Turn it around Tuesday

Frosty the Snowman

He was a jolly happy soul! Even though he knew the sun was hot, and that he'd melt away, he still wanted to make the most out of his day. So he said "Let's run and we'll have some fun", and played and laughed until the day was over.

I wish I was more like Frosty.....with his corn corncob pipe and button nose, and two eyes made out of coal.... although he was a fairytale (so they say) The children believed in him so much, they made him real.

My goal this season, is to laugh and play...To not worry about what tomorrow will bring, and to have fun in the moment.

Thanks Frosty, it's time to make some SUGAR COOKIES!!!

Motivational Monday

It came without ribbons,

It came without tags,

It came without packages, boxes, or bags.

Christmas can't be bought from a store...

Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.

Dr.Seuss

I love Christmas so much! We have been blessed this year (and years past) by the graciousness of others. Thank you so much to those who have made this Christmas one we will never forget!

I love this...and I thought I would share it with you.

http://www.llerrah.com/truemeaningofchristmas.htm

True Meaning of Christmas

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.

"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . .


"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children!


Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.


Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."

Merry CHRISTmas!

Freaky Friday

As promised....another Freaky Christmas Song.

A few weeks ago my husband showed my kids this video. They thought it was hilarious....I did too....except when my 9 yr old asked me about the song that was being played at church.

The church put on a awesome rendition of "Carol of the bells".....My daughter leaned over and asked her dad, if that was the "ding the fries are done song"....

Happy Holidays

Thriving Thursday

Dealing with Disabilities

I have written about my son, Braden before, but I wanted to just write about how super proud I am of him.

This past year, we decided to pull Braden from the "mainstream" classroom, and place him in a more one-on-one environment.

This was THE BEST decision we could have made for Braden. Not only is he much happier, but he is also retaining much more than he has is previous years.

Since Braden's diagnoses of Neurofibromatosis, we have had so many things to overcome. The learning disability has been with Braden since pre-school, but now that he is in 6th grade, he is more aware that he is not like the other kids. This wouldn't be a bad thing, but in years past the other children knew he was different too....and tormented him for it.

Braden would come home crying, telling me that he had no friends, and the other kids would call him names. I remember one incident, where I actually confronted the mother of one of the kids that was tormenting Braden...."Oh, he's just doing what boy's do, your son needs to toughen up."

Despite all of the problems at school, Braden continues to THRIVE with a positive attitude. He is always willing to face things head on, and never backs down from a challenge. (Even when that challenge is another child calling him "retard" or "weird".)

Every time I look into his baby blue eyes, I see strength. Someone who won't let a diagnoses take him down. A boy who is sweet and caring and a joy to have for a son. A kid who rocks at video games, who loves to take care of his baby sister, and a silly guy who comes crashing and pounding in, making his presence know, during family meetings.

As we battle Neurofibromatosis, we are educating the school staff and making a difference! We are teaching Braden that he IS IN FACT DIFFERENT...and how that's a VERY good thing!

Mommy loves you kiddo!

The Grinch

Turn it Around Tuesday

Who was 'The Grinch'? A Who down in Whoville who was born a little different? Someone with good intentions, who only became bad after he was treated so poorly?

I watch this movie several times a year (thanks to my children) and always take the side of The Grinch.

I remember a time in school, when my hair was cut short and permed...on top of the fact I was a short, chubby tomboy! I walked into the classroom and tried to hold my head up high. But it didn't matter...The kids laughed and pointed at me. I ran out of the classroom that day, determined to never go back.

The Grinch ran away too. To the mountain tops in Whoville and became a scary legend. A Who, who would never fit in. I can't help but feel sorry for him. But that's where The Grinch seems "happy" (I would be happy there too, just to get away from everyone). I have had to deal with people making fun of me my entire life. Being stuck in the real world - I DID go back to school versus hauling myself away into the Santa Monica Mountains!

The Grinch learns, (thanks to the insight of Cindy Lou), that he doesn't have to be bad. Cindy Lou teaches the whole town to see The Grinch as a "Who", not as someone who is a green and grumpy misfit, but only after she teaches The Grinch to see himself as a "Who" first as well. Once he stops stepping on others in retaliation for their stepping on him, he turns around and saves Christmas after all (nevermind that HE was the reason Christmas needed saving in the first place). The town embraces their new citizen and the spirit of Christmas is learned by one and all.

I wish it were that easy. But it doesn't have to be THAT hard. Who teaches us to make fun of things that are different? Does it feel good, to tear someone else down? It must, right? Or we wouldn't do it? Face it, it's easier to make yourself taller when you step on other people. That's the lesson learned by bullies of all ages.

Whether you've been bullied, have been a bully, or both (and haven't we all been both, at one point or another), the real solution comes in a change of thinking. When you step on others to get to the top, you're alone on your plateau, which is only exciting for a short time. When you choose instead to give as many people around you a step up, you have that many more people willing to pull you up with them in thanks. Instead of hiding alone in false triumph, you are able to party with many, knowing YOU have made a difference.

Call it the Christmas Spirit, or the Thriving Spirit - now is the time for all of us to give each other a boost up. Are you joining the party?

Happy Holidays!!

I want to be like you....

My 13 year old daughter looked at me, after I told her I was going back to NIH (National Institute of Health) -- "I wish I had NF, like you, so that I could go with you."

Her eyes filled with tears and I just hugged her.

She had no idea what she was really saying, she just wanted to be close to me. But her words melted my heart.

What frustrates me is that she DOES have NF - but like me at her age, she doesn't appear to have any remarkable symptoms other than the cafe au lait spots. Dealing with Rachel and Braden seems easier, since they have specific needs to address, but I battle with getting Bailey fully checked out, for fear of what we might find.

It may sound stupid coming from someone claiming to 'Thrive with NF', but I battle with the same sense of denial about Bailey that I battled with for years about myself.

We've got her scheduled next year for some initial tests, and hope to get some answers. I know she has NF, and I've told her she does. It's time for both of us to discover what that will mean to her future health, instead of hanging on to the hope that it'll just go away.

Thriving isn't easy. It isn't always consistent. It's a goal to live up to - an attitude that must be reinforced. The nice thing about Thriving, though, is that even when you fall off the wagon for a day, or create a blind spot in your journey, all you have to do is take a new action to get right back into the zone.

I pray Bailey never has to go to NIH, or deal with the many issues I and so many of you struggle with every day. But if she does, I want her to know that I AM here for her - eyes wide open and Thriving attitude in place.

Are YOU Thriving today?

Christmas Party!

We went to the church Christmas party today. I'm always amazed with the folks that put these kind of things on. It was very organized and the kids had a blast!

Santa Claus came to visit and the kids all got to sit on his lap. Riker told me that he didn't need to tell this Santa what he wanted, because he had already written Santa an e-mail. :)

Brooklyn kept her distance, but kept spying Santa from behind a chair, or from behind my legs. We kind of forced Brook up onto Santa's lap, and she wasn't too happy about that.

Sorry Brooklyn, but it's tradition! :)

Braden thought Santa was really nice!

"Geez, Mom....Aren't I a little big to go on Santa's lap?"

Rachel loved Santa!