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Several of you have asked how the adoption process is going. Put simply...it isn't. Dad refused to sign his rights away. But we're OK with that. We were able to be "Jesus with skin on" to this new mom. And if nothing else, it confirmed in both my husband's and my heart that we really do want another baby. An inevitable questions comes up when you have children who are 7 and almost 12, "You don't want to start over, do you?" The thoughts of lack of sleep and trying to keep up with a baby, child and tween start to meander around in your mind. But taking care of this precious baby confirmed in my mind that, yes, we do want to have another blessing of the Lord in our midst. So we wait. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? Why don't we register with a adoption agency, start looking for moms, etc. Well, because we both believe we're supposed to wait for now. Wait for what, we're not sure, but wait we do. In the meantime, while we wait, we have golf camps, golf tournaments, weekends in the RV, speech therapy, possibly karate. And I hope to start school at the beginning of August. But that's a different story. I also have 2 potential doula clients, one due in October, the other the day after Christmas. Both have contacted me in the last week. After over a year of not getting any referrals. I was a doula for a friend and a doula for the mom whose baby we were possibly adopting but no one had contacted me besides that in over a year. I also am looking into possibly teaching a Maidens by Design course by Blessing God's Way, www.blessinggodsway.com, but we'll see, my plate can only hold so much... |
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I know, I know, I haven't been here since November. I've thought about it, but couldn't seem to get the energy or gumption to go. So here's the update. We filed our I600A for adopting from Guatemala in November, got our fingerprints done in January. Then everything in Guatemala went crazy, from people in the system kidnapping babies to problems with the Hague Convention. We just didn't feel it was right to start the process. We knew God had to open the door and make it clear.
Then about 2 weeks ago, I got a phone call. "We hear you want to adopt. My granddaughter is pregnant and wants to give her baby up for adoption, would you be interested?" We talked to her mom and then to her. Everything seemed perfect on our side. (Lots more to the story, but don't want to get too personal on the web.) After lots of talks to the birth mom and to an adoption attorney, found out bio dad needed to sign away his rights too. Which he is refusing to do (like he wants to take the baby home to his wife, need I say more?). Baby was born on Sunday, I was there as her doula! Baby is home with mom, we're calling dad's bluff to see if he changes his mind once he has to pay child support.
In the meantime I'm trying to help support mom, we're staying in touch. We may go see the baby today, or maybe on Monday. She still is thinking it would be in her best interest to have us adopt the baby, but open to keeping it if dad still refuses to sign his rights away. My hubby says that if this doesn't go through, we're done with trying to adopt, and we just have to accept the two boys God has given us. So much more goes into all of this, but as I said before, I will stick to the basics here. I may try this blog thing again, but I make no promises. And that's my "boring" life in a nutshell.
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Well, I sent my initial applicatin to the adoption agency and my I600A to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services yesterday. My hope is to have our little girl from Guatemala in our home by next Thanksgiving. Lord willing sooner, but I'm trying to be realistic here. It's amazing, but I'd kind of shut off my heart from girl things, being the mom of only sons for the last 11 1/2 years. My mom got me a statue called "Emma" from Isabel Bloom for my birthday (I asked for it) and I received it yesterday. My oldest son was laughing because I was stroking the "hair" of the statue. I wander through the baby section looking at little girl clothing (I can't buy any yet because she will be between 4-10 months when she comes home, so I need to wait
On other subjects, my youngest just finished Math U See Alpha yesterday, yeah! Not bad, he finished it in about 3 1/2 months. I purchased Beta on eBay, but it's been 2 1/2 weeks and no sign of a package.
My hubby is taking me out for my birthday this weekend (it's on Monday), I haven't decided which movie to go to, there are actually about 5 I would be open to see, and that doesn't happen much, in fact hardly ever. Decisions, decisions..... |
). The next step is the Home Study. It makes me a little nervous. Actually what makes me even more nervous, I have to get a letter from my doctor stating that I'm healthy enough to have a child. I believe I am, I just hate asking my doctor anything. The man won't look me in the eye, in fact he sits with his back to me most of the time. It's not personal, I know he does it to everyone, but it's still disconcerting.
