Faith, Hope and Mickey Mouse

Those that have been following my meandering path through life and adoption have heard me lament many a time: adoption is hard. It taxes your energy, pushes your faith to its limits, drains your bank account and just when you think you have nothing left to give, adoption asks you to give even more.

My dear friend Kara started the process to adopt precious Nico and then a nice warm fuzzy man a million miles away decided he did not want Nico or any other waiting orphan in his country to be adopted. Mourning the loss of her sweet boy, Kara and her family waited and prayed, and then stepped out in faith again. The faith of this family is incredible.

Kara and her dear family are now working to bring home Colton, a darling sweet boy with DS. A boy that turned three just this weekend. The added expenses from changing direction, the stress and grief have not shaken them. Firm is their resolve to bring a needy child into their home, heart and family. Read more about them HERE.

Grace under such pressure is not seen much these days. They are hosting a MARVELOUS giveaway to raise the remaining needed funds to bring Colton home. Let us bless them and reward their faith with our support. It is not selfless, there are tickets to Disneyland at stake. Mickey Mouse will personally thank you for supporting this awesome family on this incredible journey.

Check out this epic giveaway! http://catholic-kara.blogspot.com/2013/03/coltons-happiest-place-giveaway.html

Give that Mama a hug!

I will admit. I did NOT get it. Please do not stone me for this admission. I did NOT understand why stay at home Moms were so different from me. I did not understand why I heard so many complaints from them. I was jealous of them, I thought NOTHING could be greater than spending all day every day with my beloved  children. What could be greater??

And then I quit my job to join their ranks.

It took two years and the addition of another child to make me understand. Stay at home Mamas. . .please accept my heartfelt apology. You work SO very hard, for no pay, no accolades, no vacations, no perks and little empathy from the world.

Now, I know I cannot speak for every stay at home Mom, as every family is different, but I find it safe to assume that the majority of SAHMs work very long hours. Coffee breaks are not a given, and IF you get one, they are not the relaxing, enjoyable events that they once were. Lunch break? Scarfing down pb&j with your kids, trying to maintain some semblance of order at the table and reduce the noise level a few decibels is not really a break at all. Quitting time? Don't even get me started with that. I miss quitting time immensely.

When I worked, I took my paycheck for granted. As nice as it was to receive awards and promotions, I felt I had worked my tail off and earned them, thus also taking them for granted. Now, I know that I will not receive any pat on the back, raise or positive recognition for putting Eli in time out for the 15th time for climbing up the window sill. He does not care that I am merely trying to keep him safe, or that I spent my entire day trying to keep him from harm, and that doing this while also doing laundry is quite incredible. Nope, he is not going to thank me, far from it.

My dear husband works very hard to support his family and to allow me to remain home to raise our family. As much as I try to explain it to him, he is where I was before I left my job, he is on the outside looking in. . how can I complain about how grueling my days are? This is what I wanted! What I fought for!

So, the next time you see a SAHM at your grocery store, at the park, at church. . .give her a MASSIVE high five!

Why?

Because even though it took me a while to pull my head out, I GET IT!

Because odds are she has not gotten a pat on the back in a while.

Because her job pays very little, has no paid time off and the uniform SUCKS. Odds are she is working harder than she ever did for a paycheck.

Because she is not perfect but she tries so very hard to do her best for her children every single moment. Her job pushes her buttons unceasingly and attacks her self confidence more often than she will care to admit. Mistakes are just part of the territory, they do not make her a bad mom, they make her human.

Because even though she may think about quitting her job every single day, odds are, she won't. She loves her job far too much to actually quit. Odds are she takes this job far more seriously than any other job she has ever held.

Because maybe she learned the hard way, that staying home with your children every day is not easy or simply filled with cuddles and giggles.

Because diapers do not change themselves.

Because her daily soundtrack would make you shudder. (One can only listen to Sesame Street, Caillou, Thomas the Tank Engine, Wild Kratts, Word Girl or any other show and theme song for so long before wanting to stick your head in the oven.)

Because her child may be the teen driving behind you when you are out for a Sunday drive.  If they gun their engine to pass you and your 80 year old self, they likely have more unique ways of handling their frustration other than flipping the bird. (Eli is already mimicking some of my road rage antics. It is pretty entertaining and so very PG.)

Because taking her tantruming and annoying children to your grocery store may be the only outing she has had in a week.

