It is late at night and I am working on a project for Anthony’s school.  I am anxious about tomorrow.  You see Sydney will be going to daycare tomorrow.  She will be going to a local Lutheran Church daycare program.  She will be in the two year old class with her peers.  This place was recommended by ECI, a friend in the school district, and another parent of a child with DS.  Sydney has been going to a home daycare, Jennifer’s (aka Jo-Jo) for the last month.  Anthony was with Jennifer for three years and Sydney was with her for about 6 months right after I came off of maternity leave.  Luckily Jennifer had an temporary opening so that I had somewhere for Sydney to go while I looked for long term care.

I have been told by several parents that this will be good for Sydney to have peer interactions.  I cried the first several days that I sent Anthony to daycare for the first time.  I was okay with Sydney going to daycare because I knew Jennifer.   I can’t help but be nervous.  I know that this is one of the transitions in life that I need to deal with.  She will be fine, I am the one having heart failure.  We will get through this.

Thanksgiving is a time of the year that always makes me emotionally choke up.  It makes me realize how wonderfully blessed I am in my life.  It is also the time of year that my FAVORITE scripture is highlighted, Philippians 4:4-7

 ^{4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.}

This year, as you know, has been a tough one.  Randall was laid off in January and as the year wore on… the jobs did NOT appear at our doorstep.  We also experienced some big financial hits including Randall’s truck being totalled in an accident.  We also were exposed to our first real tangible descrimination of Sydney’s diagnosis.  We were turned down for Medical insurance when we had to take on a private policy instead of through an employer.  SIGH!  Anyway, despite the hits that we took this year, we had an amazing amount of blessings.  So, here is my list of blessings.  I hope that you add yours or send me a link to your website with your list.  Happy Thanksgiving my cyber-friends!  Blessings to you all!

• Sydney started walking!!! YEAH!
• Sydney turned two!
• Anthony started kindergarten (yeah, and sniff… sniff)
• I was able to go to Washington DC and attend an AMAZING DS conference and lobby our congressmen for DS rights
• I joined the Board of Directors for the DSACT and got even more involved
• Randall met his biological father after 43 years! 
• We expanded our family to include brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. And they are all wonderful blessings
• We were able to fly out to see my grandparents in June.  It was an emergency trip, but a great opportunity for the kids to meet their great grandparents and great uncle.
• Randall walked away mostly unscathed from a terrible t-bone car accident that totalled his truck and set it on fire.
• We both finally got jobs in the last month that provide security and insurance!!!  WOO HOO!
• We were able to find good daycare for the kids!
• My father way in Austin for seminary the first half of this year and we grew so much closer to him than ever before.
• I was able to take Anthony and Sydney and spend two weeks in Phoenix with my parents.
• While there I went to a 20 year reunion and saw old friends that I haven’t seen since graduation!
• Facebook connected me with long lost friends from Arizona, California, Okinawa, school, work, etc.  I LOVE technology!
• Our dear friend Deborah is fighting cancer again, and although this is terribly tragic, it has brought us all closer together in our faith.  LOVE YOU DEBORAH!!!
• We were incredibly blessed by unexpected support; financially, physically, and spiritually! 

Okay, now I am crying, so I am going to stop.  There is MUCH more to be thankful for, but I will end this with a short prayer.

Thank you Lord for bringing us through this valley.  You gave us what we needed when we needed it.  Thank you for our family, our health, our AMAZING friends and family.  We are so blessed with an increcible circle of love.  Please watch over all of those people in our lives!  Amen!

I am back from far edge of the earth.  It has been SUCH a long year, but we FINALLY have some relief and security.  WHEW!  As of today, both Randall and I are fully, totally, completely, employed.  The last few months are something short of a bad sitcom for us.  There have been multiple jobs that were offered, set up, then ripped out from under us.  I got a contract job and started the interview process for a permanent role which started today!  Woo Hoo!!!  Randall just started working last week as well.  It has really been a long haul and I thank each and every one of you for your un-ending prayers and words of support.  You all lifted us up and carried us on your prayers.  We will be okay.  We are a little worn for the ride, but we will be okay.  Thank you for your support.  I am hoping that the emotional relief of security will open me up for getting back into the blogging world.