We have been thinking about going to Disney and saving money to go for awhile. Months ago things started to fall into place and we decided it was time. It is always hard to know when is the perfect time to take your kids but I think it is going to be such a great time for Kyla.....she will turn 5 this winter and loves the Disney princesses so very much. She is at the age where it will truly be magical for her. I can't wait to see her face when she sees the castle and gets to meet Cinderella. I know Ashlyn will never remember it, but I think she will have a blast while she is there. We cannot wait. I am the most excited about our family being together for a whole week of vacation....our first big family vacation.
We didn't tell Kyla we were going until just a couple of weeks ago because I knew if we told her too soon she would be asking everyday when we were going. And, I wanted the excitement to build for her and be able to have a countdown counting down the days. So, when we did tell her we decided to video tape it. Have you ever seen those videos where parents tell their kids they are going to Disney and they start screaming and crying? Well, Kyla's reaction was a little more subdued.....
I think the camera made her a little shy.....she didn't know what to expect or why we sat her down for a conversation with the video camera in front of her. Although this particular take is better than the first time we tried when I started by asking her if she could go anywhere in the world where would it be, and she said the beach. Well, Disney is close to the beach, but not exactly what I was looking for. Anyway, as soon as we turned the camera off the excitement started with her saying things like, "I can't wait! I wish we were going tomorrow!" Every morning one of the first things she says is that we need to put another sticker on the countdown chart. Sometimes out of nowhere she will tell me she is so excited we are going to Disney. She is so excited. I am so excited. Get ready Disney.....we are coming!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Three sweetest words
In Ashlyn's speech therapy we are beginning to work on Ashlyn putting two words together. There are certain times where she might say something like, "Hi, Daddy". Yesterday she had one that surprised me. I was standing in the kitchen and she wanted me to see something and I heard, "Mama, watch!". It really is true that when things come harder for your child, when they get something, it makes it that much sweeter.....which is why the three little words she said last week mean so much. Hear it for yourself....
"I love you." Three words together and the three best words there are. And what makes me really thankful is not only that she said them but I know she feels them. She loves her family and knows she is loved by us.
"I love you." Three words together and the three best words there are. And what makes me really thankful is not only that she said them but I know she feels them. She loves her family and knows she is loved by us.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Fall.....so glad you are here
Every year around this time I find myself announcing the same thing, "It's official, October is my favorite month." I love fall and October is a month full of everything that makes fall my favorite. The leaves are turning beautiful colors and crunching under our feet as they fall. The weather is great, not too hot and not too cold. You take a walk outside and can smell burning leaves. And, inside the fall scented candles are burning. I love every little thing about it.
October....loving every minute of it.
Pumpkins on the front porch and, Ashlyn, the cutest little pumpkin
Kyla raking up a big pile of leaves so she can jump in
Adding fall flavors into our baking
Sweet baking girl
Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies....so good
Trip to the pumpkin patch
Ashlyn checking out the pumpkins
Kyla found hers
Wagon ride
October....loving every minute of it.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Buddy Walk
One of the things I worried about after Ashlyn was born was if she would be accepted. After we got her diagnosis, I couldn't help but look ahead down the road and wonder what it would be like. I still wonder from time to time, but the more I see people embrace her, the less I worry. I have watched a community of people surround her and love her and it means more to me than I can say.
Over the weekend we were privileged to walk in the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome Indiana, which is an organization that is all about the inclusion of people with Down Syndrome and the walk is a way to raise funds and build awareness. Troy and I knew we wanted to be a part of it and walk in honor of Ashlyn and also raise money. We began to get the word out to our family and friends about what we were doing and before we knew it, the support was coming in. People we love and who we know love Ashlyn began showing that love by donating, signing up to walk and raising money themselves. There were times that Troy and I would see the generosity of people towards our daughter and just look at each other with tears in our eyes. Tears of knowing she is loved and accepted.
In the weeks leading up to the walk I began feeling like we really needed to say something to Kyla. We have never told her that her sister has Down Syndrome. She was just over two when Ashlyn was born so it would have been useless to tell her then. As time has gone on, Kyla and Ashlyn have bonded so much as sisters and I just wanted that bond to continue to form before we said anything to Kyla. I just wanted her to see Ashlyn as her sister. I was getting very emotional about it. Troy and I kept talking about it and praying about when and what exactly to say. I shared my feelings and tears with my closest friends and family. In many ways, I didn't want to say anything to Kyla because up until now we have been in a little bubble of innocence where Kyla has no idea that her sister is different. Although, maybe on some level she does, but doesn't really care. So, it was the day before the walk and Ashlyn was napping and just Troy and I were with Kyla. We kept it simple and just said, "Kyla, we are so excited to go on this walk on Saturday. It is a walk for kids with Down Sydrome...." and before we could go on with the sentence she interrupted and said, "But I want to go on the walk!" Letting us know she knows that Down Syndrome is something she doesn't have but she really wants to still go to the walk. We continued and told her the walk is for all kids but that some kids there would have Down Syndrome and we were walking for Ashlyn. She said, "okay" and went right on to the next activity. No questions.....just glad to walk. I know questions will come in the future but for now Ashlyn is just her sister and if her sister has something called Down Syndrome that makes no difference to her. Acceptance.
The walk was a wonderful day of honoring Ashlyn and the gift she is to us. We were so blessed by the family and friends that came to walk alongside us. We can never say how much it meant to us. Here are some pictures from our day.....
To all of those who walked with us, donated or raised money.....THANK YOU! Team Ashlyn Rubies raised over $2,000! More than anything, thank you for walking beside us and for loving our daughter. We love you.
