Timing - Part Two

The Other One and his first Christmas present.

So since graduating, my dear, sweet and smart husband has been looking for a teaching job to open up. Many interviews and disappointments later, he decided to leave it to the Lord and His timing. It's been agonizing for him. He feels compelled to teach and he feels gifted in such a way (he is a very good teacher). It made me sad to see such a wonderful gift go unused and to see him discouraged. So, in the meantime, he has taken several tutoring students in our home to keep his skills up and hone them - it also helped make ends meet since Another One was born. A Facebook message two weeks ago, a job application and resume' submitted, and two interviews later - he now has a teaching position! You may wonder how that fits with Part One of my story. Without giving too much detail for security, his job will be working with at-risk teens in the state care system. BAM. There is the exact place the Lord was nudging us towards. Exactly.

I wish I could say I'd be fostering, but lets face it. It's crazy here. I really do want to get involved and my hope is that I can find a way to help out once he gets acquainted in his school. I have a heart for children who have no loving family. I have a few strikes against me for fostering anyway: taking kids to work. While it is safe, I can't always completely supervise my kids from my office - I have to trust they are staying out of trouble within earshot. I can do that better with the children I have reared on my own and understand their temperaments, not so much with others - even children I know well. You are not allowed to home-school foster children. I'm afraid this might cause a chasm with a foster child and it may look preferential.

I really want to. Our life is full of crazies right now though. I look forward to the possibility some day.


In HIS timing.

Timing - Part One

The baby's first Christmas Present. <3

When we were house searching, we found a house we loved that had the numbers 624. It had a nice ring to it, we were under contract and we really wanted this home. A few things fell through, some hearts were broken and we were not able to buy at that particular time. A year or so later, we found ourselves looking again. We found a nice little home with the numbers 824. Although, I really liked that one, there was something *just barely* off. I wasn't sure what it was and I couldn't quite explain to the realtor why I didn't want that particular one (boy was she frustrated with me!). Though, I knew it was so, very close to what we wanted. We finally found one just the very next street over. It had the same numbers - 824. I knew it was exactly the right one.

I tell that story because we've been on somewhat of a pinpointing-where-we-need-to-be-journey over the past year and a half or so.

I recently read a book called Wait No More: One Family's Amazing Adoption Story. I received it from here. I am a fan on Facebook and they asked people who were bloggers to read this book and do a little review. The story is about a couple and their not so perfect journey to adopting 4 children. The author is very bleeding heart and blunt about the trials she had. The struggles, the pain, the frustration and anxiety were very difficult for her and she is very honest to share them. So often, when we see or hear of adoptive families, a sunshine rosy picture is painted of how lovely adoption is. I understand it very much can be, but it is a process - sometimes an ugly process to begin with. Before I read this book, the Lord had already placed on our hearts a desire to be involved with foster/waiting to adopt children (that's part of the reason I chose to respond to the invitation to blog this book). That's really a scary thing to be placed on your heart. I had been shoving it out of my mind and wondering exactly how it would actually work with an already full-to-the-brim house - not to mention how it would affect my husband and children. This has been going on for several years. I just couldn't see this happening when I speak so harshly to my own children a lot of the time (I am working on it) and keeping a job and all the tasks I have on my hands. After reading this book, it really helped me to consider what my role in helping would be. I have a friend who does some filing and office work at a nearby children's home. I asked her if I could volunteer but she told me there just wasn't an opportunity. I felt pretty discouraged. I figured if I waited around, the Lord would show us His timing and plans and we could pinpoint that perfect place we needed to be.

