This is a picture of Sarah and her dachshund, Gertie.   Sweet right?   Ok I confess that I really didn't research this breed too much before agreeing that Sarah could get a puppy.   In my silly mind I thought this would be a therapy dog for Sarah.   Ok I found out after we bought Gertie that dachshunds are one of the naughtiest breed.   This seems to be true.   This little sweet puppy barks at everyone and everything.   She barks at people that live here!!!!   Love this doggie, so she stays!!

Monday I thought was starting out quite nicely.   You see most of my 6th grade class is at camp and I only had nine students.   They were being so good and of course I felt a bit of sympathy for them because they did not go to camp.   Then I received a call from the vice principal mid morning that Sarah was suspended from her classroom for two days.   Did I mention that my vice principal is my boss?   She is my boss.   I called my son, Trevor, to come and get her for the rest of the day.   Fred was home sick.   I found out later that Sarah was making paper guns in class, shooting them at students and the teacher, profanity, and quite defiant.   The excitement really started-up when she headed down to the office and continued to cuss like a trucker for some time.  My principal said that she had to try and keep a straight face.  (Did I mention my principal is my boss, too?  ugh)  She must of said 15 cuss words in 5 minutes.   My principal said she was really trying to get her point across.  She wrote WTF on a paper and held it up to her.  She kept asking if she was going to get expelled?   Sarah stated she was kicked out of church for twerking and cursing.  She looked her in the eyes and said "This is F***ing crazy!!!"  My principal said she wished I could have been in the closet and witnessed it all!!   I think it was enough hearing it from my principal.   She said she would laugh about this for a long time.......Did I mention that Sarah was still suspended for two days?     I try and take it minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.....bring on Thursday.

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go"     So thankful for this verse....the struggle is real and so is the love!!!

This is my sweet,  beautiful daughter, Sarah.   She is nine-years-old.   She was chosen by God to be in our family.   We prayed for her and we adopted her on April 17, 2008.   We just celebrated her Adoption Day.

She struggles in life.  Sarah had a difficult start.   We have had her since she was three months old.   I know the misconception is that people assume she should not have any problems because we have had her in our home since she was a baby.   I'm here to tell you that just is just not true.   We have loved her and have tried to find her help.  

I have wanted to start blogging for sometime and after tonight at church I decided I can not be silent anymore.  Our family struggles and we struggle daily.

You see I was asked to come and pick-up Sarah from class in the middle of church.   I was informed that they would be serving ice cream to the kids.   I let them know that Sarah was not to have the ice cream.   Her little body struggles with sugar and when you give her sugar ....she becomes very hyper, uncontrollable, and lashes out in anger.   Sarah (did I say she was 9 and a child), yes took the ice cream (of course she took the ice cream she is a kid) and tried to eat it....I'm sure not a pretty site for the church staff.   I was called to come and get her 30 minutes after the services started.   

This is just one of the obstacles we face each week.  

The other picture is of her pre Adoption Day dinner with most of our family (Trevor away at college)   We had the best time at Tahoe Joes!!   Yes, that is cake they gave her, but we were on our way home!!!   It was a wonderful day!!!

Enjoy the laughter because times will not always be happy.   Trust God in everything because God is there.      The outcomes may not be within your expectations----expectations can be changed, but most important Trust in God and enjoy the times of laughter.