Joni and Friends, Murrietta

So for those of you that don't know, my amazing church of NCC has sponsored our family to attend a family retreat for 5 days that caters to special needs families. It is called Joni and friends and is absolutely unbelievable. The staff is spectacular. We are hosted by the Calvary College in Murrietta, California. I have to say, if I could rewind the clock and go to college again, I wish I would have been at a place in my life to chose here. It really is exceptional. There are even natural hotsprings right on campus and their own lake with super friendly ducks! (Cole was very concerned that the ducks would get fed every day so that they would not go hungry.)

So what does a family do at camp? Well, there is a pretty packed program every day. It starts with a well balanced and freshly cooked breakfast. Then the parents go to groups sorted by age and the children do the same. While the kids are crafting, worshiping, and playing, the adults are being fed by pastors. Let me tell you, Pastor Bill is unlike any pastor that I have ever heard, in a good way. Really is a common sense guy and I wish that all could have heard his common sense approach to salvation and the validity of the Bible yesterday. Hard to deny the Lord with facts like that!

Anyway, after our morning programs we go back to lunch. Each special needs child is matched with a short term missionary so you have them caring for your children even during meal time. They are true servants and I feel so blessed to have their help while we are here. Fun activities are planned after lunch. Today we built bird houses and fed the ducks. Yesterday we had a water day in which there were really fun wet slides and rides and my children had their first snow cones, too! We even got to go in a hot air balloon yesterday. That was really something else.

We take the kids back to nap and Celia usually goes swimming at that time. Then we shower and head to dinner. The food is so good. REally good! Anyway, after dinner there is a family evening event. Yesterday it was a BBQ with an egg hunt and a balloon maker (WOW, was he good). Tonight was the talent show and end of the camp program (due to not so great behaviors from one of our kids, I have had to miss it! SO BUMMED.) The night before last we had a concert that was truly amazing! The kids got to dance on the stage which is super cute....

So what am I taking out of camp? I have grown even deeper in my faith. The Lord is so amazing. He is a God of miracles and a God of truth and I am so blessed to know Him as my Lord and savior. I am humbled by all that so many moms and dads go through every day with their children. I have met some incredibly strong people that really inspire me. I have met children that have such sweet souls. I desire to see things more through their eyes. I have also gained a deeper understanding for my own children and their individual needs. I knew I was coming to a camp with children with a lot greater needs than mine on the most part. I didn't know if I belonged here... what I have learned is that ALL of our children are unique and all delayed and specially challenged kids need to be seen for who they are, regardless of their abilities or lack their of. I belong here. My kids belong here. We have all taken a lot out of this experience to grow on and learn from. Thank you NCC and Joni and friends for really helping us to fully understand disabilities. Thannk you for a place to really relate!

America's Got Talent and SO DO I!!!!

Once again I am naughty for not writing more. So sorry... I was afraid of not having enough to do to stay busy with the kids this summer but the opposite holds true!

I was watching America's Got Talent tonight in silence as my daughter is at summer camp in Picacho, Az. I miss her. She may be a challenging child at times, but she is so sweet and snuggly at night and I usually snuggle up with her to settle down for the evening. Anyway, as I saw a cancer survivor sing her heart out and the cutest 8 year old play the piano while singing, followed by big smiles and bold jokes, I just felt good. I love that show. It reminds me of what is right about people, Americans in particular. In a time where there is so much stress in our homes and in our economy, it is fresh to turn on the tv and see real people just believing that joy can be found in chasing their dreams.

I think of my children. I wonder what their dreams will be made of. What talents will they be blessed with? Though the world may not have the EXPRESSED PRIVELEDGE of seeing their talents as we do those on tv tonight, I am so excited to see them and perhaps even hoard them to myself!? Their smiles are so great. Their pleasures so simple and joys so huge... somewhere along the way most people get robbed of those simple pleasures and in their place comes worries of dating, social pressures, failed expectations, misnegotiated relationships, etc... we all give ourselves away to some of it if not all of it. But is that what has to be? I sit their tonight after a day I took to rest, for myself and away from my home and the chores within it, and I am reminded that in our youth we are naieve to all life demands so just enjoy all that we are surrounded by... I wonder if I could make a concious choice to enjoy those things again and find that inner youth again. I see my life as so joy filled and full of so many blessings, yet my children far surpass me in a daily smile count. I will let you know how it goes as I conciously seek joy in my every day... not letting anyone or anything come in between me and that joy that I have inside. Hmmm....

