MEET ME

Just a little background on me:
I was born in Montgomery, Alabama. My father was in the Air Force
therefore, we moved around alot: Phillipines, Texas, Alabama,
California, Illinios - which is where I graduated High School,
then moved on to Germany, where I met my first husband and had my first child.
His first duty station was Arkansas - where our second child was born.
We then moved to Massachusetts-where I started my home daycare career.
I was certified thru the government. Even received the Commanders Award
for having the best daycare on post in 1990.
Within a few years later I separated from my husband and moved once again.

Which brought me to Wisconsin in 1992, where my parents were.
I took a job at a local daycare center in town,
and worked there for almost 2 years, then I met a wonderful man - PHIL.
We married in September 1996!

In 1998 I was pregnant, and had decided that after the baby was born,
I was going to stay home and do daycare once again.
Which at the time was a good decision,
because after a routine ultrasound we were told our "SON"
was going to be a downs syndrome child.
We were devasated of course, but I also believe in God
and knew He would not give us anything we could not handle.
I looked at the situation this way:
GOD chose us out of 150 couples(that was our odds of having a downs child for my age)
to care for this SPECIAL child.
After extensive ultrasounds and tons of prayers,
we found out our SON was going to be fine.
What a relief, although I still would have loved him just as much.
That is where the name of my daycare originated from:
God's "SPECIAL BLESSING" to us.

I have taken the following classes or training to further my daycare career:

Early childhood I
Early Childhood II
Infant & Toddler
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Training
Certified Family Daycare
Licensed Family Daycare
Infant CPR & First Aid
Risk Management Class
Nutrition Training
Medication Administration
UWM Administrators Credential

I also have memberships in the following:

NAEYC and its affiliates:
Great Rivers AEYC,Midwest AEYC, WECA,
Wisconsin Family Child Care Association (WFCCA)
& Wisconsin Child Care Administrators Association (WCCAA)

I am listed with the REGISTRY PROGRAM of Wisconsin,
I am currently a level 7.

MEET MY FAMILY:

PHIL
When I first met Phil he had a stable job, so we thought.
He also had a daughter named Taylor.
His main hobby at the time was stockcar racing at our local track.
Shortly after we were married he was laid off from his job.. perminately!
GOD always provides tho, he had a new one the following Monday.
He also loves to gun and bow hunt.

Phil is also a volunteer for our Rural Fire Department,
went to school and received his certification as a firefighter.
I am very pround of him!

He is very supportive of my career choice,
and has fun with the kids when he comes home from work.

JOSHUA
This is my oldest son, He graduated from High School in May of 2002 - with HONORS.
In September 2002 he joined the United States Army.
He graduated Basic Training at FT Sill, Oklahoma He has served overseas in Korea for a year.
and recently returned from Qatar after a 6 months.
In June of 2006 he married a beautiful woman Elizabeth,
who was in the military as well. But as of
August 2007, she is now the mother of a beatuiful baby boy,
my first grandchild Benjamin, and is working towards a career in Nursing!

He has become a responsible young man. I think the Army life has done him well.
He is a wonderful father, husband, and son!

I am very proud of the man he has become.
No matter where you go Joshua you will always be in my heart!
I LOVE YOU and am praying for you everyday.

Click on this link below to see:
A page I dedicated to ALL our Soldiers
serving in the military forces.

DANIEL
This is my middle son, my miracle child
who was born with his cord wrapped around him several times,
not breathing and almost pronounced dead.
But this goes to show you what prayer can do.

He graduated High School in 2005 with High Honors.
Right afterwards he joined the Army National Guards.
He did his Basic Training in South Carolina, and took his AIT in Arizona.
I was able to surprise him and attend that graduation.
He is now going to college in Minneapolis Minnesota,
majoring to be a Math or Music Teacher.

TAYLOR
She is 14 years old, lives with her mother and step father
in North Carolina, they moved there in October of 2001.
That was a very hard time for her Dad & I,
we sure miss seeing her as much.

She will be a freshman this year, joined cheerleading,
dance, and other after school hobbies.
We get to see her on her spring, summer
and every other christmas break.

GARRETT
Ah, what a blessing. He is now 8 years old, and the joy of our lives.
He is now our only child living at home, so yes he is a little spoiled.
But after all he has been thru in his little life time its ok.
He was born in July of 1999. An 8lb 14oz healthy baby.
Prior to his birth one of his early ultrasounds
detected that he would have down's syndrome.
Again he goes to show you what prayer can do,
he was healed from head to toe.
In December of 2001 we found out he has Asthma.
Which my father and I have a very slight case of.
He has been such a trooper with all the medications,
checkups, hospital stays, etc.. that he has gone thru.
We finally have it under control.

He loves his DADDY, can't wait for him to come
home and play cars, of course!
They take care of our family dog "HUNTER",
Garrett loves to give him treats.

I cannot imagine my life with out any of my kids today.
Even tho some have left our home, they will never leave my heart.

Children are like sponges
they absorb all your strength
and leave you limp
But give them a squeeze
and you get it all back
Author unknown

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