Books to Movies

I am a huge book fan.  It all started with Green Eggs & Ham (who's with me on that?) and I haven't stopped since.  Books always took me far away from whatever was going on around me, whether that was homework (shhh), music drifting thru the house from the dance studio, and even my diabetes.  I am one of those "fully-immerse" readers and I love it.  The characters and scenes leap right from the page and go directly into my brain and for whatever amount of time I am reading, I am in that book's world.

One of my favorite series of all time is the Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin.  I had every single book in  this collection- this includes 132 regular books, 15 Super Specials, 26 Mystery books, 4 Super Mysteries, 3 Special Editions and 6 Portrait Collections.

I loved these books more than anything and could not get enough.  I asked for the books for my birthday and Christmas; I saved my allowance so that I could get new ones whenever we'd go to the bookstore.  I remember propping the book behind my cereal bowl in the morning so that I could read a few more pages before school.  My love for these books is real and it's deep.

You can imagine my excitement and pure joy when they announced that they were making a Baby-Sitters Club movie...a MOVIE!  Ohhhh my goodness, I could barely contain myself.  I started re-reading the books and counting down the days until I could finally put a face to the ones I had painted in my head for so long.

The day had come.  I was in the car headed to Hot Springs (the nearest town w/a movie theater) and I was bouncing in my seat, I was so excited.  The movie started and I held my breath.  About 20 minutes (okay maybe I breathed a little in between) into the movie, it came whooshing out of me in disappointment.  It was just all wrong...the baby-sitters didn't look right, the kids didn't look right, Kristy wasn't bossy enough, Stacey wasn't sophisticated enough and the list went on and on.  It was a huge letdown (well, for a 12 year old, at least) and I remember feeling cheated out of my imagination.

I think this caused me to be very wary of book series that are turned into a movie franchise.  Luckily for me, I didn't read Harry Potter or Twilight until AFTER the first movie had come out.  This meant that the character's images were already in my head when I read and the books and that I'm saving myself from the heartbreak of the movie creators' failure to recreate my brain in their films.

On that note, I am very excited for THIS to start:

The bottom line is, books will always be #1 in my heart...no matter what number their movies are in the box office.

Have a great day, y'all!  Now go read a great book!

Thirty Day Photo Challenge!- Day Eight: Flowers

Man, these last couple of weeks have been crazy!  I know y'all all know what I'm talking about- Christmas parties, gift shopping, gift wrapping, and the list goes on & on!

I always love the week before Christmas, not only for the hustle & bustle of everything, but because I also get to celebrate my wedding anniversary!  When Sebastian & I got engaged, I definitely had visions of poinsettias & Christmas colors dancing in my head!  We both love this time of year so much, that we loved the idea of being able to celebrate our anniversary during this special time (although I'm not sure if all of our family appreciated the traveling right before Christmas...but they did it, 'cuz they love us!).

I woke up to these beautiful flowers (hence the photo challenge post):

This year, we went out for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Grand Lux Cafe (if you've never been, go NOW and order the beignets for dessert!).  We went to town- fried pickles, flautas and all of that stuff that's REAL good for you! :)  As you may have guessed, my favorite thing about Grand Lux is the dessert.  They fry up fresh beignets (New Orleans style) and bring you 3 different sauces to dip them in and they are UH-MAY-ZING.

Sorry for the darkness!

After dessert, he handed me a box to open.  I knew it was a jewelry box, but had no idea why I was getting it.  When I opened it, there was a ring I had seen back in Stuttgart (Arkansas) in August while I was visiting my family.  I drooled over it, but wasn't able to get it.  Well, after he heard me talk about it, he got in contact with my Aunt Gayla and cousin Darby and they pulled off a mission impossible!  I say this because...I am nosy.  There's really no other way to put it.  I always find stuff out and it's really hard to surprise me, but man!  They did it!  I was so shocked and touched.

