Change....Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday: CHANGE

Dear Life,

My new Friday goal....POST FMF on Friday.  Two for two...not so bad!    Here are the rules....

We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt that I post here at 1 minute past midnight EST ever Friday. And we connect on Twitter with the hashtag#FiveMinuteFriday

No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

TOPIC: CHANGE

GO:

When I thought about change I thought about money.  Quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies.  Change.  Individually, they aren't worth a lot of money.  My kids like to collect them.  My husband hates them.  I don't like change....but when it's a tight week....and I would like a diet Coke....the first thing I do is look for my change.  One of my children likes to search the couches, drawers, pockets, washing machine, car, etc for change.  And then all of a sudden he is the rich one.  It's hilarious.  This week, my husband gave me a huge envelope...full of change. ALL pennies.  And you know how much it turned out to be?  17 dollars.  That is seventeen hundred pennies people.  That is a LOT of change.  So what is the lesson here?  It's not a very mindblowing one....it's just this....watch your change....add it up....it could mean dinner...it could mean movies....it could mean a diet Coke in a fabulous Sonic Cup.  

STOP

Silly....I know.  :)  Can't always be serious!

Young men that make me smile

Dear Life,

This is a story of boys, basketballs, and hot rods.  It's a good one too!

Kalani, (number three boy) plays basketball. 

 He has practice sessions with Tanner,  a boy from the varsity basketball team (and a friend from church).  One day, Tanner was scheduled to pick up Kalani, and I was out running an errand when he picked him up.  When I came home, I was searching the house and couldn't find Kumaka.  I asked my boys where he was.  The answer?  "Tanner took him to practice too!"  
MELT. MY. HEART!




When Tanner pulled up with my boys, I watched as Kalani took  Kumaka out while Tanner pulled the wheelchair out of the front seat of his hot rod. 

 It blew me away.  Most boys wouldn't want to be bothered with a five year old, much less his wheelchair...ESPECIALLY in his hot rod...but not Tanner.  I told him he is my new hero.  
The grin on Kumaka's face was priceless.
  

The example Tanner is setting for my boys is invaluable.

I love these boys!

Empty Wheelchair

Dear Life,

Today, at a family party, I witnessed something that made my heart sing.  

An empty wheelchair. 

What does that mean to you?  
To me...it's a symbol of a person who is not confined to his physical limitations.  
His wheelchair is a necessity for movement and for mobility.
When it confines or restrains, an empty wheelchair means there are no limits.  It means he is included in all kinds of play...even in a tall treehouse!

NO LIMITS.

I want Kumaka to live his whole life that way....

LIMITLESS
BRAVE
COURAGEOUS
ABLE
STRONG
INQUISITIVE

Five Minute Friday: Join

Dear Life,

It's Friday.  And I'm writing my Five Minute Friday post ON Friday.  WOW.  Stop the presses.  Before I do...if you haven't already read my article that was posted at Mom Colored Glasses you can read it HERE.  I am going to share the rules of FMF...maybe some of you would like to join.  It's one of my favorite link ups.  

We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt that I post here at 1 minute past midnight EST ever Friday. And we connect on Twitter with the hashtag#FiveMinuteFriday

No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

TOPIC:

Join

GO

This instantly made me think of our family.

Our family of rowdy (especially today...whew)

Crazy

Busy

Boys.

And how our family of boys will change when SHE JOINS us.

She is a beautiful brown eyed girl who lives in Eastern Europe. 

She is an orphan.

When we saw her picture we fell in love, we cried for her instantly.  We knew she needed to join our family.

We know the adoption process will be so long....paperwork....trials....tears...and PATIENCE. (Have I mentioned how much I am NOT patient?)

In a year or so.....we will get on an airplane....and bring her home....to JOIN our family.  TO JOIN US.  And an even bigger joy is when we can join together as a family in the temple and be sealed for eternity.  

I cannot wait for our sweet girl to come home.

To Join the Jensens.

STOP

Ah-Maze-ing

Dear Life,

I am blown away.
Awestruck.
AMAZED.

At what you ask?

ALL OF YOU.

You all have brought our news to your hearts and given us a big hug (via the internet).  My eyes filled with tears so many times yesterday as I read your sweet notes of acceptance, love, joy, encouragement, and hope.  My family and I really want to say how much that means to us.  It was a little scary to push publish yesterday.  We were a little afraid of a backlash.  We do already have five children after all....and adding one more...with extra's....is a lot.  There is truth in that.  BUT the facts are this, our family has enough love, and enough knowledge, and enough faith to know that we can love our sweet baby A.  We may not be rich, but what we CAN give her is more than that....we can give her the potential to be MORE.  TO DREAM.  TO SMILE.  TO TALK.  TO MOVE.  TO DANCE. 