"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Amen!

From the Coast

The clouds are tucked in all around us... not an ounce of sun. I sit in the middle story of our three story condo with silence all around. I would be at the beach, but am content not to be. The cold weather has us somewhat locked in but honestly, locked in suits me well. These days, I have longed to be "locked in" to my home with nothing but time on my hands. Even better than being "locked in" to my own home, is to be here where I do not feel tempted to clean, do laundry, or tend the yard. I can sit, in totally peace. I am in my pajamas still and pondering what we should do today. Read? Watch rented movies? Nap?? So nice to have so many options.

I am looking forward to our children joining us on Tuesday. So many things Jason and I see remind us of how our children would respond. Last night we went out to dinner and then walking in the marina. There was a groovy two man band inspiring guests of a coffee shop along the way, and even though we are not avid coffee drinkers, we found ourselves ordering SOMETHING to drink, just so we could stay and listen. We can't wait to take our kids there. The little ones will love to dance to the music and Celia and her friend that she is bringing will love to poke around at the little shops in the area.

Yesterday was also cloudy and cold. Looks like nearly every day this week will be this way. Won't make for much fun at the beach, I am afraid. But it is a change of pace for us all and there are plenty of things to do that are inexpensive and different. We will make it work.

I am so bummed that I forgot my camera. How does that happen?? I love pictures and lately... well, I am not so good at taking them.

Anyway, just wanted to share my chillin' vibes for CA! Love to you all.

The Big Move is Coming

Jason and I have come to a difficult decision. We are moving back into our old home, lovingly called our Villa Rita home, by the first week of so of August. This was a hard decision to come to for many reasons, but in weighing them all, we must get rid of all our homes but one. People are not traveling and long term tenancy will not work for our properties as we had hoped. This has led us to a point of needing to choose a home.

We heard a sermon the other day about discipline. How God disciplines us all our whole lives out of love. As I sat in my seat, I was thinking about all the decisions J and I have made that led to this point in our lives. I am humbled by the great blessings that have been poured onto us from the day of our creation, all the way to the recent blessings of our children and homes. And how now, we are being tought so much through consequences and tough choices with further consequences to follow them. I thank God for the choices before me, and I so much want to do the honoring thing in making them. We have prayed much, and talked much... and now we are moving.

A house is a house. I didn't use to feel that way. I felt like if I loved my house, I couldn't and wouldn't give it up! Seems so silly of a thought, for a while now. What makes my house a home moves with me. It is my family, my scrap books, my pictures on the walls, the quilts that have been so lovingly sewn for me, the four legged creatures that break it in with fresh pee confusions, and laughter between the walls and spin cycle completing on the washing machine. I feel so blessed that my family is nearby, that my friends, though we rarely see eachother these days, are close and able to remain my support system. (Loving you at a distance, Joyce! SOrry!)

Anyway, we will be packing in between our summer "stuff" and then preparing Villa Rita to become a home once again. I am sure the house misses our craziness... misses our gatherings, our walls being rammed with children's toys, a phone ringing, and dogs soiling the lawn. If my Villa Rita house could talk, I think it would say "I am tired of being a landing spot and just a house. I am ready to welcome you HOME." I would smile, thank my house, and then send the kids running and screaming through it while J and I held hands on the step in the foyer simply taking it all in.

Catch Up Before We are Gone!

We are readying ourselves for a trip to Oceanside, California. We are so very grateful that we get to take a vacation this summer while so many families are not with the current economy. If it weren't for a vacation rental exchange, we would be home this summer along with so many other American families. Not only are we getting ready for a fun trip to the beach, we have a day of ALONE time, just me and J, before we ever leave! Nana and Papa were so kind and offered to take them starting last night. The kids will be with Nana and Papa until Tuesday morning and then for the second part of the trip, Nana and Papa will drive them to us in California so the second part of our trip will be a family trip. Celia was less than thrilled about us going to CA before them as she always hates being "left", but all the tots think Nana and Papa are super fun (so does Celia, she just doesn't like to be away from us). So last night we had our options of what to do while we were kid free.

