It's so ironic that my previous post is labeled contentment because I am truly only content when there is nothing to be discontented about. :)
We had our monthly meeting with the adoption caseworker today. She called last week to finalize some details for the paperwork and said that she would have the kids' complete files to give me. This is the last step before we begin the legal aspect of adopting the kids. I asked my daycare parents to come pick up kids early even because this was supposed to be the "big paperwork meeting" where we went over the kid's complete histories and had any questions answered.
The caseworker showed up with just a notebook in her hands. I was worried as I invited her into the house, but I figured she'd get the rest from the car later. How naive am I? She sat down and was saying hi to the kids when I sweetly asked, "Since we get their files today, what is the next step in the process?"
"Well," she says, "I was just about done with those when my supervisor said that I might as well slow down on it because he wants the kids to be in your home for a whole year before you officially adopt."
A YEAR?!?! Seriously? Does her supervisor just get to make up his own rules? We are well aware that there is a 6 month "waiting period" before an adoption can be finalized. That is fairly typical whether it's a domestic or international adoption. We have a court date set, we want to get the kids baptized and stop having to explain why sometimes their last name is McMorris and sometimes it's Boomgarden.
Grrrrr!
So, there is my venting. DCFS is a very frustrating agency to deal with.
Before all of this occurred today I heard the song "While I'm waiting" by John Waller . I always think of families waiting for their adopted children when I hear this. I think about the families who long for their babies, either for a successful pregnancy or for a baby living in horrid conditions in another country.
Today I thought, what if I had heard this song when I was in college. At that time, all I wanted was to get married and become a mom. I kissed many frogs trying to find my prince. I went through lots of heartache trying to find happiness. Looking back, I often think to myself, what if you could have the life you have now, but could have avoided all of that worrying and hurt. I obviously would have worried a lot less and made different choices. I would have been more faithful, knowing that God knew his plan for me, plans to prosper and not harm me. Plans for a hope and a future. At that time, if I had, as the song suggests, patiently waited upon the Lord...hopeful...taking every step in obedience, I could have enjoyed the moment, the phase of my life and not worried so much about the future.
I want my hindsight to be 20/20. I want to not worry about how this will all play out. I want to just give it to God and trust that He will work it all out in his perfect timing.
BUT....
What if what God wants is for me to be the squeaky wheel and get what I want? Hahaha! That is always my default. Recently I had a quote up on facebook that I snagged from someone else. The quote says, "Trust like it all depends on God, but work like it all depends on you." That is how I have always tried to live. Sometimes I think I may need to stop working so hard though and truly give it to God.
Is today the day? We shall see.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Contentment
Since I was being harassed by my brother about being a "blog slacker", I figured I should get something out here in cyberspace. (Thanks for the motivation, Adam!)
I guess it's a good thing, but life is just plugging along, so I never feel like I have anything profound to share. I read the blogs of several other people, and they are always so insightful. Like any good sitcom, they begin with a problem or a story, and by the end of the post, they have neatly wrapped up what they learned, what God was revealing to them, or the new idea that the problem inspired. Our daily life presents many "things that make me go hmm", but as soon as I begin to reflect, someone is spilling milk, dripping syrup or screaming at a sibling, and I am forced back into the present moment. Some day I will have time to reflect, and I hope that I will have ignored the right things and taken the time to really handle the things that needed my attention.
For instance, the kids often tell me that they miss me. In my grown-up mind I think, "Seriously, I am here every single day. I drop you off at school, pick you up from school, help you with homework, etc. I never have a minute to myself. How can you possibly miss me?!?!" But, my mom-mind realizes that they miss being with me.
They miss having special time. This is the difference between quality time and quantity time. They miss snuggling and talking one-on-one. They miss sharing with me the things that are not necessary, but are simply relationship building. Then I remember the whole point of the "Year of No Crazy", (which we are continuing into 2011...it may just become a way of life!), Dave and I wanted to be here to transition our family through this phase. We wanted to be available emotionally, physically, and mentally to our kids, and that meant letting go of other commitments and saying no to things that we really wanted to do. Since our calendar is so empty now, we have chosen Tuesdays and Thursdays to be our "date days". Not for Dave and I, but for the kids. On Tuesdays, one child gets a date with Mom, and on Thursday a different child gets a date with Dad. In 3 weeks, every child will have had a date. In 6 weeks, each child will have had a date with each of us. (Don't worry, Dave and I do take the time for lots of dates for ourselves as well!)
