In an effort to honor God for everyday he has blessed me with I am going to post a post of gratitude every day until my birthday.    I want to publicly acknowledge all the many blessings in my life, big and small.

Day 1

I just wanted to thank Erica and her friend who graciously donated  new activities and toys to my classroom. Sometimes the lack of resources in schools makes it challenging to create an environment that is fun and supportive for my students and there diverse needs.  I believe each and everyone of my students deserves an equal opportunity to thrive in their learning environment.  With the help and support of generous people my classroom is almost ready to greet each and everyone of my little ones tomorrow morning. Thank you all for supporting my passion!  It means the world to me to know that others care about my little ones success as much as I do.

Day 2

Today I am thankful for my friend Gina and her willingness to share her heart and profound thoughts with me.  We were 

remembering her daughter who recently passed away.  She mentioned people questioning how she had such strong faith even though her daughter was gone. someone asked her if she believes in God even in the mist of a trial like this and she said "of course I believe in God I watched Sedona walk with him every single day!  

What profound insight!  I've come to realize that although Jesus was the only sinless human being, our kids are as close to Jesus as it comes (sin free humans).  Despite the challenges they face they remain pure and untainted from the world. That in itself is a blessing from God!

Oh these silly questions...

I normally don't post things like this. I guess I'm feeling bold/transparent and hope that being real about being a single parent, might offer a different perspective.

For the most part I don't even think about being a single parent because it really is all I've ever known. Even growing up as a child I never had the opportunity to experience having both parents raising children together. Every once in a while there's an ugly reminder that I really am the only parent David has. I try to rationalize in hopes that I could understand David's father's behavior. I try and offer grace because I know what an amazingly special gift he's missing out on.

Over the last two weeks I have had the opportunity to interact with families, children with both parents support, and then I realized that I have never had the opportunity to have that experience. I can't help but wonder if the reason David's father chose to parent his other child was because she was healthy.

How do you just walk away from your flesh and blood?
How could you understand that life was going to be "different than we expected ", challenging, and difficult and then walk away? Which meant I had to pick up the pieces all by myself at age 17.

You don't worry or care if he's healthy, having seizures, or has everything he needs. You don't inquire about his quality-of-life or demonstrate the slightest bit of effort to ensure that he has everything he deserves and more. David is an incredible human being. He was specially made by God to change lives.

Do you wonder who he is, who he has become, how hard it's been just the two of us all these years?

How do you live as if he does not exist?
He's beautiful and perfect in every way.

How could you not want to see his smile?

Do you ever wonder how hard it is on my body to lift his 95 pound body day in and day out?

Do you wonder if the journey alone ever takes an emotional toll on me?

Have you ever considered putting your own selfishness and pride aside to consider what a beautiful little boy you're missing out on?

I guess on the days I am reminded that I am parenting alone, there's tons of silly question that surface.

And although from time to time I still feel I have questions for David's father, I don't question God at all. We have an incredible life and for all the support we don't have God has given us sevenfold in other areas! So although I have raised David alone I know I was never really alone, David just didn't have his biological father

Celebrating my freedom in so many ways!

Last weekend at a Women's Retreat we were asked to answer a question and the question was "if you could ask God one question what would it be?"  Thinking of my question was not hard, but it made me think about how far I have come in my spiritual journey. 

Had I been granted one question ten years ago it would have been  "why me?”.  Why me for this journey, this challenging life and/or circumstances?  These days my thought process is much different.  If I was granted one question now it would be, am I pleasing you, representing you in all that I do, are my actions and influence in peoples lives making them want to know more about the gracious God I love and serve?”.  

My life has drastically changed in the last decade. Although my struggles are still the same, what has changed are the choices I make.  I choose to embrace the journey I have been called to walk, and although there are times the journey seems unfair, I know that I am blessed beyond measure and that our journey serves a purpose in the Kingdom of God. 

When I quit making life about me and started making it about Jesus I had a much clearer understanding of life.  I knew that only I had the power to choose to either embrace my life or resent it, which did not change my circumstance it only changed the outcome.  

