AND here's Kim, our brand new POTW!!! I'll start off with..........

1) What is your favorite color and why?

2)What do you like most about your job?

3) What do you like least about your job?

Erin Leigh, thank you so much for the honor!!!


1) What is your favorite color and why?
I love yellow and orange. I am not sure why. I think it is because they are "fun" colors. And when the yellow Xterra came out I fell in love with that. One day I will have one.

2)What do you like most about your job?
Hmmm.... having to think about this one...
I like the hours. I can be here when for Justin every day.
I love when a student makes a great grade and he/she were thinking he/she failed something. Kind of like a "light bulb moment" for them.
I like the relationships with the fellow teachers.


3) What do you like least about your job?
Students lying and cheating. I have a way of confronting students that they end up telling me the truth in the long run. But I just hate it when they try to lie. My students are horrible liars.

What's the best/weirdest/most unusual (you pick) thing you ever found?
What's your favorite meal to eat? to fix?
Favorite day of the week, and why?

Do you like to travel?

Where have you traveled to?

What part of the world would you love to see?

Do you like to read? If you do, what's your favorite book?

What's your favorite movie?

Do you collect anything?

What do you like to do to get away and be alone to help get your thoughts and mind back together after a bad day?

whats the difference you see around DS (kids, people, parents, doctors, media) since justin was born and today ?

has been easier or hardest the journey with justin, from what u thought when he was born?

If you had to give one piece of advice, to new parents of children with DS, about raising their child.... what would it be?

What is your favorite thing to do with Justin?

Do you have a favorite holiday and why?

WOW!!! It is going to take me a few to answer these questions....

What's the best/weirdest/most unusual (you pick) thing you ever found?
Boy, this is a tough one.....
I will have to come back to this....lol
(Answered at the bottom)
What's your favorite meal 1)to eat? 2)to fix?
1) I love my mom's cooking... I love her tomato gravy and biscuits... yummy
2) Anything that I do not have to fix...lol... Actually I love to cook Parmesan Chicken and fix a salad to go with it.
Favorite day of the week, and why?
Wednesday.... because it is half way through my school week... and I love to teach, so some is finished being taught and some is left to be taught.


Do you like to travel?
I love to travel. Except most of the time I have to do all the driving. I love to fly though.

Where have you traveled to?
I took a plane flight to Ontario, Canada a few years ago. I also went to PA the year before that. Those were when I could do things spontaneously.

What part of the world would you love to see?
I think I would like to see Italy. As far as love... well, nothing this side of heaven stands out.


Do you like to read? If you do, what's your favorite book?
I love to read. I did not like it at all until about 13 years ago. Now I read every night and we read at school. My favorite book is "Showers in Season" by Beverly LaHaye and Terri Blackstock. It is about families living in a cul-de-sac and how they help each other when one of the families has a daughter with Down Syndrome.

What's your favorite movie?
"Somewhere in Time" with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. Love the soundtrack, too.

Do you collect anything?
Does dust count? If so, I collect that wonderfully...lol
Actually, I have collected books and other items that are about Princess Diana.


What do you like to do to get away and be alone to help get your thoughts and mind back together after a bad day?
I have no idea. Justin falls asleep in my arms and I usually do not have time alone. As far as getting my thought and mind back together.... I sit quietly and listen to a soft cd and read. Or just stop and think "focus, Kim, just focus" and I am fine. This last this is mainly what I do.


whats the difference you see around DS (kids, people, parents, doctors, media) since justin was born and today ?
I really don't see much change. I know that is sad to say, but the area that I live in is not the best in the world. We are very behind here in MS.

has been easier or hardest the journey with justin, from what u thought when he was born?
Both have been in this journey. Justin has been a blessing and there are times that I do not understand, but that is when I end up telling myself to focus.
Here is an example of each:
easier: I love that he is not a "want, want, want" kid. He is easily satisfied. Does not beg for things that others "just have to have."
harder: He still struggles with his speech. He is much better, but sometimes it takes over an hour to figure out one word that he is trying to say.


If you had to give one piece of advice, to new parents of children with DS, about raising their child.... what would it be?
The advice I would give is to have expectations. I was determined to teach things to Justin and I would not give up. He was potty trained before his twin. He was walking before the doctor thought he would. He learned to sign because I was consistent. Never Never give up.


