Christmas 1

Twelve stockings! Our kids are coming, except Dane. New job, little time off, etc. We will miss him, things will be crazy around here in the a.m.

Merry Christmas to all!!!

Christmas Adventures

Can you believe it's almost here?!



Below is one of our many projects...ginger bread houses. Well, that was the idea. Jose just ate all this gummy bears, graham crackers and animal crackers. The girls had a great time.

Remember "the truck?"

We have lived in Lubbock almost a year and a half. This faithful old truck got most of our stuff here with a lot of prayer. In all this time it has moved only a few times, and not at all in the last year. By the time we were ready to fix it, we couldn't find the keys so future projects in it.

Well I am proud to announce that my amazing husband got out his book on older Chevy trucks and managed to disassemble the stearing column to install a new ignition! After charging the battery it started right up and is ready to be driven to the shop so we can fix any other problems! I'm so proud of him! (Especially since we weren't so sucessful with a pair of hair clippers several years ago!)

Forever my hero, I would never trade him for another!

Just a Thought

I do not remember exactly what I envisioned "foster care" to be. All I knew was God had called us to this new adventure...I was willing to move to Moldova and just "be" with the kids. They might not liveith us but oh what a diference we could be.

But no...God had diferent plans. I never would have thought of Lubbock, TX. I mean really, who ever thinks about Lubbock?!

I would love to hear what others think of when they hear foster care. I looked in the dictionary and it isn't in there. They did have foster home: a home in which a child or children are raised by people other than their natural or adoptive parents. Well, that includes a lot of people I know. Including my parents who, bless their hearts and please pray for them, are trying their best to "raise" my 20 year old.

At least part of my new definition would include...trying to make a difference in the lives of children who have had difficult lives that we cannot imagine, and embody all of the irritating qualities that you have ever heard or watched in your local Walmart.

Obviously God brings them into our lives to be his sandpaper. All of the issues I have he is trying to sand away. Talk about painful.

The most amazing apliance!

For me this year, my wish list has revolved around items that will help me do my job, even when I'm not at my best. Pictured above is an appliance I am now in love with! The dirt in the water is from under my 20 foot dining room table! Wow!!! I know this is west Texas and the dirt is constantly blowing, but wow! This thing vacuums, scrubs and dries the floor, what could be better than that? Well, besides a live in maid.

May all your presents bring you this much joy! Merry Christmas!

Geese again

It is officially winter! The geese are back and the girls and I are still amazed. We just et really excited when we see a large group of them. In the picture above we spotted a large field

full of them. As I was getting my camera out this kid, you can see him in the right side of te picture, started walking through them and they began taking off in large numbers!

Nobody else here seems impressed with the geese, but to me and the kids, it is an amazing display of God's love and imagination!

Thanksgiving / Just Us

We had the best Thanksgiving here on the South Plains! I started cooking around 6 a.m. and we ate about 3 p.m. We were done in 15 minutes! The food was paired down some, since I have been sick, but I got 10 stamps of approval! Afterwards we ventured out in the 45 degree weather and walked to the park to play. The entire weekend was picture perfect, and if you know our family, that is a powerful statement!!!

Pictured above is a craft that I managed to get the girls to do. The 5 girls who are in school each made a turkey (incase you were wondering) for their teacher, and I encluded loaf of pumpkin bread. The girls had fun and it sounds like the teachers loved them, definently unique!

Thanksgiving

WOW!!! Thanksgiving came and went in a flash! After spending 2 weeks sick in bed, I lost an entire month. My favorite time of the year, I love pumpkins and decorating in warm fall colors. Above, you will see the extent of my fall decorating...I've obviously been preoccupied with things like being able to use my hands and walk.

We had a great Thanksgiving Day, the whole wekend really. Morgan and I cooked from about 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and we were through eating in about 15 minutes! Then we walked to the park and enjoyed the 45 degree weather, leftovers for supper and peach cobbler!

