My few remaining blog readers have undoubtedly noticed that my posting has been sparse of late. Time is certainly at an even higher premium than it was two months ago, but more than that.... it is hard to know what to say. How do I describe, on such a forum as a public blog, what it is like to add another half grown child to the family? To deal with the adjustments, on everyone's part, and the new dynamic in our family? To experience with her the trials of her past that are bleeding into the present, as well as the joy of seeing her blossom before our very eyes?
How do I describe the love I feel for a child not my own? She is not mine through birth or adoption. But she is mine in my heart.
How do I describe what it is like helping my birth children navigate through this journey? How to help them see things from her point of view, without sharing more of her past than they are able to handle or need to know?
How do I describe the complicated nature of sharing her with her birth mom?
What do I even call myself? Not mom. Not even a foster mom. Yet I am mothering her. Not exactly a friend ~ more than a friend, yet I am befriending her.
How do I describe what I feel when I consider her future? Is it with us? Or with her birth mom? I do not yet know. But I know it is with God. She is His in ways she will never be mine.
What a comfort!
So I wait. I wait for answers. I wait to see more of God's will fleshed out for us. I wait to see what He will do next in her life, and in mine. I wait.
"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." ~ Isaiah 40:31
"We have waited for you eagerly.." ~ Isaiah 26:8
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Snow Fun!
Here are some pictures from two different sledding days we had recently. We currently have no snow, but during the Christmas break we had LOTS of it, which was very fun!
Son C trying out his new snowboard for the first time. He got pretty good at it, pretty fast!
Second daughter H had never ever been sledding before. She had a blast!
And just to prove that I was actually there too......
Son L coming down, and son G running to intercept him. There were several attempted collisions between a sledder and a non-sledder, fortunately none succeeded.
Little Man coming down.
TX cousin K in the middle. It was her first time sledding too!
Here are all 6 children coming down the hill at the same time.
Son C after he had mastered the snowboard. He was so excited about this!
Son L catching air.
Not only was I *there*, I actually went SLEDDING too! Here is a pic of my back as I was just starting down. It has been decades since I have sledded, and I tell you what..... I have been missing out! I could hardly believe how much fun it was. Seriously. Looking forward to next time!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
My Sunday Afternoon Project.....
....organizing the front closet! May not look like much to you, but compared to before it is a vision of loveliness. The snow boots are on a shoe rack hidden behind the coats. It is so nice to get them away from their previous home beside the front door! Gloves/mittens are matched, odd ones thrown out, and too small ones put in a bag for the Salvation Army. Same with the socks in the top drawer, and the soccer socks in the second drawer.
Two hours well spent. This is what I did instead of watching the Patriots cream the Texans. I am not a fan of the Patriots. And if I do anything else when a football game is on, you know it's serious!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Twenty One-derful Years!!
...with the love of my life!! I love you sweetheart, more and more each day. How I thank God for who you are, and for the life He has helped us build together.
(this was the happy day we got engaged ~ don't you love the big hair and the short shorts??)
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A Day at Co-op
Here is a sampling of a few of our co-op classes on a random Tuesday in January....
Daughters G and H in watercolor class. Some of the students are doing amazing work in here!
Little Man in his science class. They were learning some physics principle but I'm not sure what it was!
Son C in lego club. He gets a new building challenge each week, builds the given item at home, takes it to class for "show and tell", and then they take a picture of his structure each week and compile the pictures into a notebook. Notes on each structure include what it is and how many hours it took to build. Son C has been in his *element* for this class!
Daughter G spent hours and hours during Christmas break working on a narrative for Spanish 2. She and a partner had to write an English dialogue, translate it into Spanish, memorize it, and share it in class. Her portion of the conversation was all about our family vacation last summer!
Teacher is standing to the left, evaluating their dialogue as they speak. The boy in orange really looks excited, doesn't he??
Here is a portion of her speech:
Daughters G and H in watercolor class. Some of the students are doing amazing work in here!
Little Man in his science class. They were learning some physics principle but I'm not sure what it was!
Son C in lego club. He gets a new building challenge each week, builds the given item at home, takes it to class for "show and tell", and then they take a picture of his structure each week and compile the pictures into a notebook. Notes on each structure include what it is and how many hours it took to build. Son C has been in his *element* for this class!
Daughter G spent hours and hours during Christmas break working on a narrative for Spanish 2. She and a partner had to write an English dialogue, translate it into Spanish, memorize it, and share it in class. Her portion of the conversation was all about our family vacation last summer!
Teacher is standing to the left, evaluating their dialogue as they speak. The boy in orange really looks excited, doesn't he??
Here is a portion of her speech:
Monday, January 7, 2013
First Day Back to School ~ 2013
Our first day back went well!
I am so very thankful.
Getting back in to the school rhythm is nearly always challenging after a break, and this time we were adding another student into the mix. More people means more distractions, so I was a little nervous about how the day would go for all of us.
I prayed, planned, prepared, prayed. And God answered! We had a great first day back!
In history this week we are learning about the Oregon Trail and the Gold Rush. Fun, fascinating topics. Tomorrow is our first day back to co-op...everyone is really looking forward to that. Daughter G has been practicing a narrative in Spanish about our family vacation this past summer which she wrote and will present in Spanish class tomorrow. She and my hubby, who had Spanish years ago in high school, were practicing it together this evening and I have to say.... it was rolling off her tongue pretty impressively!
Really looking forward to seeing friends and getting back into a rhythm with our co-op classes. God is good!
I am so very thankful.
Getting back in to the school rhythm is nearly always challenging after a break, and this time we were adding another student into the mix. More people means more distractions, so I was a little nervous about how the day would go for all of us.
I prayed, planned, prepared, prayed. And God answered! We had a great first day back!
In history this week we are learning about the Oregon Trail and the Gold Rush. Fun, fascinating topics. Tomorrow is our first day back to co-op...everyone is really looking forward to that. Daughter G has been practicing a narrative in Spanish about our family vacation this past summer which she wrote and will present in Spanish class tomorrow. She and my hubby, who had Spanish years ago in high school, were practicing it together this evening and I have to say.... it was rolling off her tongue pretty impressively!
Really looking forward to seeing friends and getting back into a rhythm with our co-op classes. God is good!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
After Christmas....
Second daughter H learning about her new tablet.
Daughter G reading... (Mark of Athena)
Playing Madden 13!
Hot chocolate after playing in the snow!
Tacos and family game night on New Year's Eve.. (mom and dad, we played the Bible Taboo game you gave us... very fun!)
Visiting and playing with relatives!
Family sing along, 17 year old nephew from TX playing piano.
Two boys moving to the same beat....
Jenga!
Daughter G reading... (Mark of Athena)
Playing Madden 13!
Hot chocolate after playing in the snow!
Tacos and family game night on New Year's Eve.. (mom and dad, we played the Bible Taboo game you gave us... very fun!)
Visiting and playing with relatives!
Family sing along, 17 year old nephew from TX playing piano.
Two boys moving to the same beat....
