a full mind

This is a picture of where we like to go camping. My husband captured this. It"s the world when it is winding down right before dark, your last chance to view it's beauty before it is engulfed by night.

We tent it, if you can believe that. All nine of us in two big tents and I wouldn't want it any other way. We swim, hike, ride bikes, take walks beside the lake, grill, sit around a camp fire, and roast marshmallows.

Once the kids are in bed, my husband and I sit around the fire, snuggle into each other and just drift into our thoughts before we to head into the tent to sleep.

Which to drift into my thoughts would be like getting onto the freeway with loops, turns, and twist. My mind keeps going to questions of my life decisions. I sometimes wonder if Life would have been easier for my husband, my children and I if I would have went to college. So I could have helped in the burden of money. I wonder If my time I invest in my children and my husband is making an impact, enough that it has been worth tight times. I love being with my kids, my husband and taking care of my family. I know that my boys wouldn't get as good of care at a daycare than they do with me. It would be hard to juggle speech therapy, early childhood teacher, deaf educator, Doctors appointments, plus five other children that need my attention. I know that if I worked I would be often to tired to be a devoting wife but still it crosses my mind some days that my husband carries a heavy burden supporting us. Tonight It has once again crossed my mind and as I put the kids to bed and started cleaning up the kitchen I happened to look up to a frame with a reading in it from Roy Lessin. I often forget it is there. Going by it dozens of times to busy to look up but tonight I did and I needed to. I thought I would share it with you.

CONTINUE ON

A woman once fretted over the usefulness of her life. She feared she was wasting here potential being a devoted wife and mother. She wondered if the time and energy she invested in her husband and children would make a difference.

At times she got discouraged because so much of what she did seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated. "Is it worth it?" she often wondered. "Is there something better that I could be doing with my time?"

It was during these moments of questioning that she heard the still small voice of her heavenly Father speak to her heart. " You are a wife and mother because that is what I have called you to be. Much of what you do is hidden from the public eye. But I notice. Most of what you give is done without remunerations. But I am your reward.

Your husband cannot be the man I have called him to be without your support. Your influence upon him is greater than you think and more powerful than you will ever know. I bless him through your service and honor him through your love. Your children are precious to Me. Even more precious than they are to you. I have entrusted them to your care to raise for Me. What you invest in them is an offering to Me.

You may never be in the public spotlight. But your obedience shines as a bright light before Me. Continue on. Remember you are My servant. Do all to please me.

I read this and I know God has called me to be a wife and mother. I need not worry about finances or any other worries. God will walk us through it all. God would not have given me two very special gifts, "our two boys who are deaf" if he didn't think I would cherish them and do right by them. He would not have given me five more children to rear, love, and take care of. I need to remember when I look back at life that I am exactly where God wants me to be.....

Diezel's summer

When you say "kissy kissy" Diezel will pucker up. I think it is so cute. Our summer has gone by so fast but it has gone by without an accident, in our family that is a miracle.

Diezel signs frog, please, more, uncle, thank you, kitty, puppy, eat, drink, candy, gum, want, but his favorite is no,no,no... He is trying out words with his voice. He says mom, dad, Douglas(Douglish), no(mo), don't, kitty, a few other words but can't think of them.

Diezel is due a follow up at Boystown National Research Hospital in Omaha Nebraska. I am curious to see how he does now that he is a little older. It seems like just yesterday he was a baby cradled in my arms. I can't believe he is nineteen months.

I am proud that my Diezel is learning to sign and speak. He comes from hearing parents so I want him use his voice. He was born deaf and that is apart of him as well. When the cochlear implant comes off he is still deaf so I want him to sign as well, the best of both worlds, why not?

Who would have ever guessed

We celebrated my husband's 40th birthday last night. There was karaoke. Here is a picture of my husband and our son singing together. When I learned that Douglas was deaf I would have never guessed that the day would come that he would sing karaoke...What a blessing....

Update

Summer is here. Douglas is out helping Grandma with her garden. He has joined the swim team. He has taken first every time so far. I am so impressed with my son. He has made sure that everyone knows his needs. He has his coach signal when the whistle is blown. He entered a speech contest for deaf and hard of hearing. He didn't win but I think he did well for his first time. His poem was featured in Boystown National Research Hospital's Newsletter. He is going to two deaf camps this summer. His summer is full and he wants to Hay for a friend as well. What he has done in all of sixteen years. He is going to be an amazing man someday. I am sure I am prejudice. He is my son after all.

new information

When I was deciding which way to go for Douglas with his language (sign,oral or total communication), I told his deaf educator that I wanted him to have speech therapy and I wanted him to learn to sign. I wanted Douglas to be given every opportunity as a deaf person and to be allowed every opportunity as if he was a hearing person. She told me this was total communication. Until a reader of my blog posted a comment about Sim-com, I had never heard of it. So I looked it up. My children can speak if they wish or sign if they wish or do both at the same time if they wish. As there parent until they are old enough to make their own decision I am going to do everything in my power to make sure they get the best of both. When my boys leave my home they will have enough knowledge to be what they choose. If they choose to be deaf and only sign, they will know how. If my boys decide to only speak and not use sign, they will know how. If my boys decide they want to speak and sign or speak or sign, they will know how. I want them to feel they can choose anything they want and know it is okay. I will be proud of them no matter what language they decide to choose. Douglas knows some see 2 signs and some ASL signs. He usually doesn't sign every single word but it is usually in English order..

Independent

I can't believe it but on April 25th 2009 my 15 month old's cochlear implant fell from his head and he grabbed it and put it back on. He is reaching such mile stones. How awesome is it that he knows it has to be on his head to hear sound...

MY BABY GOT HIS FIRST HAIRCUT!

Diezel Sat in the chair all by himself. He didn't bounce around whild Mindy cut and clipped his hair. Now he looks like a little gentleman. It seems like he is doing everything so fast. I suppose it's because he is our very last baby. I want to savior every single second, every single moment, and every single thing he does. The baby i know will be gone in a blink.