Monday Funday

GREAT morning going to look at Lauren's wedding pictures....ahhh. And then getting to eat lunch with our dear friends Kent and Laine. This family was placed in our life during a season where we were just desperate for a friend couple who was just ahead of us in parenting and ministry. They moved a few years later but return to Russellville a couple times of year. We are TRULY SO THANKFUL they call us to catch up and eat a meal with them when they're in town. We feel blessed on a day when we are reminded of God's goodness.

Fun facts:
1. Laine is the first person I told I was pregnant with Sheridan.
2. Laine and Richard share a birthday.
3. Their three kids are boy, girl, girl, and so are our first three.
4. They gave us a baton (of their daughters) when they were moving, over 10 years ago, and we still have it. And it's still being twirled!
5. The Fanchers are the only adults we have ever gone to an amusement park together, without kids!

Adoption Day

Today is National Adoption Day. We are so thankful our adoption journey is in the past, and that last year, this day was our official adoption day as a family. This year we chose to celebrate by praying for many more children, especially Marvin, to have their own adoption day anniversary very soon.

Summer Highlights

We make a lot of lists in this house. To do lists, what to pack, and our favorites. I don't like it when kids go back to school in August and when asked what they did they say, "Nothing." So, we started making a summer highlights list a few summers ago. We haven't been on a vacation in a couple years, but we still stay busy. I was thankful moving and new friends hit Sheridan's list.

The most fun thing was that ALL 3 kids put Ryan and Kate's wedding on their list and we made the lists BEFORE the wedding. No pressure for the newest Rogers, but of course, it was as fun as they thought it would be.

Gratefulness is the enemy of grumbliness...may we always look for the good.

Left: Jordan's list: 1) wedding 2) weekend w/cousins 3) basketball tournament
Right: Cameron's list: swimming at home, wedding, nerf wars, Camp Caudle, VBS

8-15-15

Just a peek at THE WEDDING day: These pictures are all taken with my iphone and aren't even all in focus, but there are some things I just wanted to capture. More to come. 

Most touching moments: 

1. DBack family coming to the wedding.

2. Seeing 3 of Ryan's coaches and his choir teacher come in.

3. Watching Cameron bring the rings in on a Bible then give Ryan knuckles.

4. Watching Ryan and Richard choke up as Katelyn cried her way down the aisle. 

5. After Katelyn's dad gave her away, then he hugged Ryan in a real man to man hug.

6. Ryan and Katelyn's look of peace and love all day. 

More from Camp C

Quote of the Day

To set the scene: Richard is out of town, it's in between snack and dinner and I've turned Cameron down at least twice for food, and it's a Monday...

He comes up to me while I'm cooking in the kitchen (again) and says, "I like God first and then you."

This is monumental. And precious.

Family

 

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit Labor Day, I didn't take nearly enough pictures, but I couldn't resist these. Grandpa sat with Cam for over an hour working on a puzzle, and it was the most still Cameron had been the entire weekend! It was precious and I LOVE these moments that make him a child who belongs in our family.

Easter Celebration - Sunday

CANNOT tell you how much Easter means to me! The sacrifice of life and love that Jesus made is indeed the greatest MIRACLE. I'm so thankful to be re-telling the story to our children. I've been more intentional than ever, and it's been so good for me, and them. We pray their hearts will continue to be tender toward all the Bible stories we are reading and the verses we are learning.

 

 

Before LCBS started, Cameron wrote these sweet messages on my classroom white board for me. THEY ARE PRECIOUS TO ME.

After worship time, we had college kids over to join our family of 9 for a traditional Easter dinner. The day was BEAUTIFUL and the company was fun! I'm thankful for our big table and the college kids we get to love on when their families are so far away. Kids at our table were from Mexico, Guatemala, South Korea and...Texas!

We took time out to take a new family picture...it's wonderful. But can't post it yet.  (Adoption should be final in July)

 

Family Weekend

Woo hoo! Just had a great trip out of town with the kids! Friday they were out of school for teacher in-service and we packed up and met Richard in LR. Our original plan was to meet him in Conway. However, Friday night he was in Dallas working, went to pick up food late and while he was in a restaurant someone broke out the back passenger window of his rental car and took his briefcase and his coat. HUGE problem to lose his briefcase full of his laptop (all his work), his files, and the car keys to his car parked in LR. So, we met him in LR with the extra set of keys to his car. Then we headed to the Apple store to take care of replacing his laptop so he can continue work. What a brilliant man, to have a back up hard drive at home.