I read somewhere that the best way to know what your family values is to look at your checkbook and your calendar. Where you spend your money and your time tell you what is important. Since October we've been working to get our finances to reflect our values, and scheduling dates helped get our calendar reflecting that as well. Whether you have 1 child or 10 children, spending intentional time with them is a challenge. Dates remind me to seek out other one-on-one time as well.
Candy Land and Memory have provided some good times in the past few weeks as well. After dinner, rather than curling up on the couch with a TV program, they kids have realized that if we play a board game together, they get my undivided attention for the entire length of the game. It is such a simple thing, but one that we too often forget to take the time for.
In light of this whole journey that we are on, Dave and I have been asked to present at a parenting conference coming up early in February. Our session is called, "Living simply in an age of acquisition: fostering contentment in your family". It is funny to me that we were asked to teach others about this topic, because I feel like this is the lesson we are trying to learn. We are learning to be content with what we have, live on a budget, and plan for the future as adults. Teaching that to the kids is hard when we haven't mastered it ourselves yet. We believe that we are supposed to teach this though, so we will do our best. Every time I start to doubt that we have anything to share, I say over and over again, "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called."
So, that's what is going on in my head lately.
The kids are all doing well.
Mara came by to visit yesterday with her boyfriend's dog, Ellie. She is doing so well at school and is gearing up to move out of the dorms and into an apartment next fall.
Chloe has a fun social life with of sleepovers almost every weekend.
Carter is doing so well in kindergarten that his teacher is starting to have him do first grade work.
Brice has two different girlfriends that stick with him for lunch and reccess each day. He is quiet and reserved at school, but once he gets home and starts playing the Wii, he is loud and 100% "5 year old boy"!
Halie went to a counselor a few times to see if she had anything going on emotionally that we needed to be on top of, but the counselor said that she is so well adjusted, that she doesn't think Halie needs to see anyone at this point. Halie was so comfortable talking to her all about Mommy, Daddy, Mommy Brandy, Daddy John, Grandma Nancy and the rest of her "family" that the counselor couldn't even keep up with who was who!
Wren is about to turn 4 years old, and that is just amazing to me. She loves to write jiberish and then "read" her stories to me. She is so proud when she accidentally writes a real word.
Jasmine can now spell her name, and I LOVE to hear her do that! We went shopping yesterday, and she would look at each tag and say, "J-A-S-M-I-N-E, it says it's too big Mommy." Obviously she thinks every word is spelled that way, but hey, it's a start!
I guess it's a good thing, but life is just plugging along, so I never feel like I have anything profound to share. I read the blogs of several other people, and they are always so insightful. Like any good sitcom, they begin with a problem or a story, and by the end of the post, they have neatly wrapped up what they learned, what God was revealing to them, or the new idea that the problem inspired. Our daily life presents many "things that make me go hmm", but as soon as I begin to reflect, someone is spilling milk, dripping syrup or screaming at a sibling, and I am forced back into the present moment. Some day I will have time to reflect, and I hope that I will have ignored the right things and taken the time to really handle the things that needed my attention.
For instance, the kids often tell me that they miss me. In my grown-up mind I think, "Seriously, I am here every single day. I drop you off at school, pick you up from school, help you with homework, etc. I never have a minute to myself. How can you possibly miss me?!?!" But, my mom-mind realizes that they miss being with me.
