Ride 'em Cowgirl!

Tuesday, Catherine got the great opportunity to ride the Urban's calf. She was sure she wanted to do it, so I was fine with it. Leisel patiently helped get Buddy where he needed to go. Once Catherine got on, she wasn't too sure what to think, especially after he started to walk. I think you can see that it was a pretty cool experience. Thanks to Leisel for helping her and to Charissa for taking these great pictures.

God cares for us!

One of the things we heard this weekend is how God cares for the birds and flowers. He doesn't care any less about you.

Last week, Samuel attended football camp and had a BLAST! I do believe the boys had a bit more of a spark in their eyes after it was over. However, the cost is several hundred dollars and requires 4 nights a week to be out at practices. A bit much when you have other children in activities and want any family time together. So, we talked about how we could do it and couldn't come up with anyway time-wise. I had a thought about the Y and called them today. Good news, it's less than $100, one practice and one game each week for 8 weeks. Great thing is that it starts in September so we miss the worst heat! Isn't God so good to us?

If you hadn't guessed yet, we've had a little delay in the adoption. However, the scripture that came to mind is "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." Quoted from memory which may be a bit fuzzy. Bottom line, we committed to Him to be obedient in this adoption. Despite many delays, we are not released from it and will continue to believe He is caring for Hannah, protecting her from anything that would be a potential problem in such a long wait. We're going to see this through. We're closer today than ever and the calendar ticking by doesn't change anything.

That being said, we (the 3 kids and I) took off to Branson Friday am to be with our friends, the Storments, go to church, Silver Dollar City, be at a birthday party and relax. It was a great trip with fun for everyone. Amazingly, traveling with 3 on my own is not a problem. I think it helps a bunch that we stayed with a family who has children our kids' ages and that we traveled this time in the morning. Everyone was ready to go, no passing of naps and bedtimes as can happen. Buddy got to sleep in, read as much as he wanted AND got the girls' room painted Ballerina Gown pink. I wish I knew how to post videos from my camera because Catherine noticed the smell of paint right away and then was thrilled with her beautiful new wall color. After a few touch ups tomorrow, we should have everything back in place.

The boys and the girls spent the weekend very differently...

After having a very rough time on the frog ride, Caleb enjoyed having a friendly arm around him on the lady bugs.

Samuel thought Buddy's hair got really long while we were gone, Buddy thought Caleb grew, and we were all happy to be together once again.

Getting things ready to throw in the car and head out to Branson. We're going without Buddy because he is blessed with work. The plan is to surprise Catherine and have her room painted when we get back. We picked up the paint yesterday, but she thinks it for whenever Buddy can get around to it. Hee hee hee! Looking forward to that surprise. We hope to catch up with friends we haven't seen in quite a while an perhaps leave on Monday instead of Sunday night. We shall see. However it goes, it's going to be good.

Three days in a row!

We've put Caleb on the potty on a pretty frequent basis, but it's been hit and miss, mostly miss. However, 2 mornings in a row he went peepee and poopoo after breakfast, and this am went right after he woke up! So funny to see the cheering section as the kids are sitting on the counter waiting to see what happens.
Nothing much happens during the day, but that does speak to my consistencey since this has been a busy week for us. But I think we're on the way to something!

Busy day

I took a friend with me today to OKC for a Classical Conversations Practicum. She was curious about the curriculum and I wanted to go to the tutor training. We had such a nice ride there and back. A lot was confirmed while we were there. The awesome thing is that tomorrow, she and her husband will go together so he can see what it's all about, too. I now have a homeschool buddy to do fun things with this year! I'm so thankful for that.
Mom so kindly watched the kids at the very last minute so we could go. Very nice. Caleb was very excited to see Grandma today. As I was getting him for bed, he took the phone away so he could talk some more to her. I'm so glad they had a good time.

When I got home, my curriculum had arrived! I'm the type who gets something, takes out all the pieces, reads about it and puts it all together. So, my memory cards for the whole year are in order and my manual for the afternoon class is in a binder in the book shelf. I'm ready to start teaching right now!

Samuel's friend Ian is in football at the tender age of 9. This will be his second season. I remember when my brother played in jr. high how tough it was. I played in the pep band at each home game and felt really bad when he got hit or didn't get to play. They start them young here and work them hard. Ian's mom called to let me know there was a football camp 3 nights this week to give Samuel a taste. Oh, my! I'm not prepared for the time commitment, nor the pain for him. However, Buddy thought it would be great for him to try. So, this evening, in 90's weather, he was on the H.S. football field running drills. He came home exhausted, but quite pleased. There is a draft for 4th graders and he said, "mom, do you think I'll get drafted?" Hope and concern all in one. He tried a linebacker position, of all things! Isn't there something with a little less contact? Oh, my.
I'm sure they'll all sleep nicely tonight.

