Number 21

Tonight the Hardin County Football team had it's first home game. A very big win!! Caleb kicks for the team. Tonight found him kicking 5 for 5.....a HUGE success for Caleb!!

Priorities

Priorities. You gotta love the person you see who has their life in alignment with God's will!! I always do....and then I watch to see exactly how they make those alignments work!! This week I had a mom come into my home and stand in the kitchen while I baked cookies to take to Chelsea and Stuart. She does not have her life in order, selfishness is very prevalent. As I tried to talk to her, while continuously making the cookies, I could not help but think about service. The good kind of service! The kind that has us putting others before ourselves and loving it! The love we have when we do things for our children. The love we have when we help an elderly grandparent or friend. The kind you walk away from thinking "I surely received more joy from helping them than they received from anything I did!!". I thought about this mom, I though if she could unconditionally love and put others first she might be making different choices. I think the same is true for depression....no quicker way to see the "light' than to serve others.

Perspective too! I have been really struggling this week with Seth's crying. He is doing some better....but not lots better. As I felt sad for Seth (and truthfully myself) walking into school the other morning we passed a mother of a little girl in kindergarten. The little girl was crying to hard she had to stop throw up. Perspective. Seth has yet to throw up....lol...hoping he does not!! He walks into school without crying, he would be just fine if I would stay all day:) But now, he does not cry as long as he sees his teacher before I leave. It could always be worst!

For the first time in 20 years I have everyone in school. I have really had to think about where my priorities lie. People always ask, "What are you going to do?" My pat reply is "laundry":) I then explain that our laundry is the most patient thing I deal with....it always waits for me! So, as I pull at my time and struggle to fill my short days with good I never have to worry about the laundry attacking me or screaming at me......lol.....at least not literally:)

Doug

This we sure has had a lot of great events. Birthdays and Births and additions. Doug joined our home this week. A very neat young man who we all love! Doug has had a hard time lately, yet he has emerged, making tough choices, and can smile. My heart aches for losses that cannot be restored. Life is not fair, it is not easy but, we all have it within our power to make our lives what we choose. Doug knows this and Doug is making his future...... Doug will grow up to be a wonderful young man! He will have wisdom that is beyond his age and empathy that can lead him to incredible works in God's Kingdom. I think in the midst of hard times we have to look for the good and Doug's will be experience, the ability to help others and to show them what a difference good choices can make.

Seth and Daddy

Seth was one of only a small small few of my football fans who received ice cream after the game. My family sits through a bunch of ballgames.....the games are never boring, we have a family member playing and each game is a new challenge. My rules are always the same. We watch the game. No playing football on the sidelines, not running up and down the bleachers. Call me crazy but I need to know where my children are. I have learned over the years that many people, many of my dear friends, do not have the same concerns I do. But, their lack of concern does not challenge me to change my feelings. Perhaps the opposite. Safety first. Of all my children, Seth is perhaps one of the greatest watchers. He knows what is going on. He can follow the plays. I wonder at times if it is because he has spent his entire life at ballgames? At 6 weeks he slept on my chest through Chelsea and Sarah's basketball games. He stood tonight with Scott for more than 35 minutes without moving (certainly not much). Seth and Daddy make excellent football fans:)

Number 82

Carlton, aka number 82, had his first football game tonight. He plays offense and defense for the 7th grade team. Carlton had a great game, although they lost. Carlton, after much struggling, seems to have found his niche with football!!

so proud.....

I was able to meet and have lunch with Chelsea and Stuart today. They are doing great at Freed. No big surprise:) I love seeing my children grow and these two certianly are! I loved sitting and talking with them, hearing about classes and plans, a joy:) It is espeically nice to have them together!

Mr Cooper arrived today!

My little sister Sandy and her neat husband Chad welcomed their third son into the world today! Mr Cooper was born at 11:08 am and weighed 6#8' and was 19 inches long......nearly 3.5 weeks early. The smallest of Sandy's boys, but I feel certain he will be catching up before we know it (and way to soon!). I have said it before, yet it bears repeating, I am so extremely proud of Sandy! She made excellent choices in her life and because of those choices she is now living with the consequences : A wonderful life! Sandy is such a good momma! Her boys are sweet and will be tremendous workers for the Lord. Sandy and Chad work to provide their children with a firm foundation in Christ......no greater gift can any parent ever bestow upon their children!

