Nurturing our children

photo credit: wifemomandmore.wordpress.com

I have been reading some of the posts over on Real Intent during their Peculiar Minds series, about mental illness.  As a Family Science major/Psychology minor, the study of mental illness and the LDS perspective has always fascinated me.  As a youth, I spent three days with the Psychologist of our local county lock-up observing the mental health unit of the prison.  I found it amazing and I still do.  I want to know what makes people tick......   Maybe you would consider me a social engineer??  Why do they make the decisions they do?

From an early age, I was blessed to understand that each and everyone of us live in our own reality.  Sure we have common ground where we must learn to live and work together and thus we develop rules for how to interact and accomplish objectives.  But what I believe about how the world and the people therein function, 'the rules', is uniquely my own.

Now, I do not believe in moral relativism (each person's morality is unique and celebrated and is therefore real and valid---thus there is no right or wrong---all are right....).  I believe in right and wrong, good and bad, truth and error.  I believe in God.  I believe in truth.  I believe He is in charge and He has rules/laws, eternal ones that do not change.  He governs the universe.  But I also believe each and everyone of us is at a different place in our knowledge of that truth and our ability to apply that knowledge to our lives and our relationships with others-----thus each in our own reality.

I believe some of us are more capable than others of being flexible in our reality and allowing new information to shape our existing paradigm.  Some of us are completely inflexible in our reality and we fight anything that messes up the way we see things.  Some are more willing to grow than others.  I believe that applies at different times in our lives too.  Sometimes I am up for and excited about a challenge that provides growth and other times I dread it.  Then there are all of those 'mortality issues' that get in the way-----or perhaps facilitate our growth in the Lords' desired direction----things like physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual disabilities.  We ALL have some form of disability that makes life challenging for us.  That's the bad news.

The good news is that as children of God, heirs with Christ, we also ALL have the ability to become like God--a perfected man or woman, in every way.  Once I have learned what I need to from experiencing my given disability, it will eventually be removed and I will be whole and so will each of us.  Although we would all like those things to happen sooner rather than later, each of us must wait on the Lord's time table, not ours.  For most of us, that will mean the resurrection, not mortality.

So let's put all of this knowledge in a specific place and apply it as parents.

Each of our children lives in their own reality, with their own disabilities, unique gifts, and eventual recoveries.

The Lord gave those things to them and to us and organized us into groups---families---to learn and grow from each other.

He gave us the gospel of Jesus Christ, the scriptures, and the prophets to build the framework of our realities within and to guide us in our relationships with one another-----to help us eventually reach a true and shared reality with others.

Along the road, we need love, friends, support, encouragement, patience, kindness, strength, and charity.  (We always need more of these things, not less.)

In the world we live in, there is a plethora of information and people's opinions telling us how we should be functioning (coaches, scouting leaders, teachers, doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, piano teachers, etc...).  Everyone will have an opinion and usually feel very free to share it with us!

Our job as parents is to quiet the voices and listen to the one that matters---the Truth---given to us by God and revealed through the Holy Ghost.  As parents, we are entitled to receive revelation for our children and ourselves as we build the framework of our reality and try to bring our behaviors and attitudes in line with truth.

We may contract with these professionals or volunteers to help us, give us knowledge, and their opinion, but the ultimate responsibility for the choices we implement is ours.  Let's face it, no one will fight for the welfare of their child like a mother and father bound together in unity and love.  In our day and age, it is a fight!  And the right answer will be different for each child, for they are unique with their own perspectives, disabilities, and gifts.

I am so grateful the Lord speaks to each man, in his own language, according to his own understanding.  As parents, we need to try and do that with each of our children.  Sometimes when I am having particular difficulty communicating or teaching a specific idea or principle, be it toilet training or algebra, swimming, faith, or punctuality, I pray to know how best to help this child learn this principle.  I am not a miracle worker.  I do not know everything.  But I know who does.  I know how to access that information.  I know how to listen and I know how to obey.  In THAT process, I DO work miracles..............and so will you.

Consistency

Most of us would agree that consistency is very comforting.  We like knowing we have a job, how much money is coming in, what the weather is going to be like, if a natural disaster is around the corner, etc...  Knowing what is coming, helps us plan for the future and helps us feel like we have some control over our lives and we feel safer because we know or think we know what is coming.  When we have enough consistency, we are more emotionally capable of handling the exceptions to our consistency, or unexpected changes that come and even to manage changes that we expected.

