This weekend was such a challenge. He has begun calling names when he is angry. Right now it is Fatty. All my training says ignore it and not react to it. But when he is shouting it in the grocery store, I want to hold up a sign that says, he doesn’t mean it. He is just going through emotional struggles. Sometimes I can’t ignore it and I send him to time out saying we need to talk nice to each other. On good days I ignore it or if it is a calm moment I change the conversation and distract him. He must have called me fatty at least 50 plus times today alone. (more…)
Is It Just Me? April 7, 2009
It seems like any time I watch the news lately I can’t help but stop and wonder if we are in the end times described in the Bible. I know there are plenty of people who feel we are already on the fourth or sixth seal and what not. I don’t believe that. But I do wonder if we are close to the beginning of end times? Or am I just feeling like the Thessalonians? Didn’t they feel like they must be in the end times because of persecution or hard times they were having? I used to just brush off the feeling from others that the tribulation was near. Because others have felt that way all the way back to the days of the Thessalonians. But lately I wonder.
Fostering to Adopt and Tough Times December 28, 2008
Wow, what a journey and it hasn’t even started. I don’t want to discourage people from doing this. But you definately have to be patient and flexible. I accepted a little boy. I was so excited about him. I was told the beginning of November about him. It took 3 weeks just to meet him for the first time. The first two times the foster mom was a no show. And I haven’t seen him since. It really frustrated me to no end. I finally have a date to begin transition, but not until the end of January. That will be the next time I see him. About 2 months from the first time I met him. Seems to me like starting from scratch again. He won’t remember anything about me. He will determin how long the transition will take. And I am fine with moving at his pace. In the first meeting we had no worries about the biological parents wanting him back. So I thought of him as a child to adopt. As of my last meeting, the father has said he wants his son. So now he will only be coming to my home as a foster child. It could take up to two years for everything to fall into place for him to be adopted. Now i’m torn on what to be to him. Does he call me mommy, does my nephew consider him a cousin, And what will this do to his stability and security in life? This is part of being a flex family. I signed up for this, and so far I am ok with it. I saw a foster mom in the hall who was crying because she brought her little foster child to court with her and his biological parents saw him for the first time and decided they wanted him back. She has had this child since he was an infant and was there to see the parents rights terminated since they hadn’t seen or heard from them in well over a year. Things can change just like that. Now she won’t be able to adopt him and is devistated. Again, I still seem to be ok so far.
Probably because he hasn’t been in my care yet.
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The Giving Tree October 22, 2008
This is in my collection of children’s books. I love this book and have used it in all my teachings. I used it, after many years of owning it, in one of my sundayschool classes that I taught. The story all of a sudden became a clear picture of how Jesus loves us. He sacrificed everything for us by giving His life. But He is still there giving us even more. He listens to our needs, desires, and pleas for help. All He desires in our Christian walk is for us to be still and sit with Him. To just sit. Listen. Be still. Often we are so consumed by our own wants and lives that we tend to ask Him for help and then run off on our own courses again, often with just a quick “thanks”.
Have you ever wondered if we practice more and more of just sitting, listening, and being still before Him, how much less complicated would our lives be?
Shell Sylverstein never intended it to be a book about Jesus, it just became that illistration for me.
Adoption/Foster Care October 7, 2008
Just a quick update. I have been licensed, and I have been briefed on the contract. I sign the contract today. I am already allowed to be matched. And this is the scary part. This is a life time commitment. Not a passing phase. For some of you, your children are chosen for you. They are just born to you and you love them like crazy. I feel weird that I am picking the children. How do I make a wise decision?
There is one little girl that is ready for adoption. I can’t seem to get her top five needs. She is older then I origionally wanted, 8, but there is something about her that seems like a fit.
There are two other little girls. Sisters. Perfect in age, 3&4. Just what I wanted. But they have been diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol syndrome. This is something that affects them their entire life. I don’t know much about it, and that is why it is a bit uncertain for me. But God may make this decission because a relative is intersted in adopting them. And they get first choice.
How do I know which children to adopt? Part of me just wants them all. Part of me is scared to make the wrong choice. Biological parents don’t have to go through this do they?
Anyways, any prayers would be fabulous. My spelling is horrible this morning. Blah.
Manna Bags July 11, 2008
My church has this cool thing called Manna Bags. You basically fill a ziploc bag with some non parishable foods, a water bottle, and a new pair of socks, and any thing else you might want to add. There is also a piece of paper, with all the local places and their phone numbers, that help the homeless.
I love Manna Bags. I think it is a great alternative to giving the homeless money. My first experience in handing out a Manna bag was great! The guy loved it! He went through it, ate some of it, then put it in his bag. He was very greatful.
My second bag has been sitting in my car waiting to be handed out. Yesterday I got to hand it out. (more…)
How Will We Manage July 3, 2008
One of my favorite places to dine is now closed. Slices is no longer open for business. They couldn’t keep up with the rise in costs. Here is what I am noticing. Gas is insane. Because of this, everyone is raising their prices. But employees are not getting raises to reflect this increase in the cost of living. A loaf of whole wheat bread is almost $5 a loaf at Walmart. I used to pay $20 a week in gas, now I am at $100 a week. Because of the increase in the cost of living it is possible my landlord will need to raise my rent as much as a hundred a month. So my groceries are higher, my gas is higher, my utilities are higher, and now my rent is higher. And the worst part is I am getting a great deal on the rent here. If I can’t afford the rent here, I will have to move back home. 38 And moving back in with Parents. From a house to a bedroom. What does this mean for the blue collar worker? How are we supposed to survive? Businesses are closing up. And no one thinks we are headed towards a recession? I think I make decent money for the work I do. But it is extremely hard to survive. I can’t believe this is happening.