Pictures will be coming:) Chelsea and Sarah have both been to see Sandy and Cooper, but I will have to wait until next week to sneak away and play!

Happy 17th Joseph!!

Joseph is 17:) A big day for him!! He, knowing what he likes, had a list of food he wanted for dinner: Ritz chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and corn. That is surely a growing teenage boys kind of meal! Josephs friend Tatia came to eat with us(pictured with Joseph above). I cannot believe how fast my kids are growing up!!

Football time is here:)

Tonight Hardin County played in the Chester County Jamboree. Caleb had a great game, kicking to field goals. Yeah KK!! I caught Caleb and his friend Brennen on their way out the door for the game with this shot. Caleb love football:) They won the game too!

stealing?

Mixed feelings.....I wonder who the mom of this 17 year old feels? Given that the teen spent 500 hours of his time cheating I guess the mom is alright with it. Surely she knew. I suppose, as most who read it, she is so impressed with his ability that she forgot to think about the repercussions.....you know, the consequences. While it is not against the law, it certainly cannot be "right". As I raise my kiddos, I am sometimes, many times, in awe of their ingenuity and other times I can hardly believe their gall at times.

I know in this world we are bombarded, especially our children, with gray areas. Those things that are neither black or white, not all wrong or all right, not illegal yet not legal. This area has and will always will be Satan's biggest playground. It is the area where a tempting little voice can work on our minds....because we sometimes do not have clear cut ideas about those areas.

Sometimes one of my children will begin to play with a toy. Soon, another sibling want their toy back. Frustrations over whose it is and who can touch it begin. To me ....simple logic.....if it is not yours, do not pick it up. Do not put it away, do not scoot it over, do not take it to the person you think it belongs to....do not touch what is not yours! Pretty simple? I sure wish it was! Gray areas....the "I was just trying to help.....I was just protecting it.....I was just cleaning.....I was just playing with it, not hurting it".

I think we need to spend a little more time pushing the black or white attitude. I know there will be gray areas....stay out! God will divide those, but far better to know where you are!

As I read the story above I thought about the true genius of those 17 year old boy! He is going to college to get a degree in neuroscience, to "unlock the brain" the teen said. Yet to me, how scary to think that a smart guy like that, who did not have any qualms about cheating a company, will be unlocking truths, unlocking the brain? What code of ethics will he follow? Any? A whole lot scarier than unlocking an iphone.

Happy Birthday Mercedez!

Mercedez turned 12 today! Unbelievable! Yes she is growing up quickly, yes she is a joy, yes she is so very sweet, and apparently, yes she is 12! What a joy to parent:) Serious about serious things....fun to be with.......a tremendous help and a great example. I truly see great great things coming Mercedez way! God has wonderful plans, I know, for this sweet spirit!

Mercedez new cut:)

Mercedez has more hair than 10 average people:) Beautiful black, thick and straight. Part of her birthday was to have it cut and thinned. Sarah cut the bangs for her about 4 weeks ago....a disaster:) Kerry, our good friend and hair dresser, told Mercedez, "Do not let Sarah cut your hair ever again." Mercedez laughed as she repeated it to me, but to those who saw, they would agree too. To give Sarah some credit though, she was just trying to repair the damage CoCo, the goofy pig, did to Mercedez bangs. Either way, the results were sweet and Mercedez is loving her hair.

Pieces

Yesterday Sam was cleaning and found a shell left over from our beach trip. He asked if he could have it and I said yes. Not surprisingly, within 30 minutes the shell was broken. The shell that had laid on my computer desk for nearly a month, safe. Within minutes of having an "owner" was broken. Of course it was not Sam "fault".