Think about it, when you have a new baby coming, or are anticipating a move, or a change in employment, health care, living situations, or guests, you plan.  We do the best we can to anticipate what will be needed and to provide or procure those things before they are necessary so we have what is needed while we manage the change.  The more we prepare, the more secure we feel and the easier we manage things we did not anticipate.

Now let's apply this thought to little people.  Little people do not have the intellectual development to anticipate and plan for several years.  We, as their parents, do what we can to provide for their needs.  Sometimes we know them, other times, we are just guessing and trying to figure it out.  It has been so much easier with my little Spike, Spike now that he can say, "Uh huh!" if he means yes, and "uhhhhhhh" with turning away his head when he means no.  Just this week he will actually say "Mo." sometimes.  Life is so much easier when they can communicate just some basic!  Even my teenagers, sometimes have difficulty expressing their feelings and what they need/want.

Back to the consistency idea.....
When we provide an environment for our little people that is consistent, they develop feelings of security and a knowledge that their needs will be met in a timely manner.  They learn trust.  They learn safety, security, peace.  A consistent schedule is very soothing to little people.  Bedtime is a biggie.  Here are some helpful ideas for your little ones:

• Have a consistent bedtime routine.  Do the same thing every night.  At our house, we read scriptures as a family, have family prayer, put on our pajamas, brush our teeth, say our personal prayers and go to bed.  
• Do it at the same time every night.  We usually start talking about bedtime about 1/2 an hour before we are ready to put people in bed.  "Go get your scriptures, finish up your evening jobs, we are gathering in the family room, we're going to read and pray now, etc..."  Then we start the routine.  I usually put the little ones in pajamas before we read and pray so they know it is time for bed.  We read and pray at the same time every night, regardless who is home.  Sometimes Drew may be at a meeting, or the big kids might not be home yet, but for the little ones, it is the same time every night.  We read and pray again with the big ones when they get home.  For little people, consistency makes bedtime less of a conflict and more of a comfort.
• Also, if we happen to be out somewhere and we are not going to be home at bedtime, I consider three options.  (1) I might get a baby sitter for the little ones so they can be home and in their bed when their bodies are tired.  (2) I may leave the event early so the little ones can be home in time for bed.  (3) I bring their jammies with them and about 8 p.m. put them into their jam jams so they know it is bedtime and their body is telling them the truth.  I want them to learn to listen to their body.  That may seem like a silly concept, but in our world of fix-it-with-a-pill mentality, I want my little children to learn early that if their body is tired, they need to rest, if they are hungry they need to eat, if they are full they need to stop eating, etc...  Our bodies will tell us a lot about how to manage life, if we will listen to some of the things it needs.

Routines are also significant for getting ready for school, after-school chores/homework, getting ready for church on Sunday, attending Sunday meetings, Family Home Evening, lunch and nap time....etc...  I am not suggesting that our lives have to be rigidly scheduled and certainly there needs to be flexibility and adaptation.  But the more consistent life is for little people, the less stress they will experience and the less stress we will experience. They will not be acting out because they are confused or irritated as the consistency allows them to know what follows and that their needs will be met.

We have been consistent enough with bedtime that even when Drew and I are not home, the big ones will put the little ones in their pajamas, read and pray with them and put them in bed by 8, almost always.  Now if I can just learn to apply this concept to our housework.....things would go smoother around here :-)

When my little ones are really acting out, I ask myself a few questions:

• Are they hungry?
• Are they tired?
• Are they teething?
• Are they uncomfortable in some way....wet, dirty, have a splinter in their foot, having an allergic reaction, etc..
• What need might they have that is unmet?  Sometimes that is listening to them, asking them to show me what they want, a need for comfort, they might even have hurt feelings (yes, little ones really do this....)
• Are they sick?

Most children are not obnoxious just because.  They are real people and they have all of the needs the rest of us do.  We just need to listen to them and help them learn to communicate their desires.