Awww!

I bought a few things for Hannah yesterday and was putting them away in her dresser when I found Catherine had put her too small ballet shoes in one of Hannah's drawers.

Nothing

That's what we heard today. Hate to disappoint, but that's where it's at. At this point, I have to believe everything's working out for my good and for God's glory. So, I'll keep anticipating something good while I focus on other things like getting ready for school and keeping the house clean. At least I don't have to shop for school supplies and backpacks!

Not yet

Yesterday, I got up and checked emails right away. Nothing. So I told myself I couldn't check until 11:30. That's when we got the "news tomorrow" kind of email.
So, today, I got up and checked emails right away. Nothing. I checked more often today. So far, nothing. I woke up at 3 am and couldn't sleep for a while, so I prayed. Now I'm going to take a quick nap while Caleb is sleeping, Catherine is in her room playing, and Samuel is at a friend's. Maybe when I get up?

Tomorrow

Tomorrow has great promise of good news. Believe you me, I'll be posting as soon as I know anything. Of course, after I call Budy, and my mom, and my ...... ;o)

When I anticipate something happening in our adoption, I get a bit weepy when I read others' blogs, especially when they're seeing, touching, and enjoying their little ones. Don't get me wrong, I'm not jealous of them or feeling bad that it's not me. I honestly am so happy that their dream is becoming a reality.
Yesterday was one of those days. So, play dates were much in order. My friend Shawn brought 2 of her 4 girls over to keep C company while S was at golf camp. They kindly put Caleb on the potty for me! (He did fairly well, but I gave him a new sippy cup with a different valve and he didn't have much to drink in the am.) They stayed for about 4 hours, then after S got home and we had lunch, the neighbor's grandson came to play with S. After about an hour of that, we headed over to Charissa's to meet some blog world friends. The Heflins came to visit the Urbans and we got to crash the party for a bit. It was really neat to be able to see in the flesh people whose lives you've watched from afar. She said to the kids, "Hi S, C and C! I feel like I already know you." So true. Her little Addy is a cutey pie. It was rough having such a huge change, no nap, and all the kids, but she did ok. It was a good visit.
We left the Urbans and came home long enough to throw 2 pizzas in the oven, scarf them down and head up the road 15 miles to go swim where the kids had their swim lessons. Everyone had a good time. Nice to relax together. Caleb really hasn't been in a pool since last summer, so it was a bit overwhelming to him. We kindly dunked him 3 times and by the 3rd, he didn't even cry. We were all ready for bed, except Caleb who was awake the latest of the 3. I'm sure he'll take a really good nap today!

I got training pants for Caleb today, knowing it is time to get him started again. We did well for a while, then had a busy schedule where we were gone a lot and wouldn't be able to consistently put him on the potty. We've been home a lot lately and he's 22 months. I know not to compare, but Samuel was already bowel trained by this time.
Today, Catherine wanted to help me by changing his diaper. Samuel is at golf camp in the mornings this week, so we have special time together. Anyway, C got C on the potty and the shield isn't big enough cuz it made a great spray. We put his training pants on, set the timer for 30 minutes and went to get a snack. I got an email this am with good news on our adoption, so I went to see if there was anything else that had come in. Here he came and said "poo poo." Sure enough, he'd filled his pants. To the potty to clean up and put on new pants, only to wet them a few minutes later.
He's back in a diaper and down for a nap since he went to sleep 2 hours after we put him in bed. We did put him in 45 minutes before Samuel, but was still awake, we rocked him after Samuel was in there and put him back down, but he still talked and talked. We'll get there!

