by Stacey | Dec 12, 2010 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
This past weekend was a busy one. It was out first weekend since the boys moved home. We had family visiting, a large women’s event at church and my Sunday school class was performing. I’m tired just remembering the weekend.
To top it all off I went caffeine free today for the first day since we heard about the boys on Nov 18th. My head feels like it could explode.
Despite the somewhat frantic feeling that hovered over the last three days I see how God prepared and provided for me.
Our move in date with the boys was moved up to Wednesday from Friday enabling me to take part in the event I’d spent the last year planning. My mother-in-law was helpful with the kids, meals, and as a general extra set of hands in the house. The Ladies Christmas Gala was a success and due to the thoughtfulness of my fellow women’s ministry team members much of my load was made lighter whenever possible. My Sunday school class performed a funky country western Christmas song this morning and the boys wanted to stay in the Nursery enabling me to guide my class as planned. Due to the nature of the song my teaching partner and I enlisted the help of our choir director which relieved me of much pressure leading up to this morning.
All these things could be chalked up to coincidences or good fortune by a skeptic, but I know the truth. Long before we knew about these boys and how they would change our lives God knew. As we made choices and commitments in the days and weeks leading up to this season he also prepared others to step in and help. We are very grateful to those who carried our load these last few weeks. We are very grateful to a God who is concerned with the details.
He cares when we are over-tired.
He cares when we are pulling out our hair unsure if the current tantrum is a three-year-old being three, or a three-year-old adjusting to all the changes in his young life.
He cares.
That knowledge makes everything a little easier. Whatever tomorrow brings I know God cares. I know he has prepared my way.
by Stacey | Dec 9, 2010 | Special Announcements
The last two days have been incredible, tiring, trying, and wonderful all at the same time. We’ve had so many pleasant surprises and I am certain they are the result of the many prayers being offered on our behalf.
Both boys said good-bye to Foster Nanny Wednesday morning and we super excited to come with us. We stopped at the Fort Erie Wal-Mart to pick up a few things then waited at a four-way stop to hit the highway. When we turned toward the highway and away from the foster home Jon thrust his fist in the air and said, “Yeah, we’re going this way!”
Despite his excitement about moving this has been hard on him. He woke up during the night and asked where Nanny was and cried on and off for the rest of the night. His restlessness made everyone a bit more tired today moving bedtime up quite a bit this evening.
I am surprised at how fast they have found their place in our family. I can hardly remember two weeks ago when their little smiles didn’t light up when Kevin returned from work, when Jon didn’t run to me to kiss his injuries, or before Nicholas threw himself full force into our arms demanding a cuddle. I love seeing Kaitlyn grin with smile that splits her face in two over God’s answer to her prayers. She told us today at lunch she loves her new brothers.
Now for what you have all been waiting for – the pictures!
Today we signed the papers to start the legal process, which takes longer than we expected. Our case worker signs off in six months, but it will take an additional six months for everyone else involved (judges etc) to sign off and give us our date in family court.
Despite the delay in finishing the paperwork the boys are ours for keeps, and that’s what matters.
A special thank you goes out to our wonderful friends who hosted a shower for us Tuesday night. What a blessing! And another thank you to those reading the blog that were able to come and celebrate with us or have written, called etc to let us know we have been in your thoughts and prayers. It means so much to take this journey with you.
Night two has brought a few tears, but right now, all is quiet. Let’s pray it stays that way!
by Stacey | Dec 7, 2010 | Special Announcements
Many of you know via Facebook that our move in date was moved up and the boys come to live with us forever tomorrow!!! We are so excited, relieved, and maybe a tiny bit scared. Please continue to pray for us as we navigate our family through this transition.
When Foster Nanny dropped them off this morning Jon had a hard time saying good-bye to her. Today is the first day he realized what is happening. He’s been watching all his toys slowly move to our place and this morning Nanny packed all his clothes but one pair of jammies and one outfit for tomorrow. Once Nanny left he settled in fine, but it’s hard to watch him struggle.
Our morning was great. The boys listened well and despite a few time-outs they seemed happy and content. Lunch went well. They eat more than I do! As I type this blog they are both having a quiet time – a major coup for me! Jon is watching cartoons in our room and will get up in about a half hour. Nicholas is in his room. He stayed in bed, he let me rock him, and he eventually cried himself to sleep.
