Taking time out

EXHAUSTED.  That's the word I would use to explain our family at the moment.  I feel like a tornado has picked up our family and has twirled us around for months and FINALLY put us back down.  What is the name of this tornado?  Football.  This was the first year for tackle football for us and it had us in a tizzy!  It is finally over.  Do not get me wrong, I LOVE watching my boys play football, absolutely love it.  It was a blast to watch G-Man out there and see his face light up when he became the champions b/c they were undefeated.  It was such a joy to watch Randy get out there and tackle and see the love for the game grow inside him.  It's just been exhausting.  

The other day, I signed the boys up for basketball.  I learned that G-Man and Randy wouldn't be on the same team due to their age differences.  They also have different "seasons."  This means G-Man would play for a while and then after he was finished, Randy would pick up.  When that was over, baseball would start.  I had a mental breakdown.  

Randall got home and I discussed my thoughts with him.  I told him how that night was the first night in a LONG time that we had at home.  We cleaned, played, curled up and watched tv, laughed, and even had a home cook meal.  It was GLORIOUS!  The kids were enjoying each other and just loving the time at home.  We decided to skip basketball season.  I thought for sure Randy would not be happy. I was in tears thinking about telling him.  But, guess what?!  He was all for it.  Even at his young age, he realized how much we needed that time at home, together.  He said he wanted more nights like the one we just had. 

Please don't get me wrong, I LOVE watching my boys play sports. However,  I saw the need that our family had.  We needed time TOGETHER.  Not on a field, or on a court.  We needed togetherness.  Our family was craving it and we didn't even realize it.  Everyone was on edge.  Everyone.  I told Randall I felt like I was being selfish.  He told me, "What part of wanting to be together is being selfish?"  

A couple of days later, I pick up the boys from school and I hear Randy say, "YAY!  Tonight is fun night!"  I asked him what that meant.  His response was, "You know, a night like we had the other night, playing and enjoying time at home!"  

Yes, I think it is safe to say we made the right choice.  Will I miss basketball season?  You betcha.  I love the sound of the ball dribbling up and down that court.  However, I love the sound of my children laughing and enjoying time together much more.  

I don't know what it was that got our family in this rut, but I am thankful we saw the need to climb out.  Some families can do it and still find time together, but I felt like our family was falling apart.  We were all frustrated with each other and just not focusing on our family and the Lord.  I am excited for some quality time together, which is MUCH NEEDED!  

Finding joy in the little things

Having our little G-Man has opened our eyes to find joy in the little things.  I feel like even though this isn't our first round of having a child his age, it's fun to watch him experience new things!

We got him right around the time of sign ups for baseball.  The best part, he was able to be on the same team as Randy for this year!  He had a bit of baseball knowledge, so it was fun to practice with him in the yard before season began.  He was an absolute HOOT to watch play!  He played catcher quite a few times.  He's on the smaller side, so it was hilarious to see him in the gear.  It swallowed him, but he was a good sport!  My favorite part of the whole season was when he hit the ball, made it home, or did something awesome, when it was time for him to come into the dugout, he would run to me and say, "Mrs. Sadie, did you see me do that?!"  He was always beyond excited and proud!  We were too!  Nothing is as fun as watching a kiddo learn and gain confidence in their skills!

He is also learning how to swim.  When he came to us, he wasn't confident in the water.  He is now!  He has loved to swim at the pool, no matter if it was at my parent's, the aquatic park, church camp, or a friend's house!  You  never know what a foster child has experienced so when it comes to scary situations, you have to be extra careful and patient.  We are taking swimming slowly, but he is catching on super fast and impressing us!  I think by the middle of July, he will be a swimmer!  After the pool, he loves to come home and tell Randall all about learning to swim and how he went off the diving board with his swim vest!

Even though I am excited to sit and watch him experience things, I can't help but feel guilty.  I am not the mom who gave birth to him.  I'm not the one who carried him for 9 months.  This is something she should get to experience and see.  I pray for her every day.  I can't imagine not having my child.  No matter the circumstances, his mom will always be in my prayers.  Jesus can change any situation and He can change anyone.  Please be praying for his family.

We Could Never.....