Five Things for Friday Valentine's Week Edition

#1 Stitches at our house too.  (Monday)
On Monday, during family home evening, my little baby was experimenting with circles and making himself dizzy.  It was fun to watch, until he got a little too woozy by the fireplace and fell close enough to hit his head.  I ran over and scooped him up to cuddle his little hurt self.  I pulled him away to make sure he was breathing and saw the gash in his head that had not yet started to bleed.  I immediately put my hand over it and started applying pressure and told one of the bigger kids to get me a towel.  They brought me one and I started using that to apply pressure as we discussed how bad it was and if it needed stitches. 

The last time I took one of the children to the ER for stitches after hours, we were there for FIVE hours and then they didn't even put stitches in because the wound had begun to scab over.  I was so mad and not about to do that with this little 18 month old who doesn't tolerate pain.  After a bit of discussion, we decided to call a family friend (retired doctor).  They said, bring him over, we have everything we need here at the house.  So we went.  He was doctored on the kitchen table by two people in bathrobes! Half an hour and two stitches later we were on the way home to put the baby to bed. 

Thank goodness for good friends who love us!  We will return in a week to have them removed.

For a head wound, it didn't bleed that much.  I was surprised.  Maybe it was because I applied pressure so quickly, or maybe it was just where he hit it.  I don't know.  I was grateful there wasn't more blood.  So far he has been willing to leave the band-aid on his head.

#2 Super-sensitive Smiley (Friday)
For the last few days, my little Smiley has really struggled with finishing up his responsibilities.  Yesterday I decided to call him on it.  He got home from school and I didn't let him play or watch TV until he had done his morning chores (three days undone), caught his homework up (two days undone plus yesterday's), and did his afternoon job.  He was not a happy camper, complained that no one loved him or cared about him and he does EVERYTHING!  Well.......we had a little talk about responsibilities and taking care of them when we know what they are even if we are not asked to do them directly.

This morning, on the way to school, I asked if he had finished his morning jobs.  He reported that he was going to do them this afternoon.  To which I replied, yes you are, but you will be going to bed early tonight.  Tears and big sighs.  Seriously?! 

Did you know what your jobs were this morning? (Yes)
Did we have a talk yesterday about doing them every day when you know what they are? (Yes)
Have we discussed the consequences for not doing your jobs? (Yes)
Then you should probably have the consequences for not fulfilling your responsibilities, right? (Oh!)
More tears as we are pulling into the school.

(I always get yelled at!)
Oh boy!  Smiley, I am not yelling.  I am not mad.  Look at my face, am I angry??  (No.)
Right, this is not yelling.   We are having a discussion.  And you are having consequences for your choices.

I think he was happy to just get out of the car :-)

photo credit: 123rf.com

#3 Valentine's Day (Thursday)
I have a great husband!  He took me out to dinner last night.  We had a great conversation about many, many things and then we hung out together and ate cake, came home and watched a show with our bigger boys.  I crashed on the couch and went to bed early because I have had a killer headache for the last three days.  Stinky thing!

I also have great kids!  Yesterday, I took Drew and Sport to different dentists at different times and then had to drive them to their various places.  I also went grocery shopping for the week.  Because my time was occupied so much of the day, I didn't get into the shower until 4 p.m. to get ready for my hot date with my sweetheart.  As I am in the bathroom doing hair and make-up, I hear Speedy complaining that basketball practice has already started and he is missing it.  Ooops!  I forgot.  So I poke my head out, explain that my hot date starts in 20 minutes and I won't be available for picking up from practice and ask if Speedy would be willing to skip it.  He agrees.  Thanks buddy!  Yea for great kids!

photo credit: magluto.com

#4 A Spaghetti story (Tuesday)
Background:  I made my menu and grocery shopping list last week (Thursday).  Did the grocery shopping and was careful to stay within my budget.  Realized on Saturday, that I had forgotten to purchase tomato sauce and had planned spaghetti for later in the week.  Wondered how I was going to manage that without any tomato sauce.  Didn't worry about it and figured that I would probably change the menu and deal with it later.

I have a dear friend who has been taking the missionary lessons.  We meet periodically to hang out and have dinner, sometimes with a lesson, sometimes without, sometimes dinner, sometimes without.  Anyway, we were planning on having a discussion this week.  When we were talking about when and what that looked like, it became clear to us that it would work better for both families if we included dinner this time.  When she asked what she could bring, I knew the answer!!!!  Tomato sauce!  She also brought a nice salad.

