Are We There Yet?

If you are a parent, you are all too familiar with this question.

We hear it constantly on long trips and sometimes, even not so long trips.

Kids are, by nature, impatient, they have a hard time seeing the big picture, like how wonderful it will be or how much fun they are going to have when they get to where they are going.

They need reassurance that the wait will be worth it and feel the need to make certain that we, as their parents, understand that they have been waiting and that waiting is hard and really just not so much fun.

Kids tend to live in the here and now, not really thinking about what lies ahead - the good stuff that comes out of the wait and we, as their wise old parents (snicker), know that learning how to wait, how to be patient, is a good thing.

It builds character.

Right?

Right...

I should know this, right?

Right...

I really do know this but knowing and applying are soooooo different...

knowing is easy...

applying is hard and this wait...

this wait has gotten hard.

There have been many days recently that I have wanted to ask the Lord, "Are we there yet?"

cause I would really like to be there.

It is getting harder to keep my focus on the big picture, to know that good things will come out of this wait and to keep that knowledge in my heart.

There have been days recently that have left me wondering if the blessings would ever come, if we would ever "get there" and yet, while we still wait and as we begin to waiver, the Lord blesses.

I am certain that many times recently, our Heavenly Father has gotten so tired of hearing my complaints and my whining about having to wait, much like we, as parents, get weary of the "are we there yet" question...

and yet He blesses

He knows when I need His beautiful reassurances and He provides just what I need in order to sit back, relax and just let Him continue to do the driving - literally - and this is a hint - hehe...

cause it's not just about the destination and the blessings that will come but about the journey and I need to keep that in my heart - always.

So, just as I was beginning to falter, to wonder and to cry out, He blesses and in a BIG way!

No

Still no job - YET - but...

He is reassuring us at every step that our precious XM will come home, that she will NOT be forgotten and that He will provide the way

I have seen Him in the hearts of so many as they rally around us, through our fundraising efforts and through this time of trial.

It has been an incredible time of faith building and yes, character building, as we learn to trust and this past weekend, as the wait got hard, He totally blew us away!

Ya see, on the other side of the country, I have a friend, an adoptive mommie friend who has a beautiful, giving heart.

Patty and I began praying for each other a long time ago and through our various trials and triumphs, we supported each other and this past weekend, sweet Patty emailed me.

Sweet Patty emailed and offered us a gift that took my breath away and I knew that the Lord had timed this perfectly - for just this moment as He had done so many times before - just when we needed it - just when we began to ask, "Lord, are we there yet?"

Now, I don't know if you have figured it out yet, but amazing Patty offered us a CAR to sell to help bring our precious XM home!!

YEP - A CAR!

WOW!

After I picked myself up off of the soccer field (heh), I emailed her back, profusely thanked her and just prayed and praised God for blessing us as He teaches us patience by being so incredibly patient with us.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.  Psalm 27:14

So, if you live anywhere near the Washington state and are in need of a "new to you" car, here ya go!

Here is a "well loved" 2000, Toyota Sienna minivan with about 209, 566 miles.  Patty is even  throwing in the rooftop cargo carrier!!!

 
Here is a description of the van and I have lots more pics that I can share with an interested family.

• There are a few dings and dents on the exterior
• The tires look great. 
• The doors all work great - no remote open.
• The key and remote work.Radio works - not sure about CD
• Many alignments and tire rotations
• The power door was disabled 4/15/2011 because it was opening randomly
• The hatch handle in the rear was replaced 4/15/11
• New battery 9/2011
• New tires 12/27/2011
• It had it's 60,000 and 90,000 tune-up
• Timing belt changed 2/21/2005
• New front brakes 4/19/2005
• Lights replaced on dashboard, ignition replaced 7/13/2009
• Replaced brake pads 8/11/2009

Patty and I would really love for this van to go to another adoptive family that is growing or maybe a car for a teen to cart their brothers and sisters to school in:)

We are asking $4100 or best offer and aside from taking out the cost of detailing, etc, the rest of the proceeds goes directly to our adoption fund!!

Amazing!!

Now, there is a deadline and I truly love that there is.  I have a couple of months to try and sell it and then Patty and her hubby will donate it to their church ministry!

Wonderful!!!

