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

The night ended with my 10 year old son standing on the mound in tears.

His team had just lost a game they were highly favored to win.

His team had been taken over by aliens for a few hours this evening. Boys who could catch balls and turn double plays just yesterday couldn't make the most basic of plays.

We lost 15-14. Generally if you put 14 runs on the board in an All Star game you are going to win. That is if your team mates can remember how to catch the ball.

To say it was painful would be an understatement.

However, it happens to the best of them.

The Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Angels, Mets, etc. have all had such loses.

My heart broke for my child as he just sat down and cried after the game. Something I have seen him do only one other time.

I walked over and tried to comfort him as did several other parents.

I told him I was sorry they had to lose this way, however, their was some good news.

"What" he asked?

Well, no longer will our days have to be planned around practices and games. We can go to the beach, stay up late making smores, pitch a tent in the back yard and go to the drive in whenever we want.

That got a smile out of him.

Soon we were home and the seven of us were laying around eating a late dinner of burritos from the local take out place. Giggles and laughter had replaced the tears.

Tonight as I lay in bed I found I couldn't sleep.

The events of the night were still bothering me. I was thinking of the days in the not to distant future when I wouldn't be able to solve all my sons hurts with a promise of a chocolate bar and a trip to the beach.

There will be hurts that I cannot fix. It is hard for me to accept this.

Tonight it is late as these thoughts race through my head and I am reminded of why we need to nurture and grow our children's faith and knowledge of the Lord.

He can heal them when we cannot. He can guide them in ways we never can. Their trust in Him is so much more important than their trust in us. He is the great healer.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will
never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22

Labels: baseball, faith, Mom Stuff

Samantha got home around 10:00 from the American Idol taping. They all had a blast.

She called me around 4:30 (the show taped at 5:00) to tell me that they had placed them in the front row and she thought they may be on camera. That wasn't why she called though. She wanted to warn me that she would be holding an Adam sign and she didn't want me to fall off my chair.

No! I screamed. You can't!

This is what I get for sending her to sin city without me. She left a HUGE Chris fan and came home proudly holding an Adam Lambert t-shirt.

Before she left she told me Adam scared her a little. Nothing like a little Adam mania to change your mind.

When she got home we voted for Chris 20 times.

And I had her write "I will not vote for Adam Lambert 500 times" before I let her go to bed.

OK, I'm only kidding (about the sentences). I think Adam is very talented. I just wouldn't buy his music. Chris is definitely more my speed. I have also got really weary of the judges gushing all over him. Just my two cents.

Tonight's results should be interesting
********************************************************************************
Sunday night Dave and I were lounging out by the pool hiding from the kids. We have some of our best conversations out there. We sit out there in the dark and the kids can't see us. I think they forget we are out there so they tend to leave us alone for quite a while.

Well, suddenly our chairs start to shake and bounce up and down.

What is going on?

My first thought was that a vampire was messing with us (I have been reading the Twilight books lately and I think my imagination was running away with me). Of course, I didn't say that to my husband.

We had been discussing some things that have come up with our adoption and were saying we really wished God would give us a sign as to what it is we are supposed to do.

Then the chairs start shaking.

We look into the house where all the lights are on and the kids are happily talking like nothing is going on.

Very strange.

God or a vampire???

OK, OK, I know it was God. There really aren't vampires.

But what did it mean?

The next morning I am taking Tyler to school and the news comes on and they start talking about the 4.9 earthquake that hit LA Sunday night.

And then I feel really stupid.

I'm sure God got a big chuckle out of me thinking he was trying to tell us something when all that was happening was a normal occurrence if you live in the LA area.

Or, as my kids said, maybe God was trying to tell us something. He just used the earthquake to do it.

I have no idea. However, one thing I do know is this.

I am not cut out to read books about vampires and werewolves. I am way to much of a chicken and my imagination can run away with me.

Sometimes I feel like I am 10 years old again.

Labels: Girl stuff, Mom Stuff

Sorry for the long absence. Life has been very very busy lately.

The swine flu seems to have left the area, or at least they aren't talking about it non stop any more. Thank you very much.

Samantha turned 13 a few weeks ago. We now have three teens living in the house. People used to warn me about this. They told me it would be awful. While their are a lot of hormones and mood swings to be dealt with, I find I really like my teenagers. They are fun and interesting. I can't wait to see what God has planned for their futures.

