My Girl is Somethin Special.....

I adore and love all of my kids they are all so very special.  Today's blog is dedicated to my baby girl, my daughter, Rayanne Lynn, the boys will follow as I would like to dedicate a blog to each of my wonderful children.

Rayanne is an old soul, she is wise beyond her years, on most days!  She has a maturity, wisdom and common sense that I have always admired.  I certainly lacked it at her age.... Not saying that she she doesn't have a hint of wild child, and some rebellion in her, that is definitely there as well!  Not a bad thing, I truly believe it builds character, and as I have mentioned if you can control or manage it better than I did in my teenage years, that rebellious wild side serves you well as you get older. I believe it allows you to push beyond the boundaries, not to fear change, to reach outside of the box, to know that it's ok to speak your mind, to have your own voice and to be a leader.  The truth be known the wild rebellious side was inherited from my dad, Rayanne's Papa...he doesn't talk about his childhood/teenage stories a ton but wow, does he have some stories!!  Love you Dad!

My recent diagnosis of cancer has been unexpected and a a huge challenge that none of us expected to be faced with. We can not change the diagnosis, but we can choose the attitude we need to overcome the upcoming challenges that we have been faced with and that lay ahead.  I know it is hard, and it has and will be painful , and very sad some days as well as some fear of the unknowns as well.  We will also continue to have much laughter, happiness and joy through this ongoing battle and we will make the best of what we are dealt with. We all know or are learning that there have been many blessings that have come through this illness as well.  It is a gift as well in that it has taught us all perspective and what the most important things in life are all about.  It has deepened our connections with those we love the most. It has brought new special relationships into our lives.  It reminds us not to sweat the small stuff, and to let go of the conflict.  To forgive and move forward, and to be grateful.   Of course not flawless, we have setbacks in remembering all of these things we have bad days and we get knocked down...but we always find a way to get back up!

With my cancer being quite aggressive I have contemplated what to share with thekids, and have decided that the open honest approach is the only way for me.  How we need to fight and stay positive and focus our energy on staying positive.  I have always chosen the open path in communicating with my kids, some say sometimes too open, but that is my philosophy.  Keep it real, keep it optimistic, don't lose faith or hope, keep the lines of communication open and talk. This style feels the best and most honest approach for me, hopefully its working!

Of course having talks to my teenagers on sex, this approach does not seem to be received as well, so I have had to taylor it slightly as they often have their hands over there ears and say too much information!!!!!

Back to Ray, her courage through these last three months has been amazing.  We have cried many times together, laughed, she has a wicked sense of humour, and makes me laugh all of the time, she definitely oozes the cool factor, and she is so quick witted. All of my kids have a wonderful sense of humor. They are all quick witted, and have inherited quite a bit of my sarcastic humor, as well as their dad's which has created some great personalities in all of them, I love their stories, and how they can make me laugh.  I enjoy as I do all the kids all time the time that we do get to spend with each other.

Ray and I have found the gift of prayer, in general we have not been overly religious up until this point, but both have find such great comfort in praying together and on our own. It gets us through some of the bumps, it definitely helps.

Rayanne just got her learners last week.  She had procrastinated getting her learners last year, and when she learned that I could not drive, she said Mom I want to help out with the driving..so sweet, she brought tears to my eyes, she got the book back out, her dad got her 200 flashcards and she studied and knew the answer to every question on those flash cards in one night!  The next day she took the test and got her learners only getting one wrong!  I am so proud of her.  I must say she is quite a confident driver already! Way to go Girl!

Rayanne started playing the guitar in September and she has been taking singing lessons over the last year and a half.  She has learned a song she has played for me and it brings tears to my eyes every time she plays it for me. I have found the song on You Tube and would like to share it with you... it follows this.

Rayanne is a beautiful soul, I am so blessed and proud to be her Mom.    I believe that as much as she has learned from me, she has also taught me so much.  We have grown so close over the years this I am so very thankful for as it warms my heart and soul.  I know she has much to experience in life, Rayanne will do well in anything she takes on. I look forward to every experience we share and will share together in this lifetime, you are amazing Rayanne.

Thank you Rayanne for your support, for your strength, and for your love...You are beautiful in every way and an amazing gift. You are so very special to me, my girl, and so many.  I love you with all of my heart, and I cherish every minute we get to spend together.

XOXOXOXO   All my love, yo Mamma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muKQWGMC-b0