Back to the real world...

When we went to PC, we were able to block a few things out of our minds. Well, atleast that is what we tried to do. We sold our house in our old hometown a few days before we left to go to PC....so, what does a crazy family like us do? We drove through our new hometown to pick out a house on our way to PC. Haha...we laugh that we saw the house we now live in for 20 minutes before we made our offer on it. On Thursday during our week at PC, my mom called with some heartbreaking news. My sweet Aunt Melinda had passed away that morning. So, we packed our bags and headed West for her memorial service...leaving the greatest place on earth a little early. Melinda fought with cancer for several years and God finally took her home. The weird thing is that even though I truly knew this was coming, I was really caught off guard. Melinda was a beautiful woman with an incredible love for Christ and her family. I am so thankful to have lots of great memories of being with her throughout my childhood years until now. I never questioned how much she loved me or whether I was welcome in her home. I will miss her so much, but I am so glad that her fight is over...she persevered and now lives with the Lord. She LOVES children and received the greatest gift about 6 months ago when her first grandchild was born. I know that her heart was filled with so much joy because of him.

When we got home, we had lots of packing to do. Hubs was back to the new hometown teaching summer school, but my mom and pops came in town to help wrap things up at the old house. Then, we had a slight turn of events...K-Bel had a doctor appointment with the GI doctor. We knew that he was ready to put a feeding tube in her, but we did not know what that process looked like. To my surprise, he put her in the hospital overnight to get it taken care of right away. Thankfully, my parents were at the house to watch the other kiddos and Hubs came to be with me and K-Bel at the hospital. When we got home, we just packed and packed and packed....and tried to protect K-Bel from ripping her NG tube out of her nose/throat/stomach. She went to the doctor 6 days after her tube was put in and had already gained about 12 ounces. AMAZING!!! Next week, she has a check-up and we think she has gained close to another pound....we will see!

The Greatest Place on Earth...

Oh how I could go on and on about the most incredible place on earth. We went to PC a few weeks ago and it was just as amazing as always. It is such a reflection of the beauty of God and the earth and people that He created. The staff (mostly college kids there for the summer) are in love with getting to know your family, loving your kids, serving you like crazy throughout the week, and just being there for any needs you might have. This is one of my fav. counselors...

F had her own personal counselor...and can I please mention that it was beautiful? She did amazing and the counselor really wanted to know her and all of her needs. F has never had a better week in her entire life. We were so excited to see her having so much fun and so thankful that she fit in so well. C had a blast....he was so excited to do the 'camp thing'. Our reserved little man was not reserved at all. He was pumped....helping with cheers, getting to know counselors all on his own, hanging out, fishing, doing the ZIP LINE (brave guy), going down the water slide, and loving the water rockets. He even got on stage and led a silly song in front of the whole camp. Those that know C know that he must have absolutely been SOLD on camp to participate like that! It was awesome to watch him love everything so much!

K thought that she was so hip. She loved her teachers so much and said that she had a lot of friends. One of her teachers that she called "Haha" (everyone has fun names at camp) really embraced K's personality and ran with it. I loved seeing that. We are still singing lots of fun songs and talking about how she could swim in the big pool all by herself because "Haha" gave her a 'light-jacket' (funny). K-Bel was so so sweet as always. Her actual birthday was while we were at camp, so that was fun. She shared cookie cake with the entire camp and got lots of love from all the counselors. She is too young to realize what an incredible group of people were serving her and praying for her that week, but she will know very soon I think.

We were truly blessed by the families that we knew at camp. I have known the camp director for many years...his family is super amazing. The speakers this year were awesome...wow...what a blessing they were. Two of the families there were actually acquaintances and we were able to get to know them better that week. What a blessing each of them was to us. I am sad that we moved away from our old hometown just as we got to be friends. I worked at PC when I was in college. I cannot tell you how much it means to me to go back there. One of my sweet sweet campers from the old days is now a counselor at PC. She has grown into an incredible young woman of God. All in all, that is probably one of, if not the best week, of our entire year. Each night has a theme, some with kids and some without...one of which was a concert by Anthony Evans. If you have not heard his music....PLEASE listen. He is absolutely amazing and was a PC employee in the days before his music career took off.

Anyway...that is a winded version of that week of our lives...hands down...it is the greatest place on earth!

She did turn 1...

