Wombats In The Belfry

Jingle Bells.........

2011-12-18T16:07:00.000-05:00

Christmas time is definitely one of our favorite times here in the Purdy house!

Last week we went to Christmas Lane and then drove around looking at Christmas lights for our Family Home Evening.

Here are some pictures!

Samuel actually sat still for a few seconds!!

So did Jessica!!!!

Samuel wouldn't hold still long enough to get a photo of both of them together in the sleigh however!!

Love their huge Christmas tree!

Jessica was a very good sport. Maybe this should go on the Christmas card this year?????

Ho ho ho.......Merry Christmas!!!!!

There is a Sam in there somewhere!!

I see his legs!!!!!!

There he is!!!!!

Time for a snack

It is tough getting a photo of my sweetie!

Sam got to ride the train several times, much to his delight!

I find the smile on the father snowman rather.......creepy......

Yep......haven't changed my mind

Samuel found these TVs shaped like yo yos ver facinating

I never have liked Jack-in-the boxes very much.......I'm watching you!!!!

Jessica was also cautious when passing the snowmen and the Jack-in-the box.....

Good-bye until next year Christmas Lane!!

Samuel talks about Christmas Lane every day. He grabs my hand and says, "I love Christmas Lane."
Jessica doesn't do that, but I know she thinks it!!!!

Sally-Ann

Catch-up time again.....Fall Festival

2011-12-16T18:04:00.001-05:00

Sam's school has a fall festival every year.

Just the right amount of activities and then they finish with a Thanksgiving Feast.

Building a scarecrow

Sam watches as Avery tries his hand at Scarecrow Toss

Taking a break

Table all set and ready for the feast!!

Yum, Yum!!!

Ready to eat!!

It was a fun day for all the children. They made t shirts with their hand print on it and then used their fingerprints to make leaves - a tree with fall colours.

Sally-Ann

If I am found dead, "Keep Calm and Carry On"........

2011-11-14T22:36:00.002-05:00

I have been trying to get my garage organized.

It is a job that requires a hard hat, a strong back, nerves of steel

and lots and lots and lots of large trash bags........

This actually is NOT my garage. Ours is not THIS messy

The process has been slowed down a little bit because amongst all the junk are boxes of mementos.

Photos, my baby's firsts......

their seconds,

thirds

and fourths......

.you get the idea!

Love letters from Jim to me.

Love letters from me to Jim.

Memories, memories, memories.

One of my most favorite photos that I found, is this one....

I was extremely pregnant with a 9lb 8.8oz Jessica.

Joshua wanted to come to my doctor appointment with me because he absolutely ~~loved~~ ~~adored~~ loved and adored our family doctor......Dr. Perzinski.

In this photo Joshua is listening to his sister's heartbeat.

A friend was doing a photography project and capturing the different stages of pregnancy on film.

That is the only reason a photo of my big belly exists!!!

Can't believe I am putting it on my blog!

But, I love the look of concentration on Joshua's face.

My next find was very bitter sweet.

It made me smile.....

It made me sad......

It caused me to reflect a bit.

It made me think of this.....

Shortly after my mother died, my good friend Andrea, sent me a box with some of her things. I had forgotten about this one item, it is a note, and when I unfolded the paper, I laughed out loud.
My Mum would put many of these notes around her house.

"If found dead, PLEASE do not panic.
Phone Anne on *** *** and she will call Dr. Monks.
Remind him I'm not to go to the morgue!! Murphy McKay Funerals
Phone Murphy McKay *** ***
and Sally ***************"

Yes, this may seem a strange thing.
If you knew my mother.........not so strange.

My mother had bad health and the last few years of her life she would often have times where she was sure that she was going to die on a certain day or weekend. Mum would often call me and tell me this - so it wouldn't be a shock when I received the call!
I would always call her a few days later, and when she answered the phone, I would ask her how come she was answering the phone!! She would get mad and hang-up on me!!

What made me sad then, and makes me sad today, is that she concentrated so much on preparing for her death and preparing others for it, that she stopped living.

We need to find joy in every day.
Sometimes this may be hard.
But, if we look hard enough, there is always a bright spot in each day.

Samuel helps me to find the joy in each day.
He is a happy boy.
When you walk in the door he greets you with joy.
He builds you up.
He encourages you to "try again Mummy!"
and gives you a resounding, "You did it!" or, "Good job!" when you do try again and succeed.

Are we that encouraging and supportive to those that we meet?
Do we have joy on our faces??
Are we living in the moment???
Or are we swept up in what was and what will be?
Worrying about the past and about the future takes away from where we are.

Oh, I know that everything can't be sunshine and roses all the time.
But, we can live joyfully........

Just ask Sam.

Sally-Ann

Today

2011-11-11T22:00:00.000-05:00

I was going to repost this a few days ago, but didn't.
It is a post I did about my brother.
I have changed my mind and will repost it after all.
Today is Veteran's Day here in the USA. My brother didn't serve in the military, but he will always be a hero to me.

A few days ago I titled one of my posts, "Sometimes".

Last night and today, and I am sure in the next few days, I have thought about that post and the emotions behind it.

It has been a very long time since I have actually sobbed when I have cried. The big heart wrenching sobs that are uncontrollable.......the ones that actually hurt your chest.

It amazes me how quickly life can change.

How the world as we know it will never be the same.

In the blink of an eye........

Or the ring of a telephone........

Today, I got out of bed like any other day. I got Samuel ready for school and drove him through rush hour traffic to get there. I sat through PTA meeting, walked through the mall and bought brining stuff for our Thanksgiving turkey. All normal, every day type of stuff.

But, today wasn't the same.

Everything is different now.

Katrina, Graham (brother), Dianne (sister-in-law), Anthony and Jason. Andrew wasn't there.

This is my brother and his family at the airport when I left Tasmania to fly to the USA to marry Jim. Nearly 25 years ago!

Anthony, Jason, Katrina, Dianne and Graham. Andrew isn't there again!!! I sense a pattern.

Both these photos were taken last July when we were back in Tasmania for vacation.

Aahaa! The elusive Andrew is on the right!


Graham getting an earful from Auntie Lyn. She was telling him to visit!

Finally! One of them all together.

This photo, and the next several, were taken in Western Australia when Graham and Dianne went to visit their kids and grandchildren.

I've been trying to recall my earliest memory of my big brother. Graham was 17-years-old when I came into the picture. My sister Gayle was 14.
Here are some of my memories:

Every pay day, Graham would buy me a little bag of mixed lollies.
I loved Graham's bedspread, it had a horse on it.
Graham drove trucks for a living at one stage, and sometimes he would take me with him.
I loved riding on the back of his motorbike, especially when he would take me to school sometimes.......I felt so cool :)
Graham was hired to cut down some big trees at my elementary school. While there a huge bull escaped from the local "Sales" yard and made into the school yard. While everyone watched out the windows, my brother caught it and took it back to where it belonged. Then, after school, he took me home on the back of his motorbike.
Whenever I got into trouble with my Mum, which happened quite frequently, Graham would swoop in and rescue me.
Most of my summers were spent at Graham and Dianne's house.
Everyone loves to hear Graham stories. My brother is Crocodile Dundee and Steve Irwin all rolled up into one package.
Everyone knows my brother
I know that if I ever needed anything, my brother would take care of me. Everyone needs a big brother like Graham. A little rough around the edges, but a heart of gold.
Graham would buy me mega cans of Milo.
When I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting at church, Graham would always come if I asked him.


Granny Geale, Graham and Mum

Grandfather Geale, Granny Geale and Graham

My sister Gayle - 12, Graham - 14

These are the only pictures I have of Graham in his "younger" days. My scanner isn't all that flash, so this is the best I can do for now.

This photo was taken at a picnic right before I left to come to the USA.

So many in the above photo are no longer here.

They are my family.

Last night.
With the blink of an eye.
With the ring of the phone.
Everything changed.

Eric Graham Johns
Graham is a son, big brother, husband, father and grandfather.
He loved his family.
Graham loved going up to his shack at the lakes.
Words cannot say everything that Graham is.

