Tuesday, December 30, 2008

doing the happy dance

i talked with sweetpea's attorney today and she said she is NOT going to be recommending that sweetpea move to gramas- she does not feel grama has made enough effort or has the ability to keep sweetpea safe from dad.
so, we still have to wait to see what happens in court, but the attorney is FOR her staying with us!!!!
:)

Monday, December 29, 2008

some news

so now they have a date for travel for my teen- next monday!
it's funny cause the case worker acted like as soon as she got the homestudy back they would fly the next day, so i have been sitting on eggshells waiting to see what happens and trying not to make any definate plans of any kind. so i ask her, why next monday if you got homestudy back? she says "well, i have to make travel plans (for herself) obviously" yes lady obviously you need a week to plan, but i should be prepared to jump at a days notice.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

the Christmas fairy exploded !


uhhuh. It's insane!
CPS has supplied over three garbage sacks full of presents for Sweetpea, and our agency got all the kids 1-2 garbage sacks full of presents (including sweetpea!)Then, of course i couldn't resist picking up a few things (really only a few!). this is what our tree looks like right now- this is without what santa will bring for the littles (bike for Lucca, Trike for Sebastian, Play table for Sweetpea, plus all the stocking stuffers and the few presents i was seriously too exhausted to wrap!Let me just say, my children will always remember this Christmas! They have never been spoiled like this (and never will again!).

big suprise-not

so the thirteen-year-old will NOT be going to the relatives for Christmas. the case worker swore up and down and backwards to me and and to her, and now it's not happening- i feel really bad for her :(
so now i have to go shopping today- in the MADNESS....
and when bubbles comes back into care we will not be able to take her (because of ratios). but i feel ok about this- i had a dream last night and I just knew we wouldn't be taking her.

we have fielded so many phone calls and appointments for this last placement , it is unbelievable! i am EXHAUSTED from talking to other grownups about every aspect of our lives. Doing foster care ls like being under a big fat microscope 24/7. It is so wearing... i am feeling bummed out from all this and the holiday rush and my kids are being pains in the - seriously! what is with them lately?

right now i am almost positive i don't want to take another placement again.

- and Sweepea had a visit with Grama and I talked with CW. she said she had no IDEA where the homestudy is .. mediation is the 6th, court the 12th. i know and she knows her head will roll if the homestudy is not completed by court. the judge EXPEDITED it for crying out loud!!

Friday, December 19, 2008

go mark twain!

i saw this quote today here, in the rocking article by MICHAEL CRICHTON on "global warming:
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
go Mark Twain- I 100% agree!

dogs

now our house has in it:
one

two

and one


welcome to our new foster dog Tootie!

sweetpea news

talked to sweetpea's SW today. she called to say that they still didn't have the homestudy back, and they might have to order another one. Mediation is schedualed forjan 6th and they have to have it done by then. -her words, not mine!
I had no idea this would take so long!!1

nutcracker , private showing


Last night we dragged our selves out into the fog and traffic to go to the ballet with Kiryn, Lucca, and the 13 year old .Our agency was given?/purchased? and exclusive showing of the Austin Children's Nutcracker. It was SOOOOOO awesome! all the kids there (who were all foster/adopt/bio kids of our agency's families) were saucer-eyed. many of the cast were children which was doubly cool for Lucca and Kiryn. After the show they allowed the kids to come onstage and meet all the dancers. The dancers were so friendly and polite. Now Kiryn and Lucca both want to be dancers :)
What a blessing this was for our family!

about nicknames

i forgot to add i also have an aunt Sissy. and that reminds me that so far two of my kiddos have given each other nicknames- kiryn was named Dayday by Lucca and sebastian calls him this now- and Lucca is Sissy (#2)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

parenthood moment


so about 20 minutes ago i am hanging out at the computer and Lucca starts crying that her stomach hurts. so I say " come over here , show me where" and she comes over and proceeds to vomit profusely at my feet..and on my feet.
Nothing like a little vomit to add some holiday cheer.

secret santa found!


it was my Aunt Bitsy! and we got another Amazon gift, this one is for Tristan from Aunt Mouse- why do all my aunts have such funny names you ask? well in a family of seven children , apparently your siblings will be prone to giving you nicknames that WILL NEVER GO AWAY.... LOL
The Christmas wrapping is in full swing over here. And, with a helpful mobile baby to UNWRAP all the gifts it is very lively around here!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

secret presents


today we got a package- a swing that was on my amazon wishlist- funny thing is I didn't order it, and i have no idea who did! there was no note and it was addressed to the Paparella Brood. how odd :)
so if you wish to expose your self, secret santa, that would satisfy my curiosity. If not, thank you so much for the swing! it will be well used by all the kiddos. :)

Sunday, December 14, 2008

and

the dachshund rescue lady is coming tomorrow for a home visit...to be continued

Introducing>>>>>

puppies!!!