Stay Tuned

This last week

• 2 Chiropractor appointments
• 2 stomach viruses (middle of the night)
  
• 5 colds
• 1 injured tooth
• subsequently, 1 emergency dentist appointment
• another regular dentist appointment
• 22 snack bags for teacher and co-workers
• 2 boxes of candy canes
• 1 dining set
• 8 loads of laundry - ish
• 1 dinner for a friend with a new baby
  
• 1 shower with water cut off halfway through
  
• another shower due to stomach viruses
• 1 last day of classes
• 8 tutoring sessions
• 1 work party
  
• 2 job interviews
• one dead battery
• 1 dad visiting
• 2 trips to the grocery store
• 10 loads of dishes
• 1 broken dishwasher
• 1 soccer party
• 3 advent candle lightings in church
  
• 65 Christmas cards stamped and addressed
  
• 1 youth Christmas party which requires a dress
• 2 muddy dogs
  
• 1 mother who is ready for Christmas break
  

That is all. Well, I am sure I forgot something...

Calling

He was made to do this. So cute!

The Good Wife

I really liked this. Enjoy!

Big Sisters.....

...are very, very special to little brothers.

One Super Happy Kid

Always Smiling. I love this kid.

A Nice Family Photo

I thought it looked nice anyway...

Not too bad for a first grader

I am going to take some time to brag a bit on my 6 year old. She always kinda gets squished into the middle with having 4 children and whatnot. She has the sweetest most encouraging spirit. She is always good for a super duper hug when you need it ( many times giving it before you have a chance to say you need it). I've been struggling to teach her to read and it seemed like her peers were passing her by.

However, she has blown my mind in more ways than one over the past few months. She first shocked me by telling me and her Daddy the exact layout of the tabernacle and what all of the symbolism means. This is near to Daddy's heart and he hung her diagram on our bedroom wall. She learned it all because she wanted to. I'm not that crazy homeschool mom drilling facts into her pretty little brain. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and call myself an unschooler. More on that later..

She also already learned how tell time virtually by herself. I had to explain it once. She just got it. And she learned on a clock with Roman numerals!

Today I caught a glimpse of her notebook she likes to doodle in. What did I find? She's learned to add several digits and regroup! Boy was her Daddy proud! Wow!

Deadness

I've been absent lately. My computer guy handed me the laptop and merely said "it's dead - I am so sorry" I'll be back some time soon. In the mean time, happy fall y'all!

Bloggy Mention

My friend over at Misty Colvard Photography blogged about my kid a while back and I just now found it. Enjoy!

http://mistycolvardphotography.blogspot.com/2011/09/baby-boy.html

Confidence please

To boost my confidence - please tell me you like it... I made that wall painting today.

And also in our project arena - My husband made that treehouse you see in the backyard!

You can take that to the bank!

....and open your own account! Old enough for an account but still young enough for a sucker. I love it.

Johnny Dog

He did this all by himself - then got stuck!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho!

It's off to work she goes! Her first paycheck!

Sickening Performance.

"I can't watch! Blech!"

Yes, actually. I am a little crazy.

We found a new (read: ridiculously cheap steal) mattress for The Other One and had the (20-something year old) one laying in the front room to get rid of. I also had all of the couch cushions off because I was vacuuming it out. The kids happily took them and this is what I found:

"I am Spidergirl!

I love the look of sheer bliss on her face.

"Spider to the Fire! Super W___!

I hope this post doesn't offend you

A New York City icon...

Slapdash picture post

Sweet sister.

I found my thumb (and subsequently, my eyeball, too)

A gift for a sweet baby friend named Esther Harmony

"I am so excited about 8th grade Biology. Can you tell?"

A random Kodak moment

I thought the Caboose sums it all up.

Home school recess!

Preschool is fun!

My sweet first grader going to art class.

Thankfulness

(A picture of me and Another One- completely not related to the subject of this post)

Not many things have I kept in habit of doing since I was a kid. I've changed so much over the years. However, one thing has remained in my heart (whether by force or by choice, maybe both - I am not sure) is being thankful. I was told at a young age that if I did not maintain a strict regimen of writing thank you notes, I would not receive any more gifts. Now as a kid, of course that had an impact of what choice I made. Did I want gifts? Of course! I did what it took to get it done!

