New Year, New Possibilities

Welcome to 2011. I just have one question...where did 2010 go? Actually, where did 2009, 2008, oh heck, when did we welcome the new century?
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The days, months and years just seem to be zipping past me. Funny, I don't feel old but when I was a kid my current age seemed ancient. According to my 10 year old self it is amazing that I am still standing without the aid of a cane.
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I have no new year resolutions. I just plan on sputtering along doing the best I can and growing whenever I see the opportunity. Oh, I have lots of projects planned in my head but I always have those. If I ever actually finish all of them then I don't know what I would do with myself.
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Today I did an irresponsible thing. I cancelled Kiwi's WIC appointment. I had a class earlier this week for the baby so I have vouchers for formula. Waiting for hours with Kiwi so they can do their little medical thing and get vouchers for her cereal and milk just didn't seem to be worth my time. I rescheduled for next week because I try to keep them for mom whenever they go home. Instead John and I went to a movie, World Market and the bookstore. Just the two of us, no kids. It was such a luxury.
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To make up for my irresponsibility I, actually we, put our adoption packet in the mail. Maybe the new year will bring a new child into our home. We had been holding onto the packet waiting for the best time. Waiting for everything to be just right. But, I don't think that there will ever be a perfect time when everything is just right. If I wait for that day I would never send that packet out. I would never open my home to another child.
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We aren't searching any photolistings at this time. We just want our information to go into the database and see what happens. We are taking a leap of faith and know that it may very well be a wild ride. Don't those wild rides make like worth living?
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I was thinking the other day how our life would be if we had never adopted. Our baby would have been Sarah and she is 17 years old. We would not have kids in preschool and elementary school. We would be past all the field trips and Girl Scout days. We would have the freedom to go to any movie we wanted without worrying about child care issues. We could travel more. We could sleep in more. We would have more money in the bank (well maybe not, good thought though).
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But, I don't think that God intended for us to have that life. We have always taken care of others, starting with my father in law with Alzheimer's to my mother with stroke issues. Along the way we have adopted three children and fostered more. God blessed us with the ability to have a huge house, I don't think that it was meant to sit empty. I think that it was meant to be filled.
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How simple it would be to not care for others. How selfish it would be too. My life is enriched and filled. Some days with heartache but many days with love and blessings.
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We have children with medical issues and emotional issues. We deal with them every day. But the thing is we deal with them. Our normal seems overwhelming to others but it is our normal. It does not seem like too much of a burden to me. Why is that? Why does it not seem like such a huge burden to me? I think that it is because it is what I am supposed to be doing. It is my gift and it would be a shame to waste it.
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2011 is here, what will it bring?
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Happy New Year and may you have many blessings this new year.

Slow Days

I am still working on my craft room. I believe that it has become a bigger project then I expected. I can't show the entire room because it is still a wreak but I can show my small closet. I found that the cheapest option for maximizing the space was wire shelving. I already had some parts from my downstairs closet remodel so it kept my costs down.
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I didn't realize how much scrapbooking stuff I had. I have a LOT of pictures that I wish I could get put on my computer. I scan some every now and then but there are so many that I don't think it will ever happen. I also question if they will ever get put into the photo albums!
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While going through pictures today I realized that I have a lot of duplicates. I pulled out a lot of the duplicates from the time that Joselin joined our family and put them in a pile. I then brought Joselin up and gave her all the pictures as well as a scrapbook. I showed her the supplies and how to use them. I told her to make herself a scrapbook. I am hoping that she will come to realize that he has more of a history in our family then she realizes. She seemed very excited to get the scrapbook so we will see if she does do it.
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I am struggling with how to use the space. Right now there is laundry, ironing board, sewing, crafting of all types and a inflatable bed up there. That is a lot in that small space. I figured that the bed could go but then Larissa smashed a finger and came to me for comfort. We cuddled on that mattress and watched the washing machine go round and round. It was very soothing. It almost seemed like a good reading spot. Would that be odd? To have a reading spot in front of the washing machine? Like I said, I am still trying to decide what to do with that space with limited funds. I also have limited time as well.
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I have gone to Lowe's several times in the past few days and picked up closet supplies. I purchased these $3 clearance plants leftover from Christmas. I have plans for them if I can keep them alive this winter.

I may try to hit up Target tomorrow because I hear that they have great Christmas clearance items. I plan on going to town tomorrow so maybe that will happen.

