Giving Thanks

Chase, Will, Kylee and Anna
Natalie, Kylee, Anna and Katie
Two lazy slobs after dinner not helping with the dishes
Me and my friend 'Posh'

The Haggard Family has alot to give thanks for. One was having a

wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with our

friends 'The Haralsons.' Thank you Ali,

for all your hard word in preparing a delicious dinner.

You guys ROCK!
See you Christmas Eve at our house...

Five Finger Prayer

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Drug Problem

I hope my kids are able to say this about Mike and I when they are older:

"The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Meth amphetamine lab had been found in an old house in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question. Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?" I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to my siblings sporting events and community socials no matter what the weather. I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to my bedroom when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me. I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to pull weeds and pick up dog poop in the front and back yards. I was drug to the homes of friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, or shovel the snow; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to my bedroom. Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place. God bless the parents who drugged us."

Colorado Suns-Peak Athletics Special Needs Cheer Teams

Two incredible Cheerleading teams in Colorado, Cheer Central Suns and Peak Athletics, both have cheerleading teams for special needs children. Anna and Natalie both cheer for Cheer Central Suns, and we are very proud to be at a gym that offers this opportunity to families. We have seen both teams perform, and words alone cannot describe the feeling of seeing the children out there in front of thousands, doing what girls AND boys do best, performing!
Cheer Central, Lets Go SUNS! Well done Julie and Wendy!
Peak Athletics, the Silver Teal and Black. Straight from the Rockies, WILDCATS! Well done, Julie and Jen!

CLICK HERE to see the video from NBC NIGHTLY NEWS that aired tonight.

Dear Laurie,

Dear Laurie,

One year ago today, you and I came together. A gift was given. Not from me, but from you. I can't begin to tell you how you and our situation has changed my life. I have been given few gifts in my life, the gift of Love and Faithfulness from my husband, the gift of hearing Chase, Anna and Natalie call me Mommy for the first time, the gift of Faith and the promise of Eternity from Maddux, the gift of Remembrance from Sam, the gift of Unconditional Friendship from Wendy, and from you, the gift of Life...Not just for ourselves, but for those around us. I can't tell you how many times before 'our day' I had looked up to the sky and said "Ok God, I'm ready...Take me NOW!" [you know what I am talking about...] But, really, I'm not ready. My family is not ready...I am needed, just like you are needed. It is a beautiful feeling...We still have so much to give...
Thank you,
Much Love,
Cheryl

Dear Mr. Hallmark poem

Dear Mr. Hallmark,

I am writing to you from heaven, and though it must appear, a rather strange idea, I see everything from here. I just popped in to visit, your stores to find a card. A card of love for my mother, as I know this day for her is hard. There must be some mistake I thought, you have every card you could imagine. Except I could not find a card from a child who lives in heaven. She is still a mother too, no matter where I reside. I had to leave, she understands, but oh, the tears she's cried. I thought that if I wrote you, that you would come to know. That though I live in heaven now, I still love my mother so. She talks with me, and dreams with me; we still share laughter too. Memories are our way of speaking now, would you see what you could do? My mother carries me in her heart, her tears she hides from sight. She writes poems to honor me, sometimes far into the night. She plants flowers in my garden, there my living memory dwells. She writes to other grieving parents, trying to ease their pain as well. So you see Mr. Hallmark, though I no longer live on earth, I must find a way, to remind her of all her wondrous worth. She needs to be honored, and remembered too, just as the children of earth will do.
Thank you Mr. Hallmark, I know you'll do your best. I have done all I can do; to you I'll leave the rest. Find a way to tell her, how much she means to me, until I can do it for myself, when she joins me in eternity.

An Angel from Heaven
~author unknown~

Avalanche Open-Denver Colorado - November 11th

Nat turning 3 and her very first pair of cheer shoes
Nat stunting in her new shoes...

-Anna in 1st grade-

Wellington, Florida

Junior 5

Coach Aaron and Coach Sybill

with "their" trophy...

Anna
Anna
Anna
Nat
Nat-She has the BEST cheer faces...
Nat

WOW! What a day. This was Anna and Natalies first time ever competing with CHEER CENTRAL SUNS Natalie's team - Youth 3 took 1st place, and the divisional award. Anna's team -Junior 5 also took 1st place, received the WOW award for best performance of the day, divisional award AND, the GRAND CHAMPION award! Talk about WOW! Let me just add that all the Cheer Central Suns teams that performed, took home 1st place.
ALL the teams were incredible!

