Another Year

It's been awhile since I carved out posting time. We've wrapped up our first homeschooling year and are making plans for next year. We're doing school together with the Lynn family so taht we can work together, share info, and tag team the kiddos. It's been great so far. This year, we'll have 2 more of my kiddos in "school", plus Baby Girl, who thinks she's a big kid. That will be 9 total kids that we are teaching. Sounds fun? Yep, mostly :)

This week and next, we'll be preparing for our 2012-2013 adventure. We've settled on curriculum and such and we are currently working on our schedule. Pray as we prepare. Sometimes I feel like I'm in WAY over my head. Other times, I just feel blessed beyond belief. Here's the lineup for this year:

My Father's World - Exploring Countries and Cultures - Bible/History/Science/ Reading
Abeka - Writing and Reading
Math U See - ummm... Math, you see?
Spanish - Rosetta Stone
Prince Charming will be teaching music

Ready? Set. Go!!!

A Story of a Blessing

Can I tell you a story?  

Oh, good.  Thanks.

It's a story about a girl whose life is crazy.  She has an amazing husband and some great kiddos.  She loves them dearly.  And they love her.  Her life is filled with much laughter, many tears, cute smiles, warm hugs and abundant blessings.  Her children have been begging her for the last month to take them swimming, but she dutifully says, "We can't kiddos, it's too cold and the pool is closed until Nathaniel turns 6 (in May)" EVERY TIME they pass the YMCA's water park.  She drives out of her way sometimes, so that the little angels don't see the water park and cry and scream about what a mean Mommy they have. 

This same crazy mama picked up her prince charming for lunch one day this week.  They went to a restaurant with one of her favorite words written in 2-foot-tall letters on the glass:  CREPES.  She loves crepes, but there is no place that makes them like a little place in Cincinnati.  Occasionally she will tell her prince that she's thinking about driving to Cinci for the day, just to have lunch there.  He laughs, thinking she's kidding.  She's not.  But she doesn't go.  He's right.  That's a long way to drive for one silly lunch.

One day, as she was surfing some blogs and websites looking for a mom to learn from, she runs across a blog written by a beautiful Christian woman. It's full of pictures of her family as they play at an indoor water park at Great Wolf Lodge.  This crazy mama starts to think about how much fun it would be to take all her kiddos to this park.... but it's expensive.  And her family just started Financial Peace University.  They are getting a grip on their budget.  They actually paid October's bills with October's income... a first in a long time.  So, this crazy mama, dutifully closed the web page about Great Wolf Lodge, and didn't even mention it to her husband.  All the extra money this month is going to a project he is working on.  If she told him about this desire, he would, in handsome-prince-fashion, forgo his project to give her the desire of her heart.  He's sweet that way.  But it's her turn to bless him and allow him his special project, guilt-free.  

THE VERY NEXT DAY she receives an email from someone who is becoming dear to her heart. A friend who listens to her God and who shares his blessings.  Now she gets to go to Great Wolf Lodge with her kiddos... and eat crepes.... lots and lots of crepes :)

My cute family

I've been messing around with storyboards, and I thought this one was cute.  Isn't my family adorable.  God is so good to me :)

The Power of Yes

Prince Charming and I spent this past weekend at an Empowered To Connect Conference.  We've been drinking from the fire hydrant of wisdom of those who have gone before us.  We left the conference feeling some sorrow over past choices when dealing with our kiddos.  However we also left with a feeling of new-found hope.  We were given new weapons for our arsenal to fight Satan against any foothold he has in our babies minds.  So... things will be changing around our household.


I'm learning about the power of yes.

According to Dr Karyn Purvis and a vast amount of research, one thing our kiddos are in need of is "yes."  "Yes"s build trust.  Trust helps them to not be afraid.  Fear keeps them from sleeping at night.  Fear makes them think that they can't learn their ABCs and their 123s.  Fear makes them pee in their closets or dressers.  Fear makes them change clothes several times a day for numerous reasons.  Fear fills my bed with kiddos on stormy nights.  Fear causes little ones to feel attacked and retaliate when someone brushes against them. Fear makes them terrified to take a bath, even though they begged for it.  Fear makes them want to be picked up, put down, picked up, put down, picked up, put down.....

All that to say, my kids need more "yes"s from their Mommy and Daddy.  So.... we've been going out of our way to say yes at every opportunity.  We bought a big bucket of Double Bubble gum, which I like to refer to as, "380 yes's"  When the kiddos ask me a question, I ask myself if there is any reason that I need to say "no".  If I can say yes, I do.  At least, that's how it's working out so far.  Prince Charming has had to catch me a few times, but that's one of the perks of being a team :)

Always reminded of things I should be thankful for. So many blessings, so little time.