This morning as Sam was beside me at the desk he said picking up the pieces of the shell, "Now I just have the pieces to remind me of it when it was whole." I looked up closely, such profound words from my guy. I thought about all the things Sam has received only to have them in pieces so quickly. Whether it is a shell or a bike, pieces always come. It would have been a very sad thought except that Sam was not really sad when he said them, just matter of fact.

In a very big way I think about the pieces of some of my children, the reminder that there should have been whole children. Without drugs and loss, we would not have the pieces to pick up. But like Sam, in a matter of fact way, it does not matter what happened in the past, only how we choose to spend today!

Reading time

We have tried this school year to designate a specific reading time. At first I tried after school snack....not a good time! My house was wired, way to much activity. So we have settled on after dinner and before bedtime. But in the picture above, Seth combined the reading time with the bedtime:) Too sweet!

John's quotes

To give John (above with Mercedez)lots of credit he is very creative. He works on his songs and his myspace to make it uniquely his own. I admire creativeness....but John gets a little to creatve with his quotes. I do not like negative or non-positive saying. John had a goofy one I did not like for a week or so. I had been trying to figure out how to address it when he posted a bulletin:

What would you do if a gorilla was chasing you?

My open door to address the quote:)


mom
Aug 18 2007 6:32P
John, I would not be in Uganda bothering the gorillas....but if you should ever meet one? Please remember that they travel in groups (families)of usually about 11, but sometimes as many as 40, so you will not be meeting ONE gorilla, but a lot of them! A male gorilla will fight to his death to protect his group. That same male is usually about 400 pounds, 6 feet tall and has an arm spand of 8 feet. He might even be as old as 50...so he has been a round a while! Man is one of his only natural preditors....so I suggest you simply pray! Pray that the gorillas you meet understand sign language (they are smart!)! Love, MOM

PS you might want to go ahead and learn the sign for "friend" ....lol


mom
Aug 18 2007 6:34P

PSS If you bother the sweet shy gorillas you might well live up to your goofy little saying at the top of this page....the one that says....

"Your so good at making bad choices" Not my favorite quote at all.

John did change the quote...thank you John:) Of course now I am trying to figure out how to address the new one....hint hint John!

Oh Seth....

I love the picture of Seth above....he was showing Bella how to "pose" at the beach:) Generally a funny goofy smart guy. I said "generally", but yesterday a new leaf has emerged. My child who has cried to go to kindergarten for the last THREE years is very sad. He has whined and been very argumentative(not normal Seth at all). If you ask him how school is he will immediately say "good". Like adults when asked how they are doing:) But upon a closer listen he said "school isn't fun" . My make it great talks usually work when a child has made it great and know they have the power to choose. Seth is struggling to make friends and settle in. I decided on the way to school that I was not going to walk him in.....it is just too sad for him. I started to just wear my pj's and tell him I couldn't get out of the van. But since I have never done that before I decided I might cause real panic...lol. On the way this morning (everyone dressed and ready for the day!) Seth pulled out a quarter from his pocket. He said it was his ice cream money. Ice cream is 50 cents, but a thought came to mind......I told Seth that ice cream was 50 cents but if he would walk in with Ryan and sit with his class I would give him 2 quarters for ice cream after lunch. He held those two quarters in his hand for a long time. Then he quietly handed them back to me, "I'm already full. I done need anything to eat.....I think I will just stay home." I braced my self....come on Amanda, you have had 20 children go to school (more actually with fostering)....you can do this! I smiled and started to form my rebuttal when Bella started naming the ice creams. Tasha was telling him which was her favorite (even telling him which was moms favorite and she was right!).Seth looked up at me and asked what a push-up(mom's favorite) looked like? Everyone chimed in and for a few minutes I was thinking of how to redirect to the "get him into the building part" when Ryan, who was sitting beside Seth, picked up the quarters, handing them to Seth said, "Me and you will walk to the lunchroom before we sit down and look at the ice cream. You can see which is mom's favorite and which one you want so you will already know before you get to lunch." Seth took the quarters in his little hand and began to talk. Thankfully it coincided with our arrival at school. Ryan had the door open and he and Seth were on their way before I had time to say goodbye(likely best anyway). As I pulled away I had tears in my eyes....."paydays in parenting", this is what they are like. To have brothers and sisters who love you and want you to be happy.....who will find the right words and be positive. YES! Definite payday!