Our home school year is winding down and we are going to try and finish by the first week of June. It has been a fun, scary, exsillarating, frustrating, wonderful year of home schooling. I am really excited for next year now that I have one year of doing this under my belt. I am going to the home school convention in July and can't wait to hear all the speakers and look at all the new curriculum, etc. Should be lots of fun.

I'll be back in a few days with pictures and more information. I just wanted to check in and tell everyone Hi. I have really missed checking in with all of you.

Have a Blessed Day!

Labels: Home Schooling, Mom Stuff

Do you think the world is coming to an end tomorrow? You might if you live in California or somewhere else where the Swine Flu has been detected. Geez. Really?

My kids are terrified because the news media is out of control on this one. There have been 50 cases in California. However, NO ONE HAS DIED. Also, ONLY A FEW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED.

Do they lead the story with this information????? Oh no, the lead story is how every CVS pharmacy in my area is out of masks and how to order some in bulk online if you can't find any. They do then say, at the very end of the story, how the World Health Organization reports that masks really WILL NOT be effective anyways as you would have to wear them 24 hours a day and small droplets of virus can still get through the mask.

Schools have been closed, travel cancelled, and the news media has a great story they can blow totally out of proportion to up their ratings during sweeps.

What good is panicking anyways? I told my kids three things. Wash your hands A LOT. Cover your mouth when you sneeze. Turn off the TV, stop listening to the news, go outside and have some fun. OK, maybe that was more than three things, but you get the picture.

I will tell you what did get me a little panicked yesterday.

I was driving down the freeway to pick Tyler up from football practice after school and the truck two cars in front of me had a ladder fly off the back of it and hit the car in front of me. There was lots of screeching breaks and thankfully I was able to stop before I ran into the back of this poor guy. I had semi-trucks on either side of me and had no where to go, when I look in my rear view mirror to see traffic behind me slamming on their breaks trying not to hit those of us who had come to a complete stop in the middle of the freeway. The cars were far enough back that it took them a few seconds to get to me. Thankfully they were also able to stop and the guy that got hit by the ladder seemed to be OK. My neck was tense for a few hours after that. I think I had tensed up so much preparing for impact I actually hurt myself.

I am so thankful that I was not hit because I was not in the Suburban but in Dave's Altima and I really did not want to be slammed in to one of those big rig trucks. I was a little shaky for a few hours after that to. It was way to close for comfort.

Thank You Jesus for keeping me and everyone else safe in what could have been a really awful accident.

Now, Jesus, please also protect my family from the swine flu. Or, in the least, from all the news reporters that are sure we will all be dead tomorrow from its effects.

Well, I guess if that does happen, I won't have to worry about all the big trucks on the freeway anymore.

There is a silver lining to every story, if you just look for one.

Labels: Mom Stuff

It's late Friday night and I am waiting for Samantha to get home from the drive in movies. She went with another family and was soooo excited to have her first drive in movie experience.

When ever I want to go the kids look at me like I am some kind of backwards freak. However, it seems, when you are invited by another family it is fun.

Go figure.

My boys are all playing video games, Dave's watching old baseball games (I'm sorry, I guess they are called "classic") on cable and Paige is hanging out with the dogs.

She's trying to get them to dance with her, but she's not having any luck.

You would think since she got all dressed up in her flapper costume someone would take her for a spin around the house.

Tonight I am just leaving everyone alone to do their own thing.

Do you ever have days where you feel so mentally exhausted you just want to crawl under the covers and never come out?

I do.

I'm having one of them today.

To much stress, to much drama, to much of everything.

Uggh.

I'm taking comfort in the fact that tomorrow is a brand new day.

Have a good one my friends.

Labels: hubby, kids, Mom Stuff

Yesterday while I was waiting for Tyler to get out of his testing appointment I picked up the most recent People magazine and read an interview with Laura Bush.

I really like Laura Bush. She always seemed very down to earth and someone I would enjoy chatting with over a warm cup of coffee.

Anyway, at one point in the article she talks about how the press has "gotten" her wrong and has liked to portray her as a cookie baking house wife. She goes on to talk about the work she has done on behalf of women's rights all over the world.

Here, however, is the sentence that really got me.