I've e-mailed through eBay twice and even got her contact information and left her a phone message. No reply. So I've gone one step further and opened a dispute with Paypal. I hate to do it, but I have paid for something I haven't received and the woman won't communicate with me. Frustrating, because I've never had a problem with eBay people before. And he really wants to start his new book. I figure if I end of getting a refund, I'll just go to the Math U See site and buy direct from them. I haven't been able to find what I need on any of the other sites other than eBay. I know I shouldn't be supporting them, but I was trying to get a deal. And see where that got me.|
I packed up all of my maternity and nursing clothing today. Kind of silly to keep them around, even if I had gotten pregnant again, they wouldn't fit me at this point in time. So, I'm going to bless the local Crisis Pregnancy Center and bless those dear moms who have chosen to give their unborn children life.
But, in the midst of that, we are officially starting on the road to adoption. My hubby gave the go-ahead last night, yahoo! I told him I didn't need any birthday or Christmas gift, he gave me the gift of a lifetime, or eternity for that matter. I have to speak to the social worker again today to get some questions answered, and then my I600A will be completely filled out and on the way to the Orlando immigration office. Then comes the waiting and the homestudy, the waiting and the dossier, and then some more waiting. But oh so worth it. It's amazing how I feel today. Different somehow. It's like a weight has been taken from me. I don't feel like my body has failed anymore. I don't feel like I'm waiting for the bomb to fall when that time of the month arrives. We're not through it all, but it feels like there is hope now. It was hard to find that before, after trying to get pg for 5 years this time, 3 1/2 years before, that's a long time to wait. 9-15 months doesn't seem to bad after all of that. Please remind me of that later when I'm waiting..... |
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We decided awhile back that if I was not pregnant by my birthday this year, we would quit actively trying to get pregnant. We haven't prevented it since slightly after our honeymoon, I'm obviously not very fertile. Lots that goes into that, but not going to get into it now. Anywhoo, it's 2 weeks or so until my birthday...and I'm not pregnant.
Not a surprise, and truthfully, I'm not heartbroken. It just is. So we're considering adopting. Because of health issues, there are 3 countries that are on our list that don't require extensive health testing: Guatemala, Vietnam and China. We're leaning toward Guatemala.
But we want to make really sure that this is what God wants us to do, not what we want to do. So, we're waiting until the New Year, and seeking God on His perfect will in this situation. In the meantime, I enjoy the 2 beautiful sons He has entrusted us with, and continue to work on the Christmas stocking for the daughter I long to have someday. |
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Thanks to all of you who have still stopped by my blog! I am doing better, but now awake due to my dh watching "United 93" and I woke up during the scary end part and now can't go back to sleep. I don't know if I mentioned it, but that flight crashed less than 20 miles from our house (at the time) and less than 5 miles my father-in-law's hobby farm, so it hits too close to home. Anywhoo, I decided to try this, I've seen it on several different blogs, my life doesn't seem that exciting when I look at what I haven't done, but oh well, that's kinda nice.
After actually completing it, I did highlight more than I thought, so for your viewing pleasure, here goes..... HAVE YOU EVER... 21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon 22. Watched a meteor shower
58. Sang karaoke 79. Ridden a gondola in 87. Eaten shark 94. Spoken more than one language fluently not fluently but almost! 114. Dyed your hair well, bleached it! 115. Shaved your head 116. Caused a car accident 117. Been elected to public office 118. Skipped all your school reunions 119. Built your own PC from parts well my husband did 120. Gone back to school 121. Read the Iliad and the Odyssey 122. Ridden a horse 123. Eaten Kangaroo meat 124. Had stitches 125. Toured castles in Europe 126. Had your picture in the newspaper 127. Eaten sushi 128. Sold your own artwork to someone you didnt know 129. Published a book 130. Written poetry 131. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears 132. Fired a rifle, shot gun or pistol 133. Had major surgery does a tonsillectomy count? It seemed major to me! 134. Had a snake as a pet as a matter of fact we do right now. 135. Gone on an African safari 136. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild 137. Visited more foreign countries than US states 138. Visited all 7 continents only 3 so far 139. Lived in a foreign country for more than a year 140. Been swimming in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans 141. Been to Niagara Falls *(see below) 142. Lived on both sides of the Mississippi river 143. Sang in a foreign language in front of an audience 144. Been to the Berlin Wall 145. Taught a child to read 146. Been a DJ
I actually did more than I thought, I hope to back later this week for a "real" entry. |
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I saw this on "Life in a Shoe" and decided to end my hiatus for the moment and join in with at least my top 10 things you might not know about me:
(1) I'm less than 5 ft. tall, my dh is over 6 ft. (2) I spent 6 weeks in Guatemela with YWAM between my junior and senior year in college. (3) I wear an insulin pump, I've been a diabetic since age 10. (4) I grew up in the Midwest, but now live in Florida. (5) I always liked the heat, and abhorred snow and cold, even as a child. (6) My hubby and I got engaged 16 days after we started dating (we were good friends before this). (7) We've haven't prevented getting pregnant since our honeymoon , but only have 2 sons, would love to have more. (8) I am a bookaholic. (9) We sold our dog over the weekend, I don't miss her. Isn't that horrible? (10) I handle all the finances and marketing for my hubby's chiropractic office.