On another note:

I really have to give a 'shout out' to Anna's very first Cheerleading Coach, Trisha Brandine, from Wellington Florida. Here was a little girl in 1st grade, had tried dance, ballet, t-ball, and gymnastics. Saw some girls after school doing cheerleading, came home, told me that she wanted to try it...and a month or so later, was asked to be on their competitive team...(see top images) Now in 6th grade, on a Junior 5 team, I will say, the best in the state...
working on her double full...
Coach Trish, thank you for being such a positive influence on my daughter Anna.
Not to forget Natalie-remember she got her very first pair of 'cheer shoes' from you?
Hope you and your family are doing well...
Cheryl

The Kyle David Miller Foundation

I thought it was necessary to post this information for new parents. Christine Miller is also from Colorado, and I must applaud her for the awareness/difference she is making from the tragic death of her son Kyle. I too, have been guilty of installing a car seat wrong, or using it wrong. Please take the time to read this information, and read the information on installing your child's car seats. Be sure to check in your local areas for car seat check point stations. Take advantage of these services and offerings. Our children are very precious.
http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/

The goals of the Kyle David Miller Foundation are:
1. To educate the public about seatbelt failure and carseat safety.
2. To provide safe carseats to those who otherwise could not afford them.
3. To seek and promote legislation that will increase driver safety through more stringent testing standards.
4. To work with auto manufacturers toward the continued improvement of seatbelts and vehicle safety devices.

Well Care Check ups

Took the kids in for their yearly physicals...
Have to report that Natalie grew 2 and 1/2 inches and gained 5 lbs.
Chase grew 5 inches and gained 21 pounds. Yes, 21 lbs...
And our Anna, grew 1 inch, and gained 10 pounds.
Pure muscle on that girl...

NILMDTS Gala

My brother Greg, and Anna, and can't forget Bob...

My friend Laurie that attended...
Her husband Mark, and my hubby Mike

I wanted to post from our photographer Grant Oakes, a little something he put together from the Fall Gala on Saturday November 3rd. CLICK HERE to see some images

from this fabulous event. More to come later...
I want to send a big hug and thank you to my mom, and brother Greg

for taking the time to fly to Colorado for this event that

was very important to me. Your support means everything!
Thank you.
Cheryl

Cute poem

Thank you Jessica (Mark's mommy) for sharing this:

Ask my Mommy how she is....

My Mom, she tells a lot of lies,

She never did before.

But from now until she dies,

She’ll tell a whole lot more.

Ask my Mom how she is

And because she can’t explain,

She will tell a little lie

Because she can’t describe the pain.

Ask my Mom how she is,

She’ll say “I’m alright.”

If that’s the truth, then tell me,

Why does she cry each night?

Ask my Mom how she is,

She seems to cope so well.

She didn’t have a choice you see,

Nor the strength to scream and yell.

Ask my Mom how she is,

“I’m fine, I’m well, I’m coping.”

For God’s sake Mom, just tell the truth,

Just say your heart is broken.

She’ll love me all her life,

And I loved her all of mine.

But if you ask her how she is,

She’ll lie and say she’s fine.

I am in Heaven.

I cannot hug her from here.

If she lies to you don’t listen.

Just hug her and hold her near.

And on the day we meet again,

I'll smile and I’ll be bold.

I’ll say, “You’re lucky to get in here, Mom,

With all the lies you told!”

~Author Unknown

CHEER CENTRAL SUNS---GO SUNS!!!

Here are the first official images of Natalie and Anna as Cheer Central Sun Cheerleaders.

They had a "Showoff" this past Sunday for family and friends.

They were GREAT!

Go SUNS!!!

Halloween 2007

Natalie and her starlette costume.

Call her Marilyn, or Madonna-She will answer to both.
Her close up...
Ok, this one scares me. I don't know what Chase is...
but the scary part, he said he liked wearing this...

Anna started out being little Miss Muffett-all cute and innocent, then she discovered that another girl at school had the same costume, 15 hours before Halloween. She said she wasn't going to wear this anymore! AAGGHHH!!! So, we came up with the alternative. Would I call her deranged, emo... Miss Muffett...Something like that. She is cute though...

Close up of the middle schoolers...Oh, and yes, it was snowing this am.

Never fails, snow or ice on halloween...

Enjoy.

Chase is 14...

And I am getting older...