Well, my itty bitty baby K-Bel did turn 1 year old a little over a month ago. It is so hard to believe. I look at her and see so many similarities to her sister and brother, but many many differences. She is definitely the biggest 'mommy's baby' that we have had yet and I don't seem to mind a bit. She is also the most verbal 1 year old that we have had. K-Bel often uses phrases of 2-4 words...her vocabulary is incredible (I would say atleast 50 words). She has facial features just like her brother C, but expressions just like her sister K. She is beautiful and rotten...so very rotten. C and K, and even F treat her like she is the only person in this world. We will have to work on that, but for now, it is so VERY cute. Somewhere this precious love picked up a temper that is out of this world...she definitely stands up for herself and sometimes she stands a little too tall! :)

Her polka dot party was a hit. We had so much fun making round snacks...and decorating the house. The week after her birthday party (and a few days before her actual birthday), she weighed in at a whopping 14 lb. 14 oz. K-Bel, you are just such a blessing in our lives. I can't believe that you are 1 and God has given me such an incredible gift in being your mommy. I love you so much!!

Is there a good place to start?

Well, a lifetime of crazy has happened since the last post. Six weeks is a long time in this family. K-Bel turned 1 year old, we went to the greatest camp on earth, sold our house, K-Bel got a feeding tube put in, loaded and unloaded 2 U-hauls (with lots of help), were homeless for a few days (but relaxed at my aunt and uncle's house), bought another house, moved into the new house, painted 20 walls, went on a mini-vacation to the lake, and came back to the new house in the new hometown to do more unpacking.

Crazy, I know. I told C just yesterday that I felt the need to be better about blogging and journaling our life. So, hopefully as things settle down a bit (haha), I will take the opportunity (make the time) to blog so much more regularly. Right now, I am just hoping for some organization in our lives...soon...really soon....maybe?

Why?

I know it is all over the news and many blogs. But, my heart breaks for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. His youngest daughter, Maria (adopted from China) was killed in a tragic accident at their home on Wednesday. Of course, I don't know SCC, but I have definitely been touched by his music over the years. In fact, one of his songs was played at our wedding. I am also amazed by his love for children and his support and advocacy of adoption.

The thought of losing a child bewilders me. The God that created this universe gives and takes away. But, I don't think I can grasp losing one of my sweet babies. C's heart, K's eyes and charm, F's eager approach to life, K Bel's tender love...all of these things are things that I assume are mine forever. Our kids are given to us for a season, and we don't know how long that season will be. Hug them a little tighter and for a little longer today. And please pray for the Chapman family...that God's peace and grace will cover them.

Here is the chorus of Steven Curtis Chapman's recent song, "Cinderella":

So I will dance with Cinderella

While she is here in my arms

Cause I know something the prince never knew

Oh I will dance with Cinderella

I don't wanna miss even one song,

Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight

And she'll be gone.

Happy Birthday Little F...

Two years ago today, I received a call from our caseworker at the foster agency. "We have a baby that needs a home" she said. I think I might have said yes without even calling Hubs first. We had been asking the agency for a baby for a long time. I received that call on a Monday, and on Thursday, I met up with the director of our agency to pick her up. I haven't stopped chasing her since. (Those are some cookies from her ice cream party)

I have always asked God for a baby with curly hair...F definitely has that. I have always said that we might need a little spunk in our house....F definitely has that. Hubs has always wanted a Daddy's girl....F definitely IS that. Our family needed someone who is not afraid to tell us what she thinks....F definitely is that. We needed someone who walks through a room saying, 'hi guys, how are you, good.' even when there is noone in the room...F definitely is that. F is definitely not a child anything like the rest of the kids in our house, but she is our child. I often look at her and wonder what the future holds...not just for our family, but for her as an individual.

Today F is two years old. I am thankful that she is a part of our family...she really is one of us. God has given us a gift. Some days, I don't deserve her. I am still learning how to handle her the best way that I can. But, I love her and I hope she feels loved.

So, happy birthday F...you really do win my heart day by day!!! I love you...

A sleepover...

Generally speaking, I have not had very many opportunities to be gone overnight from my family. In fact, we have been involved in our Sunday school class for 5 1/2 years, and I have not done any women's retreats or conferences, etc. Tonight I am going out on a limb. When Hubs gets home, I am hitting the road to a friends' house where lots of Sunday school girls are having a retreat/sleepover. I told C earlier that I wasn't sure if I was going because we had so much going on. He said, "Mommy you really should go." I went, "hmmm." And he said, "You know you wouldn't want to miss out on all the fun." So, off I go. My little man is right. I wouldn't want to miss out on all the fun.

Ya'll have a great weekend.