High Fives

The last month or so has been quite difficult for Management and I in our relationships with WeeklyAd. The problem is that she is EXACTLY like Management and not a lot like me so I guess we butt heads a lot. We both have a hard time relating to her at times or working through things with her because she is not very verbal with her feelings...but extremely verbal in other ways. ;) We've been working on different strategies and consistently praying for wisdom!

I'm sure some of the issues are "normal" for 4th grade girls and also "normal" for a girl whose daddy travels as much as Management does, but for us, going through the daily dealings of this drama, it seems completely abnormal and exhausting! Please continue to pray for WeeklyAd and the rest of us as the Lord brings us to mind.

Today I was THRILLED to have her dance teacher come up to me and tell me that WeeklyAd really warmed her heart during practice. She said that there was a special part in the Christmas show that the girls auditioned for and it was down to WeeklyAd and this one other girl. The dance teacher picked the other girl and she said that WeeklyAd immediately went over to the other girl and gave her a high-five and was excited for her.

It was so nice to be able to praise WeeklyAd for making a great choice even though she was disappointed. This week I have noticed her trying very hard to make good choices in how she reacts (here at home and in public) and I'm so proud of her! I'm incredibly thankful for the character development she is experiencing and am thankful that her dance teacher passed on the good news to me.

Even when things are in turmoil and chaos at home, it's good to know that the lessons learned are being put into practice in real life. I guess that is what parenting is about...training. Making our home a safe place for mistakes and failures and helping each other to get back up and rise higher is how it should be, I think. The training is hard and tedious and seems completely unmanageable at times but when you see glimmers of success, it gives you hope to keep going.

Celebrating the small success today and praising the Lord for the work He is doing in each of us during this stage of life!

"Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city." Proverbs 16:32

Just Some Pictures

Here are some random pictures from October~

The kids had their yearly check-ups and were beyond nervous for their annual flu shot. In reality, the shot was so fast that I question whether the nurse actually got the medicine into them. No tears this year!


Goodnight Moon~
this seems to be her favorite at the moment~



H&G gets to tag along on our weekly date mornings and I know she loves the time alone with us. She seems to soak it up! This was a lunch date to McDonald's where I tend to order the grilled chicken salad for us to share (I eat the salad and she eats the chicken)~


Homework time! The kids are pretty good about doing homework and as long as H&G has a pencil and paper, it goes pretty smoothly. WeeklyAd actually really enjoys homework and after she goes to bed, Management and I crack up at some of her answers. I'll have to remember to write some of them down because they are just so funny and so cute~


On a nice sunny day, H&G found her shadow and started dancing. It was hilarious and precious and something I had to capture! It was priceless~

Today

Loving: Having Management home more this October. He’s only been on a few very short trips this fall and we are thankful for his extra time at home.

Enjoying: Our fall schedule. We’ve settled into it pretty well now and I’m so glad that it is a lot less busy than the last two years!

Excited About: A couple of business trips coming up with InterVarsity. New York in December with just Management and Orlando in January with the whole family. Can.not.wait!

Sewing: I have a list of dresses and shirts and embroidery but time marches on and I never get them done. Actually my mom sews for me but again...time marches on.

Reading: Karen Kingsbury’s latest. I have a love/HATE relationship with them. Curious about the outcome but am not a fan of her writing style.

Listening To: Oh Darling by Plug in Stereo ft. Cady Groves

Praying For: HomeAudio who is giving his testimony tonight for the Middle School group at church.

Cheering For: The Tigers.

Feeling: Hungry!

Going To: take WeeklyAd to dance and then off to church. Tonight is FreshWater and we are doing the study Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl. Good stuff so far and very relatable for the moms in the group!

End Times

It began in the 7th grade, but I'm not really sure why.

A paralyzing fear of the End Times...the events leading up to and the actual return of our Lord Jesus Christ...has endured inside of me for almost as long as I can remember.

Well for some unknown, (respectfully) crazy reason, the Lord thought that it would be a good idea for me to be married to a man who absolutely loves discussing, studying, and writing about all things related to the End Times and Christ's return.

Why?!?!

I warned my dear sweet (at the time) fiance' that I was terrified of this subject and he very sweetly, laughed.

Most people laugh when I tell them that I'm afraid of the subject.

Well, trust me, after a couple of extremely ugly, scary, out of body panic attacks (from me) and wide eyed, not knowing how to undo what he just did moments (from him), he realized that it really is no laughing matter.

It's a very real, very ugly, very irrational fear.

I know. The End Times are good news!! I know. They are the reason for our hope. I know. I know, I know, I know...in my head I know just about every reason why I should be happy and celebrating and not be afraid. But my body has a mind of it's own and a very real physical reaction to the very mention (or hint) of the End Times.

