FAMILY PICTURES 2010

We had the opportunity to go to an amazing studio in Draper, UT and have our pictures done.  As you can see, FOTOFLY did a spectacular job. 

 

The next picture of Brayden completely takes my breath away.

This is the picture I always have in my head but have NEVER been able to get ‘on film’.

I was crying in the middle of the studio while looking at the pictures on their computer.  The poor owner probably thought something was wrong, until I told him how happy I was and gave him a hug. 

The photographers here are so special.  It took a team of 2 to do our pictures.  They were all caring, kind and very energetic.

The young man who helped with the pictures was so persistent in getting Brayden to look at the camera and getting those genuine smiles without upsetting him.  And believe me, that takes patience and understanding.

 

It was more than I ever hoped we would get, and I can’t wait to get them printed.  And to go back again.

The Kind of Friend I Want to Be

The Friend Who Stands By

When troubles come your soul to try
You Love the friend who just stands by.
Perhaps there's nothing she can do
The thing is strictly up to you.
For there are troubles all your own
And paths the soul must tread alone.
Times when love can't smooth the road
Nor friendship lift the heavy load.
But just to feel you have a friend
Who will stand by until the end.
Whose sympathy through all endures
Whose warm handclasp is always yours.
It helps somehow to pull you through
Although there's nothing she can do.
And so with fervent heart we cry
God Bless the friend who just stands by.

--Anonymous 

I am so lucky to have many friends like this in my life! 

Beatitudes For Friends Of People With Disabilities

Blessed are you who take the time to listen to difficult speech,
If I persevere, I can be understood.

Blessed are you who never bid me to "hurry up"
Or take my tasks from me and do them for me.
For I often need time, rather than help.


Blessed are you who stand beside me as I enter new and untried ventures,
Myself and You.

Blessed are you who ask for my help.
For my greatest need is to be needed.

Blessed are you who, with a smile encourage me to try once more.

Blessed are you who never remind me
That today I ask the same question twice.

Blessed are you who respect me and love me just as I am.

Author Unknown

Heaven's Very Special Child

Can't remember if I've posted this already.  If I have, it is worth sharing again....

A meeting was held quite far from Earth.
It was time again for another birth.
Said the Angels to the Lord above-
"This special child will need much love.
"Her progress may be very slow,
"Accomplishment she may not show.
"And she'll require extra care
"From the folks she meets down there.
"She may not run or laugh or play,
"Her thoughts may seem quite far away.
"So many times she will be labeled
"'different,' 'helpless,' and disabled.
"So, let's be careful where she's sent.
"We want her life to be content.
"Please, Lord, find the parents who
"Will do a special job for you.
"They will not realize right away
"The leading role they are asked to play.
"But with this child sent from above
"Comes stronger faith and richer love.
"And soon they'll know the privilege given
"In caring for their gift fro heaven.
"Their precious charge, so meek and mild
"Is heaven's very special child."

-Edna Massimilla

My Trip to Oregon!!

I spent a week in Oregon for my nephew's wedding.  ALL BY MYSELF!  No kids.  No hubby.  It was so weird!!

This is Mt. Hood.  It was an AMAZING view from my airplane window.

My sister, Marie, and her husband, Rick, picked me up from the airport.  They are wonderful people.  I'm such a lucky girl!  My dad was married before he married my mom.  Marie's mom moved her to Oregon when Marie was very young, and we were never able to have contact with each other.  Through the miracle of modern technology, we started keeping in touch through email.  Last year, Marie brought Rick and all of their kids to Utah.  It was so WONDERFUL!!!  Meeting my sister, brother-in-law, niece and 3 nephews for the first time ever.  This year I went to Oregon for my nephew's wedding.

This is Dad with Marie's daughter, Stephanie.

Chris, the groom, with my brothers, David and Michael.

Dad and Marie's son, Mike.

My aunt dancing with the crazy brothers.  Chris and Jeff.

The brothers showing off their dancing skills!

My parents with the Bride and Groom.

It was a gorgeous setting.

I can't wait to get my hands on the wedding video.  They danced down the aisle and all sorts of fun stuff!

On Sunday we drove out to Lincoln City.  The weather was pretty windy, but it was VERY beautiful.

The hotel in this picture is actually where Rick and Marie celebrated their honeymoon.

Rick

Rick and Marie

Rick with my brothers, Mike and Dave.

Marie and I

Dave, Me, Marie and Mike

My sister, Trisha, wasn't able to make it to Oregon.  Mike missed Marie's trip last year.  So, now we have all met, but we can't seem to get us all together in the same place at the same time. :(

Rick snapped this picture for us.  He was so SNEAKY and said he was going to take another pic.  But he needed to back up a bit first.  Dave glanced behind us just in time to see a wave headed our way.  We made it out of the way....wouldn't have been so bad for Marie and I, but (as you can see from the pic) Mike and Dave weren't ready to get wet.

The aunties and my parents waited for us near the parking lot.

Oregon was GORGEOUS!!!

Rolling hills

Green, green everywhere

Christmas tree farms

Plant nurseries

Orchards

Vineyards

Wineries

Cows

Horses

There were fields of these purple flowers ALL OVER.

Not sure what they were, but they were beautiful.

Chris's dog, Hunter.

He was part of the wedding.  The ring bearer.  It was SO cute!

Rick and Marie took him home while the newlyweds were on their honeymoon.  