This is Shiloh, Kiryn's new BFF



and this is my newest little snuggle bug, Levi

They are purebred miniature Australian Shepherds. they are brothers, but you can't tell since mine is half the size of his piggie brother (who shoves him out of the way for his food!)
We are in puppy heaven!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

everything is going swell

M (the 13 year old) is doing great. supposedly the agency is going to bring papers to make it an official placement. i had forgotten how talkative 13 year olds can be! LOL
seriously :)
she wants to have her best friend spend the night this weekend, so we are in for a world of giggles and squeals!
we STILL have no answer about sweetpea's grama's homestudy...

oh and we are going to adopt a Dachshund! Kiryn is ready for his first dog (to care for all on his own) . He has even been saving for and agreed to fully pay for all food expenses! So we applied to the Dachshund rescue and are waiting for our home visit (to make sure we don't eat dogs for dinner and all!)

Saturday, December 6, 2008

she is here

after the case worker being extreamly late last night, resulting in the whole family being late to the AMAZING catered Christmas party we went to, she got here. BUT here is the weird par. i was told this was a "Real" placement, but when she got here they said, no it's just respite- but i have no idea for how long, and she wants to stay here. she goes to school in another town, and expects to go on monday, but they ahd told me NOT to enroll her in school. of course there is NOONE to talk to on the weekends..sigh

Friday, December 5, 2008

new placement today?

so today we will probably be getting a 14 year old female. they are closing down another home due to investigations and re-homing the kiddos.supposedly this one is waiting on ICPC to go through on a relative in another state, at which point she would go there. so she needs somewhere to go over the holidays... so now i need to figure out WHAT ON EARTH a 14 year old wants for Christmas??!!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Downs Syndrome

i loved this video. it dispells common myths about downs syndrome.




after watching this video, please roll around this in your mind:
in many countries such as serbia, russia and many EE countries children with downs are sent away to mental institutions at the ripe age of 4. At which point they are no longer adoptable, not given access to proper medical care or love care or attention. Thier lives are over at 4. Because they are different.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

my thankful thanksgiving

so i met sweetpea's new worker yesterday- and i must she SHE IS WONDERFUL.--how wonderful? --gave me her cell phone wonderful!----
seriously. she was kind and smart and asked all the right questions. and i don't think she is leaning towards passing Grama's homestudy. she agreed with me that it dosn't look good that grama will protect sweetpea from dad. we told we would be fine with a very open adoption with grama, so sweetpea could still have family ties.
finally some HOPE!
but of course we still have to wait...
lol

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

is adoption missional?

i found this article here:


Johnny Carr, National Director of Church Partnerships for Bethany Christian Services, wrote this piece. I think he nails it. Johnny also lives it; he and his wife have two adopted children who are both deaf.


Is Adoption Missional?

I guess the first thing is to define missional. “Missional” is one of those junk drawer buzzwords that has become common in our Christian vocabulary with several definitions floating around. Wikipedia says that “missional” is a missionary-term that describes a missionary lifestyle, and I guess that is as good a definition as any. To live “missionally” is to express the Gospel holistically in the way you live - every day and in every thing. It is a way of life, not a program. It
means living like Jesus lived. If you know much about Jesus you know that includes helping to meet the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of others. Living missionally means making a conscious decision to live each day with others in mind, rather than yourself.

In other words, YES - adoption is missional.

Recently, I was speaking with a lady who had asked her church for financial help for their adoption. The church leader responded that the church did not help with “optional” things like adoption. The pastor’s perspective seemingly saw adoption more like consumption than ministry. He saw adoption as a want - much like I want an iPhone. He was not viewing adoption from the perspective of the child.

