Feeling a little stressed:

Waiting for the documents to officially accept our referral. They were suppose to be overnighted yesterday but still haven't arrived.

Trying to plan a 90th birthday party for my mom with my sisters. To many idea's not enough time. How will I ever get my house clean before the party?

Home schooling a high schooler is kicking my butt! I think I am being to anal about everything, I really need to relax.

I have no clean clothes. Bills need to be paid. What to make for dinner?

All I want to do is sit and stare into the beautiful brown eyes of my Ethiopian children.

Why can't all this other stuff just go away?

Labels: Adoption, Home Schooling, Mom Stuff

Thanks so much to all of you for your congratulations and loving support. Just today I think it is finally sinking in that we do have a new referral and we will be traveling to Ethiopia soon.

In the hopes of "keeping it real" I am going to make a confession here. When Ashley called me last Thursday with our referral I had a moment of pause. I thought I would be so happy, and I was, but it was tinged with a little sadness. I almost felt like I was betraying the children from our first referral if I embraced these children into my heart. Does that make sense at all?

A part of my heart will always belong to Ayele and Kasanesh. At times it seems strange that these children, who I have never actually met, so completely stole our hearts. It wasn't just my heart or Dave's heart but everyone in our extended family as well. I am just now realizing how crushing the loss of them truly was.

When Ashley called me I had no idea she had a new referral for us. She started out by asking me how I was feeling and if things were getting better regarding our disappointment (to put it mildly) at losing our first referral. I told her we had excepted it and were anxiously awaiting news of a new referral. Much to my surprise she then states that that was one of the reasons she was calling. She had a little boy who was almost seven and his sister who was almost 9 months old that she would like to offer us the referral for. She said there were no other families on the waiting list (over 100) who were approved for a child over the age of six. Were we interested? My immediate response was YES! I was so excited and immediately called Dave who came home so we could look at their pictures and discuss what had happened before I left for four days with our oldest son, Zach.

We both thought the children were beautiful and fell in love with their pictures. However, I must admit to a bit of apprehension about having a baby again. I think we had talked ourselves into the fact that we were going to adopt older children. Once we upped our request to a child up to age 8 years we both felt sure we would receive the referral for an older child or sibling group. However, as it seems to happen much in my life, God had other plans.

You see, I really felt like he orchestrated this weekend away with my son. I was really needing a break and felt like I needed to get away for a few days to catch my breath. When the referral came and I was having these doubts, this trip allowed me the time to process through everything. To spend time alone with Him. To sit quietly and listen.

Do you want to know what he said to me? Basically this. Julie, you have been praying that I would bring you the children that were meant for YOUR family. I have done this. I have been listening to you. At times you wish for an older son, one who could be friends with Garrett. The next minute you are looking at the little girl clothes on the racks at the department store and dreaming of having a little girl to hold in your arms again. I know your heart and I have given you these children. The answer to the desires of your heart. I have heard your prayers. This is my answer.

Over and over again I heard these statements in my head this weekend while we were away. I slowly began to believe them. I am thrilled to tell you that as I sit here today I have no doubts these are OUR children.

I had to get over the guilt of feeling like I was replacing one set of children with another. That will never happen. That's part of what God showed me this weekend.

So, as I stare into the beautiful big eyes of my newest daughter and her handsome big brother, I am dreaming of buying a few new bows and some cute baby clothes as well as wondering what my newest son is like. Is he quite or more extroverted? Does he like to play sports and if so which one? I want to hold them both close and help them heal from the early loses they have suffered in their lives. I want them home with us. Thankfully the courts are due to open again sometime in the next few days. We are obviously praying for a speedy court date. I would love to have them home for Christmas.

Thanks again for all your support. We have the best friends and family in the whole wide world!!

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3,4

Labels: Adoption

Yesterday morning we got the call from our agency. They wanted to know if we would be interested in adopting a little girl, 9 months and her handsome brother who is almost 7.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

I will tell you all about the call later but wanted to post something.

This has been a crazy busy week for our family and I had joked with someone that I am sure we will get our referral this week while I am on over drive. Sure enough we did. We are thrilled.

I have barely been able to stare into their beautiful faces as I had to run out the door right afterwards yesterday and Zach and I drove all day to Tuscon, Arizona for a baseball tournament.

It is 6:00 a.m. and we are running out to field. I will post more later.

God is so good!!!!

Labels: Adoption

Yesterday was Garrett's 11th birthday. He requested that he be allowed to hang out with his best friend all weekend. Sure. How easy is that for mom?

His best friend, Zach, is moving to Wisconsin in a few weeks. Many tears have been shed over this fact. I bought them both X-box Live so they could still play video games together and talk on their head phones while they play.

These boys do everything together. Most importantly, they play baseball together. He is on Dave's little league team. I think my husband is almost as upset about losing his awesome shortstop as Garrett is about losing his best friend.

Zach spent the night Friday night and then they left to go and hang out at his house yesterday. "Don't you want to spend your birthday here at home"? I asked him. No, I want to be with Zach.
So, I made him pose in front of his birthday cake and then sent half of it over to Zach's for them to sing happy birthday to him. Zach's dad took them and his three brothers to a football game last night, I am sure he had a great time.

Here they are eating their lunch before I released them. My kid's the one throwing the gang signs around. I'm so proud.

Here he is looking all annoyed as his brother lit his candles on his cake. He did not want us to sing to him. He also really didn't care that mom needed a picture to mark his 11th year.

Here he is after I told him he either smiles or HE. WONT. BE GOING. ANY.WHERE. BUDDY.

There. That's better.

I made him this cake which was totally yummy. I hadn't had a heath bar cake since I was a kid.

We also had two other birthdays recently.