Hi again everyone!  It's been quite some time since I have blogged, but I have some big news!  We FINALLY opened our home for fostering!  Our CALL coordinator asked for bloggers to blog about foster care and I figured now was as good of a time as ever to open this back up and begin blogging!

The title of this post is "We Could Never."  I want to begin with the fact that this was not our view on fostering.  In fact, it was something God called us to do and we answered.  We knew that if God called us, He would equip us.  That's exactly what He has done.  I titled this post because I hear those words often.  So often when people see us with our G-Man, I am told, "I'm so proud of your family.  We could never do it."

People, let me first just tell you this.  You CAN do this.  Will there be difficult times?  Of course.  Will there be tears shed?  Of course.  However, would you rather these sweet, precious children not experience love?  Don't they deserve us being attached and loving them?  Don't they deserve someone crying over them.  Don't they deserve our prayers?  Don't they deserve a home where they will feel safe and protected?  If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you CAN do it.  In the end, it's not about us, it's about them.  I think having my heart broken is worth it for these children to feel showered in God's love!

As we enter the unknown, we have to trust that God is by our side.  He will guide us and give us all we need.

Once again, it's been a LONG time

I keep starting to come back to this blog and start a new post, but then I quit due to time constraints.  Well, last night I sat on my couch and read my blog posts from years back and I decided I shouldn't just let it go.  I had too much fun going back and reading my words and thoughts from long ago.  So, here I am.  This blog might be just for me, since I am probably the only one reading it, but I enjoy reading it, so here it goes!

First up, things are GREAT!  Randall got a new job.  He is now working for the same school district as I am.  He is a bus driver and works in the bus garage.  It has been a major change to us, even though it has barely been a month!  He is home every single night, doesn't work nights, and he will be off on the holidays!  We are super excited for this new journey the good Lord is allowing us to be on.  We have prayed and prayed for a new position for him.  The Carbon Plant was so good to us.  They were great with families.  We will definitely miss the Christmas parties, Easter parties, and the people.  However, we are super excited to work for the same company and enjoy the perks together!

Ruthie is loving 4th grade.  It amazes me sometimes how well she adjusts to new things.  When she was little, she really struggled with it, but she has overcome that and really excels when it comes to changes.  She is such a gorgeous young lady, inside and out.  I am thankful that God allows me to be her mom.  She is a hoot.  She never fails to make us giggle. She is quite the character- very witty!

Randy is doing great in 1st grade.  He loves school too and enjoys his teacher.  He makes friends with everyone.  I just realized I never made a post about the greatest moment in his life- his salvation!  That's right!  My baby boy accepted Jesus as his Savior in June at church camp.  I'll have to devote a whole post to that!  He is quite a character himself, but sometimes I don't think he realizes what a goof he is.  He is so clumsy too- always has been.  He is such a great young man.  He loves to take care of us and he likes to be known as the man of the house when Randall is away.

Fostering is still a work in progress. I hope and pray we will be fostering within the year.  We have had a lady come over and explain what all we need to do.  We still need to take our PRIDE classes, but we are hoping to do so in January.  The house still needs some work, but we were pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't as much as we assumed.

So, there is the update.  I will share a post later (hopefully not in the next year!) about Randy's salvation and baptism.  What a glorious night that was!  I will leave you (or me if nobody is reading) with some recent photos of these precious kiddos I call mine!

Missing this place

Yes, it has been a long, long time since I have posted.  It's been crazy.  I can't even begin to tell you how crazy life has been.  Busy. Busy. Busy.  I miss posting about my kiddos.  I have been coming back to my blog a lot here recently to look up certain things, remember dates, and just to look at my sweet tiny babies.  Those tiny babies aren't tiny babies anymore.  They are growing up on me.  They are full of energy, loving, crazy, babies.  Yes, still my babies.  Always my babies.

I wish I could say this posting thing is going to happen more often.  I can't say that, but I do want to make an effort.  I'm not a comical blogger.  I'm not a perfect tidy house blogger.  I am just me wanting to document life for myself.

Life is good.  Better than good actually.  Randy started kindergarten this year!  YES!  KINDERGARTEN!  Crazy huh?  I am very pleased to say he is excelling and loving every single minute of it.  He has a great teacher and he is enjoying school.  He played flag football this year and let me tell you.....this mamma is now a huge fan of football.  I never really liked it before.  I think it's because my high school didn't have it.  I never learned the ins and outs of football.  Give me baseball or basketball any day.  Until now.  I feel in love watching him play football.  He loved every single minute of it.  He found his game, his passion.