First, we went to dinner at our new favorite Mexican food restaurant. It is called Crazy Carlos and is located by Safeway at the intersection of 83rd Avenue and Lake Pleasant Pkwy. It is cheaper and better than Macayos so it is a win, win. Afterwards, house empty, we decided to come home. Jason took off his jeans and sat in his underwear, just because he could! We sat on the couch and watched a movie we had rented weeks ago from Netflix and just hadn't gotten to due to the R rating and the limited time we have without children around! Tired, I crawled into bed at 10 and J stayed up to watch another movie.

Today I got up early, mowed the lawn. I am washing all the beds so they are clean when we get home and straightening up the house. I will be filling the kids car back packs and delivering them to them. For those of you who don't know what these are, let me explain. When driving 6 hours in a car with 2 four year olds, one 3 year old, and an over anxious 12 year old, it is best to have new and entertaining things for them to do in the car. Not for their sake, but for the sake of the drivers. In this case, Nana and Papa will greatly appreciate the back packs! So I will go by the 99 Cent Store and pick up some snacks and coloring boards and such and for the first 2 hours or so, the kids will be thuroughly entertained. THen it will be about time for them to stop for lunch. After that, they will likely play for another hour or so with their new items (somehow junk seems to entertain a while in the car, unlike at home!) and finally doze off. Celia refuses to sleep in the car stating it is just to uncomfortable and Lexi struggles to sleep in the car because of the stimulation of all she is passing by... after naps, the unsettleness of the situation sets in but by then, there is only about an hour left so singing and games can usually pass the time for the last stretch. Really, it is a fine science on driving that far and if California were any further, we likely wouldn't go much!

So this isn't the most poetic post but we have been so busy so wanted to just catch you up on where we are and what is happening. It has been SUPER busy around here settling into summer. I will have to post of my thoughts as a mother of four with summer break another time! YIKES! Love to you all.

Skippy is Scared!

Welcome, the newest member of the Fremouw family... Skippy! I should post a pic but find myself too lazy to take the picture and upload it right now. Skippy is an unknown type of frog. We did decide that he is a frog, and not a toad. I guess smooth skin and a love for water means "frog", so that is about all we know of him. He/She is about 1.5" in diameter and scared out of its mind. The poor frog spent its first night in the bottom of a giant PlayDough tub. I came home from scrapbooking to find him curled up on the tin floor, panting like it was about to have a heart attack. I put a sock in there and a few larger river rocks from my front yard. A couple small branches from a bush provided a place for Skippy to hide and the dish of water that stood higher than the frog was replaced with a shallow Tupperware lid of water. Skippy chose to sit in the water. No food. No heat. Nothing familiar. Skippy was stunned into a catatonic state for the night.

So this morning we got the family around and headed to Petco to get some relief for Skippy. Sadly enough, no one could identify the type of frog we had from the picture we took (Ok, so now I am busted for being simply too lazy to upload it since the picture is already on the camera). They told us he would need a container to call home and both wet and dry places to remain within his new clear walls. They suggested a glass home, but $40 for a glass home was more than we could muster for a frog we are more likely to kill than raise. So we got our cheap plastic "aquarium" and decided to use yard rocks to give him a resting place.

Food was our next obstacle. The pet store help told us Skippy would eat crickets. So we bought 10 small crickets which is expected to be about a 2 day supply, assuming they don't gang up on Skippy and kill it. Yes, you heard me right. Apparently crickets can kill anything that eats them with enough fellow crickets and the will to do it. So for now, we have to keep an eye on Skippy to ensure that Skippy wins out over the food. The crickets as super small, which makes me feel better about it. (I did just pay a pest control company to kill all such bugs around my home and then find myself paying for MORE BUGS today. That does sit wrong within me.)

So we get home, put gravel in the bottom, water that was boiled before we left for the pet store and now cooled to room temperature, and more river rocks. Not perfect, but it should work. We release the crickets into the dry portion and then Celia picks up Skippy and places him carefully onto a river rock. He quickly relizes that we are all staring and him and started, Skippy slouches back into a crack in a desperate attempt to hide. It does him no good. There is really not much to hide in. Again, eyes bulging, lower chin skin moving back and forth at a record pace, Skippy is about to jump out of his skin or burst a heart valve. Not sure which.