She says that not only does she not bake cookies but that she hasn't cooked a meal in 14 years.

14 Years people?!!!

Oh how heavenly.

I actually like to cook but wouldn't it be wonderful to have the choice.

Or just have someone there to clean up after you had messed up the kitchen cooking?

I just can't imagine.

14 years.

Wow.

*****************************************************************************
Here is how I split myself into three people yesterday.

1. Garrett ended up spending the night with friends and they took him and his friend to the clinic. Thanks so much Jim and Kathy, you are awesome!!!

2. Zach drove himself to his clinic. I really didn't want him to do this as he has only had his license for 3 months and only driven on the crazy California freeways a couple of times. He did fine. I of course had to lecture him on everything I thought he needed to know about safely driving on the freeway. He, of course, just rolled his eyes at me. He was fine.

3. I took Tyler to his testing and slept in the car for an hour and then read the aforementioned people magazine until he was done.

Thanks for your suggestions on my predicament. Some of them really cracked me up and just made my day.

Labels: baseball, Mom Stuff

On the calendar for today;

8:30 a.m. Drive Tyler to new high school (which is 30 miles North of us) for testing. Yeah, new school!!!

8:30 a.m. Zach is suppose to be at a baseball college camp 30 miles east of our home.

9:00 a.m. Garret is suppose to be at a Little League clinic 15 minutes from our house.

7:00 a.m. Hubby is suppose to be at the Junior High for a program our District Little League is putting on that somehow he ended up being in charge of. This, however, means he is not around to chauffeur children to where they need to be.

I need to be three places at once tomorrow morning

I need to be three separate people.

Anyone have a recipe for doubling or tripling yourself laying around?

Labels: baseball, Mom Stuff

Most years my sister-in law Cheryl and I go shopping the day after Christmas. Clothes shopping to be exact. This girl really likes to shop and she has a great eye.

I do not. I am not a good shopper and prefer hanging out in jeans and a t-shirt. However, I like going with Cheryl because it is like having your own personal shopper.

We only shop the sale section and yesterday we found some great bargains.

My sister and brother in law joined us (he likes to shop more than my sister does!) and we had so much fun.

We like to go to Chico's. This store is a little pricey but if you shop the sales you can get great quality items at a really reasonable price.

Yesterday I did great and only spent $21.50 (actually $61.50 but I had a gift certificate for $40.00)

My sister had never been to Chico's and quickly feel in love with this store. She spent much more than I did.

Michael Phelps mom shops at this store and all during the Olympics I kept saying "I think I saw that outfit at Chico's". Turns out that's one of the only places she shops.

I was feeling very proud of myself for showing such self control and not going hog wild and spending lots of money on myself.

Until this afternoon.

Cheryl and I had to run an errand into another town. Turns out we passed another Chico's on the way and just had to run in and check out their sales rack.

I bought this. Cheryl bought this cute vest. I bought a jacket similar to this one (only mine is prettier) with a new pair of pants and turtle neck to go with it. I also bought two tops to wear with jeans.

All the items were 50% off the price they are showing on the website. I paid $35.00 for my long coat, it was originally $185.00.

I'm not going to tell you how much I spent total (umm, my husband reads this blog ladies) but I will tell you I paid a minimum of 70% off the original price of each item.

If you are looking for some good quality clothes that will last you a while. Go check out this store or shop online.

Do you want to know what my favorite part of shopping at this store is?

I wear a size 2 or 3 in their clothes.

No, I have not lost weight. The people at Chico's are just really smart and they know a girl would much rather wear a 2 or 3 instead of, well, a number that is double digits.

I'm just sayin.

Labels: Mom Stuff

I was watching Samantha today with her little dog Jo Jo that she loves so much. She is such a good mommy to that dog. I must now confess that I figured she would lose interest and the dog would become my responsibility. This could not be farther from the truth.

Samantha sets her alarm at night so she can get up early to let Jo Jo out to go to the bathroom. She cleans up any messes her little doggy might make and diligently bathes and brushes her. They are really sweet together.

I was watching her today as she bathed off Jo Jo's muddy paws in the kitchen sink. She looked like a young mom. She was still in her pj's (just like her mom most days) and was wearing my old pink slippers. The sight really made me chuckle.

I realized also today that I never shared Jo Jo's Halloween costume with you. However, before I unveil the queen bee in our household I should probably show you the other kids also.