Last night,
Graham died,
and now, everything is different.

Sally-Ann

You've learned the language so well......and quickly!

2011-11-10T20:34:00.001-05:00

I have lived in the United States for 25 1/2 years now.

Over the years I have been asked some very weird questions.

Sometimes I don't know whether to attempt an answer, or just ignore the person asking the questions.

It is a family joke that ~~still doesn't get old~~ still gets told about the first question someone asked me when I moved here.

Are you ready??

"In Australia, do you have...........

indoor plumbing,

satellite dishes

and running water?"

What do you think I answered?

A friend recently shared this on facebook and I am going to share it here. I have seen these questions before and they still boggle my mind.......

These were posted on an Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials.

__________________________________________________
Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia ? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? ( UK ).
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
__________________________________________________

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? ( USA )
A: Depends how much you've been drinking.
__________________________________________________

Q:I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? ( Sweden )
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.
__________________________________________________

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in

Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay ? ( UK )
A: What did your last slave die of?
__________________________________________________

Q:Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia ? ( USA )
A: A-Fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe.
Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not
... Oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.
__________________________________________________

Q:Which direction is North in Australia ? (USA )
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
_________________________________________________

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia ? ( UK )
A:Why? Just use your fingers like we do...
__________________________________________________

Q:Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? ( USA )
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is
Oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
__________________________________________________

Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia ? ( UK )
A: You are a British politician, right?
__________________________________________________

Q:Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? ( Germany )
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers.
Milk is illegal.
__________________________________________________

Q:Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. ( USA )
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from.
All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.
__________________________________________________

Q:I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name.

It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. ( USA )
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them.
You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
__________________________________________________

Q:I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth.

Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia ? ( USA )
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
__________________________________________________

Q:Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia ? ( France )
A: Only at Christmas.
__________________________________________________

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? ( USA )
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first

But, I think my all time favorite comment came from a customer I was helping when I worked in a department store in Minneapolis.

Customer: "How long have you been in the United States?"

Me: "About 1 1/2 years."

Customer: "You've picked up the language so quickly and speak English so fluently!"

Me: (biting my tongue) "Well, thank you!" (didn't want to lose a customer!!)

Sally-Ann

Still trying to master the English language........

CELEBRATION time.....come on and on and on and on

2011-11-08T11:16:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning was nice and cool.

Perfect for a game of soccer......

Samuel did not agree.

Either did Jessica......she stayed in bed.

Samuel was very excited about going to soccer,

BUT,

when we arrived, his tune changed.

Samuel waiting in line with Dad to do some warm-up exercises.

and waiting.......

Samuel gave up waiting and declared it "break time!"

Samuel decided to give it a try. He will kick for fries.

After soccer we headed of home to get ready for Sam's birthday party.

This was Sam's 1st "organized" friend party.

Looking back, our older kids had some bobby dazzler parties by this stage in their lives.

We thought it was time for Sam.

Plus, it gave me a chance to use the term "bobby dazzler."

The party was at a place called, "Pump It Up."

Who is that lone parent...and how did he manage to be alone?

Many a child (and adult) tried to climb this wall. Very hard with socks on!!

It is good to be king!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SAMUEL

Silence reigned supreme for a few minutes!!

Samuel opened 1 present. Sam is not into present opening??

I think a good time was had by all.

Thank you to all that came.

Maybe same time, same place, next year!

Sally-Ann & Samuel

CELEBRATION time......come on

2011-11-07T12:25:00.001-05:00

This year Samuel had a week long birthday celebration.

It was not planned this way.

It just happened.......

A birthday banner made for Sam by Amanda Call

First, we had a birthday celebration at Sam's School.

Sam wanted cake. So, we made a Halloween Confetti cake and bought it in for his class
snack time.

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you!!

Happy Birthday dear Samuel!

Happy Birthday to you!!!!!

It was very quiet in the classroom for a short period of time!!

Sam asked to have Chick-fil-A for lunch.

Sam also loves balloons, so he bought star shaped balloons for his classmates.

On Sam's actual birthday, 29th October, Soccer was cancelled because of the rain.

Sam had been asking ALL week to go to the Aquarium, so that is what we did!

Samuel isn't a kid who stands around......so, the photos are what they are!

The things that you see....yes, that is a man dressed as a pink fairy

COME ON!!! Mum, Dad and Jessica!

CHEESE!

One of Sam's favorite things to do is put coins in the wishing well.....

The weather cleared up nicely, so Sam got to

SPLASH

HAH!!! You missed me!

Sam worked up quite an appetite

THEN...........

on Sunday, Aunt Michelle came over and we had

CUPCAKES!

We also sang......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SAMUEL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

And let's not forget

HALLOWEEN

Sally-Ann

P.S more birthday celebration to come!!!!

Waiting, waiting, waiting........

2011-10-14T12:59:00.001-04:00

About this time 6 years ago, I was laying in a hospital bed ~~patiently~~

waiting, waiting, waiting.......

Bed rest for a high risk pregnancy does not help you develop patience.

You have a lot of time on your hands.

A lot of time to worry...

A lot of time to stress.....

A lot of time to dwell on nightmares from the past.....

All the things that the bed rest, in the hospital, were supposed to help aleviate.

HAH!!! I say.

The doctors didn't know me as well as they thought they did!!

What is one of my biggest fears in life???

Needles.......

More precisely, needles sticking into me.

Yet, every Monday for 3 weeks I endured a amnio.

They are not for the faint hearted.

I am most definetely not the poster child for this procedure.

But, for my children, I would do anything....

are you reading children?????

I have read in the scriptures about people praying continuously for nights and days.

I often thought......how could they do that??

Every day the nurses would come in to monitor Samuel's heart beat.

Every day I would hold my breath and wait.

Nearly every day they couldn't find it.

Nearly every day I would go down to have an ultra sound.

There I would hear that reasurring thump, thump, thump.

Then, then I could breath again.

I now know and understand how someone can pray continuously.....unceasingly.

I would do anything for this little boy.

At times I still feel that I am praying for him continuously......unceasingly.

Sally-Ann

If you're happy and you know it........

2011-10-03T15:59:00.000-04:00

I had good intentions of posting this earlier.

But.......I didn't.

So, here it is now!

Mondays can be tough.

In case you are having a bad Monday....

A case of afternoon blaahs......

or just need a pick-me-up in general.

Here is an original art project by

SAMUEL WILTON PURDY

If you're happy and you know it,

CLAP YOUR HANDS

If you're happy and you know it,

CLAP YOUR HANDS

If you're happy and you know it,

then you face should surely show it

If you're happy and you know it,

CLAP YOU HANDS!!!

The Wikki Sticks that are next to the smiley face are balloons.

Sam loves playing with Wikki Sticks.

The big blue blob that is on the smiley face's head is a "bandaid" for his "boo boo".

Hope everyone is having a "boo boo" free day.

If you are not, I hope that there is someone to give you a bandaid.

Sally-Ann and Samuel

Splish Splash

2011-09-30T08:15:00.001-04:00

Samuel has been sick the past few days. When Samuel lays lethargically on the couch, keeps asking for the doctor so the doctor can make him feel better, and won't eat french fries........

you know he is definitely not well!!!

The one benefit of Samuel not feeling well is that he wants me to hold him and snuggle. It is wonderful for me to sit and hold my little boy. He is such a ball of energy usually and this just doesn't happen very often!

One of my favorite things to do is to swim.

Always has been.

Thankfully, my children like to swim as well.

Samuel absolutely loves the water.

That has presented a few scary moments in our lives, because along with his love for water, Samuel also has no fear of water.

We have had Samuel in swimming lessons and he just passed Level 2 Seal.

I also try to take Sam swimming every day during the week if possible. After school Sam asks if we can go to the Clayson's pool and I just hope that it doesn't start raining on the drive home to get changed into swimsuits.

We will be forever grateful for their generosity!

Next to the hot tub is a decorative feature known in our family.....and perhaps everyone else as well.....as the

BIG ROCK.