After dinner, we went to catch a movie (he was going to endure "New Year's Eve" for me- now that's love!), but realized when we got there that the movie wasn't starting for another 2 hours!  And since we are old souls, we decided that would get us home too late.  :)

It was an amazing day and a great way to celebrate 6 wonderful years with my very best friend.

Christmas Traditions

Since this week has been one of pulling out Christmas decoration boxes, putting up Christmas trees, wrapping gifts, etc., I've been thinking a lot about my family's various Christmas traditions.  Since they are traditions, I don't usually analyze their meaning or why we do them, they just ARE a part of our holiday.  And I find it so interesting that no one really has any of the same traditions as I do.

A lot of my friends do things with their families that I have never heard of before.  My husband's family, for instance, do not do stockings.  In Chile, this was never a tradition.  They do; however, go to midnight mass and when they return home, Santa has already visited their house.  A lot of my friends have a big Christmas dinner, whereas my family always has a big breakfast and then that's it for the day.  I know people that have a tradition of doing all of their shopping on Black Friday, and then others that do it ALL on Christmas Eve.  The spectrum is so wide and I love that!

Sebastian and I have talked about the kinds of traditions we will incorporate into our own family someday.  Which ones we'll keep from our two families, and which new ones we'd like to add.  For example, we will still go to my mom's house to help her put up her tree while we exchange holiday pajamas and listen to the Kenny & Dolly Christmas album.  This will happen every year.  On the other hand, neither of our families ever had real Christmas trees; they were always the big artificial ones that you dug out of the attic and spent an hour straightening out the smushed branches.  :)  For the past two years, we've gotten a real tree, and we can't wait until we're on our way to a Christmas tree farm to choose a tree in the snow with our family.

There's something pretty magical about the whole "carrying on" of family traditions.  In a world full of growing up and growing out of things, these traditions have a certain pull that can bring us back to a really special place, even if only for a few weeks out of the year.

So here's to you and your family's traditions- whatever they are and wherever you may be.  Merry Christmas!

Thirty Day Photo Challenge!- Day Seven: Something Blue

This weekend proved to be a true test of my patience.  Thanksgiving and Black Friday went off without a hitch...and then Saturday rolled around.

I had called in a refill of my insulin prescription to my local Publix.  Just as I was pulling into the parking lot, my insulin pump beeped at me.  This meant, more insulin was needed!  I walked in to find the Publix pharmacy CLOSED.  Yes, closed.  Not only was this pharmacy closed, but EVERY Publix pharmacy was closed for the evening and would not reopen until 10am Sunday morning.

Okay, no one panic (yes, this is me trying to not panic).  Next step- find a new pharmacy!  Brilliant plan except for one thing:  my doctor would have to call in a new Rx to this pharmacy.  I'm sure doctors just love getting these emergency-type phone calls from patients on Saturday evenings.  :/  I spoke with Dr. Mease and he agreed to call in the prescription.

So we head to a 24-hr Walgreens we had found and wait for the Rx to come thru.  About 10 minutes later, I receive a phone call from Dr. Mease.  He is not going to call in the prescription because he feels like I'm not being honest with him, since he had written an insulin prescription for me a couple of weeks ago.  I had to laugh at him!  As a doctor, you would think he would understand that insulin is not the sort of drug I'm going to want to sell on the streets for cash!  The only thing it would do for people would be to send them into a coma (Ooooooo fun!).  After a couple of minutes of some choice words from me, he agreed to call in the Rx.  Don't worry...we will be finding a new primary care physician shortly.

All good, right?  Wrong.  Since my insurance had approved the insulin earlier in the day at Publix, they were not going to approve it again.  The only option?  Buy the insulin at face value for roughly $270.  Cue the panic-stricken look on my face and welling of tears in my eyes.  We take a quick glance at my insurance card and see that my emergency room copay is only $100.  Bye Walgreens!