They miss having special time. This is the difference between quality time and quantity time. They miss snuggling and talking one-on-one. They miss sharing with me the things that are not necessary, but are simply relationship building. Then I remember the whole point of the "Year of No Crazy", (which we are continuing into 2011...it may just become a way of life!), Dave and I wanted to be here to transition our family through this phase. We wanted to be available emotionally, physically, and mentally to our kids, and that meant letting go of other commitments and saying no to things that we really wanted to do. Since our calendar is so empty now, we have chosen Tuesdays and Thursdays to be our "date days". Not for Dave and I, but for the kids. On Tuesdays, one child gets a date with Mom, and on Thursday a different child gets a date with Dad. In 3 weeks, every child will have had a date. In 6 weeks, each child will have had a date with each of us. (Don't worry, Dave and I do take the time for lots of dates for ourselves as well!)
I read somewhere that the best way to know what your family values is to look at your checkbook and your calendar. Where you spend your money and your time tell you what is important. Since October we've been working to get our finances to reflect our values, and scheduling dates helped get our calendar reflecting that as well. Whether you have 1 child or 10 children, spending intentional time with them is a challenge. Dates remind me to seek out other one-on-one time as well.
Candy Land and Memory have provided some good times in the past few weeks as well. After dinner, rather than curling up on the couch with a TV program, they kids have realized that if we play a board game together, they get my undivided attention for the entire length of the game. It is such a simple thing, but one that we too often forget to take the time for.
In light of this whole journey that we are on, Dave and I have been asked to present at a parenting conference coming up early in February. Our session is called, "Living simply in an age of acquisition: fostering contentment in your family". It is funny to me that we were asked to teach others about this topic, because I feel like this is the lesson we are trying to learn. We are learning to be content with what we have, live on a budget, and plan for the future as adults. Teaching that to the kids is hard when we haven't mastered it ourselves yet. We believe that we are supposed to teach this though, so we will do our best. Every time I start to doubt that we have anything to share, I say over and over again, "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called."
So, that's what is going on in my head lately.
The kids are all doing well.
Mara came by to visit yesterday with her boyfriend's dog, Ellie. She is doing so well at school and is gearing up to move out of the dorms and into an apartment next fall.
Chloe has a fun social life with of sleepovers almost every weekend.
Carter is doing so well in kindergarten that his teacher is starting to have him do first grade work.
Brice has two different girlfriends that stick with him for lunch and reccess each day. He is quiet and reserved at school, but once he gets home and starts playing the Wii, he is loud and 100% "5 year old boy"!
Halie went to a counselor a few times to see if she had anything going on emotionally that we needed to be on top of, but the counselor said that she is so well adjusted, that she doesn't think Halie needs to see anyone at this point. Halie was so comfortable talking to her all about Mommy, Daddy, Mommy Brandy, Daddy John, Grandma Nancy and the rest of her "family" that the counselor couldn't even keep up with who was who!
Wren is about to turn 4 years old, and that is just amazing to me. She loves to write jiberish and then "read" her stories to me. She is so proud when she accidentally writes a real word.
Jasmine can now spell her name, and I LOVE to hear her do that! We went shopping yesterday, and she would look at each tag and say, "J-A-S-M-I-N-E, it says it's too big Mommy." Obviously she thinks every word is spelled that way, but hey, it's a start!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Honesty
I had this great idea to interview the kids and see what adoption means to them and what they think about our adoption process so far. I dreamt that we would have a sweet memento of this time in our lives and how the kids felt in their hearts.
Well, they each told me how they felt, and I am sure you can guess where this is going.
After interviewing each of the kids, I am not even sure we can look at these videos again until everyone is old enough and secure enough to laugh about it.
In my mind it I thought I'd hear them say things like "fun", "lots of love", "caring for kids who need us", etc. What I heard were "annoying", "crazy", "weird" and "bad". Oh, well. At least they are comfortable enough to be honest.
When I asked Halie what adoption means, she said, "Baby Jesus". Miss Kelley would be proud...she already knows the correct answer to every question in church! ;)
When I was talking to her about being adopted and becoming a McMorris, she said laughing and with a huge grin, "No, I don't want to be a McMorris! I don't want to live with you. I want Grandma Nancy to adopt me." Remember that post I wrote about needing thick skin to do this job of parenting...
