SNOW!!!

We had no idea it was coming!  In fact, we were going about our morning like usual when a friend sent me a text about the roads or something.  I looked out and was surprised!  We ventured out for a short roll in the snow.  We don’t really have snow gear, so I did my best with some zip lock bags, extra layers and socks for gloves. (i could only find 1 pair )  The kids liked it, but were okay with the idea of coming in and sipping on hot chocolate.  Since then we have enjoyed the snow through the window.  It is beautiful.  For a while we had huge fluffy flakes.  So pretty.  Hope you are keeping warm where ever you are today!  O, and I thought I might mention that E is not into having his picture made lately, so the eyes closed is totally on purpose.  Gotta love it!

Monster Banks

The other day I picked up this little kit at Target.  It had 2 monster banks (they are ceramic, not plastic), paint, 1 paint brush and one sponge brush, fuzzy hair, googly eyes and 2 sided tape in it. The kids LOVED it.  It ended up being a multi day project.  We painted one day, left to dry, came back and painted a little more the next day, left them to dry and on the 3rd day we added eyes and hair.  I think they turned out pretty cute.  I especially love how the bigger one’s coin slot is his mouth.

“take picture of my babies, mom”

Lu got her babies all lined up, came to find me and instructed me to take their picture.  Not a very exciting post, but a fun memory for us.  Since we have started fostering she has started mimicking us with her babies.  For example, we had 2 newborns for a week.  During that time she started carrying 2 babies around at a time.  Once we went back to just one baby, so did she.  Lucy also likes to name her babies after our foster babies.

It has been interesting to see how our kids react to having new kids in our home.  Eli calls them “fosters”.  It’s almost like that is their last name to him.  You know, like “Hey, when are the Smith’s gonna come over”, but he will say “When are we gonna have more fosters?” or “we have lost of baby fosters, I want some more big kid fosters”  Overall, they enjoy it.  I think it will be interesting to see how it alters their thinking about what is normal.  I can remember growing up we would leave and spend all summer where ever my dad’s ball team was and at some point in jr high or high school it occurred to me that none of my friends did that.  I never thought they all did, but some how it never occurred to me how different that was for other people.  Does that make sense?  I think one day my kids might realize that a lot of their friends don’t have kids come stay for a while and then go………….. I have so many thoughts that have been rolling around in my head and I don’t know where to start.  That is a big reason why I haven’t kept my blog up to date AT ALL.  For those of you that keep up with us, I apologize.  Fostering is such a part of our day to day life that I haven’t figured out how to share without breaking confidentiality.  AND, I don’ t always know just how to put my thoughts in to words on here.  I feel God has been putting it on my heart to share some things, so I’m working on that and hope to share it with you soon.  Okay, so you are probly wondering where that picture of Lulu’s babies are, right?  I won’t leave you hanging any longer.

no time to sleep

a couple of mornings ago our sweet baby woke up around 5 ish to eat.  Her crying woke Lu up and Lu’s fussing woke Eli up.  It was early enough that I wasn’t ready for every one to be up, but just late enough that it would be a big battle to get Eli back to his bed without some loud objections.  So I sent him to lay in my bed (he thought that was a treat) and got baby girl a bottle.  I was working to get Lu’s diaper changed and put her back in bed when Eli says from the other room “Mom, you are always up!”  I laughed and told him I could see where he might think that.   And if you are wondering, they only lasted about 30mins in bed before we were all up.  O well, you can’t say I didn’t try.

the big 3-0

Last Saturday was Nathan’s 30th birthday. We started the day with a long john and candles.  Eli had got Nathan a gift from his room.  (Eli has been very into giving people gifts from his room lately)  Later we celebrated by having friends over for food, cake and games.  It was a great night.  Thank you Nana and Big Daddy for having the little ones over for the night so we could have an adult night   At the end of the night after most everyone was gone we decided to find out what our Wii age was for that day.  Nathan’s was 30.  Seriously, could that be right or do you think Wii was pulling a fast one?  You do have to put your dob in when making your Mii.  Anyway, it was a great night.  Thanks for all who helped us celebrate!