When I meet with Pastors to discuss adoption ministries, I will often ask them, “Who does adoption help?” The typical response is “infertile couples.” That is when I lovingly explain that adoption primarily helps children. Whether the child is an orphan from war, genocide or disease in Africa; whether the child is an orphan due to abuse and neglect and the state has severed the rights of his/her birth parents, or whether it is a new born baby that was born due to an unplanned pregnancy - adoption is (or, at least, should be) always about the health and best interest of the child. Unfortunately, many Christians are focusing on s (us) rather than the child (them).

When adoption is seen through a child’s eyes, it is easy to see the missional nature of adoption. In fact, this may be the ultimate missional decision because adoption is a lifetime commitment. Many people today are adopting children with special needs. Some of these children will never grow up to be independent. The people who are adopting these little ones know that they are making a decision today that will affect the rest of their lives. Instead of raising a couple of healthy kids, sending them off to college, and then sailing off in their motor home into retirement, they will be serving the least of these until one of them “retires” into eternity. That is truly missional.

Someone once said missional living was “religion without all the junk added,” I thought that was interesting in light of James 1:27, “Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (NIV)

There are many different perspectives on the best ways to care for orphans, but with 143,000,000 orphans in the world today, something must be done by followers of Jesus Christ. Only 1-2% of these children will be adopted. We need many strategies that will best fit the cultures, values, and
environments of the places where these orphans live, and adoption is a one great strategy.

Adoption is not the one-stop cure all for the orphan crisis, but it is a strategic and effective mode to care for the orphans of the world. It’s also a commitment of sacrifice, a holistic manifestation of the Gospel, a missional posture and a service to Christ.

Monday, November 24, 2008

responsible

"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act" Proverbs 24:12

Sunday, November 23, 2008

one word

i have one word for all of you-

Serbia

Monday, November 17, 2008

just curious


anyone reading my blog , please tell me what you think.
i read a heated debate on one of my foster parent boards about the right/wrongness of asking for donations and/or fundraising by selling things for the purpose of international adoption. what are your thoughts? i never realized people would have such a veminant distaste for these practices. seems to me that if i couldn't/wouldn't adopt that at least i could help someone else adopt?? but people were saying things to the tune of if you can't afford to adopt you should be allowed to. but many we are talking from $15-40k. i would love to adopt internationally but it is a very hug hurdle.
so should you have to be rich to adopt?

Saturday, November 15, 2008

struck

i was quite struck yesterday by the bolded lyrics in this song yesterday-

Here I Am by Downhere:
Sometimes your calling, comes in dream
Sometimes in comes in the Spirit's breeze,
You reach for the deepest hope in me,
And call out for the things of eternity.

But I'm a man, of dust and stains,
You move in me, so I can say,

CHORUS:
Here I am, Lord send me,
All of my life, I make an offering,
Here I am, Lord send me,
Somehow my story, Is part of your plan,
Here I am

When setbacks and failures, and upset plans,
Test my faith and leave me with empty hands,
Are you not the closest when it's hardest to stand?
I know that you will finish what you began.


These broken parts you redeem,
Become the song, that I can sing

Here I am, Lord send me,
All of my life, I make an offering,
Here I am, Lord send me,
Somehow my story, Is part of your plan,
Here I am

Overwhelmed by the thought of my weakness,
And the fear that I'll fail you in the end,
In this mess, I'm just one of the pieces,
I can't put this together but you can.

Here I am, Lord send me,
I wanna live my life as an offering
Here I am, Lord send me,
Somehow my story, Is part of your plan,
Here I am

Here I am, my life an offering to you, to you
Somehow my story, Is part of your plan,
Here I am

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

funny funny video- large family twelve days of christmas

perspective, stay at home mom

perspective
i read this today and particularly loved this
"Get Perspective:

~Hold a sleeping in your arms, mouth agape and warm breath drifting, and stand before a map of this world. Which would you rather have? Paris, New York, Tokyo, London------or this flesh lying against yours, this one made in the image and likeness of the very Divine? This world is going to burn up, cinders for the universe….but your child is a soul without end, forever and ever existence. The world has pitifully, laughably little to offer in comparison to this holy opportunity to raise up a child."

i hope this blesses someone's day as much as it did mine!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

pie day

my husband's work has pie day once a year. all the new guys/gals must make a pie. and all those who lost a bet must make a pie. my husband made up an interesting pie.
"Paparella Purple penrose pear pie"



