Home

You can’t go home again…..or can you? Why not, who says we can’t? We should all go home again at least a few times in our lives. Recently, I have started on my journey home. What happened to that happy freckled faced young girl that giggled at everything? I want to find her, I miss her. So, I’m going home, back to the place that makes me, me. I always start with my Grandpa Donoho he was an amazing man full of strength and spirit, he taught me to stand up for myself, but to also be a lady, I miss him, and he’s part of my home. My road home is a long one filled with wonderful memories of the people who shaped me into the woman I am today. The road is sometimes bumpy and full of curves, but I love remembering every one of them. It all serves as a reminder, of where I came from. That’s why I go home again, anytime I feel I have forgotten who I am. A little self check if you will. Maybe it’s selfish; I love to have that feeling of truly being loved for who I am. The summers spent having Lemonade stands, riding my bike to M&W to get some candy and swimming in the neighbor’s pool. It was all so innocent and safe, just like it should have been. Family vacations, holiday dinners, even funerals are part of my road home. All of it made me……me. I am so thankful to have had so many amazing people on my journey. So yes, you can go home again. Memories are always a great way to start, pull out the picture album and start your journey home. You never know, you may find strength you had forgotten you had. Mamma, I’m coming home.

Farm Life

It's been a bit since the last time I wrote. Life has been crazy busy, I'm sure that most of you feel the same way. The hustle and bustle of daily life can be overwhelming. Spring is here on my little farm. We are up to four pygmy goats now, Cinnamon is about to give birth, so more will be here soon. I have added some other new additions as well, I now have Double & Trouble, my Rouen ducks. Who knew they would be so much fun!
I was asked yesterday, "Why do you have so many animals?". It took me a little of guard, I don't think of it that way. They are like family, that would be like asking why I have so many kids, I just do! But it did get me thinking.............Unconditional love? They don't talk back, they are always happy to see you, they are soft and sweet, when I'm done with them I can put them back in the cage. Who really knows why, I just love them! It's selfish I suppose, they make me smile and in todays society, that's a big deal! Right now I'm sitting on the back porch looking at the goats, chickens and horses. My dogs are playing in the pond, the cat is sitting with me. What more could I ask for? It's peaceful and they are so funny! Maybe you don't like animals, if that is the case, I'm sorry you are really missing out! I'll keep you posted on the goats.

Changes....they are a coming

I want to apologize for not keeping up........I've been rather busy. I want to talk about changes today. Why do we fear change so much? When in reality things change everyday, we just don't pay attention. When our kids are little we notice every change in them daily. The new little hairs growing the beautiful head of our baby. We mark the changes in Baby Books and the hundreds of baby pictures that we take. So what happens to us, why can't we embrace all change in that way? Some of us take changes in stride like professionals, then some of us act like children and refuse it. Which one are you? Maybe a little of both? I want to talk about the changes that sneak up on you. The ones you were not expecting, but that can change your life forever. Like finding out that you are pregnant at eighteen. That's a big change that will affect everything in your life. How do you deal with? Curl up in a corner and cry......or make the choice to embrace the fact that you will be having a baby? I was faced with that myself. Not married and still living at home and about to have a baby. I was scared, but also so excited about the change that was coming. Change is a wonderful thing.......take it for a ride, try something new. I'm not suggesting that you get pregnant, start small so you will be ready for the big ones. Go try Sushi, or take a dance class. If change scares you, start small, you might find you really like it.  It can be very addicting. Changes.......they are a coming!