So, here we are, 17 years into our relationship and we've done a good job dancing around this "his passion" and my "avoid it all costs" subject. We've come to an understanding. The understanding is that I have issues. Major ones. And he isn't going to be able to help me with them.

But that doesn't stop Management from studying, discussing, or even writing about this wonderful news that is promised to one day be our reality. He's been writing about this subject very passionately for the last few months and I'm excited about the joy on his face, the glimmer in his eye, and the revelations God is giving him during this time.

HomeAudio is also digging into the End Times as he has started reading some books on the subject. On the one hand that terrifies me because I know he'll have questions and want to talk with me about it...on the other hand, I'm ecstatic because Management will have someone in the house to discuss this with.

And that, my friends, is (another reason) why I'm so thankful that the Lord put Management and me together. As much as I fear the End Times, I want my children to love learning about it and to grow closer to the great I Am while studying it! As crazy as it is to have opposite ends of the spectrum living under roof, it's totally worth all of my crazy fears to hear my kids curiosity about End Times and seeing them learn the details of the glorious day to come!

“'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'” Revelation 1:8 Amen!

Freaky

"no, I don't want to mommy"

That is H&G's 6 word sentence and reply to my telling her that we were going home to take a nap.

The child is 1 year old.

She will be 2 at the end of this month and I'm finding that there really isn't too much that this child can not communicate to me. Well, obviously there is a lot she can't communicate, but anything that a 2 year old brain wants to communicate, she can. We have many many many....many many many conversations throughout the day. The girl never quits talking.

I really thought this was normal. My older two, both being premature, were late talkers so I really had no idea what a child developmentally on target looked like when it came to vocabulary. H&G was slightly premature but apparently that did not affect her at all! She was seriously pulling up and cruising along furniture when we met her at 8 months old.

Freaky.

That is the word that people use most often to describe her. I wish I had a quarter for everytime that word is used!! Even strangers stop me to ask how old she is or to tell me that they weren't expecting that voice out of such a little girl.

And I'm not complaining! At all! I have to say that it's been really nice to not only hear her sweet little voice as much as we have, but life is a lot more enjoyable when people can tell you what they want. Ice water, orange juice, milk...she tells me exactly what she wants to drink. I love it!

We continue to be amazed by her and so incredibly humbled and honored that the Lord has allowed her to be a part of our family.

We are a pretty strange family so I guess Freaky fits in quite well!

Just Some Updates

~We had the grand opening at the studio and it wasn't nearly as crazy as I thought it might be. I really enjoy working there and now that it is a new, HUGE studio, I like it even better. It is so much more professional, spread out, and just a really nice, friendly environment.

~WeeklyAd LOVES the new studio too and really enjoyed her first week of classes. We bought her first pair of foot undeezs the other day and she is so excited to try them out in class. They seriously do look like miniature underwear! So funny!


She also auditioned and made it into the Christmas show again this year. She was in the show 2 years ago, didn't want to audition last year, but wanted to be back in it again this year so here we go. It's a busy schedule of rehearsals and shows but she has a few friends and cousins also participating so I think she will have a lot of fun!

~HomeAudio has had a few leadership team meetings for his Middle School group and loves it! He has jumped into Middle School ministries with two feet, attending the activities, small group, and Wednesday night meetings. I'm so proud of him! He also signed up to be a safety at school this year which means if he is on duty (they rotate monthly) then he is monitoring the halls, opening doors, walking younger children around the school, or raising/lowering the flag.

~HomeAudio, being in the 6th grade, also has a little kindergarten buddy. I'm not sure how often they meet but it is so sweet to hear HomeAudio talk about his buddy and how much he likes him. It's just adorable!

It's always great to see your kids enjoying things and growing in positive ways!

Flower Girl

The family that had H&G as a foster child were friends of ours before but have become even better friends since going through our adoption journey together. I sincerely love them and feel that we are bonded for life. In some ways I think I feel for them the way that I probably would a birth family. I don't know for sure since I've never experienced the love for a birth family, but I feel such overwhelming love and gratitude for them and definitely mourned with them the day that H&G moved out of their house and the days following. One daughter in particular was very emotional about the transfer and came to visit several times afterwards. Though it was hard for her, she and her sister have been great at keeping in touch, visiting with us, and celebrating H&G and her new life with us.

Now she is getting married! She's asked me to allow H&G to be the flower girl and of course I said yes! I can't wait for the wedding in December! She has also asked me to help a little with the planning of the wedding and that has been so much fun! It's always a joy to see them and to see H&G glow and squeal in their arms. The more people that love my children, the better in my opinion!

Here is a video of our little flower girl practicing...it was hilarious! (hence the laughter). She was so so so excited to run to the groom, whom she literally adores!! The bride is hoping she acts crazy for the wedding and based on this video, I think she certainly will! Running, screaming, somersaults, I don't know what she will do but it will be interesting!