Giving Thanks.

Lately I've been overwhelmed with the sin of this world.  The echoes of the thundering fall of man in the Garden of Eden so long ago are still reverberating today.  Loud and clear.  And they are weighing heavy on my heart lately.

The echoes of injustice.
The echoes of an infant's death only 4 hours out of the womb.
The echoes of the cries of so many orphaned children, lonely, desperately wanting love and attention.
The echoes of a grandparent's sudden death.
The echoes of enacting 'tough love' on a rambunctious 6-year old.
The echoes of bad decisions made.
The echoes of fear of the unknown.
The echoes of having to let go of control.
The echoes of depression.
The echoes of homelessness.
The echoes of financial trouble.

So many things, so near to me.  All weighing in on my soul.  It can seem so hard.  It can seem hopeless.  Some days feeling like throwing in the towel, while crying out, "Why? Why?  Lord, save me from this.  How can this happen?"

But one thing I have seemingly forgotten.  Is to be thankful.  It is so easy to become worn down by all the pain.  The heartache.  The unexplainable.  The unknowing.  The hurting.

There are SO many terrible things happening in this world.  Way worse than the worst pain I've experienced.  But lately, in relation to my own life, one of the echoes I spoke of, comes directly from my difficulty here in our home.  Hint..hint...we have a 6-year old...

And it has just plain been tough, lately.  Sometimes I feel like I'm raising a 16-year old already.  Many nights I just pray, "Lord, why can't I just have a 'normal' child?  One who doesn't question everything?  One who doesn't fight back with so much passion?  One who can handle the 'typical' things in life?  One who just goes with the flow of life?  One who doesn't get so much under my skin?  One who doesn't know how to push my every button?  One who takes up so much of my energy and thoughts and prayers?

One who isn't SO MUCH LIKE ME..."

And there are days when its so tiring.  So hard.  And very difficult to love.

And I've seemed to let those negative thoughts take over and consume my whole being.  To infiltrate my mind.  My efforts.
And have left me not being very nice or patient, or kind, or joyful...

And then I remember that joy always comes with giving thanks.
So I have been working to write down every thing that comes to mind about my child that I'm so VERY thankful for.
Because I need my heart, mind, and focus to be changed.  I need a break in the clouds of darkness I've let loom over my soul.
I have overlooked the beauty Christ created in my child.  And that He created her and said "it was good."  And that she is fearfully and wonderfully made.  And that He has big plans for her future.  Her passion.  Her zeal for life. 

So for today...
I am thankful for her wholesome love for people.

Steeler's Tix & Getting Physical

Hey!
So you remember the Basile's, right?

Our adoptive family.  We adopted our kids together last year in Lugansk, Ukraine.  Mila is their daughter.  With me now?

Well, guess what!  They are adding a 3rd daughter to their family!!  Baby Zofia.  Aka "Curly Girlie".  She is beyond sweetness.  Anyway, because they are paper-ready, their adoption process is going fast.  They could be traveling by the end of this year!  So they are having a huge giveaway.  Which includes 2 Steeler's football tickets for the December 30th game against Cleveland.  (They are from Pennsylvania, you know!)  Plus a ton of gift cards!  Anyway, you can donate $5 each or $20 for 5 tickets.  Go to: http://reecesrainbow.org/46971/sponsorbasile-3 and then let Sarah know you donated!

We are beyond excited for them and hope you will join in our excitement!  I will also be hosting a Yankee Candle fundraiser soon to help raise funds for them to rescue Zofia!  My heart is softened for Ukraine and will always be, so since I can't go back with her, this is the least I can do to help them out!

ALSO...

 

I've been really working hard focusing on Blake's development: physically, mentally, emotionally.   Obviously the physical part is on the forefront of my mind because of my work and interests.  So we purchased a tunnel for the kids for their birthday's and we broke it out the other night.  Here's a glimpse of the reaction...

