Sox for Little Dove

When I make dresses for little Dove I try to do a pair or two of sox to match. I can get white sox under a $1 a pair.

Quilted windows

These were a gift to me they are unfinished I think they are so lovely.See my organizing bins under the desk.

Raising kids with Special Needs

For so many years now I have had the privilege of receiving therapeutic interventions for my children. Both of my kids have a litany of special needs. These are two amazing, Sweet, Wonderful children that I love and adore.

Dash Hawk manages,
Has deformities of the throat
Recovered from Rickets, Hypothyroidism
Hearing impaired
possible Ushers Syndrome (this is the scary one for me)
Sensory Integration Dysfunction
Fine motor impairment

Little Dove Manages,
A.D.I.D. (Attention Deficit Inactive Dysfunction)
Sensory Integration Dysfunction
Cognitive Social Dysfunction (this is the scary one for me)

We have walked so many halls. Years ago when Little Dove came home she was 8 months old could not move, swallow or even lift her her head. she weight 14 pounds at 8 months. We went to therapy for two years 3 times a week , 15 miles one way.
Dash hawk came home after the towers came down. He languished until he was 10 months old. He had rickets, hypothyroidism, parasites internal and external. He weighed 14 pounds at 10 months of age. He has had two surgeries and faces a possible one in the fall, however that looks a little more promising for he is really working had right now to teach his plait to close. We drive to the city 2 times a week 26 miles one way. The bills are covered as long as we don't make too much money (Gods irony) :)



We have worked with over 100 professional adults in the medical community, many have seen the wonders that God has performed in these two young lives!















This has been an often lonely road for me. It has been a very challenging road for all of us. We have use up our financial resources and yet God still has made a way for us to get the help Dash Hawk needs. We will be retuning both kids to Occupational therapy soon. Dash Hawk goes to CRS ST. Joe's 2 times a week. WE spend up to 4 hours for a 1/2 appointment and I am grateful.

For all you Mothers out there with Special needs Children you have my respect, prayers and encouragement. This is the highest calling the greatest honor. Remember that God is an instant away. Remember also to take care of yourself too. I neglected that and regret it now that I am out of shape and tired. Remember too to please say a prayer for me. I need wisdom beyond measure. Strength and endurance too. I appreciate your comments and encouragement. I am doing this blog to keep balance and remember who I am too. I love so much. It is really fun FUN to share my knowledge with you.

Cup cakes for the 4th

Cup cakes for the 4th of July


a happy child with the frosting batters (never let your kids eat the cake mix raw. It can contain sal manilla's(sp?) food poisoning) Raw eggs are a no no. I use organic, free range. They have not been irradiated. Canola oil is the oil of preference.


Fresh butter, powdered sugar and soymilk with Raspberry food flavoring! yum!


I use a large cake board, you can find these most places that sell cake supplies even a Wal-mart.



Cover it with foil tape it.


NO LEFT OVERS :)

Thirteen things I love about Summer in the Desert

1) I passed a sign that said 118* yesterday and I experienced being amazed. Amazement is a wonderful distraction :)

2) I loved the last few week working on my attitude to be able to even come up with this list.

3) "Early " mornings outside are quiet and nice. (until the neighborhood Landscapers arrive)
I can get the lawn mowed

3) In the mornings after the lawns mowed Water play with the kids and the hose.

4) NO BUGS (blood suckers, ticks and the like), as long as the neighbors keep their pool clean and the standing water up, except the ants

5) Pretending like I'm snow bound and doing lots of craft projects because its so cold outside.Lots of supplies for projects so I don't have to go out. Lots of groceries in the freezer so I don't have to go out. If I do the stores are cold in the freezer sections. I get jobs done that I put off when I can be outdoors in the late fall/winter/spring.

6) I love the summer rains when we are not in a drought.

7)My sunflowers are lovely.

8) Less laundry because shorts and sleeveless tops make smaller piles (in theory).

9)Air conditioning and the ability to pay the bill for it.