This year I am most thankful for the fact that I don't know the future, don't even have to worry about it. My thoughts and imagination is so limited that I never would have imagined God would have us here being blessed by these precious kiddos. I am slowly learning that we continue to be blessed, even more so in hard times. Through sickness, bad behavior, temper tantrums and fussy babies...we have been blessed through people we barely know, test results, hugs and even being called mom and dad.

I am thankful I do not have to worry about my babies dying of Cholera, we have awesome doctors and insurance to help us pay them, church friends who went above and beyond anything we could have imagined to help while I was sick, and most of all...a husband that was sent into my life by God, my perfect match!!!

Belated Halloween Post

OK...So Halloween was a whileback. Thought I posted some pics but not sure. Below are a few pics of the kids party with the babysitter while we were at the Pogressive party. I thought the treats turned out pretty cool!

Bones...
Fingers...

Thinking of using this for the Christmas card...

Hope everyone had a great Halloween! I will post more soon...

Ok, so I am up

Bad Week

I don't have a lot to say just now...have been sick for over a week. Initially my doctor thought it was the "mini flu" (actual diagnosis). 4 days later I was still having severe joint and muscle pain. Friday Albert took me to an ER clinic. My blood pressure kept dropping so they sent me to the ER by ambulance. I was there all day. No fluid around my heart, blood pressure stabalized, no answers. Now i'm home, still in pain. ER doc said to be tested for Lupus.

Prayers appreciated.

Everyday workout

Today I have an update to my once a month workout post...Here is one to do at least once a week.
Get all school aged kids off to the bus, your hubby off to work, then make a trip to Walmart with the toddlers!

*side note* just know that eventually we all do most of those things we always said we would NEVER do. DON'T JUDGE ME!!!

First I inform my wonderful but clueless husband that if I don't get to the store early, I will have to go once he gets home. He says, "why can't you just go now?" So, we head to Walmart in our pajamas. In a nut shell, lets just say we were there for 2 hours, 4 gallons of milk, 2 toddlers fighting with each other so you end up letting them run around. This all adds up to exhaustion!

Oh, and I would love to meet the MAN who designed the shopping cart pictured below. I mean really, how many kids can sit facing each other and not fight?!



I going to take a nap!!!!

Matcha & Dashi

OK...I have been drinking the Matcha (serious green tea) and here is my assessment. It doesn't taste nearly as bad as it looks. Not the glowing endorsement you were hoping for, I know. But, to tell the truth, I have had more energy and I know it is healthy so I will continue drinking it. It's really not that bad, I used to drink vinegar in V8 juice!

Dashi, well, lets just say...when the recipe said 2 4 inch square pieces, it means after they are soaked and have expanded. I used waaaaayyyyyyy too much seaweed. For this reason I doubled the batch, hoping it would be ok, then it took all of the bonita flakes.
Truthfully it smells like the ocean, minus the salt, and isn't that easy to drink. But because it has most of my ingredients in it I refuse to throw it out. I used it to make some healthy brown rice. Real brown rice, the kind that takes 50 minutes to cook! For lunch I put some soup on top of the rice and ate it. That was ok, even better with my glass of V8!

Long story short, since I had to order the ingredients I want to get all the use out of them.............Morgan and I decided to make a mask out of the seaweed and some oatmeal. Morgan put it on my face then her own...after about 10 minutes I turned to look at her and almost died laughing. She looked like someone had just thrown up all over her face!!! (I would know, 2 of my kids had the stomach virus last week). Look below to share the joy.....

More Halloween Crafts

Yesterday I made time to finish some old projects (because I have found a new one I want to work on). What do you think?
Here are 2 scrapbook paper pumpkins. I thought they turned out nice, they look better from a distance.














And below you will find the last of my salt dough creations. Obviously I am much more artistic in my mind than in reality. Hey, I only had about 6 colors to work with, and kiddy paint brushes...


They look better to me this morning than they did last night about 10!




Enjoy!!!

Happy Fall, Ya'll!!!!!

Funny Quote

From the sitcom Reba: "Teenagers are just adults with energy!"

Profound...

Best Laid Plans (sp?)