We get to the ER and there are only about 4 other people besides myself inside.  The nurse has me fill out the basic paperwork and asks me how long I've been without insulin at this point (about 3 hours) and if I've been vomiting (no).  She says she'll be right with me.  40 minutes later, after every other person had been helped...my name is called.  Imagine her surprise when she takes my blood sugar and it's 510!  (Normal range is anything below 120).  She decided at that point that I was a priority (ha!).  They rush me back without even registering me or taking my payment.  At this point, I'm fading fast into the symptoms of high blood sugar (avid thirst, constant urination, sweaty, nauseous and a bad attitude...my poor husband was a champ).  They come to set up an IV.  I try and tell the nurse as politely as I can to be careful with my veins.  They run a bit sideways and people always have trouble finding them when they take blood.  He assures me that THIS vein he's found looks good and it will be fine.  Cue my eye roll.  I've had diabetes since I was 9 and had my blood drawn countless times- I know what I'm talking about!  Today's "something blue" photo is a result of this nurse's assurance.

After they pull about a gallon of my blood and decide that I do, indeed, need insulin, they inject me with the good stuff.  Finally, a few hours later, I am released with decreasing blood sugar and some insulin to tide me over until the morning.  I'd like to thank the awesome nurse that smuggled the insulin and syringes to me without charging me for it.  She was such a blessing during this awful night.

Needless to say, this weekend was a learning experience.  Lesson #1- always call in and pick up your prescriptions early.  Not everywhere is open late.  Lesson #2- take care in choosing your doctors.  You want one that's going to be on your side during a situation like this.  And Lesson #3- always thank people that help you out in situations like this.  They are everyday angels that have been purposefully placed in your life, even if only for a few minutes.

Thanksgiving 2011

I've always had this personal battle within myself of which holiday I prefer, Christmas or Thanksgiving.  More often than not, I slide more towards Christmas.  I think it's probably because it lasts longer.  Or maybe it's everyone's general niceness during the holidays.  But as the years pass, I find myself enjoying Thanksgiving more and more each year.  When I was younger, I couldn't do anything but watch the parade and wait for the food to be ready.  Now that I'm older, there's so much more about this holiday that draws me to it.  Of course, I still enjoy the parade.  And I love eating.  But seeing all of the love and happiness that surrounds this day every year just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

This year was no exception!  The day came and went and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.  I've shared some photos below- Sebastian and I were very honored to host this year's meal at our home.

Our tablescape :)

I wrote "Thankful" in different languages for each plate.  This particular one is Spanish.

Thai...this one took forever!

Chinese

The star of the show!

My nephew, Ignacio and 2 of our cousins, Vannia & Aileen

A few of us right at the end (some had already gone to get into Black Friday lines!)

Decapitating the turkey for meat...Igna did not enjoy it :)

Christian had no problem with it!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving- let the shopping begin!

Thirty Day Photo Challenge!- Day Six: Something Orange

Wouldn't it have just been easier for me to post a picture of my hair?  :)

Today's picture is just a quick look at how our table is shaping up for Thanksgiving!  I am very excited to be hosting this year!  Normally, my momma and I combine our efforts and co-host at her house for our big (and hungry!) family of about 18.  This year, Momma is in Arkansas celebrating Thanksgiving with my Peep and all of my Arkansas/Texas crew.  While I am super jealous, I can't wait for Thursday!  I will be up bright and early, to watch the parade of course, and then cooking all day!

What's interesting about how we celebrate here in Florida, is that the family we have here (all from Sebastian's side) never celebrated Thanksgiving before me.  Since they are from Chile, obviously, they did not celebrate the pilgrims and Indians breaking bread and giving thanks on US soil.  But just like they have always embraced me, they've embraced my traditions and come together every year to celebrate the country we all live in and how it began!

The menu will be strictly traditional.  The space will be limited... but the love, laughs and good times will be here in abundance!  And for that, I am already thankful.

Wooooooo PIG SOOIE!

