Dream A Little Dream of Me....

I had a dream last night about my Grandma and Grandpa. It still brings tears to my eyes, as it took place in their old apartment, where they last lived together, where I spent alot of my childhood and early adulthood with them. My dream starts off where my Grandpa had just died and we were going back to the apartment with my Grandma after the funeral. We were so worried how Grandma would do.

Strange thing is, Grandpa was sitting in his chair talking to us! I remember being so excited that he finally got to meet Alex, as Alex was standing by the arm of the chair chatting away (Grandpa died 8 yrs before Alex was born)! The apartment was just like I remember it too, complete with Grandpa wearing just his undershirt (with pants! LOL) like he always did when he was home for the day! He was smiling his smirky smile and was enjoying all of us being there. I think my other kids were there, along with my mom.

As for Grandma, she kept hiding from me. She wouldn't show her face. She was lying in bed with the covers pulled up over her head. I even asked to see her and she wouldn't come out. Not sure what to make of that?

I do believe that our loved ones can come visit us in our dreams. I'd like to think that they're together again and watching out for us. I know my Grandpa would have adored Alex, gotten a real kick out of him! My Grandma sure did.

I still miss them terribly. I hadn't missed my Grandpa in a long time...but it came back this morning when I woke up. I've been thinking about them both all day. Even if it was just a silly dream... I loved the few minutes I had with them!

Look at me, blubbering all over the place!!!

Dear Annette

It was a year ago that we finally got to meet in person. What a joy to finally get to hug you and your family!!! Ryan was every bit the doll he was in his pictures! You were too, yet you were so frail. I didn't want to acknowledge it though...I just wanted fun and happiness -no thoughts of disease.

Because of you, I got to meet so many of my long time on-line friends. So many, that if I start listing, I'd miss someone and hurt feelings. I don't want that. I don't want any other friends lost to me.

Because we lost you in December. To that ugly disease, cancer. It took a beautiful mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend way too soon. Way too soon for those of us left behind to even understand. Some days I still ask why.

I wanted to let you know I was thinking of you this weekend, wishing we were all back together on Jan's back deck.. laughing and sharing wine and stories!! But I know in our hearts, we are all together again with you...

Gone but not forgotten dear friend!

SAAAAA-WEEET!!!

Check it out!!!! Sarah Palin wrote me a personal note!!!

It says "Rhonda, your son rocks! Sarah Palin '08. Now Matt says she wrote it about Alex and I say she wrote it about Matt.... so guess it's for both of them!

Matt said she is a real personable lady, very cool. Matt even asked her about her lipstick and how she kept it on so long (one of his girlfriends wanted to know!) and she said she uses Carmax lip gloss, only 89 cents at Walmart!!! How cool is that? He said she is really someone awesome to meet. She's even thinner in person and just as gorgeous as she looks on TV! She asked about Alex and when Matt told her that he gets sick alot, she said she was very fortunate, that Trig hasn't been ill yet. Matt said this was the only note she actually personalized!!! (He also said I owe him one really nice Christmas present too!!)

I really admire her. I think she is one neat lady - regardless of politics and I think she'll put down syndrome on the map as well!!! Yes I have a girl crush!!! LOL

I'm proud of both my sons!!!! Off to buy a frame!!!

I believe......

I Believe...

That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe ...
That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while, and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.


I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe..
It's not about me taking a long time to become the person I want to be.
Question is, am I becoming the person God wants me to be?

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...
That we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude
or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...
That my best friend and I can do anything ~ or nothing ~ and have the best time.

I Believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry, I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them, and less to do
with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others; sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself..

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.


I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life forever.


I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different..

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of minutes by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.



'The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything.

Proverbs 16:3

Blush....

My dear friend Amy nominated me for the Brilliante Weblog Award! Thanks so much Amy!!!

Now I want to follow the rules, however I think Amy already picked 6 people I would have selected... so I might fall short of the "7" but I'll try!!!