92 - constant learning
93 - time enjoying the outdoors with kiddos
94 - they're ours... really ours 
95 - sweet Granddaddy and Auntie to care for little ones while we're away
96 - free fruits and veggies from a new friend
97 - new phones
98 - surprise visits from friends

Join me and others, as we give thanks.

My Bucket List

While cleaning out some boxes in our bedroom, Jason came across a yellow paper from a legal pad.  Several years ago, I made a "bucket list" of things I'd like to do before I die.  We were excited to see that I have some to check off my list.  I've added a few things to the list, but for the most part, this is my list from way-back-when..


My Bucket List   

 ride in a hot air balloon
 visit all 50 states (43 down, 7 to go)
 marry my prince
 learn Arabic
 see the Sphynx
 go inside a pyramid
 name a baby
 adopt
 learn to be a barista
 buy a new car
 learn Spanish
 weigh 150
 buy a house
 fly a plane
 watch fireworks from a boat
 go to Mardi Gras
 visit every Six Flags park
 run a mini marathon
 experience weightlessness
 take dance classes with Jason
 earn a black belt
 vacation at Sandals
 memorize a book of the Bible
 own a "smart home"
 be debt free
 spend a night in a castle
 own a hybrid car
 go to the Olympics
 go to the World Cup
 go to NYC on New Year's Eve
 drive on the Autobahn

Our Blessed Day!!!

Finally, after years of waiting and waiting, our babies are ours.  Please enjoy our video and share in our joy.

From a distance

This weeks photo challenge from I Heart Faces is "From a Distance". Immediately I thought about a picture that I took two years ago. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and had a hysterectomy to remove it. Also removed, was the hope of having my own children. Not long after we got our first two foster kiddos (who we will be adopting next month!) we took them to see my dad for a few days. They loved Granddaddy and he loved having little boys to play around with. One of Granddaddy's horses had just had a baby and he was feeding the little one with a giant bottle. On this particular afternoon, Granddaddy took the boys to the barn to help feed the horse. It was a sweet sight to see him walking with the grandkids he never thought he'd have.

Now we're getting somewhere.

I feel like we have just reached an enormous milestone. An invisible one, but enormous none-the-less. Muscles just told me the truth. Knowing that he was going to get in trouble.... big trouble, he still was honest. I know honesty is difficult for a lot of people, and kids can be the worst about it, but my Muscles... he would lie about ANYTHING to stay out of trouble. It caught me off guard. I was ready for him to start a fight, but he just said, "I did it." and looked down at the floor. So little... but so much.

Crazy little blessings

My children drive me crazy... there... I said it. Some days, the crazy is nearly unbearable. Some days it it cleverly hidden in the midst of giggles and mud paintings.

One day, I look out the window and see Cuddlebug, Protector, and Princess' little naked butts swinging high on the swings for all the neighbors to see... a thousand thoughts hit me at once. But somewhere between the "What if someone sees them and thinks I'm a bad mom?" and the "I wish I felt that kind of freedom" I smile. What crazy little blessings I have.

We have a family game/rule to protect the eyes and hearts of our little ones, especially the boys. Whenever anyone sees someone dressed in a way that would not please their Maker, someone says (read "yells") "shoelaces!!" at which point everyone looks down at their shoelaces (Daddy too) until Mommy says that it's okay to look up. It has worked really well for us thus far. We were at a restaurant a few weeks ago and Protector was looking at a TV that was mounted on the wall over my head. Suddenly he stood up on his chair and yelled, "Mommy, that is inappropriate! SHOELACES EVERYONE!!" Pretty much everyone was confused at the shoelaces part, but pretty impressed that my 4 year old could us the word "inappropriate" appropriately :) What crazy little blessings I have.

My Great Aunt passed away this week. Yesterday, we took all five of our angels to the visitation. Most of that side of our family had not seen our three newest kiddos, so they all ooo-ed and ahhh-ed over them for awhile. I took the little ones, one at a time, to the casket and explained what was going on. Some of my kiddos are pretty small and could only grasp a little, so I tried to only give them what they could understand. My little Cuddlebug was adorable. He asked me if he could wake her up. I told him that she wouldn't wake up any more in this body, and he thought for a short moment. Then he asked, "Will she wake up if I do this?" and started dancing his little heart out. What crazy little blessings I have.

