Changes

It was a long day but a good day. We accomplished our mission....to move Tasha home.
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We knew that we wouldn't get much accomplished with the babies along so they got to spend the day with the foster family who has their older siblings. It would be great if they could all be placed together but it is hard to place four kids in one home. At this time the siblings only get to visit as often as the parents do.....2 hours a month.
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We travelled to North Carolina, packed all of Tasha's stuff up and put it into a UHaul truck. All of her possessions are now sitting in our garage. That garage is sure getting a lot of use. It seems to hold more "stuff" then cars.
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I am not sure how long Tasha will be home. I know that she is already making plans to move to Charleston at some point and attend college. As a foster family adding a family member to our household means that we have more paperwork to do. Since Tasha is older then 18 she will need to be fingerprinted and get a physical.
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When you become a foster parent the paperwork never seems to end. Every year you have health and fire inspections and you have to meet training hours. Every change in family status has to be documented. Major changes in financial situations have to be reported. Your life is no longer private. A social worker or GAL can show up at your house at any time. Doesn't it sound like fun? Not everyone is willing to do so.
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So.....we will have a lot of changes in our home in the next year. It won't be long before Tasha will be off pursuing her dreams, Joselin turns 18 this summer, Sarah will finish school by December and is looking at college, I will still be going to college, Larissa will be starting kindergarten, maybe John will find a job here and get to come home, perhaps we will have an adoptive placement and sometime the foster babies are supposed to go home.
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Life is never boring in our household......I love it.

Dear Daughter

As part of our certification we are required to purchase and maintain an escape ladder for the upstairs. This ladder is not for the use of boys to come in the house through the window. However, it has come to my attention that this is happening.
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Doors are for privacy. There are times in life when privacy is not necessary. Your door is now in the garage.
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There are rules in this home. If you want to enjoy the benefits of living in this home then you need to learn to follow those rules. Until then, don't expect to receive much.
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I love you very much but my patience is about gone.

Love You Forever

I love the book "Love You Forever". It pretty much sums up my love for my kids. Our job as parents isn't finished when our kids meet that magical age of 18. Sure, we don't do the daily parenting anymore but we still encourage. We still support. And boy do we still worry. I wonder if the worrying ever ends.

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Why do I bring this up? I have been worrying about Tasha a lot lately. I told her that when she needed us to come and get her that we would. Well, that call has come and we are going this Saturday to help her move out. She is divorcing her husband. I am sorry that her marriage wasn't all that she expected it to be. I don't like to see my kids in pain. However, I am relieved that she is getting out of a bad situation.

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Tasha is a strong person. She will pick herself back up and carry on. She will come home for a short period of time while she determines her next step. She is currently looking for a college to attend.

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So, Tasha is coming home and we are trying to determine where to put everyone.

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Love you Tasha.......you will always be my baby girl.

How I Paint My Zebra Furniture

Early in my blogging days I painted this dresser....in the middle of the house. Since then I have had people visiting my blog daily to look at it. I really didn't tell how I painted it....my secrets.
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A while back I bought Sarah a really nice solid wood TV cabinet for $40 off of Craigslist. Those big TV cabinets are outdated now because so many people have gone to big, huge TV's that don't fit in them anymore.
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I painted the cabinet in black and white. The white areas are where I put the zebra stripping. I used my magic touch to outline the zebra stripping.......

Yep, a black sharpie to outline the stripes. You really can't go wrong with your design. No two zebra's are alike.
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After doing the outline you simply paint in between the lines. If you go outside of the lines it is not a big issue. They are just there for a guide.


Jason is not a painter but even he got into the painting action.

So, what do you think? Pretty unique and inexpensive to do.

Trudging Along

It is my spring break. Somehow it doesn't feel like it. Today and tomorrow I will be at the local high school and then on Wednesday and Thursday I will be doing drill at the local armory.
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My drilling days are now limited. They have not been able to find me a slot anywhere in the state and I do not have the time (or energy) to attend a new school so I am getting out. I should be out some time in May. With the economy the way it is so many people are either joining the Guard or reenlisting. They definitely do not have a shortage of soldiers. Somehow it makes me just a little sad but I know that it is for the best.
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I have picked Sarah's entertainment center as my project to finish this week. Hopefully tomorrow night I can get some work done on it. I had planned on doing some work tonight but drama took over. Good but hard decisions were made today.
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I should be using this time to catch up on my reading however I haven't touched a book. I have been going to the high school to catch up on some stuff for a big project in one class so I don't feel too bad. I have several big projects coming up and worry that something may not get finished. Geez, this applied behavior analyst stuff is very interesting but a lot of work.
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So, I am off to bed because it has gotten late again. Look for some zebrafied furniture pictures tomorrow. If I promise them then I have to motivate myself to do it! Have a great evening.

Weary

Do you ever get weary?
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I looked up weary - tired, especially in having run out of strength, patience or endurance.
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That is how I feel this weekend. I am weary.
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I am weary of all the household chores that never end.
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I am weary of worrying about my children's educational, medical and emotional needs.
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I am weary of feeling that so much depends on me.
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I am weary that so many people depend on me (some extended family and friends do quite a bit, financially and emotionally).
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I am weary that my husband is so far away all week.
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I am weary of holding down the fort.
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I am weary of school (even though I love it).
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I am so weary that even chocolate doesn't make it better.
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I need to create, to do a project. I need to do something just because I enjoy it. I need to do something for just me. Why is that such a hard thing? Why does everyone else seem to come first in my life?
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Am I whining? Is mom allowed to whine?
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This too shall pass...........perhaps a little chocolate wouldn't hurt.

My House is a Disaster Area

Yes, my house is so bad I can't take any pictures of it. My laundry pile is so high I could lose a kid in it. I have been a little distracted this week. I can't believe it is only Wednesday!

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Monday I had a midterm. Tuesday day at the high school, night giving a powerpoint presentation at class. Today day back at the high school, afternoon meet with my academic advisor, night class and then back in town in time to pick kids up from Bible study. I then took the time to do Larissa's hair so she wouldn't look like a poor neglected child. She fell asleep in my lap and is now sleeping smack in the middle of my bed.

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Tomorrow will be day at the high school, afternoon IEP meeting for Joselin and then dance for Larissa. Friday I get to take John to a small medical procedure and then I head to Greenville for drill this weekend.

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I could surely use a wife! I don't know what happened to the one who lives here.