A Leap of Faith

It has been a GREAT summer! So many get-togethers with family and friends ... so much good food, but even better memories.

The most memorable event this summer was when Hubs and I had a conversation that ended with "Yes, let's do this."

We have decided to pursue foster parenting with the intent to adopt. It's not like waking up one morning and deciding to make pancakes from scratch (well, I suppose for a few people it could be similar). There has been a lot of analyzing and prayer that has gone into this decision. We have asked our friends and family to agree with us in prayer. We have talked to social workers. We have spent time talking with individuals and families that have experienced, first-hand the heartache and joy the system can distribute. Ultimately we feel God is calling us to represent him in this venture. Much like a missionary would represent God in a foreign country.

There are risks. Many. That is where our faith comes in, we believe it is not faith until we take the first step. Already, some days have not been easy. My family is worried about Hubs, A-man and I. My Mom, especially has and continues to voice her fears. I know she is just trying to protect us, but it kills my spirit when she can't see what is really in our hearts. On the low days this summer there has always been a bit of encouragement to fall into my lap. One of them I found at Grace is for Sinners. It is a great post about faith.

There is one reoccurring question from people. Sometimes they don't actually ask, you just see it in there eyes. "Why?"

I'm happy to answer.

We as a family have more love to give. I want to have the opportunity to bless a child who is in the middle of a difficult situation he or she didn't ask for and doesn't deserve. I want God to shine his light through me into the life of an innocent child. I want to be responsible for a child learning love is warmer than any blanket. I want to show a child God has a purpose for his or her life.

Please don't think I am naive. I have heard the ugly, nasty stories. I KNOW I will experience sadness, anger, frustration, joy, happiness ... the list could go on forever. I worry about A-man and how this will change him. I pray God's special protection on him.

If you know how to pray, please pray for the three of us, pray for our extended family, and pray for the child(ren) that will come into our lives whether it be for a day or forever.P.S. Our first class is tonight.

My other family

I am so fortunate to have an extended family. The students that work for me at the university are like my children. At times they frustrate me, make me laugh, make me feel old, or make me feel very proud. In return I hope that I can be an example, so they see Christ shine through me.

Now, a little about each of my peeps!

J.W. -- He adds words and phrases to my vocabulary like "wigidty womp!" He will be going to Florence for the summer. I keep teasing him, saying he will find the girl of his dreams and never come back!

J.T. -- She is my prim and proper tom-boy! J.T. is so reserved, quiet and serious. Her work ethic is amazing! On the weekend you will find her tearing it up on the paintball field! I'm telling you this girl is fierce (and not in the Project Runway kind of way). I'm losing her in a couple of weeks to grad school, but I know she will do great things everywhere she goes!

M.M. -- Eeyore, as I fondly call him, is starting to lose his negativism a little at a time. Don't get me wrong, he is a great kid and a hard worker. He would walk to the ends of the earth for his little girlfriend, it's quite sweet (okay, okay, so sometimes it's a little much and I have to throw up in my mouth a little). It's very important to M.M. that he do a good job, no matter the cost.

S.G. -- She is my veteran. I'm always trying to challenge her to come up with her own answers and conquer situations that may arise. She will be getting married in a little over a year. She will leave me then to support her future husband in medical school. They have promised me I can live in their pool house one day!

A.D. -- This girl wears me out! Energy beyond belief! She reminds me of my real-life sister. You can give her all the advice you want, but she has to do it her way just to see if it will work or not. She is the Queen of Independence! I am so very proud of A.D., she will be moving to NYC in a few weeks to work for Tommy Hilfiger as the Children's Division Product Development Intern.

These kids are only in my life for a short season. I can only hope I am able to touch their lives as much as they touch mine.

Wordless Wednesday -- Chasin' Chickens

Wordless Wednesday

A-

Long time no blog.

I'll explain later.

So I told you about my potluck ordeal. Boy, did it turn out to be an ordeal!

I decided on a Cucumber and Tomato Salad courtesy of SouthernLiving.com. I chopped my veggies Thursday night and I whisked my dressing. The colors, the aroma, it was so beautiful it brought a tear to my eye. Off to the fridge to chill over night.

Friday A.M.
Me, the Hubs, and the A-Man are carpooling today. It will all be much easier with one vehicle. Except that I'm not a morning person and I'm stuck in a very small space with two very awake people. Enough about me. Just before we arrive at our drop of locations, the Hubs decides to do a drive thru breakfast. I would rather be sleeping, the A-Man wants something to eat even though he will be eating at school in ten minutes, and the Hubs who, bless his heart, NEVER thinks to ask others in the car if they know what they want before the box asks to take order, pulls up to the speaker on a stick.
Nano-seconds before the Hubs pulls up to the window, I get whiff of cool cucumbers. My brain says, "How relaxing in this moment of chaos." Wait a minute, that bowl is covered, I shouldn't be able to smell that. A quick reach to the back floor board reveals the the bowl has tipped over, ever so slightly, and a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and olive oil has made an aromatic puddle in my car! Can you say pickle-mobile? I managed to find a spare pair of A-Man's whitie tighties to sop it up with.
The chaos goes from mild to full blown. That poor drive thru attendant must have thought we were a traveling circus. It was nuts, to say the least.

Good News
The salad was intact, the Hubs found a safe home for in it in his office frig for the day. Fast forward to Friday evening. We are all back in the car along with the salad. Despite 100+ degree heat the car smelled fairly normal. We drop A-Man off with my rents and head to the potluck.

The Verdict
I completely over estimated the number of people in attendance. - 15 points
Nearly everyone complimented the dish. + 3 points
The hostess asked for the recipe. + 5 points
Total score 93 out of 100. A-

Confessions from the Mother of an Only-Child

I was the little girl that dreamed of having a family. In the years before I wed I always told people I wanted three children but I reserved the right to change my mind after the first one.

Good thing I got that disclaimer in there. Within a few months of having our son my husband and I agreed that we were content with the "A Man" and had no intentions of expanding our family.

Deep down I was perfectly content with this decision. My pregnancy was not complicated. However, it did have some hiccups at the end.

My pregnancy WAS complicated for my husband. I am a firm believer that a man that grew up without sisters should have to go through some type of training before entering the emotional and down right complicated world of vowing to spend the rest of his days with one of God's most delicate creations! My poor hubby had no idea what to expect. The intense emotions and mood swings that would make the world's highest rated coaster seem like a merry-go-round, we almost too much for him at times. Although he anticipated the arrival of his son with much joy, he was a miserable person. I could never intentionally to that to him again.

So the decision was made, the "A Man" would be our precious prince, sole heir to our throne. Now don't you believe for a minute that I didn't have my days of doubt. My moments of meandering over pink bows and pigtails have been numerous. There have been maternal worries of raising a socially defunct child. I even have a list of nice, respectable, and professional individuals who are only-children. Deep down I have always felt we were in God's will, but also as if God had something else for us as well.

To be honest most days are filled with enough hustle and bustle the idea of adding to our family doesn't cross my mind. Until . . .
"Mommy next year when we get a new house I want a brother and a sister. I have names for them too Shooba and Soobee."
Don't ask me where those names came from because there are times the mind of a 4 year old is just too difficult for me to understand.

My son has asked about a sibling about every six or eight weeks for a while now. The thing is I don't have an answer for him. I knew this time would come, but I don't think I realized how unprepared I was for it. Rarely am I ever at a loss for words, but this subject makes my tongue tangle and tie.

All I can do for the time being is talk about the dog we'll get when we get the new house!