God has not yet given me all that I have thought I wanted out of life, but he surely has abundantly supplied all of my needs.  He has renewed my spirits and inspired my visions and dreams.  
My new take…  Well I no longer spend my time wonder how I can satisfy me, my purpose is to satisfy him.  I wake up every morning sincerely and consciously seeking out to make a difference in someone’s life. That difference could be big or small, that person could be someone close or a stranger, but at the end of the day it is not about me it is about him.  
Today I am FREE, free of resentment and anger, free of pain and anguish, free to love unconditionally, just as Christ loves me. That Freedom is astonishing! 

For those of you who know me you know that my educational journey was quite challenging.  I was blessed to be a scholarship recipient for Helping Hands for Single Moms.  This organization was very instrumental in supporting me through college.  The impact they had on David and my life reached far greater than financial assistance.  I have since completed 4 degree programs and am honored to be part of helping other moms successfully obtain those same accomplishments.

I am on a promotional team working on a very dynamic and unique even called Hoops for Helping Hands for Single Moms.  All proceeds for the event support Helping Hands for Single Moms and their efforts to support single moms and their families while they are pursing higher education.

Last September Eddie Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Gerald Green, Dan Majerle, Meadowlark Lemon and 15 other pro-athletes gathered at the US Airways center for an innovative, fun-filled evening.  Dinner guests enjoyed a "Meet-the-Pro" segment, with a pro-athlete at their table, music and hoop-style entertainment -including a pay-to-play opportunity to shoot hoops with the pros!  The even was memorable and successful we are doing it again.

There are different levels of support necessary to make this happen.   We are looking for promotional partners, sponsorships, and attendees who would like to purchase seats and/or a table.  If you or anyone you know is interested on any level please let me know and I can send you more information.  We are also looking for local business who might be interested in letting us put promotional materials in their place of business.


Here is a brief video from last year ~ please take a few minutes to view:




http://helpinghandsforsinglemoms.org/mom-hero/

It is an honor to call him son.

We are just cuddling in bed as I am thinking about how lucky I am to have a son so perfect!

It's hard to believe that someone this small can change a world this big, but he does!  😍 Being David's mom is the best job in the world!

Well I am glad to be home and recuperating from a very exciting, but physically demanding adventure with my little hero.  Being away from our world is very eye opening and puts things in perspective.  In our own environment it is much easier to compensate and forget how challenging it can be to interact in a world not made for disabilities.

David and I live a typical life and often times I forget that we are "different".  Being outside of our own environment made the struggle real and obvious.  It also made me appreciate all the people in our lives who accept us and embrace our lives just the way they are.

I want to thank my amazing niece Sierra and BFF Carmen who not only embrace our no limit attitudes but assist in helping David experience opportunities must children in his condition could not.  No questions asked they helped me carry David and tug the wheelchair up mountains, on boats, and through sand to ensure that he did not miss out.

Most children can return from summer break with stories about the sports programs they participated in or other opportunities that David's disabilities limit him from, so I have always prided myself on making sure that David has opportunities that are unique and just as spectacular.  As he has gotten older and heavier these adventures have become more challenging for me.   I am truly thankful that we have friends and family that not only love us, but support me in making the most of our lives just as they are!  Watching David light up and laugh for 10 days straight made every ounce of effort worth wild.

It was such an honor to be recognized by the Council For Exceptional Children as an Outstanding Special Education Teacher. 

I could have never been the teacher or person I am today if it was not for David who truly has been the wind beneath my wings!

My tribute is a little unique in the sense that instead of honoring just one special woman in my life I have chosen to pay tribute to all the inspiring and incredible mothers who parent special needs children. 

Parenting a special needs child requires countless sacrifices, creativity, resilience, and strength beyond measure. 

As hard as it can be it is also one of the most important and rewarding role that one can have the opportunity to experience.

So for all the Mommas holding your head high while you courageously except the challenges of raising a special-needs child here's to you!!!

Thank you for graciously embarking on a journey you never intended to travel. Thank you for all the sacrifices you make day in and day out. For all the times you go misunderstood because most of the world can’t understand me. 