Not too exciting, but that's OK.
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Yes, it's true, I have not been blogging. I've thought about it, but I've been under a tremendous attack. In my mind. Getting off caffeine (again) did help, but I don't think writing to all of kingdom come about the specifics is going to help anything.
I'm not sure blogging is the best use of my time at this point of my life. I spend way too much time on the computer, and I hate feeling like I "have" to make an entry or disappoint my adoring public (all 3 of you). So, for the meantime, I will be absent, maybe to be back every once in a while, but not to put myself under pressure. |
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is on his way. We have an inland tropical storm warning until 11 pm tomorrow evening. Time will tell whether this will have an impact on us or not. I'm not panicking by any means, but I am watching.
I grew up in the Midwest, tornado central. People wonder how I can live here with the threat of hurricanes. My answer...I can plan for hurricanes, tornadoes I can't plan for. Not that there aren't those here, but not like where I grew up....I love Florida! |
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I was tagged by Cricket313 so here goes:
ONE BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE:
Mere Christianity by CS Lewis This book really anchored my faith as a teenager. I had grown up in church but didn't just want to believe because my parents and others in the church did. This book resonated in my soul and spirit. Just one?! OK, Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. My Bible, the one I've marked up and made notes in Swiss Family Robinson (I'm sure I'd find it quite useful!)
Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
Three Weeks With my Brother by Micah and Nicholas Sparks
A book to refute the stupid study that says taller people are smarter. Puh-lease!
ONE BOOK YOU WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN:
I'm know there are those, I just can't think of any at the moment.
Just one? OK, Managers of Their Chores by Teri Maxwell. I can't wait to implement this!
I have 2 shelves of exactly (gasp!) 43 books still needing to be read. Two books on hold at the library, 5 on request and 3 requested on Interlibrary Loan. Have I mentioned I love to read?
I don't want to stress anyone, so please feel free to feel tagged, and let me know so I can read all those interesting answers! |
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my blog entries are few and far between. i just deleted my blog off of Homesteadblogger.com, I'm not keeping up with either blog so have to pare it down. I received "Manager of Their Chores" and am getting ready to implement it. things need to be "redded up" around here. I also just received my IEW from Curriculum Connection, I can't wait! I never had a problem writing, I always did well at it in school. However, when it comes easy to you, it's very hard to explain how to do it to someone who struggles with it, like my oldest son. I look forward to implementing it.
If any of you haven't checked out Kerry's Leadership Education offer, it's certainly worth it, it's at http://www.curriculumconnection.net/raisingleaders.htm. I read A Thomas Jefferson Education probably 2 years ago, and it resonated with me, but I couldn't see the practicality in it, and it wasn't from a Christian viewpoint. Kerry has brought it all together, and there are lots of extras!
We were over at some friends last night, and all the kids were in the pool. Two of the kids were making fun of my youngest because of his speech delay. I love these kids and the families, but it's so hard to watch this happen. I cringe to think of what would happen in the public school setting (these kids are homeschooled too). Kids will be kids, I just want to teach mine to be merciful to others. I know these moms want that for their kids too. So hard.
