Pet Therapy

Cause sometimes you just need a little help...

 

with your homework...

or your breakfast...

or just to make your wheelchair a better place to be.

Doc, like Chewy, was sent to us at the right time, for the right reason and for some pretty special kiddos... 

They both came from hard places...

battered and bruised...

but filled with a longing for love and these kiddos were more than happy to oblige...

 What we didn't expect was the healing they would bring...

 and the reminder to pause and to just be quiet for a moment...

a Herculean task around here but these two can manage to calm the even the busiest of spirits!

ahem

Yep, these two were definitely meant to be here...

in this season of healing from our own batterings and bruises...

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  Psalm 147:3

Thank you Lord for these furry blessings. 

Mother Knows Best

My Mother that is!

Some of you may remember that we have been struggling with the girls' ages.

We do not believe that they are the ages that were given to them in Ch*na and in fact, believe that they are both younger...

but how in the world do you determine just how old.

We have had bone scans done...

We have had dental xrays taken...

We have consulted developmental doctors, international adoption doctors, our pediatrician, teachers and therapists...

and while they have all been helpful...

in the end, no one is certain and no one has the same answer.

So, we have talked about it, we have prayed about it and after making a decision that we were all comfortable with...

we got thrown a curve ball and were back at square one.

Sigh...

So as we once again began to brood over what ages would work best for the girls...

the Lord brought our answer in the form of a palm to the forehead kind of moment.

I had not talked to my Mom all week...

which was unusual but I was sick and sounded much worse than I felt and did not want to worry her, cause...

she worries

*grin*

Soooo, Mom called me last night, late, which again is unusual...

but she was worried...

see I told ya

*grin again*

as I began to lay it all out for Mom, she calmly said...

"Just make them the ages that you think serves them best right now.  When they are 18 and 19, it really won't matter but it does matter now and they have a lot of catching up to do."

WOW

Alrighty then...

Wish we had consulted Dr. Mom first!

She is so right!  My sweet girls have a lot of lost love to catch up on, a lot of loss-es to make up for.

Thank you Lord for using my Mom's calm wisdom to guide us to our answer.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

Proverbs 31:26

Happy Birthday Caleb

One More Year...

One more year until this sweet, innocent, young boy...

turns into a (gulp) teenager!!

I am not ready...

So not ready for the transformation to begin!

I have seen it happen with his older brothers...

and I am just not ready for my baby boy to morph into into one of these...

hehe

Honestly, it just happens so fast!

 One day you are arranges play dates and the next...

they are dating!

Caleb and I have agreed, however...

no growing up for him!

Some how I think I had better get that in writing!

*wink*

Because, even though he promised me he would not grow up...

Caleb went and turned 12 last week anyway!

Crazy kid!

He didn't talk much about what he wanted or what he wanted to do...

but he had talked a lot lately about 3 very special friends whom he had not seen in almost 2 years.

This precious group of friends had known each other since they were 2 years old but recently, because of schools and sports activities and just plain old life...

they had not seen each other in a very long time.

Sooooo...

I decided that it might be fun to set up a little surprise for my sweet Caleb...

despite the fact that he was reneging on our deal and growing right on up!

*grin*

And after only a few texts between busy Mom's...

the plan was in place and the old gang of 4 was ready to reunite..

only Caleb was clueless...

which is right where I wanted him...

and on his birthday and after soccer practice...

we took Caleb out to get some pizza...

and...

to see some old friends...

it was awesome...

and as if no time had passed at all between them...

they picked right back up where they left off, and even though they were all so much more grown up...

they still acted like silly little boys who just could not be serious for one cotton picking minute while I tried to get some serious pictures!!!

Ugh!

Boys!!!

hehe

They were giggling laughing and talking and just being best buds and I was so very thankful for the time that they got to spend together.

I feel like these boys have a connection that will hopefully follow them throughout their lives as they continue to grow up (sigh) and go their own ways.

Caleb, you are my funny, sweet, compassionate, silly, awesome child who, irregardless of this growing up thing...

still likes to snuggle up every now and again and I am learning to hold on to and cherish those times...

cause this...

has quickly turned into this...

and while I know I tease you about growing up, I am just so excited to see where the Lord will lead you my sweet boy.

