What I like about you......

The Girls were in rare form today.....More meltdowns than if we had 8 toddlers!

When we got back from Therapy, I had the girls get ready for bed and we were having a family meeting in the living room.....After a long period of time, we met back in the living room. Marie said that she was feeling very sad today and asked if we could do the "Five Things" game.

The "Five Things" Game is where each person writes down five positive things about all of the other members of the family. The rules are they can't be non specific things like "she is a good person", it can't be something like "it is funny when she/he farts" or anything else that is really a put down and it can't be a physical attribute. Tonight, I added a twist. They also had to list five good things about themselves.

Marie is very quick and always proud of her answers. When we do this exercise she is quick with her answers and they are always good things. I enjoy the fact that she gets into this stuff. She loves to contribute to our family in a positive way.....She loves to give and receive compliments. Which is just really a joy!

Rose really struggles with this entire exercise. Which is very telling as to where her mind and heart are at this point. She has no self esteem or any sense of self worth which led to her having a very difficult time with giving and receiving compliments. It breaks my heart to watch her struggle with a seemingly simple way to bond as a family....

Even with Rose's struggles, it still remains a very fruitful exercise. It is a break from the seemingly endless train of tantrums and rude comments. We all get the opportunity to sit down and remember the wonderful things we all bring to the table. It is a way for us to feel good about ourselves and to feel good about our fellow family members. Yay me for the idea!

During therapy today, Rose's therapist said we are really doing everything that we can do to help her, it comes down to her willingness to get better. She really isn't there yet.....But on the bright side....her therapist is young and said she will be around for many years.....HAHAHA.....so we have years to deal with this stuff.....it felt good to know that someone else thought we were doing the right things.....It always makes me happy to know that the issue remains on Rose's end and it isn't our lack of parenting skills. We just continue to pray that she has the "Eureka" moment and we can collectively begin to heal as a family.

My husband and I truly enjoy our time alone when the girls go to bed. It is our saving grace. We are so blessed that we have this time alone to enjoy each other and share our quiet times together. I am truly thankful that we have each other on this journey. It is a great comfort to know that we are stuck here together for this grand adventure!

Be Well!

Me

My Lucky Day!

My husband was reading a book earlier this week, the author was talking about his 30th High School Reunion. He then started to count how many years he has been out of high school. 19 years.....19 years and next year would be 20 (like my math skills?). He contacted a woman from his graduating class to see what was planned for the momentous year. God clearly knew what we needed!

His classmate is someone he has always been fond of and apparently with good reason....She is now one of my favorite people, too! (J-sorry for sucking up, but you don't realize the gift you are giving us!) J* has a motel on Cape Cod. She has kindly offered us a room at her motel. The Cape is a hopping place during the summer and for her to offer to make sure we got a room during the "In Season" rocks.....

The summer can be such a long and trying time for RAD families. Our kids struggle a great deal when there isn't strict schedules that they have to adhere to. My kids hate not knowing what will happen at 11:37 am everyday. During the summer, there is no way to guarantee that the same way they can when they know exactly where their behind will be sitting at 11:37 am once September comes.

So sometimes it is nice to really throw them off and go away for the weekend! Every April we go to Vermont on a long weekend. It is so much fun but even in that we have tradition. We go the same weekend every year and every year we go to Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and the Shelburne Country Store. Every year we get a teddy bear when we are at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. Every year we buy "penny" candy at the Country Store. And Every Year we swim at the hotel swimming pool and stay at the same hotel. Every year we stop at the same mid way pit stop and we get gas as the same gas station. We even play the same get a dollar if you can name the Vermont state capitol. They Love it and it makes things less anxiety ridden when we have a "routine" for that trip.

When we offered this opportunity, I wasn't sure at first. But I decided that we need a break. Perhaps we will have great success and we will have another safe place to get away....Plus now I can be like everyone in Massachusetts and I can answer the what did you do this weekend question with "oh I was on the Cape" Sometimes I need "normal", too!

I was reading another mom's blog today....She is really neat! I am thankful that she found me....I have her listed in the blogs that I read (her blog is "Living with RAD"). Actually, I think every blog that I have listed is fantastic...I am sure if you enjoy mine, you would find enjoyment in theirs too! Oh yeah...about her blog....every weekend she lists something positive about her kids...I think that is such a fantastic thing because it takes the focus away from the hard times....so I am hoping she doesn't get upset but I am going to do the same.....Thanks, Brenda!

Marie: She is such a positive kid. She is extremely helpful and I enjoy all the times I get to share with her.

Rose: She is extremely good at doing chores! She excels at organizing things and folding laundry! I enjoy watching her be so exact with the folding of my clothes. She is very earnest with showing us that she can do a good job and she does!

Be Well!

We will miss you, Tim Russert!

I try to say something interesting in the title. And that title certainly may not seem as though it has anything to do with this picture...

but it just may....

If you aren't aware of this. NBC Washington Bureau Chief, Tim Russert, passed away on Friday afternoon. Doing what he loved, working on Meet the Press. I suppose if anyone out there knows anything about me, they know I love the news.

I actually become quite fond of the reporters that I watch on TV ever day. And I was saddened when I heard that Tim died, as was most everyone on TV. This weekend, I watched NBC every time I knew the news was on. I watched Meet The Press, then watched the replays on other news shows....Yes I know dorky...But I really get into this stuff. I learned a lot about Tim Russert. He was an honorable, kind, giving, wonderful man with an amazing legacy for his son.

He was the most proud of his son. What a wonderful young man he seems to be from the interviews and pictures. And by all accounts Tim truly was as wonderful and gracious as they are portraying him.

So this makes me think of my own legacy. What do I leave my own children? I haven't quite got that figured out yet. But I can only hope and pray that they know that I love them with all of my heart and soul. I hope that they know how proud I am of them and how much I believe in them. I hope they know that I spent hours and hours praying to God that I would teach them everything they need to know and that I would be a good example to them. I have not accrued riches or celebrity...But I have a family that I adore and I am happier than I could have ever imagined I would be. (yes even with all of the obstacles that we face)

My children are what I have to show for my life's work. All of my blood, sweat and tears have gone into these children and I am proud of our accomplishments thus far. We have many miles yet to go....But as I said...I am not through yet....

I will miss seeing Tim every morning on the Today Show. I pray that his family find comfort in all of the well wishes of those who cared for him so deeply.

Sorry, Kris...this Marie going into HS thing is really making me sentimental. No funny stories to share...Wait till after Thursday, when school is finished....I am sure they will give me more stories....Plus you know I have tons in my head.....Just haven't found the right day to write them....

Be well.....

It is unbelievably hot outside and that is making my apt obnoxious, too....So I don't have anything super awesome to share tonight.

So I am sharing this picture of our hands. We made this when we moved the first time as a complete family. We wanted the first thing that we hung in our new home together as a complete Forever Family to be something we made as a family. This still hangs in my home and will till the day I leave this earth. I am forever grateful for the family that God has given to me. I could have never imagined how perfectly God would match me to the family He has given me. So much better than I could have ever imagined..

Have a great night and may you be as blessed as I am! And keep cool!

Me!