Ruthie has turned into this crazy girl!  She is so fun, goofy, and hilarious.  Sometimes I can't even explain what she does that makes me giggle, but she is a mess.  She is just like her dad.  She never takes a serious picture anymore. She is always wanting to be a clown.  I love her for it too.  She keeps us going.  This smart little whip just got Student of the Month too!  Such a proud mommy!

Randall and I are still teaching the youth and maintaining our jobs.  I finish college with my bachelor's degree this December!  It's been a long time coming and I am so grateful to be finishing!  We are still working on getting our house ready to foster/adopt.  This is still a huge dream for us and we pray it happens soon.

I am hoping to pop back on here soon.  I miss blogging.  Until then- enjoy my beautiful babies!

Once again.....it's been a while

Whew.  It has been a long time since I have updated this thing.  I was sitting down looking through all the memories, and remembered how much fun it is to put all my thoughts into writing and look back on all the memories that are on here.  It reminds me of how truly blessed I am!

It's been a crazy winter here.  We have been hit with some major snow and ice, which put us out of school more than I can ever remember.  I know this much though, I am SICK AND TIRED of this cold!  I am ready for warmer weather, shorts, t-shirt, and baseball!  We are signing up Randall for t-ball once again and I couldn't help but look back at my old t-ball posts and smile.  He has grown so much.  They both have.  Ruthie is turning in to such an amazing, loving, kind young lady.  She amazes me every.single.day.  She has such a huge heart.  She cares for "the least of these", just like Christ tells us to.

Everything is really going great with us.  I can't complain.  Youth group is growing like crazy!  We moved to a room upstairs.  Ended up having to break down a wall and combine two rooms into one for more room and I almost think we need even more room!  What a blessing!  I love our youth.  Those kids amaze me.  They are so inquisitive.

Randall and I have always felt a calling on our hearts to foster.  We went to an informative meeting with the CALL and it only made us feel even stronger about the issue.  We KNOW it is something we will do.  I at least need to finish college- which I PRAY happens within this year.  Then, when I get a job teaching, we will be able to fix our house and make it ready to take in more kids.  We have the room, just need to get it ready.  The night we went to the meeting I laid in bed reading the booklet of information.  Thoughts were going through my head.  It's such a big step to take and it will ROCK our world.  But I know that God has laid it on our hearts for a reason.  We know we are called to do it.  It's times like these that I get frustrated with myself for not finishing school earlier b/c if I would have, we could have been fostering already.  However, I know that this is God's plan.  Our bio kids need to be prepared as well.  I think Ruthie is pretty much there.  She keeps asking, "When will we foster, Mom?"  If she sees me reading information on fostering, she gets excited thinking it's sooner than it really is.  It brings such joy to my face that she is excited about it.  Randy isn't quite sure what any of it means.  I think he will adjust well.  He loves big kids and little kids, so I am not as worried about him.  It's more Ruthie that I worry about b/c she's.....I don't know how to put it other than emotional.  She will become attached and get heartbroken.  She will question why.  This will be the hardest part.  It's easier for Randall and I to understand why, but not for her.  Speaking of the question "why", if you have a chance, check out this blog and read her post on fostering.  Randall and I always struggled with answering some questions and this lady's words answer those questions perfectly.  Once I read it, I felt like she had been in my mind and knew exactly how I felt.  Please pray for us as this journey is upon us.  We are ready  and willing to jump through that door when the chance arrives!

I can't wait to share some photos soon.  We celebrated Ruthie's 8th birthday.  Yes, EIGHTH!  Where has the time gone?!  I can't believe she is already 8.  She is such a beautiful girl!  Speaking of b-days, we are so close to celebrating Randy's 5th!  That's even crazier!  My baby boy is about to turn FIVE!

I want to leave you with these lyrics to a song that has touched me in so many ways:

"Was I love, when no one else would show up?
Was I Jesus to the least of us?
Was my worship more than just a song?
I want to live like that.
And give it all I have.
So that everything I say and do points to You."
(Song titled: Live Like That by Sidewalk Prophets)