Here is Samuel heading towards the

BIG ROCK

5...4...3...2...

1...0...

BLAST OFF!!!

KER-SPLASH!!!

Off to do it all over again.....

This is a wonderful time for me as Sam's mother.

We spend a couple of care free hours just swimming, playing, singing, talking and just having fun.

For those few hours Samuel is just like every other 5-year-old.

No therapies to worry about.

No behavior issues to worry about.

No worries about if we are doing enough.

No worries about the future.

Just the present.

Just the joy in his face........

as he jumps off the big rock.

Sally-Ann

First Day of Kindergarten

2011-09-28T08:58:00.000-04:00

When your child goes off to school on that very first day.

It is nerve wracking for a parent.

Well, it is for me.

Doesn't matter how old they are.

I just worry about them and for them on that very first day.

Even my big boy Joshua......

He is 24 and in college.

I worried about him this year.

I don't have a photo of him going off to class on his first day of college.

But, I want him to have a great year never the less.......

I do have photos of Sam on his first day of kindergarten this year.

Walking into his school.

Sam was very happy to have a desk with his name on it.

No matter what age your child is on that first day of the school year, as a parent you still have hopes, dreams and wishes for them. With each child they may be a bit different, but you still have them.

For my big boy Joshua.......he graduates this year, I want him to be successful so he can make his way along the career path he chooses.

For my little boy Samuel......I want him to make great strides like he did last year.

When your child is autistic, your goals may be a little different than the ones you have for your other children.

But, ultimately, they are the same.

You want your children to be happy.

You want them to succeed in the things they set out to do.

You want them to have friends.

You want them to grow and flourish.

Not really sure about that last line......

Not sure what the heck in means.....

Will leave it there.....

I think you understand.

Sam has a tough time with change and the beginning of this school year has been a little rocky. Sometimes he doesn't want to go, he tells me, "It is so different." Some old issues have crept back and it is hard as a parent to deal with that. But, deal we will.

This year I want Sam to continue to find his voice and use his words. This time last year he couldn't tell me that it bothered him that "it is so different."

This year Samuel gives me a kiss and tells me that he loves me as he heads off to school.

Last year that was a seldom heard phrase and when we asked Sam for a kiss, he would bow his head so you could plant a kiss on top.

There is so much I want this year..........

Cocoa Beach

2011-09-27T11:11:00.000-04:00

The week before school started, we decided to do one last week at the beach. We don't get to do things "spur of the moment" very often. This worked out great and we had a wonderful time.

To quote Sam, "I love the beach!"

The Pier at Cocoa Beach - right by our condo

Looking out from our patio

Master Bedroom

Kid's bedroom

Living room

Jim and Sam

Sam and Jim

Sam just loved all the waves.....

Our condo

When Samuel wasn't swimming, he was digging!!!

Do you see Jessica in any of these photos????

Nope.....

Me either........

Where was Jessica???

She emerged on occasion to swim in the pool and also when we went to....

The Ron Jon Surf Shop.

A great place to browse for a surf board, t shirt and other over priced souvenirs.

Also part of the Purdy exercise plan.....

chasing Sam up and down the stairs and through all the displays.

It was a great week of swimming, reading, walking along the beach and......

doing absolutely nothing!!!

Sally-Ann

September 11th

2011-09-11T01:00:00.001-04:00

Badge from fire helmet discovered in the debris post 9/11/01

I was looking for something to post on this day, and when I read this article, I knew that this was it.

9/11 destruction allowed us to spiritually rebuild

By Thomas S. Monson

The calamity of September 11th, 2001 has cast a long shadow. Ten years later, many of us are still haunted by its terrible tragedy of lost lives and broken hearts. It is an episode of anguish that has become a defining moment in the history of the American nation and the world. This week, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, along with Tom Brokaw, will pay its own homage to the unforgettable events of September 11, 2001.

There was, as many have noted, a remarkable surge of faith following the tragedy. People across the United States rediscovered the need for God and turned to Him for solace and understanding. Comfortable times were shattered. We felt the great unsteadiness of life and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it. Americans of all faiths came together in a remarkable way.

Sadly, it seems that much of that renewal of faith has waned in the years that have followed. Healing has come with time, but so has indifference. We forget how vulnerable and sorrowful we felt. Our sorrow moved us to remember the deep purposes of our lives. The darkness of our despair brought us a moment of enlightenment. But we are forgetful. When the depth of grief has passed, its lessons often pass from our minds and hearts as well.

Our Father’s commitment to us, His children, is unwavering. Indeed He softens the winters of our lives, but He also brightens our summers. Whether it is the best of times or the worst, He is with us. He has promised us that this will never change.

But we are less faithful than He is. By nature we are vain, frail, and foolish. We sometimes neglect God. Sometimes we fail to keep the commandments that He gives us to make us happy. Sometimes we fail to commune with Him in prayer. Sometimes we forget to succor the poor and the downtrodden who are also His children. And our forgetfulness is very much to our detriment.

If there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from our experience of that fateful day, it may be that we owe to God the same faithfulness that He gives to us. We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. It should not require tragedy for us to remember Him, and we should not be compelled to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. We too should be with Him in every season.

The way to be with God in every season is to strive to be near Him every week and each day. We truly “need Him every hour,” not just in hours of devastation. We must speak to Him, listen to Him, and serve Him. If we wish to serve Him, we should serve our fellow men. We will mourn the lives we lose, but we should also fix the lives that can be mended and heal the hearts that may yet be healed.

It is constancy that God would have from us. Tragedies are not merely opportunities to give Him a fleeting thought, or for momentary insight to His plan for our happiness. Destruction allows us to rebuild our lives in the way He teaches us, and to become something different than we were. We can make Him the center of our thoughts and His Son, Jesus Christ, the pattern for our behavior. We may not only find faith in God in our sorrow. We may also become faithful to Him in times of calm.

Thomas S. Monson is president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Remember when........I dare you!!!

2011-08-19T10:51:00.000-04:00

REMEMBER WHEN:
All the girls had ugly gym slips?

These gym slips actually look a lot like my primary school winter uniform!!

It took five minutes for the TV to warm up

Nearly everyone's Mum was home when the kids got home from school

Nobody owned a purebred dog

You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny

Your Mother wore nylons that came in two pieces

All male teachers wore ties and female teachers had their hair done every day and wore high heels

You got your windscreen cleaned, oil checked and petrol served, without asking, all for free, every time..

It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents

I didn't eat at a "real restaurant" until I was 13!!

They threatened to keep children back a year if they failed the school year. . .. and they did!

When a Ford Zephyr was everyone's dream car...
and people went steady

No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked

Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles?

Playing cricket with no adults to help the children with the rules of the game

Bottles came from the corner shop without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger

And with all our progress, don't you wish, just once, you could slip back in time and savour the slower pace, and share it with the children of today?

When being sent to the headmasters office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited you at home

Basically, we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs etc.. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! But we survived because their love was greater than the threat.
As well as summers filled with bike rides, cricket, Hula Hoops, skating and visits to the pool, eating lemonade powder or liquorice sticks.

Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say,

'Yes, I remember that'?

I am sharing this with you today because it ended with a Double Dare to pass it on.

To remember what a Double Dare is, read on, and remember that the perfect age is somewhere between old enough to know better and too young to care.

Send this on to someone who can still remember the Lone Ranger and Sgt Bilko

How Many Of These Do You Remember?
Coca Cola in bottles.

Blackjacks and bubble gums.

Home milk delivery in glass bottles with tinfoil tops

Hi-If's & 45 RPM records.

78 RPM records!

Adding Machines.

Do You Remember a Time When..
Decisions were made by going 'Eeny-meeny-miney-moe'?
'Race issue' meant arguing about who ran the fastest?
Catching tadpoles could happily occupy an entire day?

It wasn't odd to have two or three 'Best Friends'?

The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was 'chickenpox'?

Having a Weapon in School meant being caught

with a Catapult

War was a card game?

Cigarette cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle?