Sebastian and I walked into Chipotle tonight, both wearing our Razorback shirts.  When we got up to the cashier, she asked "What does your shirt mean?".  Now, after my initial disgust and then realization that I was in Florida, I kindly explained to her that it was, in fact, the t-shirt of the number 3 ranked college football team in the nation!

Needless to say, yesterday's college football craziness was great news for Arkansas!  I wish I could say that we were well on our way to moving up even further...but let's be real...our final game is this Friday against LSU.  We beat them last year, but we were in Arkansas!  This year, the game is in Louisiana, so we shall see what happens!  For now, I am REAL proud to be an Arkansas Razorback fan!

I also wanted to send my prayers to the family and teammates of tight end, Garrett Uekman, who died this morning in Fayetteville.  I can imagine that when you spend as much time together as these guys do, that this news was devastating.  If you get a minute, say a quick prayer for these guys and Garrett's family during this hard time.

Oh and also....Wooooooo (come on, put up your spirit fingers...) ooooooooo, PIG SOOIE!!!

Have a great week, y'all!

Thirty Day Photo Challenge!- Day Five: Water

Wow- I am way overdue with this!

"Today's" photo is water.  I'm not posting the expected picture of the ocean (like I ever go there...) or lake (in Florida? Yeah right..).

Every year for my birthday since I was 18, my mom has given me a "Supermarket Sweep" of sorts.  The rules were simple:  I had one grocery cart.  I could put whatever I wanted in it.  It could not pass the top of the cart (yes, Momma carried a tape measure...still does!) and the bottom was only for toilet paper, paper towels, and soda.  The first year, I was so excited I just started throwing stuff in and I think the total bill was around $150 or something like that.  After that year, I got really smart about it!  I would fit things into that cart like a jigsaw puzzle and every year, the total kept going up (much to my Mom's horror/delight).  We always have a great time- it is a lot of fun for them to heckle me while I carefully place stuff in the buggy and there are always many laughs!

This year, we did things a little differently.  Since the whole couponing phenomenon has happened, and my Momma and I both attended a couponing class by my friend, Kathering, we decided that this year we would mix it up.  We combined our coupons and Momma gave me the amount of money that I spend on my trip last year.  Well, between the last couple of days and multiple trips to Winn Dixie, Publix, CVS and Walgreens...I have spent only 3/4 of the money I spent last year...and have saved over $250 so far!  Best Supermarket Sweep yet.

For this reason, my water picture...

And there's more where that came from!  :)  Parents- this is a great idea for college students...just sayin'!

Hope everyone has a great day!  

Upcoming Weeks

I really can't believe how fast the end of this year is going...

I can't believe there is a turkey in my freezer.  I can't believe I am buying Christmas presents on my day off.  I can't believe I am frantically scheduling extra baristas at work for next weekend (pray for us!).

I know that as you get older, time does move faster.  I remember waiting and waiting and wishing and counting the days until my birthday.  It seemed like the days dragged on and that I really was never going to turn 8!  :)  Now, I can barely breathe and it's Christmas again.

Today I went out shopping for Christmas gifts and found myself wondering if I was going to enjoy the holidays this year.  So often, we are so busy during this time of year that we forget to really enjoy it.  I tried to remember the last year that I didn't feel completely stressed out by Christmas Day or that I didn't get so worked up about a store being out of something that I needed to buy.  It was hard to remember that far back....so I made a vow to myself right there in the jellied cranberry sauce section of Publix that this year I am really going to make an effort to enjoy the holidays.

 I am so excited for Thanksgiving.  I am going to get up and watch the parade like always, and then cook my favorite meal of the year for my family!  I am going to get extra blankets and hot chocolate to snuggle in with my nephews while we watch football later that day.  I am going to experience the Christmas Pageant for the first time on December 8th.  I am going to see my momma perform Handel's Messiah on December 13th.  I am going to try my darndest to go see the Nutcracker this year!  And I am going to cherish every single moment.

Join me, won't you?  Happy Holidays y'all!

Weekend in Georgia!