My week got off to a great start! Yesterday I literally kept the washer and dryer running for 13 straight hours! Think about that. I use the pre-soak setting so each load takes about an hour but still, quite an accomplishment.

It's even more impressive when you know that I also completely cleaned out my laundry room, made brownies and supper, did homework with the kids, bathed 3 of the 7 children myself and doctored 3 boo boos. If I spend just a little more time thinking about it I know there was more activity thrown in there, but who's counting, right?!

On Friday one of the 2 yr olds woke up with a stomach virus, today the 6 yr old woke up with it. I knew I woke up at 4 a.m. for a reason! Oh, before I heard her, I ordered something off the TV.

As things sit right now at 7:16 a.m., 4 of the 7 are on their way to school, babies are asleep, I hear Morgan's radio loud and clear, the sickly child is asleep and Albert got up when I asked him to help and he is now asleep on the couch. It's gonna be a long day!!!!!

New Hobby?

Look what I got in the mail this weekend!!! In the picture you will find matcha (this is a green tea made from the milk of the leaf that has been turned into a powder), and a bamboo whisk to mix it with. I haven't tried it yet but I will let you know.

Also pictured are the ingredients for Dashi. This is the soup base that you get at Japanese restaurants. In Japan they have this at every meal and it is supposed to be very good for you. Albert loves soup and since it is good for us, I thought I would try it.

They also use this soup as a base for their other soups. Hopefully I will be able to attempt my first batch of Dashi this week, I will let you know how it turns out!!

Side note...Spike the Iguana passed away Saturday night. We are all very sad, don't know if we'll get another one. It does make the case for no letting teenagers raise babies though!

Crafty Corn and Hard Decisions

I absolutely LOVE fall!!! I have always spent hours decorating the house and the front porch. I have a fedish for pumpkins, I get new ones to display every year. Well, this year this is about the extent of my decorating so far. I have been really lazy lately.

I found this craft on a blog, I made them with salt dough! Of course, I didn't let the kids help with this first go round and I think they turned out quite spectacular! I will be woking with salt dough for years to come. The kids have made some and after we get them painted I will share the pics.

Table for 12. It feels like everywhere I look I see more reaching out that needs to be done. It is hard to not let it overwhelm me. The boys at the end of the table are Morgan's friends. Teenage boys mean cooking even more, but we enjoy having them around. The number of teenagers with no parents to speak of is staggering! It is so sad and I want to bring them all home. Because of the living arangement I can feed them, give them a job (as we can afford to pay them), and I can let them hang out. They just can't stay here.


Decision time is coming. Our set of 4 have a final hearing set for December 11 and there is a good chance they will not be going home. Originally we said we were willing to adopt (which would end up putting 12 children in our home and Albert would have to quit his job). Then when parents started falling off the wagon CPS asked again. This time we said no, shouldn't they have a chance to be adopted by a family where they would be the only kids?

Now when we talk about it, we have almost changed our minds back to yes. Albert was talking to some one at work and got emotional about them leaving. I know he has a soft heart, but he doesn't usually show it to people at work. He had to walk away in the middle of the conversation.

We need lots of prayers!!!

Glad to be Home!!! 2

Sunday morning, bright and early, we headed up to Pikes Peak. It is amazing how often I have been to Colorado and never made this journey. Well, now I know why, the drive up took 1 1/2 hours and was very tense. Once at the top we all ate their world famous donuts!

Oh, I almost forgot...the temperature on top of the mountain was 34 degrees!

The view was awsome! Have you ever wondered why God went to all the trouble to make mountains? I think it was for fun!

We stopped on the way down the mountain to take a few pictures. The deer ran off so we didn't get any animals.

Oh, then we rode the rest of the way down and to the interstate with both side doors open. It was awsome! Morgan enjoyed all the funny looks we got!

Then it was a long, long drive home. It was a fast and furious trip to celebrate Morgan and we had a blast!

I was happy to pull in the driveway though and see that the kids didn't have the babysitter tied up! I mean, I have seen Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead!