So nice that Heavenly Father fixed my tomato sauce issue with my dear friend!  If you are reading....THANK YOU!!  Love you!

#5 Wednesday
Suffice it to say Wednesday was nutso!  We are a very busy family on Wednesdays.  We usually go swimming, have mutual, scouts, activity days, bishopric meeting, and a basketball practice.  This week, no swimming, but I added in an impromptu visiting teaching appointment.  I called to set an appointment with a sister that I haven't been able to get in contact with for four months.  She answered the phone and I said when can I come and see you?  Right now.  Really??  Sure!  So off I went.

It really was fine.  She wasn't trying to be obstinate or difficult, it was just really best for her right now and the kids were kind of managing themselves.

Isn't visiting teaching crazy??  I love it and know it is an inspired program.  I have some great stories and some not so great stories.  To me, it is like the other gospel principles, I waffle in my ability to do it well all of the time.  Some days I get a ton out of it, other times, I feel like it is a chore.  I have a testimony of the program and most of the time I love the people.  Once in a while I have an assignment that I find extremely difficult.  I am currently planning our Visiting Teaching Conference.  Food, decorations, child-care, set-up, clean-up are all taken care of.  The program is still coming together.  If you have any fabulous ideas you'd like to share.......pass them on.

Have a great week!
Check out Heather's five here!

"We Warn...."

photo credit: smartcitymemphis.com

Today during my scripture study, I came across this scripture:
2nd Nephi 25:9
And as one generation hath been destroyed among the Jews because of iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from generation to generation according to their iniquities; and never hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord.

I was struck by that last sentence:  and never hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord.

I realized that it is so very kind of the Lord to warn the people before they are destroyed.  He says, here are the rules, please do this, this is the way, you will be happier if you....  Then he says, by the way, if you don't .... then .......  And He continues to seek after and plead for His people to be obedient to His commandments.  But then when things get to the point that He cannot allow them to continue, He says, through the mouths of His holy prophets, WE WARN....

In 1995, the prophets in our day issued The Family: A Proclamation to the World.  At the end, the Lord uses those infamous words.  Listen to what is said:

WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of
chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill
family responsibilities will one day stand accountable
before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of
the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and
nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern
prophets.

They used the same language as the prophet Nephi.  Calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets (destroyed); foretold them by the prophets (we, the prophets, warn).  If THIS, then THIS, a simple formula indeed.

Marianne Holman, in her report of BYU-Hawaii's commencement exercises, quotes Elder Bednar:

"We live in a world that grows increasingly confused and chaotic, ever more evil and dark,” Elder Bednar said. “Nothing could have emphasized that truth more than the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Connecticut.” (referring to the December 14th shooting)


Elder Bednar shared the words of President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve:
“The world is spiraling downward at an ever-quickening pace. I am sorry to tell you that it will not get better. 

“I know of nothing in the history of the Church or in the history of the world to compare with our present circumstances. Nothing happened in Sodom and Gomorrah which exceeds in wickedness and depravity that which surrounds us now. Words of profanity, vulgarity and blasphemy are heard everywhere. Unspeakable wickedness and perversion were once hidden in dark places; now they are in the open, even accorded legal protection. At Sodom and Gomorrah these things were localized. Now they are spread across the world, and they are among us” (“The One Pure Defense,” address to CES religious educators).

See full text here. 

At this point, I think many of us would be tempted to either put our heads in the sand, so we do not have to stir up too much contention, join our neighbors in their revelry, or just completely withdraw from society in general.  But that is not our instruction.  What are we to do then??

I now quote from Elder Oaks in this month's Ensign magazine (full text here) 

The kingdom of God is like leaven, Jesus taught (see Matthew 13:33). Leaven—yeast—is hidden away in the larger mass until the whole is leavened, which means raised by its influence. Our Savior also taught that His followers will have tribulation in the world (see John 16:33), that their numbers and dominions will be small (see 1 Nephi 14:12), and that they will be hated because they are not of the world (see John 17:14). But that is our role. We are called to live with other children of God who do not share our faith or our values and who do not have the covenant obligations we have assumed. We are to be in the world but not of the world. 