Garrett was our football player, Paige was sooo excited to be Little Red Riding Hood (one of her favorite books right now) and Samantha was Strawberry Shortcake. As you can see Jo Jo was a fairy princess. She was the hit of the party at church. The older boys were running around somewhere (now to old they feel to dress up) however I do remember them bringing us food at some point. That was very nice.
Here is Samantha with her sweet little baby. Jo Jo weighs 5lbs now and is getting a little tummy on her. Hard to believe as when we brought her home at 9 weeks from her mama she weighed all of 9 oz's. I'll never forget having to get up every two hours to feed her so she wouldn't go into a hypoglycemic shock. Those were the days!
Just like all the other children in our family, she refused to wear her hat but for only a minute. The little girls in our house don't seem to like them very much.



Watching Samantha with her little dog I can truly see what a loving and nurturing mommy she will be one day. It really is so much fun to watch.



Garrett is now requesting a snake when he turns 12. Somehow that doesn't make me feel quite as warm and cozy inside.

Labels: holidays, Mom Stuff

First off, thanks to all of you who left comments about the gas pumping. My family and I had fun reading them and my boys learned about different ways to be a servant to their spouse. I must say that I was surprised to see how many of you have husbands that take care of getting your gas for you. I think it is great. My son told me he would get my gas for me if I wanted him to. Ahhh. Melt my heart.

Secondly, I have been so blessed this week with wonderful new friends. Our home school group went to a candy factory on Thursday night to watch them make home made candy canes. The owners were Christian and they shared their testimony with the kids. I also met some more home school mom's that I just loved, I was so excited. Last night six of us met at the Borders Book Store for coffee and fellowship. I spent two hours with these very experienced homeschooling moms having my tank filled up and getting all kinds of words of wisdom. The really fun part was that they all have different philosophies and styles and yet I did not detect any judging on each others parts. Just encouragement. IT. WAS. FABULOUS.

God has been so good to me throughout this journey. I was really scared and unsure at first, but he keeps sending me people to encourage me and walk along side our family. He has made my heart happy and secure. I am so very very thankful.

Lastly, you may have already heard, but our State is on fire again. We have several family members who's home's could be in danger from these fires. Please pray for the safety of the men and women battling these fierce blazes and the wind (oh my, the wind, you just wouldn't believe it), and pray that they are able to get the fires under control as soon as possible. Hundreds of people have already lost their homes, it is so very very sad.

Have a great Saturday my friends. Our family is headed up to my sisters cabin in the mountains for a day of fun. Anyone else have a family fun day planned?

Labels: getting away from it all, Home Schooling, Mom Stuff

We had a conversation tonight in our family that made me wonder how things work in your families?

When I turned 16 my parents bought me a car. My Dad would fill up my tank once a week. I never asked, he just did it. He didn't think a girl should have to pump her own gas. This was a perk I greatly enjoyed.

When I was 18 I met my husband. One day we were out driving and I needed gas. I pulled into the gas station and he jumped out to pump my gas for me. Later I told him it was a good thing he was with me because I had no idea how to pump gas.

I could tell by the look on his face that he thought this was ridiculous.

Needless to say I have pumped my own gas for the past 23 years, unless we are in the car together and then wonderful husband does it.

I find myself, at times, missing the days when my father would just take care of this for me. My mom HAS NEVER pumped gas.

Now, lest you think my husband an ogre, he does pamper me in other ways. He lets me sleep in on Saturday mornings, brings me coffee just the way I like it, and lets me escape for a little time alone whenever I feel the need. He is a great guy.

He just doesn't pump my gas.

I was telling my sons that there is something very romantic about Grandpa making sure Grandma's gas tank is always full and ready to go. They of course rolled their eyes at me. I was trying to explain to them, that while I am all about being self sufficient, it is very nice to feel so nurtured and loved. That Grandpa is showing his love by taking care of this little detail in our lives. It brings him joy.

My boys were amazed that a girl would actually care about something as "stupid" as this. They can understand about buying flowers, and opening doors, but pumping gas.....come on.

I was trying to explain to them that it was about having a servants heart and I shared the Bible Verse to them about how a man is to love his wife as Christ loved the church.

They still were not convinced.