Sooo, while we're in LR, we see the new Altitude Trampoline park we've been wanting to try out. It was SO fun and the kids had a blast. After an hour of sweating and laughing we headed to the RL event in Conway and picked up a few things for summer and saw Aunt Lana. Then, we headed up the road to Mimi and Gramps house. It was the first overnight trip for the kiddos....and they even panicked a little bit when we said we were "packing."

They had a WONDERFUL time walking down to the river, using the binoculars, sleeping in new places, making biscuits with Gramps, and then getting to go see the hatchery in Heber. Mimi enjoyed loving on them, making cookies with the girls, and hosting us all.  Our hike up Sugar Loaf was foiled by ice on the path, but Richard forged ahead through mud and cold to the other side of the mountain where we ended up going down the mountain to the road in front of Mimi's house. It was an unexpected adventure and even though all the girls grumbled (me included) we did indeed survive.

First of MANY trips...

Family Art Show

I pulled out the most pitiful paint sets on one of our snow days last week...they were probably from Ryan and Lauren in kindergarten...however, they work and the kids didn't complain too much. Jordan painted the top pic...it's taped to our bedroom door now. On Tuesday night she elected to stay home and have a night with me while Cam and Sheridan went to a ballgame with Erin. This is a big deal...to be separated from the other kids and be OK with it. We played Uno and painted together. Then she took a long bath. We washed and styled her hair, and then watched some Olympics. It was a very normal family night, and when I saw her painting (below) I knew it was all OK.

One week later...

Last Thursday night I almost called it quits. Richard was gone, Erin was gone and our new family members went a little crazy. By crazy, I mean they took turns...having fits. From 6pm - 8:50pm. Sheridan played in the living room with the quiet one while I tried to talk down, wrestle and subdue the upset one. It was a very trying night, and it challenged me so much I wondered if I had enough endurance to withstand any more nights like that. I talked to Richard as he travelled home from work, and I called a friend who has been in this place before. I cried through both conversations and finally put myself in bed with DVDs from the DHS on loving children of trauma. I waited until Richard got home to turn out the light and let him hold me so I could go to sleep.

The next morning I called their AS and let her know I wasn't sure what to do. She told me I needed to set boundaries, be consistent and let her know if she needed to make other arrangements for the kids. I told her I wanted to do this, and I just needed to let her know where we were.

So, with that in mind, I want to record what has happened since I picked them up from school today:
Richard is not in town, and Erin is at a swim meet all day in Siloam Springs. Me and the kids...
1) 3:20: Played basketball and rode scooters outside. (no fussing, no fighting, no screaming in the yard, and not even a skinned knee)
2) 4:30: Had a snack, then had "time alone." One child chose a bath, one child read on her own, and Cam played on his blanket in the living room with 2 toys, happily! I caught up on my emails and basked in the peace.
3) 5:20: After more than 30 minutes of time alone everyone came in for dinner, that everyone loved. Who knew they would love salad? And they want seconds of it!
4) 6:00: Next, we had "table time" where we all sat down with some kind of homework. Because one of the kids doesn't like getting work done, it's a great idea Richard came up with for the pressure to be off of one. Of course, Cam wanted to play, so it took him a little time to warm up to his notebook, but after we used the pointy pencil he got from school, he got into it and everyone got their work done in record time.
5) 6:35: Hide and Seek. Their choice. Since Cam is scared of monsters, there is a little delay when he is the seeker, but they worked it out and played until someone got a cramp hiding in the armoire.
6) Uno. Can't believe how many times we can play this game and they still have interest. Cam can play, and does well for a just-6 year old.
7) 7:00: Cam gets a bath and Sheridan takes a shower. Jordan catches a show on Disney.
8) While a movie plays, Cam plays a game on the couch, Jordan snuggles on the couch with me and Sheridan watches from a chair.
9) 8:05: Cam hugs the girls and requests a story. After reading about Jesus feeding the 5000, we say prayers, he reminds me he's afraid of the dark, and I shut the door. He's all quiet and asleep by 8:10. (5th day in a row)
10) The girls and I play more Uno.
11) 9:10: The girls brush their teeth and get in bed. I pray over them, kiss their heads and leave the room.