Taking drugs meant orange - flavoured chewable aspirin?

Water balloons were the ultimate weapon?

If you can remember most or all of these, Then You Have Lived!!!!!!!

Share this with someone who may need a break today
Double Dare You!

Hugs

2011-08-16T16:39:00.001-04:00

We are spending the week at the beach.

Some bad weather just blew through, so I am checking my e-mails, facebook, etc..

The following video was posted on a autism web site and it caught my attention.

It isn't autism related, just shared to remind everyone to have a great day!

It reminded me the importance of human touch.

My mother told me several times that one of the hardest things about being a divorced, elderly woman was the lack of human touch - hugs.

This is something that has been told to me several times by many people that I know.

You don't have to necessarily be "elderly".

It is something that can affect everyone.

How often does a simple smile.....

a wave......

a gentle touch on someones arm......

a hug.......

make all the difference in someones day?

Here is the history behind the video.

"The "Free Hugs" video is, arguably, one of the most popular on YouTube with well over 69 MILLION views but we think it's worth sharing, just one more time.

In 2004, Juan Mann was depressed and lonely when he went to a party and was given a hug by someone he didn't know and it made him feel great. The next day he made a sign proclaiming "FREE HUGS" and stood at the Pitt Street Mall in central Sydney, Australia. It took 15 minutes before an eldery woman took him up on his offer and the rest is history. 69,000,000 views later the "Free Hugs" campaign has spread all over the world with its only goal to let people know that others care!"

l hope that this brings a smile to your face on this Tuesday afternoon.

And, remember to give someone a hug, a smile or even a "Hello!" You never know when it may make a difference.

Sally-Ann

Monday.......Family Home Evening!!

2011-08-01T17:38:00.000-04:00

This Family Home Evening is taked from LDS Living and seemed to go along with my post on change today! Hope that it helps!

We are having leftovers for dinner - brautwurst, seafood salad, corn on the cob, potato and baked beans. Dessert will be......BROWNIES AND ICE-CREAM......yum, yum!!

Priorities

How can we learn to tune out less important things and give attention to the things the matter most?

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “Desire,” by Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, May

2011, 42.

Thought:

Readjusting our desires to give highest priority to the things of eternity is not easy.

We are all tempted to desire that worldly quartet of property, prominence, pride, and

power. We might desire these, but we should not fix them as our highest priorities.

(Dallin H. Oaks, “Desire,” Ensign, May 2011, 42.)

Song:

“Seek the Lord Early,” Children’s Songbook, p. 108.

Scripture:

"Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye

earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given."

(Doctrine and Covenants 46:8)

Lesson:

Have your family look for reasons William Marks and Newel K. Whitney had

tarried in Kirtland as you read together D&C 117:1–9. Discuss these questions:

• Which of the Ten Commandments is spoken of in verses 4 and 8? (Thou shalt

not covet.)

• What was the object of their covetous desires? (Property—see verse 4.)

• What do you think is the “drop” and what might be “more weighty matters”?

(See verse 8.)

Share the following description about verse 8 from Elder John B. Dickson of the Seventy.

“As we examine a drop of water, we observe that it is not permanent and will evaporate. In this case, the men’s personal property was important by their standard of measure but was temporary in the sense that it was earthbound and could not pass through the veil with them as they departed this short mortal life.

“In our day, the dwellings we live in are extremely important in most of our social situations. They should be well-kept, comfortable places where our family can be drawn around us, but we need to realize that as we leave this life we cannot take them with us. The same could be said about our automobiles, computers, jewelry, televisions, and thousands of other earthly possessions. As much as we enjoy them and need many of them, they will stay here, remain temporary, and are but a drop when considered from an eternal perspective.

“Our children must be taught that the ‘more weighty matters’ help them qualify for and ultimately enjoy eternal blessings. While there is nothing wrong with certain possessions and wealth, righteously attained and handled, we must teach our children that the weighty matters include the gospel of Jesus Christ, His Atonement, the family, the priesthood, Christlike attributes, knowledge, and gospel ordinances and covenants.

“We need to teach them never to give up eternal blessings in pursuit of the temporary things of the world. . . . We must teach our children never to give up those things that matter most in pursuit of those things that matter least.” (Ensign, September 2003, 12.)

Discuss with your family what family priorities may need to be altered in light of Elder Dickson’s advice.

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Doctrine and Covenants,

[Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 204.)

Story:

Let’s talk about some of the consequences of seeing yourself first, foremost, and always as a

Christian. The first consequence is that the juggling stops. If you think of all your tasks, jobs, and roles as balls that you somehow have to keep in the air, then your religious service is just another ball to add. Sooner or later, you’re going to drop the balls, because no one can juggle forever. But if you are a Christian, then that is your permanent identity and everything else is temporary. Think of this example.

You dash into the grocery store to pick up some ice cream for supper. You’re a harried mom, a frantic shopper, eager to get in and get out. Other people are in your way—the person stocking the shelves, the people ahead of you in the checkout line, the checker. You’re even more frazzled when you reach the car.

But suppose you go in as a Christian disguised as a shopper. You see other people on your way to the ice cream, excuse yourself and smile when you reach past the person stocking the shelves, comment on the weather to the person standing in front of you at the checkout stand, and thank the checker who whisks the ice cream into a bag for you. You reach the car having had three very pleasant encounters and feeling good.

If we see every place, every job, every responsibility as an opportunity to be with another precious child of God who needs our ministry, the ministry we can bring as a Christian and as a disciple of Christ, then even a very busy schedule doesn’t feel like juggling any more. Something has taken the fragmentation out of it and given us a unified purpose.

(Chieko N. Okazaki, Aloha!, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1995].)

Activity:

Family members line up standing side-by-side, separated by the distance obtained when players stretch their arms sideways. Fingertips should touch between players. The first player in line takes and inflated balloon, and bats it towards the second person in line, who bats it to the third person, on down the line and back again. The only rule is this: once the players have taken their stance, they may not move their feet. If a balloon falls to the floor, or if someone moves his feet in an attempt to reach the balloon, the first person in line must run and get the balloon, and take it back to the starting line to begin again.

Refreshments! Yummy brownies and ice-cream

Sally-Ann

Change, Change and Change........

2011-08-01T17:13:00.000-04:00

Ever had a feeling that there is change coming into your life?

Anyone hate that feeling as much as I do??

Or do you embrace the feeling of change and run with it???

In my current mood about the thought of change, that could be like running with scissors!!

Now, don't get me wrong, there have been times in my life where I would go running off, arms flaying wildly, scissors in hand.........the points up, ready to impale me at the slightest stumble.

But, at this time in my life, I have come to not enjoy change as I once did.

Why?

I don't really know why.

One reason is probably Samuel. He doesn't do well with changes. We have to prepare him as much as we can if there is going to be a major change in schedules, etc..

Even small changes get a countdown.

"5 more minutes and then it is time to go to the car."

All the way down to 0 minutes.

Samuel does great with a schedule.

Another reason could be that I am just ~~getting old~~ ~~aging gracefully~~ getting old.

I am set in my ways.

Like Sam, I like a schedule!

I also think that we often get comfortable with the way things are.

Complacent.....

Even a little lazy......

Because, after all, change takes an effort.

Change for the better is something that has to be worked for and at.

How many times do we say that we are going to change?

How often do we give up without really trying to make a change.

I mean REALLY trying.

I don't know if there is going to be a change in my life or not.

There has already been one major change this week, so maybe that is it.

Sometimes a change needs to be jump started.

So, I have been looking around to see where I need to make a change.

I have been trying to be more organized.

It is a constant battle to keep the house organized.......my quest for organization has even spilled over to Jim's office.

But, I also want my spiritual life to match-up with my new quest to be organized.

A few years ago I read "21 Days Closer To Christ" by Emily Freeman.

It is a beautifully written and illustrated book. I remember how I felt when I completed the book and I want those same feelings......and maybe something more.

Today, I am going to make a change. A change of my own doing.