10) Staying home and being calm without all the running around (There are less people out when your on the roads, all the tourist have gone home).

11) Ice water, opening the freezer to get the ice is a treat.

12) My car in the garage cools down faster and my hands don't get burnt.Air conditioning in my car and not having to depend on a bus or others.

13) Lazy days that have an excuse (the heat wears you out) Planning gardens for the fall .

Mommy Daughter manicure.

How sweet it is to sit a spell.

Little Dove and I had a very special time together. I gave her a full manicure. We spoke of girly things become young woman one day. She asked of reproduction and told how she was not going to mate to have her children. She will be adopting her kids. She wondered of puberty and the changes to occur. We spoke softy of hormones and gaining breasts. I told her how in boys their voices cracked. This fascinated her and we humored in the thought of the boys getting to suffer some of the injustice of puberty too. Being as we were the ones to have to carry breasts around all our lives.
She is so innocent so charming and pure. I see the glory of her beautiy may it never be spoiled. A grand hope I know but it is this mothers wish for her daughter.
Nails dry and a gentle " I love you Momma"
Oh the grandeur's of Motherhood!

The Flag touched the ground! Lift the Standard!

I found the most wonderful few moments in singing our national anthem. Funny though the lack of enthusiasm is growing in the crowds year after year. I am rather patriotic. I have known veterans of several wars. My husband and I are history buffs and have a greater appreciation for the cost of such a great land.
I have been to Russia twice and have witnessed a land with out Hope. It is a terrible thing. I am witnessing a scary apathy grow over the nation. Year after year. We grow fatter in our own consumption so fat as to be bogged down by it our flexibility has stiffened, resolve falters.

I was grieved last night for I was mocked for being patriotic. As if to care for our flag was a joke. I made cupcakes and I had placed little flags on them and it was pointed out that it was not very respectful so why should it matter if a little flag touched the ground?

This is why it matters to me...

When my Mother was a youth in the mid 1930's natzie groups came into Tennessee under the KKK organization to offer a sense of affiliation to American youth after the great depression.
Perhaps the fallen standards of history could teach us to lift it up. The peer pressure placed kids under great threat. She fled it and was under her own peril. HERE IN AMERICA

Our hearts are at war to do what is right and even in the wars of history long past. The one with great courage was given a task to hold the banner high so that it would inspire the others on. If the troops were able to keep the eye on the prize the prize was still available, attainable . When the flag hit the ground it was all over. The marksmen and snipers would watch for this and the flag bearer (that one who had to have such great courage) was the target. If the flagman were to be hit another, who would show the greatest courage by grasping the banner, would lift it at his own peril. Watch the movie Glory some time. It was an amazing force to behold, this contagious courage. There was a time when a black union soldier was asked to carry the flag he differed the responsibility because of the hurt he had known in this country. Later in the movie he held it with great honor, overcoming the hurt he had personally known, he acknowledge the bravery of his fellows and the certainty of a greater cause.
It is of the greatest honor tho be asked to be a flag bearer, and one is shown the greatest confidence and trust when asked. It matters. It matters to me.
So lift the banner of your life. If another is hitting the ground reach over and raise a standard. That is where the term came from. The standard of your life must not hit the ground.

Freedom isn't free!

Happy Fourth of July
Freedom isn't free!

A Life Uncommon: Wordless Wendsday

A Life Uncommon: Wordless Wendsday

Wordless Wendsday

Sox for Little Dove

When I make dresses for little Dove I try to do a pair or two of sox to match. I can get white sox under a $1 a pair.

Summer fun Ideas with kids

Afternoon time with the pup.
Playing in the Sunflower house.
Coffee table American Idol
Drawing at the table with good art book references, Give them their own Sketch pad a nice one, go to the dollar store. They can keep a summer journal of drawings.














Quiet on the stage our next performer...Fun for play dates














Good old roll in the grass

Squirt gun fights















The old Silly Dance to the auto key board Lots Belly laughs.