Man, once you start blogging, you really miss it when you go out of town for a few days!!  :)

I got home yesterday from an awesome weekend in Georgia!  I went up to visit with my good friend Katherine and her sweet babies.  They moved from Florida up to Georgia this past June and I had not seen them since they left!  We had a blast- it was so nice to be able to catch up and have a good time.

We ate...a LOT!  I got to have Hardees breakfast for the first time since about 1996!  Katherine also made a few of my favorites:  sausage potato soup (yum!) and cinnamon chips (double yum!).  On Friday night, we headed over to her sister's house for a craft party.  This was SUPER cool and as soon as I get some pictures taken of the crafts I made, I will post them.  It was a lot of fun and I was so glad to finally meet her sister!

I couldn't believe how big the kids had gotten, even in just a few months!  Eli grew about a foot and has really grown up.  Lydia is still a spitfire and I love her for it- also love her hugs, couldn't get enough of those!  And Silas was too much for me- walking and talking!  When did that happen?  I sneezed on Friday and he said "Bless you!"  Being around the kids made me really forget about any problems or worries I may be having and that was so nice.

Unfortunately...I left my camera on the airplane on my return flight.  Don't...get...me started.  I do have one picture from the craft party of Katherine and I.

Had a great time and can't wait to go back!  Miss y'all already!

Thirty Day Photo Challenge!- Day Four: High Angle Shot

I hope I did this high-angle shot right!  There's a tree right next to where I park and it sort of leans over the area.  It reminds me a lot of a weeping willow that was in my backyard where I grew up.

Hope everyone had a great Tuesday!

Blood Sugar Testing Resumes

Today is the day...

Blood sugar testing around 8 times per day.  I know what you're thinking...yikes.  Does everyone reading know that I have Type 1 Diabetes?

I was diagnosed when I was 9 years old.  My dad noticed a significant weight loss (yes, I was a chunky 9-year-old) and I think he finally decided to take me to my pediatrician when I was up one night 12 different times.  I would go to the bathroom, and then drink about 5 or 6 cups of water right after that.  Something was wrong.

Sure enough, I was diagnosed and promptly put on a diet and insulin regime.  It was not fun...it still isn't.  At that time, we were still counting fat and sugar for blood sugar control rather than carbohydrates.  Looking back, I ate really well (even though it didn't seem like it at the time- what kid wants to eat a cup of broccoli everyday with their lunch?).  My stepmom was a great cook and I had plenty of food.  But I couldn't have any of the stuff I wanted.  Cookies, cakes, bowls upon bowls of cereal, soda, etc.  As I grew up, I got more and more angry at my disease.  I would go into Walmart during the holidays and purposefully smash the yummy chocolates, just because I couldn't have them.  Isn't that terrible?!  Once I hit junior high, it got worse.  There were vending machines at my school...and I got an allowance.  My parents found candy bar wrappers and empty chip bags behind my bookcase on a regular base.  It was awful.  And the worst part is, I didn't care.  I really didn't.  Looking back, I know now that I was in denial of my disease.  If I ignored it, then maybe it would just go away.

Obviously, diabetes doesn't work that way.  And even to this day, it has been a struggle.  More often then I'd like to admit, I slip back into my "I'll just have a cookie today and it will be fine" phase.  But recently, something inside of me has changed.  I don't really know how to explain it, or what really happened.  I think it's a combination of knowing that how I'm handling (in the loosest sense of the word) my diabetes is totally wrong, and the fact that I'm getting older.  As the time flies right by, I can see clearly that if I don't get ahold of myself and my health, my years here will be short.  I want to grow old with my husband and have a healthy baby, but I can't do it like this.