I want to make a spiritual change

So, I am still going to blog about the things that are going on in my life, but I am also going to share this beautiful book with you.

Sally-Ann

Crunchy Granola

2011-07-21T11:38:00.001-04:00

I love granola.

I haven't had any for a very long time.

I love to eat it with yoghurt.

So.......

Today I am going to make some, and this is the recipe I am going to use.

I found this recipe on Tasty Kitchen It most resembles the recipe I used to make, but I can't find my recipe. When it finally turns up, I will have to compare the two.

Ingredients

4 cups Old Fashioned Oats
½ cups Chopped Pecans
¾ cups Slivered Almonds
¾ cups Brown Sugar
¼ cups Water
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
½ teaspoons Table Salt

Preparation Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line two large sheet pans with parchment paper.
2. Combine oats and nuts in a large bowl.
3. In a small, microwavable bowl, combine sugar, water, vanilla, and salt. Microwave on high 2-3 minutes, or until sugar is dissolved and the mixture resembles maple syrup.
4. Pour syrup over oats and stir until oats and nuts are coated.
5. Divide mixture among the two pans and spread into a thin, even layer.
6. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until golden and a bit crispy.
(You can stir the mixture occasionally so that it browns more evenly and the nuts don’t burn. I also rotate my pans between oven racks a few times during the baking process.)
7. Let cool completely before storing in airtight containers or resealable bags.

Enjoy, I know I will!
Sally-Ann

Are you a Cheater???

2011-07-20T10:54:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I found a new blog that I really enjoy. It is on my favorite blog list, but if you want to go and check it out, it is called Seven Cherubs

Today, Naomi did a post called

Living with a family of Cheaters

It really made me stop and think. It actually made me think about something I already knew, but she has a wonderful way with words.

Samuel loves to play board games. His favorites at the moment are Connect Four and Chess. He will play other games as well, but he likes to win.......so.......sometimes he will try and cheat. He then declares, very proudly I might add, that Sam has won!

Connect Four and Chess are different.

Samuel has his own rules.

Samuel plays them his own way.

If we try to intervene and play these games according to the written instructions, we are told,

"NO! NO!! NO!!!"

We are cheating at the game he has made up.

Sam is autistic.

Sam has autism.

I am still not sure what is considered the correct way to say it.

To me, the most important thing is that Samuel is MY little boy.

Because of the autism so much of his life revolves around therapy.

Revolves around helping him find his place in this world.

As Samuel's mother I try to join him in his world.

I try to see things as he does.

I try to play Samuel's games by his rules.

I try really hard not to cheat.

CONNECT FOUR

The Connect Four pieces are placed in groups of 2 on the sofa and other places as well, but, typically they need to be on the sofa,

Two Connect Four pieces are placed on each sofa cushion. The pillows are placed behind each set of two. Usually, there are two purple bears on the edge of each sofa cushion.

But, today, they are otherwise engaged......

Today, the bears are hanging out on the clock.

Earlier this morning the purple bears were playing chess with the garden gnomes.

Did you think I was lying???

I may cheat at my children's games and not play by their rules....

But, I don't lie!

Especially about garden gnomes!

Samuel hasn't quite grasped how to play chess yet.

But, he sets up the board perfectly.

I have no doubt that my 5-year-old will soon master the game of chess....

his rules or the rules according to the world around us I am not sure.

We need to listen to our children. They have a lot to tell us.

Sally-Ann

Mooooonnnnddddddaaaaayyyyyy!!!!!!

2011-07-19T18:38:00.002-04:00

Today has been a very good day so far and I don't foresee it turning into a bad day.

Sooo.......HAPPY MONDAY!

This morning we all woke-up wide-eyed and bushy tailed.

Well, some of us not so wide-eyed!

First thing this morning, Jessica headed off with her Dad and finally, finally, finally go her

DRIVER'S LICENSE.

Insert the sound of a heavenly choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus.

I drove Samuel to school.

After dropping Samuel off at Sydney's School for his camp, I met Jim and Jessica at the Westshore Mall. It had been a very long time since we had taken Jessica anywhere with just us and her, so, today was the day!! We had decided to go to the movies and see the last Harry Potter movie.

We all enjoyed the movie, all though, the claim that
"IT ALL ENDS"
was a little scary!!
Of course, I know that it refers to the series of movies and books, the battle between Harry and the guy who's name can't be spoken!
But, at first glance.......

Don't feel badly for Samuel, he had fun

Samuel played "Memory" with Miss Katelyn. Samuel turned over matching "umbrellas" and then proceded to make an umbrella out of the memory blocks.

Samuel also designs microwave ovens in his spare time!

There is a little bit of trampoline jumping in his new Crocs.

A frog and a bumblebee!

For my Sharing Time at church on Sunday, I made play doh for all the Primary kids so they could build Temples like the Mormon pioneers. For Family Home Evening, we are going to build our own temples with the left over play doh. Then rice pudding for a snack.

A good Monday.

Sally-Ann

Firebolt

2011-07-16T10:46:00.000-04:00

For all the Harry Potter fans or those who feel a little different!

Enjoy.......

Silence......or lack of it!

2011-07-15T23:04:00.000-04:00

A few days ago a friend posted this on their blog.......

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." ~Aldous Huxley

After reading that quote, I had one of those "AAAAAAAh" moments.

Why?

Because for several days before this quote was posted, I had been thinking about silence and contemplating turning it into a blog post of some sort!

The trouble was......and still is to some extent.....I couldn't write my jumble of thoughts down in a way that I was happy with. The thoughts wouldn't go away, so I will attempt to share my "wombat in the belfry" thoughts on the subject!

In reply to the above quote, someone posted, "What is silence?"

Good question!!!!

I posted the thought that I had straight after reading the quote.

".....after the loss of our little girl, the silence of grief was nearly overpowering in our home. When I sat and played the piano the silence was washed away and a little bit of my heart healed. That is what came into my mind after reading that quote. Music is a great healer."

Silence can be a very good thing, but it can also be a glaring reminder of something lost. Sometimes the expression, "The silence was deafening," can be so very true.

I had the sheet music for "Jessica's Sonata #2" and I would sit at my piano and play it over and over again. It just seemed to be the perfect piece of music to block out the crushing silence. I could put expression....feeling into it. I only play it occasionally now. As much as I love this piece of music, it takes me back to a very sad, dark and.........silent time in my life.

Our home has always been fairly calm, organized and orderly.

Not silent.......peaceful would be a better word.

Joshua was away at college when Samuel was born and didn't get to see him until that Christmas. I laughed when Joshua commented, "Our house isn't a quiet house anymore!" No, it ~~wasn't~~ ~~isn't~~ wasn't.

I don't think it will ever be again!

I was trying to think of the last time our home was blessed with silence.

The wonderful, glorious sound of silence......

Nope.

Not in recent memory.

Instead, we have had a house full of family and friends.

We have a little boy that is talking, singing, yelling, being contrary.

We have a big yellow dog whack, whack, whacking the furniture.....our legs....with his tail.

~~We have me screaming in terror as my daughter peels out of the church parking lot on two wheels~~........no, wait, that is fodder for a different post.

At night we have silence.......kind of.

At night, I lay in bed listening to the silence of the house.

But, even then, there isn't really silence.

The thoughts swirling around in my head are to loud for there to be silence.

Even when we do have the silence of sleep descend, it is usually broken at midnight, or 2am or 4am, by the voice of a little boy saying in his little voice, "Daddy, move." or, "Hello Mummy."

Snoring.....I will say no more on than subject.......

Sometimes I think people need to learn when it would be a good idea for them to be silent.

Advice wasn't asked for, so don't give it.

Sometimes body language can scream volumes.

Sometimes we all need to be silent.

We need to listen.

Listen to what people are saying.

Sometimes people are silent.

Sometimes their silence speaks volumes.

I am not a fan of snow.

It can be very beautiful.

I do love the silence of snow.

When we lived in Minnesota and South Dakota I loved the early hours of the morning right after a snow storm. The ground is covered with white and nothing has left its mark yet.

It is silent.