Day to day the kids are happy and enjoy each other most of the time. Dave and I are amazed really at the progress that has been made in the 4 months that they have been with us. (And Jasmine came a month later than the other two, so for her it's only been 3 months.)
Well, they each told me how they felt, and I am sure you can guess where this is going.
After interviewing each of the kids, I am not even sure we can look at these videos again until everyone is old enough and secure enough to laugh about it.
In my mind it I thought I'd hear them say things like "fun", "lots of love", "caring for kids who need us", etc. What I heard were "annoying", "crazy", "weird" and "bad". Oh, well. At least they are comfortable enough to be honest.
When I asked Halie what adoption means, she said, "Baby Jesus". Miss Kelley would be proud...she already knows the correct answer to every question in church! ;)
When I was talking to her about being adopted and becoming a McMorris, she said laughing and with a huge grin, "No, I don't want to be a McMorris! I don't want to live with you. I want Grandma Nancy to adopt me." Remember that post I wrote about needing thick skin to do this job of parenting...
Day to day the kids are happy and enjoy each other most of the time. Dave and I are amazed really at the progress that has been made in the 4 months that they have been with us. (And Jasmine came a month later than the other two, so for her it's only been 3 months.)
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Baby steps in the right direction
Some fun little tidbits of the McLife lately...
Wren learned to write "MOM", so it's on every paper she draws on. I love that after she learned to write her name, mine was next! She is getting so big.
Dave passed his kidney stone after an excruciating three days last week. I was telling him that it was probably caused by all the pop he drinks (I will blame pop on EVERY ailment), but it turns out that it was caused by too much dairy consumption. Who knew?!?!
After weeks of telling Carter that I wouldn't let him turn 6 because I couldn't stand the thought of him being that old, he in fact, turned 6. It's funny how different ages with the different kids hit me harder than others. With Chloe, 5 seemed like such a milestone, but with Carter 6 really feels old. Tomorrow is the big Chuck E. Cheese party. They have a new thing there called the Ticket Blaster, and that is the sole reason Chuck E. Cheese was chosen as the party location. For 30 seconds Carter will be put in a giant cylinder that blows around tickets and he has to grab as many as he can. I better be worth it!
Mara came by to visit today, which was a very nice surprise. She is home for the weekend and gearing up for her first week of college finals. She showed me the present that she made for Chloe for Christmas, and it is the sweetest testiment to the love between these sisters. Mara made a beautiful scrapbook, and I just know that Chloe will cry happy tears when she opens it!
Speaking of emotional Chloe...we have "chats" every once in a while before bed, and this week was a doosy. After the rest of the kids are tucked into bed, Chloe and I sit together in a comfy chair and talk about life, friends, school, etc. I took the opportunity to check in with her about family life, but I was not prepared for the response I got. I asked what she thought about adoption and having a new brother and sisters. She said, "Adoption is good, but I don't want to say any more about it because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings." Uh-Oh. I knew there was lots more behind that. I assured her that she could say anything and that I wanted to know how she felt in her heart. She really didn't want to say anything and resisted for a little while, then, when she opened up, the tears fell like crazy. She said that it's hard being a big sister to so many kids and that it's always so crazy. She wishes the younger kids would listen more and not be so wild.
I am so glad that she can express these feelings, and that Dave and I can be aware of the pressure and stress that she feels. Change is hard for everyone, no matter how old they are. I should get a referral for counseling next week when our caseworker visits. I think it will be such a good opportunity for everyone.
Halie has been having a rough couple weeks as well. She came off the bus from school smiling today, and I could have cried it was such a beautiful sight. It made me realize how often she has NOT been smiling lately. When she's had emotional periods in the past, there has been an event that seemed to correlate, but this time, I have no idea what is causing her sadness. She has thrown several temper tantrums, and that has not happened in a long time. When I talked with her today, I asked her what I could do to help. She tells me that she is sad, but can't really express why. So today she said, "Mom, I think I need you to pray." I asked her what she wanted me to pray for and she said, "that God can make my heart happy." So pray we did. She is such a sweet, sweet girl.