So ladies, this is your chance. Lay it on me. Would you like for your husband to take care of this mundane chore for you, or perhaps he already does? Let me know. My boys and I have a little wager going on this one, and it involves chores, so I am hoping to be the big winner.

Not that I'm trying to influence you in any way. I would NEVER do anything like that. Hee Hee.

Labels: Mom Stuff

Yesterday afternoon I had to run to Sam's Club and pick up a few things before the party last night. Paige enthusiastically spoke up and said she wanted to go to Sam's Club with me, so she did.

Unfortunately, Sam's Club wasn't all she had hoped for. Here is our conversation in the car.

Paige: I can't wait to get to Sam's house to play with him.

Me: Do you mean Sam's Club?

Paige: Yes, Sam's house. He has a Club House were going to play in together.

Clearly, this child was very confused. Poor thing, you should have seen her face when we drove up and parked.

"You mean were going to the grocery store" she asked unhappily.

I almost felt a little guilty for laughing.

***********************************************************************************
My mom's birthday party was a huge success. Lest you think I am unkind please understand that I am not mad at the person who forgot to order the food. I was annoyed, but totally over it now.

The food was great and the company even better.

My sisters in-laws came with her and her husband. My mom was so excited. She would rather play cards than do almost anything and she knew once she saw Bill and Shirley that there was some card playing in her future.

A few mad games of Pinochle followed and the light in my mom's eyes made me so incredibly happy.

I have some wonderful picutes to share but I still havn't gotten a new charger for the laptop so they will have to wait.

You will not believe how incredible my mom looks for being 89 years young!!!

Labels: birthdays, kids, Mom Stuff

Today we are having my mom's 89th birthday party at our house. We will be having about 20 people over for dinner.


My niece had offered to split the cost of ordering Mexican food from this moderately priced restaurant so I wouldn't have to cook. I really didn't mind cooking, but it sounded nice to not have to worry about it. I would have spent about the same at the market on food as it was costing for us to cater the dinner so I was really happy about that.


Knowing I didn't really have any prep work to do this past weekend for the party I happily cleaned out the cupboards of my kitchen. Yesterday afternoon my niece calls to tell me there is a problem. The restaurant requires 24 hour notice for catering and when she went to call them yesterday she discovered they were closed on Sunday.


Why she waited until the day before I have no idea.


So, yesterday at 3:00 p.m. I stood in my kitchen, where I had begun cleaning out another cupboard, frantically trying to figure out what I was going to feed all these people? I was not happy.


We decided to have another Mexican restaurant cater the dinner. I just didn't have the energy to plan a menu and go shopping last night.


Of course, this will cost us twice as much as the original restaurant.


I hate to feel this way, but this is why I don't like to let others take care of details for me. It seems like I am always trying to clean up others messes. Maybe it is just the control freak inside of me.


Either way, we will have a nice dinner tonight, and no matter how much it costs my wonderful mom is worth it.


However, next time I will be calling the caterer myself.

Labels: birthdays, Mom Stuff

I think I am nesting.

I cleaned out about 3/4 of my kitchen cupboards. I moved things around. I scrubbed out all the crumbs, and then put it all back.

No one can find anything because I moved the food pantry over to the other side, and then moved the glassware and dinner dishes into the food pantry.

They are rolling their eyes at me tonight.

I figure if it takes six months to get a referral my house may be the cleanest it has ever been by the time we bring our little ones home.

I'm hoping I stay this motivated, and my energy doesn't give out.

What did you all do today?

Labels: Adoption, Mom Stuff

Half an hour ago Paige (5) came to me saying "Mom, I am really hungry".

Really, I thought? She usually doesn't want anything to eat until around 10:00 a.m..

I thought about what she had for dinner last night. I couldn't remember feeding her.

I was shocked to realize that I had FORGOTTEN TO FEED MY CHILD DINNER.

No wonder she was hungry.

Our evening was kind of off because we had a fellow homeschooling family over for a few hours. They left about 6:00 p.m.. I had made dinner in the crock pot and everyone just served themselves. The boys were watching a movie in the playroom together and Samantha and I watched the Dancing With The Stars Results Show we had taped the night before.

In this change of routine no one fed the five year old.

I have no idea what she was doing or why she didn't ask for food.

Still, I should have realized.

I am feeling like an awful mother this morning.