Monday, November 10, 2008

visit with "granny"

well, we had our first "granny" visit today. i was able to sit in the room with her (and dad was there too for some reason) for part of the visit, which was great for sweetpea. she got to warm up to them= no screaming !
I also was able to bring up the subject of after the fact, ie if granny gets her can we have anything to do with her again? and to my shock she said she was FINE with me calling up and seeing her anytime! i thank God for his answer to my prayer that i would at least be able to know sweetpea is safe and be able to see her grow up. it dosn't take away the pain of losing her, but it does soften the blow.
she said we could even take her for a weekend if we wanted.
we have two more weeks to wait until the homestudy should be back. i am trying hard to really enjoy and take in the little time i have with my baby.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

i can make pizza!



we watched the twins overnight last night..whew am i tired!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

adoption encouragment

I'm only one. But still, I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
-- Edward Everett Hale

Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them.
Have great dreams and dare to live them.
Have tremendous expectations and believe in them.
--- Norman Vincent Peale

Natural Child: Any child who is not artificial.
Real Parent: Any parent who is not imaginary.
Your Own Child: Any child who is not someone else's child.
Adopted Child: A natural child, with a real parent, who is all my own.
--- Rita Laws, PhD

* People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway.
* If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
* If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
* The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
* Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
* The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind. Think big anyway.
* People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
* What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
* People really need help but may attack if you help them. Help people anyway.
* Give the world the best you have and you might get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

* You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

--- Kent M. Keith (with additions by Mother Teresa?)

argh. math

i CANNOT decide on a math program for Kiryn. i am on the fence between Abeka 2 and math-u-see beta. the first will be following what we did last year (abeka 1) last year we bought the teachers manual and all the extras. i found everything but the workbook to be unnessasary. so to buy the new workbook $13.25. but a friend told me a friend used Abeka and her kid had to take remedial math in college....
the math-u-see program is awesome, but for the whole program i will shell out $85!!!
what do i do??? anyone have advice?

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Charlotte's web


that's what we are reading right now.

my printer is working overtime.

while i am reading

and this


kiryn's pig book

luccas pig book

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

down

i am feeling very down currently. i have avoided posting because i really am at a loss for words to explain. i did figure out something about myself. i need to keep busy to keep from feeling sad (if something sad is happening) . and without the extra happenings to keep me busy it can be overwhelming. i was called to set up a visit for grama this monday. i am not looking forward to the begining of this transistion. but , you never know what may happen-

so of course you never know. but right now i am feeling the grimness of the outcome for my sweetpea and my heart is surely aching.
i just keep reminding myself that:

romans 8:

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.

Monday, November 3, 2008

todays developments

well I was at court for 7 hours today for my friends little sister. the judge said it was one of the most horrible cases she had seen. it brought her to tears.
still, because cps was not recommending conservitoship she didnt give it. she moved the child to aunts 3 hours away (instead of placing with me or the two sisters here in town) everyone was thrown for loop.
then i get home and call my agency to find that someone in round rock was able to take MaMa and cupcake. and apparently since CPS is not removing children (due to the whole FDLS debacle ) we (along with every other foster parent in town) will likely be empty soon.
it's sad because it is not like children just stopped being abused. cps just stopped doing anything to protect them.
it is a sad depressing day.
liz

Friday, October 31, 2008

and then there were 8 ???

well ...
i have a good dear friend who has a 12 year old sister who might be coming into care. i am going with her other sister to court on monday to (hopefully) convince this judge to pull the little sister into care and out of the terrible situation she is in. i will also be presenting myself as a placement for her (already discussed and approved with husband and agency)
this does not negate the placement of MaMa and Cupcake. we will already have to be a group home to take them in. a group home can have up to 12 children! YIKES

so monday is another big, maybe bigger (lol) day!

a phone call reveals..more waiting!

so for the sake of simplicity i am going to give the two children "names"-
big A (the 16 yr old mama) will be MaMa
little a (the one year old daughter) will be Cupcake

so, MaMa and cupcake had court on Thursday. The CPS worker FINALLY called my placement worker this morning, who called me. here is how it went down:
MaMa wants to come here. her case worker, and Cupcake's worker want them to come here.
CPS has been looking for over two months for a foster home that would take both, we were the second nibble ..in two months. the other home was even further away and MaMa didnt like them, and they felt like they would be uprooting her.
The judge wants them both to go home to grama/mom in February-ish. so until them they have to be in foster home. However when presented with our home, judge was unhapy because we are not in Round Rock (outlaying area of austin) we are 15 minuted from there. and sweetpea's case is also in Round Rock. we drive her there for visits ect. i don't get it!
so judge tells workers A and B to "exsaust all possibilities of a afoster home in Round rock" what ever that means! seems like looking for two months IS doing that!
so now we have to wait till mon/tues to see if she will come here. and she'll have to move during the school week instead of on the weekend. i am telling you i just don't get the system.
So we spent yesterday assembling a bed and crib and getting the room ready.


