Isn't God Funny?

 Isn't He just the most hilarious? I mean, of course he has to be funny, right? He made giraffes. And toddlers. And husbands. I think sometimes God leans back a little and lets out a giant belly laugh about the funny things He does. And that's what brings me to where we are right now. After some recent events, it's looking like it's pretty likely that my seventeen-year-old sister, Chelsea, is going to be coming to live with us. So that's Ethan, Evan, Faith, Leah, *Ella, *Abby, and Chelsea. Seven. Seven children. I find myself asking, "God, are you sure? Do you really think we can handle seven kids? Why us? Are we going to be the fodder of years of counseling sessions? Can we keep an entire psychiatric practice in business just by screwing up these seven kids that you seem to think we can keep up with?" And on and on it goes. But this isn't our plan, it's His. So, I guess for now Shawn and I will just sit back and enjoy this crazy ride that's called our life.

Father's Day Tribute

I can't say that I ever had a "dad" to wish a Happy Father's Day to, but in some ways that was the biggest blessing I could have ever asked for. It definitely made me know what I was looking for in a father for my children. There were better stand in dads than I could have ever asked for, and for that I am forever grateful. Thanks Grandpa, Denny Miller, and Fred. You all did a pretty fantastic job of raising a daughter out of the kindness of your hearts. Sadly, there are fathers that I miss like crazy today. Norman Sipe, you were the best example of what a Daddy should be for me growing up. Your legacy will live forever because of the way you loved your kids. Bill Fults, you were a super amazing step dad to Wade and Shawn. You were a true example of loving children like they were your own. You always treated me and Kim as if we were your daughters. Not to mention, you were the very best Papaw on the face of the planet. I sure will miss your sense of humor. I hope you two are enjoying your first Father's Day together in Heaven. As crazy as he makes me, my boys' dad has modeled the value of a good work ethic and loving your children the best way you know how to my sons. Finally, onto the most important "Daddy" in my life, my husband Shawn. You really are the most amazing father and step-father in the world. You love all four of our kids with the same gentle guidance. You're the best Daddy to our little girls. The dance parties in the living room and your inability to tell them no are proof. So anyway, for a girl with no Daddy, I sure do have a lot of them to thank. I'm beyond blessed. 

 So...I started a blog. A really long time ago I started a blog and now I realize that my kids are like three years older than they were when I started a blog. I'll chalk that up to my ADD moments and the "babies" season of life. Praise the Lord that the "babies" season is over!!! At any rate, we're moving briskly into a new season of life that I would like to document not so much for entertaining anyone, but more for maintaining the last teensy weensy droplets of my sanity that might still be hanging in there.
 I guess I need to catch myself up. First, I'm a Jesus girl. I even teach Sunday school. It's okay, if we've ever known each other in real life, you can laugh. But hey, the kids I teach are all under five and they prefer their teachers a little on the spazzy side. Then, I'm Shawn's wife. You know, the lady who makes sure he has clean socks and underwear and that we still have electricity and running water. Next, I am the very proud Mama to Ethan (13), Evan (9), Faith (7), and Leah (4). I'm also a friend, volunteer, chaperone, taxi driver, ouchie fixer, and at least a dozen other things not glamorous enough to make the list.
 Now onto the reason for my desperate need to pour out (and hopefully sort) my feelings in a blog. I know what people think. Strangers see me with four children in tow and ask (out loud even) "Are they ALL yours?". Nope. I just go around picking up random extra children to take to the grocery. I mean...really? Yes. They are ALL mine. And I love them. More than almost anything. So anyway, LIFE IS SHORT! I want to remember some things forever and I'm afraid that if I don't put this part of our life in writing I'll forget the details that I am so hoping to remember.
 We have a huge secret!!! And no, I'm not pregnant...again. My neighbor finally decided last year that she would pursue her dream of fostering children. So she did the training. Then the paperwork. And all of the inspections. And she signed things in blood, I think. I'm kidding. I hope. She spent some time waiting for a foster child to grace her home. I remember telling her that I wasn't sure that I could love a child that wasn't biologically mine the way I love my own kids. And then it happened. She was so excited when she got the call that CPS would be placing two girls with her. I was excited for her, too. And that's when it really happened.
 Did I mention that my neighbor is a really good friend of mine? Did I mention that we spend a lot of time together? Now here's where it gets interesting. I FELL IN LOVE. I have loved those girls from the instant I laid eyes on them. The very first time we met, I remember thinking that the two of them just felt like part of our family. And that's where we are now. I have to change their names in the interest of confidentiality. From right now until they are officially ours (or until God slams the doors shut-which is what I've been praying for if this isn't what He wants for us) I will call the teenager Ella and the tween Abby. That's it. The secret is out. Shawn and I are doing what we can to adopt these girls. Can you imagine the comments that a mother of six kids will hear? I can't wait. Bring it on!