I sometimes crave for silence, but I don't think it is really the silence I want.

Maybe a bit of solitude?

Though.........maybe you have been listening to the same thing, whether it is talking or whatever, a little bit to long when it becomes intelligible, like the adults on "Charlie Brown". Remember the "wha-wha, wha-wha?"

I think we all have these moments!!!

Ultimately, I take all the sounds of silence in my life, filter out the unwanted and put them under the "Wah wa Wah" catagory.

The sounds that make me happy are many....

One of the first songs I taught myself to play is "Sounds of Silence."

Seems appropriate to have it on my blog today.

Sally-Ann

I got my toes in the water.........

2011-07-08T10:19:00.000-04:00

.......rear in the sand

Not a worry in the world, cold water in my hand.
Life is good today. Life is good today.

Well....I did change some of the above lyrics to make it more friendly to my blog!
But, that pretty much sums up our day yesterday.

Yesterday was the only chance we had to go to the beach.
The day before we had decided to go to Fort Desoto beach.
When we woke-up, it was extremely overcast and the weather report said that rain was on its way. We decided to risk it anyway!

After a quick run to the store for supplies......
getting everyone up and moving......
packing a picnic lunch and a few snacks......
taking a few calls that were work related......
loading up the car........
should have slathered on some sunscreen right about this point of the morning!
We were off!!!!!

We passed through several minor rain showers on the way there, but once we arrived.......

This was pretty much how the parking lot looked - nearly empty

The beach wasn't very busy either

The beach filled up as the day went on, but it certainly couldn't be called "busy".
Not by Florida standards anyway!

We did all the usual beach things.
Swam
Built sand castles
Dug huge holes to China
Started to cover Jim in sand......but gave up
Ate lunch
Swam some more
Packed up, rinsed off
Ate an ice-cream
Drove home

We even had a skinny dipper make an appearance.
Unfortunately, it was Sam......or fortunately depending on how you ~~look~~ ~~saw~~ look at it!!

Samuel obviously didn't read this sign.

There we were, swimming around, not a care in the world,
when,
suddenly,
I saw Sam's swimsuit floating away with the current.
Sam was laughing hysterically as he flung his hat and started to take off his shirt.
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to put swim trunks onto a squirming, wriggling 5-year-old while chest deep in the ocean????
Very difficult.
But, it is possible when the person doing the putting is determined enough and has the help of a Jessica!

It was a good day.
It reminded me of my childhood.
We spent nearly every summer day at the beach.
It is a good way to spend the summer.

Sally-Ann

Around and Around and Around we go! Where we'll stop.......nobody knows!!!

2011-07-06T15:54:00.000-04:00

Today we went to the Glazer Children's Museum here in Tampa.

We had planned to go yesterday, but on the first Tuesday of the month they have $2 admission after 2pm. I suspected it would be very, very busy - crowded to the maximum. That is not a great thing when planning a trip out with Samuel. Especially when it is a new place for him.

So, we decided to get there when it first opened today instead.

To quote Samuel,

"Good choice!"

Even though it wasn't extremely crowded, it was still a little overwhelming to Sam.

For approximately the first hour, all he did was run around and around from one thing to another. He stayed no more that 20 seconds at each thing.

The exceptions to this was the above exhibit.

It was a climbing station for the kids. The idea being that your child is a drop of water going from one leaf to another. Samuel absolutely loved this.......Jessica insisted on going and "helping" Samuel a few time.........

Samuel also stopped at the "Outback Cafe".

He was fascinated with the pretend pizza ovens. You pressed a button and a light flickered on and off while your pretend pizza cooked. We had to wait until the light stopped.

Right next door to the cafe was the fire station!

The fire truck had a siren and a wonderful flashing red light.

This, however, is were we spent the bulk of our time. Towards the end of our visit.

Samuel loved putting all the balls into the slot on the right and watching them shoot down the ramp. All the balls were blue, except for one lone purple ball. Guess which ball Samuel wanted every single time!!!

Yep, that purple ball.

It was kind of cool though. Sam held the purple ball up to the blue balls and said, "Same......and different."

A few scuffles ensued when someone else happened to get the purple ball, but nothing to earth shattering!!!

I did have a "Ha to you lady" moment.

I was doing the 5 minute countdown, preparing Samuel to leave.

"5 minutes and then it is time to go home Sam."

"4 more minutes."

I was about at the, "3 more minutes" mark when a lady asked me if I truly expected that to work and with a laugh said, "Good luck with that!" She had also witnessed some of the purple ball issues.

"2 more minutes."

"Only 1 more minute Sam."

"No more minutes Sam, time to go home."

With that, Samuel took my hand and we headed towards the door.

YESSSSSSS!

I couldn't resist looking back at the lady who made the above comment. She did seem suitably impressed.........and boy was I glad that the count down worked today!!!

We had a good time at the museum and will most certainly be heading back. Hopefully, next time Samuel will be more familiar with the surroundings and will want to try out some of the other exhibits. We will never go on the $2 special days........even if I had typical kids I wouldn't do that I think!!

A great hands on museum.

Sally-Ann

July 4th

2011-07-04T14:00:00.000-04:00

No photos today.

It isn't that we haven't done anything that is photo worthy.

I just chose to not take the camera today.

I wanted to just concentrate on the moment.

For a week we have been trying to decide what to do today. There has been quite a bit of advertising for certain events. Most of them look like they would be really fun and most end with a spectacular fireworks display.

Which one to go to?

As usual, our conversations have ended with,

"How will Sam handle that?"

"Will the crowds be to much?"

"Will it be to long?"

"Maybe next year."

We have had a very low key 4th of July and it has been great so far!

The Florida Aquarium has been advertising a 4th of July event starting at 3pm today.

We thought about it and decided not to go.

Instead, we went to the aquarium when it first opened this morning, 9:30am.

It was great. Sam was able to run from exhibit to exhibit. We were able to go into the different sections the wrong way and not worry about going against the flow of traffic. Some we just kept looping back through over and over and over! In fact, I think Sam only stopped and looked at one of the displays.

But, it didn't matter. Samuel had a great time, and so did we!

There was a brief stop at the cafe for a chocolate milk and snack pack.

Then.........we were off again.

We finished the morning off in the splash area.

There was quite a bit of splashing......

there was also quite a bit of water cannon shooting........

On the way home Sam requested "fries" and like the marshmallow parents we are....

we complied!

Tonight we are having BBQ ribs, baked potatoes, salad, baked beans and peach cobbler. For Family Home Evening we will be letting off some fireworks.

A good day.

A perfect day.

OK, so I lied, there is one picture!!

Sally-Ann

Captiva Island

2011-07-01T11:44:00.001-04:00

For Spring Break this year, we went to Captiva Island.

We came back rejuvenated......relaxed.........tanned (Well, some of us)

and I was ready to go back the next week and do it all again!!

We didn't do anything spectacular.

We didn't go on a huge adventure each day.

But, it was one of the best holidays I have ever had.

I blogged about the first day of our trip here

Our first full day spent on Captiva Island, just happened to be Easter Sunday.
We usually dye Easter eggs, but we knew that we probably wouldn't have time on Saturday, we we bought plastic eggs for the Easter Bunny to hide this year.

As the eggs were found, they were deposited in this handy yellow bowl

Samuel on the hunt for Easter eggs

Jessica got in on the action as well

Baskets of goodies

Samuel made quite a haul, but Jessica wasn't left out!

Relaxing in the living room

Looking out at the pool - spent most of our time there!!

Eating an entire carton of ice-cream!!!

That is what vacations are for!!!!

Sally-Ann

Little Houses, Churches, Temples and.........Holland??

2011-06-30T17:10:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Holland

By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this:

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans: the Coliseum, Michelangelo's David, the gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guidebooks. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills – and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy ... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away, because the loss of that dream is a very, very significant loss.

But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you many never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.

I had a completely different post written for my blog today. But when I read the above essay, one that I have read several times before, I decided to change it a bit.

This is something that is seen in many a little boy's bedroom.

