Special Olympics Bowling

Amanda had another opportunity this year to play on the Pinkerton Astros Special Olympics bowling team. She would practice every week on Tuesdays. When Amanda would roll the ball, she would watch it go down the lane and turn her body the way she wanted the ball to go. Amanda was a little discouraged that she came in last... but I was proud of her that she got a strike. She also had encourage-ment from her friend Jody (above), and from one of the assistants, Miss Guarano (below). Jody was in her art class last year and has been a really good friend. She is graduating this year though and Amanda will miss her. She enjoyed bowling but is looking forward to a different sport.

My baby is 16!!!!

Every year that passes and Amanda has another birthday, I find myself reflecting and being thankful that my girl is alive, happy, and in relatively good health. This year, I was even more thankful. March was a very hard month for Amanda with her seizures. Amanda celebrated her 16th birthday with 6 friends on Friday, October 24 at the Space Center in Hooksett, NH.

The space center is a place with lots of games, laser tag, bumper cars, and it even has a roller coaster. Laser tag was really fun. If you've never played before, it is a workout and similar to paint ball without the paint. You get points, and at the end, there is a readout of who tagged who and how many times. I admit that this time, Amanda got me more than I got her. I knew I was in trouble when she said... "you're going down". She has way more energy than I do. But since I paid for a bigger package than the number of kids that came, we got 2 free tickets to go again and play..... I say "GAME ON GIRL".

We had pizza, soda, cake and ice cream. We played hard, and had a great time! Amanda got gift certificates, a mosaic turtle to make, a game, and some CD's. Auntie Becki gave her $20 to go see High School Musical 3 which came out on her birthday.

Its the most wonderful time of the year!

And I'm not talking about Christmas. Fall in New England is something I look forward to all year long. After a hot summer, the cooler weather is a welcome relief, but the cooler weather also means that it is time for apple picking and the changing of the leaves. Today, I took a ride through Chester on my way to Maine and the leaves were beautiful. The peak was last week and the leaves are starting to drop. But I love the colors and the smell. I love the apples and the pumpkins, and I love the colors. NH has about 60 trees that change color and there is a wide array of colors at different times.

The only thing I don't like about fall is that after the leaves fall, the long winter sets in. The first snowfall is beautiful but it gets old fast. Fall is the signal that most living things must take a break and then renew. I think God paints the most beautiful fall in New England, and I'm thankful for the reminder of His ability to sustain his creation.