Karen - Chewymom

Jeanette, Faith's mommy

Cynthia

yup I fell short, cause Amy STOLE some of mine!!! LOL

Now its time to share! Here are the rules for this award: -

1. The winner can (and should, really) put the logo on his/her blog
2. The winner must link to the person from whom they received their award.
3. The winner must nominate at least 7 other blogs for an award.
4. The winner must place links to those blogs on their own blog.
5. The winner must leave a message on the blogs of the people they’ve nominated.

A Farewell to Summer

Goodbye Summer. I am hanging onto you with a white knuckled death grip, but I know I'll lose in the end. The days are getting shorter, the temps are dropping every so slightly, the flowers and annuals are beginning to look tired. Pumpkins and ghosts are in all the store fronts, the apple orchards are bursting at the seams.

I don't like you Winter.....I really don't. Maybe if you weren't so cruel, we could be friends. But just when I think I can tolerate you.... BAM... thirty below wind chills coming blowing in!!!!

So Summer... if you could just hang a few more days??? Give me that warm sunshine, melting ice cream and mosquitos (ok maybe not the mosquitos) for a little while longer......pul----LEAZZZZZZE???

Happiness is.....

A warm puppy!!! LOL

I need to figure out what happiness is... I sure know what it's not.....

Leave your Happiness is..... in the comments!!! I'd love to hear from you!

Love is.....

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New International Version Bible

A reminder for those of us who might need it right now!!!!

Sunflowers Galore!!

The sunflowers in Nebraska right now are gorgeous!!!! Yes to all the farmers, they are weeds... unless of course they're growing them for crops!!! There's nothing prettier than a field of sunflowers!

We had tons of rain at the right time this year to cause them to bloom so beautifully. I wish I had planted some myself, but I am enjoying them all around the corn fields and ditches!!!

Welcome to Nebraska in the Fall!!!!

OK Media Pundits, knock it off!

You're setting women back 40 yrs! Back to the days of June Cleaver and Harriet Nelson.

Whether you agree with the politics of Sarah Palin or not, we women should proud to have a woman running in this race!!! Stop the "she has children at home she shouldn't be running" or "where are her poor children while she's out campainging?" crap. Obama has kids at home, why isn't he home? Michelle is his wife and she's out campaigning too....why isn't she home? Palin has a good husband and dad by her side and obviously they made the decision together to run. No different than Obama and Michelle... so knock it off!!!! Judge her on her political history and current views... not whether she has a uterus and boobs!!!

If you don't stop, we'll be forced to march to Washington and burn our bras!!!! Trust me at my age and sagitude.... you don't want that!!!!! I'll go bra-less before I stand over the stove, making you all dinner, wearing my pumps and pearls!!!

Martha Sears had this to say (and I love it, thanks Karen!):

Thanks, ______, interesting. A couple of things: Baby Trig is now 5 ½ months old, not a newborn. Babies with Down syndrome tend to be raised by their families, not just the parents, when there are plenty of older children available.

My older children, even Matt who was 4 at the time of Stephen's birth, have learned a LOT from having Stephen to "help raise" and from having Stephen contribute them as they found out what unconditional love is. Matt will probably be choosing his life's work based on his experience being Stephen's older brother/playmate/part time guardian. Lauren got involved in this "raising", too, once she was old enough, 6 or 7, to realize that Stephen was really the younger of the two of them.

I'm thinking this 5th baby was a surprise for the Governor of Alaska, but when surprises come along you step up to the plate. She obviously has.

This Palin family is not perfect, never will be, but God help us if we all run around thinking we have to be perfect (even as AP parents, let's not put that burden on ourselves), let alone think that others have to fit one (perfect?) mold to be good-enough parents. This obviously is not the best timing for Mrs. Palin, but it is an awesome time for her to be McCain's running mate. She is up to the task of making this country a better, safer one for her own family and for her country - and maybe starting with all those preborn babies with Down syndrome whose mothers now may think twice before they end their babies' lives.

I'm sure there is a lot more that can and will be said on this subject, and I will be listening.

I have to admit...

I really liked Sarah Palin and her speech last night. I cried like a baby when she said "we" have her support and advocacy! Then I cried again when she brought Trig on stage! He's gorgeous (I'm a bit biased though, hehehe). I can't wait to hear more from her in the following days/weeks.

