We have had Andrew since he was two days old. He turned 11 weeks today :)
It is amazing to watch him grow. Maybe more amazing to me.. because I did not
have nine weeks to read about everything that would happen once he arrived..
I went back to work when he was three weeks old.. so Tim and I pretty much did not sleep for about a month. It was so hard and when I look back I wonder how we did it..
I am a big believer in auto pilot..and I am pretty sure that's what we were on. We are blessed that my Aunt Tina keeps Andrew.. and she had him on such a good schedule by about 8 weeks old! He has slept right through the night for about 3 weeks now. So blessed. He smiles at us all the time, and I am totally in love. I think about him leaving pretty regularly. I am praying daily that God will let the best thing for his life to work out, and I would love for that to be being adopted by Tim and I. But for now.. he is not available for adoption. Pray for Andrew's future. Please.
Aunt Tina and her children are sacrificing time, effort, and love to keep Andrew everyday for around nine hours. God has blessed my life with the greatest support, I am thankful and aware daily of my blessings. My mom a keeps Andrew overnight for me, and that is such a help. Getting to sleep and truly rest without going to check on him 100 times a night!! My dad is always helping us.. in 100 different ways..and Grandmama keeps him every other Friday and gave him his very first gift :)
Sometimes people look at us funny, sometimes we see them talking about us, I guess they wonder why we have Andrew.. and how he belongs to us. People have hurt my feelings, and made me want to move tables while out to eat.. but so many people have encouraged us. Walked up to us out of nowhere to understand our story and share support. The good always out weighs the bad in the end. I am blessed to know sweet Andrew, God's plan is always so much greater than mine. Sometimes realizing that is a kick in the pants, but it is always true.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Loss.
I am heartbroken. Heartbroken. Mr. Ralph died today. It is overwhelming for me, as he has been a long time family friend.. but mostly because I just keep thinking about his wife and daughter.
My daddy is my hero. He is the most selfless, kind, funny man that I have ever known. I am better because I am part of him, and because he is a part of my daily life. To think about people who don't have that.. who lose that.. it hurts me so much.
When we lose people, we often cling. We cling to the last time we saw them, we cling to what we last said, we cling to our fondest memory. Bottomline is.. we cling. We don't want them to be gone, we want to remember. I will remember Mr. Ralph as a jolly, giving man with a heart like no other. I will remember him as blessed with a wife and daughter who admired him, and thousands of people whose life he touched. I will cling to his friendship with my daddy, his Relay for Life "MCing", for his kind words about our foster parenting, and for his love for God.
Pray for his sweet family and friends, that they will be blessed with healing.
My daddy is my hero. He is the most selfless, kind, funny man that I have ever known. I am better because I am part of him, and because he is a part of my daily life. To think about people who don't have that.. who lose that.. it hurts me so much.
When we lose people, we often cling. We cling to the last time we saw them, we cling to what we last said, we cling to our fondest memory. Bottomline is.. we cling. We don't want them to be gone, we want to remember. I will remember Mr. Ralph as a jolly, giving man with a heart like no other. I will remember him as blessed with a wife and daughter who admired him, and thousands of people whose life he touched. I will cling to his friendship with my daddy, his Relay for Life "MCing", for his kind words about our foster parenting, and for his love for God.
Pray for his sweet family and friends, that they will be blessed with healing.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
"Welcome to the real world, she said to me, condesendingly."
I still think a crash course in adulthood is needed. I mean we take a class in everything in the world, except how to handle real life situations. What a waste. But I guess everyone's version of adulthood is different.. that's why we just have to figure it out for ourselves.
I have 18 sweet children this year, and I am really enjoying them. They are bright, and I see us accomplishing so much this year. I do feel very blessed to love my job, I think it is a rare and wonderful blessing. I go home tired, and sometimes overwhelmed, and I definitely earn my paycheck.. but at the end of the day.. I did something. I helped someone. Grandmom has already started coming and helping with my reading groups. What a relief! She has a way with the children, and they learn so much from her. She is so needed in my life and a day does not pass that I do not thank God for her.
Andrew is growing like a weed! He is six weeks old now, and finally starting to let us sleep a little bit :) Please pray it will only get better! Please pray for his future, as I ask you to do for all of our children. I am praying for more faith, and for the ability to trust God's plan no matter what happens. Hard place of comfort to find, but I am looking for it. Aunt Tina has been a huge blessing (and her babies!) keeping him while I work. I know he is safe and happy. And he will learn so much while he is there. It is a sacrifice for her I am sure, but it is not one that goes unappreciated. My family is my greatest earthly strength and encouragement. I am blessed beyond measure.
Tiffany is also doing great at school and at her job. I am so proud of her, and the progress I see her making right in front of me. I look forward to seeing her into adulthood. I know she will excel.
My new favorite quote.. I will let you know who said it as soon as I find out..