What is your favorite thing to do with Justin?
Lay Justin down at night and listen to him pray. He has been praying for quite a while and he still says the same names. It is precious.

Do you have a favorite holiday and why?
Christmas... because Justin does not care about the presents. He just wants to spend time with family. I have always told him the story about Jesus and he loves to sit and listen.


What's the best/weirdest/most unusual (you pick) thing you ever found?
I think the best thing I ever found this website. I look forward to seeing pictures and reading posts from every one of you. I love praying for you all. You are all so encouraging to me. I have seen a difference in myself from getting to know all of you. You all are a blessing.



Wow!!! I think I have covered the questions for now. I will check back later.

What is your favorite televison show?

What type of music do you enjoy? Have you ever been to a concert? If so, name them?

Do you watch the morning news? IF so, which do you prefer, Today Show, The Early Show, GMA, etc?

Do you like wine? If so, which is your favorite?

What do you do for a living? (you might have said already)
Did you go to college? If so, what did you major in?

I will think and ask some more later.

What is your favorite televison show?
24

What type of music do you enjoy? Have you ever been to a concert? If so, name them?
I love contemporary christian mostly. I do listen to country on occasion.
I have seen Amy Grant, Twila Paris, Sandi Patti, Foreigner (or however it is spelled), Barbara Mandrel. Third Day, Rebecca St. James, and one more were at the church we were members of and I was the photographer. So I was able to meet them!!

Do you watch the morning news? IF so, which do you prefer, Today Show, The Early Show, GMA, etc?I love the Today Show. I only am able to watch in the summer though. Sometimes I DVR The Early Show depending on who is the guest.

Do you like wine? If so, which is your favorite?
I love wine Mainly Merlot.

What do you do for a living? (you might have said already)
I am a Special Education teacher at our local high school.
Did you go to college? If so, what did you major in?
Yes I went to USM here in Hattiesburg. I majored in Special Education and have a second degree in Math 7-12.

As a single mom, are you able to have any sort of social life or time to yourself? How do you manage when you are a little overwhelmed?

I admire you so much.

What kind of lunch box did you have when you were a kid?

What is your favorite board game?

What cartoon character would you most identify with? Why?

Who do you think has more fun.. a blonde, a brunette or a red head?????

1)As a single mom, are you able to have any sort of social life or time to yourself? 2)How do you manage when you are a little overwhelmed?
1)I have not really had much of a social life. But it is partly to my own doing. As far as time to myself, well, that comes once a month for one night when Justin is gone to ARC respite such as last weekend. The only problem is when they call for me to come get him early like they did. But I still had one night.
2)I just go to bed early. Sometimes things get tough and I almost cry, but then I have a good day that reminds me that God is still in control.



What kind of lunch box did you have when you were a kid?
You know I can't remember... my sister probably does. It was probably something like the Brady Bunch or the Flinstones...lol... I will have to call my sister to ask her....lol

What is your favorite board game?
Othello.... I have a very strategic mind and so far I have not been beaten at this one. My mom won't play me anymore... and I beat my dad, which is something I have never done before at any other game.

What cartoon character would you most identify with? Why?
TIGGER!!! I think I am just energetic like him mostly during the day at work. And with Justin I have to be.

Who do you think has more fun.. a blonde, a brunette or a red head?????
Maybe a blonde that has turned out to be a brunette with age (like me) that is hanging out with a red head!!! Sounds like me and my younger brother....lol... We have so much fun when we are together.

Who do you admire most and why??

What is the one thing you have always wanted to do but never have??

What is the one thing Justin does that melts your heart??

I hope you have a great week!!~~

I apologize if this is too personal, but you mentioned that Justin is a twin. I did not know this. Can you tell that story?

Who do you admire most and why??
I most admire my parents. My mom was a single parent of 3 and then married the man that I call dad. They then had a son together. We moved here from Seattle to the south, because this is where he is from. He adopted us and we have always been family. About 12 years ago they accepted Christ and life has been incredible since. My mom is my best friend. My dad is the best.