Cherri o catch, FUNNY!

Writing Birthday Party invitations
Time with Mom
Computer time


They are telling each other stories, and discussing topics related to the drawings they are created. Great dialog. Wish you were a butterfly on the wall.







Water balloons with friends!








Playing Puppy!






Lego Mania!

Making shorts (x4) for Dash Hawk (part one)

Dash is very Skinny. He is 6 but fits a size 4t-5t, he is however, young man now and would rather look his age :)
This is my process of mass production. Shorts times four.
Wash fabrics, Iron fabrics and pattern. Lay out with all folded edges carefully matched. Cut out all layers with one stroke. After cutting out (I use a power rotary cutter and mat).
Separate fronts and backs into four piles (lefts/rights) keeping the prints in respective order.

Sew the piping onto all fronts, here you don't even need to clip between fabrics just sew all four then clip and re-stack.










as you re-stack the fronts add the pockets to all, face down ,one print on the other.








Match edges and pin pockets sew them on the same way, one pile at a time, no need to clip in between.


re-stack all front rights, front lefts, back rights, back lefts. keeping them seperate from each other , and in order of prints.

Now press one stack at a time. Match front and back lefts, front and back rights and pin and stack now you will go to the machine once with a pile of eight seams to sew 4 rights and four. lefts.Stay tuned have other chores to do I"ll get back to this soon.

Summer friut in the suberbs :)

To all of you wonderful growers, how I wish I could walk your fields however, fresh produce via my local Costco.
The joy of walking into the cold of the fruit and veggie section is one of my Arizona summer pleasures. It is a simple joy that exposes me to an arctic chill surrounded by the beauty of bounty.
I painted the Sunflower sparrow in the background.

Bridge toTerabithia

Great movie!
We had our family movie night complete with hot dogs all around. The kids are allowed to sit at the living room coffee table. We do this weekly and sit all together we await to release of a new movie or find an oldie, we by the movie and can watch it when ever we want.
It cost the same as if we went to a theater,but we now own it.We eat our own healthy food prepared by our own clean hands. We can pause it when ever any of us have a need to. We learn to wait for each other, cooperate and reduce, reuse and recycle (all pop cans go into the recycle bin :).
We cuddle on the big comfy couch and the holding is great!
My kids have sensory integration disorder and so the safety of home feels real good to them and they can relax the fight /flight mechanism.
That evening I gave them each their very own sketch pad. they have been emulating the young boy at his art. They also look forward to going to the museum!

The gift America!

My children born where flag does not fly free.
My children were born in greatest of poverty.
A country half a world away .

Our land is hollowed by warriors fight
to give us our under appreciated rights.
This land is rich in a bounty of feed.

I wrap around them the greatest of gifts.
We gave them through adoption new lives to live.
A Country, a home. America
by Donetta

This is true religion to care for the widow and the orphan in their hour of need. To keep on unstained from the world.

Theola has bubbled up to the suface.

In 2005 I entered a writing contest to write 50,000 words in on month. It was November I just don't know how I ever finished those 50,000 words. I even made a sit down dinner that year.
It is time now two years later to pick up that abandoned baby and begin my re-write. It was edited by my Father in Law. It was had for me to look at it I felt so guilty for diving into a project that consumed me so vastly. It was also overwhelming to look at all those error that need to be fixed.
Theola is my novel around 300 pages of my heart, mind and body (it is hard to sit so long).
She is there waiting for the follow through.
Theola is set in the life of a hospital clergy woman who discovers more about walking in Love than most folks do. She also learns forgiveness through discovering who she is.
My dear friend over at "life in the midst of Writing" challenged me. She is now publishing her wonderful novel. Go visit her.
I have so many varied interest and such a heavy load of responsibilities that it is easy for me to neglect my writing and my little Theola. I don't even remember writing it. When I was in that season I would just disappear into it. Like into a trance. I am interested in reading my novel and seeing what I wrote. I just have not been to attached to it. I owe it to myself to be.