"My hope is that the love of power will be replaced by the power of love".. apply it how you see fit :)
I have 18 sweet children this year, and I am really enjoying them. They are bright, and I see us accomplishing so much this year. I do feel very blessed to love my job, I think it is a rare and wonderful blessing. I go home tired, and sometimes overwhelmed, and I definitely earn my paycheck.. but at the end of the day.. I did something. I helped someone. Grandmom has already started coming and helping with my reading groups. What a relief! She has a way with the children, and they learn so much from her. She is so needed in my life and a day does not pass that I do not thank God for her.
Andrew is growing like a weed! He is six weeks old now, and finally starting to let us sleep a little bit :) Please pray it will only get better! Please pray for his future, as I ask you to do for all of our children. I am praying for more faith, and for the ability to trust God's plan no matter what happens. Hard place of comfort to find, but I am looking for it. Aunt Tina has been a huge blessing (and her babies!) keeping him while I work. I know he is safe and happy. And he will learn so much while he is there. It is a sacrifice for her I am sure, but it is not one that goes unappreciated. My family is my greatest earthly strength and encouragement. I am blessed beyond measure.
Tiffany is also doing great at school and at her job. I am so proud of her, and the progress I see her making right in front of me. I look forward to seeing her into adulthood. I know she will excel.
My new favorite quote.. I will let you know who said it as soon as I find out..
"My hope is that the love of power will be replaced by the power of love".. apply it how you see fit :)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.. :)
School starts tomorrow. Amazing. Summer just flies by. I am happy for summer, and happy to return to work. I love my job.
Summer was interesting. We had a big summer get together with Tim's side of the family. We got a new diving board, which made the pool much more fun! We spent a week at the lake, and Andrew joined our world :)
Andrew spent his first day with my aunt today. She will be keeping him while I go to work. I cried a touch when I left him, because I had never been away from him but for about two hours (and that was only twice!!). Continue to pray for his future. I have such faith that God will take care of him. Jesus loved little children.
My county made AYP!! That is a big deal in the education realm, and it just reinforces the efforts that are going on by sooo many people. I am proud of our system, my school, and our students. I just pray it will continue in years to come, although I know if No Child Left Behind is not reformed, it will become impossible to meet the standards. I would love for the government to be a little realistic in their big plans :)
Please pray for me and my sweet family any chance you get :)
Summer was interesting. We had a big summer get together with Tim's side of the family. We got a new diving board, which made the pool much more fun! We spent a week at the lake, and Andrew joined our world :)
Andrew spent his first day with my aunt today. She will be keeping him while I go to work. I cried a touch when I left him, because I had never been away from him but for about two hours (and that was only twice!!). Continue to pray for his future. I have such faith that God will take care of him. Jesus loved little children.
My county made AYP!! That is a big deal in the education realm, and it just reinforces the efforts that are going on by sooo many people. I am proud of our system, my school, and our students. I just pray it will continue in years to come, although I know if No Child Left Behind is not reformed, it will become impossible to meet the standards. I would love for the government to be a little realistic in their big plans :)
Please pray for me and my sweet family any chance you get :)
Monday, July 19, 2010
Andrew.
DHR called Monday and asked if we could go to the hospital on Tuesday to pickup a newborn baby. How scary. We accepted.
He is beautiful. And sweet. And innocent. And he keeps me up all night, I worry about him constantly.. his sleeping, crying, pooping, everything. But he is such a blessing, and I hope you will join me in praying for his future. I think about a little boy.. born into such difficult circumstances.. and I feel so overwhelmed. And then I remember God's promise to take care of us, I think about Jesus's great love for children. Just please pray.. pray that decisions will be made that will benefit Andrew and provide him with the best life possible.
And pray that I trust God more. Pray that I trust His plan more. Just pray.
I also wouldn't mind you praying that Andrew starts sleeping for a longer hours at night when work begins in two weeks, and that he won't get colic!
Love to all :)
He is beautiful. And sweet. And innocent. And he keeps me up all night, I worry about him constantly.. his sleeping, crying, pooping, everything. But he is such a blessing, and I hope you will join me in praying for his future. I think about a little boy.. born into such difficult circumstances.. and I feel so overwhelmed. And then I remember God's promise to take care of us, I think about Jesus's great love for children. Just please pray.. pray that decisions will be made that will benefit Andrew and provide him with the best life possible.
And pray that I trust God more. Pray that I trust His plan more. Just pray.
I also wouldn't mind you praying that Andrew starts sleeping for a longer hours at night when work begins in two weeks, and that he won't get colic!
Love to all :)
Monday, June 28, 2010
14.47
Tim and I agreed that anytime DHR called, we would do our best to help. We agreed that we would not let any "selfish" reason keep us from helping children who needed us. Of course if there was a child who would not work well with our current children, we would have to put our current children first and let someone else help the new child.