Because everyone needs a pick me up every once in a while. Winning at Words with Friends only goes so far. . .A DQ Blizzard goes a little further as a boost but still. . .As a society we are not good at looking out for others anymore. I personally think that should change. Community. A smile and a pat on the back goes a LONG way and it is simple enough to do.

Because I am the MOM and I said so!

It's raining, it's pouring. . ..and I am dancing in it!

Life is chaotic today and I LOVE it! My husband finally came down with the chicken pox. Though he is hanging tough right now, I am a little worried. I can only imagine Male chicken pox is even worse than the Man-flu! I am gearing up for a bumpy week!

Our roof is being replaced today. I have some sort of sinus issue, you know the kind where it hurts to move your head at all. . .super fun.  When it rains, it pours.

AND we are beginning to wade through the paperwork and jump through the hoops to adopt our very own Eastern European angel. Oh, I tear up just thinking about it. Adoption is a leap of faith for any family but really, I cannot explain how terrified I am. I cannot think of any negative possibilities right now. I have been left broken hearted and empty handed twice, when I thought my arms and heart would be filled with a lovely child. I am really trusting God to take care of me and this precious child while we work to make him ours. I feel so blessed that God would entrust this angel to us! What an amazing honor!

We cannot disclose the exact child just yet, though I am super eager to share because he is just PERFECT! As soon as I can, you will all be treated to pictures and details!
After months of donating and advocating and praying and crying over these children I finally feel like I am DOING SOMETHING! The hoops and the paperwork. .well it is such a blessing!

I am joining a new family of amazing people that have adopted special needs children. The Reece's Rainbow Family! YAY! I feel so insecure. . .these families, these women that I have come to know and respect, well they are just so much cooler than I am! I feel like the red-headed step child, but I will take that! Anything to be a part of such an amazing community of people!

I am unsure how my blog will be impacted by this process, I am really hitting the ground running, hoping to expedite this process in any way I can. Someone is waiting for us!! I will do my level best to keep updating this with all the awesomeness that the future holds!

I just discovered this video, I don't know how I have missed it all these months, but it is amazing and showcases just how awesome these families and children are, and what a kick ass awesome organization Reece's Rainbow is.

Oh I am so excited and so nervous and SO BUSY! Please keep us in your prayers!!

Maybe

Maybe- one of the most hopeful words I have heard in a long time. Maybe- a word that often gets overlooked; under utilized and misused in this household. A word I didn't realize I was longing to hear until I heard it yesterday.

Prior to yesterday, I really didn't love the word maybe. It was often used to put things off or to dismiss them altogether. It was an easy way to stop a conversation in it's tracks.

Yesterday maybe was said in earnest. With thought, with fear and hand wringing. With wide eyed honesty. My heart rate increased. My mind went into warp speed and I was filled with hope and possibility and trepidation. I nearly cried. Okay, I cried, but just a little bit.

In the past I have been a "yes" woman. I always sang my loudest in church when "Here I am" was played. "I will go Lord. .." But I have gone and I have struggled and I have been tested.

The past few years I have spent far too much time nursing my wounds and slowly crawling back to myself and to faith. Any progress is good progress in my book, and I am coming to terms with the journey that I am on and where that road has led me in the past. I wish I could see the reasons in God's great plan for the things that have occurred, but today I am still reveling in the power and the hope of tomorrow. Dreaming of where life will take us and eager to begin. . .

Blown away by the power of a maybe.

The Happy Dance

I had two cookies and a Pepsi for lunch today. I just thought someone might be interested to hear that. It really does boggle the mind that I have not lost those pesky extra pounds. .. . strange, right?















In other breaking news: He. DID. It! For the first time in almost 4 years, my dear Husband closed the shower curtain after his shower. You have no idea how amazing this is!

No, this is not my bathroom, but I wish!

For the past 3 years I have offered him daily reminders to close the shower curtain. Yup, offered these reminders, kind of me, right? (This allows the water to drain properly and reduce the development of mildew on the curtain, though I am sure you all know that already, or perhaps you are now discovering just how obnoxiously anal persnickety I am. I will own this and give you all permission to feel sorry for my husband at any point. I won't feel slighted. Nothing can bring me down today!) 

I abhor cleaning the bathroom, especially the tub, so anything that keeps that area cleaner, I am all for... To the extent that I have calmly recited the following line each and every time I walk into the bathroom to a curtain wet and bunched up at one end of the tub. . . .. "You know dear, that if you close the shower curtain, it stays mildew free for much longer." Over and over and over and over. I continued to calmly repeat this even when dear hubby lost his temper because Eli was not listening to him. Don't read into that. My husband is a fabulous father, the two's can frustrate the best of us. 

