Pumpkin carving

I just love the fall! Apples...pumpkins...cooler weather...and then Halloween. I know it's a controversial holiday for Christians but I just love it. I think we have done pretty well at keeping it pretty child like. The unfortunate thing is that this year I am appalled at the world's ability to make this the scariest, creepiest, most demonic holiday ever. Thank goodness for churches that provide fall festivals, and fall parties to keep the party fun...but not scary! The kids love dressing up...photos to come... and I just love watching them. They have been counting the days until they can wear their costumes. This week we carved "Jack!" We named him this year...thanks to the book Pumpkin Jack! Dad always does the work...this year with the help of Samuel...

Meant to be...

Ran across this today...just beautiful
A song by Steven Curtis Chapman

Long Before You Drew Your First Breath
A Dream Was Coming True

God Wanted to Give A Gift To The World
So He Wrapped It Up In You

Every Step That You’ve Taken
Every Move That You Make
Is Part Of His Plan

You Were Meant To Be Touching
The Lives That You Touch
And Meant To Be Here
Making This World So Much More
Than It Would Be Without You In It

You Were Meant To Be Bringing
The Gifts That You Bring
And Singing The Songs
You’ve Been Given To Sing

You Are Perfectly, Wonderfully,
Beautifully Meant To Be
You Were Meant To Be

Long Before You Took Your First Fall
You stumbled to the ground
God started telling the story of you to the angles around
Every failure and victory
Everything inbetween
Its all in his hand

You Were Meant To Be Touching
The Lives That You Touch
And Meant To Be Here
Making This World So Much More
Than It Would Be Without You In It

You Were Meant To Be Bringing
The Gifts That You Bring
And Singing The Songs
You’ve Been Given To Sing

You Are Perfectly, Wonderfully,
Beautifully Meant To Be
You Were Meant To Be (yeah)
Meant To Be
You are
You are
You are meant to be
You are
You are
You are meant to be

For every breath that your taking
And every move that you make
It’s a meaningful life you’ve been given
Live it well

You Were Meant To Be Touching
The Lives That You Touch
And Meant To Be Here
Making This World So Much More
Than It Would Be Without You In It

You Were Meant To Be Bringing
The Gifts That You Bring
And Singing The Songs
You’ve Been Given To Sing

You Are Perfectly, Wonderfully,
Beautifully Meant To Be (yeah)
You Were Meant To Be (yeah)
You Were Meant To Be (yeah)
You Were Meant To Be
To Be

Sweetpea Beauty

I watched this Veggie Tale movie with Gracie last night. She was a little too young to get it. It had a great message of inner beauty that only is God given...I cannot wait to have them all watch it again. It is great for girls who are growing up in today's world and it really is good for my kids as they get older in understanding Bubs...take out the part about little girls and this song was written for him too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orc4TuIO56s

Cub Scouts and Soccer

We have been so busy lately. Seems that Brian and I apparently do not understand how to say, "NO!" This fall has been packed with Cub Scout Meetings (Brian's the den leader) and soccer (Brian's the coach!) ...not to mention we are teaching Sunday School and I am teaching preschool. It's been a lot to get to used to but also a lot of fun. Samuel is very excited about being a new Tiger Cub. Bub has been a part of it all as much as he has wanted to. He is certain he does not want to wear a uniform but enjoys doing some of the activities. The whole family recently attended Tiger Day. It was an all day event packed with every boy activity you could imagine. It was held at the Boy Scout Camp in Goochland. Here are some pictures of our last few fall days. Oh...did I mention the soccer team this year is yet again UNDEFEATED...They have an awesome coach! :)

Bub's Buddies...

Yesterday was our eighth year at the Buddy Walk. It's a great day filled with smiles, laughter, and many thanks to God for our sweet Bubs. It sometimes takes a day like this to make we realize how blessed I am to have my Bubs. I see so many things that almost make me want to cry...adults with DS that make me fast forward to what an older Bubs will be like, children who haven't been as blessed as we have with good health, friends who love Bubs, kids who accept Bubs and walk along side him,and Bub's sweet-sweet smile when he gets to do the things he loves...bounce houses and standing with that Chick fil a cow. It is truly a most wonderful day for a mom! I have to step back and just look at Bubs today. He is an incredible kid...with some incredible siblings and friends! We have so much to be thankful for and so good to be reminded for the days that are hard!

Funny thing...

how God gives you what you need right when you need it...

We had been having some trouble with Bubs at school. He's never been the behavior problem but for some reason the last few days at school have not been good ones. We have had to really come down on him lately. The teacher at school was at her wits end the last few days and has even had to call me from school. He's just been really silly and doesn't seem to want to settle down and listen. He's been doing some "odd" things also like hiding under tables and running from the teachers. I could only just pray that God could work something out in his little heart...and help his momma to stop crying about what was going on with him and how those other kids in his class must really think he's "weird." So... Brian and I have this conversation reminding ourselves that God did create Bubs special for His purpose. He is different in some ways but he still is a kid...most every kid has their rebellion, right? Just Bubs is a bit atypical...BUT praying still that the other kids don't think he's "weird. "

Then the next morning this was on YAHOO...

http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Down-syndrome-football-player-scores-TD-in-Washi?urn=highschool-272803

If you haven't seen it...it's about a high school kid that scores a touchdown for his school because his coach and his team think that he's worth it...they know he's a little different but they don't think he's "weird." He's truly changed their lives for the better...

So...maybe knowing Bubs (even seeing him misbehave) will somehow change those little lives for the better too...

See...God knew I needed to remember that! :)

Back to school...

Week one of school is now over. We all made it. Tues the boys started back to school, Wednesday Gracie went to "church" preschool at our church and this Friday was Day one of Homegrown Preschool. I think all in all the week went well. The boys love the bus! Bubs has the biggest smile the second he sees his driver turn the corner every morning. Although Samuel was a little hesitant the first morning he has taken to the ride quite quickly. I think it makes them both seem a little more independent. It's a little sad to see them growing up so fast but that's what's supposed to happen, right?? Gracie's doing well with our busy schedule. Thankfully all the activity has brought a few new naps into the schedule which has been nice for mommy. So here's some pictures of the first week.