Roni | It's a Vivas Thing!

Apr 20 2013

Photo Opportunity!

We like to go on walks, especially when we are in Colorado for the summer. There is a new park near us, the Wetlands, that we like to visit. Well, it’s not new, new…but they had their grand opening today for their new visitor center. And it was totally worth going, especially if you have elementary aged children. There are a ton of interactive activities for the kids to participate in. The volunteers/staff were wonderful.

And that’s before you even go out and explore the park!

Which we did! And had a photo shoot to go with it. Click on the thumbnails to see the full pictures!

Apr 14 2013

Revolve…ing

It’s called a walk down memory lane… Yesterday, I had the privilege of taking the Drama Queen to her first Revolve Tour. As my friend and I drove our girls to California for the day, memories of Revolve Tours past came to mind. We laughed as we talked about taking our older daughters when they were this age…and how we couldn’t figure out why we were all so cold…until we found out that we were sitting on an ice rink! And how we were given ear plugs because it was so loud with THOUSANDS of teenage girls screaming, “Hawk Nelson!” and how they calmed down and cried when listening to Natalie Grant sing with her amazing voice!

Today it was a mega-church full of teenage girls screaming to “Anthem Lights” instead. I gotta say…I really like the lyrics to their songs. I especially like this one; what a message for young hearts!

And still, the amazing Natalie Grant was there! Always a blessing to hear her sing and share what’s going on in her life!

What a fun day I had spending it with a long time friend and our girls. It had been far too long since we had had a lengthy talk….it brought back memories of when we were young mothers just starting out….and now how we have adult children who are married and starting their own lives now. We’re one of those moms…you know, the ones that have grown children…yet we still have younger children, too. Adopting two more has given me even a larger span….ages 8 to 25!

Which brings me to today. This morning, all of the older children were gone, leaving just my two youngest with me. So, we headed to the grocery store, picked out muffins for breakfast and then headed home to get ready for church.

Which brings me to this moment…nothing better than sitting outside in the backyard with a cool breeze…listening to SOS and watching them climb trees…happy at last. Looking back to four years ago, we just recently got custody of them for the second time. As I read, I remembered how hard it was for them to be torn out of their home yet again and the struggles they went thru just to get thru each day. Four years ago today, my then-nephew-now-son had remarked…”I’m so happy!” because he was so happy to be with us. A year later, we were flying kites in a park while the DQ got to take pictures with a new bride in her wedding dress taking photos at the park.

And then, we lost them again.

It was a long haul, but today, they are finally where they belong. And no, it isn’t easy. It probably never will be…but on days like today, it’s nice to know that we can sit outside, enjoy the weather…and have a few smiles.

And climb a few trees.

Mar 19 2013

Quotable Quote #17 – Life with the Roni

Tonight all peoples over 10 years old were gone except hubby and I…and the Princess was in the shower.

Which means the Roni gets to talk your head off.

We were doing the dishes together and he decided to straighten the tupperware for me. He talked on and on and on and on….

I asked him about his speech homework, “Was it done?”

“Yes.”

“Are you ready to turn it into your teacher?”

“No.”

“So is your homework done or not?”

“It’s done.”

“So you’re going to give it to Mrs. B?”

“No.”

“Roni…is your homework done or not? Do you still need to do more homework before you turn it in?”

“I can’t turn it in, Mom, until I see her again.”

“Remind me to ask you the right question next time.”

His reply?

“Yeah, because I don’t always undertand your questions!”

A few minutes later…

“Mom, whenever you need me, just call me and I’ll be there.”

Immediately, Michael Jackson lyrics started playing in my head. 🙂

I asked, “You’ll always be there for me when I call?”

HIs reply?

“Yes. Just call me and I’ll be there…unless I am at school; cause I’ll be on the playground…or at recess…or in reading…”

I went into the other room in time to hear him say something about “arfritis”…by now he was talking to his father.

“Daddy, what’s arfritis?”

Dad, “It’s when your body hurts all over.”

Roni, “Yeah…I’ll be there if mommy gets arfritis….or if she has kidney stone again.”

Thanks, son, for being there for me.

Jan 27 2013

What happened?

Apparently I need to update my blog!

In the past year, we gained two new children and had many changes in our family.

And there are many more to come!

It amazes me that in just a few short weeks, the Good Looking One will be married to this angel!

And that these two are turning 20 and 13 this year!

The Talented One is almost half-way through college studying music….and she’s half way thru middle school!

(And the Drama, oh the Drama!)

And then, there’s the Smart One and Bboo….the Smart One almost finishing his first year of HIGH SCHOOL and Bboo…sniff sniff…finishing up high school forever. She’ll be 18 in just a few days…and he’ll be 16 this year!

I wrote my first blog, four years ago this past week, Whatever in the Whole Wide World. As I sat and read it this morning, I was taken back. It’s amazing how time flies by so fast you can barely keep up. It seems it wasn’t so long ago that I was the one preparing for my wedding to the love of my life, and now we’re getting ready for our son’s wedding. Where did the time go? What happened? I’m not sure, but I do know that it is true; the older you get the more you remember the past. The Smart One and I sat at lunch the other day and talked about, “Remember When?” I realize I did most of the remembering, but we had some great laughs.

Don’t get me wrong! I am so looking forward to the memories to come. I love the new relationships that we continue to build and look forward to where we are going. I just can’t believe how fast we are getting there!

Oct 25 2012

Adoption Day!

We waited a long time for today; it’s been over 10 long years. There were times when we gave up. And then, God would bring them back. There’s a story to tell…another day.

Today, I want to share with you the joy of our adoption.

They were so excited...waiting to go in and get this thing over with!

"Miss Cathy" our very dear friend...thank you for being there for us!

"MIss Elaina"....God placed you here for a reason...to bring these children home, no matter the cost to you. Forever we are grateful!

Taking pictures helped with the waiting!

Standing before the Judge, waiting to start! (Comical Moment: Our son lets the judge know he is matching today!)

Attorney explaining to the judge why we are asking to adopt...almost there!

This is the point where I lose it... Cathy and Elaina cry along with me!

Thank you, Cathy, for capturing the moment!

While they pick out gifts from the judge...

They're smiling...because "no one can ever take them away from us again"

It is with the deepest, heartfelt gratitude, that we thank you all. Thank you for praying for us throughout the years. For holding us when we lost them again and again…and for rejoicing with us each time we got them back. I can’t imagine going through this without our “prayer warriors.”

For those of you who share “Thankful Thursday” with me…this is mine! (I love you, sisters!)

It’s sinking in…it’s real…I guess we’d better figure out how to add some more rooms to this house!

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in Hope

Be Patient in Tribulation

Be Faithful in Prayer