MaMa and cupcake- we are ready for you!

Thursday, October 30, 2008


this.. this is my phone. my NEW phone. just got it a little over a week ago. one of the first things i did? = set a really great ringtone for the referral line at my agency- so that whereever i was if i heard that noise i would KNOW they were calling with a referral. sigh. now RING darnit! i am waiting for news about big A and little A's court date. will we get both? one? none? i am not a paitent person...sigh.
RING

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

sebastian tribute!

you are two today my big boy!

when you came out, you had your little hand in your mouth so it took a little manouvering (on your part) to get that big head of your out.

Lucca was right next to the birth pool when you were born and she screamed out in delight "look mommy, he just jumped out your tummy!"


daddy made sure you got your sleep


kiryn never missed a phot op!

and then there were 4 !


your favorite place to be!

all the boys!

I love you sebastian!

Monday, October 27, 2008

court


well court is over. everything went (mostly) how i figured it would. everyone showed(except mom, as she is incarcerated) . i actually was able to stand up in front of the judge with everyone else, and speak. Grama turned in her homestudy (for adoption) paperwork over 2 weeks ago, and has not gotten even a call yet. she has already lined up childcare for sweetpea for when she returns to her care. i asked the judge to expedite the homestudy (meaning get on the ball and get it done within 30 days) because it in sweetpea's best interests to move quickly if she is going to be moved to gramas. there is no benefit in prolonging it. i also was able to get them to set up visits for grama, to which we (grama and me) got them to agree to let me be in the visit too, so sweetpea would not cry and could get to know grama in a nonstressfull way.
yikes. if she passes (which with what is going on with texas cps right now she almost undoubtedly will) my baby will be leaving my home within two months...

and on the other front (the teenager with child) the child's worker and her attorney were in court right behind us- we were there early and overheard them saying there names, so i introduced myself and got to hear more about the case. apparently teen is out of time and her mother will not give a PMC to the state (permanate managing consevitorship) and the state doesn't have enough to terminate, which means teen has to go home BUT baby cannot return home because grama isn't safe with baby . so, we might end up only getting baby . i hope not though, because it would be heartbreaking for teen mom who loves baby and is very devoted.
this morning really is court, pray for us!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

fostering- can YOU do it? if not what CAN you do?

i am going to give my HUGE endorsment to a friend's blog here:
please read:
i can't be a foster parent because (part one)
i can't be a foster parent (part two)
i can't be a foster parent (part 3)
you cant be a foster parent but you can

these were SO very spot on. i encourage everyone who reads my blog to read this series!!!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

met the teen!

it went super well!
she is with her head on her shoulders certainly. she was very good with her daughter, and very articulate and reasonable. i really think it will be a great match- if she comes here that is. she has court on thurs -at which point may go home. if she does not she decided she would like to come to our house
and the funniest part of it is how much she really would fit in. she even already has attended OUR church for over a year(with her mom)! hoe uncanny is that?
At one point she asked me how i felt about piercings (because she has her tounge and wants her ears done) and i couldn't help but laugh, seeing as at 16 i had 5 piercings!
her hobbies are the exact same i had at her age, art photography and she wants to learn guitar.
oh and her daughter ADORABLE. 16 months and cute as a button!
i will let everyone know more when we do!