What is the one thing you have always wanted to do but never have??
Man, I have backspaced three times already...lol....
It is amazing that I cannot think of life before Justin.
So I think the one thing I have always wanted to do is take a trip with Justin and have someone go with us that will help me with him so much that he has fun and I do too. (I know some of you think "Well, what about Disney?" But there is so much that I have not shared.)

What is the one thing Justin does that melts your heart??
Every day when Justin gets off the bus, he runs to me with his arms out and is saying "MOM" with such excitement one would think he has not seen me in days. I love how much he loves.



I apologize if this is too personal, but you mentioned that Justin is a twin. I did not know this. Can you tell that story?
It is not too personal. I forget sometimes that there are new people since Justin and I joined.

Justin is my oldest brother's son. He has a twin that is gifted. Justin was totally neglected since birth and when I realized it, I stepped in and started going to get him so he could be shown love and be stimulated. His brother was taken care of by other siblings. He did come home with me a few times, but not nearly enough. He spent most of his time with the mother's sister. And still does. By the time he was around 4 I think he was with me pretty much full time. I decided to fight her for custody. (My brother and the mother were no longer married. And she had just remarried.) Anyway, that is sort of the short story. One day when I have time I will post in the "My Story" link and share what I can. Until then....


Jesse (Justin's twin), Mammy (my mom) and Justin (boy, he looks very fat here. Must be the way he was sitting.)

Ok, before I read this thread, I was going to ask you what is your favorite season (winter, spring, summer or fall) and why?

But then I took a moment to read your thread, and my head is spinning from your last post. I read it 3 times and , well, it's just over my head this early in the morning.

Well I'm glad that you and Justin have found each other. It's so obvious how great you are for each other.

And finally, I just have to say that I laughed when I saw that you like Tigger the best. Look at your sig file. I hadn't ever noticed, but I think you might look like Tigger in that photo.

Ok, before I read this thread, I was going to ask you what is your favorite season (winter, spring, summer or fall) and why?
I like the fall. Mainly because of the cooler weather. It seems that our seasons are more of summer, fall, and winter. I love 70 degree weather. 50s in the morning are fine. And the leaves are changing colors and falling off the trees. It is just beautiful.


And finally, I just have to say that I laughed when I saw that you like Tigger the best. Look at your sig file. I hadn't ever noticed, but I think you might look like Tigger in that photo.

I laughed out loud when I read this. I never even thought of it, but you are so right. LOL

Being a Kim myself.... what nicknames did you have as a child?

What is your middle name?

Wow..I am still so new to this board and reading your story all I can say is wow..You are truly an inspiration..and Justin what a lucky young man to have such a loving role model.

Being a Kim myself.... what nicknames did you have as a child?
I was called "baby" for two weeks before I got a name. My uncle named me. Then I was called Kimi. Still am called that by a few people.

What is your middle name?
Kimberley is actually my middle name. Alicia is my first name. And it is pronounced with a short "i" after the "l". Not a long "e" sound. It makes life interesting.



Wow..I am still so new to this board and reading your story all I can say is wow..You are truly an inspiration..and Justin what a lucky young man to have such a loving role model.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment. I love my Justin so much.

When times are hard do you regret getting custody of Justin?

Have you ever been married?

What church do you go to?

Did you play sports in school? If so what?

When times are hard do you regret getting custody of Justin?
I used to, and then I would think of the life he would not have. He would not have survived heart surgery at 13 months had he been living with her. So now I count it a blessing.

Have you ever been married?
Yes, I have. I was married when I was able to get custody of Justin. We would have divorced alot sooner, but we stayed together to see it through for Justin.

What church do you go to?
We used to go to Temple Baptist Church in Hattiesburg/Oak Grove. It is going through a huge growth in the building. Justin started giving me trouble about going, so for now we stay home and watch it on TV and listen to a wonderful teacher out of Dallas via the Internet every Sunday morning.

Did you play sports in school? If so what?
I played softball and volleyball. I tried out for track and I just missed the time. I was all about the band though.



Thanks all for all the questions to get to know us. It is my turn to turn it over to someone else. You are all a huge blessing to me.

I think you are one awesome lady. Justin is blessed to have you in his life.

Kayla