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Birthday Fun!

Today was my niece’s birthday; later this week it is my nephew’s, too. So, we held a party in their honor today. I think we had a pretty good time!

We had a spider cake for him!

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And a Dirt Cake for Her!

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And Face Painting for all!

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We even had a bubble blowing contest where some adults had as much fun as the kids!

Of course, in this case, it was more of a bubble popping contest!

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She had a pretty big bubble….

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Until he came along and went even bigger!

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The day ended on a slip and slide. Oh, what memories this brought back for us moms!

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I’d say it was a pretty good day! After all, what could be more fun then spending a day with friends, family, and sugar!

Could This Be True!?

There are some things in life that every one must experience for themselves. Some things that you just have to experience; right?

Must have experiences that quickly come to mind are:

Chocolate; everyone should experience chocolate in their life.

Ice cream; another must!

Walking barefoot in the sand.

Skydiving! (I know some of you may disagree, but you obviously haven't tried it then!)

Motherhood. (Ok, I realize that cuts a lot of you out, too, but as a mother, I do have to include it!)

A hug.

A kiss.

A smile.

Hysterical laughter.

Falling in the snow.

Catching a snowflake on your tongue.

A rainbow.

Roasting a marshmallow by a campfire.

A smore.

Singing in the rain.

A full moon.

A falling star.

Freely dancing without a care in the world.

Spinning…and falling.

I know I'll think of a hundred more things after I post this, but I'm sure you get my point.

So imagine my surprise when we were watching a commercial and the "Sound of Music" came on and I started singing….

and my niece had no idea what it was! I explained to her that this was a must for our family. The Drama Queen nodded her head in agreement and handed me the movie immediately!

As I type this, the Princess is contentedly watching and humming along. 

And the world will be set right again for yet another day!

Amazing

The past few weeks certainly have been. Yup, that's all I can say…they just have been.  A recap if you will:

Three ER visits in less than three weeks; bronchitis, flu, sciatica, fractured wrist, dental stuff, school stuff, homework, drawing, hip hop, karate, visitation, numerous phone calls…the list goes on and on! The other day I sat down at 3:30 pm to finally grab a bite of lunch. I was happily slurping up my soup when I realized I forgot to pick up the littlest one from school! I quickly zoomed out of the house and made it just in the nick of time! 🙂

The kids send me text messages reminding me of their needs during the day, and hope that they've moved up on the list of things to accomplish today!

"Mom, don't forget this."
"Mom, don't forget that."

Sometimes they're just reminding me of stuff for me, because quite frankly, they know I may forget! B-boo continually tells me that she doesn't know what I'd do without her….she's right! She knows what I need these days before I do and will have it in the van as I rush out the door to the next appointment with the next kid. You just gotta love her!

And then there's just life. Honestly, many have asked how I am doing, and it's gotten to the point where I just look at them, really, because, how do you answer that question when you really don't even have the time to sit and think about how you really are? You just are. It's that simple.

What I do know is this:

I know I have an amazing God who really knows how I feel and who really will get us through this.  He continues to prove that to us day after day.

James 1:2-3 says,
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Faith is an amazing thing.

I know that I have an amazing family and that God is working in a mighty way in their lives right now. This comes with much hurt, many tears, and a love that is all encompassing. My children are learning to love in ways that I don't think even they thought was possible.

I know that I have an amazing support system through friends and our church. The outpouring of prayer alone is enough to humble us. This past weekend we had to go through 7 hours of Kinship foster training. We had children fanned out all over the city! Friends were showing up at our house early in the morning to pick up whichever child they were in charge of for the day and just took them and loved on them and gave them what they needed! Another took fluids and soup to my oldest son who was sick with the flu; she'd never been there but knew she lived close and knew I couldn't take care of his needs, so she did it for me. Amazing. Another child needed someone and made a phone call to one of our friends. She didn't hesitate, but jumped in her car and took care of the need immediately. Amazing.

We learned this weekend that these friends who are so willingly helping us are going to need to have their lives intruded on as well. They'll have to be fingerprinted and their homes will have to be inspected. I mentioned this to one of them late Saturday night when she brought back one of our children. She didn't hesitate at all, instead just said, "Sign me up!" Sunday morning at church, her husband was confirming that he was fine with the whole thing, too, when another friend and her husband piped up that they'd be willing to go through the process, too, so that they could be on the list to help out. Amazing that we don't even have to ask. In addition, another friend came up to me and asked what I need help with. I just kind of looked at her and smiled. I don't know what I need, remember? (ha ha) She took control and said she'd bring us a meal on Wednesday; a safe meal for my whole family because two of my children suffer from serious food allergies. Amazing.

I'm learning how to say "no" when I need to and "yes" when I ought to.

I taught a Bible study this weekend on being in the wilderness and looking at the peaks and valleys in your life and how God has, or is, bringing you through. We're in a pretty big valley right now and the mountain seems too hard to climb, but I can honestly say that I'm looking forward to it. There are moments when it seems too hard, and God will send someone amazing who just happens to call right at that moment and offer to pray for me (thank you, dear friend). There are also moments, when I realize just how much God is strengthening me, and so I continue on in Him, after all, He is Amazing!

There will be singing in this house!

The Drama Queen loves to sing…she sings all day long, every day, when she wakes, when she sleeps…she sings so much she doesn't even realize when she is singing!

Hubby said to me the other day, "She's stopped singing."

The past few weeks have certainly been days of chaos as we try to make adjustments and appointments. We need to have the music back. She has a big solo coming up and so we asked her to sing it for us. It took a few tries, but finally, she opened up and sang her heart out!

She's still not singing as much as she used to, but we're working on that. You see, we've discovered we have another child in the house who loves to sing almost as much as the Drama Queen. We've also discovered that in the midst of the chaos, singing, or even just listening to music seems to calm. It's the one time when the fighting stops and the teamwork starts. It's a time when we can focus on Him and just pour our hearts out and be who He wants us to be. When we can focus on something greater than what we're going through in that one moment.

So we will sing! Sing we must! We will sing when our hearts our broken. We will sing when we think we just can't do our homework. We will sing when we are happy. We will sing for fun. We will sing as we get ready for bed. We will sing on our way to school and we will sing on our way home! We will be a house that sings, and we will get through this for sure!

Why?

I keep getting that question. I ask it myself. My son keeps asking me. I have no answer other than to remind myself, as well as my children that we just need to trust in God as we go through this very tough phase in our lives. It just is, isn't it?

This week has been such an exhausting week! I've spent more time at court, family services, and so much more that I just don't know if I am coming or going anymore. I've been overwhelmed and desperate for understanding…and sleep.

But God has stood by me. I know this because these precious children are so full of love. I know this because my friends have been such a support to us. We have the most wonderful Christian friends who have poured out their love and prayers to us.

And then there are those little moments. It's been so long since we've had little questioning children. Our youngest is a know it all, not a questioner. Ha Ha! Now we have a little boy who doesn't seem to know any other word other than, "Why?" "Why?" "Why?"

I don't know why…but I do know that He is in control and that is what has to matter. 🙂