What Faith Can do- Kutless

If you know me then you know why I am posting this song-I have posted it before but it really holds a special spot in my heart and resonates there-so read the words carefully and see where your life fits in to the song- Mine is throughout it

Everybody falls sometimes Gotta find the strength to rise From the ashes and make a new beginning Anyone can feel the ache You think its more than you can take But you are stronger, stronger than you know Don't you give up now The sun will soon be shining You gotta face the cloudsTo find the silver lining I've seen dreams that move the mountains Hope that doesn't ever endEven when the sky is falling And I've seen miracles just happen Silent prayers get answeredBroken hearts become brand new That's what faith can doIt doesn't matter what you've heardImpossible is not a wordIt's just a reason for someone not to try Everybody's scared to deathWhen they decide to take that step Out on the water It'll be alright Life is so much more Than what your eyes are seeing You will find your way If you keep believingI've seen dreams that move the mountainsHope that doesn't ever end Even when the sky is fallingAnd I've seen miracles just happen Silent prayers get answered Broken hearts become brand new That's what faith can do Overcome the oddsYou don't have a chance (That's what faith can do)When the world says you can't It'll tell you that you can! I've seen dreams that move the mountainsHope that doesn't ever end Even when the sky is falling And I've seen miracles just happen Silent prayers get answered Broken hearts become brand new That's what faith can do That's what faith can do! Even if you fall sometimes You will have the strength to rise

ADOPTION FACTS

OK - I know I am going to get grief from what I am about to write and yet I am still going to write it- why because I want people to see the urgency of the need of adoption in the states- I commend those who adopt either in state or out of state or international and yet I have this opinion and it is a strong one- and I can say this because I have adopted from a local agency with a child that was in the state system

Recent documentation December 2009 states that in Florida alone there were 7824 children in foster care that needed a forever home - Ladies and Gentleman this is in our backyard- almost 8000 in Florida and these are the ones we know about- this is just in Florida

Older children in Florida are not as likely to be
adopted as younger children-
In 2007, 1,339 youth in Florida aged out of foster care
without a permanent, legal family

So this statistic is from 2007- and I can bet it has increased- in fact I am sure- when adopted Marcus in 2005 there were over 200 in Hillsborough county alone ready for adoption- So if this is the case why do people go other places when our own in our back yard need homes forever homes- I understand poverty etc and wanting to help-and all that jazz- but seriously in the state of Florida almost 8000 children need homes -why -I urge you to consider adopting in our state- I know they are not babies and I know they can be troublesome- believe me I know this- I live it-but I love my little man- and he has come so far with love and consistency we have come far-
The children just need to know they are loved and have a permanent place for them to live- they need a SAFE place to live-

I know of the tragedies else where I do- but we have tragedies here as well- abuse, egelct, drug addicted, fetal alcohol syndrome-

It takes time - it takes energy -it takes patience - it takes love - it takes a support team- and yet all of it is worth it when your child makes those milestones- when they know no matter what that you love them - no matter what you are not going anywhere- no matter what they can share their feelings and concerns

Consider adopting in the states - if you want to adopt
Statistics obtained from http://www.nacac.org/

Marcus the writer

Marcus received a writers award- I unfortunately missed the reading but this photo was taken by Andrew ( Mr.Carini- his behavioral specialist) and he sent it to me at work- how thoughtful-

He has been doing ok behaviorally- some issues lately but these should work out very quickly- track season has started and the first practice was yesterday and it was like a family reunion- Coach Gig greeted everyone with a hug- love it love it love it

TRack TRACK TrACk

Yes it is finally track season - I have so looked forward to this since track season was over-

I absolutely love it- ot sure who has more fun me or Marcus-

I just love the family feeling of the team and the meets so remind of my self back int he day being on the swim team-

We have a meet in Sarasota this year so I am excited to go to that one cause my parents will be able to come see the boy in action-

So here me now - if you want to come see him run there are several opportunities - you want to see this - he is a amazing- I know I am his mom and suppose to say it- but he is a talented runner anyone who has had to chase him down knows this

THere is a additional benefit this year- I will be walking the track with friends- yeah- last year I worked on my counseling classes this year working on myself :)

PaRenTs r yoU Feeling aLonE toDaY

Do you have a child with behavioral or emotional needs - I do and I wanted to help others with this- so I started another site with message boards-

We need to love these children no matter how frustrating it gets- do you need to know that you are not alone- then visit my other site parents.


It takes a lot of love to reach into these children- a lot of patience and a lot of heartaches-

keep pressing in keep pursuing the help they need you are not a lone and you are loved

Why Valentines Day

I did not have the blog background I have for Valentines Day- I have it simply because I think you should tell the people you care about on daily basis- Marcus and I have this thing we do and he does not even realize it- I hug him- give him a kiss- tell him I love him - and tell him to have a good day every day before I leave for work- I also tell him I will see him later-

So why wait til Valentines Day- you don't - do it everyday- to whom ever you care about -

If I could list all the people on here that mean the world to me I would-but the list would be incredibly long- you know who you are - I love you all- care about you and have a good day.

I was speaking to our case worker yesterday and Marcus' therapist this week- he has made progress since the end of October- since July of 2005 - yes apporaching 5 years of being in my home - can you believe it- and finally he has voiced on his own- I know my mommy loves me even whe I am not behaving- you have to understand this is huge!!!! Also this week we had a break through at school which tickles me- Marcus Behavioral Specialist told me Marcus asked to give him a hug- this was a first in 3 years. God sure is amazing

I am not one who focuses on Valentines Day- I understand why we have it and great- but I truly believe that love should be celebrated daily and we must remember what the bible says

1 Corinthians 13:4 (The Message)
3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Weekend Review

It all started on Friday- I received 3 children from my sister and her husband so they could spend time together on their 10th anniversary- weekend-
I wanted to help them out- they have been through alot in the 10 years they have been married and they needed time to themselves - so I took on the task of 4 kids- and let me just say it was not too bad not bad at all- Marcus was very well behaved- proud of him- just minor kid issues and I did not have to use duct tape or bailing twine- so we were good to go

How many of you know you can entertain children by taking your car to the car wash- love it

We went to the night parade with the Garlands- had a good time and got lots of beads - the kids were well behaved there as well-

They got up the next morning for church with no issues of course I told them I want no whining in the AM.

Service was good- they were good- all was good

Lori and Stacy picked them up about 2 ish- Ainsley and Marcus were snoozing and the rest of us were watchiing some TV

They left and Marcus and I went to the superbowl party at church - we left early after a meltdown- we had planned to leave earlier- but things went south- he came home and crashed.
Saints won- congratulations

True Friends

I received this from a friend of mine and love it - so I am sharing with all of you-

1. When you are sad, I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew!!!

2. When you are blue, I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile, I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you're scared, we will high tail it out of here.

5. When you are worried, I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining, ya big baby!!!!

6. When you are confused, I will use little words.

7. When you are sick, Stay away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.....

8. When you fall, I'll pick you up and dust you off-- After I laugh my rear off!!

9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end.

'Why?' you may ask; -- because you are my FRIEND! *********************** Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only YOU can feel the true warmth