For two weeks Brice has been looking forward to the day when the kindergarten classes would make gingerbread houses. Well, today was the day, and he was THRILLED! Last Friday was ornament making day, and he couldn't get home from school fast enought to hang up HIS ornaments on the tree. I don't know what his previous Christmas experiences have been like, but he has a million questions about how this whole "santa thing" works. I read him a book about the basics...Santa makes toys with his elves at the North Pole, he puts them all on his sleigh, the reindeer fly, Santa magically goes down each chimney and delivers presents, etc. He listened like he would to any story, but then I said, "Santa will fly over our house, and Brice, Santa will leave lots of presents for you!" He was shocked. He was so excited that he could barely sit still. We sort of take for granted that our kids grow up learning what Christmas means to our family. Before they understand it, they experience how our family celebrates and sort of grow into it. This year, we have three kids who are learning our traditions as we go. It's a whole new experience. That joy though, to be able to tell Brice that Santa knows him and has gifts for him...that was a special moment.
Jasmine snuggled with me on the couch tonight. For those of you who have met her, you know, this was a BIG deal. This girl doesn't sit still...ever. Tonight she snuggled and shared my mozzerella bites while I watched some TV, and it was fun. I know, she was probably there just because I was sharing my food, but it's a baby step in the right direction, and I will take it!
Wren learned to write "MOM", so it's on every paper she draws on. I love that after she learned to write her name, mine was next! She is getting so big.
Dave passed his kidney stone after an excruciating three days last week. I was telling him that it was probably caused by all the pop he drinks (I will blame pop on EVERY ailment), but it turns out that it was caused by too much dairy consumption. Who knew?!?!
After weeks of telling Carter that I wouldn't let him turn 6 because I couldn't stand the thought of him being that old, he in fact, turned 6. It's funny how different ages with the different kids hit me harder than others. With Chloe, 5 seemed like such a milestone, but with Carter 6 really feels old. Tomorrow is the big Chuck E. Cheese party. They have a new thing there called the Ticket Blaster, and that is the sole reason Chuck E. Cheese was chosen as the party location. For 30 seconds Carter will be put in a giant cylinder that blows around tickets and he has to grab as many as he can. I better be worth it!
Mara came by to visit today, which was a very nice surprise. She is home for the weekend and gearing up for her first week of college finals. She showed me the present that she made for Chloe for Christmas, and it is the sweetest testiment to the love between these sisters. Mara made a beautiful scrapbook, and I just know that Chloe will cry happy tears when she opens it!
Speaking of emotional Chloe...we have "chats" every once in a while before bed, and this week was a doosy. After the rest of the kids are tucked into bed, Chloe and I sit together in a comfy chair and talk about life, friends, school, etc. I took the opportunity to check in with her about family life, but I was not prepared for the response I got. I asked what she thought about adoption and having a new brother and sisters. She said, "Adoption is good, but I don't want to say any more about it because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings." Uh-Oh. I knew there was lots more behind that. I assured her that she could say anything and that I wanted to know how she felt in her heart. She really didn't want to say anything and resisted for a little while, then, when she opened up, the tears fell like crazy. She said that it's hard being a big sister to so many kids and that it's always so crazy. She wishes the younger kids would listen more and not be so wild.
I am so glad that she can express these feelings, and that Dave and I can be aware of the pressure and stress that she feels. Change is hard for everyone, no matter how old they are. I should get a referral for counseling next week when our caseworker visits. I think it will be such a good opportunity for everyone.
Halie has been having a rough couple weeks as well. She came off the bus from school smiling today, and I could have cried it was such a beautiful sight. It made me realize how often she has NOT been smiling lately. When she's had emotional periods in the past, there has been an event that seemed to correlate, but this time, I have no idea what is causing her sadness. She has thrown several temper tantrums, and that has not happened in a long time. When I talked with her today, I asked her what I could do to help. She tells me that she is sad, but can't really express why. So today she said, "Mom, I think I need you to pray." I asked her what she wanted me to pray for and she said, "that God can make my heart happy." So pray we did. She is such a sweet, sweet girl.