We move him upstairs into a common area of our home and quickly, Skippy decides this is his/her last chance to escape. Skippy jumps into the plastic wall. And again, and again. Now realizing that it really isn't getting him/her anywhere, Skippy sits. Crickets move all around and Skippy could care less. I think the starving frog, expected to eat 5 crickets a day or more, can stand the thought of eating. Skippy has lost its appetite. Every time a child looks in on Skippy, he/she squirms with fear. Poor frog has no piece and would rather be in a cardboard Playdough tub with a tin bottom where the false security of feeling alone in a cave exists than to be in a free-for-all clear sided container, feeling completely vulnerable to small children that move with record speed and disregard.

So there you have it. Skippy. Our new family member that may or may not make it, all depending on how could its heart is at this point. I sure hope for my children's sake that Skippy decides to end the fast and eat before the crickets have time to colaborate for their own attack. And I hope that our new ecosystem is sufficient so that Skippy doesn't have a premature funeral. I will keep you posted!

The Olympic Hopefuls

So, folks. I tend to tell it like it is. Someday, my children may read this blog and telling it like it is may come back to bite me in more ways than one... but for now, it doesn't stop me!

I got a recommendation on a gymnastics studio from my neighbor, Melody. She has a blog now linked on mine, so go check it out if you have time... Anyway, on Monday, we got free trial sessions for all of my children. I signed up last weekend and then prepared my children by dressing them in their tightest fitting shirts (happened to be pj tops) and put the girls' hair up in perfect pony tails with their bangs clipped in barrets. We were off at 4 for the younger classes, Cole , Lexi, and Abby. We arrived to a zoo of a front lobby. People were everywhere, shoes crowded the floor. The receptionists head was litterally spinning from the people spitting out requests and demands. My kids and I froze, not knowing where to go and feeling a bit overtaken by the situation. I told them to pile their shoes onto the floor and then wait for Mommy.

Nearly 15 minutes later I was given a form to fill out and then I escorted my timid children into the studio. Lexi was shy at first but also intrigued. Cole was happy and eager as always. Abby was hopeful and ready to explore, but then stopped in her tracks. Turns out that her class was cancelled and there was no where for her to go. Not unlike her first day of preschool when she was denied access to the bus that she was so excited to venture on, she was told she would have to wait. Her mouth turned down and she worked hard to fight tears back. I did too, if I am being honest. I felt so bad for her. She was just wanting to play, too...

Abby and I took a position behind the viewing glass, Abby held in my arms so she could see. Lexi was slow to get started but really took to the instruction quite quickly. She had her difficulties with standing in the line once through the task at hand, but other than that, it came pretty easy for her. It was super cute to watch. Cole, on the other hand, didn't even know where to begin. The kids would do as asked and COle would be stopped right in his tracks. The instructor would manually position him and then help him to "hop" or tumble in the right direction! I laughed and laughed, all while hiding it from my senstive young man! It was cute, and funny, and a bit sad! The great part was, though it didn't come easy, he didn't give up and he smiled the whole time! He loved it!! (In case you are wondering, they didn't ask them to do flips, or handstands, or any type of real gymnastics... all just beginner skills that COULD one day lead to more advanced skills... or, for some, Could Not. Yet to be seen.)

SO then at 7 that night was Celia's class. I knew she would be great, but WOW! She rocked my face off! She was the best in her class and though she needed a bit of direction to know what to do, she would listen, and then just DO IT! Yes, and do it right. And no, these weren't things like what Cole was being asked to do... real cartwheels, bar drills, beam exercises, etc. The girl was awesome and she loved every minute of it! Her teacher asked me after class if she had been at another studio... when told she hadn't, she said how naturally talented she was and that she would be promoted quickly. WOW! Way to go, C! That is MY GIRL!

So, there you have it. The next batch of USA OLYMPIC champions in the making... team Fremouw! Any time ya'll want to check it out for yourselves, C's class is Monday nights at 7 and the tots are Tuesday mornings at 9:30. All are welcome to admire their talents!