A little of this, a little of that, and I'm off! "Til next time.... |
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My oldest ds has finally added another entry to his blog http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/juniortiger/181347/ , after being "gone" since October. I defintiely need to encourage this, and it can only help his writing. I finally gave in and purchased IEW from Curriculum Connection fun by Steve and Kerry Beck. I spoke to her on Monday afternoon, and she is soooo nice. She mentioned she and her hubby might be coming to the FPEA convention next year. That would be great! I looked to see where the convention would be next year, I can't remember the name, but I do know they have a golf course, a further reason I may be able to convince my dh to come with me this year! |
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I meant to add this to my previous post, but was distracted, an almost always incessant thing here (and I only have 2 kids). Actually, I'm distractable no matter what. But anyway, I purchased "managers of their chores" and am determined to come up with a schedule or lists along with this to enable this household to run smoother. I will never be like some of my friends who always have perfect looking homes all the while declaring, "Please excuse my home, we haven't cleaned yet". I'm not naming names Lane. But it's got to be better than this. My dh has declared that he will send the kids to school if I don't get things under control. Organization is a really big deal to him. I understand why, and so does he, but it doesn't change how important it is to him. Me, I get over whelmed and then do nothing. Not a good plan. So, a plan it is. Prayers would be appreciated. |
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It went relatively well. I spent part of the morning "introducing" them to their new curriculum. In the meantime I happily discovered that our history and science are both covering the same topic (Creation) this week so I'm just doing 1 project this week to cover both subjects. It will be my first foray into lapbooking. I went to the Dubay seminar on lapbooking at the FPEA convention, but didn't buy the book, I am somewhat regretting that. However, I did get Cindy Rushton's lapbooking e-book last week while she was having her special, I now just have to print it out. I have big problems "reading" e-books on the computer, as most of you that have been reading my blog for any period of time know.
We also watched an episode of "Drive Thru History". It was on Athens and Paul. In a "coincidence" while we had been looking at the curriculum, we had been looking at our Then and Now Bible Maps I am using with Mystery of History and had a discussion about Paul. I didn't plan that, but obviously God did. So it seems everything is fitting together well. Now if I could get my perfectionist older son not to act like the world is ending if he misses a spelling word. But, he gets it honestly. |
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I found this at A Gracious Home's blog and since I'm a bookaholic (did I mention I love books?) I decided to add this to my blog.
1. Which books sparked your interest in reading? Meaning, which books first took reading from being a forced activity to being an enjoyable pastime for you?
I learned how to read before I entered kindergarten, I'm not sure how, it just always seems like I've been readingL)
2. Which books have most changed your life (in a practical, tangible way)?
Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard The Underground History of American History by John Taylor Gatto Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot
3. Which books (outside of the Bible) have most shaped your thoughts on God? Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer The Blood Covenant by EW Kenyon
4. Which book(s), if any, have you intentionally read more than once?
While I was a teenager, my two favorites were The Cross and the Switchblade by DAvid Wilkerson and Through The Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. I also really like Is That Really You God? by Loren Cunningham. I've read Mere Christianity by CS Lewis and Hinds Feet on Hind Places by Hannah Hurnard and A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards. I have so many books I want to read now (I've got at least 20 on my shelf that haven't been read yet) that I have to find time to read them once, and don't much get the chance to read them again.
5. Which books would you recommend to a brand new Christian? Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
7. A book that made you cry?
I'm not really a cryer, but I get "choked up". One that really got me lately was Little Britches by Ralph Moody. My kids looked at me dumbfounded as I couldn't go on in parts of that book. I'm a sap (a closet sap).
8. A book that scared you? This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti (or any of that series).
9. A book that made you laugh out loud? ? I can't recall any, but as I said I'm not a really emotional person (at least on the outside).
10. Books you loved as a child? The Cricket on Times Square by George Selden The Sick Book by Marie Winn The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I had a wonderful school librarian when I was in elementary school who wholly encouraged my love of reading. I was quite advanced and she would find me the older level books which were usually on the higher shelves. I used the stepstool alot in the library!
11. Any more favorites?
No specifics at the moment. I try to stay away from fiction for the most part. I have a tendency to get caught up in the story and not get anything accomplished until I finish the book. I'm a very fast reader. Most of my books are homeschooling or homemaking related.
