Happy Saturday!

good Afternoon! I wanted to give an update to what is going on with us. As always, I am going to do bullets so it is quick- I am in class rightnow and I should be listening but I am not.

• Eli is graduating 8th grade on Monday night. How did this happen? Next time I turn around it will be high school.
• Tripper finished Pre-K. So, he is off to Kindergarten in August. Wow!
• Emma just finished Kindergarten and is off to 1st grade- She is super excited.
• After next Friday, I will be a senior!

I believe.

• I believe in the rightness of our choice.
• I believe that God has a plan for my two new girls.
• I believe that there is beauty that comes from sadness and hurt.
• I believe that my family will grow - not just in number (I now have five children!) but that they will grow in love and knowledge.
• I believe that we have a purpose.
• I believe that I have a purpose.
• I believe that God has answered my prayers for protection for my girls.
• I believe that while it may take a little while to become adjusted, we will eventually settle into a new routine.
• I believe that great things are about to happen.

Conversations.

From Tripper.
At the Dairy Queen.

"Hey Mother. Did you know that if someone hurts you, they pop your personal bubble?"

I have no comment to that. Really.

Oh, What a Night... and a day, too!

Ok, I just started to write about our night, Tripp's hiney, our ambulance ride, our day at Vanderbilt, Tripper on morphine, me missing class... but I really don't want to talk about it.

Today was super difficult.

You know what, though? I didn't even cry.

I also have not cried when all that junk started going on with my new kids. I don't know why. I am usually a huge mush ball. But I seem to have no tears. Maybe I am old and dried up.

For those who don't know, we are going to have two girls come live with us. I am very excited about this. They are beautiful, courageous, and simply wonderful.

Well, tomorrow is day 5 of school Intersession. Just making it through.

Blind Faith.

Right now, my life is being led by blind faith.

There are many choices that we are making that may or may not make sense to others. I have been questioned about what provisions I have to add other children to my family. I have been asked the silliest things that do not pertain to the situation. I am asked and questioned by those who matter most to me - friends, family and some church family.

My blind faith keeps me going.
I know that everything is going to be OK.

A couple of nights ago, I was talking with Eli and we were discussing how one choice or action can effect someone else's life forever. Forever. Think about the power in that. So many excuses could be made - Have I been through the teenage years? No. Will children have to share bedrooms? Yes. Do I have enough room in my van? Almost. Do six children eat alot? most definitely.

What comes to my mind is this: These children deserve life. and love. and stability. and laughter. and chances. and choices. My house has life, and love, and stability and lot and lots of laughter. We give choices and chances.

On the other hand, I am encouraged by a select group who tell me that it is going to be OK. God promises to take care of us - with food, shelter and clothing. He is there when we are stress over a situation. All we have to do is put Him first. Dave is our strongest supporter. Many times over the past weeks, he has told me, "It will work out." Plain and simple. Another lady from our congregation called me last Monday. Her words were also plain and simple. She was outright - straight to the point. She asked me what would God have me to do. I told her, "He would have me take the kids." She replied, "Well, there ya go. Have a good day." And she hung up.

This is why I have blind faith. I am thankful for prayer, a purpose, and direction.
Remember, "Here Am I, Send Me."

Conversations

So, Emma and I were talking last night... don't really remember the conversation leading up to the comment, but it was revolving around a boy. It went something like this:

Emma: Mom, Lex was at Eli's soccer game. He told me.
Me: Well, I did not see him.
Emma: If you woulda saw him, you would know. He is hot!
Me: Emma, you think he is cute?
Emma: I am thinkin' he is my Romeo.

Updates... Bullet Style!

Here are some things that are going on with our family:

• Getting my school comments outta the way: I have a final tonight. My last - and only - one. While I did have presentations due, this is my only formal final. After this, I am going to start intersession on Monday. I am just going to a local school and doing 5th grade math. I am thankful for a certain friend who loves math. I do not. I am also thankful for field trips. :)
• May is a busy month. While we have "extras" happening, we also have Eli's 8th grade graduation, Daisy's high school graduation and Tripp's Pre-K graduation.
• Daisy's prom this Saturday :) (Daisy is the newest member of our family - She is a gorgeous 18 year old high school senior) I am thrilled to get to have her hair done on Saturday. My sweet Mother in Law took her and got jewelery and shoes. Indeed, the prom is a fairy tale... even when you are not the one attending. It is wonderful to watch her glow at the thoughts of prom...
• Emma is excited about moving up to first grade. She is so bubbly right now... softball season is here and she is doing well. The fact that she "gets sweaty" is not holding her back.
• Tripper, on the other hand, is not liking t-ball. At all. We know this was a mistake. It is going to be a long season.
• Eli had his last "middle-school" soccer game last night. He has a playoff game on Thursday. I was going to take pictures... but my batteries died in my camera.

I will do a picture post soon. I promise.