some encourgement for us moms... and others too!

Do you ever have days that NOTHING you have planned works out?? as a busy mom to 8 I know that everyday can bring something new and sometimes things that I have planned just don't get done.. can I get an AMEN!!!!! I was speaking to one of the case managers  for our kiddos and she relpied.. I have got nothing done that I needed to do.. lots of other things popped up.. we laughed and then I said something that I always say to myself when days just don't seem to go as planned... " God had something different for me today!" 
I always want to rest in Him, rest in His sovereignty, rest in His plan, rest in His salvation, rest under His wings..... I think I have all these plans and when those things don't happen I am reminded once again that He is in control. May that be where we all are... resting in HIM! He knows what is best, He loves us, He cares for us, He meets us..... right where we are! I am so thankful that God is there.. He knows my inner being, He knows my heart.(yikes) .. He is so good to us even when we THINK we know what is best!.. so today I pray that we would rest in His plan, His love and His sovereignty!

keep.repeating.to.myself.too!!!

It only can get lost so many times till.... you dont find it.

Last night we ordered Doug a new wedding ring.. we laughed soooo hard because we ordered off Amazon... I mean we are prime members and we get free shipping and get this it was 88% off retail... I thought it was a GREAT deal!!!! I mean we are frugal... well maybe cheap.... We want to be good steward of the Lords money... soooo you may ask well WHY did you have to buy another ring... well.... Christmas when we went to the wilderness in the smokies Doug rode the "tidal wave" ride... he was body boarding along and all of a sudden he stopped.. ran up to the man who was the 
"professional" and told them that his ring had came off... well this cute little boy was behind Doug and started his adventure on this... well they had called maintenance and while this kiddo was on the ride having the time of his life... it stopped... water gone.. maintenance had arrived... we felt TERRIBLE!!!! that ride was shut down for at least 15 minutes hunting, diving, and searching high and low for the ring... well... no sign..... we were disappointed... the kiddos even sad .. they thought that was the bond of Doug and I .. I was disappointed that he lost it but we reminded the kiddos that  the wedding band was only an outward symbol of what God had already bonded in our marriage and covenant with Him! this then reminded them of baptism... and outward symbol of what God had done on the inside.. if we take the time we can pour sooo many truths in our kiddos.. take that opportunity, talk, converse... you will not regret it!!!!
This was the 3rd time this ring had fallen off Doug's hand.. we have found it previously in the bottom of the outside garbage can... yes full of trash... GAG!!! GROSS... we also found it out in the middle of the woods with get this.... a metal detector.... well the 3rd time it is swimming somewhere at the Wilderness in the smokies... hey.. if you are there and come across a ring.. be sure to tell us !!! LOL!!!


here is a picture of the new ring.. I love it!!! $23.00's baby!!! I love a good deal!!! the picture says 29.99 BUT we got it just in time to get another discount sooooo you know I love to save money!!!! $23.00 :)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HZUFGL6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This kid is SOOOOO funny!!

if you know Andrew well you know that he does not think like other kiddos at his age.. He CRACKS us up!!!  just some recent funnies

He had just drank some water and was gulping... lots of air... then a few minutes later he says "mommy, my stomach hurts." "I replied what does it feel like?" his response.... "it feels like crumbled eggs!"

"I cant drink this water it smells!" Doug replies "what does it smell like?" "it smells like the dogs breath!!!!"

a N inja... interpreted  "A Ninja" you still can convince him it is A NINJA!!!

story told by Ms Mary at church :: We were reading the Christmas story from Luke and talked about how Jesus' Mom wrapped him in swaddling clothes. He said Miss Mary how come Jesus mom swallowed him up! Too cute....makes me smile....just love him.

just a couple of funnies I wanted to make sure I have so I wont forget these...

visits with grandparents...

oh, boy... where do you start?? Andrew last week went to my in-laws house... boy oh boy.... he went by himself and guess what he was the only child for 4 nights.. one on one attention (which is great) BUT coming back home is a real shocker to a system.. yes.. you are now back to one of 7.. 8 if I include Doug as one who I take care of too.. THAT can take a toll on a 4 year old system... He has been bouncing off the walls and EVERYtime it is time to go to bed.... CRY... because he wants to watch a movie... ummmm NO.. you have school tomorrow and we don't need a TV to go to bed... I am forever grateful for grandparents and one day I will be one myself... but for now I have to retrain the brain.. Andrew you are back home buddy!!! I love you sweet boy!!!

It came and went.............

December 19 came and left.. we "thought" the girls (j and J) would be departing our home on that , what I considered, dreadful day... I rejoiced (just being honest) when I heard the news that they would not be leaving that day!... I am becoming more and more convinced that this system that the children are in is not about the kiddos and more about the parents.. don't get me wrong I know these parents need to be restored, taught , and walked hand in hand to remember or be taught how to be a parent.. BUT my heart just gets soooo sad hearing all the children that go home to parents who STILL have addictions, major obstacles, and LOTS of learning... it hurts deep...

As we were on our Christmas trip I was reminded that this may be J and J's  final vacation.. they are 15 months and 2.. that makes me sad... that makes me hurt for them.. not "just" because they won't have another vacation BUT that this might be the only time they get out of the city in which they were born... their lives might only be a few miles long.. a few miles wide.... not that we take these extravagant vacations ... BUT we are together as a family!.. they may not have a "family" again.. I can say that if they become believers that they will have a forever family.. adopted as daughters of the king, heirs, and sisters in Christ. so as the days grow closer and closer to the court date I will let these girls know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have a family here EVEN if for a season then pray that God will move on their hearts and they will be beautifully saved!!!

confession! I LOVE Coffee!

This comes as a big shock to everyone BUT I LOVE Coffee!!.. I mean seriously I love COFFEE.. my friend Tanya really knows the love I have for it as she has a love for it too.. we plus Angela H figure out how to get coffee to China because we are so , shall I say addicted to it?? you see they don't have coffee shops or for that matter coffee.. they have tea and it is just.not.the.same!!! we packed our bags and made sure we had the Keurig and LOTS of coffee... and while we were there the keurig decided to blow up... so the campers in Angela H and I did stove top coffee.. and ahhhh.. we had coffee for 10 days and it was YUM!!!

Every morning I have my cup.. well 2, or 3 cups of coffee .. this is my time where I sip on coffee and drink from Gods word.. I love the quiet (i mean who would not when you have 6.7,8 kiddos) .. this gets me ready to tackle the demands of the day.. homeschooling, Dr appts, church, house cleaning, cooking, emotional and physical needs, etc... I need both... Jesus and His living word.... and coffee.. I am so thankful for the person who found the bean and decided to roast it and add water... mmmmmmm... anyone know who that was.. anyway??

today is the day.. I admit I have an addiction... and that is COFFEE!!! I mean I really do love it.. oh and when my hands are warmed by my mug.. oh I love that too... anyone else addicted?? maybe we should have coffee together :)

Will it get easier??

oh, man.. I am wondering if it will get easier... we got the phone call today that December 19 *MIGHT* be the day the other girls leave... Will it get easier? Will they be OK? Will they remember anything about our family? these are just some of the questions that go through this mind of mine! oh, by the way..  this journey is hard.. my heart hurts for those broken children, broken families... I know it is for a season BUT my heart wants them to stay!!! I am struggling.. struggling because I know more about the system than I want to.
BUT Again.. I trust! I trust God knows what is best, He is in control, and I put my all in Him! I know He is writing my story and our families story and these foster babies story!.. How could His story be wrong? Its not! He is in ultimate control of all things .. 
Romans 8:28-29 
²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.

It is oh so hard to hold and then let go....