12. Whats your family reading?
My hubby is not very much into books. So he reads sporadically, but is reading nothing at the moment. I'm reading What Is A Family? by Edith Schaeffer and The Family Meal Table and Hospitality by Nancy Campbell. Plus two shelves worth of books yet to be read.:) |
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I've made "Animal School" at http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/wp-content/themes/179/aschool.html my home page almost as much for the message as the music, I could listen to it all day. Anybody have any idea what piece it is? |
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As my 6 yo tries to read everything on the road, everywhere he is he is reading (I think it's great) but sometimes confusing. We were discussing in the car the other day about going to lunch and he kept saying "I want to go to the Little ? restaurant, I could not for the life of me figure out what he meant. Poor guy, he gets so frustrated. The next day, he yells, "Mom, that's what I was saying" and he's pointing to Little Ceasar's, but not pronouncing it the way it is, but the way it looks. His newest thing is finding loose change. He tries to find change that has the year he was born on it, or his brothers.Whenever he finds money, he tells me he's found a "mystery". Yes, he knows it's a penny, nickel, dime or quarter, but it's a "mystery" because he found it. Quite creative if I do say so myself. My oldest now has 3 1sts and 1 2nd in golf tournaments this summer. He has one more tournament on the 12th (thank God it's a Saturday so dh can go), and then I'm done! He's learned alot, but I'm tired of being a chauffer, how do moms that have to drop their kids off and pick them up everyday from school do it? It's been almost 5 years since I took him out of public school and I still remember the horror of having to wake up a half-asleep kids in the middle of winter, get him on a bus and then schedule my whole day around when he came home to be there for him. In first grade he had at least an hour of homework, how would it be now in 6th grade, I shudder to thank of it. I love homeschooling!!!!!!! |
I used to have a little poster in my room
that said "Chivalry is not dead, it's just in a coma." Thank God
I married my knight and am doing my best to make sure my boy's know
their role in the knighthoood. My 6yo is doing quite well in this
training (at moments). My cat doesn't have any mice to chase so
she does the Florida version, lizards. I always know the ones she
has "played" with, they're the one without any tails. The
other day I was in my living room and found one of the cat's friends
laying prostrate on the floor. I promptly called my son and asked
him to rid the house of the creature. He walked over, picked it
up, threw it outside and asked, "Do you feel better now?". Why,
thank you, yes I do. You have renewed my faith in the future of
manhood.
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I read this on Twisted thinking's blog and decided to respond here. So here goes! What challenges you faced during your years of education? I was always challenged socially, and I believe that also affected my education. I was very small (still am) and shy and was always picked on and found it hard to make friends. I was tested and put into the "gifted" program in 3rd grade. I hated it. I was stuck with a bunch of overachievers and I was very passive. I was an introvert and much preferred to learn on my own. And I was on my own alot. Always done first, put into the grade ahead's reading program in early elementary before I was put into the gifted program. I was in the hospital for most of 6th and part of 7th grade due to difficulties with my diabetes. I was diagnosed in 4th grade. I decided to quit taking my insulin except for when I was being watched and found it funner to be in the hospital hooked up to IV's than to be at home/school. I should be dead, but for the grace of God. They didn't give me a tutor, mostly just sent my work home for me to do. In fact, I ended up taking the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills one of those years at home, administered by my mom. I had a pretty low GPA in high school, I hardly ever did my homework or studied but always tested in the 99th percentile in the ITBS and got a 26 on my ACT test, a score which could have netted me some decent scholarships, but I didn't have the GPA to go with it (it was 2.36).I lived in the world of books (still do) and I get lots of comments on how "smart" I am, but I was always an "underachiever" in school. Which one was the hardest to overcome?How did you overcome it? I don't necessarily believe I overcame them. (Addition: after reading AcceptanceWith Joy's comment, I have to rephrase. I don't believe I overcame it while in school. But I came into my own in college, it was a much better experience. And I've learned to make friends, and not run with scissors!) Do you believe that ethnic background can influence education? I definitely believe it can. I don't have a lot of experience to back it up though. I grew up in a 99% white school. The year before, after and my year though, minorities were the homecoming kings. I'm not sure why, just interesting to note. Why you choose to homeschool your kids? I've said from the moment I got pregnant the first time that God didn't give me children to let someone else raise them. My oldest went to school for 3 years, I prayed, and the Lord changed my hubby's heart. We "tried" it for a year, that it went so well we're going on our 5th year. He had the same troubles as me, getting done first, but he was always in trouble for talking to the other kid's while they were trying to finish their work. Plus, he was also in trouble for breaking the bubble on what Christmas and Easter were REALLY about, thus calls from the teacher. This has been liberating for all of us, including me. It's reawakened my desire to learn as much as the kids. Obviously the is Public education system is faulty, what are you trying to accomplish or teach your kids by homeschooling them? I want them to live a "real" life, not an institutionalized one. I want our family to be their social system, not complete strangers and their skewed ideologies. I want my kids to know it's not about them, it's about their life bringing glory to God. And I want them to learn how to learn, not learn what to learn. |
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