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we are taking a deep breath as we get back into the swing of things after vacation. trying to find beauty in simple things. trying to let things be crazy and not get stressed.

enjoying my parents who are visiting for a couple days. so, so good to have them here.

david took a big step (literally and figuratively) today. he stepped into the house from the backyard. it’s just one step up into the house, but he is hesitant to do it. well, he was hesitant. but today he did it. every achievement is so exciting!

we are planning a birthday celebration for david tomorrow. some of our friends are coming to help us celebrate. more pictures to come! what are your weekend plans?

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we had a play group/handmade goods sale at joy’s house yesterday…which was SO fun. is it bad if three kids are banging on the piano but there is so many kids you don’t notice the noise?? it was a full house and a total blast. and i love joy’s red piano.

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what’s inspiring you today??

we enjoyed the afternoon at the beach today. steve and i thought, ‘this will be great. we can bring our chairs, umbrellas and books and relax while the boys play.”. Ha…the boys, of course, wanted our undivided attention. once i got over not relaxing, we had a blast.

david stole my beach chair and was such a silly goose. love the tiny, crazy toes!

saturday special at the end of this post!!!

thank you for sharing your stories. and for being transparent. i read through the comments from the ‘bloom’ post with tears in my eyes and and a full heart.

i am so glad this blog is a source of encouragement to many of you. your comments and emails are such an encouragement to me! it seems impossible to chose one winner. i wish i could have lunch with each of you and give you a big hug and hear more of your story. how did you feel when you first got the news? how do you take those first steps after your world crashes down around you? when did the first inkling of joy break through the sorrow? we each have our own story, and it so amazing to connect with other people who have walked through unimaginable hurt and still have a song in their heart. the pain is still there, it will always be there, but the joy makes it bearable.

to be cut down, ripped apart and to BLOOM…that is a beautiful thing.

Beth, from brighton, Colorado is our winner. Here is her beautiful comment…

Hi Lisa,
This is beautiful and I LOVE your work!
My second son was born with multiple midline defects, and had some significant health issues as a little guy. After having a trach for 18 months, many many surgeries and years of therapy, he is a fully functioning, typical 10 year old now. Even though there are things that we need to watch him closely for, people would never know that trials that we have been through with him. He changed our viewpoint totally. When we realized that he was emerging from the seroiusness of his health issues, we decided to look into adopting a special needs child. We later adpoted a little girl (through the county court system) who has special needs, and silimar to our son, looks typical on the outside, although has lasting effects of severe neglect and FAS. My husband and I both never would have guessed that we would have adopted a child, let alone a child with special needs, nor had we ever intended to have a third child. Only God knows the plan, and we have been blessed to have been chosen to be a unique story in his plan. We just hang on for the ride and be ready for the next curve ball!
Thanks for your blog, I love it!!
Beth in Colorado

Email me your address Beth and we’ll get your necklace out! For the rest of you, here is a Saturday special…enter bloom at checkout and take $10 off your order.

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Bloom Necklace

The perfect piece to represent mama and kiddos. The larger flower represents mom and the smaller blooms are her children. Each piece is hand-stamped with a special word or your kids’ names. rectangle is 1 1/2″ long and made of genuine sterling silver. Strung on 18″ sterling ball chain with freshwater pearl detail. The center of each flower is a hole, hand-drilled. So sweet, so unique! $46

You’ll find it on the website under ‘something simple’.

And I’m giving one away. Leave a comment and tell us about one experience that has helped you to bloom and become who you are!

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Matty just got green crocs. He calls them his ‘cute new green shoes’. David has tiny blue ones. Everyone around here is wearing crocs!! I don’t have a pair myself. I’m more of a flip flops girl. But the peer pressure…

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it’s sunday evening, the perfect time to think over some goals for the week ahead.

*play more
*snuggle longer
*slow down
*let matty be silly
*linger over coffee
*let plans change
*go for walks
*reconnect with an old friend

are you sensing a trend here? i need to take a breath and relax this week. even though its summer my head has been spinning. how about you?