LOVE my job

 

 

I've wanted to go to my friend's event in El Dorado for years, and this was the first season in a couple that we weren't having our events at exactly the same time! RL wanted to go too, so we packed a bag and headed to south Arkansas. It was so fun to hug Melissa's neck and meet the sweet people who LOVE Rhea Lana's. I'm not good being silly, but we did enjoy the photo booth!

 

Go HOGS!

The HOGS lost today, but we loved watching them at home on the new SEC network. I'm not going to change teams just because we lost. We're going to still wear our Razorback t-shirts and call the Hogs anywhere with just a little encouragement. Ryan and 16 of his friends drove to Auburn for the game!

We're raising our kids cheering on the HOGS and we'll stay at it even if we don't have a good season. I'm happy to announce I wasn't one of the people who took a nap on the couch today! GO HOGS!

 

 

 

 

Weekend Projects

It's been crazy hot outside and this weekend we brought out some crafts to keep us busy inside. I can't believe how long Sheridan painted on a $3 paint by number kit we bought at Dollar General! Cameron, who apparently has a melancholy/perfectionist side, worked on a bead project for about 3 hours, and still hasn't finished a design he's happy with.

There were some days, a few months ago, that I wasn't sure we'd ever have a calm, peaceful weekend again. I'm so thankful for content children, imaginations, and a huge dining room table for it all.

Waiting in Hope

 

This is our verse, I've circled it, I'm repeating it, I'm asking God to provide a court date for us in September. I'm praying for God's intervention with whomever has the paperwork that is holding us up. Our kids need to not be foster children anymore. They need to have lunch cards with their names on it, they need to know it's permanent and that no one can take them away.

 

First Day of School

Can't help myself.

Summer 2014

I can't believe summer is over. Really, in May I was preparing spread sheets of activities for every thirty minutes, so we wouldn't be bored, the kids would be entertained and I wouldn't lose any more of my sanity. We stayed with the schedule about 2 weeks, but then, we just started spending each day inside, outside, or on the road. Jordan and Cameron didn't notice we didn't go on vacation, they've never been on one. We hosted Richard's family one Sunday afternoon, and playing with the cousins for 3 hours made their SUMMER FAVORITE LIST! Richard took them hiking to The Glory Hole one day when I was working on my event, and it made THE LIST. VBS made the list and playing UPWARD BASKETBALL.



We have stuck close to home, but have enjoyed our days. I'm thankful for the challenge of keeping busy, and not being lazy. I'm thankful I was able to pull off my event and still keep the kids grounded during my prep and the actual sale....and the many, many trips to Russellville. I'm thankful that Richard has spent most or part of every day at home playing basketball, taking the kids to the park, hiking or out for ice cream. He has played games, fixed lunches, done laundry and watched Disney with the kiddos. SO thankful for teamwork that makes the craziness here work.

I WISH I could post pics of some of our highlights, but our adoption is still not final, and that makes the images of my children not mine to post. Waiting on paperwork to be finalized and sent to the judge. We do not know who has the paperwork. We're not uptight...just looking forward to a great school year that starts tomorrow!

Believing

I'll tell you right now, today has not been good. It all started at 11:15 when I told Cam he couldn't bring 3 noise-making super heroes in the car on our trip to Russellville. It was just the beginning of a LONG day. We did not go to Russellville. It's 7pm and he's still in his room, his voice should be hoarse from screaming this afternoon, but he's completely over it.

As a matter of fact, I had to put him in the car to get Erin from work and on the way to the pool in the back seat he told Sheridan he was sorry for being mean today, asked Jordan to forgive him for making faces at her, and then asked me to forgive him for being mean today. Unprovoked. He understands reconciliation, unfortunately, he has had lots of practice as he sometimes falls in the PIT of these fits and I cannot get him out.

One thing, when I lose it, and I certainly NEVER mean to get so angry right back at him, but I do....when I lose it, or when I'm completely calm, I always look at him in the eye and tell him no matter how he acts, I still love him. He needs to know that and I need to say it. He's not going anywhere and I have faith that someday he'll believe it's better when he's making good decisions.

More from RLR

This picture isn't the best of all of us, but it's the best family I could ever ask for! Lauren returned from her 10 weeks at camp the day before PreSale, but she had her RL tshirt on and helped us for 8 hours on Saturday. Ryan drove down from Fayetteville to help us too. Erin came over after working at the pool. It's good to be in the middle of a HUGE event, with a couple hundred shoppers and see your family pulling tags, helping with big ticket items, and moving baby equipment. I found the pic of Ryan and Lauren on her Instagram account. 

RLR Take 13!

I love my job and I love the River Valley! So thankful for our 13th event. A FEW big changes meant our best sell through ever in fall and a smooth event for all of us: NEW huge location. HUGE parking lot. EARLIER in the season. AND, we finished up on Bargains Galore on 64 weekend which brought in a lot of traffic. I am VERY THANKFU! I am really PROUD of what we can accomplish with the hundreds of volunteers who help us pull off such a great event. 560 consignors, 52,887 items, and thousands of shoppers. Ahhhh.