For two weeks Brice has been looking forward to the day when the kindergarten classes would make gingerbread houses. Well, today was the day, and he was THRILLED! Last Friday was ornament making day, and he couldn't get home from school fast enought to hang up HIS ornaments on the tree. I don't know what his previous Christmas experiences have been like, but he has a million questions about how this whole "santa thing" works. I read him a book about the basics...Santa makes toys with his elves at the North Pole, he puts them all on his sleigh, the reindeer fly, Santa magically goes down each chimney and delivers presents, etc. He listened like he would to any story, but then I said, "Santa will fly over our house, and Brice, Santa will leave lots of presents for you!" He was shocked. He was so excited that he could barely sit still. We sort of take for granted that our kids grow up learning what Christmas means to our family. Before they understand it, they experience how our family celebrates and sort of grow into it. This year, we have three kids who are learning our traditions as we go. It's a whole new experience. That joy though, to be able to tell Brice that Santa knows him and has gifts for him...that was a special moment.
Jasmine snuggled with me on the couch tonight. For those of you who have met her, you know, this was a BIG deal. This girl doesn't sit still...ever. Tonight she snuggled and shared my mozzerella bites while I watched some TV, and it was fun. I know, she was probably there just because I was sharing my food, but it's a baby step in the right direction, and I will take it!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Praying BIG!
I was asked several weeks ago if I would do the children's sermon at church. I enthusiastically said yes....and then I proceded to forget completely about it until last night...12 hours before said sermon.
Thankfully, I have built some one-on-one time with God into each Sunday morning. Although I am free to sub in Sunday school classes during that time, most weeks, it has enabled me to do my Bible study or simply read the Bible. (I am attempting to read it cover to cover for the first time in my life...currently I am in the book of Numbers.)
So, as I sat there listening to the choir practice for the upcoming service, I prayed. I prayed that God would give me the words that our children (and grown-ups) needed to hear today.
The verse was Ephesians 3:20-21,
I laughed, and then I prayed bigger. I prayed to open the hearts of our congregation. I prayed for peace to overcome the earth. I prayed that my life, my public life and my private life, my role as a wife, as a mother, as a friend, and as a disciple would be pleasing to God at each and every moment. I prayed for my husband and I to feel God's grace, be filled with His patience, and to remember that it is His will, not ours!
The service started, the praise songs spoke right to my heart, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, and wouldn't you know it, the words came. The children's sermon about praying big prayers, was great. It helped that I had tied Smarties in, so each child got to take candy back to their pews, but, I believe, that even without the candy, God spoke loud and clear today.
For that, I am so thankful.
Thankfully, I have built some one-on-one time with God into each Sunday morning. Although I am free to sub in Sunday school classes during that time, most weeks, it has enabled me to do my Bible study or simply read the Bible. (I am attempting to read it cover to cover for the first time in my life...currently I am in the book of Numbers.)
So, as I sat there listening to the choir practice for the upcoming service, I prayed. I prayed that God would give me the words that our children (and grown-ups) needed to hear today.
The verse was Ephesians 3:20-21,
"God's power is so vast that we can't even imagine the extent of what He can do. When we bring our requests to Him, we can be confident that absolutely nothing is beyond His ability to do."
What a verse! As I sat there just asking him to give me the words, He was saying something like, "Seriously, you just want a 2 minute children's sermon? Pray bigger. I can do so much more than you could ever imagine!" I laughed, and then I prayed bigger. I prayed to open the hearts of our congregation. I prayed for peace to overcome the earth. I prayed that my life, my public life and my private life, my role as a wife, as a mother, as a friend, and as a disciple would be pleasing to God at each and every moment. I prayed for my husband and I to feel God's grace, be filled with His patience, and to remember that it is His will, not ours!
The service started, the praise songs spoke right to my heart, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, and wouldn't you know it, the words came. The children's sermon about praying big prayers, was great. It helped that I had tied Smarties in, so each child got to take candy back to their pews, but, I believe, that even without the candy, God spoke loud and clear today.
