A Sweet Spring Surprise...

What a sweet surprise for us.

My son looked out the window and to his surprise our hen

had babies! Lots of babies.

Eleven in all:)

Our Rooster got killed about two weeks ago,

by a pack of dogs and our hearts were broken.

Then our hen came up missing

and we assumed the worse.

Well, what a nice surprise

when we looked out the window and

saw her with eleven little babies

following behind her.

~~~~~~

I LOVE SPRING!

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

A Wish For My Children

This is a re-post from June 2009

A Wish For My Children

If there could be one thing in life for me to teach you, I'd teach you love.
To respect others so that you might find respect in yourself.
To learn the value of giving, so if ever there comes a time in your life that someone really needs, you will give.
To act in a manner that you wish to be treated, to be proud of yourself.
To laugh and smile as much as you can, in order to help bring joy back to the world.
To have faith in others, to be understanding..
To stand tall in this world and learn to defend yourself.
To only take from this earth those things you really need, so there will be enough for others.
To not depend on money and material things for happiness, but to learn to appreciate the people who love you, the simple beauty God gave you and to find peace and security within yourself.
To you my children, I hope I have taught you all of these things, for they are love.
~~~~~~~~~~
I dedicate this poem to my kids. May you always keep these in mind and close to heart. May you know that you are so very loved and cherished. May you know that Mom & Dad love you more than life itself. But more than that, may you know that God loves you. He created you as a one of a kind and you are very special. I love you all so very, very, very much. You are such a blessing and when I thank God for all my blessings ,I remember you.
Love for always, Mom ~~~~~~~~~~ Picture above taken at PCB back in 2005 

A nice day...

It has been a nice day.

The weather has been in the 70's and sunny.

It was a perfect day to go out

and play...so we did.

Bay and her buddies:)

Miss Bailey = Aunt Sandy's PRIDE & JOY

Little Lady Bug "Lacy"

One of the sweetest most

caring kids ever.

I love this kid!

Miss Prissy "Samantha"

100% a girly girl and a princess

in the making.

I love this kid!

The flowers are blooming!

I LOVE flowers.

And I love that kid too!

It has been a really nice day.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Got a question?!?!?!

Do any of you know what this plant is?

And if you know, can you also tell  me how

to care for it?

I was blessed with many beautiful flowers

and plants when my Nanny passed away

and this was one of them

but I have no idea what it is.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Today...

Today is a new day. What will I do with it? Well, today I'm going to try to think positive all day. Nothing much has changed in our situation ,but I have seen a few things fall in place or should I say "showed up right on time" and I know it's God...it just has to be. Even though I can't see Him working on our behalf, I must just trust that He is. So today, instead of spending the whole day consumed with worry ,as I have been for the last two weeks, I am instead going to try to do things that make me feel good.

Today, I am going outside with the kids to enjoy this beautiful spring weather that we've been blessed with here in GA. Bailey is here and so are two of her best little buddies and we've got the sidewalk chalk out and the bubbles ready to blow.

Today, I'm going to work in the yard and flower beds. I've been dreaming about and planning how I am going to redo our backyard and pool area. We really haven't used our backyard in years. It's just a dull boring ugly area. I want to turn it into "MY" area. The kids have a playground on one side of the yard. Hubby has his playground/work area on the other side of the yard. So It would be nice to have my own special place. An area for picnics with the kids, a place for tea parties with Brookelyn ,a place to do pictures, and a hang out spot for the teens. I think I'm going to try to focus on that for the next few days/weeks.

So much has changed in my life over these last few days. I don't really do well with changes ,especially the ones that come on unexpectedly and cause heartache. I know changes help us grow as a people and obviously this is my growing period or should I say our family's growing period. I've learned things about my self that I didn't realize before. I have also realized more than ever before that I have been blessed with a wonderful husband and the greatest kids on earth.

 I could tell you all about the storm we are in ,but I'm going to spare you all the details. I could have myself a nice pity party ,like I have had for the last few days, but, I'm not going there today.

Yes, today is a new day and today I am going to enjoy my day. I am going to try my best not to let anything rob my joy. Today, I'm going to do things that make me happy. Please keep praying for us.

I hope you have a blessed day TODAY.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Wait By Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;

Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .

And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?

By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I relate

Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?

I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,

Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:

I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,

As my Master replied again, "Wait."

So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,

And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .

and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.

You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me

When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love

When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.

You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,

But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,

The faith that I give when you walk without sight.

The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask

From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.

Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,

But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see

That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.

And though oft My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Some positives...

Well, we made it through this very tough week. We are waiting on the Lord to remove us from this storm that we are in right now. At the moment we can't see the ending point ,but as my daughter Katie said on her status, "This to shall pass".  Just keep us in your prayers.

Here are a few positives I have tried to focus on these last few days...

Our little granddaughter Brookelyn is clearing up from the allergic reaction she had. Her skin is looking so much better now.

Our foster baby Z is also feeling better. He picked up some kind of bug ,when we took him for a well check, but after a few breathing treatments & meds he is feeling much better. He started using his legs more this week and actually put weight on them and pushed up in my lap at the doc's office. He is setting up for longer periods of time now. We are so proud of our little man and his progress. He is still on his heart monitor ,but we believe he will be able to come off of it very soon because he has been alarm free. Way to go Z !!!!!