A great big thank you!

Thanks to Christine from "Are we there yet mom?" Your help on my blog was such a fantastic encouraging gift!

We had a wonderful BBQ, Play date and Blog work time.
What a nice family. Kids will steep well tonight.

All That is Real

ALL THAT IS REAL

The flower shines, as I pass it by.

Sweet songs of praise raised up by

my winged friends.

The softness of the soil,

tenderness as I step.

A sky so sadden by its murky mire,

cries out for clean.

Cry out! Cry out! "Oh how I want to be sheer and to shine!"

Warmth as I rest upon my place, this hardness,

the rocking of the bench as it sways.

My shadow it moves! It's alive within.

Who is she? She asks ?

I am, that is enough!

Oh sing for me your glorious song.

Your chatter that holds meaning to your kind and to mine.

I cry aloud for you sky,

can you set yourself free?

Well up a breeze.

Shall I sit so immersed in song without a joy full within me.

How can one not be enriched by sound?

All that is old remains, unlike the new.

My breath is stifled for in it lies the dust of the earth.

Warmth has become heat, its tenderness gone.

It becomes a torment, a heated fire.

Oh bless me now with a breeze,

a gentle touch to give me ease.

Mountain range where have you gone?

Don't hide yourself!

I long to see your crested buttes,

your canyon shadows, but you do exist, and that's enough.

I rest my yearning for your view.

Hollow chime sounds out of this fashioned stone.

As I rock it tells me I am not alone.

Oh sing a song my feathered friend!

Laugh for me once again.

Soil so rich, such tender steps.

Farewell fine tree, who's leaves I long to see.

Fussy, fashioned flowers.

The tenderness of all that's real.

by Donetta

Heroes

Well all packed up an backed into a spot right in front of the sewing guild door. The most wonderful elder man, his name was George, walked right behind me and noticed my load. He was so kind. I was wondering how I would manage all my load with the sewing machine, work bag and ice chest. This fellow offered help. I received with a grateful smile. I told him what I was up to. When I spoke of the V.A. Hospital he said "there were few fellows as brave as the medics". "They were the real heroes". He walked me all the way into the back room. Where I noticed that they had the room set up oddly. I turned to him and holding his hand with both of mine told how he was a gift to me today because my knee was hurting me so. Then I said to a lady standing there looking at me that "this fine man was a veteran" , He said "good- bye", and she turned to me to tell me I was a week early. The meeting is next week end. I smiled told her that it was alright my sister moved today and I was a little distracted. Got my days off by a week. She was to start her class in a moment I told her I would get right out of her way and apologized. The fellow in the scissors sharpening window stepped up and kindly helped me back to my car. I told him I was glad I hadn't made the two gallons of home made lemon aide. He loaded my old 1950's phaff and was fascinated with what was within its case . He was very intrigued for he too had a love of the old machine, the ones built like tanks. I was listening to a lovely CD of "calling all angles" music on my I POD all the while and I just drove home and did some shopping at a Costco on the way. Nice morning

George vanished.
"The real heroes were the medics of Vietnam." he said.
Makes me wonder...

Now years ago the Lord taught me that I have a ministry to the medical community at large. I did not like hearing that at the time for it meant that I had a journey that was very physically painful. I have had so many operations, and cancer scares, my body was ravaged by brutal hands my first 20 years of life.
To heal the Pain for those we depend upon to fix ours is a great honor and a privilege. I have been so many times under the knife to see doctors and nursed weep and heal. Fractures on my pelvis that disappeared only to have the orthopedic doctor fall apart in the exam room right in front of me and pour out his interactions with a physic. He closed his lucrative practice down only days later.
We have in who we are a duty to the Love of God in the world around us right where we are. It is who we are that He uses. We are created His workmanship. Be yourself today, Your true self. Do what you do with passion find joy in it it is our privileged lot.

"IN WHO YOU ARE WILL BE FOUND THE TRUE HERO"