As an adult, I have learned that my job as a human, more importantly so, as a Bible believing Christian, is that I need to maintain an attitude of gratitude.
My sweet aunt gave me a book as a baby shower gift entitled 101 Things You Should Do Before Your Kids Leave Home. I was happy to see that we have done quite a few of them already! Number four on the list was especially important to me - "Teach your kids to write thank you notes". I'm not going to group this altogether and say that you are evil for not writing thank you notes. Life gets in the way, I totally get that. But if we maintain an attitude of gratitude, a thank you might naturally fall into place in the form of a handwritten note or it may present itself as an email or even a post-it note. Sometimes, even the most thoughtful thank you's are ones where you go out of your way to just speak the words - it doesn't have to include a stamp and an envelope (though, I have to admit those are my absolute favorite to give and receive!). I've made is such a priority, that when someone tells me not to write a note, I often tell them it's against my religion not to!
(This box with the rose on it is where I keep my thank you notes on the shelf)

The chapter explains that when Jesus healed the ten lepers, only one stopped to thank Him - the other nine ran to family and friends delighted at their good fortune. It explains that we constantly experience God's gracious gifts and frequently forget to offer up thanks. I believe we are called to offer up thanks (to the Lord - and to other's whom the Lord blesses us through).

I have to admit, I have not been very consistent with teaching my children this virtue. Sometimes our oldest writes them - and when she does they are very good - but sometimes we slack off, as humans do. But, we strive to do the best that we can. It is my hope that this encourages you to be thankful as well.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7

When they fly

I wish I could explain my fascination of flying pigs and where it came from. I just see them and they make me happy. So I buy them (okay, I bought one - but I'd buy more if I saw them). Don't you think she'd be cute with a bow around her neck?

What's that?

That stuff that is falling from the sky? I've never seen it before. It confuses me and makes me mad. See that drop on my right arm and on my head? Ya, I don't like it.

Nevermind. I'm all better now.

Guess who..

... is playing soccer this year?

Goldfish

I've been trying to spend some quality time with each child lately while I am recovering. When my daughter asked if I could make something in the kitchen with her - I thought 'why not?'. I don't have much better to do than change diapers and put away laundry these days. She suggested cookies but I -not being much of a baker - thought something savory might be good. I've been seeing a lot of food and recipe posts lately and had been feeling left out anyway. :-)

This is a recipe my friend gave me a few years ago that we always enjoy. It kinda spoils you into not liking the regular ones anymore. We gave these to some of the kid's teachers last year for Christmas. I hoped and prayed they didn't taste horrible. Being that I was in the throes of morning sickness I had a hard time being able to tell. They were good, I think.

Seasoned Goldfish Crackers

• 18 ounces Goldfish crackers (I buy them in bulk, shocker!)
• 1/2 C vegetable oil
• 1/2 tspn lemon pepper seasoning
• 1/4 tspn cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tspn garlic powder
• 1 packet dry Ranch seasoning (or 3 T)

Here's what you need

Put the fish in a big bowl.

In a smaller bowl, mix up other ingredients.
I buy Ranch in bulk because I am American like that.

I *love* this spatula. I need four of them. Or eight. I love it.

This ingredient is completely not in the recipe and probably not a good idea for everyone. I really like garlic. The powder just won't do. I kinda like getting the little fried chunks of garlic in the goldfish. That may gross you out. Just use the garlic powder. I used both.
Mmm, see those garlic chunks at the bottom of the bowl. *drool*
Spread them on a baking sheet - ungreased. By this point we had a "helper" eating the Goldfish.
Our audience was losing patience with us... He sure is cute though..
20o degrees for 2o minutes or so.
Such a patient girl.
Let's not pretend we haven't already 'tested' 45 crackers already
before they ever went into the oven.

YUM!

Disclaimer: My daughter is not neglected. She likes to do her own hair - she is a first grader now, after all. :-)