Created to Give Life...Not Grief

Today was more challenging than I would have imagined. The Martha Challenge seemed simple enough. I just had to clean out the fridge and freezer. The fridge...the fridge? Oh, yeah! That one place where we store pizza boxes and expired milk to never be seen again. Got it! I'm not sure why this took me forever, but it did. The freezer was quick and easy so I did that first. Then the fridge. I tossed all of the trash pretty quickly. Then came the kiss of death of all of my "projects". I took a break. I lost my focus. I procrastinated the rest. I did manage to get back on board and finished it up. My big realization from this challenge was not only do I lack focus, but my almost empty refrigerator could really use some groceries. I'm still too embarrassed to post a before picture, but I will try to post an after picture tomorrow.

The Mary Challenge was about how we as women were designed to "give life". I needed to figure out some new ways to give life to our home. Immediately I knew what my challenge needed to be. Today I vowed to not raise my voice (nope, not even once) to my children. I'm a yeller. Sometimes I yell to get over the volume in my house, but most of the time I yell to "get my point across". Getting my point across is my nice way of saying bullying or intimidating my children to do what I want them to do. It doesn't work and it's no fun for any of us. Yelling was my normal. It will NOT be my children's normal. Shockingly (or not) the kids were very receptive to the idea of a quiet mommy. The day was amazing. I noticed less fighting, yelling, and fussing between the kids. I didn't feel frustrated with them or with myself for yelling at them. The boys breezed through their night time routine without any nagging from me. Everyone went to bed on time without an argument. Conclusion: Yelling doesn't work. Just ask my kids.

My Mission Statement Part 2

Reasons to Make Our Home Our Haven

1.To have a haven worthy of God’s presence. To have a place to meet with the Lord peacefully, and in love, with my family. To have time to read His Word, pray, and listen to what He has to say about our life.

2. To give my husband a soft spot to land upon his return from the stress and mess of work.

3. To give my children a safe and warm place to grow, play, love, live, and learn to “work it out”. To set an example for them of how we are supposed to be stewards of our corner of the world.

4. To have a comfortable place for my family and myself. To let go of perfectionism and love myself, so I can love my family. To not feel defeated, or lazy, or unworthy of a clean home. To stop my negative self talk and move forward with life. To respect my family and myself enough to know that we deserve a tidy home.

5. To  enjoy “keeping” our home. To know that whatever I can do IS enough. To end procrastination. To have stress free time to enjoy the people and activities that I love.

6. To be able to invite family and friends into our home without being ashamed or worrying about what they might be thinking.

7. To have the time and energy to achieve other goals for myself and my family. To have the desire to do for others. To model giving to my children.

8. To finally stop surviving and start living.
I CAN DO THIS!!!

My Mission Statement

Each day of this book has a Mary challenge and a Martha challenge. Today the Martha challenge was to browse the book and gather supplies needed to complete the challenges for the other days. The Mary challenge was a bit more difficult. We were supposed to figure out why we wanted a tidy house and then write our own mission statement. I guess I never really thought about that before today. I mean, of course to keep the bugs and other critters at bay. And so no one calls CPS. Other than that, I really wasn't sure. I was raised in a clean but cluttered home. That is my normal. So that made me think. Do I want my children to live in dirty (cluttered, not filthy) homes when they grow up because that's what I had made their normal? Do I want them to argue with their spouse over household duties? Do I want them to play the martyr like I have for so long? Do I want them to be embarrassed about the condition of their homes? Do I want them to stress and procrastinate over keeping their houses? The answer to all of those questions is absolutely not. So on to writing my mission statement. I'll share mine in the next post.

Cleaning Revolution

http://www.facebook.com/#!/31DaysToClean

Along with one of my very best friends, Nicole, I'm starting this journey to a cleaner house. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I've realized that if I was working for someone other than my family who loves me, I would have been fired long ago. So here it goes!