IT'S A HUGE DAY. Just one week after the worst night with the kids. I cannot find the appropriate words to describe the feeling I have right now. I'm wondering if I ran a marathon if I'd feel this way when I finished the 10th mile, or the 11th, or the half way point. I have no idea where I am in the race...but I pray we're facing forward for many more days to come.

Dr Visits and Junior Monopoly

I should be in bed. I should have an ice pack on my neck to relieve the stress. However, this is the best I've felt all day. We left town with littleM and bigM today at 10am. We had 2 appointments in LR and needed to do some essential shopping in Conway on the way. (I cannot send them to school next week in what they brought here)

I had to talk Sheridan into staying at home. She was really upset about not going, but she doesn't understand that she is emotionally exhausted. I can hear it in her voice and see it in her face. She is having the best time with the kids, has the best attitude toward them I could ever ask for, but it is taking it's toll. She's been almost an only child for a few months and she didn't realize she needed some "quiet time." I left her to relax with Ryan and Erin.

Our first appointment was with middleM's therapist. We are so thankful for the great facility he is at, for this seemingly very caring man who talks to him every day, who cares about him, and who encouraged us in preparing for his adjustment to our home. He answered a lot of our questions, took notes on our conversation and was very positive about us bringing him home soon. We set a date in February that we are using as our goal. We then got to visit middleM and discovered that he was confused about when he was coming home, had talked some of the attendants into helping him pack up his bags this morning, and had experienced a big disappointment today. How utterly despondent I would've been, but as a child who experiences disappointments every day, he seemed to have moved through it, wanted to show us some of his new Christmas toys, and was mildly interested in the fact that we were going to make a countdown calendar until he gets to come home. We looked at his toys, saw some of his schoolwork on the wall on the way out of the building, and then left him. Again.

BigM's appointment was at 3pm. We saw a doctor at 5:10. 2 hours and 10 minutes after our appointment time. I cannot write the sad details of our 8 minute visit with this doctor. I was about to lose my cool when I realized it would not help anyone for me to tell this doctor how I felt about the quality of our visit. I left with a headache in the middle of my forehead. The pressure was building.

My superhero was outside, having entertained our tiny spark plug for 2 hours and 15 minutes. We headed home, made an unplanned dinner stop (it was going to be after 7 when we got home), and apologized to everyone at home for basically abandoning them all day by themselves. Quote of the day...BigM says, "I can't wait to get home and see them!"

The worst part of the day wasn't yet upon us: Bedtime with a child who DOES NOT like to go to bed.
Call me spoiled, but I dread bedtime. (even thought it has boosted my prayer life) I haven't ever heard crying like this one does every night.  Tonight, Richard came out of Ms room in record time, and I was amazed...and humbled by our BIG BIG God. Not one tear was shed.

AND THEN, bigM came in and showed me her new hairdo Erin created. (sweet, sweet sister love here)

AND THEN, bigM, Sheridan and I played a game of Junior Monopoly (even though I was sure I was going to take a hot Jacuzzi) and the game was fun! BigM was laughing, Sheridan was laughing, I was the loser, and the winner...all at the same time.

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW. 4 days down, forever to go.

Thanksgiving in MH

Thanksgiving is filled with food, family and games in Mtn Home! We had the extra blessing of taking two U of O girls with us to Grandma's house! Gabi is from Mexico, and Liliam is from Honduras. Liliam is one of our host "daughters" and she was one of several who are traveling home for Christmas but not Thanksgiving. We had a great time playing games with them and sharing their sweet friendships with our family. Grandma headed up the kitchen (as usual) and Lauren, Sheridan and I got in on helping with cooking.

Gathering around the kitchen is the climax of the day!  Turkey, ham, stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole, sweet green beans, crock pot corn, hashbrown casserole, sweet potato casserole, grape salad, jello salad, olive/pickle/celery tray and Sister Schubert's rolls. OH MY. Pecan and pumpkin pies for dessert. We have SO MUCH to be thankful for. It was a beautiful day and a great meal, it's always awesome to go home for the holidays.

 

The secret is out...Santa and Mrs Clause DO eat with us on Thanksgiving!