TYPE FASTER!!

Ok, I am wishing I could type faster right now but if you were here and I could tell you in person I would be talking really fast so hurry up and read this really fast ok???!!!!

We got a call for a possible foster to adopt placement today!!

*dance dance dance*

We were hoping they would call us back before the end of the day and they did, but we will have to wait to find out which family they choose until Monday. It is a 2yo girl!!! We are so excited - could you pray w/us that whatever happens, it will be the best for this sweet child? She has been through A LOT, but nothing too serious, she just needs lots of love and stability and I can't wait to buy dresses if we need them and take family pics and I am really getting ahead of myself!

Ok, I meant to sit down here and be all nonchalant, in case it doesn't happen...but, um, yeah...

Hospital food really stinks. In case you didn't know.

Wow, summer really kills a blog! I have so much to say! But this post is to ask for prayer, again, I know, I'm sorry...remember when my Mom had a bad bike accident? Sunday morning she suffered a seizure. Most likely she will be at risk for them the rest of her life due to the traumatic brain injuries. She is doing well and hasn't had more, but it turns out she sustained a compression fracture in her back, during or after the seizure. She will be in the hospital for a while again! She's really bummed (to say the least), especially since she was driving, working and going to the gym. All the progress that's been made will be put on hold as she goes through a lot of rest, therapy and healing again! Please pray for healing and strength, but also for her 'attitude'. I know I would not like to sit in bed resting for more than a day or something and if you know my Mom, you know she detests it more than I do! And yes, I have eaten at the hospital cafe (they don't call them cafeterias anymore!) in our hometown and it is not that tasty. Blech.

Want to change your major?

What do you think of a college credit or even degree in living sustainably? It will be interesting to see what the results are like...

Almost empty nest again

Pickles just left for good.

It's just me, Dave and Mo again.

Top Ten Tuesday

Jenni at One Thing posted a list of the top ten things she would like to do in her life, a bucket list of sorts and I am in the mood to join her today! So here goes...

1) Adopt. A LOT. But if you know me and you read this blog you aren't surprised, are you?!

2) Go back to Spain and Europe in general.

3) Go on a missions trip as a family. I have dreams of using my Spanish language skills in an orphanage!

4) Write my personal history.

5) Make my own stuff. This one is really broad and I contemplated breaking it up, but that didn't seem fair. I'd love to make my own soap, toothpaste, clothes, slipcovers, curtains, veggie paradise, etc! I could go on, but I think you get what I mean.

6) Memorize parts of the Bible. Seriously, I have been in Forensics and done plenty of public speaking where I've memorized things, but I seem to have a block when it comes to verses. I lack discipline, which doesn't help, but that doesn't stop me from starting over again and again!

7) Be involved in my kid's education. As a teacher and a Christian mom, lots of people assume that I'm going to home school. At this point, no. I could get on my soapbox and explain more, but I won't. I just hope I can support my kids in their public school education and find ways to encourage them to always be learning =)

......(This is harder than it looks people!)......

8) Stick to an exercise plan. Try to get the hubby to compete or join! LOL At this point running and biking sound good. I'm not a swimmer (right Mom?) and I don't mind aerobics but but I hate paying for classes and maybe missing some. But if I have a plan to just get outside and use the school district's awesome gyms for free in the winter, I think I could do it. I'm not necessarily looking to lose weight but just gain muscle!

9) De-clutter the house and kick the habit of collecting/saving dumb stuff. LIVE SIMPLY.

10) Get a Master's Degree in Spanish.

WOW - You've probably heard some of these goals already...but some are new. Thanks, Jenni for sharing your top ten list!

4 can be lonely like 1 too

The baby is gone.

Pumpkin went to live w/his dad.

I walked from the living room to the bathroom and had a panic moment b/c his door was open. We never leave the door open when kids are sleeping! But then I remembered.

The funny thing is, the last 2 mornings he climbed out of his crib. Yesterday Mo went in to say hi and open his shades and he said, "He's out already! He's out!" Neither of us believed Mo so we got out of bed to find Pumpkin quietly reading. He looked up at us and simply said, "Hi!" It was odd...so today when I went in and found him out of the crib, I put him back in. I told him to show me - hey, I never had a kid who climbed out! I figured I'd learn the trick. He used the dresser that's attached to the crib. Like Spiderman, he 'walked' up the side and used the other foot to wrap around a bar. When he got to the top, he threw his leg over and slid down the bars like nobody's business. I laughed so hard! Now I know...I told DW, "Oh well, not my problem tomorrow!" At the time, I felt like I didn't care b/c I wouldn't have to deal w/it much longer. Obviously, I know part of that was me saying I didn't care, when I knew I'd miss watching this kid do all these new things, even if they were things that give me white hair!

I'm bracing myself for later in the week when (most likely) Pickles will be leaving too.

Please pray for my boy Moses. He will be taking this hard, I think. It all probably won't hit him for a while...we'll see. I'm just praying. He may not fuss much, but then again, he might need lots of playdates to make up for all the sibling time he'll be missing. Hear that, friends? Call us! Maybe not this week, but for sure next week. Thanks =) We're looking forward to a new adventure...

Untitled on purpose!

So...I haven't said much here about all the foster care drama going on at our house.  I don't think I need to go into details about everything, but I'll try to summarize.  Pickles is a good kid.  We've loved having her here but her situation has gotten...more crazy.  Over the line of what we could handle.  We have asked for her to be removed.  I am being blunt and skipping the details for obvious reasons.  So we believe that she will be gone within a little over a week.  We've known for a while that Pumpkin would be leaving, joining a faction of his family.  That is an awesome victory - a young, growing family off to a good start!  But even though we have known for a while, it doesn't make it any easier that he will be gone after this weekend.  All the drama has caused such mixed feelings!  I'm frustrated that it needs to be this way, I'm glad for Pumpkin, sad for us, why do they have to be going at practically the same time???  Part of the reason we got involved in foster care was to help families.  It's beautiful to see families re-built, learning, growing, etc.   But part of the reason was to have a house filled w/kids!  Ok I'm sorry - I didn't start this to complain.  I think my heart is heavy since I know there are other families around us going through some tough times too.  Please pray for us and the other families.  God knows the details.  Pray for the kids, that they will be transition well.  And of course, please pray we get more kids sent our way =)  Thank you...

How do you know it's summer?

A) You are eating at a drive-in.

B) It's so hot outside that you are doing projects in the cool of the basement.

C) You are running in the sprinkler and hooking up the hose to make your own water slide.

D) You are giving your kid a faux hawk.  But you call it a mohawk b/c his name is Mo.

E) All of the above.

(PS - if you click on the mosaic, you can view a larger version)