For that, I am so thankful.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
We had our monthly visit with the adoption caseworker today. She always comes at 4pm, which is the busiest time of the daycare day, but it works with her schedule, so we do it. Luckily, the kids were content playing in the basement during that time because Sissy came over to watch them. All went well. We have decided to get a referral for counseling. It's not as easy as calling and making an appointment. The caseworker has to find an agency that can see them and then get approval. It should all go through, it will just take forever. I would like to have all of the kids go to counseling at least for an initial evaluation. My oh-so-wise mother made the point that just because Halie is the only one demonstrating her inner "junk" through negative behavior, it doesn't mean that the other kids don't have it. So, once we get approval, I am going to see about Chloe, Carter, Brice and Halie starting counseling.
Brice, Halie and Jasmine got to go over to Grandma Nancy's for a sleepover last weekend, and it was such a blessing! I never know if those interactions, whether in person or one the phone will make Halie happy or sad, but this time it was ALL GOOD! They had fun for two day, and there were no tears when I picked up, on the way home, or during the past week. I think that Halie might actually be starting to believe us when we say that she will get to see Grandma Nancy. I sure hope so. I want her to trust us and feel in her heart that she did not lose Grandma and Grandpa, but that it has just changed.
While on the subject of Grandma and Grandpa, I must say that Nancy and Mike are phenominal people. They are truly a family that puts the children first. They would drive to the end of the earth to visit with these kids, I believe. Even though they have no legal responsibility to these children, they want to continue to love them and maintain a relationship with them. We are adopting the kids legally, but they are adopting these "grandchildren" out of pure love.
We are all getting excted about the holidays. You would think that adding three more kids to Christmas would be stressful, but we have discovered this new concept called a "budget" ;-) and it has made it much easier than I anticipated. We can't wait to celebrate as a whole family.
Brice, Halie and Jasmine got to go over to Grandma Nancy's for a sleepover last weekend, and it was such a blessing! I never know if those interactions, whether in person or one the phone will make Halie happy or sad, but this time it was ALL GOOD! They had fun for two day, and there were no tears when I picked up, on the way home, or during the past week. I think that Halie might actually be starting to believe us when we say that she will get to see Grandma Nancy. I sure hope so. I want her to trust us and feel in her heart that she did not lose Grandma and Grandpa, but that it has just changed.
While on the subject of Grandma and Grandpa, I must say that Nancy and Mike are phenominal people. They are truly a family that puts the children first. They would drive to the end of the earth to visit with these kids, I believe. Even though they have no legal responsibility to these children, they want to continue to love them and maintain a relationship with them. We are adopting the kids legally, but they are adopting these "grandchildren" out of pure love.
We are all getting excted about the holidays. You would think that adding three more kids to Christmas would be stressful, but we have discovered this new concept called a "budget" ;-) and it has made it much easier than I anticipated. We can't wait to celebrate as a whole family.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A Fun Reminder and Trick or Treating
Toy Story 3 came out on video today. Not really blog worthy except that 1) it was actually available from Redbox and 2) it was one of the ways God made it clear to us that we were meant to adopt Brice, Halie and Jasmine. I had forgotten about that until I saw Bonnie, the sweet little cartoon girl, again.
We had just met the kids and we were in the "pray until something happens" phase. The plan was to not begin the process again until October, and there we sat, in June. Dave and I both felt our hearts jump after we met the kids, and we really were feeling like these could be our kids, but it didn't go with our plan, so I was hesitant.
Then, we took Chloe, Carter and Wren to the theater to see Toy Story 3. As soon as this little girl popped on the screen, Dave and I looked at each other and just laughed. She looked just like Halie. Short brown hair, great big brown eyes, and the sweetest smile.
And now, Dave and I have been commenting how we don't even remember life before being a family of 9.
Halloween was so exciting! Although we had been talking about Halloween for over a month, Jasmine walked up the first house, said, "Trick or Treat" and then came running back to us yelling, "Candy, they gave me candy!" She was shocked! Obviously she didn't remember that candy was involved in the process. After each house, she would run so excitedly on to the next one, that all of the newly acquired candy would spill out into the grass.
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