Gabriel was in a Musical

I hope you can see this montage! He was awesome!

New School Year

It's been a big week for the kids, they're back in school!Joel is in first grade this year and Tim is in Kindergarten.They ride the school bus together in the morning but Tim gets home an hour earlier than Joel does. They come home tired. Get a load of these freckles! (Click to enlarge) We've had a great summer, I'm so thankful for that!

Kids in the mirror

I enjoy watching our kids playing at the mirror. The mirror is an element of speech therapy. They're so smart and funny-- if you watch you'll see elements of pretend play... like Timmy using his hand as a telephone and having a conversation with himself... and Ella trying to make the doll stand up and pretending it's a baby on her shoulder and rocking her. So sweet! Well, until the end ;o).

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A Wedding

Other recent happenings

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

He's here and adjusting

Wilson is adjusting a little at a time; he's being kept busy by others including meeting other exchange students, registering at the high school and this afternoon he dressed up to go to Super Saturday with the youth from our congregation (ward). He's a little worried, not sure he knows how to dance at the dance tonight but Lora encouraged him to try.

He's registered to play the marimba in the marching band and he will play piano and/or marimba in Wind Symphony which is the most elite band in the high school. He's also signed up for a novel reading class, math, biology, chemistry, dance, art and a writing class. Of course all of these classes will help with his English and he will have opportunity to meet lots of people. He will also attend early morning Seminary (scripture study) with his peers in our church.

I think the long trip and culture change must be really difficult, but it will be fun to see him gain more confidence as the school year progresses. Doesn't he have a great smile?

Wilson arrives TOMORROW!

Lots of things happening around here but for today I only have time for a short post--- our exchange student arrives from Hong Kong tomorrow evening! Here is a photo of him, we think he is adorable.

Boycott movie "Tropic Thunder"

Unfortunately, Dreamworks has put out a new movie that may very well undo much of the progress that has been made in the United States towards the acceptance and dignity of persons like my children who have intellectual disabilities. Please see this article in the Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/10/
AR2008081001869.html?hpid=opinionsbox1 (remove spaces)

and do like Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics pleads:

"Stop the hurtful jokes. Talk to your children about language that is bullying and mean. Ask your friends, your educators, your religious leaders to help us to end the stubborn myth that people with intellectual disabilities are hopeless. Ask Hollywood to get on the right side of dignity.

I hope others will join me in shutting this movie out of our lives and our pocketbooks. We don't live in times when labeling and humiliating others is funny. And we should send that message far and wide."

Joel in swimming pool

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Rock-a-bye babies

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Our little Ella is feeling better

I hope this isn't too confusing that I've been talking about two little girls with similar names. Our daughter is Ella Rose, our friend's daughter is Emma Hope. Both have Down syndrome, both were adopted, both have recently been through surgery. Our daughter's surgeries were not serious, but she's taken a while to be back to her "old" self again. I'm happy to announce that we have our little girl back since about Sunday afternoon, complete with appetite! It's so good to see her smiling, laughing and being her silly self again! So many blessings to be thankful for!

Emma Hope's Heart

Emma Hope Cornish made it through her heart surgery! She is now on a pacemaker and vent (and everything else) in Intensive Care. All of this is greater than some surgeons believed could be possible. Heavenly Father guided the surgeon's hands and helped Emma get to this point! The excellent heart surgeon said it was only the 2nd time in 20 years that he had performed a surgery of this type and wasn't sure it would work out. Emma's mommy told him it was successful because of prayer and the doctor agreed. Please continue praying for Emma to be able to progress through each recovery stage!

To follow her family's blog, click on the black and white photo titled "Emma's Hope" on the lower right side of my blog.

Please pray for Emma Hope

Emma Hope is a sweet little 5-year-old girl that grew up in bed in an Eastern European orphanage. She is home now with her adopted family but desperately needs her heart repaired. This will happen tomorrow, August 4th. It is a daring repair. Please pray for her surgeons and that Emma will do well! She is so dear to the Father, to her wonderful family and to me.

Gabriel's garden grows

The melon photo was taken today in Gabriel's garden, interesting method he's got going here... and the tomatoes are in his garden too. We're thankful to God for the bounteous harvest of food for our family's table!