh. Oops.

Well, I welcome your comments here on Semblance anytime...you are a loyal fan and an awesome person! Thanks for stopping by as often as you do! :)

Thanks for joining us, once again, for MoBlogMo! It's always a blast!

Peace.

Jon & Kate's BIG Announcement...

Those of you who read my blog know that I am more of a Jon & Kate advocate than a fan. Yes, I enjoy the show, I have read her books, made the children gifts, met her a few times but I am the FIRST person to NOT take pictures, to NOT blog their every move, to NOT get caught up in the tabloid CRAP!

But, as you know, you can't get away from it. It is everywhere and that makes me so sad. Sad for all of them.

So, I probably won't be watching the show tonight when they deliver their big announcement. My husband and I have been married almost 16 years and over those years, we have had many friends who have been in a similar situation to Jon & Kate...would I sit in their living room and WATCH as they drop the divorce bomb or let it all out and decide to reconcile? No. I wouldn't dream of it.

I am NOT at all insinuating that I am Kate's friend, I am simply saying that if it wasn't for comments like this reported in the Philadelphia Examiner, "Television viewers are obviously fascinated with the possibility of the Gosselin marriage unraveling," I don't think TLC would require them to make their announcement on the air. It's all about the ratings...and I think this crosses the line.

So, to TLC...I think there are times when integrity comes FIRST and you come to the aid of those you helped climb to the top (and put millions of dollars in your corporate pocket) and assist that family in being discreet about their issues and help them to go unnoticed as they deal with personal troubles.

Many people say, "They asked for this. They made this decision." Well, I made the decision to be a teacher, so if my school is taken over by gunman and I am shot and killed, does that mean, "I asked for it," too? If I wear a revealing dress to a party, am I "asking" to be raped? I also made the decision to have three children, if one of them makes life choices that cause our family strife and unrest, does that mean that my decision to become a mom is the reason for our family's demise? No. No. and NO!

Someone on my facebook friends' list had this to say and I LOVED IT!:

"I've never watched the show and don't know much about them other that what you've blogged about, but saw her on Rachel Ray, and just think wtheck people, she's a human being, her marriage is her and her husband's business and stay out of it, let them get through it like any other couple would. I have no tolerance for people who find their jollies by bashing other people going through a hard time. They must have very sad lives of their own."

("K" I wasn't sure if you wanted your name attached to this so I kept you anonymous.)

I know the Gosselin's made a decision to go on the air as a reality show. But as far as I know they are not circus freaks who have a crystal ball in their closet and can tell the future. I am certain that, without a doubt, if someone had told Jon & Kate that thier current situation was eminent within 5 years of the first show, they would NOT have signed the contract. If you have read her words in her book, MULTPLE BLES8INGS, you would feel the same way. The Kate in this book is NOT the Kate TLC portrays at times.

My thoughts about tonight's show?

I am going to go with my heart and say I believe their big announcement is that they are going to put their family first, work on their marriage and call it quits on Jon & Kate + 8. And you will hear the loudest applause come from THIS corner of Berks County!

I invite your comments and thoughts...but, as always, BE NICE!

School Artwork Part 2

Alrighty, it's abouttime to follow up on the School Artwork assignment. I think I have given you ample time to complete step one. If you haven't or you need a refresher, check out the first School Artwork post.

Now you have your pieces chosen, you may have 10, you may have 20 or 30...any number is fine. The more pieces you have the more work but all the more beautiful in the end, too.

Find a well-lit hallway in your house or an exterior wall lit by sunlight, grab your camera, a roll of tape (painters' tape works the best but any scotch-type tape will work) and your stack of artwork and get ready to capture your child's creative history.

Place a small amount of tape at the top and the bottom of the artwork and adhere it to the wall at eye level. Make sure it is straight. Grab your camera and start clicking...fill the frame evenly with each piece and take a couple photos of each.

Load the photos on your computer and choose the best ones.

Hints for choosing photos:

straight, clear, glare-free

I will give you a couple days to complete assignment 2...check back (or subscribe) to make sure you don't miss Assignment 3...the FINAL assignment.

Have fun!

Relay for Life...

Thanks to CANCER, so many kids will never see this many candles on their cake. I feel blessed to have three healthy kids but that feeling felt selfish as my dear friend Mimi was losing her four year old Julian to a horrible monster called, Medulloblastoma or brain cancer. Julian passed away in January of 2008 and the impact this sweet angel had on thousands of people around the world was divine! He changed lives! His faith and his strength was that of a superhero! That is why I walk in RELAY for LIFE...it is why I support CUREsearch...it is why my buckets of change end up in the slot for the Ronald McDonald House in the McDonald's drive-thru. This year I am walking with a group of wonderful people from my church. We are walking for our captain Becky who lost a dear friend, a newlywed named Meredith. Meredith lost her battle with cancer last year, she was in her early 20's. Even though my team shirts say Meredith's Miracle, my heart walks for all the babies, toddlers and precious kiddos that will fight this year. No child should have to go through what these kids go through. If you have never known a family dealing with childhood cancer, you have not known HELL! Visit the following carepages to get to know some families who will amaze and inspire you to change the world. Go to carepages.com and register..it's free and you won't get any spam. Then click on visit and type in the following heroes names (no spaces, all one word)... JuliansWorld passed away at 4 ColemanScott passed away at 5 (left his twin brother) SuperBay has been fighting for over 3 years and is finally off chemo! (You can also search my blog for the names Julian, Coleman and Bailey and see posts about them) These families are very close to my heart - like family. I ask you now to donate ANY amount you can afford to this cause. There are kids lives LITERALLY hanging in the balance. Please. Go to MY RELAY PAGE and pledge - even $1 - anything will help! Thank you and may God bless you for your generosity and your prayers for these families. ALL donors on my RELAY site will be entered to win some AWESOME prizes, jewelry, art, etc! Peace.

School Artwork...to keep or NOT to keep?

So, it's the end of the school year and your kids are bringing home papers and projects by the TRUCKLOAD! The spelling tests aren't difficult to toss but those sweet handprint reindeer or the crayon rubbings of fall leaves do the "do I keep it/do I throw it" dance...from the hope chest to the trash and back 100x as you try and decide which to keep and which to toss.

As an art teacher, one of the BIG lessons I learned was taught by a very smart professor when I was doing my undergraduate work. She said, "NEVER let a child see you throw away their artwork!" ANY artwork is a one-of-a-kind, a sort of miracle, something that can never be duplicated, it's a snapshot of sorts into a moment of their childhood that they will never relive and you will never see again. So...no pressure, right? You will just have to build a new wing on your home to house their creations K-12, right? No. I have a simple answer that I will be documenting for the next few posts.

Your FIRST assignment:

Make a stack/fill a box/locate any and all artwork you have saved over the years and go through it to pick your favorites or let your children choose their most memorable or favorite pieces.

If you are having a hard time choosing and if you are like me and you have saved almost EVERYTHING they have painted/drawn/collaged in their school career so far...you can think of a THEME....colors, seasons, objects. Maybe you have 15 pieces that have mostly red as the main color or maybe you have equal numbers of seasonal artwork...Choose a theme if you need to to help you organize your thoughts.

Once you have those pieces chosen, put them in a pile in a safe place. Go to your local super center and purchase an under-the-bed sweater box . Label (with name/grade/teacher) the remaining artwork and place in the sweater box for safe keeping. Repeat for each child.

STAY TUNED....

We will do Step 2 in the next post.

Leave your ideas/questions/comments below and I will be happy to advise!