I am happy to be home, eventhough we have been washing dishes by hand for about two weeks and our large fridge in the kitchen died and it will be 10 to 14 days to get it back!

Glad to be Home!!!!

In true Marmon style, we took off for the weekend and drove all the way to Colorado. This was the first time away since we began foster care 3 years ago. It was just Albert, Morgan and me! We decided Colorado Springs was far enough. After getting a hotel room we began looking for something to do in the late afternoon. Morgan and I found the Aquarium and we all set off for our first adventure. In about 10 minutes Albert figured out that the restaraunt was about 70 miles away, yep, that's right, it was in Denver!!! We decided to go anyway, so we drove to Denver to eat.

This place is amazing! I think there is one in Houston and I know there is one in Kema but I've never been there, wasn't that interested. I have included just a few pics.





Here is a bridge in the restaraunt. It took us over 30 minutes to wander through the exhibits before we even found the restaraunt.

We all 3 fed the sting rays. I found them intimidating. Now we know why they tell you to keep your thumb tucked inside your fingers!

The meal was a real treat!!! We ate amazing food and fabulious deserts and then headed back to Colorado Springs.

More on Sunday next time!

Countdown to Halloween

A few days ago I made biscuits and had some dough leftover in the fridge. While making lunch today I decided to make these guys. The first batch were pumpkin shaped and these are my spooky ghost biscuits, very tasty!

2 1/2, YES!!!

Finally...at two and a half, these two will watch 5 or 10 minutes of TV!!! I can get something done if I hurry. Today we played outside, filling the dump truck with rocks and rolling the ball. So easy and they love it. All I know is...there is no way I would let someone lock me in a room with 20 two year old...how is that even possible?

Our dishwasher has not been working for over a week. I think I have washed every dish in this house more than twice! Saturday I fed the 10 of us and 3 boys, all around 17 yrs old, even with paper plates and cups the dishes were stacked high.

Today I am torn and feel like I am not doing enough! My blog friend in Haiti talked about a newborn baby girl that they could just take home if they wanted. A true orphan, she could live with them right now, but they might not ever be able to bring her back to the United States. She is struggling with this decision because evidently they were only planning to be in Haiti for 9 months or so.

In addition, these 3 boys who spent Saturday afternoon with us, well at least 2 have no parents to speak of. One in particular lives with his "guardian" and could not go home until after 11:30 p.m. Saturday night! Literally locked out of the house. What do you do with that? Part of me wants them to spend time over here everyday. Part of me says, "Double the cooking, I don't know."

And last of all, God answered my prayer of finding an older person who lives at home and might need help and I haven't even gone to see her yet.

There is sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much to do! And that doesn't even include the homeless lady we buy our newspaper from at an intersection by our church. Her name is Bobbie Joe and she had a baby less than a month ago. As we spoke to her about her baby, later I felt like she may not have kept the baby and might have made a big mistake and hurt her instead of helped. How do we reach out to so many, how do we know what is needed?

Pray for clarity and for our spiritual eyes to be opened.

Confession

It has been a year! I can't believe it has been an entire year! We have enjoyed being here, no second thoughts. There is no doubt this is where God wants us.

I have always said that taking in these kids is not hard, it's letting them go that is a killer. Before moving to Lubbock, we had 9 children come through our home in less than a year. Now, 6 of our kids have been with us for a year or more...this has changed my view of what is harder.

I have a few blogs I read almost everyday. One is written by a young lady whose family (husband, wife and 4 kids) moved to Haiti just one month ago. As she tells about the conditions there and how she is learning to deal with it, included are accounts of her daily struggle to accept what God has for her family.

All of that said, my world seemed to come crashing down last week. As I delt with yet another case of stealing, refusing to mind and that defiant look from my 8 yr old...it hit me, it has been a year and these habits have not changed! These kids are going to grow up to be their parents! All of the work, all of the "ministry" we have been doing and it hasn't made any difference!

I became so upset, Morgan told Albert I was about to lose it. All I could think was, "Why? What's the point?" This is so hard. Kids that are not babies, who come from generational poverty and are so very needy! I know God has us here but we aren't making any difference!