Sam loves his trains, but really loves making elaborate train track systems.

Samuel has an "I Spy" game and a "Connect 4" game.

He lines all the "I Spy" pieces up along the piano, sofa and end tables. Then, the red "Connect 4" pieces are precisely placed above the "I Spy" pieces.

Samuel has some little plastic bears that he loves to play with.

I tend to step on them.......I don't love them as much as Samuel loves them.

Little plastic bears are lined up all over the house in groups of 3.

Purple, green and red.

The other bears are left on the table......out in the cold.

Blocks are also lined up.

Samuel does like to build as well.

This is Sam's creation from last night. We asked him what it was and he replied, "A church."

This one is a, "Cool temple."

When Samuel gets home from school, he makes his rounds, checking on all his creations and making sure everything is in its place.

When I saw all the houses lined up, it reminded me of a song that the music teacher taught our class in Primary School.

"Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds

"Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky,
Little boxes, little boxes,
Little boxes, all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same"

When the teacher taught us this song, I had no idea what it all meant.

Somehow, it seems to fit into my blog today.

We have raised our children to be individuals, not to do something just because everyone else is doing it. My Mum would always say, "If so and so put their bum on the fire, would you do it as well?" I would often find myself saying that to my children.

So, I guess we are not really an Italy type family in the long run.

Not sure if I am getting my point across or not........

That being said.

Our trip may have taken a unexpected detour.

But, when I look at all the

"very special, the very lovely things"

that make up the personality of my little boy,

how can I not enjoy it?

Sally-Ann

Picnic Time!

2011-06-29T10:00:00.001-04:00

Wednesday morning following Samuel's graduation, Sydney's School had its end of year picnic.

It is held at a beautiful park in Hyde Park.

There is a covered playground and picnic area. There is also a water splash area.

I think in this post, the pictures speak for themselves!

That evening, Samuel had a bubble bath.

He did a fine impersonation of a "Bubble Guppy".

Sally-Ann

Things that make you go.......Mmmmmmh?

2011-06-28T10:00:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, when I am downloading photos, I come across some that little helpers have taken..........

I do not know what the heck is going on in these photos.

Feel free to come up with your own captions......

Signed,
Perplexed

Graduation Day - an End and a Beginning....

2011-06-27T17:29:00.001-04:00

We recently attended a very important graduation ceremony.

Samuel graduated from the VPK program and Sydney's School.

It bought back memories of the graduation ceremony we attended last year.

Jessica graduated from Howard W. Blake Magnet High School of the Arts.

Quite a contrast.

At Samuel's graduation there was a 50's music theme.

The children had many, many practices to get it just right for their special night.

Sam had Mum (taking the photo) Dad, Aunt Michelle, Joshua, Courtney and Jessica there to represent the family.

Christine and Scott Chambers also came to lend their support!

There was singing and dancing to the song, "Happy Days."

Samuel still sings this around the house.

The dancing was great.

They sang about the days of the week.

Even the audience participated in "The Twist".

Samuel's technique was definitely the most unique!!

Some guitar strumming!

We see Miss Hannah back there with her guitar!!!!

Diploma in hand!!!

Mummy, Daddy and Samuel

They look excited, don't they???

Milling about and chatting

This happens to be one of my favorite photos.

I SEE YOU!!!

We have been to several programs at Sydney's School over the past year. Everyone there works so hard to make it a special event for the children and their families.

It makes wonderful memories for the parents and I know it does for the children as well.

Now for Jessica!!

Drum roll please!

Sorry for the poor quality and the darkness of these pictures. The camera we had at the time didn't have any zoom to speak of, and apparently, not much of a flash!!

Decided to add these photos anyway......

Decorations were the school colours and a few plants.

There was dancing however!!!

The school dance department performed to "Phantom of the Opera."

I think the balloons used as props could be classed as decorations also......

I have no idea why there is a photo of a chair amongst the graduation photos.

But, I felt compelled to add it in case there was some reason that totally escaped me.....

Receiving her diploma!!!!

Yaaaaay!

After the momentous event.

Christine Chambers (the Chambers just love coming to the graduation ceremonies of the Purdy siblings), Me, Jessica and Joshua.

Jim, Sally-Ann, Jessica and Joshua

Before heading out to the graduation.

AAAAAHHHHHH! A smile!

So very proud of Jessica and Samuel!

Next year we will be attending Joshua's graduation.

Love, love, love my kids.

Sally-Ann

Pizza Night and "Motherhood the Musical"

2011-06-25T11:22:00.000-04:00

Last night was Friday night and we didn't have anywhere to go or do.

We are really quite boring people.

So, we decided to make homemade pizza.

Some of us were really excited about making pizza!

Really, really excited!!

Some......not quite as excited.

Mmmmh.....not quite sure about this expression???

Everybody dance now......

Jessica! Smile!! It is the only way your Dad will stop taking all these photos!!!

FINALLY! A smile!!!

Josh and Courtney were not there to enjoy the excitement of it all.

Instead, they were enjoying.......

Jim and I went to see it last Friday night. It was possibly the best show we have seen all year. As a mother, I could definitely relate to just about everything in the show. However, I think Jim laughed just as hard as I did.

Excellent cast.

With songs like "Costco Queen", "Minivan", "The Kids Are Finally Asleep", and last, but not least, "I Leak", how can you go wrong??

A good way to spend a Friday night!!!

Sally-Ann

Chocolate - Need I say more?

2011-06-24T16:16:00.000-04:00

Do you have a favorite candy??

Mine is a unbroken "Butterfinger".

I know that it still tastes the same when it is broken, but for some reason, when it is unbroken it just tastes better!

Many people in this house enjoy a.....

In fact, Jim received a huge package of "Reese's Peanut Butter Cups" for Father's Day this past Sunday.

Jim had them stashed up on his dresser, but not hidden well enough from the eagle eyes of

SAM!

I found chocolate smeared all over the bed.

The bed that I had just put clean sheets on!

When I had determined that Jim wasn't the chocolate smearing culprit, I concluded that Sam had laid back leisurely on our bed and munched his way through several peanut butter cups.

On Wednesday night we gave Samuel another peanut butter cup.

After watching him eat it I was reminded of a TV ad that Reese's had done several years ago. They asked the question, "How do you eat your Reese's?" Then they go on to show people eating them from the middle out, etc.

I wanted to insert a photo of a peanut butter cup with a hole in the middle - but, alas, I couldn't find one. I thought about sacrificing one of my husbands last remaining peanut butter cups, but.....

In case you need to know how to eat a "Reese's Peanut Butter Cup", here are some blow by blow directions!

Take the wrapper off the PB cup. Depending on the size of the cup, you will either be opening a package or unwrapping foil
Once the initial package is open, remove the protective paper shell around the chocolate.
Now you have the PB cup ready to eat in your hand!
Pop the WHOLE thing into your mouth.
With your tongue, turn the cup so that the smooth top is facing the front of your mouth.
Put the cup between your teeth on the line between the smooth top of the cup and the perforated edges.
Bite down so as to separate the smooth top from the bottom of the chocolate where the peanut butter is located.
Allow the bottom half (with peanut butter) to fall back towards your tongue.
Push the smooth top over to the corner of your cheek and let it melt.
Once it's mostly melted, push all pieces back to the center of your mouth and bite down.
Either let it melt into nothing if you want to savor the flavor, or else bite and chew and swallow!

This is how Samuel eats his "Reese's Peanut Butter Cups".

First, ~~steal~~ ~~take~~ borrow a "Reese's Peanut Butter Cup" from Dad's dresser.
Second, climb into Mum and Dad's bed.
Third, ~~demand~~ ask Mum to pull the covers up and to snuggle next to me.

Fourth, when silky is completely covering my face, commence eating the peanut butter cup.

Fifth, it is very difficult to eat a peanut butter cup when my entire face is covered.
Sooooo, lift silky and continue to eat.......even though I am so very tired and half asleep.
Sixth, when finished, wipe sticky chocolaty hands on whatever is closest.
What.......or in this case, who........do you think happened to be closest???