I think I mentioned it before, but not for sure. My son-in-law Corey has been working and going to school to be a fire fighter. He passed his first course this week and  he actually had his first call and he handled it wonderfully. We are very proud of him. 

Samantha went back to her OB/GYN this week for a check-up. She is doing great and little baby Carter is perfect. He is kicking like crazy now and growing just as he should. I am so happy for Samantha.

Jacob finished up this year's curriculum. We are going to spend the rest of this school year reveiwing what he has learned. I am proud of my little man. He is one smart cookie.

Well, I guess I should get off. I am going to attempt to do my own taxes...this is a first. I have no idea what I'm doing. I was told even a dummy can do them with turbo tax, so this ones going to try:)

Have a blessed weekend.
 
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

If I could doing it again...

If I Had my Child To Raise Over Again

IF I had my child to raise all over again,

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars,

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often,

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

 

--Diane Loomans

(The picture is my 6 pack back in 2005)

They just grow up way to fast.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Baby Z's 6 month checkup

Today Baby Z (our foster baby) had his 6 month checkup. He is perfect from head to toe. His weight was exactly 17 pounds which placed him in the 25%. His length was 27.5 which was the 75%. His head was 44 which was a perfect 50%. He is a healthy baby boy and doing fantastic.

I just wish I could show you his handsome little face and show you his beautiful eyes and long brown lashes. I wish I could tell you everything about him ,but it's against the foster parenting rules..at least for the moment :(

He is such a precious part of our family now and he brings us all so much joy. Since we got him (6 weeks old )he has grew into this amazing little boy with the sweetest personality. He is an easy baby that is always content and he is friendly. He smiles at everybody. I hope one day we will get to share this beautiful boy with you.

He started eating spitting out veggies back on 2-26-11.

He doesn't like eating baby food at all...

not even the fruits.

We have tried every single one of the single ingredient

baby foods and we still haven't found one that he likes.

Today his ped said try table foods. I thought, "WOW!"...

I wasn't expecting them to tell me that.

So tonight we are trying mashed potatoes & sweet peas.

Wish us luck:)

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Something about the weekend...

Our weekend kinda started on Thursday. Bay called and reminded us that it was her weekend to come and she was ready. So we picked her up on Thursday instead of Friday. She had two of her best buddies come over to play and she was one happy litle girl.

We had a wonderful weekend. It was a busy one for Hub's and me but I'm not going to lie...we loved every minute of it. We got brave and decided that we would let 7(it ended up being 6  )of our past fosters come for the weekend. On Friday, we went and rounded them all up. The Hub's decided that we should take them out to eat instead of me cooking. That's what we did. We took the crew out and they were all really good. Of course we took up our own little corner of the restaurant and got tons of looks (and smiles).

(It's official! The 6 month old has out grew the 13 month old. Jelly Bean weighs a little over 16 and Baby Z tipped the scale at 17 pounds today.)

After that, Hubby decided we should run to wally world (walmart) and pick up just enough groceries to last us for the weekend instead of buying all of of our groceries like normal...so we did. We  piled all the punkins in the buggy and ended up in the TOY SECTION.  Wasn't we suppose the be grocery shopping???? Hubby ended up with a buggy full of toys. By the time we were done, we ended up with a van full of punkins, toys, and junk food....thanks to my hubby, but we had fun.

On Saturday,Samantha came over and helped with the kids during the morning hours and Corey & Anna came and spent the whole rest of the day. So we ended up with Brookelyn here along with my friend's little boy Blake ( Ashley was babysitting). The 8 punkins ages 9,8,5,3,3,14 months,13 months,and 6 months played and played and played. 

The weather was beautiful and in the

 70's here all weekend ,so they got to play outside.

(If you look closely you can see the rash that Brookelyn broke out with when she handled the flowers from my Nanny's memorial service. She had an allergic reaction. She has had a tough time with it. Bless her heart. )

Sunday morning, I got up extra early and got them all ready and took them to church. Then on Sunday evening, we piled them all back in the van and took them home one by one ...full of junk food & smiles. It really was a fun weekend.

Don't you just love my pretty pictures? They always draw me pretty pictures to hang by my desk.

I said, "smile"...lol

They are at that age were they can

 fake smile...it cracks me up.

(Look who is starting to walk.

Way to go Jelly Bean!!!!!)

(As long as she doesn't see you looking she can walk...lol)

Did I ever tell you that I LOVE kids????

I told someone this morning that it's a good thing that we aren't rich people because I would have about 6 more kids of my own...lol. Oh but wait!!! I am rich. Jacob said ,"We are rich in love"...that we are my son...that we are.

 This weekend helped to cheer us all up. I bet if my Nanny was looking down from Heaven she was smiling from ear to ear,because she loved these babies, just like I do. She loved me keeping her updated about each and every one of them. I think I got my love for the little things from my Nanny. I was blessed with a good grandmother.


Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Funny Baby Do...

Sweet Shelbi "Jelly Bean" woke up with this funny hair do. We couldn't help but smile because she is such a cutie pie. We are having a fun time with all the punkins. More pics coming soon...
(Yes she is dressed like a boy. I sent Uncle Brent to get a shirt to put on her and he came back with baby Z's baseball shirt. It worked...lol)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6