A Message from Mom: Late January and early February 2008, will be forever etched in our memory. Sarah and I are going to begin a series that will highlight our amazing journey. As I wrote in our holiday newsletter this year, even I wouldn't believe the tales it it weren't for the photos. The story promises to be full of drama, danger, and lots of dust. A few miracles and even a pair of angels.
The story really begins in November 2006. I was
leisurely walking on Lane Avenue in Columbus when my cell phone rang. "Hello." "Mrs. Ely, it's Katie. It is sorta like raining in your family room..." But before we get to that chapter... let's fast forward to January 15, 2008.
Sarah has been doing lots of cooking in school and now she wants to make me a cake for my birthday. We are in the midst of preparing the house for some minor construction to repair the leak that Katie encountered that November day. The last thing I needed was to take an evening to make an additional mess in the kitchen. So I tell her I appreciate the thought but I really don't need a cake. Matt the little charming brother says, "Mom, we can do it ourselves. I will help Sarah." I'm thinking, sure, famous last words, but give them the go ahead. I continue on with packing boxes and hauling them to the basement.
A few minutes later, I look in the kitchen and stop dead in my tracks. Sure enough, they are making a cake. Matt has gathered all the ingredients and is letting Sarah do most of the work.
How proud she is. And how proud I am of Matt. What a great little teacher he is being.
When Sarah's arm starts to get tired from mixing, he doesn't take it from her and do it, he supports her.
Sarah usually hates cake batter. But Matt is licking the beater, so she is too.
I can see in her eyes she is taking her cues directly from him.
Here he is again. Not doing the job, but supporting her in learning to do the job.
And now she is doing it herself, not perfect, yet he instinctively knows not to take over. If I was helping to make that cake, I would want the icing to be perfect. And that is not such a good teacher. I have now forgotten all about the packing project I was working on. I am busy watching this exchange between Matt and his sister. Chronologically she is 18, he is 11. Sarah has always been in his life. She was seven when he was born. She didn't spend as many nights at this age in the hospital as she had in her earlier years, but enough that he knows what it is like to be displaced and forgotten at times. He could be resentful. He could be
miserably put out that he has to help his teenage sister make a cake. But instead, he is guiding with strong hands and nurturing with wisdom well beyond his years. Teaching his mother that perfect isn't in the spread of the icing, but rather perfect comes from unconditional love within the heart. Yes, this will be the most perfect birthday cake ever.
Now, that's my boy. Licking the icing. Chocolate icing. They know me well.
How did he get her to do this? She hates icing. Oh, now I see. It's the "perfect" love from her sibling.
Like the toilet in the shower. I don't think I should use it. I better go upstairs.
The sink is gone too. How am I going to wash my hands?
Oh no...the upstairs bathroom is even worse. Look at this...
Hmm...I don't remember seeing those pipes in the wall before.
At least it looks like this toilet is still working. Good thing.
I am a little sad because I know this is the last time it will look like this.
And here it is when I got home from school. WHERE IS ALL MY STUFF??? I am really not happy about this.
Here is the family room when I left for school.
And here it is when I got home. What happened to the tile?
Look at this dust. I am in shock. My mom is gonna blow a gasket when she sees this mess. 
We usually sit in the first row, so here I am in front of the ice. This shirt is really from the HSM Broadway Show, but I thought it was a good thing to wear.
When we sit in the front row I have to wear my long underwear because it is so cold being next to the ice.
I collect the program books. This is the 10th Disney on Ice show I have been too. I just love anything Disney.
It started out with the basketball scene just like the movie.
They were very good to play basketball and skate at the same time.
Oh that is Gabriella and Troy. Well not really, but they made them look like it.
My mom just loved Sharpay's car. They actually drove it on the ice.
Oh yea, the kitchen scene. This is about when my mom's battery on her camera died, so we have no more pictures. Oh well.
While me and my mom were having fun at the ice show, my dad and little brother were at home trying to get the water out of the bed. The construction guys are coming in the morning.
My dad rented this neat little pump that helped get the water out.
And my little brother kept walking back and forth to push the water toward the pump. it worked pretty good. Bye bye bed. I think my mom is going to cry because she loved her waterbed. But she was having a hard time getting out of it lately. 
How proud she is. And how proud I am of Matt. What a great little teacher he is being.
When Sarah's arm starts to get tired from mixing, he doesn't take it from her and do it, he supports her.
Sarah usually hates cake batter. But Matt is licking the beater, so she is too.
I can see in her eyes she is taking her cues directly from him.
Here he is again. Not doing the job, but supporting her in learning to do the job.
And now she is doing it herself, not perfect, yet he instinctively knows not to take over. If I was helping to make that cake, I would want the icing to be perfect. And that is not such a good teacher. I have now forgotten all about the packing project I was working on. I am busy watching this exchange between Matt and his sister. Chronologically she is 18, he is 11. Sarah has always been in his life. She was seven when he was born. She didn't spend as many nights at this age in the hospital as she had in her earlier years, but enough that he knows what it is like to be displaced and forgotten at times. He could be resentful. He could be miserably put out that he has to help his teenage sister make a cake. But instead, he is guiding with strong hands and nurturing with wisdom well beyond his years. Teaching his mother that perfect isn't in the spread of the icing, but rather perfect comes from unconditional love within the heart. Yes, this will be the most perfect birthday cake ever.
Now, that's my boy. Licking the icing. Chocolate icing. They know me well.
How did he get her to do this? She hates icing. Oh, now I see. It's the "perfect" love from her sibling. 
LOVE IT
OMG ~ I cannot even get it over my hips
Too fufu
Scratchy - 
Not Bad
To tight under my arms
LOVE IT
Way to scratchy
Are you kidding me? HATE IT
Like it
My mom loves it. I think it is OK.
I really do not like dresses so much. They are itchy. And I have to sit with my legs crossed like a lady. Oh and I HATE pantyhose. I do like some of these. I will have to have a fashion show for my dad later tonight. He likes it when I model clothes.
My mom said it was not a very good job, she would have done better in her time. Mom, I'm shocked.
Then came the FU on the car window. Done with can cheese. Hmmmm... expensive, but not a bad choice. 
I think is when my mom let out her own F.U. Magenta paint balls on the white garage door. NOT COOL.
Don't forget we live in Ohio, the temperature outside is 16 degrees today. So now it is frozen.
...when I had to tell the driver of the tractor there was a fire hydrant buried under that pile behind me?
Well, look what a great job they did. Thank you Mr. Tractor driver.