However you happen to eat your favorite candy, enjoy!

Don't wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty. ~Lora Brody

There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles. ~Author Unknown

Sally-Ann

Together We Grow!

2011-06-24T10:31:00.000-04:00

Over a course of several weeks, Samuel participated in an art project at his school. The Children's Board of Hillsborough County came in each Friday and helped the children create some beautiful art work. Here is a video of the process.

Enjoy!

Be sure and look for my boy!!

It is Monday.......that means FAMILY HOME EVENING!

2011-06-13T15:43:00.003-04:00

I have been lost in the craziness of every day life.

I have had to let some things slip for a time.

That drives me absolutely CRAZY,

I am now trying to get caught up.

I have really missed doing my blog.

It is nice to have people read what I have to say and get a peek at my family life.

But, I mainly write my blog for me.

I find it therapeutic.

You will never know how many posts have been written, agonized over and then ultimately, deleted. Sometimes there are things that just don't need to be shared.......

But, with summer here, I am determined to get back on the

So, today is Monday.

Monday means Family Home Evening.

This Family Home Evening is taken from the weekly e-mail I get from

LDS Living Magazine

I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this particular FHE, but decided to after all. The reason why I didn't want to was some of the questions asked.

"Invite family members to share the most valuable thing they have ever lost and what it meant to them to lose it. Have you ever been able to replace it?"

A very easy question for me to answer in my mind, but never an easy question to answer out loud.

FHE: Commandment

Conference Talk:
For more information on this topic read “What Have You Done with My Name?,” by Mervyn B. Arnold, Ensign, Nov. 2010, 105.

Thought:
I realized that [a fence] was a protection, just as the commandments and my parents’ rules were a protection. The commandments and rules were for my own good. I realized that obedience to the commandments could save me from physical and spiritual death.

(Mervyn B. Arnold, “What Have You Done with My Name?,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 105.)

Song:
“Keep the Commandments,” Children’s Songbook, p. 146.

Scripture:
Consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual. (Mosiah 2:41)

Lesson:
As you read Alma 37:13–14, have family members mark the things Alma told Helaman to remember. Suggest that family members circle the blessings for keeping the commandments and underline the consequences for not keeping the commandments. Ask your family why they think Alma seems so serious on this point.

Invite family members to share the most valuable thing they have ever lost and what it meant to them to lose it. Have you ever been able to replace it? Read together Alma 37:15–17 and ask:
• What would Helaman have lost for disobedience?
• Why would losing these sacred records change the world today?
• Why would it have been difficult to replace them?

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], p. 208.)

Story:
Valentina is a senior citizen [in Ukraine] who had drunk strong coffee for several years as a prescription from her doctor for a health condition. When she was preparing for baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Valentina read of the Word of Wisdom and what it said about coffee. She returned to her doctor and asked if there might be a prescription that would permit her to take something other than coffee for her condition. The doctor said that he knew of nothing available and that if that were true she should continue drinking the coffee. She scoured the woefully depleted pharmacies throughout the city and found that there were no other stimulants available that would meet her needs.

Valentina might have concluded that in the absence of other remedies she was justified in taking coffee purely for medicinal purposes, as her doctor prescribed. It troubled her, however, to fail to fulfill anything given of the Lord. “I don’t want to miss any of the spiritual blessings the Lord has promised in this revelation. I want to be an example to my family, who are all unbelievers. How can I do that if they see me drink coffee each day?”

After prayerful consideration, Valentina approached the missionaries who had taught her the gospel. “If you will give me a blessing through the priesthood, I believe Heavenly Father will take away my health problems. Whatever his will might be, however, I have decided that I will never drink tea or coffee again. I trust in the words of our Savior.”

Valentina received a wonderful blessing, promising her health and spiritual gifts through her faith. She was then baptized, and immediately her health problem disappeared. She has often publicly borne her testimony about this experience and of the spiritual and temporal blessings that the Lord granted her through obedience to his commandments.

(Howard L. Biddulph, Morning Breaks: Stories of Conversion and Faith in the Former Soviet Union, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996].)

Activity:
Players arrange their chairs in a circle. One player, called the lawgiver, stands in the center. As he gives the laws, the other players obey. If they are not alert they will disobey the law, and the lawgiver can take their chair. The disobedient player, then becomes “it.”

Use laws similar to the following list, or use some of your own. The laws should be given in rapid succession so that the players must keep alert.

Stand up.
Sit down.
Stand on the left foot.
Move two chairs to the right.
Move one chair to the left.
Move to the third chair on your left.
Lift both feet off the floor.
Turn around.
Raise both arms.

(Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], p. 96.)

CHOCOLATE LUSH

1 cup flour
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup walnuts or 3/4 cup pecans, finely chopped
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1 (12 ounce) container Cool Whip
1 box instant chocolate pudding mix (any favorite flavor may be used) Some use 2 boxes

Directions:

Mix butter and flour together then add the ground nuts ( save a few for the topping). Pat into a 9x13 baking dish.
Bake 20 minutes at 350
Cool.
In a mixing bowl mix cream cheese and powdered sugar together, stir in 1/2 of the cool whip.
Spread this mixture over cooled crust.
Make the pudding as directed on the box and spread over the cream cheese. If you would like a firmer pudding, use a little less milk.
Top with the rest of the cool whip, sprinkle with the reserved nuts.
Refrigerate until serving time.
Sometimes I drizzle melted chocolate or chocolate ice cream topping over the top, makes it look even more rich. But, my all time favorite is to sprinkle with crushed Butter Fingers........

Enjoy!
Sally-Ann

Tuesday on Captiva Island

2011-04-26T17:48:00.001-04:00

We have been on Captiva Island since Saturday.

I can't post any pictures until we get home because I don't have a way to download them at the moment. I can download some from the internet however.

Here we are on a Tuesday afternoon.

We just got back from a shopping trip to the Captiva General Store.

It is very, very expensive to buy just the normal, every day items here.

Not as expensive as at the "Captiva Provision Company"!! We made a pit stop there as well. I thought it would be fun to buy something a bit different than our usual fare to cook-up. Definitely catered to the people who could afford the 2 million dollar homes!

Decided that good old hot dogs were just fine!!!

We did buy some great ice-cream for dessert. We have become hooked on Queenie's Ice-cream.

YUM YUM

is all that I can say.

My personal favorite is "Black Raspberry Chip".

We haven't done anything very exciting on our vacation.

A lot of swimming.

Some walking on the beach.

Swimmng.

Eaten out at a few interesting restaurants.

Swimming.

Reading.

Swimming.

I watched several episodes of "The Waltons" one afternoon.

Swimming.

Watching the sunset.

And did I mention.......swimming????

Samuel has loved the swimming pool.

We jump in the pool at about 9:30am for a couple of hours.

We jump in the pool at about 2:00pm for a couple of hours.

That is, if we aren't at the beach.....swimming in the ocean!

We finish off the day by jumping in the pool after dinner for about an hour.

Yep, it is a tough life.

Jessica has spent 99% of the vacation time on the computer or sleeping.

She has done a little bit of swimming...........

I was worried about the pool. I was worried that we would be forever pulling Samuel away from it, stopping him from jumping in. But, no. He has been very good. He sits by the pool and waits for us to come and get in.

Samuel has been talking, talking, and talking. There has only been one meltdown.

It has been a good few days.

Yesterday, Samuel and I were floating around the pool.

Samuel, "Go home?"

Mum, "Not yet, a few more days, why?"

Samuel, "Blue."

Mum, "Do you miss Blue?"

Samuel, "Blue is looking."

Mum, "Blue is looking?"

Samuel, "Blue is looking for Sam."

I must admit, I do miss the big, yellow dog.

I don't miss his fur all over the place, but I do miss him.

I swept the floor this morning and there was only a tiny bit of dirt in the dustpan, not mounds and mounds of dog hair!

I love my family. I love spending time with them. Looking forward to Joshua and Courtney joining us on Thursday!

Sally-Ann