We go to Walmart more than any family should. Baby Girl has had a hard time sitting still now that she's getting big. A few days ago, I was at my wits end... and we had just started shopping. Baby Girl wanted to play, but I wanted her to sit still. Finally, Cuddlebug asked me, "Mama, can she walk with me?" I thought I'd give it a try. For the next hour, they walked through the store, hand-in-hand. What crazy little blessings I have.

Muscles pushes my buttons a lot. In fact, sometimes I just assume he's going to make me mad and go ahead and get mad before anything happens. Yeah, I'm thoughtful like that. One day, he kept bugging me for work to do to earn some money. I was getting more and more agitated as the day went on : "Not right now sweetie, I'm busy." "Seriously... not today" "Stop it! I said no!" Finally he said, "Mom, I just want to make some money so I can give it to Aunt Deb so she can get her van fixed!!" Oh.... oops.... sorry.... In the midst of making me crazy, he was trying to be a crazy little blessing.

Thank you, Lord, for all my crazy little blessings. When I'm at my wits end, remind me of the days that I prayed and longed for the craziness that is my life today. You are so good to me.

Thank you, Lord.

Always reminded of things I should be thankful for. So many blessings, so little time.

#80 - Adoption workers finally coming into our lives.

#81 - Reminders that life is short.

#82 - Swagbucks.com

#83 - Africa

#84 - The upsurge of adoptions in our world these days :)

#85 - Visits from sweet grandmothers :)

#86 - My children are kind and understanding

#87 - Prince Charming's new schedule :) Daytime!!!

#88 - Blueberry muffin batter :)

#89 - Coupons

#90 - Friends who love coupons too

#91 - Charts/graphs... things that help me organize

Join me and others, as we give thanks.

Friday Nanny

We are blessed to take part in a program at Sullivan University. We are an "extern home" for students who are learning to be a Nanny. Each quarter, we have a student who comes to our home every Friday and takes care of our kiddos. Can I tell you what a blessing that is? The first few weeks are a little rough. As an extern mom, I have to make sure they know how to bathe the children, do their laundry, fold and put their clothes away... little things like that. It's really not very hard for them to pick up, but it's my job to make sure they do it "my way"... just like if they were a paid Nanny for a family. After the first couple of weeks, I can rest a bit and let her do her thing. What a blessing! I've been sick for three days and have wanted nothing more than to sit down and do as little as possible. Today I can, thanks to our Nanny.

From the mouthes of babes.

Things sound so much different when your children say it. My kiddos have pushed and pushed and pushed me, on several occasions, where the nicest thing I could come up with to say was, "Shut up!!!!" I'm not proud of it, but there ya go... it happens. After I gave the little girl's their baths tonight, I put them in their beds, which they were none too happy about. As Baby Girl cried and fussed at being put in her crib, Princess became very upset.

Personally, I think that she was more upset that Baby Girl was out-screaming her than anything... but that's just me.

Anyhow, I digress... I heard, from my precious little Princess, "Shut up!" to Baby Girl. I sat for a minute thinking I must have misheard. Princess is generally a very sweet girl. Only a moment later, she said it again. Somehow, those two little words sound so much more toxic coming from a little one's mouth.

Be careful little lips what you say.

I'll try to be more careful... honest.

After all... isn't it from the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45)? I need to start doing a heart check, I believe.

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"

I Heart Faces Entry

I absolutely love the I Heart Faces website!! Hours of entertainment.... not that I have hours laying around that need to be entertained. If I did, though, I know where I would go. This week's photo challenge is "Cell Phones." Here is a pic I took of Baby Girl on her first birthday. She's so stink'n cute!!

Click here to check out other awesome pics :)

Moving day!!

We've been really blessed to live in this house for the past year. It was perfect for us when we moved in, but then a few months later, our family size nearly doubled. At the moment, we are 7 loud, rambunctiousness people trying not to (quite literally) step on one another's toes in a 900+ sq ft house.

God has graciously seen fit to move us to a larger home. And I am OH-SO grateful! I know it won't solve all of our problems, but I am determined that it will solve some of them. We begin moving Thursday, with most of the heavy labor done on Friday. If you read this between now and then, please be praying for my dear Jason. He and his brother will be doing most of the work. Two better men couldn't have been chosen for the job. One of the greatest things they learned from their father was how to work hard... very hard. I have no doubt that we will be moved before they call it a day.

Anyhow, I have a lot more packing to do before bed, and it's well past midnight. G'night all.