Happenings: birthday and FARE walk

Someone had a birthday just last week. Hrishi turned 36!!! Yay, Happy Birthday, sweetheart! You make me happy and better in every way. So grateful to have you in my life, to calm my storms and anchor me down and help me always see the goodness of life.

(Ella was all dressed up as we had just come back from the Primary Program practice at church. Hrishi was all sporty as he was coming back from sand volleyball.

Red velvet cake with chocolate ganash and raspberries.

With Scottie, his darling little friend.

 (Posing?Not so sure, but the pants are cute,haha!)

 We celebrated at Del Lago, of course. The cake was delicious and I got commissioned by Ramon to make another one! :)

With Heather, Ramon, Romina and Zaniah (the famous Texans football player, Arian Foster's wife and daughter.)

The week before we had the FARE Walk downtown. It was a good event but it rained... anyway, we had fun sampling some allergen-free goodies, socializing with like-families.

Ella won a poster contest for the most unique piece themes "Say FAREwell to Food Allergies", too bad I didn't take a picture of her drawing.

Posing with her Epipen.

With our dearest supporter, Andrea!!

With a nut free-bar which I thought she was going to love but not so much...! :)

Ella with her very big-eyed momma, haha! :)

   cookies
(and lots of Plentil chips, not pictured here.)

Rebound

The beginning of this school year was a little difficult on Ella. New teacher, new rules, a couple of really dumb classmates who made really hurtful comments about her food allergies, were enough to put my sweetheart down. This put a hamper on what she loves to do most, her horseback riding (lack of confidence, almost fear to trot and jump, and all those great things she used to easily do not too long ago.) I feared for her, for not being able to get all that back, for not being able to live her beautiful dream of riding fearlessly. We have been praying a lot of course and through His grace, she is coming back. She is regaining her confidence and sparkle. You know, as a mother, I wish I could have taken all that away and made it all better for her.  I wish I could do that all day, every day, every time clouds gather around her. Last weekend, we witness the beginning of her comeback--straight back, grounded in the saddle, nice smooth trot, quiet hands, etc.

Tonight I witnessed (via video) her beautiful rebound revealing itself in its entirety. Hrishi shot the video for me as I was not able to go with them tonight. She is beautiful on that pony of hers. And that pony carries her proudly and safely with a sweet swishing tail.

Bareback riding :)

Relaxing:

The good in life

We love that in the back of our house there is a beautiful lake, biking/running trails, and a park. We take advantage of them all almost daily.

(I am grateful that I almost look like Ella's sister next to her. :) She's growing up tall and beautiful.)

Silhouettes in the sunset.

Our beautiful gardenia are in bloom. Their flagrance as you step out of the garage is amazing. The best perfume ever.

Remi continues to be a good student and is learning how to jump better and better every day. 

The scriptures guide and strengthen me when I need it most.
I am getting used to being in Young Women's. I like teaching although it is an adjustment from my Relief Society teaching, now teaching teenage girls. It's probably a little harder but the girls are great, so much fun. 

We are blessed with good employment that affords us a comfortable lifestyle. I am very grateful for these comfortable shoes and sandals that I was able to get on a Labor Day's sale. :)

We are making progress with our Foster-to-Adopt requirements and paperwork and hopefully start on our home study soon. I am grateful for that. (The Fire Marshall is here at the moment doing the fire inspection, one of the requirements we have to meet.) Life is good. Ella's enjoying second grade although I am yet to warm up to her new teacher but as long as she does her job well, we are all fine. She is also doing well with her piano preparations for her exams. I recorded a couple of videos yesterday during her lesson. :)