I am celebrating this victory. Heck, I might put it on the calendar to commemorate this occasion.

 And, there is a big AND here. 

AND he took removed the cold bag of tea from his mug before putting it on the counter for me to wash. (though this is not the first time this has happened, I am just tickled to see the trend continue!) I am beside myself. 

Is this a sign of things to come? Is he staring to recognize my zany brand of genius? Dare I dream? eh, either way, I am doing my happy dance. 

Re-entry

I am back!! Miss me? I have to brag a little bit.  ..as we just had the most fabulous vacation. All on my husband's frequent travel accounts. Yippee. I was so nervous about this trip. . .. buzz kill that I usually am, but traveling with a rowdy 2 year old is not normally my definition of fun. Shame on me, this trip was awesome and my rowdy 2 year old was so well behaved... .he was likely exhausted from all the fun he was having, but I will take it. Needless to say, my spirits are recharged and my mind is decompressed.

That being said, we all know that the first day home after a vacation sucks. It just does. Every day life just can't compete with the carefree, work free joyful days of a Holiday. ..I need hotel staff to move in here! It is 8:36 and I got 12 hours of sleep last night, Eli is inching up to 14 hours of sleep. WOWZA! Despite the sleep, I am groggy and grumpy about the list of tasks that must be accomplished today sans hotel staff. The  pile of laundry is currently staring at me and I am refusing to return the gaze. .. .

I haven't been online for a week now and I fired up my laptop to discover so much good news!! It seems that knowledge of Reece's Rainbow is spreading like wild fire. So many people are getting involved in so many different ways. What a kick-ass development to watch! It is overwhelming. There are 15 new children on the "My Family Found Me" page. FIFTEEN lives saved. It is so lovely I can't stand it. People can be so flipping amazing.

Sarah!! I cried happy tears about this one! 

Harper-claimed!

I am still desperate to adopt one of these lovelies. . .still praying. Please join with me in that. . I have been praying for months and it has yet to move the mountain. Sigh. I will not relent. That is not my style.  There are SO MANY children in need of loving homes. .. . hint hint! Consider it?

You must watch this video of Beau. I am in love with this little boy . . .


In other news, I had a dream about my parish Adoption Ministry. It was perfect (how pompous. .) and I now have a plan. I will spend my week hammering out the details then will present it to the Priest. Word about these children will continue to spread. Only good can come from that. I am thrilled to be doing what I can for these kiddos.

So, as my brain resumes normal functioning.... if I am able to swim out from under the ocean of laundry waiting to be done, I will also return to this wee blog. I have missed it!

Married Life

My husband:

Yup, this is my husband. Not Magnum PI...

*refuses to call Soccer soccer, even though football is a completely different sport here in the USA. AND he gets quickly frustrated if people do not catch on that he is talking about Soccer when he says football.

*Uses my toothbrush (reportedly by accident). He furiously denies this until I physically show him his dry toothbrush and my soaking wet toothbrush. . .. over and over and over again. Each time he denies with the same fury as before. I know he is my husband and what's mine is his and all. . .but he should still keep his cooties to  himself. 

*Used to believe that WWF was real. By used to I mean less than 8 years ago. He says he knows the truth now. .. .but he is not convincing anyone. He still thinks it's real.

*Has to have his own dirty clothes hamper by his side of the bed. It is too much to expect for him to walk his dirty clothing 6 more feet to the real dirty clothes hamper. He is probably too exhausted by his furious toothbrush denials. . .

*Cannot have corn with turkey. I have not yet figured this out yet, but he is adamant that this will cause WWIII or the like. 

*Rice can only be served as part of a curry or stir fry. . .or with chili. Other than that, it has no purpose being on a plate. Ever. Don't even try it.

*Spent a week learning to play "Row, Row, Row your Boat" on Eli's play laptop. And now he wants to take his act on the road. Not kidding. (I told him I would consider being his roadie if he could perfect another tune on Eli's guitar. This is still in the works.)

*Owns 15 blue shirts. One green shirt, one brown shirt and one pink and blue shirt. He loves variety.

*Used to call me Petal. I loved this. Campaigning for its return. I prefer it to Giant Farthead and other terms of endearment you currently employ. (please Gavin?)

*Loves his son to bits and bits. He is stuck with me.  . . forever. (evil chuckle)


*May not love this blog entry.