Midnight meetings:)

I met Chelsea last night half way between home and school. It was not really at midnight, but it was after midnight when I pulled in the drive. Chelsea and her interface group at going to be floating the Buffalo River today. They (she and her partner) were responsible for getting everyone there. The canoeing destination was a little over an hour away, so Chelsea met me and we traded vehicles so she could drive everyone in the 15 passenger van. We met at McDonald's, the only place open besides Wal-Mart, and sat for about an hour talking. We left when they started to lock us in:) Chelsea is loving her group. Sounds like they are a fun bunch of people! After catching up we went to Wal-Mart and bought window cleaner for the van and a couple of other small things. We sat in the parking lot under a big light talking and cleaning windows....anyone with more than a dozen children (lol...perhaps less than a dozen) can appreciate the number of fingers that write, smear, and poke on windows! That done we headed home....me to Savannah and Chelsea back to Henderson. I truly love those quiet moments. I love that I am blessed with a great husband who can be home with my sleeping Indians while I slip away for a couple of hours. I will have to slip back to meet her tonight to switch vehicles (everyone of my drivers were driving school kids today!). I hope they have a great day at the river, although I seriously wonder if a canoe can even float with the serious lack of rain.....lol...Chelesa said they might be wading instead of floating in a canoe:) Either way, I am sure they will make it a great day!

Fixing wrongs...

Fixing that would be like "trying to turn the Titanic around". Seemingly impossible. Perhaps improbable. Even absurd. Certainly time consuming. Can something/someone so destined to flip be turned around? Can they be brought home?

Hope. The Bible says in Romans 5:3-5 "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

God always gives hope. I once saw a quote and the whole Titanic thing made me remember it:

“Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working.” E. Joseph Cossman

I cannot image thinking I could, all alone, reverse something as large (as big an issue) as the Titanic....but I think key point is simple......No I cannot turn it around.....But, the question at hand is who can? This answer I do know:) God.

I tell my kids all the time: There is no problem to big for you and God to make right. There are things we cannot reverse, and perhaps the Titanic would be one of them, but God can set a course that will lead you to safety. The course is sometimes premeditated by our sin, meaning we always have to take ownership and there are always consequences, yet with God there is hope! Hope of forgiveness, hope for better days, hope for the future, and the greatest gift of all hope for eternity!

So as Joseph Cossman, in his quote, hints.....never give up, never let disappointment and weariness pull us under! Always hope in God and when our Titantic comes....look for direction from GOD.

And they wonder where she gets it??

People laugh with and at Sarah often. They will ask "Where does she get her funny personality?" Well, not really from me:) I love to laugh, but have never been a "life of the party" personality. Her dad? Definitely....I took this picture this summer of Sarah and Scott....too funny! It was taken one day while we were swimming at Dad's. (LOL ) Think Scott watched many Kung Fu movies growing up?? Obviously Sarah did not:)

praying for rain

We have had so little rain this summer! In truth, we have been working on negative rain fall for the last three years (down 50 inches now). This creek in my dad's back yard has been a swimming pool before, yet it is down to a small trickle. My children love it either way, yet it is a big deal! Dad and Clara Ruth get all their water from a spring and it is suffering from the lack of rain . Dad had Jacob and John come and work on Saturday. The boys helped Dad close his pool. Dad had so much water evaporating (from our crazy three digit temperatures) and just did could not keep the pool full with the spring. Hopefully our Fall will be full of lots of rain, because it sure doesn't look like we are getting any anytime soon!

Getting started.....