Thank you for your dreams, for dreaming for me, dreaming that I could walk, talk, read, or have an extraordinary life just as I am.

Thank you for all the tears you shed on my behalf.

Thank you for celebrating what seems to the rest of the world as small accomplishments.

Thank you for all the battles you fight just so I can have the same opportunities as everyone else. 

Thank you for believing in me and understanding my value. 

Thank you for being the super you that makes me able to be a super me.

Instead of purchasing a card this year I donated $5 to helping hands for single moms. This organization has supported David and I through my educational journey. I encourage you to create a MOMMApplause video and do the same at Helpsinglemoms.org

Please share and honor all of the special needs momma’s and/or caretakers you know by tagging them.

#MOMMApplaus #Helpinghandsforsinglemoms #Hissmilekeepsmegoing

Another spectacular memory in the making as David takes on his 3rd run, thanks to Best Buddies Arizona!  A precious reminder of how beautiful life is!  Pat Tillman Run 2015

The biggest success stories aren't measured by test scores! 

Those moments when it feels like all your hard work and dedication pay off. Thank you for everyone who made this happen. This moment will go down in Conchos history books and is most definitely one of the many highlights in my teaching career! I love to love what I do!

Today's HopeMinute- 1Mission

Exactly one week ago, we took a team of HopeKids families down to Mexico to build a home for a family through an organization called 1Mission. The weekend was a tremendous blessing not only for the family who benefited from the new home, but also for our HopeKids families who served. Today’s HopeMinute is written by Michelle Campuzano who is one of our HopeKids moms that attended the mission trip with us. We pray you will be blessed by her encouraging words today! 

I am still soaking in this weekend's once-in-a-lifetime experience. Only those who were there can truly understand how life changing a three-day construction project could be. It was as if God hand selected those to serve on this trip and the family he wanted to be blessed by our service.

Every single person played a vital role in God’s plan, from the little ones who have overcome cancer, the people who laid the foundation of the home we built, to the team members who walked the local children through the sinner’s prayer. God was absolutely there with us. He was building in the midst of us, he spoke to children's hearts through us, and he answered a family's prayers with us. 

If just one person had rejected God's call to participate in this mission’s trip, the dynamics of the team and the outcome would have not been the same. God calls us to be his hands and feet, to be one body of Christ. This calling requires us to listen and act even when it is not convenient. Sometimes he calls us to serve others in the midst of our own personal crisis. It’s easy to get wrapped up in our own circumstances but sometimes the best remedy to our own crisis is to focus on serving others. I have found that in my own walk, when I choose to be obedient and focus on God instead of the sorrow in my life, God meets me there and comforts my soul.

Maybe your calling does not require you to cross a border. Your calling might be to serve in your own community. Each and every one of our HopeKids families is called. You are valuable to the Kingdom of God and have an inspiring story that deserves to be shared. Don't let your busy life, your brokenness, cancer or any other obstacles stand in the way of you fulfilling God’s calling on your life. 

Our purpose is so much bigger than the here and now, bigger than the temporary obstacles placed in our way here on this earth. Our purpose is about the kingdom. One day we will reunite with our Lord and Savior in a pain-free place with no suffering. When my day comes and I have the opportunity to stand before God I long to hear those words "well done my good and faithful servant”.

The HopeKids family volunteers entered this project as strangers, but we left the project as life long friends. Who would have thought that a 3-day service project would turn into a life changing adventure? I encourage you all to step outside of yourself and take the time to serve others. You never know, God just might meet you there. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

1Mission + Hopekids = A much needed new home for the Jimenez Family

I am still in aww of all of the incredible opportunities God has provided me with. The home build required A LOT of sweat and hard work, but handing over the keys to the Jiminez family made it worth every ounce of effort. What made the experience even greater was sharing it with other Hope families. Jason the founder of 1Mission said it so perfectly. Giving when you bucket is full is great, but watching families facing their own obstacles put there worries aside to meet the needs of a family they don't even know, that it an example of true sacrificial giving. It shows what kind of people Hopekids is made up of. Some of the most courageous and kind people I have ever met. It was such an honor to serve with you all!