Mike took Chase and a few friends to a haunted house tonight...Since Chase's birthday is so close to Halloween, this has been the tradition for about four years now...Natalie begged to go-I told her she would get scared and poop her pants...Her reply: I'll pack extra panties...' Needless to say, I made her stay home with me...And we finished Chase's Carrot cake...Anna wanted no part of it...Said she had to get to bed early for cheer practice in the morning...Anyway, here are some pic's of Chase and friends...

Being There

Do you know of someone who's precious child has died? Perhaps she is a neighbor or friend with whom you can confide. You assume that she is suffering, a tragedy so deep, that there is nothing you can do since all she does is weep. You feel that if you see her there is nothing you can say that would make her precious child come back or make the pain go away. And if by chance you meet her and have to face her grief, you'll do your very best to make this meeting brief. You'll talk about the weather or the lady down the lane, but you'll never mention her child, that would cause her too much pain! And when the funeral's over, and all is said and done, you'll go home to your family, and she'll be all alone. She'll go on, she'll be all right, time heals - Or so it seems. While she's left alone to pick up the pieces of her shattered life and dreams.

- OR -

You can open up your heart and find that special place where compassion and true giving are awaiting your embrace. "Today I'm thinking of you in a very special way." Or, how about " I love you." Are some loving things to say. Sometimes a very simple task like picking up the phone, can help her feel not-so-quite desperately all alone. Whatever comes from a genuine heart cannot be said in vain. For the truth is, it's these very things that lessen her great pain. And when you let her talk about her child who is now dead, you'll know this is far greater than anything you've said. So will you reach out with all your soul, and let her know you care? For in the end there's no substitute for simply BEING THERE!

~authur unknown~

Pennies from Heaven

Today I found a penny

lying on the ground.

It's not just any penny,

this little coin I've found.

Found pennies come from heaven,
that's what my Grandma told me.
She said that Angels toss them down.
Oh, how I love that story.

She said when an Angel misses you,
they toss a penny down;
Sometimes just to cheer you up,
to make a smile out of your frown.

So, don't pass by that penny
when you're feeling blue.
It might just be a penny
that your Angel's tossed to you.

Thank you Estrella (Anthony's mommy) for sending this to me...

My first NILMDTS session

Sweet Dreams, Little Joe...

I have assisted co founder Sandy Puc' earlier on several sessions for NILMDTS, and most recently have shadowed affiliated photographer Grant Oakes with his sessions. We had a call from a family earlier this week, and were unable to find a photographer in a timely manner. I was very fortunate and blessed to have been able to volunteer my services to the family of 'little Joe'. He was beautiful. As soon as I have the parents permission, I would like to share a few of his images.

I have been on the receiving end for NILMDTS. I know how these images are able to help a family in their healing. I can't describe to you what it means to me to be able to give back to this incredible organization in this way. I am humbled.

I have met, over 3000 professional photographers that volunteer for NILMDTS, and have learned from each and every one of them. I will be forever grateful. A big thanks to Art Wright for editing my images.

Heartland Poker Tour comes to Colorado

If you know my husband, you know he loves to play poker. Thought you would like to read something interesting...

Again, I have to tell my husband congratulations. It was an amazing night! What an incredible heads up poker game...and Steve...What a genuine nice guy. Good game, both of you.

http://www.pokerlistings.com/michael-haggard-wins-hpt-in-colorado-19387

http://www.heartlandpokertour.com/eventinfo.php?yid=2007&eid=31

http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/article/9936/colorado-sees-largest-poker-tournament-in-state-history

http://www.pokeraffiliateworld.com/forums/general-poker-affiliate-discussion/12232-amazing-night.html

October 15th, Thank you

Thank you.
To all of you who called, sent a card or an email. Thank you for thinking of Maddux on this very important day. Thank you for being a part of our lives.
Cheryl, Mike and kids

Musician-Craig Cardiff

I wanted to share this incredible man with everybody I know. Craig Cardiff. If you haven't heard of him yet, you will. He is an incredible artist, songwriter and musician. Below is a message from Craig. Please visit his website, hear this beautiful song he has allowed for our use with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.
Send him a message.
Thank you so much Craig. It is such a blessing to know people like you.

http://www.myspace.com/craigcardiff

Smallest and Wingless
http://www.craigcardiff.org/goodnightgohome/craig%20cardiff%20-%20smallest%20wingless.mp3

Hope this finds you well – here is a song I wrote and recorded after hearing about the work your organization does – I am recruiting photographers for you at each show, talking about the principles/philosophy. One student from University of Vermont just got connected recently with you. -craig