Seth is having a hard time with separation from mom......not surprising as he is likely the biggest "momma loving" child I have ever had. Yesterday morning he came out of Sunday school class and it was very obvious he had been crying. Never had Seth cried going to class! I immediately picked him up and asked "what happened?". For Seth to cry he had to be seriously hurt or seriously mad.....he was neither as he replied, "I just wanted you.". Ahh....I thought my "booming ego of a 5 year old" had breezed through the start of Kindergarten pretty easily. Wrong. This morning he wanted me to walk him into school. I know this is bad...lol...but bad would be a sibling dragging him in too! We dropped everyone else off and he and I talked and walked into the school, said the pledge and waited for his teacher. Seth has a wonderful teacher! I spoke to her a moment and she mentioned he had cried a couple of times on Friday (new to me). Seth started crying and I squatted down and we talked for a couple of minutes and he was alright. I thought as I was leaving the school, I miss my children being dependent on me for basic happiness. Seriously, what an ego trip for moms! In a natural way school is such a big step to independence and a big step to personal happiness. I know there is that saying, "If momma ain't happy, nobodies happy" and I agree to some degree. Yet as my children grown up and I work so hard to teach ownership and respect....those are "stand on your own" behaviors/attitudes. Yes, yes, yes, mommas reinforce them......but the child, to truly be successful has to feel them! As I walked away this morning I know that Seth will realize I mean what I said, I will pick him up this afternoon....he will have a good day.....he will play with his new friends and make even more friendships....he will make his day great:) It certainly is within his power to and I want him to realize it! I have blogged it before and it is just as true today.....we MAKE our happiness. I rarely tell my kids to "have a good day", that is dependent on it just happening to you. I almost always will be caught saying, "Make it a great day!".....that is empowering:) My prayers this morning is that Seth make his day a good one!

write a book?

I have to laugh every time someone says that. Today a lady said I needed to write a book hummm....wonder if she has meet all my kids:) There are days I feel I have much to add to my blog and days I have much I could add that I do not (I actually do screen my thoughts or words) and days I blog only to speak to my boys. But when it comes to writing a book? lol...I can think of my title...welcome to mars....but beyond that? I really feel like right now, in the midst of teenage boys(thus the title...boys are out there!), I need to be a tad bit more successful before I spout words of wisdom. I am currently just trying to read everyone else's wisdom!!

I cannot think of a more daunting task than parenting......or a task that is more joyful. I think God in all his infinite wisdom knew that parenting would bring us a range of emotions we never knew possible:) Often, when feeling sorry for myself, I take great comfort in knowing that I can go to God with every success, disappointment, huddle, fall and giggle knowing He understands! There is no one anywhere on this earth who can hang with me when we are discussing my children better God!! He and I have many many talks (there is no greater listener or comforter) about my children. He is the key to their success. He is the key to my success.

My dear friend Cindy Bodie blogged today about her frustrations through parenting. I have always marveled at her determination, love, faith, perseverance, and spirit!! Her faithful is not dependent on her children......she loves her children, she gives them an example of faith and love that many have never seen, and she love God!! I love to see her faith in action. I think as parents we all need to be just that......faith in action!!

The picture above was created by the kids and I for Scott a couple of years ago at Father;s Day. I am not terribly original in my crafts, but I love trying:) Every child signed a letter to create the "You are the world to us dad".....that is 21 letters, we were fostering a little girl at the time:)

when we count our blessings.....

When I count my blessings and those of my children, I always include our church family. My children are so blessed by the love they have within our family and our extended church family. Pictured above is Tasha(far right) and next to her is Laura Beth and next to her is Kelsey. All three of these beautiful girls are adopted. All unique and all part of our incredible church family.

I never thought about others who were adopting when we began. Frankly, the decisions other made did not influence Scott and I . After the fact, as we raise our children, I look around and am so very thankful for our friends. Thankful that my children have others within our church who share common love.

I do not often stop and think about the adoption part. Actually when I snapped this picture it never occurred to me. But as I was pulling up the pictures of the day I realized that the three girls were all sweetly side by side. Just the perfect place for friends!!

Sunday morning presentations.

This morning the 3rd and 4th graders had presentations. I am very proud of thier memory work:)

Stuart....

How funny....this is Stuart:) He spent a big part of the day on he phone.....Thankfully he can still smile while he talks!