Because followers of Jesus Christ are commanded to be leaven, we must seek tolerance from those who hate us for not being of the world. As part of this, we will sometimes need to challenge laws that would impair our freedom to practice our faith, doing so in reliance on our constitutional rights to the free exercise of religion. The big concern is “the ability of people of all faiths to work out their relationship with God and one another without the government looking over their shoulder.”⁴ That is why we need understanding and support when we must contend for religious freedom 

He continues:

Our tolerance and respect for others and their beliefs does not cause us to abandon our commitment to the truths we understand and the covenants we have made. That is a third absolute truth. We are cast as combatants in the war between truth and error. There is no middle ground. We must stand up for truth, even while we practice tolerance and respect for beliefs and ideas different from our own and for the people who hold them.  

I love this clear picture, even though the implications are scary for me.  This means that I have a personal obligation to stand up for proper values in the face of those who openly oppose my views and will likely call me names and be mean to me because of my beliefs.  As Elder Oaks says, it is our role....it is what we were called to do and why we have been placed on the earth at this period in time.

Even though Elder Oaks expresses our need to be tolerant of others beliefs, he makes a distinction between being tolerant of their behaviors.  This next paragraph immediately follows the preceding paragraph,
Elder Oaks:

While we must practice tolerance and respect for others and their beliefs, including their right to explain and advocate their positions, we are not required to respect and tolerate wrong behavior. Our duty to truth requires us to seek relief from behavior that is wrong. This is easy with extreme behaviors that most believers and nonbelievers recognize as wrong or unacceptable.

He then enumerates some specific less extreme behaviors and how we can manage our duty to truth and still express love to those who do not agree.

But I LOVED this paragraph:

Similarly, with our children and others whom we have a duty to teach, our duty to truth is paramount. Of course, teaching efforts bear fruit only through the agency of others, so our teaching must always be done with love, patience, and persuasion.

And this one:

Our obligation to tolerance means that none of these behaviors—or others we consider deviations from the truth—should ever cause us to react with hateful communications or unkind actions. But our obligation to truth has its own set of requirements and its own set of blessings. When we “speak every man truth with his neighbour” and when we “[speak] the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15, 25), we are acting as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, doing His work. Angels will stand with us, and He will send His Holy Spirit to guide us.

I also read this talk, by Hidden Valley Stake President .  I will end with his quote, since my time is short, and my family is counting on me to fulfill some of my obligations to them (I have to go make dinner :-)

Brothers and Sisters, as I said last year during Ward Conferences – “we are in the count down.”
Again, I say to you, that the scriptural and modern-day prophesies we have read and heard all
throughout our lives are no longer prophesies to us – they are now our living reality. If there was
ever a time in the history of the world for a people to wake up, pay attention, and get it together –
now is that time. This is a defining moment for us, and we cannot delay. We need to get our
temporal and spiritual houses in order. It is a must. Difficult times are still ahead and we need to
be prepared. 

  
 Let me know what you think....but I think the stake president is right.....we all have difficult times ahead and we had better be making sure we have our spiritual and temporal houses in order.  We want to be on the right side of the warning equation.

A nice, de-cluttering story!!

I have been on a kick of de-cluttering my house, lately.  I have to seriously do it every six months, where I go through everyone's clothes and get rid of anything that is too old, too stained, doesn't fit, isn't worn, etc....  I usually go through the clothing once a year, around August, before school starts, and other household items at various times in the year.  I get to this place where I feel like our space has been encroached upon and our stuff has exploded and I do a major purge of the house.  This wouldn't be so bad if I was the only one bringing stuff into the house, but with all of these people and the people they talk to, without consulting me.....you get the idea.  Too.much.stuff!

In the last two weeks, I have purged six 13-gallon size garbage bags of clothes, thrown away more socks, jeans, pants, shirts than I care to admit (ones beyond repair or re-purposing), tossed unnecessary electronic wires/toys/papers/magazines.  I have four bags of clothing waiting to be taken to the goodwill, along with a stroller, box of books, a couple of pans.  I even had a cookie jar in the pile, but that got broken, and you guessed it....tossed into the garbage.  Oh well, it was leaving the house one way or the other.  And I am not finished yet!!!  I should have taken photos, but I don't think anyone would have enjoyed photos of my junk!

This is how I felt:

Oh YA! Take that Clutter!

