Krose is representing Alabama in Doodle4Google!

KROSEG entered a contest this year called Doodle 4 Google and she is representing the state of Alabama!!!!  Please check out her doodle and vote for her during May 7-18th. 

Doodle4Google Baking Bonanza

https://youtu.be/vPU4EaJL0qw

Putting it into Perspective

Today I was able to begin reading a book by a mother of a young man who has done amazing things with his limb difference. It has been impossible to put down because I feel like I could very well be reading my own future story. One of the things that stood out to me was a passage from John 9 that refers to a time when the disciples encountered a man who was blind from birth. When they asked who sinned to make him blind..."Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him."' I have read this passage so many times in my 30 plus years, but it stood out to me today. For 8 years I have struggled to understand what I had done and if I had some sin in my life that would account for my daughter. Our world doesn't understand and so they seek to explain. Instead, I believe I will live in a world that sees my daughter as a vessel for God to work miracles. I know she has done it in my life and I am so thankful this Easter weekend for this scripture. It doesn't typically connect with the Easter weekend, but it was what I needed today. Thank you Katie Kolberg Memmel for your story and thank you for putting into words this mother's fears and triumphs.

Hands 2 Love Camp 2014

So we do not post often anymore.  We often say we should post something but in the business of work and life we find other priorities taking over such as dance, swimming, soccer, school, and work.  This is something worth posting that cannot pass by without a post and a few pictures.  We just returned home from Hands to Love camp just outside Gainsville, FL.  It was an amazing time, but who can write better about it than Kendall?  This is what she has to say about it.

Hands to Love is very cool because I get to see kids and adults with limb differences.  I learned from other grownups how to do some things like how to overcome the fear of climbing to high places when I have somebody helping me. I also learned from the other kids how to do a lot of things.  The best parts of camp are climbing the tower, swimming in the lake, dancing, archery, studying animals in the lake, art, the bonfire, the hayride, the drums, seeing Tony Memmel sing the Lucky Fin Song, seeing Rion Paige sing two songs, seeing old friends, making new friends and seeing pictures of the other campers.  Hands to Love is a great way to see other people who have limb differences like me.    

Hands2Love Camp

We are on our way home from Hands2Love Camp!  This was an awesome experience we recommend for any kid who has an upper limb difference!  We hope to post more about this awesome opportunity to connect, grow, and love kids like K.

Seven Years OLD!!!!!

It has been a really long time since we put anything on the blog.  Kendall is now seven and her little brother is now three.  I guess with life being busy and kids getting big, we find less and less time and forget to keep updating the blog.  Kendall is getting so big and she is an amazing kid!  She is in first grade and a very good student.  She gets bigger each day, has a great sense of humor and loves people.  We are very blessed!  I asked her what she would like to put on the blog and there were a few things she said we should put on it and a lot of things she does not want me to put on here (while she tells me she is inpatient and complains I am putting too much stuff).

Here are a few things she wants you to know about her:

1. She loves to dance
2. She loves to do crafts and schoolwork
3. She likes being different because she gets to do things different than everyone else
4. She knows she can do anything if she puts her mind to it!

Reflection

It has been so long since I have blogged, but I am feeling quite sentimental and felt that my daughter's upcoming birthday would be an excellent excuse to begin blogging again. Our lives have been such a whirlwind and I won't give you the rundown of our life; however, I have had several revelations about my daughter that I wanted to put out there. I have been reading so many stories of family and friends who are dealing with children who have special needs. This is startling to me and at one point I would have blamed God for all of this. Now that I have had my little rose for almost six years, I no longer view it in this way. There are several things that I believe God has shown me about those who are given children like my daughter. I do believe we were chosen.
1. As a high school teacher, I am constantly seeing young, teenage girls getting pregnant and having perfectly "normal" children. They drink Mountain Dew and eat unhealthy foods, but their children are fine. I, on the other hand, avoided all of the "taboos" in my pregnancy and I was given my daughter. There was a time when this would have angered me, and it did, but I thank God daily that she was given to us, and not a young, teenage girl who would be overwhelmed already with the prospect of having an infant, let alone one with "special needs." How hard would this be and what kind of life would my daughter have had if she had been given to someone else?
2. I'm so thankful she was born in the United States. Do you realize how many crazy countries would have completely ignored her because of her hand? The fact that her "imperfection" cannot be hidden could have put her into an orphanage or, worse, an institution. Stories have been told of children who are put away because they were not "perfect." My little ballerina would not have the opportunities she has now if she were born in some of these places. Thank you God.
3. The world we live in now is so much more "friendly" to children like K. There are movies, inspirational stories, and amazing people out there who share their struggles daily so my daughter will know she can truly accomplish anything. Something as beautiful as a dolphin with a prosthetic tail.

I have never been one to believe in coincidences and I now know that this is true. While it has been a struggle and will continue to be one, I know that my daughter is beautiful and priceless. I was once told that God thought highly of me to give me a child like K. I wasn't at a good place to accept that, but I understand the message behind it now. While I don't think God holds me higher than others, I do believe we are given a role and we are suited for that role, even if we don't believe it sometimes. Laura Story's song "Blessings" has now become my anthem. There are so many times when we can't see past the rain, but sometimes our blessings come through raindrops.

Still here

I know many of you have wondered where we went but we have Facebook so we use that most of the time. K and G are doing well and it is never a dull moment around here:) If you haven't seen Dolphin Tale...go!! It's something everyone should experience. K wants to meet Winter now:)


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My kids

Here are G and K enjoying their summer!






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KROSEG Recital

Long Time...

So I don't know how many people still follow us here. We are on Facebook and that is where we find most of our friends and family. Life has been busy, but it is great! K had her first dance recital Sunday and she did wonderfully! I told mom that it was interesting and inspiring to think that at one point we were worried about how K would be able to walk with her backbrace on. And now, she is dancing:) God is good!!!

Our Addition

We have just added a new addition to our family. G S was born February 22@5:41pm. He is a definite blessing:)



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Cute pic

Big Sis

K is adjusting to life with a brother. She loves the little guy. She
is very excited about helping, hugging and kissing her baby brother
every chance she gets. It is very sweet.

K is a big sister!!!

K met her brother today. It was a surprise. She knew nothing until I
took her into the room with her baby bro and mom. She looked at mommy
and the baby and asked "Mommy, what are you doing here?" Then it hit
her and her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She is a great kid and
will be a great sister. She does so well with him already.

Tick tick

Waiting for our son to get here!!!


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February Already!!!!

Life has been crazy. K is about to have a little brother and is very
excited. He is not due until March 2 but will be coming sooner than
later according to the doctor. Tonight she told mommy that she is
ready for him to come out already. She will make a great big sister
just as she is a great daughter. We have been so blessed with our
litte rose and we cannot express all the things she has taught us and
helped us learn. We are on an adventure as a family and we are
excited to meet our new adition. Little rose cannot wait to hold and
kiss her little brother. She keeps telling us all the things she is
going to teach him. He will be lucky to have a sister like K to show
him the ropes.

Four years old and growing

K is getting so big now! Pretty soon she is going to be a big sister and I know she will be great:)



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