Please tell me one of you has done something like this at one time or another. Please.

Labels: Mom Stuff

I have all these really cute Halloween pictures that I wanted to post but oldest son broke the charger to my laptop so I can't download them. I am not speaking to him.

After the excitement of Halloween on Friday we had Zach's birthday celebration on Saturday night. Here is a tip for all you moms; if you tell your child he can invite a few friends over for a party be sure and give him an actual number. We ended up with 13 high school juniors sleeping on our floor Saturday night, and let me tell you, those boys can eat!

We didn't get to "sleep" until 3:30 a.m. and then Paige woke up at 6:30. All of the boys were up by 8:00 and thankfully their parents came by 9:30 to pick them up. We made it to church for the 11:00 a.m. service and then came home and fell back to sleep for the rest of the afternoon. The boys had a blast, Dave and I have decided we are really to old to do all nighters any more. I was seriously pooped out.

Today was spent having a challenging school day with my ten year old and trying not to feel anxious about the election tomorrow. I am trying to remind myself that God is still in control no matter what happens.

We have two very important propositions on the ballot for our state tomorrow. The first is Prop. 8 which would again make gay marriage in our state illegal. I went out with Zach tonight to pick up some food and the Yes on Prop 8 people were yelling and screaming on one side of the street and the No on Prop. 8 were on the other side yelling and screaming. The police were in between them trying to keep order. It made me sad that we are all so divided on this issue. There is no one that seems to be neutral, including myself, which makes for a very volatile situation.

The other proposition involves parental notification before a minor can have an abortion. My mind cannot fathom how my child cannot take a Tylenol to school without being threatened with expulsion but a teacher could take my underage daughter to a clinic during school and bring her back without her parents knowing anything had gone on. Does this make sense to you?

I have been praying very hard for both of these laws to pass tomorrow, and if we don't win, I know I will have a 24 hour period of feeling very very sad. I almost don't want tomorrow to come.

Pray for our country my friends, I am so afraid we are going to head down the wrong path tomorrow.

p.s. I'm only kidding, I'm talking to Zach, though I am very annoyed. This is the second time this has happened. Grrrrr.

p.s.s. After I posted this I clicked over here. True words of wisdom were spoken and I felt much better. God truly is in control.

Labels: birthdays, Mom Stuff, politics

Today I have no errands to run, nothing that needs my attention outside of our home. I am staying in my pj's all day and puttering around the house. This is my most favorite thing to do.

I have so many little projects that I just can't seem to get to, and today I am determined to finish some of them.

I had a dream last night that we got a call from our adoption agency saying they had two children for us. I woke up in a panic. My house is sooo not ready for little ones. We seriously have to baby proof again.

Today we were doing our science lessons and learning about air pressure and why birds can fly. We did a really fun experiment and I was explaining why it worked and what it meant. Samantha looks at me and says, "Mom, that was a really fun lesson but it is hard to take you seriously, like you are a REAL teacher when you are standing their in your pajama's".

Oh well, you just can't please everyone.

I, on the other hand, thought it was a fabulous day all around.

Hope yours was good to!

Labels: Adoption, Home Schooling, Mom Stuff

I became a mother for the first time.

I will never forget the overwhelming love I felt for this long prayed for child.

We had just celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary a few months before. I never dreamed when we got married that it would take six years to have our first child. I was ready to be a mom the next day. However, that did not happen.

Looking back I can see God's hand in this timing just as I can see his Hand in so many other circumstances in our lives together. If our first child had been born any sooner I would have had to work and been unable to be the stay at home mom I longed to be. I would have HATED THAT. God's plans are always so much better than mine.

In many ways, from the outside looking in, it looked like the worst possible moment for us to be starting our family.

Dave's job in Boulder, Colorado was ending in a month (he had a 3 year apprenticeship at the University), I had been laid off from my job at the hospital, we needed to sell our house but the economic climate on that day was much like today's, depressed and people were weary. Our house had been on the market for 3 months without a bite. My husband had a PH.D in physics and had recently decided the world of academics was not for him. He was looking for a job in aerospace but there were hiring freezes on all over the place. He had many people wanting to hire him, but there hands were tied until the hiring freezes were lifted.

Things looked bleak.

New baby, no job, no money, can't sell our house. What could we do?

