Friday, November 21, 2008
Be Thankful!
Posted by The Blankenship Family at 11/21/2008 05:02:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: My Kids Adventures
Thursday, November 20, 2008
How Precious Are These Little Guys????
After the past week, I am really worn down by my littlest (2 1/2 year old) boy! (See especially the "Paint" episode posted earlier).
Besides being just plain nutty and into everything he can get his hands on (tonight it was sprinkling Iams Cat Food all over the house and up the stairs), he has really struggled with the "excitement" of going to sleep in a big bed in the new room he and his almost 5-year-old brother now share. Well . . . it seems that we have finally come to some conclusion that is more do-able than having to fall asleep on his Daddy every night (see earlier post): Baby Ryan goes to sleep while his big brother "pets" him on his back or his arm or his forehead. It is truly one of the sweetest, most sensitive and thoughtful sights I have ever seen - especially from such rough and tumble boys!
This morning, Ryan came in to our room and told me "my brother petted me and he loves me so I went to sleep!" Thank God for the blessings of big brothers!!!!
Posted by The Blankenship Family at 11/20/2008 10:24:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: My Kids Adventures
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Help Me Henry!!!!!!!
Posted by The Blankenship Family at 11/16/2008 06:22:00 PM 2 comments
Labels: My Kids Adventures
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Blessing of Girlfriends!
I am a very lucky woman! I not only have an amazing husband, precious children and a wonderful extended family - - - I have a fantastic group of girlfriends! We all met each other through our church family, but our friendships have grown and deepened over the past few years! We have laughed together, cried together, gotten really mad (not at each other) together, welcomed new babies, stood by as we have lost parents and grandparents, been there while our children have been sick or in the hospital, picked up each other's kids from school, brought dinner over after one of us had surgery or another just had a rough day, sought advice on what to do with our babies, toddlers, preschoolers, elementary school-ers, middle school-ers and (in my case) high school-ers, celebrated all the wonderful blessings that our lives have brought and worked through all the challenges that have come our way.
Life always seems to bring the unexpected - both good and bad - and I feel so very fortunate to have these women to share our lives together!
. . . just another day in the life . . .
Posted by The Blankenship Family at 11/11/2008 10:22:00 PM 2 comments
Labels: Robin's Adventures
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Sometimes you just need your Dad!
Posted by The Blankenship Family at 11/08/2008 09:25:00 PM 1 comments
Friday, November 7, 2008
Introducing Ashley Taylor Blankenship
For our close friends and family, this day has been coming for a VERY long time, and has been earned through many tears, heartache and emotional pain that is difficult to describe - by me, my dear husband, our extended families, and most of all - our sweet ASHLEY!
13 years after Ashley's biological father and I divorced, and after a relationship with him that progressively deteriorated for Ashley over those many years, she finally TODAY was given her freedom from that relationship that caused so much hurt and torment. Due to some very sad circumstances, Ashley's biological father, voluntarily terminated his parental rights - and today, that termination was made official for Ashley, including the privilege of changing her last name to Blankenship. We are now in the process of finalizing Steve's adoption of Ashley, but just as she has been for these MANY years . . . she is truly a Blankenship!
Words can not describe the feeling of relief and sadness, joy and anticipation as the judge read the Termination aloud in the court hearing this morning. This situation has been the singularly most impacting circumstance in our family's life over these past 13 years. As a mother, I had all the hope in the world that things would be different, and have cried tears of deep sadness over watching my little girl hurt as she has grown up. But through it all, the Lord God Almighty has been there for all of us. He has given us the strength to endure, wisdom to handle difficult circumstances and has placed the most perfect people in our lives (especially Ashley's DAD, my sweet husband Steve).
Through everything, and despite some serious difficulties through the years, our dear daughter has turned into an amazing young lady! She is beautiful -inside and out, thoughtful, loving, fun, independent, empathetic, determined, hilarious, and most importantly and girl deeply devoted to her God! As there were times to question whether God had "left" her, Ashley developed a deep and abiding faith - one that is real and tested and means everything to her!
We are very proud of our daughter and are so grateful to God, our family and our friends for their love, support and compassion through the years!
THANK YOU, The Blankenship Family
Posted by The Blankenship Family at 11/07/2008 10:14:00 PM 2 comments
Labels: Special Occasions
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Dad always makes special days special!
Posted by The Blankenship Family at 11/04/2008 01:39:00 PM 0 comments
Election Day, 2008!
Posted by The Blankenship Family at 11/04/2008 01:13:00 PM 0 comments
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Soccer, 2008: End of the Line (Thank goodness!)
Posted by The Blankenship Family at 11/01/2008 01:12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: My Kids Adventures