But here is the sweet, sweet story:
Last week, in my purge mode, I decided that an old, wardrobe trunk, used as a dresser for the baby clothes, had to go.  I was done with it.  I cleaned out all of the outgrown baby items, closed it up and thought, 'well, now it is ready to go'.  I didn't have any idea where it would be taken or how it was going to get there.  We have down-sized to one compact car, seats five if we squish.  The wardrobe was too big for the back seat.

However, I do live on a busy street corner.  I had the thought on a bright and sunny Wednesday morning, about 10:30, that I should put the trunk on the corner before 11.  That was going to be a feat.....it weighs a ton.  I enlisted the help of my almost 14 year-old, made a 'FREE' sign and we set out to moving it.  With a lot of maneuvering and strategically placing the baby behind the sliding glass door, alone in the house, we managed to get it to the corner.  Before Speedy got the sign on it, someone had stopped to pick it up and take it away.  SWEET!!  Less than 3 minutes!   Speedy helped her load it into her truck.

Then we got an old, gas bar-b-que and did the same thing.  It took a little longer, 20 minutes.  It too was GONE!  Hooray for easy!

I thought you'd enjoy that story!  And I wish you just as much luck in managing and disposing of your clutter!!  Now I'm off to dispose of those four bags waiting for their new home!!

Don't Worry about Tomorrow....

A few weeks ago, we had a Relief Society Committee meeting to plan some of the activities we want to do over the next few months.  The sister I asked to give the spiritual thought, shared the title of this blog as her thought.  It is an expression her mother uses.  It is so simple and so profound.  I have thought maybe I want to have it up on the wall at our house.

With boys going on missions, coming home from missions, teething, getting ready to start and finish high school, one making summer plans and finishing out his degree, and our little daughter thinking about the beginning of middle school and young women, I have been "careful and troubled" (Luke 10:38-42) about many things.

As opportunities have presented themselves, I have spent much time thinking and pondering about what would be best for each and every one of my people.  As bits and pieces of information trickled in over several days, a picture began to form.  The picture is a different picture than what I had assumed and planned for.  I began to see that the Lord has other plans.

I don't know about you, but this happens to me all the time!  I am a planner.  I don't have to be in control, but I like to know what the map looks like.  As I get new information, I readjust the plan.  Sometimes I am a willing participant; other times, I fight the process.

When I first have that picture form, I am excited and willing.  Sometimes in my enthusiasm, I ask, if it is the Lord's will, the picture/impression will come to pass.  After that initial enthusiasm passes, I think, "Oh goodness, what have I done?!"

Here is an example:

We had four children, the youngest was 2.  We were living in a two-bedroom, basement apartment.  I was saying my prayers one night and was falling asleep as I prayed.  I heard a little voice, quiet at first, then louder and louder, until it seemed to be shouting.  "Mom........mom.......Mom.......MOM!!!"

I woke up when I said, firmly, "What!!?"  Looking around the room, I saw no one except my sleeping spouse.  I went to the children's room.  They were all asleep.  As I pondered about the experience, I realized, "Oh, another baby wants/needs to come to our house."  I told the Lord He could send the baby.  I thought I could handle it.

When I shared those thoughts with my husband, he said, "WHAT??!  WHY would you DO that ??  We can't manage another baby right now.  We live in two bedrooms.  Where are we going to put him/her and how are we going to afford it?"

I have to admit, I hadn't considered any of those things.  I just knew the baby should come and I thought emotionally and physically I could probably do it.  As the process began and the baby was on his way, I thought, "Whose bright idea was this??"  Oh ya, it was mine.

But it is comforting, when those 'I can't do THIS' thoughts come, to know....don't worry about tomorrow, God has already been there.  He knows what is ahead.  He knows what is required.  He knows where I am, emotionally, spiritually, physically, intellectually.  If He has asked me to do it, I CAN do it.  The question is what will my attitude be during it, and will I allow the experience to help me learn and grow.

Don't worry about tomorrow....God has already been there.

GTD....a shout-out for Nattie!

Click here to read their story and blog

This post is for my son.  Slim's team-mate's wife Nattie, has been diagnosed with GTD (Gestational Trophoblastic Disease).  Slim asked us to share their story and invite your support.....

Go ahead and click the link above.
Good luck Nattie!  We're rooting for you!

Now check out what the Knights did for her!