As I entered my last month of pregnancy I should have been full of anxiety about the future. However, this time of my life is very precious to me because isn't it through adversity that our relationship with God seems to grow the most? Yes, I was anxious and a little scared, but I really felt God holding me through this experience and reassuring me that everything would work out. Others commented on our strength during this time and how we seemed so calm about the future even with such uncertainty swirling around us. It was a very special time.

The decision was made, with much prayer involved, that we would move back to California at the end of October and stay with my parents until Dave could find work. My parents, as always, were more than willing to help us. I'm sure the fact that I would be bringing a wee one with me while we stayed did not add to their excitement about our arrival at all.

So, after a VERY LONG day of labor seventeen years ago today I gave birth to our first precious son. From the very beginning to this day he has been a complete joy to parent. I cannot imagine our lives without him.

A few hours after he was born I lay nursing him contentedly. Until it started to hurt. I couldn't figure out how to unlatch him from my brea*st. The phone started ringing. I tried to grab for it. Ouch! How do I get this kid to let go, I thought? Just then the nurse came in, grabbed the phone, and showed me how to put my finger in his little mouth to release the suction. She was probably thinking, "That poor kid, this woman has no idea what she is doing".

After she left I picked up the receiver she had laid next to my bed. Our realtor was on the other end of the phone. She had sold our house, and they wanted a quick escrow!

The next day Dave went to the airport in Denver to pick up my mom who was flying in to help me pack up the house and move. We had ten days to get it all done and be out of the house.

Our wonderful friends Brad and Kathy (Brad is our friend and also the minister who married us, our 12 year old daughters are now best friends) called from California to tell us Brad was flying in to help and was going to stay with Dave to drive all of our belongings (and our two dogs) cross country to our new home in California.

We never asked. Everyone should be blessed with true friends like this.

God's blessings continued a few days later when I was again nursing our son and the phone rang. Thankfully, this time, I had become a more experienced mom and could actually nurse and talk on the phone at the same time. The voice on the other end asked for Dave, he wanted to offer him a job. Dave had been talking to this man and this company for six long months. It was a job he really wanted and they really wanted him. Somehow they had found a way around the hiring freeze and they were offering him a great job, with good benefits and he could start right away. As an added bonus, the job was in California, the very place we had felt God telling us to go back to a few weeks before.

In four days we had been blessed with a son, our home had sold, our friends and parents had rallied around us to help, and a job had been provided for our family.

I said goodbye to all the wonderful friends we had made while in Colorado and boarded a plane with my mom and ten day old son heading back to my roots and family in California.

When Dave reported to his new job a week later he had to first go to the companies nurse for a physical. She told him that his was the first new hire physical she had done in FOUR YEARS and she had no idea how he had actually managed to get hired. It would be another year before the hiring freeze was actually lifted.

The nurse may not know how this could of all happened, but we do. God told me he had everything under control and to trust him. For the first time in my life I actually did that and watched him put the pieces of our lives together the way he wanted them to be. God wasn't going to let a little thing like a hiring freeze get in the way of his Will for our lives. What an awesome God we serve.

My husband still works at that job seventeen years later. Our son is almost a man. Those first weeks as a new mother were stressful and tiring and maybe not actually the way I would have planned them, but they are some of the best memories of my life. I would not change them for anything.

Happy Birthday son. I love you more than words can possibly
describe. I am so proud of your strong work ethic and the way you are not
afraid to go after what you really want. Remember to trust God
and seek HIS will for your life, he will not let you down. Your
father and I can't wait to see what your future holds, though we know there
will be sorrow along with joy. I thank God everyday for the privilege of being
your mother. Have a happy, happy, day son.

p.s. I'm sorry you had to get up early on your birthday to go and take the PSAT. I will make you your special breakfast tomorrow, I promise.

Labels: birthdays, Mom Stuff

Twenty Days. 20 Days.

That is how long we lasted.


The stomach flu moved through our house this week and I had a few "female" issues and didn't get to the market.


Last night I waved the white flag and sent Zach down the street to buy some burgers.


The kids were thrilled.


We saved over $300.00 not eating out for 20 days.


We are not planning on going back to our old ways. The kids said they thought we should go for another 20 and I agreed.


Now if this darn stomach bug would leave my system I might actually feel like cooking.

Labels: Mom Stuff