I think she's a smart, strong woman, loves her family and loves America. I love having a woman run in this campaign!

My son is at the convention, I can't wait til he gets home and get his insider view. The crowd looked pretty worked up last night and that was fun to watch as well!

Dear Mr. P Diddy- Puffy-Puff Daddy-Sean Combs

or whatever the hell your name is this week...

My heart bleeds for you. While I must pay high gas prices, I too must pay high medical bills for my child, on top of high insurance premiums. I have high grocery bills and a mortgage. I can't afford to fly my family anywhere now that airline tickets are so pricey and the chance of getting all your luggage is slim. Thank God for Target and Wal-mart so we have clothes to wear and shoes on our feet.

But you Mr Puff Daddy, have some serious concerns. How dare the big oil companies make you fly first class... the outrage. Ole Dubba is getting a strong letter from tonight. I cannot, I will NOT live in a country where a rapper must fly economy.

What is this world coming too? Oh the humanity...............

Maybe Jerry Lewis will have a telethon for you my friend.... Free P Diddy from the humiliating TSA body cavity searches. Free him from the $6 bag of peanuts and $10 hard as rocks pillows. Please world.... let Puffy Combs have his private jet.

Click here to fully understand the tirade above.

Well played John McCain!

well played!!!

Tropic Blunder - Take Two

Here is a list of some pertinent snail and email addresses, phone numbers and some fax numbers. Fire away!!!! I did borrow this from a post on Trisomy 21 board (thanks Emily) so give her a shout out for finding these!

Ok - here is what I have found. Robert Downey Jr. is managed by Creative Artists Agency, Ben Stiller is managed by Shepard & Associates and has a production company called Red Hour Films; Jack Black's agency is the Endeavor Agency and has a production company called Electric Dynamite Productions. Dream Works is owned by Viacom which also owns MTV and Nickelodeon and everyone else. This is Viacom's corporate statement:

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
UNRIVALED ABILITY TO EDUCATE, ENGAGE AND EMPOWER

Viacom's social commitment leverages the power of its brand and the strength of its audience relationship to encourage action on a variety of pro-social issues that are important to our partners, employees, audience, shareholders and communities alike.

Click on Our Initiatives to learn more about our programs.

Viacom's Corporate Responsibility Council Mission Statement
The Viacom Corporate Responsibility Council seeks to provide company-wide guidance and support to pro-social programs governed by our brands. While nurturing each business unit's distinctive identity, the Council collaborates on Company-wide pro-social efforts, as well as, projects at the business unit level. The Council educates employees and audiences about key pro-social issues to inspire, enlighten and ignite action in both the public arena and within our own employee family.

Also here is a press release regarding Jack Black's project "Acceptable TV" for VH1:

http://www.vh1.com/press/press_releases/2006_release/acceptable_tv_01112007.jhtml

PASADENA, CA, January 11, 2007 - VH1, Jack Black and the team from Channel101.com have announced the first step in reforming the runaway user-generated content movement with the newly formed "Acceptable TV." The "Department" will be responsible for a website that will launch in February 2007 followed by a weekly TV series premiering on VH1 Friday, March 23 at 10 PM*.

Jack Black, Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab became pioneers of the do-it-yourself TV movement with Channel 101, a competitive forum for digital shorts founded in 2003, anticipating the YouTube revolution by a several years. Realizing they could not stand by while the tidal wave of user-generated content threatened to overwhelm the internet, "Acceptable TV" on the principle that, in Black's words, "some stuff is just not acceptable."