Over the weekend we were privileged to walk in the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome Indiana, which is an organization that is all about the inclusion of people with Down Syndrome and the walk is a way to raise funds and build awareness. Troy and I knew we wanted to be a part of it and walk in honor of Ashlyn and also raise money. We began to get the word out to our family and friends about what we were doing and before we knew it, the support was coming in. People we love and who we know love Ashlyn began showing that love by donating, signing up to walk and raising money themselves. There were times that Troy and I would see the generosity of people towards our daughter and just look at each other with tears in our eyes. Tears of knowing she is loved and accepted.
In the weeks leading up to the walk I began feeling like we really needed to say something to Kyla. We have never told her that her sister has Down Syndrome. She was just over two when Ashlyn was born so it would have been useless to tell her then. As time has gone on, Kyla and Ashlyn have bonded so much as sisters and I just wanted that bond to continue to form before we said anything to Kyla. I just wanted her to see Ashlyn as her sister. I was getting very emotional about it. Troy and I kept talking about it and praying about when and what exactly to say. I shared my feelings and tears with my closest friends and family. In many ways, I didn't want to say anything to Kyla because up until now we have been in a little bubble of innocence where Kyla has no idea that her sister is different. Although, maybe on some level she does, but doesn't really care. So, it was the day before the walk and Ashlyn was napping and just Troy and I were with Kyla. We kept it simple and just said, "Kyla, we are so excited to go on this walk on Saturday. It is a walk for kids with Down Sydrome...." and before we could go on with the sentence she interrupted and said, "But I want to go on the walk!" Letting us know she knows that Down Syndrome is something she doesn't have but she really wants to still go to the walk. We continued and told her the walk is for all kids but that some kids there would have Down Syndrome and we were walking for Ashlyn. She said, "okay" and went right on to the next activity. No questions.....just glad to walk. I know questions will come in the future but for now Ashlyn is just her sister and if her sister has something called Down Syndrome that makes no difference to her. Acceptance.
The walk was a wonderful day of honoring Ashlyn and the gift she is to us. We were so blessed by the family and friends that came to walk alongside us. We can never say how much it meant to us. Here are some pictures from our day.....
The star of the day ready to walk
Our family with our team sign...."Ashlyn's Rubies"
With our parents and Troy's sister (Aunt Heidi)
Troy and his girls
Me and my Ashlyn Ruby.....so glad she is mine
The girl who just wanted to go to the walk....big sister
Me and Troy. This picture means so much to me because the two of us cried many tears and clung to each other after hearing the words Down Syndrome for the first time and here we are on the other side..... happy to be at our first Buddy Walk
To all of those who walked with us, donated or raised money.....THANK YOU! Team Ashlyn Rubies raised over $2,000! More than anything, thank you for walking beside us and for loving our daughter. We love you.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Mrs. Meza
In the summer of 2004 my sister had graduated college and wasn't sure at that point of the next step to take. At that time, Troy and I were living in Kansas City, MO where he was in seminary and I was working at Kansas City Life Insurance in human resources doing recruiting. Kara and I are very close and so she would come visit and I can remember on one visit her and I were out at the pool at my apartment (those were good days) and I said, "Kara, you should move here." I told her that Troy and I loved it in Kansas City and although I knew it was probably just temporary for us, she should give it a try. We have always dreamed of living in the same city and we figured that would be an opportunity for it to happen for at least a little while. So, she did it. She moved to Kansas City and got an apartment and started working a job that she soon found out she didn't like at all. So, when a job came open at the company where I was working, I suggested she apply. I talked to the hiring manager and he said he would love to meet her. I remember the day she was sitting in my office before her interview. She got the job and who would have known that all of that would lead to this.......
Little did Kara or I know that the day she got off the elevator for that job interview, that her future husband would be right around the corner. After about a year, Troy and I did move and not too long after I can remember Kara and I talking on the phone and her saying, "Do you remember Dustin Meza? Well, I went out with him last night and I really like him." Kara and Dustin began dating, things kept getting more serious and this past weekend we celebrated their wedding. It was such a beautiful and special day.
Who would've known that when two sisters were out by a pool thinking about one of them making a move of all that it would have led to? I know that God did. God knew about all of the pieces and the timing of it all. It is crazy to think that even God leading Troy to seminary in Kansas City and opening up a job for me there was part of Kara meeting her future husband. The providence of God....that is something to celebrate. I am so happy for my sister and my new brother in law. Congratulations, Mr, and Mrs. Meza.
Little did Kara or I know that the day she got off the elevator for that job interview, that her future husband would be right around the corner. After about a year, Troy and I did move and not too long after I can remember Kara and I talking on the phone and her saying, "Do you remember Dustin Meza? Well, I went out with him last night and I really like him." Kara and Dustin began dating, things kept getting more serious and this past weekend we celebrated their wedding. It was such a beautiful and special day.
Kyla getting her hair done
Adorable flower girl number one
Adorable flower girl number two
My beautiful bride sister....I love her so much
With our wonderful friend, April......so special to us
All the girls
With my flower girls
My awesome parents
Kiss for Grandpa
With one of our flower girls
Kyla and Hailey....super flower girls
She is a married woman!
With our beautiful mom
Having fun on the dance floor
Who would've known that when two sisters were out by a pool thinking about one of them making a move of all that it would have led to? I know that God did. God knew about all of the pieces and the timing of it all. It is crazy to think that even God leading Troy to seminary in Kansas City and opening up a job for me there was part of Kara meeting her future husband. The providence of God....that is something to celebrate. I am so happy for my sister and my new brother in law. Congratulations, Mr, and Mrs. Meza.
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