After we pick Kate up from school we have just enough time for a snack then we hit the road around 4:30 to return them for their last night with Nanny.
Tonight we have a fun party to look forward too. We are celebrating with friends the arrival of these two precious boys. Afterwards, when we get home and get Kaitlyn to sleep, we’ll scramble to get everything ready for the big day.
Keep checking the blog, we’ll post pictures after we sign the official paperwork Thursday afternoon and keep you all updated on our family’s progress. Thanks for joining us on this journey – it’s been quite the adventure!
by Stacey | Dec 5, 2010 | Special Announcements
This morning Kaitlyn and her Sunday school class decorated a Christmas tree on stage while their teacher read a narrative. Kate was very proud to be the chosen one to put the star on top on the tree. She looked beautiful in her new dress sent from family in England.
Kate and I slipped out of church early to give her some down time before we were off to see her brothers again this afternoon. We came home, had a tea party, put together a few puzzles and she beat me soundly in chess. When Kevin returned from church he had just enough time to change his clothes, scarf down some lunch and we were on the road again.
When we arrived at Foster Nanny’s house I rang the bell and heard squeals of laughter inside shouting, “Mommy, Daddy here! Mommy, Daddy here!” In no time at all we loaded the boys into the van and followed Foster Nanny and her son to the Christmas Party.
The party was fun. The kids we able to sit on Santa’s lap and received a wrapped gift, a stuffed bear, and a bag of candy. Afterwards there was a vocalist that got many of the kids off their seats and dancing to Christmas tunes.
Kate was thrilled with the Zoobles she received from Santa. Jonathan was ecstatic when he opened his army truck and Nicholas was happy with his fire truck until he saw what Jonathan got – then it was tears and temper. But Daddy saved the day eventually convincing him the fire truck was great.
Overall the visit was fantastic. Foster Nanny is doing a great job stepping back and redirecting the boys to us for tickles and laughs and cuddles. When we brought the boys back to Foster Nanny’s house they cried their little eyes out over having to say good-bye. It breaks our hearts a little more each day that we have to leave them behind. Five days to go…
by Stacey | Dec 4, 2010 | Special Announcements
There is really only one word to describe today’s visit – difficult. We sometimes find ourselves in an awkward parenting situation. We know we are the parents of these boys, but since we haven’t been the primary caregivers in their life we don’t always feel the freedom to speak up, especially when we are in their foster home and the kids need to honor those house rules.
The boys have come a long way in responding positively to our correction and guidance, but today we landed in an awkward moment when Foster Nanny disciplined one of the boys for something we didn’t think was a big deal. I suspect the boys feel confused by the difference between our house rules and the foster home rules. I keep telling myself it’s only one more week…
We went to the outdoor Ridgeway Christmas event which is not an event I’ll be returning to next year. We waited an hour and a half for a five-minute horse and buggy ride, the only activity we participated in. Again, since we were tagging along with the foster household we didn’t feel ditching the event and finding something more engaging for the kids to do would be polite. By the time the buggy ride was finished all our kids had expressed frustration and tears over the long wait. We could hardly blame them when we felt much the same.
I feel overwhelmed with the thought of another whole week of dragging all the kids back and forth everyday between our homes. What they all really needed today was a quiet day in, a long afternoon nap, and a snuggle with mom and dad. But those days are sure to come.
Both boys had crying fits when they understood we were taking them back to Nanny’s after such a short visit today. I wish there was a way to speed up the process of moving them into our home, but in reality two weeks is quite quick. I keep reminding myself to take it one day at a time. Kaitlyn had her own crying fit on the drive home venting her frustration over the Christmas event that was nothing like she expected it to be.
Currently Katie is sleeping (at 4:42 in the afternoon!). We will probably pay for that later tonight but she really needed to rest. We normally lead a fairly slow-paced and quiet life and this past week has exhausted her. Tomorrow her Sunday school class performs in church and we may be sneaking out immediately afterwards to give her some downtime before we hit the road again for tomorrow’s visit. Six days left and counting…