My ride:)

Thankfully Sarah came to Freed this afternoon to pick me up. We were able to see Baileys room and visit with Janet for a little while. Then while Chelsea got ready for the opening program Sarah went and bought dinner for the three of us. Sarah is very long suffering when it comes to me and hanging out with me......I am very very thankful. Moments like today are BIG to me. I wanted to be there and I wanted to stay......thank you for coming to get me Sarah!

I took this picture as we were leaving. Sarah is really funny. A very shy child obviously....lol...NOT!

Interface

Chelsea and her Interface partner Phillip were in the opening ceremony of Interface tonight. I took this picture before the opening. The theme was mission impossible and they ran up (Chelsea flipped and rolled:) together as their group was called. I know Chelsea will do a great job........and I know that Stuart will have a great time! Lots of preparation goes into the activities and the weekend......I look forward to hearing all about it:)

First day at Freed:)

Chelsea was working in Benson,the boys dorm, when we arrived. She was taking interface pictures......this is her taking Stuarts picture:)
Our family!!! Well, part of our family:) Scott's sister Janet and her daughter Bailey(bottom beside Sarah) and both of her boys, Ben and Jeremy on either side of Stuart. ...And me and Chelsea.
My girls! Sarah zoomed up close on this picture wondering why people think she and Chelsea look alike. Sarah decided their sweet cheeks were the only trait they share:) They share a lot more than that! They have two of the most beautiful spirits I know and a love for God that leaves a mom proud:)
This is our family at Freed (minus Augusta).......left to right: Jeremy, Stuart, Chelsea and Bailey!

Today was Stuarts first day at Freed. We moved him into his room and I was able to meet all the other parents:) He is suite mates with Jeremy (his cousin, Janet.... Scott sisters son...lol....how confusing is that). I am very tickled to have Jeremy and Bailey both at Freed with Stuart and Chelsea. They have another cousin Augusta who is a Freshman as well:) I was able to take some fun family pictures!

Too cute

Jacob's friend Kelsey is one of the sweetest girls I know. She and Jacob wanted to take pictures the other day (I think it was a 110 degrees outside!). We took a bunch...bunch....bunch of pictures. This is perhaps my favorite:)

Big friends

My kids love their "big friends". I think perhaps one of the neatest gifts that comes from having big sisters and brothers is the big friends that we come to know through them. I took these pictures over the summer ........these are some of my kids favorite big people:)

Tragic

A tragic accident in a town next to us sure did have me thinking today. Life is so fragile. We all know this, yet I do not really think about it. In a blink of an eye it is all over. Truly our lives, even a life of a 100 years, is but a blink of an eye to our Lord. Even knowing how fast things can happen, I still sometimes fail to live my life as I want. I am always reminded at moments like this of my sister Stacy. She lived, and I do mean lived, for 2 full years with cancer. Cancer than initially was given a prognosis of weeks. She began each day as she wished. She spoke the words she wanted to say. She encouraged others, crazy that she was so encouraging in the middle of a personal war. I, as a young mom with 4 small children watched in amazement. Stacy became a Christian as a teenager, but lived a Christian life in its truest sense as a 20 something. I can remember the moment so clearly in the last couple months of her life, we were driving home from the doctor in Memphis and talking about stuff (the things I do not remember). She made the comment,"I am not sure I am doing everything I should be doing." A humble comment. A heartfelt comment. Forever tears will come to my eyes as I remember her words and with them you have to see her life. I took a deep breath and I spent many many minutes telling her all the things she did. Could she really not see? I think those who serve, and serve from the heart, they only have vision of serving more. Vision that sees with a heart, a heart God dearly loves. Stacy spent her last few years making every moment count. For many years I carried her words with me. But, with all things, time has a way of fading the bad and the good.

Today I realize that our lives have to be dedicated. They have to be full of re dedication....each day is a new day. A new time to love and serve. I truly intend that my days are spent with no regret.

I had to post this picture (a picture of a picture with poor quality on my part), of Stacy and my 4 little ones. She was a wonderful aunt:)