Basket Ball Camp

Abbie has a pink shirt and a green target jersey. I think you can pick Kade out.

This past week the older two have been participating in OU Women's Basketball coach Sherri Cole's camp. This is Abbie's third year and Kade's second. The kids love the camp, yet still have not had any desire to play basketball on a team. The camp is very well run with great coaches/counselors. Abbie was blessed by getting the same coach this year again. Her coach(who has been a OU player) was a senior this year and Abbie was sad to know she might not be at camp this year, surprise to Abbie she was. She has encouraged Abbie in so many ways and has helped her develop in many areas. Abbie and her have had a unique bond the last few years, encouraging one another with cards and little gifts. I was amazed by Abbie's playing ability during the scrimmages and her 'ears' for her coach. Whatever was suggested by her coach, she did. (you think she would like to move in with us and 'suggest' things to Abbie that she seems to ignore from me?)

Kade was one of three boys in the camp full of hundreds of girls. He didn't seem fazed one bit by it, shocker I know, poor guy living in a house full of girls ;-) I am sure the girls on his team were more 'bothered' by him being the only boy than he was. He even said he wished he could go to BB camp every week. He was eager to get there every morning and ready for the challenges of the day. He has become quite the little dribbler. I think the highlight of his week was beating Big Sister's team on the last day of camp.

Safety Town

Last week the little two participated in Safety Town. For those of you who are not around here, it a is a program that the mall (that's where it located) and the police depart put on to teach children how to be safe while riding/walking the streets. The 'town' has streets, sidewalks, buildings and a working traffic light and railroad crossing. The program is for kids entering or just finishing their Kindergarten school year-in hopes of keeping them safe getting to and from school. It is a wonderful program that has been around for years, I went when I was little (to bad I don't have a picture to share ;-)

Madison has been riding a bike in way or another since birth, we have biked back and forth to school a lot. She was really looking forward to finally getting to do something her bigger siblings have done, but I wasn't looking for her to 'learn' the road rules. She quickly learned that if she wanted to ride her own bike and not on the back of mine, she had to be a 'safe' biker.

Jennifer on the other hand, I knew she would be able to learn a lot. I knew this week she would be like a sponge soaking lots of 'new'. Learning about the street signs, the rules of the road, safety and the biggest obstacle-the bike. She worked very hard over the week and beamed with pride when she was able to make her bike do everything she wanted-as in move, turn, and stop(well sometimes stop).

The girls had a lot of fun and enjoyed the time together, I think.

Meet a new addition.....Boss

Boss is an 18 month old yellow lab, who is more white, who weighs about 90lbs. He is a big lover who loves to be in the water. The kids are loving him and he is wearing out Emma, the brittany, which is such a blessing. I am hoping he will make a great running partner, or maybe he will drag me down the street.

On another note summer school ends this week-which means yet again another transition.......preparing for a bit of behavior issues. Say some prayers please.

Observations from the Splash Pad

not sure why the picture is so small, apparently I didn't do something right-oh well-just squint :)

I spent the afternoon at the city Splash Pad with the kiddos and some friends. FYI- a great place to people watch, almost as good as the airport. Not that people watching is a hobby, but it sure can be entertaining and apparently to my littlest one thought so, too. Here are a few of the statements I heard as we 'observed':

"Mom............that boy over there.......the bigger boy(meaning older)...........I like his swimsuit, but he really needs to pull his shorts up............doesn't he know his undies are hanging out?"

"Mom.............why do people smoke? Do they not know they are turning their lungs black and filling them up with yucky stuff?"

"Not sure why people choose to smoke, but you are right it is not good for you"

She then says "Maybe I should tell her, she might not know it's bad for you"

As much as I would have loved to watch that encounter take place, I didn't think this particular gal would be so fond of my princess giving her a little education on smoking. So I did not encourage her.

After she had been playing with a new friend she had just met, she came to sit with me and take a snack break. They had been filling cups with water and dumping them on each other and siblings. 

Very matter of fact she says "Did you notice she only has one hand?"

Me: "Really?"

Princess: "She just held the cup with one hand and used her other arm like a hand...........she didn't need two hands..................guess that's the way God made her."

Two Funnies.....

This picture doesn't have anything to do with either story but shows a bit of the sass and giggles that were part of our day.

Funny #1:Today at lunch out of the blue, Jennifer says, with a huge grin on her face,  "When I am big I am going to work at the ice cream store." Not sure where this thought came from, we weren't eating ice cream, or talking about future careers and I am not sure what 'ice cream store' she is referring to. But she confidently made a statement about her future and that makes me smile. Wonder if when she is wanting $ for a car, gas money, that certain 'must have' item, etc when she is teenager I can remind her about this plan to work at the ice cream store?

Funny#2: The three little ones were playing in the yard and were taunting one another in a playful way (some great game they made up) and the Princess with her hands on her hips full of attitude says to her brother "Oh yea........Pick on someone your own sizzzzzzeeee!" Which he found hilarious and bursts out in laughter-the Princess charges him and J joins in the next thing I see is a pile of children laughing with poor Brother on bottom. What a trooper he is being the only boy. 

Twelve Years

Hard to believe we have been married 12 years! Each year it seems to get better and better. Wonder what our life will be like in another 12 years........Feeling very blessed.

Hard Times

I have wanted to write a post containing some of what this post will, but struggle with 'putting it out there', but I have decided that so many other adoptive mothers who have chosen to write about struggles have been so very helpful to me. So in writing this, I hope to help someone else know that they are not alone and hopefully be encouraged. I hope this is not read and labeled as ungrateful,  complaining, or depressing-but just a 'real moment' by a mom who is trying hard to live the life God has called me to. 

I have said many times adoption is an amazing journey filled with ups and downs, I guess much like any other journey in life. However, while traveling this road there are times I seem to be a bit lost. There are days/weeks that I feel I am in the middle of a very busy interstate exchange not having a clue as to what direction I need to be going or how to get there. All the while cars are zooming past me, honking, forcing me to make quick decisions, trying to read signs that seem to be in another language, all while having a car full of children wanting to know when will we be there. 

 I have really been challenged recently with trying to 'feel' what our daughter feels, having been taking from everything she knows and brought to everything unfamiliar. I am really trying hard to understand the struggles she is facing as she continues transitioning to life in our family. God is revealing more in some areas and less in others,  but am definitely feeling challenged. All six of us have faced many joys but also struggles in adapting and learning to live as a family of six. As parents we are trying to meet the needs of all our children, trying to give them or help them get all they need. Whether that is some extra one on one time,  time away from the family, or a chance to be heard, or the opportunity to fall apart-we are trying so hard to meet their needs. In doing so, I am reminded that God is indeed the only one who has the ability to meet their every need. My prayer is that we can be His servants and He can use us to be His hands and feet. Continually praying for His guidance as we continue down the journey of adoption and are currently experiencing a bit more downs than ups.

Hard times. Transitions are hard for J. Within the last few weeks there have been too many and her attitude, actions and spirit are showing it. These are hard times. I know they are hard on her. They are hard on everyone in our family. And unfortunately, some of the things we thought would be helpful are not turning out that way. Trying to decipher what works and doesn't, what is beneficial what is not. Some of you will read this and say I had no idea times were tough, others will try and figure out what the heck I am rambling about, while others might say it's about time you write a post about this-whatever you think- Thanks for reading, thanks for encouraging us and most of all thanks for praying for us. I know that in God's timing not mine, His wisdom not my inability to understand, His ways not mine-this 'season' shall too pass. I also know that God will equip me with all I need at just the right time, and sometimes not a second too soon.