Christmas 2016

well.....it has been quite some time sweet friends! life has just been busy and instagram has been the new and easy way to document and share! but....i actually got out the 'real' camera and thought i would share some of our Christmas....so get ready for a whole lot of pictures,it has only been about four years so I'm not sure i remember how to do this blogging thing ;)

sooooo.....that is a bit of our Christmas at home. we still have a few trees up, just not ready to let go of all the magic just yet ;) also for any new friends to this blog.....just a little back story. i started this blog on may 17th, 2010 to share the birth story of our magpie. she was born with down syndrome and i wanted to share the story of how even though we were saddened at first, it didn't take long for the clouds to part and see what a gift HE had given us. our girl is now seven years old and her smiles and sweet spirit, well a blessing indeed. i have always said she fixed me when i didn't know i was broken. she is truly our special gift from HIM. this social media journey started because of our sweet girl with the almond shaped eyes, the cutest dimples and the smile that makes it impossible to not smile back. then we started documenting the addition, and friends would ask to see more of the house.....oh and i also owned a shop for almost 11 years and practiced design and have always loved to make a house feel like a home....my favorite house to make a home our own of course :) so started out sharing about a magpie, and then started sharing our very LONG journey of building our home, and we have been so blessed by so many amazing friends along the way. i hope to get back to blogging....just bits of our life and home and the how beautiful life can be with a child with special needs. i have always loved to look back at the blog.....it is kinda like our journal that i love to open up and flip through the pages. and if I'm having a bad day and open this book, well it doesn't take long at all to be reminded how truly blessed we are.

celebrate....

world down syndrome day. a day to celebrate our sweet magpie and all the other sweet souls out there that also have that magic chromosome :)

today is a day to spread the word that individuals with down syndrome are a blessing, not a burden. how it is something to celebrate, not fear.

i think maggie rae will teach us far more than we will ever teach her. she has already stretched our hearts and our faith more than i knew possible. she has shown us how to see the world through eyes that do not discriminate.

our sweet girl has blessed our family with her endless kisses, sunshine smile and eyes that are like windows straight to heaven.

maggie rae...we could not possibly love you anymore :)

happy heart day :)

i know it is a little late for valentine' photos....and i know this poor blog has been terribly neglected . but life just keeps getting in the way ;) but i wanted to share these sweet pictures of our sweet girl. and share that she is finally taking steps! we waited 2 1/2 plus years for those steps...many, many happy tears were shed :)

so on with the cuteness.....

:: our girl's thing...to cover her mouth with her hands when she laughs. be. still. my. heart. i could not possibly love our magpie anymore :)

:: sweet treats for all of our wonderful therapists and teachers who we {heart} so much :)

:: my coupon book from emme grace that has coupons for 'one free drawing of anything i want', 'helping clean up' and 'unlimited hugs and kisses' ....my sweet, sweet mimi. and cupid's bottom, oh my. how stinkin cute ;)

:: happy, happy weekend :)

wishing you a very merry....

from our home to yours wishing you a very merry Christmas =)

thankful for....

....my jeffrey. for loving me more than i feel i deserve. for having hands strong enough to build our home yet gentle enough to button tiny buttons on our baby girls dresses. for being so patient and giving. for making so many sacrifices to allow me to be able to stay home with our girls. for being the kind of husband that makes it so easy to love him more and more everyday.




.....my emme grace. for your sweet tender-heart that makes you hug me tight as i am crying reading your little house on the prarie books with you ;) for your always positive sun-shiny attitude. and for your out-of-the-blue hugs and kisses that i hope never ever stop.

....my rayley beth. for always making me laugh. for your sweet sideways smiles that make my heart happy. for telling me when you think i look beautiful. for your funny little artwork that always makes me smile. and for adoring your sisters so much.

...for our magpie. for all of the magic that you and that extra chromosome have brought into our lives. for your thousands of kisses. for reminding us to celebrate every little thing. for all the clapping followed by your sweet little voice saying 'ayyyy' or 'bob bob'...translates to 'good job' :) for teaching our family so much more about true compassion. for your sweet sunshine smiles. and for bringing so much into our lives that we did not know we were missing.

and i am most thankful for HIM, who has given me so many blessings.

yes, i am so very thankful....