You have many gifts to offer and I cannot wait to watch as He reveals to you, your path and your purpose and while it may not always be easy...

it will always be blessed.

Happy Birthday my sweet Caleb!

Blessings in the Dairy Isle

So God took me to the grocery store today!

Yep, the grocery store!

Before I explain, let me start by saying that I just don't ever go to the grocery store.

My awesome Hubby took over the shopping when he was in between jobs.

We had no money and tons of bottomless pits kids...

 

obviously, not a great combination.

 

*grin*

 

Sooo, my dear, sweet, math minded Hubby decided to try his hand at couponing and has never looked back!

Every Friday night, armed with his accordion folder full of coupons, he sets off to stock our pantry and prevent a mass mutiny!

 

It is a beautiful thing, y'all!

 

*big grin*

 

Yep, so this Mom of 7 just does not go to the grocery store...

 

except for today...

today the Lord took me there and it all started while watching a "Pioneer Woman" episode with my girls.

You see, she was making Chocolate Fondue.

If anything can get me to the grocery store, it is Chocolate Fondue!

YUM

So, off to the store I went with chocolate on the brain and, ahem, no coupons in hand.

 

Yikes!

Now, to back up again just a bit.

Many of you may remember the struggle I had with the girls' school.

Maggie and Lucy were being main streamed at lunch, recess and special area with 4th and 5th graders.

Sigh

 

However, after I pushed, the district agreed to put Maggie with 2nd graders and Lucy with 1st.

 

Yes!

 

This was a much better fit and after the very first day of being with 2nd graders, Maggie came home from school, super excited because she had made a friend and this friend went to our church and in Maggie's own words, this friend, "knows God"!

 

Big Yes!

 

Well, this particular friend, "C",  has continued to sit with Maggie and play with Maggie and talk to Maggie and just this week, Maggie's teacher sent me this picture...

 

 

 Maggie and her friends...

 

real friends, y'all and right there next to Maggie in this picture, was her very special friend, "C".

 

These precious girls, and especially "C", who have so lovingly befriended and accepted Maggie have been on my heart ever since and today...

 

today the Lord took me to the store but not to satisfy my chocolate craving...

 

He took me to the store to meet "C"!

 

As I was searching for the heavy whipping cream in the dairy isle...

 

which, btw, they were totally out of...

 

go figure

 

I saw her and then I saw her Mom and I instantly recognized her from church.

 

In the middle of the grocery store, I got to thank this precious little girl for her kindness to my Maggie, thank her for being a good friend and for helping Maggie to feel just like a "normal" 7 year old.

Yep, there I stood in the dairy isle, crying...

not over the lack of heavy whipping cream...

*grin*

but over the fact that the Lord is just so good and that He gave me this chance to thank this precious child and her Mom, who, to my Maggie, are His hands and feet.

God took me to the grocery store today and it was grand...

oh and the chocolate fondue was pretty good too!

Happy Anniversary??

Nineteen years ago yesterday I said “I do” 

 

and I am so glad I did! 

Although if you had told me that day that the kids would eventually out number the dogs... 

I would have laughed...  

and then probably had Hubby “fixed”!

 Hehe 

Oh my how the Lord has done a mighty work in our lives!

Not only do I embrace this life, this crazy busy life...

but I can't imagine our lives any other way now...

 OK, OK, maybe some days I can...

*Snicker*

However, on most days, I look at this life that the Lord has given us and I am in awe!

How did we get so lucky?

I mean, not only were we chosen for each other...

and not only were our children chosen for us, in very beautiful ways...

 but He chose us to do this...

to live out this awesome life and to grow in our closeness and dependance on Him through this life that He gave us...

and I cannot imagine living this out with anyone one but my sweet, patient, compassionate, funny, hard headed but oh so awesome Hubby.

So yesterday, for our anniversary, we headed up to Shriner's to check on this little one's foot...

and this precious one's legs and feet.

Not the most romantic of anniversaries but hey, we only had 2 kids in tow!

Maybe next year, we will go all out and actually have dinner in a restaurant...

instead of on the Interstate!

 Crazy, I know!

These days I am the definition of low maintenance!

I am learning what is important and what is not...

what brings me true, long lasting joy and what just does not...

and this man brings me joy!

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Love you!