Friday, October 24, 2008

i should be freaked out right?

i should be, but i am not. i came to rest in the Lord on this issue with sweetpea's grama a few weeks ago.i surrendered to the Lord. After all, it is up to him no matter how much i fret and worry.
i have gone through so many highs and lows over this last 8 months. at the highs i threw myself into being sweetpea's mama, and planning for her future with us( playing a pretend game that never included anything sad). the low times i retreated slightly. not in action, just in heart, planning for her to leave... Now i really feel neither. it does not matter what happens tomorrow, for today she is mine. my baby. the baby i smell her head and swoon, the baby who greets me with a two-toothed grin and a chuckle.my baby who wraps herself around me to snuggle. she will always be mine, no matter where she is tomorrow...
we are never promised another day, for any of our children or ourselves. I just praise the Lord he gave me today with all my children. He has been so good!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

not so good news on sweetpea

grama turned in homestudy paperwork, so they have begun the homestudy process. i am hoping we know more at court on monday.
:(

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

more

so we found out a little more. she is not happy about going to a foster home, as that will mean she is officially in foster care, and not just staying in a shelter for a few weeks. she works very near our house, making us a good match..lol
we are going on sat to the shelter to meet her- so i will let you know more when we do!

another teenager referral

she's 16 and has a one year old daughter.
i think we might say yes! we are waiting for more info- so far we know the shelter has had no issues with her, she is a good mom and has a job and goes to school.
i would officially be the youngest "grama" ever! lol

Sunday, October 19, 2008

cute kids and gourds


our finished gourds

sebastian after painting himself *er gourds

this morning sebastian got himself "dressed" for church,

Friday, October 17, 2008

pioneer farms

we have started volunteering here on fridays. what a blessing it has been! we all get to dress up in pioneer clothes and cook food over an open fire pit, and tell bunches of school groups all about life "in the olden days" as kiryn says! we are going to start reading the "little house on the prairie series to compliment this real life experience.

sleeping babies on a cornhusk bed

kiryn tending the fire

Lunch!

lucca plays marbles

my pioneer "housemate" and her son

Thursday, October 16, 2008

my cup overflows



flowers brought to me by my sweet children.
it's funny how a day can start off on such a bad note, but end on such a good one...
i started my day in a "don't even look at me in the wrong way" kind of mood. but, thanks to God and few ladies at my bible study i am feeling ,for the most part, refreshed. and then sweet little Lucca and Sebastian bring me presents.

Monday, October 13, 2008

bitter sweet

Bubbles will be leaving noon tomorrow. she will be moving into her Aunt's home. this was expected, but took MUCH longer than we/anyone anticipated. She has grown comfortable here, and my kiddos are fond of her and visa versa. i just had to explain to Lucca that she was leaving tomorrow, and she took it pretty well.
it is, i beleve a good move, but she will be missed!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

the pumpkin farm


sebastian with his BFF Eden behind him

Lucca swinging away


lucca , sebastian and three of amy's kiddos !

Friday, October 10, 2008

your full quiver -part one

i especially like #3 and #5!!

copied from quiverfull

Ten Great Reasons To Have Another Child

1. Have another child to join with God in the creation of an immortal soul.

Parents are given the incredible opportunity to assist God in the creation of an immortal soul. As the late Cardinal Mindszenty said, even the angels have not been given such a grace.

“The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral—a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body...Even the angels have not been given such a grace! What is more glorious than this—to be a mother.” Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty Reason

2. Have another child to bring joy into your life.


There is no joy like the joy of welcoming another child into your life. You will marvel anew at how perfectly formed your little one is, and over how quickly you will fall head over heels in love with him. You will be enchanted with every tiny aspect of her appearance. The color of her hair, the shape of her nose, and the winsomeness of her smile will occasion endless happy debates about from which side of the family (yours, of course) she got that adorable trait.

The birth of a child will bind you to God more tightly than ever before, in awed gratitude. “She was the most miraculous thing that had ever happened in my life,” Whittaker Chambers wrote about his new daughter in Witness. And in the lives of most of us.

I thought that one day
I would be a famous artist
and create great works of art

Instead, God made me a mother,
and my children are His masterpiece.

The design of their lives
will live on after me.
What is painted on their hearts
will last an eternity
- Anonymous

3. Have another child to grown in holiness and virtue.

For those who marry and have families, children are the primary means God uses to help them grow in holiness and virtue. Children teach their parents patience, perseverance, charity, and humility. They give their parents the opportunity to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. They come into the world , and we clothe them, hungry and we feed them. Thirsty, and we give them drink. All of the things that we are required to do for the “least of these our brothers,” we do first and foremost for our own children. St. Catherine of Siena once had a vision in which God took her to a roomful of crosses and told her to pick one. St. Catherine went to the largest, heaviest cross in the room and would have chosen it. But God told her that it was not for her: That was reserved for the parents of large families.