We had a great, productive weekend. We got to enjoy the Farmers' Market and had some really good fresh fruits and veggies. Steamed snow peas, new potatoes with dill and olive oil, butternut squash, green beans, blackberry cobbler. Not all in one meal, but what a treat!
The kids found 2 cukes on the vine large enough to make into "pickles." There's not enough yet to really make a batch, so I just put dill, garlic, apple cider vinegar, water and salt in a jar with the cukes. We'll see how it turns out. They were pretty excited! Plus our corn is tasseling! I grew up in Minnesota and it was "knee high by the 4th of July." Sadly, our crop was not much past that because we planted so late. We're really looking forward to sinking our teeth into some sweet corn from our garden.
I was having some Basil envy, so I bought a basil plant, dill and green pepper plant to grow in pots. It sounds so delicious to me! Plus, how much better to go to the garden then going to the store!
Buddy finished up what I couldn't do in our bathroom, which looks great. I'll post pictures after I clean it up. He also painted the crown molding in the girls' room. Now, I need to figure out how to paint the base boards without getting it on the carpet! Then we can paint the walls. Could we be nearing the end of our preparations for Hannah?
Anyone with suggestions on how to get a 22 month of age child and a 9 years of age child to go to sleep? We've had them together for a while now, and Caleb is staying awake talking to Samuel, who thinks it's a hoot to goof around with him. Some nights we put Samuel to bed in our room until Caleb's asleep (and we do start him out almost an hour before Samuel goes to bed) and then move him into his bed. Honestly, that's not what I want to do for long range plans. Samuel and Caleb both need their sleep, and I don't think what's going on is fair to either of them, especially when Caleb cries and keeps Samuel from sleeping. Sigh.

Whew!

I got to checking again and our fingerprints expire August 8th. I was thinking our I-171 H expired the same time, too. That means new background checks, new medicals, updated homestudy, etc.
I was also concerned that I didn't have the right paperwork and had misplaced the I-171 H, which tells me we are approved for 1 child.
Thank God, as I looked through my notebook full of papers- contracts, homestudy, dossier, education, etc, I looked more closely and saw I did indeed have my paper AND it doesn't expire until December!
Part of the frustration was that there was another little delay (the 2nd this week, 3rd in 2 weeks) and I was faced with the possibility of not having our updated background checks completed in case we had another delay and didn't get our court date for a while.
Last night as we read the Bible together, I read in Psalms how I should Delight myself in the Lord, commit my way to Him, trust Him, bestill before Him and wait patiently for him, not fret, refrain from anger and the Lord will bring all kinds of blessings to me. I also read in Isaiah 46:4 "Even to your old age adn gray hairs I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Ah, peace comes when you remember how good and faithful He is.
If nothing else, I was inspired to have a little clean up the desk project and got rid of a bunch of things that were cluttering my space.

random posts

We took off for the zoo this am, trying to get out before it got too hot and muggy. Amazing what 2 hours of pushing a stroller in humidity does! Gives me a good idea that I need to do it more often! Everyone had fun, so I'm glad we went, even though no one could join us.



I've been praying about what to do for homeschool this coming year, since our very helpful and fun fellow hs'ers are making changes in their schooling. One day in the spring I met a lady at the library homeschool group who told me about a Classical Conversations community starting in our town in the fall. I'd heard of schools using this model, but not homeschooling, and really liked the idea. Well, I finally contacted someone about it last week, found out about a practicum going on in a nearby town, went the next day and knew this is what we should be doing. Long story short, I offered to be a tutor for the community this year. We'll meet on Mondays for 24 sessions. My request is to not tutor S or C's classes, but to allow them to have some time to learn from someone else and be kids, not my children. I will have to sit with Samuel in the 2nd half of the day so I can learn what he needs to be doing at home in those classes. C will be just mornings, S will be morning and afternoon. (It is a requirement to sit with your children during these tutoring sessions so you know what to be working on for the week.)



It was a shock for me to realize I needed to plan for Hannah, too, during this time. For so long it's been a far off thought that would be here "someday." Someday is really coming up fast and she'll be here for the school year! Great news is that she can be with me where ever I am and does not have to go into the preschool. When she's ready, I'm sure she'll enjoy it. So, in 2 weeks I'll be heading to OKC for another practicum where I'll get the training for tutors, and a meeting before that to learn more about our specific group. Very exciting, but I'm wondering if I've bitten off more than I can chew. God is there to help me do this, too. Catherine is so excited about this new event she is saying she wished school could start tomorrow! Right after she asked if any mean people will be there. I told her we could work on language tomorrow. he he!

We've had news that final documents have been obtained for Hannah. We're just needing the court date. I've been tempted to get frustrated with delays, but in the end had to decide if I still believed God was bringing our daughter home to us. She IS our daughter in our heart and was immediately. If our wait was years and years, she would still be the daughter of our heart and we would patiently wait for God to bring it to pass.

While we wait for our call, which we believe could come next week, we're headed out to camp at some friends' parents' house. A pond to fish in, pool to swim in, horses and 4-wheelers to rides, and a 5th wheel to sleep in. Not like camping at a Corp of Engineers camp ground with no electricity as we'd originally intended, butI'm sure everyone will be ok with that!
Thanks, Baileys!