Part of the reasoning for the tunnel is that it makes them crawl.  Crawling is HUGE for coordination and brain development.  As you know, children with Down Syndrome have low muscle tone but also don't process information as quickly...which leads to slower reactions and progress.  So..my hope with this tunnel is that it will make Blake have to crawl more as well as work alternating arm and alternating legs (aka crawling)...which requires both sides of the brain to work at the same time.  And this is VERY important for him!  And Autum, for that matter.  We push so hard for our kids to walk at a young age, but it is crucial for these kids to crawl as long as possible to build appropriate leg strength to walk, but also for the brain to really work as it is growing with the child.

Now jump forward about 30 years...and my goal now is to maintain and improve motor skills, brain development, and muscle tone of the clients I work with.  We are currently doing a CrossFit workout regimen to improve these skills.  It is a mini-experiment you could say, to prove that CrossFit is adaptable across the board...even for those confined to a wheelchair!
I can't wait to show you some videos of my wheelchair clients rocking out an exercise called wall balls.  But for now here is a video of 2 of my clients doing a deadlift and bench press workout!  FYI: I even make them crawl as part of their warm-up.  Yes, it is that important.

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I believe if we teach and continue to maintain the physical aspect of the lives of people with special needs, the mental and emotional will naturally develop and show improvement.  I'll keep you posted with how it goes. :)

PS--Does anyone know why the green line shows up?  I don't have it on my camera or when I view it on my computer?

Oktoberfest 2012

We spent our Saturday morning in McPherson, at a place that is and will always be near and dear to me.  Disability Supports of the Great Plains has become one of my favorite places to be every Tuesday and Thursday.  I contract out my personal training and nutrition services to the amazing adults that live and work there.  I started my journey in working with adults with special needs in October 2007.  I came into contact with a family who had a sister that lived/worked at DSGP through my nursing home work and services.  I immediately began working with Amy in pursuing her doctor's order for weight loss.  And so we did.  And we still are.  She's been down nearly 85 lbs. at one point and now we are working to maintain her lost weight and keep her muscles strong.  My journey with her has lead to my work with nearly 15 other adults who reside at DSGP.  I always tell people this is the only job I would leave my kids with a babysitter to go do.  I LOVE it!  I have found my personal training niche and don't feel like I could ever stray too far from the gratifying work I now do. 

Anyway, this year was VERY special because I was able to take Blake to visit the one place that was so crucial in forming Jerad and I's decision to make him part of our family.  So we loaded up in the freezing rain and blowing cold air and headed west.  We were going to participate in Oktoberfest 2012.  It includes bierocks, sausage and sauerkraut, german chocolate cake, root beer,  a german brass band, face painting, games, rides, inflatables, caricature drawings, and lots of laughter and hugging! 

The kids had a great time!  And even got their first taste of Root Beer...haha, it was a mixed reaction by all parties.

Blake did NOT know what to think about Leah's face paint..haha!

Autum's reaction to Root Beer...

Blake's reaction...!

 

Amy, Blake, and I.

Happy 2nd Birthday to my Baby!

Not sure why this video has a green line through it. Sorry!

We celebrated Autum's 2nd birthday this past weekend as a family.  We had vanilla frosted cupcakes at supper, snack time, and for breakfast.  Autum would slap her tray and then say 'cake'...and I'd say 'no...and she'd say 'cake'...and I'd say 'no'...then she'd scream...louder and louder, until even Blake covered his ears...and then I'd give in.

Obviously we have another 2-year old at our house now...making her desires known...

Then Sunday afternoon we skipped naptime and headed to Papa's Pumpkin Patch, where we went down the giant slide 4,403 times.  Touched every pumpkin.  Chased ducks, pet the horse and donkey, fed the chickens, pet the cats, played on the giant dirt pile, swung on barrels, rode on a barrel train, swam in corn bin, threw rocks, went down the slide another 1,200 times, sling shot a pumpkin, posed for pictures..