So today, I went to the pharmacy.  I bought a brand-new glucometer and called in a prescription for test strips.  I just got home with that and have already tested twice!  I have an appointment set up with a new endocrinologist- an adult one (what a novel idea!).  Also, one of my coworkers is a nursing student and is a constant source of knowledge for me.  He is even developing a meal plan for me!  I sat down with Sebastian and asked for his support while I get on the right track.  He promptly got rid of the sweets and snacks we had lying around and vowed to change his diet too.  I feel good and for the first time, I can really tell that this change will be permanent.  When it comes right down to it, diabetes is a daily battle that I must choose to either win or lose.

Today, I choose to win.

Thirty Day Photo Challenge!- Day Three: Clouds

The last few days here in South Florida have been really beautiful.  On the ACTUAL third day of this photo challenge (yesterday), there was literally not ONE cloud in the sky!  Clear as crystal and the weather has matched the sky too.  It finally feels like fall here; the humidity hasn't been higher than 58% and it feels great.  I can do my hair and it won't frizz the second I open the door!  For South Floridians...this is big.

Here are some clouds I came across tonight just as it was starting to get dark...love the moon here :)

Hope everyone has a great week!

Thirty Day Photo Challenge!- Day Two: What I Wore

Today's photo brings me the opportunity to tell you about my job and why I love it!  A few years ago, I was working as a junior recruiter at a staffing agency.  The office I worked in was nice and my coworkers were fun ladies.  Sebastian and I had just gotten married and we were living in an apartment right next to a Starbucks.  I don't particularly enjoy coffee (still don't), but one day I saw a "Now Hiring" sign in their window.  We had been saving money to take a Disney trip for Sebastian's birthday in June, so I thought it might be good to get a part-time job just temporarily to have a little extra spending money for the trip!  Little did I know, it would turn into so much more.

I started the job and loved it.  Instead of being chained to my desk on the phone or computer all day, I was running around the store making drinks, doing dishes, counting money, etc.  Now, while this may not sound very exciting to some people, it was such a drastic change from what I was used to at the office and I found myself really looking forward to 5 o'clock when I could get out of there and go into Starbucks.  I am very outgoing, so the interaction I had with not only the customers, but with my new coworkers was something I realized I had been missing.  When it came down to it, I was 100% happier at Starbucks than I knew I would ever be at my office job.  I talked with my manager at Starbucks about getting on the path to move up in management (something I had never done!) and she was all for it.

So...I made the switch.  Let me tell you, it was ROUGH.  I had been with the office job for about 3 years,  and was only a barista at Starbucks, so the pay cut was intense.  But luckily, my wonderful husband supported me and knew that this was what was going to make me happy.  We crunched numbers and worked it out.  We were tight for awhile, but it was okay!  About a month after I switched to full-time at Starbucks, I was promoted to shift supervisor.  One year after that, I became an assistant manager, and one year after that, I became a store manager.  I opened up a brand new store and have been there for almost 3 years now.  I love what I do and really feel like I've found something that I'm good at.  And my partners ("Starbucks" for employees) have become my true second family.

For this reason, today I wore...proudly...

Halloween Fun!

Pirates & princesses, wizards & witches and of course...tons and tons of CANDY!  This year's Halloween was a lot of fun.  Although the weather really didn't want to be anything but rainy & gloomy, that didn't stop the everlasting childlike (ok, who are we kidding...adult too!) need for candy!

We dressed up at Starbucks (does everyone know that I manage the best Starbucks around?  Well I do!) and my partners looked AWESOME!  There was a trick-or-treat event at the Promenade, an outdoor mall where my Starbucks is located, and a couple of my baristas came to hand out candy and "ooh" and "ah" at all of the cute costumes!

The PERFECT Peter Pan!

Christina & Andrea came as Peter Pan & Wendy to hand out candy to the kids!

Ella, Stephanie & Christina- the closing crew!

Cutest Luigi I've ever seen!

Meghan kept handing customers Butterfingers telling them to "Take one Butterfinger and call me in the morning!" 

Even the customers got dressed up!  When I freaked out over this customer as Woody in my Disney tourist costume, it was pretty funny!

"She's a maaaniac!" Yes, she did the flashdance!

Autograph book and annoying backpack are also included with the costume!