Really long story short...I spent a few days struggling with this new reality, new realization of my calling. But today, God has renewed my love for hurting children. I knew a year or more before we moved that God wanted me to quit work and begin working with orphans full time. At the time my vision was so short sighted, all I could think of was a position through our church, aren't you glad that God is much more creative than we are?

The next time you hear Bring the Rain, by Mercy Me...don't sing, just listen to this chorus and decide if you truly want him to bring the rain!

Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings you glory

And I know there'll be days

When this life brings me pain

But if that's what it takes to praise you

Jesus, bring the rain

Frustration

"I believe, anytime we feel frustration...we have stopped really relying on God (leaning on him) and have gotten off into our own deal, trying to make something happen our own way." Joyce Meyer

What does that say about me?!

Crescent Rolls Anyone?

Summer is just about over...Today we stayed around the house and just relaxed. This afternoon the kids played in the sprinkler and had a great time. The babies wouldn't get in the sprinkler but were happy to climb on the water table, it has to be their idea!

For supper I made Chicken Pot Pie with a crust made from homemade crescent rolls! I know it was awsome because even my pickiest eater litterally cleaned all the crumbs from her plate! After the pot pie we had the crescent rolls (left over dough) and now Morgan is making brownies with M&Ms! How is that for an end of summer meal?!

Sorry you missed it!!!

Present #2

Today we took the kids school clothes shopping, that was the quickest $1200 ever!!! Anyway, Morgan found these, she's excited to finally be taller than me.

16 Days and Counting...

There are 16 days until Morgan turns 16 years old! I cannot believe my baby is so grown up.

Albert already gave her first present, a guitar (pictures to come later). Everyday we are learning more and more about her. Morgan's interests include the guitar, art, drawing, cooking and Spike (the iguana).

Morgan has made a friend and even gave her testimony during Sunday School this week. This led to her making 2 more friends. God is blessing us but many prayers continue to go up for the first day of school.

Fruits of Our Labor

This weekend several of the girls and I traveled to a local orchard and picked over 30 pounds of apples! It was great fun and easy to realize that it is hard work!

Morgan had as much fun as I did, just look at that beautiful smile!

Today we made applebutter and buttermilk apple bread for tomorrow's breakfast! Finally I had to quit with the apples to make supper, homemade chicken tenders.

A very busy day with lots accomplished! We all got up by 7 a.m. and we also got a lot of cleaning done. All in all, a great day!

Grocery Shopping

What does your workout routine look like? Do you jog, dance, aerobicise or walk to the fridge?
I have discovered a new, very effective, exercise routine courtesy of Sam's Club, Grocery Shopping! To start you have to find 2 two year olds and 2 five year olds to take with you. Then it helps if you can find a 15 yr old to help. The next step is to show up around ten after a long dentist visit. Smart shoppers bring snacks for the kids to munch on (but you better hurry, this only works for about the first 20 to 30 minutes).

There really is no warm up session, just plunge right into the serious workout. Be sure to go up and down every isle, searching for large containers of basic ingredients to be used in several meals, sometimes the large containers only stretch to one meal. After an hour you will begin to get hot, sweaty and tired of pushing the 2 overflowing carts...at this point park one of those and get a flatbed cart. When this is full you should be almost finished. Head to the check out and laugh to yourself at the funny looks from the other shoppers.

After checking out, spend the next 20 minutes trying to load all of this into a 12 passenger van with little luggage room. Secure the children so time is not wasted keeping them out of the path of passing cars. Slowly drive home (so as not to throw #10 cans around and knocking anyone out) and employ all human beings you can to carry the groceries into the house. The 2 year olds can help with things like spaghetti and toothpaste, every little bit helps!

Immediately put all cold items into the fridge or freezer and collapse on the couch to wait for reinforcements...Now, doesn't that make your grocery shopping seem like a breeze?! See below...

Yahtzee!!!