Obviously, this will need to be a family in or close to the Washington state area, so if you live anywhere near there and have been thinking about another car or a second car or if you have a friend who might be interested, please just email me at 5puppies@comcast.net.

Honestly, whether this blessing goes to us or to Patty's church ministry, really doesn't matter because the blessing, for us, has happened already and I am just so thankful for sweet Patty's kind and caring heart and for our amazing Father who has once again answered my "are we there yet" question...

and even though His answer seems to be, not quite yet, He is teaching me to trust as He takes the wheel and... 

asks me not to be such a back seat driver!

I was never good with directions anyway!

Hang on a little longer, sweet girl...

this is the ride of a lifetime and it does not end when you come home precious one!

Oh no, it will just be beginning and what a beautiful journey it will be!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

hope for an amazing future...

HOME

"Deer" Caleb

No, we were not learning about deer but...

they sure were interested...

it's not like we never have deer in the backyard...

as a matter of fact, that is one of the things I love about where we live...

there are deer and foxes and turkeys and yes sometimes gators but I love it

and Caleb loves any reason to take a little break from math and I really can't say that I blame him!

Ahem... Back to School Post???

Well, the kiddos went back to school, um, a while ago but because I am so lame busy...

I am just now posting!

 

It was SO hard for me the kids to say good-bye to summer 

and hello to school once again

but those last few days before the first Monday of the first official day of the 2012/13 school year...

 we did it up!

 

We met dear Angie and her fabulous boys at the neighborhood dock

 

and jumped

I tell ya, that dock has been the hit of the summer and ...

it is free!

 

 

Gotta love that

That last Sunday night, I tried my best to hang on to summer with pancakes and bacon for breakfast 

 

 

and...

 

some really yummy fresh fruits and veggies for dinner

We ended the day with a visit from friends 

 

 

riding some bikes 

 

 

and taking the dogs for a walk

 

 

and then off to bed to rest up for the first day of 1st grade, 4th grade, 7th grade and (gulp) high school.

The girls were excited and just the teeniest bit apprehensive about starting first grade.

They are still in the same class this year

which helps Em just as much as it does Lizzie

Those 2 can argue with the best of them but oh my are they close.

They really draw comfort from each other and that...

Well, that is just the coolest thing ever!

Caleb and I are homeschooling again this year but have switched up curriculum.  

This is last year - BJU

and this is this year - I call it, the "help me Jennifer I have no clue what I am doing" curriculum- heh

BIG difference and so far

so good!

My sweet friend, Jennifer helped me to pull this together for Caleb.  Seeing as how money is tight, we just could not afford BJU and I felt like it was a bit too structured for Caleb last year.  I mean this is how I would find him most days as he watched his videos

He had a hard time sitting through them and then sitting down to work, so I decided to try something a bit less structured which would have sent me right over the edge last year but now, you know because I am an ole homeschooling veteran and all (chuckle), I can handle less structure - I think.

We are doing Wordly Wise (2 or 3 times a week), Abeka Read and Think (2 or 3 times a week), Saxon Math (everyday), Growing with Grammer (everyday), Bible devotionals plus an online Bible study for kids (everyday) and some very simple Science readers (about 4 times a week).  I also fill in with some dry erase boards once or twice a week that help him with his cursive writing.

He has also started going to a home schooling school once a week for World Studies and PE and...

he loves it!  My sweet friend Jennifer (yep, the one who saved me this year) is his teacher for World Studies.  She takes him and brings him home.  She ROCKS!

My sweet, funny Charlie started 7th grade this year!

Whenever I look at this child, this is who I see...

and while he still puts a smile on my face every time I think about him,

he is not so little anymore....

Charlie was not very happy about going back to the same school he attended last year but as soon as we got to the orientation, he was strutting around like big man on campus and all was right in Charlie land.

Christian, oh my Christian, my first highschooler...

Christian's birthday is coming up next month so I will wait to tell the amazing story of how prayers were answered and once again, the Lord provided!

Suffice it to say

We are very proud of our first highschooler and while it is very different, we seem to be surviving - so far!!!

 

Yep, this summer, like every summer, I went into the new school year, kicking and screaming but I have to admit, it has been ok and we are once again back into the school/soccer routine, and routine, for me, is good.

 

Waking up at 5:30 in the morning, however, is NOT.  This is how you will find me most nights around midnight...

 

 

and just think, only 162 more days to go... yawn:)