Tyler turned 16.
and Paige turned 6.

I'm not "allowed" to post pictures of my teenagers but you can sneak a peek of him here in the background of this picture. Paige was really excited to get a new Kai Lan doll for her birthday. We spent her birthday up in the mountains playing horseshoes at my sisters house. She loved it.

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As I was typing this Paige was playing beauty shop with my hair. I vaguely here her say something about getting a pair of scissors. She was not happy when I grabbed the scissors from her not a moment to soon. She apparently feels that I am desperately in need of a trim.

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Grocery Challenge Day 6: I made it a whole week without going into the market. I am amazed. Tomorrow I will shop for the week. I am really excited to try and not spend more than $100.00 (that is less than half of what I usually spend). Wish me luck!

'Here's my strategy on the Cold War:
We win, they lose.'- Ronald Reagan

'The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'-Ronald Reagan

'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.' - Ronald Reagan

'Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S.. was too strong.'- Ronald Reagan

'I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.' Ronald Reagan

'It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.' - Ronald Reagan

'Government' s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it' - Ronald Reagan

'Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book.' - Ronald Reagan

'No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.'- Ronald Reagan

'If we ever forget that we're one nation under GOD, then we will be a nation gone under.'- Ronald Reagan

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Grocery Challenge Day 4: I spent no money. We had pancakes and fruit for breakfast, Turkey sandwiches, pasta salad and watermelon for lunch and a free for all for dinner. Some of the kids went to the high school football game so they ate there (using their own money), Samantha had youth group so she grabbed a yogurt and banana, Paige had a frozen pizza I found in the freezer, Garrett ate at a friends, hubby had some leftovers, and I am eating a large bowl of oatmeal as I type this at 11:00 p.m.. Not pretty, but it worked.

Tomorrow is Garrett's birthday and we usually take the kids out on their birthday. I am going to try and convince him it would be much more fun to stay home and let mom make him the dinner of his choice. Wish me luck.

Labels: grocery challenge, politics

Before we started home schooling last year I had 5 children at four different schools and used to spend two hours a day just dropping off and picking up kids.

One of the things I Love Love Love about home schooling is that I no longer have to do this. As a result I find that I have so much more energy in the early evening. I used to be exhausted by 4:00 every day from all the running around and trying to keep every one's schedules straight. We would rush home get homework done, or nearly done, run to a sports practice, maybe get dinner in as a family, and then spend the rest of the evening with at least one child in tears because they were exhausted and still had some homework to finish.

My whole life has changed. I love the slow mornings and the easy pace. It is bliss.

Then, I had the great idea of signing the older kids up for a home school Christian Academy that meets on Thursdays. It sounded fun and I thought we would give it a try. Tyler is taking Spanish 2, English Comp., and guitar. Samantha is taking English Comp., Creative Cooking, and a teen Bible Study.

I then thought, well, why not sign the younger kids up to? This was my big mistake. You see, you can just drop the Jr. high and high school kids off for the day. The younger ones have to have a parent present at all times.

So, for the past 2 Thursdays I have been at "school" from 8:30-3:00. I am exhausted. I have no idea how I did this before. I used to be at the kids schools all the time. It really isn't any different. Maybe I am just getting old.

The parents have to sign up to help in the elementary age classes. Paige is taking Physical education ( I am the teacher helper, today we played soccer in the 100 degree weather), Backyard science (totally fun!), and We Sing states and Capitols (she loves this and they are going to perform for the parents at back to school night). Garrett is taking a writing class, guitar, kids bible study, and a simple machines class that is totally cool. They are building robots with Lego's. Very fun.

Everyone loves it. I really think it is fun to. Just exhausting.

Zachary is totally confused. He keeps asking me questions like "If they are homeschooled how come they have classes not at home". He doesn't quite seem to get the fact that just because you are homeschooled you don't have to be locked in the house all the time.

The teenagers seem to like the fact they get to hang out with other teens one day a week. They are making new friends and it is fun to watch. This is kind of a nice transition for them into homeschooling. There lives have changed so much and I am thankful they are having a positive experience.

Once again God has faithfully answered my prayers in this area. He is so AWESOME!
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Grocery Challenge Update: Last night I made burgers and hot dogs on the BBQ, pasta salad (with lots of fresh veggies in it from the farmers market), and cut up watermelon.

We had cereal for breakfast and french dip with fruit for lunch.

Today I feel like I blew it a little because I didn't make lunches for our Academy day and I took the kids out to eat. I spent $21.89 at In N Out. I am going to take that out of my $400.00 I have allotted for this month so I am down to 378.11.

For dinner I am grilling chicken and having the left over pasta salad and watermelon from last night. That's the best I can do. The game of soccer today really wore me out!

Labels: grocery challenge, Home Schooling

A fellow adoptive Mom entered her son in Good Morning America's cutest baby contest a few months ago. Out of thousands of entries her son, who was adopted from Ethiopia at 6 months of age, was picked as one of the top eight finalists. Yesterday it was announced that he had made it into the top three.

Look how cute he is!!!!



Wouldn't it be fantastic if they won and Mia could go on national television and talk about the blessing of adoption?

You can go and vote here for little Rowan. Samantha and Paige think he is so cute. Makes us long a little more for our REFERRAL TO HURRY UP AND HAPPEN.

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Grocery Challenge Update: I made it through my first day without spending any money which is a shock because I was not feeling well last night and really didn't want to cook dinner. However, I decided ordering pizza was out of the question as it would really eat into the $100.00 I had set aside for this week. Sooo, I made french toast and bacon. Simple, easy and free because I already had everything on hand. I was so proud of myself because in the past I would have just ordered the pizza. Small steps people. Small steps.