Picture this...8 children, finally in bed. Albert, Morgan and myself all gathered around the dining room table having the best time! We played 2 rounds of Yahtzee and laughed and hollared for over an hour. I know the kids could hear us but we just couldn't help ourselves.

Just incase you cannot see it clearly in the picture, I won both games!

Tonight we are watching Benny and Joon (if you have not seen this movie, with Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson, you MUST find the time to watch it!).

We had trouble getting Morgan registered today, pray that we get it worked out...

Exhaustion

Exhausted - entirely consumed.

I get this feeling from time to time, not in a good way...If I was "entirely consumed" by God that would be a good thing. Maybe that's the answer...

Yesterday morning I had the feeling when I realized I had forgotten to take 2 of the girls to "healthy kids camp." I can do this, how could I forget something so trivial?! Anyway, today I remembered, yea me, so with everything else we spent almost the entire day driving from here to there! Tuesdays are always bad, Monday's almost as tough, then the rest of the week usually go well.

Good news...my bruises are just beginning to go away. I've haven't been beat on since Sunday night and that night she did finally just quit after about an hour. She is pretty sad about losing her new backpack so we'll see if the consequences make a difference.

Morgan is doing well, acting silly with the girls in the van today. Spike (the iguana) gets lots of cuddle time and she is even talking about college.

So, all in all things are great! Have a great week!

Spike

Introducing the newest member of the family...Spike. He is a world traveler. You've never seen a lizard that was more loved.

Finally...A New Post!!!

A lot has happened since Easter...but, here I sit again drinking my coffee and enjoying the calm. Dirty dishes loaded for yet another cycle, clothes switched over (never ending cycle), coffee in hand it is time for reflection.

Returning from a 10 day "vacation" with 10 kids and one iguana along for the ride...this will probably be our last long trip for the year. Our adventures are great, seeing family and friends, having new experiences these kids have never dreamed of...but, truth be told, we have a lot of issues in this crazy, fun and mixed up family.

On this trip, Trey broke both bones in his right leg. Poor baby is having surgery this a.m. Other than that we rode horses, swam, fished, kayaked, shopped, found a love for dogs, held an alligator, fed a camel and a bunch of other animals, walked on water in a giant beach ball and jumped several stories high while connected to several bungee cords! It was a FULL 10 days!

Now I am trying to get back on top of things here at the mansion. Back on top, have I really ever been there?! Anyway, even Morgan is ready for school to start.

It has been WONDERFUL having Morgan back with us! Laughter now fills our evenings after the little kids have gone to bed. Laughter is the best medicine, right!

Please continue to pray for us, we are expecting a complete turn over in our kids here in the next 6 months. Some will be going home after a year and a half, some will be up for adoption...It is all a roller coaster ride. The bumps and bruises (literally) are many, but God uses each one to open my eyes to his compassion for the orphan. Praise God for his overwhelming compassion for us all!!!

Easter

It is now 7:40 a.m. Easter morning...think back about what Easter meant to you at this time.
For me, Easter means another anniversary with my Awesome Husband, it has been an adventure and continues to grow wilder! Beyond that I guess today is about reflecting on past heartaches and trying to move on and focus on the 8 kids we have now.

But, at this moment, mostly it is about staying up till midnight making homemade Easter baskets and remembering our shopping trip for shoes (all 8 kids!). I am enjoying the calm before the storm as I cook breakfast, drink my coffee and share my thoughts!

PRAISE GOD FOR THE TRUE MEANING OF EASTER!!!

Lesson for today

This week (first with 8 kids), has taught me many lessons...today's lesson is about getting out of bed late. When you have a couple kids and get up late it is usually possible to rush and still get everyone where they need to be on time...with 8 this is not true! No amount of rushing, fussing or griping will get everyone ready on time.

Lessons learned so far today...the world will not end if you are late; kids have absolutely no concept of time; little boys only have one speed, slow; I need to learn how to put snooze on my new phone; and, every bedroom should have an alarm clock!

Have a great weekend!!!

