She has a name

Read on Muddy Mamas about one way some Jesus-followers are reaching out to minister to women in the sex industry. So many women are trapped by this evil. Though I've heard of this for years, this is the first time I've heard the story of the women being offered up with "no name." Some folks have designed these t-shirts to help raise awareness and money for the ministry.

Please support them. Muddy Mamas is also giving away a free t'shirt, so stop by over there to join in the contest.

So Grateful...

So blessed. I have to remind myself of that all the time. I have so much more than I will ever NEED. I am loved far beyond my wildest imagination. Thank you, Jesus, for your love.

#71 - #79

the Father sends us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it

the joys of watching instantly with Netflix

so many friends anticipating expanding their families through adoption

a case worker that cares

new babies home for the first time from a far away land

new ideas of fundraising for adoptions

freshly laundered and folded clothes

the silence of a naptime gone well

a dishwasher in our new home

Join me and others as we give thanks:

Good Saturday to you :)

I love weekends. It means I get to spend so much more time with Prince Charming. Today is going to be a super busy day, and I'm excited. I love busy days. Can't explain it... I just do. The kids seem to cooperate more, Muscles loves to clean when he's home for the day... yes, that's right. My 8 year old LOVES to clean. And he does it very well :)

Last night, Baby Girl woke up screaming and refused to stop. This is pretty rare for her, so after a few minutes, I went in her room and picked her up. She was still screaming. I now understand what all those mamas meant when they said that they "knew" their child's scream and what it meant. As I listened to Baby Girl wailing, I knew that she wasn't hungry, hurt, wet, whatever. She was just being a booger. I laid her down in the living room while I folded laundry, and she just kept going.

Finally, after she looked like she had worn herself out. I gave her her bottle and a blanket and she immediately laid herself back down to watch Smash Lab with Mommy. It was a beautiful site. After a few minutes of watching airplanes and garbage cans blow up, I said, "Are you ready to go night-night, Baby Girl?" She stood up, walked to me, climbed in my lap and went to sleep. Gotta love it :) That's right, ladies and gentlemen, this mama used the TV to put my little one to sleep. And I'm TOTALLY okay with it :)

Another day, another fit.

How often I have to remind myself that he is different. He'll always be different. The other kiddos are... well, kids. Not Muscles. He's... different. He's an incredible little boy, and generally he's very responsible. But holy cow, when he doesn't get his way, it's unlike anything you've ever seen before. It's all the fury of a hurricane trapped in an 8 year old little boy. And he tries different tactics. First is all out anger. He throws things, calls me names, rants about how we are unfair to him. When he starts to see that it's not working (which it never does, so I'm not sure why he still tries), he moves into baby mode. He wails at the top of his lungs about being scared, wanting Mommy, etc. It's so tiring. I'm sure sometimes he is genuinely scared. I just don't always know when those times are, and I don't want him thinking that his behavior is going to get him what he wants.

Ok, thanks. I just needed to get that out of my system....

Blog Party!

Lynnette Kraft is hosting a Blog Party this week so that we bloggers can get to know one another better. Link over to her site and join the fun. Make some friends and answer some fun questions. The more, the merrier!

How would people describe your personality? (If they could only use ONE word.) Are they right?

Fun... I think, at least. I think they would be right. I rarely do something without having as much fun as I can possibly muster up out of the situation.

What celebrity/celebrities would create a “Star-Struck” feeling if you saw them in real life?

Oh, I hate to admit this one. It would probably have to be Matthew McConaughey. Yeah, he's cute, but that's not it. I love the accent. Just love it. My more "Sunday School Answer" would have to be Steven Curtis Chapman. I've always been a big fan of his music, but I've grown to realize that he's an amazing husband and dad as well, which is far more important. I'd love to meet him and his beautiful bride, Mary Beth.

Who is your favorite blogger? Why?

Ann Voskamp. Hands down. I love her blog, A Holy Experience. Each day, she helps me refocus my heart on the things of God, rather than on myself. She has an amazing way with words that just brings a smile to my face. She is real and honest in her journey.

What is your comfort food/drink?

Cow Dabs... or as you probably know them, No Bake Cookies. I grew up calling them Cow Dabs and, gross as it sounds, I always will. Love them. They make the worst of days better :)

Do you have a strong desire to do something you’ve never done? What is it?

I have a strong desire to do almost everything I've never done. I used to do new things EVERY chance I got, then I would say, "That's one less thing I've never done." I like to try it all :) I would LOVE to fly in a hot air balloon. That's kinda random, but there ya go.

Movies: Action, Drama, Romantic Comedy, Documentary, Comedy? What are your favorite genres?

I'm a Romantic Comedy girl. I pretend that I'm not, but I am... shhhh, don't tell anyone. I do like a little Action and Drama as well though.

Music: Funk, Rock, Country, Jazz, Classical, Film Score, Blues, Classic Rock, Crooner, Alternative, Heavy Metal, Techno? What are your favorite types?

I like Contemporary Christian. That's what I mostly listen to, however, if I happen to be around the right people, my love of Country sneaks up on me :) I also like Classical when it comes time to quite the family down for rest time.

If you inherited a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do with your money?

I'd pay off all my debt... yeah, that's right, I have debt. Student loans up to my ears. I'd buy our house, instead of renting it. I'd install a mud-room-type of locker system much like these. I would donate a significant amount to the International Mission Board. I'd invest a lot of it... very strategically. I'd give to support many people who I know that want desperately to add to their family through adoption, but the financial part scares the daylights out of them. I'd probably do most of this through ShowHOPE.

Name one weakness of yours (confession is good for the soul).

I'm a great starter, but I'm terrible with followthrough. I never finish anything. I have a ton of great ideas and plans, and I get them started, but get bored or distracted and move on to my next big idea.

If you could live anywhere at all (and take all your loved ones with you), where would you go?

I'd head back to Mombasa, Kenya. I loved living there, not that it was perfect, but it's the place my heart most often longs to see again.

What is one of your favorite things to catch a whiff of?

Ha, ha, ha... don't laugh. I love, love, love, love walking into a tire store or a shoe store. I just LOVE the smell of those places. Yeah, I know... I'm weird.

When you leave a social gathering, do you wish: You would have talked more or You would have talked less?

I used to be EXTREMELY social. In college, my freshman year, I won the "Social Butterfly" award. Now, not so much. My personality has changed a lot since I had a hysterectomy when I was 26 and went through instant menopause. I'm a much more quiet, reserved person that I used to be. So, that being said... I would say that I normally wish that I would have talked more.

If money wasn’t a factor, what stores would you shop in?

Health food stores. Michaels. JoAnns. Archivers. Target... I like Target :) Oh, and IKEA... I'd go nuts at IKEA... and the Container Store. I guess I'd go shopping crazy if money weren't an option.

What is your greatest fear or strange phobia?

I hate snakes. I mean, madly, passionately, with all my heart, hate snakes.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

My babies. We are in the process of adopting all five of our little ones from the Foster Care System. They give me the biggest headaches, and the biggest smiles :)

What are your favorite animals?

Wildabeast is my favorite animal to eat. Horses are my favorite to ride. Dogs are my favorites to cuddle up and sleep with.

Are you a hopeless romantic?

No, I'm in to romance and all, but I wouldn't say "hopeless"