old yet new

I have read Romans 15 on many different occasions, but God’s Spirit has a way of  speaking new life in to Scriptures when you least expect it.  This past Sunday at church there was a reading from Romans 15 and it struck me in a way it had not before.  It was so powerful and good and hard and beautiful and hopeful.  Here is a little bit snip it for you:

Romans 15:1-13 NIV

¹We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ²Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^{[a] 4}For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

⁵May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, ⁶so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ⁸For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews^[b]on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs ⁹so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name.”^{[c] 10}Again, it says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”^{[d] 11}And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples.”^{[e] 12}And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him.”^[f]

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

How does this speak to you today?

funny

Nathan and I have been watching the show Better Off Ted lately and really enjoy it.  Last night during one of the conversations one character looks at the other and says “I would like to unsubscribe to whatever it is that you are saying”  I giggled………just thought I would share.

More Christmas

Since my last post lots has happened.  Most obvious is Christmas.  I must apologize for slacking, but I have had so many things running through my mind and can’t seem to figure out where to start!  Some easy things, but others a bit more complicated.  So, I feel like I can’t move on till I at least finish up the Christmas blogs.  We did not take pictures like I would have liked, but that is just the way it happened this year.  I have decided to just do a collage of photos to represent the like 4 or so other celebrations we were blessed to participate in, which would be Christmas with my immediate family, with my 2 cousin where gag gifts from “Santa” always make an appearance (some appropriate for little ears and others not, but always laugh worthy), the “Country Christmas” with my dad’s side of the family, our own little Christmas morning and ending it with good times in SE Arkansas.  Enjoy.  We sure did.

Christmas is here!

Well, I can hardly believe that tomorrow is Christmas.  As of tonight we have celebrated 4 times and still have 2 more to go! It is both wonderful and exhausting.  We started things off last weekend with Mema and my mom’s side of the family.  Then Sunday we celebrated with my immediate family.  On Wed we went to my cousins house on my dad’s side for gag gifts and great food.  Tonight we went to my dad’s side of the family that we refer to as “the country”.  We called it that growing up cause it seemed so far away!  Really it’s just down 107 a little bit.  Anyway, it is a tradition that has been going on for years and years.  We gather starting around 4:30 or 5, everyone brings a dish, we feast and then Santa comes and hands out gifts.  After he leaves we all exchange gifts to each other and then go home.  As a child it always seemed like we didn’t get home till like 10, but as an adult I have realized we are usually home by 7:30 . ANYWHO, in the morning we will exchange gifts just the 4 of us and then my parents, aunt and brother will come over for breakfast.  Then we will head over to the James’ house and feast on ribs, carol, sleep and then wake up and spend one last day eating and opening presents.  Whew, I’m tired just typing this all out.  I better get to bed.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

say a little prayer

I just got a call from my friend and she is needing us to pray.  Her kids have all been sick over the past week or so,  so when her newborn got it she wasn’t surprised. It was like a bad cold, but he couldn’t seem to shake it, so she made an appointment for him to see the doctor.  Up until today it has just been cold symptoms, but when she was signing in at the clinic she noticed he didn’t look right. They agreed and took him back.  As they were walking down the hall he stopped breathing.  He is okay.  They were able to get him breathing again, but he is in NICU at Children’s.  I’m not 100% sure exactly what is going on in his little body, but from what I understand he has RSV and maybe something else.  He is being watched and treated with oxygen and antibiotics.  I write all this to ask you to pray for this sweet boy and his family.  From what I know baby C is doing alright right now and they look to keep him a few days to get him healthy again.  His momma asked me to ask everyone to lift him up.  Please pray.  I will update when I find out anything new.  Thank you.