You have to be a little crazy...

picture it...Spring Break, Friday evening at the mall, 5 kids (including 2 babies) and me!
What kind of picture does that bring to your mind?

Our two newest girls needed clothes for church so off I go. Really I never questioned it, things just have to get done. Really the only frustrating part is The Children's Store has no room for a stroller! I love the good deals they have but get very frustrated trying to manuver a stroller in there. Other than that we had a good time.

From there we went to IHOP. I was just glad to not have to cook or clean the dishes! It's the little things really. All is quiet now, 3 already asleep, thank heaven for coffee or I would be the 4th one asleep!

Goodnight!

A New Chapter

As of 6 p.m. on Thur., March 18, we are officially a family of 10. Two more girls, ages 9 and 4.
Now I have 2 4 yr olds...birthdays are 8 days apart! The official count is 7 girls...9 yrs, 8 yrs, 7 yrs, 6 yrs, 4 yrs, 4 yrs and 2 yrs (on March 31). And still only one boy, 2 yrs (on April 29).

We are busy, busy, busy! Our washer , dryer and dishwasher practically run 24/7. But, once again we have enough people to have our own kickball game!

Prayers

Some very dear friends have been faithfully praying for us. They are really hitting the mark because it has upset the demons that have been plaguing us. For this reason I set out to make a list, in no particular order...

I am thankful for...
-a van that is big enough
-not having to walk home with 6 kids because the van broke down
-someone else is paying for the repairs
-a ratty, used double stroller...with restraints
-Popsicles
-WIC
-Teachers that care about my children
-My WONDERFUL husband
-Insurance
-resale shops
-My mom and dad
-Birthday presents
-baby wipes and disposable diapers
-running water
-a change of clothes
-washer/dryer
-paid utilities
-smiles and hugs
-coffee
-soap
-band aids
-rubber gloves
-geese and wild rabbits
-cold weather
-snow
-being able to witness childish wonder
-healthy children
-scarfs
-available food
-praying friends
-God given insight
-my bible
-volunteers
-photographs
-a child's smile
-wool socks
-a friendly smile
-Dane & Morgan
-Beth & Trey
-Jessie & Courtney
-Alaysia & Isaiah
-Ben & Miguel
-Sydney Anne
-Kayla & Cody
-Cameron
-Deligha, Sandra, Nana & Jose
-Stephanie & Tiffany
-Freezers
-good advice
-electric blankets
-air planes
-hand lotion
-hot showers
-vacuum cleaners

Not completely comprehensive, but it is a start. What are you thankful for?

Busy, busy day

WOW! My legs are really going to be sore tomorrow...I was in the kitchen cooking practically all day! I prepared from scratch, cooked and froze 11 meals for our size family. Plus a few other things I needed to do like slice up carrots, mix sugar cereal with low sugar kinds, etc.

I froze 3 pork loin in marinade, 2 meals of pork chops in marinade, 6 meals of salisbury meatballs (this will make 3 meals for us) and 3 chicken broccoli casserole. I am beat!

My wonderful husband is so excited about my home cooking that he not only watched the kids while I worked, he made a trip to Walmart to get a few things for me. I love him soooooo much, he knows that we will have more real meals when I do this about once a month.

Tonight as I count my blessings he is at the top of the list!

Great Expectations

Can you believe it? Having 6 kids under age 9 is stressful! Who would have ever thought?

In the midst of the chaos, it helps to have something to look forward to. I found a church in town that has a parents night out ministry. One night a month, all ages, planned activities and run by Tech students. Oh, and affordable...there is a cap of $15 per family, it couldn't be more perfect!

Two weeks, I have been counting on this for two weeks. We are dressed and ready to walk out the door. Albert sends the older girls out to clean up their mess in the back yard, he tells them to meet us at the van around front and locks the back door...frantic knocking...