“Mary gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes.” Luke 2:7

4. Have another child to help end abortion.


When Mother Teresa of Calcutta was asked by a young mother about the best way to proceed with pro-life work, she responded emphatically, “Have a big family. That is the best way to end abortion!”

How this works is not difficult to understand. As children become more rare due to contraception, sterilization and abortion, whole segments of society become less and less familiar with the sense of joy and hope that only babies and children can give. In this climate, contraception and abortion feed on themselves, as the increasingly selfish few further reduce their number.

By having another child, you demonstrate once again to the world that children are God’s greatest gifts. “Children build up the life of the family and society,” as Pope John Paul II has said. “The child becomes a gift to its brothers and sisters, parents and entire family. Its entire life becomes a gift for the very people who were givers of life and who cannot help but feel its presence, its sharing in their life and its contribution to the common good and to the community of the family.”

The more children there are in society, the more pro-life that society will become, and the easier it will be for the great evil of abortion to be eradicated once and for all.

“Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19

5. A) Have another child so your sons will have brothers and your daughters will have sisters.


Children who have siblings learn early to share. They learn to take turns and to put the needs of others before their own. The bond formed between brothers and sisters is lifelong, and stronger than the bond between the closest friends.

“How good it is, how pleasant, where the brothers dwell as one!” Psalm 133:1-2

B) Have another child so your sons will have sisters and your daughters will have brothers.

Boys who have sisters learn the dignity of women. They learn to treat other s and women with respect, as they consider how they would like their own sisters to be treated. s who have brothers learn the complementarity of men and women, both fashioned in the image and likeness of God.

“Love begins by taking care of the closest ones—the ones at home.” Mother Teresa

6. Have another child so you (and your parents) won’t be lonely in old age.


People who have children don’t have to rely upon strangers to care for them in their old age. Children also become the parents of your grandchildren. Grandchildren bring joy, happiness, and laughter, while still allowing you to get a good night’s sleep! “Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their parentage.”Proverbs 17:6

7. Have another child because people are our greatest resource.

Humans are blessed with the gifts of an intellect and free will. It is human ingenuity that discovers creative solutions to the problems which confront us. People without children should remember that it will be someone else’s child who will become the doctor that performs their life-saving operations. Someone else’s child will become the firefighter that saves their house. Someone else’s child will become the railroad engineer.

“How can there be too many children? That’s like saying there are too many flowers.”
Mother Teresa

8. Have another child to contribute to the economy.


Families with children are fuel to the economy, purchasing houses and cars and college educations. Without young people to enter the workforce, social security systems fail. Without children to attend school, teachers are jobless. Many industries, from fast food restaurants to toy stores, obviously rely heavily upon business from and for children to stay in business. But ultimately the whole economy does.

“Like a fruitful vine your wife within your home, Like olive plants your children around your table. Just so will they be blessed who fear the Lord.” Psalm 128:3-4

9. Have another child to counter global depopulation.


Anyone who has traveled from coast to coast in the United States and seen the vast empty spaces should know that America is not overpopulated. In fact, the entire population of the world could live in the state of Texas, in single-family dwellings with front and back yards. Fertility rates are falling everywhere. The world’s population will never again double. If current trends continue, world population will peak by the middle of this century and then begin demographic freefall. Our long-term problem is not too many children, but too few children. Having another child will help offset the coming population implosion.

“Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth.” Genesis 1:28.

10. Have another child to help populate heaven.

The child that you and your spouse have been generous in accepting from God was created to return to Him, after a life of love, service, and obedience on earth, to spend eternity with God in heaven. Our Lord Himself said that there was plenty of room for those immortal souls. There is no overpopulation problem in Heaven!

“There are many mansions in my Father’s house.” John 14:2

Thursday, October 9, 2008

so

things with sweetpea are on hold, but bubble's case is more dynamic-
first they say she's moving, then NO WAY is she moving and now it's "She's probably moving on monday" sheesh! poor little thing has her head spinning.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

it is official

we have the WORST CPS worker EVER.
she told me and my case worker that court was today , so we drive 45 minutes away, only to find it is NOT today, but the 27th. so i wasted half my day and now have to wait around anxiously for the next few weeks!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

YIKES!

court for sweetpea is tomorrow morning!!!
i am getting nervous!

Monday, October 6, 2008

babysitting

last night we (mostly I ) watched the twins. wow! what an experience, here are some cute pictures. you have not had your hands full until youve held three babies at the same time!!