 Later that evening, my nephews came trick-or-treating at my house and scared the crap outta me!  I just want to know what happened to the days when they dressed up as Winnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear or just a good ol' pirate??  Nevertheless, they were still cute to me!

WHERE ARE MY BABIES?!?!

Pretty close to my actual reaction!

 All in all, it was a great Halloween!  Now someone come eat this leftover candy at my house, before I do! :)

Thirty Day Photo Challenge!- Day One: Self Portrait

Love this idea and thought it would be neat to play along!  Learn about the Thirty Day Photo Challenge here!

Day 1- Self Portrait

Self portraits are, in general, rough.  Does anyone else feel that way?  We love to look and see and explore and appreciate tons of different things around us (thank you, Pinterest!) but when it comes to taking a look at ourselves, we tend to step away, am I right?  What better way to start off the Photo Challenge then with a Self Portrait so...here goes!

...in a nutshell :)

2011 Down Syndrome Buddy Walk

Different.  Special.  Hard to understand.

These words are just a few of the ones I've heard used for people that have some sort of a disability.  And I'm ashamed to say that sometimes it's people that I know, or even my own family, that don't really have a clear understanding of what it truly means to have a disability.

Growing up, my dad worked for the Human Development Center in my hometown in Arkansas.  I spent a lot of time there, especially when my parents got divorced when I was 8.  I would go there while he worked and am grateful for the time I spent there and the people I met.  I feel like it helped shape the way I am today by giving me an understanding of what it meant to live the way the people at the Center did.  So many of them had talents and knowledge that could be envied by others.  I met some amazing artists and other talented swimmers.  But most of all, I met really amazing people, whose hearts were bigger and more accepting than a lot of people I've met since then.

About two years ago, one of my best friends, Amanda, was blessed with her very first niece!  I remember going with her to the hospital the day Biyanca was born. I remember standing there with her family as they passed her around- crying, laughing, talking about who she looked like and just marveling at this beautiful blessing they were holding in their arms.

A few months later, the news came- Biyance had Down syndrome.  For those of you that are unfamiliar with Down syndrome, you can read more info about it here.  As with any news of this kind, there was a huge struggle for this family that was not easy.  I remember thinking about all of the amazing people I had known in Arkadelphia (Arkansas) with Down syndrome and how much fun they were and how their bright smile would light up the whole town!  I thought 'I know this will be hard for them in the beginning, but I know that God doesn't give us anything we can't handle'.  I prayed and prayed for their strength while they were not only learning about this condition, but helping to raise a newborn baby with this condition.

As always, God never lets us down, and Biyanca has grown and blossomed into one of the cutest toddlers I've ever seen (although I may be a little biased).  Yes, she's different.  Different in the way that she loves just about everyone.  Yes, she's special.  Everything about her is special.  And yes, she can be hard to understand.  But only if you don't take the time to understand her.  And now her family is doing all that THEY can to help others that might be going thru the same things that they did.

Here in Broward county, there is an annual "Buddy Walk" for Down syndrome that they participate in, and I wanted to share some of this year's event with you.  It truly is an amazing experience to see all of the support, generosity and love that happens every year in October, and this year was no different!  I've shared pictures from the event below as well as the link to donate if you want to help make a difference in these lives!

Beautiful morning by the beach for the Buddy Walk!

My friend (and Biyanca's aunt), Amanda on the left.  And a couple of other Starbucks employees that came out to support and participate.  Thanks Kealan & Christina!

This year, Amanda's family made these adorable bows out of duct tape!  They were a hit!

Ready to walk!

Ladies and gentlemen, Biyanca!

She LOVES this game!

Tons of fun with cotton candy :)

My husband's boss has a son, Darren, who also has Down syndrome.  He was dancin' the day away!

With the star of the show :)

Biyanca & Christina

So much love in that little body- and she loves to share it!

To donate to the Broward Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization, click here.  Thanks so much for reading!