You wouldn't believe it could happen so quickly but our girls are gifted! Dee was swinging a broken broom handle...(they swing everything, I am constantly telling them not to swing purses, bags, etc...why don't they just listen?!)...and slices open Nana's right hand! Albert opens the door and the girls are frantic, Nana is crying, Albert tells her to quit crying, she is fine. He goes to put a band aid on it, just a small scratch...then he turns her hand over...it is bleeding profusely.
At this point, being supermom, I quickly assure her she is going to be fine, that we need to go to the clinic to have the doctor look at it, no big deal...right? NO, I am furious. Two weeks, I have been counting on this night out for two weeks!!!

Moving on...we get to the clinic (we make big sister come along so she can see the affecs of her actions) and as I walk in the clinic, 2 blocks from the house thank goodness, the girls at the front desk say, "You just can't stay away can you?" Now, when they know you on sight, you have been there too often! We finally see the doctor and it is the same one who took care of the baby boy on two previous occasions, I cannot imagine what he must think!

An hour and a half later, we go to drop the kids off at parents night out. Wow, they have a college intern who is amazing! All of the girls up there are wonderful! Baby girl did not even cry! Talk about miracles! And a wealth of willing babysitters!

Now to land this plane...we missed the movie, but had a wonderful dinner, just the two of us. We laughed and relaxed for the first time in quite a while. Obviously God has quite a sense of humor. My high hopes for a night out were almost dashed, but in the aftermath, we found a treasure trove of hope and good wishes.

Oh...afterwards the girls just raved and raved on our kids? What is that all about?

Precious but very telling

Tonight we found baby boy with his nose in the corner. He stayed there for a few minutes. I guess the girls spend so much time there he just knew he was missing out on something!

A Step Ahead...Kinda

Monday I washed 8 loads of clothes, vacuumed half of the house (big house), cooked supper and baths, including hair for everyone!!!

Yesterday I drove a lot, took babies to McDonalds to play while I finished paperwork, copied paperwork for all 6 kids, drove all over town picking up kids and dropping off for visits, supper and baths (for most).

It is now 10:10 a.m. and I have cooked enough chili and soup for 4 meals! I plan to make homemade bread and homemade chicken tenders to freeze, all before picking up kids from school. That sound great but...I'm still behind! I think I could clean 8 hrs a day and never be able to stay ahead of these guys! I just turn my head as I walk past the toy room, the Christmas tree and mess still needs to be tackled, but don't tell anyone. If I ignore it, it might disappear! Ya think?!

20 pounds...obviously not enough!

We were getting ready for church this a.m. and one of the girls told me I smelled good...then my 4 yr old told me I look like I have a baby in my tummy. What do you say to that?! Obviously the 20 pounds I've lost is not enough!!!

It is hard to stay mad at her though, an hour later she informed me that she would start calling me mom. The group of 4 now knows that they might not be going home, the judge will decide. Pray for them as they come to grips with this and who will adopt them. God has not called us to that roll but chances are good that they will be here for a long time. Who else is crazy enough to take on a group of 4 kids under the age of 8?!

Gotta go run the loop a few times!!!

The Zoo

I have found the zoo to be a magical place...the more kids you take with you, the more exciting it is! We could have watched the hippo for hours. You would not believe the amount of screaming that went on as we watched him swim to the glass and away again! "Here he comes, here he comes!" "I can't see him, where'd he go?!" Over and over again. As I watched the merriment, it made me smile at the sheer joy I was experiencing.

We ran from exhibit to exhibit as the animals were very active in the cool weather. Each child had their picture taken on the concrete lion, it's tradition! We rode on the back of the train, waving to all the people and then screamed as we crossed the bridge! "I see an aligator!" was heard over and over.

When it came time to leave we were sad.

I don't remember ever having so much fun at the zoo!

Stitches, Throw up and presents

Have you ever seen one of these? Well, let me tell you, thanks to this item, our Christmas trip to Lufkin started off with on a bad note. Morning one, baby girl pushes this over onto baby boy's head. I know for a fact your skull is white! We spend 3 hours in the ER then attempt to enjoy the rest of our trip. A few days later we head back to the ER with a different child (thank goodness) because of the stomach virus. We stayed away from everybody for a day or two and then we opened presents! That is a very short synopsis of our trip to Lufkin.