DHR called late one thursday night and asked us if we could take two babies. Just for one night. If we could take them for one night, they would work it out from there. So at 1 AM Tim and I went to the hospital to meet these babies who needed us. They were tired and dirty and beautiful. We were at the hospital with them until 4am. When we got home the smallest baby cried all night. Tim went to work the next day on no sleep, and I went through my day the same way. We didnt mind, but we were so tired. Neither of the children came with diapers or clothes, so I got the rest of Gracie Mae's clothes that were here for the little girl, and Lauren brought some of Jack's clothes and diapers for the little boy. The next day they found a foster home where those babies would be a perfect fit, so I took them to DHR to go home with this kind lady.
It was pretty much about 18 hours of exhaustion. We did it because we want to live more like Jesus did. We want to put others first, and ourselves last. And truth be told, there are not many foster parents who will go to the ER at 1AM just to keep babies for one night, so we knew we were needed.
About three weeks later we recieved a check from DHR for 14.47. It made me want to laugh. People who go through all of that do not do it for fourteen dollars, they do it out of love.
Two people have told me lately that they have looked into foster parenting after learning about our efforts, neither of them have decided to do it just yet.. but I am glad to know that other people have it on their hearts.
DHR called late one thursday night and asked us if we could take two babies. Just for one night. If we could take them for one night, they would work it out from there. So at 1 AM Tim and I went to the hospital to meet these babies who needed us. They were tired and dirty and beautiful. We were at the hospital with them until 4am. When we got home the smallest baby cried all night. Tim went to work the next day on no sleep, and I went through my day the same way. We didnt mind, but we were so tired. Neither of the children came with diapers or clothes, so I got the rest of Gracie Mae's clothes that were here for the little girl, and Lauren brought some of Jack's clothes and diapers for the little boy. The next day they found a foster home where those babies would be a perfect fit, so I took them to DHR to go home with this kind lady.
It was pretty much about 18 hours of exhaustion. We did it because we want to live more like Jesus did. We want to put others first, and ourselves last. And truth be told, there are not many foster parents who will go to the ER at 1AM just to keep babies for one night, so we knew we were needed.
About three weeks later we recieved a check from DHR for 14.47. It made me want to laugh. People who go through all of that do not do it for fourteen dollars, they do it out of love.
Two people have told me lately that they have looked into foster parenting after learning about our efforts, neither of them have decided to do it just yet.. but I am glad to know that other people have it on their hearts.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
barefeet on the dashboard...
I have not blogged in forever. Summer has been busy, and I guess I just have not made time. I am making time tonight.
I was happy to see summer arrive this year, and like they all do.. it is flying by. We have had several days of training, and I am already feeling like where has summer gone? :) The youth group is so busy, and Tim is putting forth so much effort. Our attendance has been really good, and I can see God at work. He has answered many prayers for us, and I know He is faithful to see the Fort D Youth Group do amazing things.
My family is good. Daddy has had a couple of crazy medical issues.. I personally call him a medical mystery.. but he is good :) Mom started her new job, and seems very happy. God really heard her prayers. Bert interns in the fall. He makes me proud. Tim is continuing to be my house over-achiever keeping the pool clean, yard kept up, and pulling his share of the kid responsibility for sure. Tiffany has her first job, and she loves it. We continue to adjust to one another, and I love her very much. Chris has progressed so much, he blows everyone out of the water. His speech, and behavior are amazing and I am proud that God let me have a role in his life. He will go home sooner than later probably, and I will miss him. And pray for us, loss is hard regardless of the situation. I tell Tim all the time though that I know God has this big plan for us. Despite discouragements, dispite people's negative attitudes, despite long days and short nights, there is nothing in this world I would trade for good I know I have done and has been done for me through being these children's "middle mom".
My faith continues to be strengthened, and I become more in love daily with the life that God has blessed me with.
Love to you all :)
I was happy to see summer arrive this year, and like they all do.. it is flying by. We have had several days of training, and I am already feeling like where has summer gone? :) The youth group is so busy, and Tim is putting forth so much effort. Our attendance has been really good, and I can see God at work. He has answered many prayers for us, and I know He is faithful to see the Fort D Youth Group do amazing things.
My family is good. Daddy has had a couple of crazy medical issues.. I personally call him a medical mystery.. but he is good :) Mom started her new job, and seems very happy. God really heard her prayers. Bert interns in the fall. He makes me proud. Tim is continuing to be my house over-achiever keeping the pool clean, yard kept up, and pulling his share of the kid responsibility for sure. Tiffany has her first job, and she loves it. We continue to adjust to one another, and I love her very much. Chris has progressed so much, he blows everyone out of the water. His speech, and behavior are amazing and I am proud that God let me have a role in his life. He will go home sooner than later probably, and I will miss him. And pray for us, loss is hard regardless of the situation. I tell Tim all the time though that I know God has this big plan for us. Despite discouragements, dispite people's negative attitudes, despite long days and short nights, there is nothing in this world I would trade for good I know I have done and has been done for me through being these children's "middle mom".
My faith continues to be strengthened, and I become more in love daily with the life that God has blessed me with.
Love to you all :)