That cute little beagle sure knows how to pout.

Evergreen Aviation is located in Marie's hometown of McMinnville.

They currently house an amazing museum which contains the Spruce Goose.

Just to show how big it is....this is a picture of one wing.  Well, at least part of it.

This building is part of the museum complex.

It will be an indoor water park.  And that's a FULL SIZE passenger jet on top.

One final pic with my sister before I headed back to the airport.

It was such a great trip.

Stayed at Marie's house.  They made me feel so welcome and comfortable.  It was VERY, VERY hard to leave.  I can't wait to see them again!!!

Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who has been helping me keep my chin up lately.  Even my BFF from France was kind enough to remind me that I need to take a break sometimes.  Thank goodness I have a 13 year old, responsible, young man in my home who will watch the kids when I am loosing my mind or just need a date with my hubby.  Spencer is such a blessing to us.

I think what my frustration boils down to is:  I'm putting a lot of effort into many things I do, but not seeing tons of reward.  I know....I shouldn't be focusing on the results.  I just can't help but wonder what I could accomplish if my day wasn't spent picking up silverware, changing diapers, giving medicine, picking up crackers, vacuuming chips off the carpet....and all of the other things that come along with raising a child with special needs.  Honestly, I'm not spending the day on the couch feeling sorry for myself, but sometimes the house looks that way. 

But really, I have such wonderful friends and family.  Thank you for taking care of me.  I am blessed.  Very, very blessed.

We're Still Here

Summer is keeping us busy, but we are still here!

Summer is an interesting time at our house.

We spend quite a bit of our time chasing Brayden and his messes.  I honestly dream of the day when he learns to clean up after himself.  Not sure it will ever happen....that may be one skill he just never grasps...but a mom can dream.  Lately, he has decided that his favorite place to hang out is the top of my fridge.  He has always been a boy who loves high places.  Always wanted to be carried around when he was younger.  Loves windows.  Especially at Earl's 4th floor office.  And of course, loves the windows at home.  You would think after his previous accidents, he wouldn't like them so much....but he LOVES them.  So, Earl has installed contraptions that allow us to open the windows and enjoy the fresh air without allowing him to make an exit through the opening.  What a good dad.  These contraptions have been installed for almost 2 years.  This summer, we found out they might not be quite good enough....Brayden has found a way to climb OVER them.  So we are making improvements and changes to make them safer.

I would love to spend my summer working in the yard....painting the rooms of our house that are so neglected....or plain just doing a good deep clean.  But that doesn't happen.  I was honestly amazed to find myself in the playroom the other day with no one following behind me undoing the organization that I was immersed in.  Brayden was home.....napping....and being entertained by his ever patient big brother.  I was able to clean and reorganize that entire black hole.  It felt so wonderful!

It was one special day of cleaning.  Many of our other days are spent retrieving the things Brayden throws from his perch on the fridge.  Thank goodness we didn't put ceramic tile in our kitchen.  It would be so broken and chipped.  I also do quite a bit of vacuuming.  Anyone who stops by our house may not notice, but there really is quite a bit of cleaning going on over here.  Unfortunately it isn't to make the house look lovely and welcoming to visitors.  It is simply to make it livable to those in our home.  I can't even count how many times I have had to get out the vacuum in order to clean up the latest layer of chips or crackers that have been dumped out on the carpet or someone's bed.  Or mopping up the latest spill of a drink that Brayden has thrown.  That's one of his new pleasures in life....throwing a cup with any sort of liquid in it.  He also throws things when he's angry, so it is happening quite often.  

One of these days I really hope to have a semi-relaxing summer.  Brayden just doesn't enjoy being out of school.  Even summer school just doesn't do it for him.  3 hours a day 3 days a week for only 5 weeks.....just not enough.

So, until he finds a way to enjoy summer.....I try to remember that school starts in August.  And I try to take advantage of the time that he spends in school in the fall.  Its hard not to use that time to just relax.  Relaxing is a good thing.  When he is in school, and I am able to just SIT.  That is wonderful.  But I can't get too used to that.  Sooner than I realize, it will be summer again, and I will still have that long list of things to do.

For now, the yard gets neglected....the painting is NOT getting done....the cleanliness level in our home is questionable.....all of the craft projects I have running around in my head will have to stay in my head....but we can only do so much.  It can be an exhausting job taking care of this active little man.  But I love him so much.  He has taught and continues to teach me so many things.

I am so blessed to be his mom.

So, consider this your 'warning'.

The Fronk home is a circus during the summer.

I do my best to recover from it during the school year, but find that the time still doesn't allow for all of the things I want to do.  After recharging myself and making efforts to take back my house from the summer chaos, I find no time for the big projects I would love to do.  Maybe one of these days?  Brayden will most likely always be living with us, so I can't even say I'll get them done when he is 18 and moves out....so I'm brainstorming ways to get them done now.  And doing my best to remember how blessed we really are.....

And looking forward to fall!

Our Summer Sister

Krista is here!!!

And our family is SOOOOO excited!!

Krista is our niece who is spending the summer with us.

The girls are calling her their 'summer sister' because she is such a loved member of our family!

I am really looking forward to spending this time with her.

She is great at loving the girls, taking care of little things and especially making our days enjoyable.

Tonight we went on a walk along the bank of the canal.

These are some of the lovely flowers we found and just had to bring home with us.