If you don't know what I'm talking about HERE is the post I'm referring to.

What is really going on

Dear Life,

Things have been hectic as of late.  You will find out why now.


6 years ago our world rocked on it's axis.  Six years ago we found out that our unborn baby was going to be born with Spina Bifida.  He also had hydrocephalus and two clubbed feet.  Oh, and by the way, we could terminate the pregnancy.
Obviously, we chose life, we chose Kumaka.  And we have never - nor will ever- regret that decision.  Over the past 6 years, we have learned so much about this journey called Spina Bifida; this journey of a boy with extras.  We have learned of heartache, of challenges, of doctors, but even more than all of that we have learned of love.  Incredible, joyous, love for this child and other children who are also on this journey.  We have learned to navigate this medical minefield...we have also found a passion for advocacy.  Advocacy for children who do amazing things regardless of what their medical diagnosis says.  Our family has long been discussing the possibility of adopting a child with Spina Bifida.  We've gone back and forth, discussed it here and there.  We've prayed and prayed about this.  We've spoken to our children about adding another baby, especially one with extras, and even more especially a little girl. (awww mom...really?  Why a girl???  To this I say...because we have enough boys thank you!)

In Eastern Europe there's this girl.  She has big beautiful brown eyes and brown curly hair.  She just turned three years old and she is an orphan.  She needs a forever family.  She deserves to come here, to be loved, to be cared for, to be given a chance.  She deserves to have five big brothers adore her. She had us from the moment we saw her big brown eyes.

We are not delusional, crazy, or eternal optimists.  We know and understand what we are getting into.  We understand the challenges she faces and our family faces.  We also know that our family has more than enough love to give this sweet angel and we are anxious to give her the opportunity to smile.  She hasn't smiled yet.  She hasn't spoken yet.  We can give her that gift.

We ask you to join us on this journey, for it will be a long process (possibly a whole year) where we will be getting papers together, a dossier for the country she lives in, fingerprints, etc.  A whole year seems so long... and yet in some aspects it will come by quickly.  We will be doing many fundraisers to help pay for the many fees associated with this process.  We will also be receiving a grant to help with some of it.

Where are we right now in this process????  We just turned in initial paperwork for the Ministry of Justice to approve us as potential adoptive parents for baby A. We are awaiting their response.  Once we have their approval..the ball will need to get rolling.  We will fill out official papers for our adoption agency.  We will need to get our Home Study done.  That is a lengthy process.  Everything  has fees associated.  So there will be hopefully many fundraisers and if any of you feel so inclined to help us bring our baby girl home..please join us for those.  As soon as we get our initial approval we will update with fundrasing ideas.  Please think of these as giving our opportunity to LIVE.  We take for granted all that we have been given, the doctors, the therapies, even food, nutrition.  Even more, we take for granted love, hugs, kisses, and families.  Please help us bring our little girl home.

Thank you for supporting our family always, and especially during this journey.  We feel so strongly about this, we feel like this baby girl is supposed to come to our family.  This sweet angel girl deserves a shot....and we can give it to her.  We can't wait!

Five Minute Friday : Here

Dear Life,

First...I am excited to share with you all that I have been published.  It has been my dream, and my first article was published today.  You can go HERE to read it.  :)  If you feel the need to share, please do so! :)

I am linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker from Tales of A Gypsy Mama for 5 minute Friday.  I have only once actually done this on Friday.  So funny.  The topic is HERE


GO

I am here. 
Thankfully He is here too.
Directing me.
Guiding me.
Leading me.
Comforting me.
Loving me.
I am feeling so many emotions, and thankfully a direction...a place to put all of my passions. 
I am so excited every morning to wake up, to pray, and to go forth and DO.
Life is about learning, growing, and sharing.  
I am HERE, to do that.
Things are changing, things are moving, exciting things are coming. 
I am here to participate in change, to initiate change, to be the change.
Thankfully, HE is HERE.
Without Him, I would not be HERE.
I love Him.
I praise Him.
I am so very grateful to be HERE.

STOP

SPEAK NOW

Dear Life,
Big big things are brewing.  See this girl?

Her name is Ellie!  She is in high school...and she has a dream.  She is an amazing young girl making a difference.  She has created an organization called Speak Now.  Watch this:



I am honored to be able to work with Ellie in  a small way.  It's always been a dream of mine to teach girls that they all have a voice, they all have the right to follow their dreams, and they ARE NOT ALONE.  When I met Ellie online, and saw what she is doing at such a young age I knew I needed to be a participant.  I also knew that Ellie is destined for greatness.  Watch out world.
Please go to Facebook and Like the Speak Now page 

HERE

When you do, ten cents will be donated to a local San Diego girls shelter.

SEPTEMBER 1st will be amazing!

Here is Ellies Blog: