the Life of Olena

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!'

I think this is pretty funny...thought I'd share! The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of it's releases. A billion seconds ago it was 1959. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it. While this thought is still fresh in our brain...let's take a look at New Orleans . It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division. Louisiana Senator,Mary Landrieu asked Congress for 250 BILLION DOLLARS to rebuild New Orleans . Interesting number...what does it mean? Well... if you are one of the 484,6

This is Olena in July of 2007!

It's always those eyes that capture me. Ethan - could that smile get any cuter? Olena collecting snail shells.

My mom and I took Olena and my cousins son, Ethan camping this weekend. Good times, but for the second time I've camp this year...it rained the whole time :(

B Bear, Teddy, Graham, and Purple Hippo She plays with these four just like they are her best friends. They get dressed up, go in the corner when they misbehave, they go potty, take naps, cut the lawn, ride motorcycles together, the list is endless. She has an AWESOME imagination and it is so cute watching her play with these guys. Each night someone different gets a turn sleeping with her.

Sorry it has been so long since I've posted but life has been busy and we have lacked Internet connection for a few weeks. First things first...Olena's progress. She is doing great! I couldn't be happier with the results that therapy has brought on. Teresa, her Occupational Therapist is a blessing. She is kind, sweet and very helpful. It took me some time to "break her down" but she now knows I mean business :) I say "break down" in reference to the Olena " beauty blindness" that many people suffer from. Olena Beauty Blindness is the fact that about 99% of the people who know her feel that she is perfect because of how cute she is. Of course I think she's perfect! but she is far from it in reality ;) but believe it or not, that has been my biggest hurdle in having her as a daughter. Everyone is so involved in how beautiful she is, they don't hear or notice anything else. I know for a fact I do not want her growing up thinking