Humor according to Jack the Boxer

Just had to share these photos of my daughters dogs.


We spent last Sunday, Mother's Day, with my Mom and Amy in Reno.  We went over to Amy's house for a little bit to enjoy some time with her goofy dogs.  Get ready to giggle and smile.  Jack has decided it is great fun to chase little lights that reflect on the walls or where every he sees them.  Including the front of my camera as the flash goes off.  Davey thought it was especially humorous.  Sit back and enjoy.

Be gentle.

Smile. Just truckin' along........

Mother's Day was awesome yesterday.  We drove to Reno and visited with my mom and oldest daughter. It was so wonderful to spend this special time with them.

Amy recently made her first major purchase, a new vehicle (new to her).  It is what I call a "testosterone truck".  Her brothers got a chance to see it for the first time yesterday.  Davey especially enjoyed the stereo and the thumping of the tunes listening to the music.  Amy loves her new sound system.  And everything about her new "mall cruiser".  Don't worry, she also kept her sensible vehicle, her Honda that she lovingly cares for too.

Be gentle.

Smile

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

Be gentle 

The Special Mom........

You think you are ready.  You have the room ready, the clothes washed, the new stroller is out of the box and put together.

But wait, there is a detour to your journey to parenthood.  You are given a child with special needs.  But it is just a detour.  You take it and get back on the path to your journey.  Because you are a Special Needs Mom.

These lovely flowers were given to me by my daughter for my birthday a couple weeks ago.  Just so sweet.

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Moms out there.

The Special Mother 
by Erma Bombeck 
Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, 
a few by social pressure and a couple by habit. 
This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. 
Did you ever wonder how these mothers are chosen? 
Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth 
Selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. 
As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger. 
"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew." 
"Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia." 
"Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity." 
Finally he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a handicapped child." 
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy." 
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who knows no laughter? 
That would be cruel." 
"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel. 
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. 
Once the shock and resentment wear off she'll handle it." 
"I watched her today. 
She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother. 
You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of it's own. 
She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy." 
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." 
God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." 
The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?" 
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. 
Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. 
She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied. 
She will never take for granted a spoken word. 
She will never consider a step ordinary. 
When her child says momma for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it. 
I will permit her to see clearly the things I see--ignorance, cruelty, 
prejudice--and allow her to rise above them. 
She will never be alone. 
I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life 
Because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side." 
"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air. God smiles. 
"A mirror will suffice."

Be gentle.

Success comes for fashion designer. Oh yeah, she rocks her extra chromosome.

I love stories of success.  I love seeing others share their passions and talents.  I especially love it when the person in the story is differently abled.

Read on and enjoy this story about Katie and her passion for fashion.

Passion for fashion drives self-taught Port St. Lucie artist with Down syndrome

Katie Henderson, 29, of Port St. Lucie recently discovered her talents as an artist. Henderson, who was born with Down syndrome, uses her love for fashion as the inspiration for her artwork. Her drawings were recently exhibited at the Osceola 32 art gallery in Stuart.

When Katie Henderson developed an interest in drawing and sketching a few years ago, it didn't take long for her to get noticed.

Her designs earned her an artist of the month award at the Ability Resource Center in Fort Pierce four years ago.

Today, Henderson, who was born with Down syndrome, is an entrepreneur who recently started her own business and had her drawings featured at a Stuart art gallery.

Henderson, 29, said that she likes to draw fashion models.

"I like fashion, I like looking at fashion magazines," she said. "I have fashion shows on DVD."

Henderson grew up in Virginia, but moved to Port St. Lucie with her family in 2005. She began drawing a few years ago, using inspirations from fashion and paper doll sketchbooks, her mother, Ruth Henderson, said. She taught herself to draw, with her images often focusing on abstract shapes.

With some help from her family, Katie started her own business last year - Miss Katie's Kreations. The online store (www.misskatieskreations.com) features golf T-shirts with designs by Katie and note cards with her fashion drawings.

"She told her dad that he needed to be an entrepreneur and (invest in her business)," Ruth Henderson said. "She has a golf line and a fashion line."

Katie's artwork was selected to be part of an exhibit last month at the Osceola32 gallery in Stuart. The exhibit was entitled "The Magical Journey of Empowered Women."

Later this month, Katie will be a guest at a Research Down Syndrome Foundation event at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. She has contributed an original drawing and a print to the event. She also will have an exhibit at the National Down Syndrome Congress in July in Washington, D.C.

"I think she's become an inspiration to families that have children with Down syndrome (and) adults with Down syndrome," her mom said.

---

What are your hobbies?

She likes to draw and watch movies.

What is your favorite TV show?

She said that the television series Charmed is one of her favorites.

Who are your favorite musical artists?

'I like Britney Spears. She has a new (album) � I like Hillary Duff.'

Who is your favorite artist?

'I try to do my own (style).'

What's your favorite meal?

'I like pizza.'

Who would you like to meet?

She would like to meet Britney Spears.

Be gentle.