Death/Loss Of A Loved One

We all have to deal with loss, there are many different forms of loss. Death is the form I want to talk about today. Some of us don't have to deal with this topic until they are adults. Unfortunately some of us must deal with it at a young age. Death is never easy, it's an extreme loss for us. Sometimes it can be a blessing for those who have been in pain. Other times it comes as a shock. I think of it as an earthquake, at first the rumble is devestating, scary and life altering. But how we deal with the "aftershocks" is what makes us who we are. I have witnessed some horrific "aftershocks", family fighting each other over money and belongings. Why do people feel the need to be so petty? Keep the memories from the person who passed away, things are nice, but can break and dissapear, memories are forever. The best thing to do is to celebrate the life of the person lost. Look at pictures and share stories with your friends and family. Children are almost always going to take death hard. They don't understand where the one they loved has gone. In our family we believe in Heaven, my children know that someday they will see the people they loved again.
So I want everyone to go out today and make memories with those you love. Look at pictures now and tell your children who they are and share stories. Someday you won't be around and they need those memories. Take a walk in the park, read a book together. Make everyday a memory.

Slow Down

How many times do we walk right past a beautiful bunch of flowers not even taking a second to smell them, let alone even notice them? I really hope it's never. We are blessed with so many wonderful sights and smells everyday. The colors of the sunrise and sunset are amazing.  Be humbled and take a second to reflect. Our lives are precious, be good to yourself and the ones you love. Slow down and take a second to enjoy what God has given us.

Labels

As some of you know, I have a son with Cerebral Palsey. With that comes the unfortunate label of "Disabled". I have never and will never think of him that way! He is a child, a wonderful "abled" child. Labels are an unfortunate side affect of living inside "the box", as a family we chose to stay outside of that box in the raising of our children. When Alex was five he jumped up on my bed and asked me "Mommy, why am I different?, My hand doesn't open like the other kids". I'll admit, that was a tough thing to hear. We had never treated him any different at home, but now he was out with other kids. I took him in my arms and told him "Sweetie, we are all different, like our eye, hair and skin color. Some us are tall, some are short, but we are all different and that's what makes us special".  So you see, we can even label ourselves and not even realize we are doing it. 
Do you remember when you were young and playing on the playground? In grade school, everyone was happy to play and talk to everyone else. Then we hit junior high..........that is when the labeling starts. If you played sports, you were a "jock and/or popular kid". If you wore cowboy boots, you were a "hick". I think you get where I'm going with this. Why do we insist on labeling? Is it our own insecurities coming out, and that's how we make ourselves feel better? I'm not going to sit here and act as if I have never done it myself, I have and I'm not proud of it. But I can tell you that when I was growing up I did my best to be friends with everyone. That's how you grow and learn, the differences in all of us is what makes us unique. Who's to say that having CP is any different than someone wearing a cowboy hat and boots in the mall? It is who they are on the inside that matters. Why do you chose to stare and point? I want to challange everyone to  move outside of the box today. Do what I do, go up to the person that is different and talk to them instead of label them. You will find out that they are no different than you or me.

Choices/Consequences

We make hundreds of choices everyday. Some small ones that we make without the slightest thought, some larger ones that require endless amounts of thought. I want to talk about the "Big Ones", the life changers. It's very difficult to make those, sometimes gut wrenching, but necessary. Everyones idea of the "Big One" is different. It might be making the choice of what shoes to wear.....men, don't laugh it's a tough choice for us woman. Or, the choice of walking through the door to the abortion clinic. What choice you make can change your life. As a woman, those choices can be devestating to her life. I have been blessed enough that I have not had to make the later choice, but have know many who have. And it changed their life forever. The reason I chose this topic today is that recently I have spoken to many young girls that have been making bad choices. They have come to me in the midst of crisis because they could not speak to their own parents. Which brings me to my point, as parents it is our job to raise our children to understand that you do have choices and with those choices comes consequences. It really needs to start with them when they are young, clean your room or suffer the consequences of your choice. Too many parents want to be friends with their kids. Bad idea, my kids know they can come to me because I will love them no matter what. But they also know that they will have consequeces, which makes them think twice before doing something they shouldn't. I will admit that even as an adult, I make bad choices sometimes. But I'm willing to take the consequence for what I have done. Please speak to your kids and lead by example. Go out and make good choices today, I'm going too.