Fax Numbers:
Dream Works Studio 818-695-9944
Viacom Public Relations 212-258-6464
Ben Stiller and Representation c/o
Red Hour Films, Inc. ((310) 289-5988
Shephard & Associates (310) 858-3947
Jack Black and Representation c/o
Electric Dynamite Productions, Inc. (818) 733-2651
Endeavor Agency (310) 248-2020
Robert Downey Jr. and Representation c/o
Creative Artists Agency (424)288-2900 212.277.9099

Viacom's Companies:
MEDIA NETWORKS
BET NETWORKS
BET
BET J
MTV NETWORKS
ATOMFILMS
ADDICTINGGAMES
CMT
COMEDY CENTRAL
GAMETRAILERS
HARMONIX
LOGO
MTV
MTV2
MTVN INTERNATIONAL
MTVU
MTV TR3S
NEOPETS
NICKELODEON - NICK JR.
NICK AT NITE
NOGGIN
PARENTSCONNECT
QUIZILLA
RHAPSODY
SHOCKWAVE
SPIKE TV
THE N
TV LAND
VH1
VH1 CLASSIC
VH1 SOUL
VIRTUAL WORLDS
XFIRE
PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORP
PARAMOUNT PICTURES
DREAMWORKS STUDIOS
PARAMOUNT VANTAGE
MTV FILMS
NICKELODEON MOVIES
HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Creative Artists Agency(Robert Downey Jr)
Los Angeles
2000 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
phone: 424.288.2000 fax: 424.288.2900

New York
162 5th Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10010
phone: 212.277.9000 fax: 212.277.9099


Richard Lovett, President
rlovett@caa.com

Rick Nicita, Co-Chairman
rnicita@caa.com

Lee Gabler, Co-Chairman
lgabler@caa.com

Kevin Huvane, EVP
khuvane@caa.com

Summer Photo Contest

This picture was taken at Give Kids the World in Orlando FL. Nothing says summer like a drippy ice cream cone!

You can enter the contest here, but it's over today so hurry!

Petition Against Tropic Thunder

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:

"Boycott Dreamworks and &Tropic Thunder"

Sign Petition


I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes less than a minute of your time.

Thanks!!!

Apology

for the outburst yesterday. I was pretty upset. They are making Alex move schools, even with a letter from his pediatrician, outlining the detriment to him. I really hate public schools and I would find a private school today if there was one here in town, but there isn't. The only alternative is for severe behavior and he's not at that point, although with the change, who knows he might end up there.

I have to find peace with this, but so far I haven't. I'm taking Alex up to school today to visit and meet the teacher. I will try not to be angry, but it will be hard. When I feel this emotional, I let it all hang out!!!

I was angry at God and still am. Trying to make my way back to "this was meant to be" but I'm going kicking and screaming! LOL

Thanks to those of you who kept us in your thoughts and prayers yesterday!!!

Ask me if I believe God

Cause right now I don't.

The End.

The Power of Prayer

We could use it this morning. We meet with Alex's IEP team to determine if he stays at his old school or not. We really want him to stay! So if you wouldn't mind a quick prayer, we'd appreciate it!

While you're praying, could you also pray for a sweet little boy ( 3 yrs old), Ryan, who has suffered some strokes and is continunig to seize. He is also blessed with an extra chromosome and he and his family could use the comfort of prayer. He really is more important than Alex's school.

Thank you all! God works miracles!

Hazel I Ain't!

Cleaning house today. Urgh. Not fun on a sunny summer's day. I would fail the Flylady white glove test that's for sure.... I'm ashamed at the number of cobwebs and dust bunnies I found.

Steve's brother, Richard, is coming (from Chicago) to visit on Wednesday. He's allergic to everything under the sun including cats and dust bunnies. I'm really trying to eliminate the amount of each, so he can at least spend some time at our house (ok I'd like to eliminate the cats permanently, but I mean I'm trying to get rid of the hairballs). He is doing the allergy shots, which he says helps tremendously. During his previous visits, we spent alot of time at the hotel, because he couldn't be in the house for more than 10 minutes and he couldn't be outside much either. Very frustrating! Plus he hasn't seen our new house, so we'd like for him to be able to hang out for a bit.

Alex loves Uncle Dick. He can hardly wait! Uncle Dick is one of those uncles who likes to make funny noises, play dinosaur and also teach the kids a little something, even though they don't realize their learning! Alex likes to call him on the phone, so they can make funny noises together!!! I think Uncle Dick is the only one who truly gets Alex's gibberish....or he at least pretends too!

Well off my duff and back to the filth. Where does it all come from? I hope the Flylady police aren't in my neighborhood today or I might need bail......