Well, all that sorting has tuckered me out so I am off to bed. Have a great evening.

What a Mess!

Welcome to my chaos. This is my craft/laundry/sometimes guest room. Yes that is an inflatable bed in the corner and according to my nephew it is pretty comfortable.

The tiny closet in the room is definitely not sufficient. The angled down roof doesn't help at all.

Oh, the sorting and organizing that I need to do. What an embarrassment.

I worked in this room off and on all day today and I don't have any after pictures. It is still a work in progress. Not only do I need to go through all those boxes but I need to determine how I am going to arrange the room.

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Uh, I also found some Christmas gifts for three kids. Geez, I manage to do that every year.

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Naturally once I decided to tackle a project the babies get sick. The baby was whiny all day and both babies were sick. Lets just say that they have had baths and if we continue at this pace I may need to buy new sleepers. Some got tossed in the trash today once I determined that they were too gross and smelly for me to deal with (weak stomach). My poor husband has the week off and he is already ready to head back to work. Ahhh, he gets relief.
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Well, hopefully both babies are feeling better tomorrow and I can get something accomplished. I have to be at a WIC class at 9 am so I am not too sure how my day will go. At least I don't have to bring either kid to this appointment. I do have a WIC appointment on the 31st where I have to bring Kiwi. I really don't enjoy going to the WIC office.

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Well, I hope everyone has a great night, I think I will go work on my mess some more now that the babies are in bed.

Lucy

Notice anything missing from these bottles?


Yep, they are missing their nipple tips. No, the baby hasn't suddenly taken to biting off the tip.
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However, Lucy has. I think she actually does it for the formula. She doesn't chew up the entire nipple. Sigh........

Isn't she beautiful? She is actually a very good dog with little kids. She is very clam and quiet. I have even caught Kiwi rubbing her hands across the dogs back while the dog is scavenging for food under her chair.

Besides having a fondness for formula Lucy also thinks she owns half the couch and thinks that she is a lap dog. She doesn't seem to believe me when I tell her that she isn't a lap dog.

Her return home has actually gone quite well. She has been doing well with no accidents in the house. She is still a puppy so I try to warn the kids about their toys. I think it will just be a matter of time before she gets a hold of something important. Oh well, baby bottle nipples are easily replaceable. I just need to train the baby to stop dropping her bottle for the dog.

Have a great evening.

Winding Down

I ventured to Walmart today and was surprised to see Happy New Year items for sale. Seems like 2010 just started and now we are about to ring in 2011. At least I don't write too many checks anymore so I won't write the wrong date on those too often.
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I had a lot of things I wanted to get finished over this break and I haven't gotten too far on them. I think I may have to reduce my list. Time just seems to fly by.
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David and Tasha left today to go to their home. Their visit seemed so short.

We took pictures today before Tasha left. The tree is now halfway bare. It will come down tomorrow.

Along with the tree disappearing so will the snow. It was a nice surprise to wake up to this morning.

Anyone know of a good photography book? I really need to learn how to use all these gadgets my dear husband gifted me with.

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I found some Cadbury creme eggs at Walmart (my favorite candy) so I am off to enjoy one and read about others lives out there in blogland. Have a great evening.

Snow in South Carolina!

We got snow! We don't get much snow here in South Carolina. Snow in December is even more rare. It will be gone by tomorrow.

Playing with my new camera.

My weeping mulberry still needs trimming.

Yes, she is wearing pj bottoms with a dress and light jacket. We don't own snow gear and she wasn't out long.

I love this new camera, it does skin tones real well.

John and Sarah are doing better. Church is cancelled so we will just have a quiet day at home.

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It is still snowing, what fun.

Spreading Illness and Cheer

Well, Sarah is now sick and this evening John is sick. Sarah was able to make it down for the presents this morning but spent most of her day in bed. She just ate some leftovers so apparently she has what I had....a half day stomach something. I hope that John has the same.

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I have been walking around with a can of Lysol hitting door knobs and such although I really think it is too late to help the rest. I have to try.

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My little helpers were successful in putting together the Playmobil school and firehouse. My son in law has stated that his future children will never own any toys with so many little pieces. I just smile.

In spite of Sarah getting sick and now John, I consider Christmas to be a success.

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Today we fit 9 family members into our tiny kitchen table with the kids table was sitting next to us. We discussed the fact that we may have to come up with a different plan if we get any bigger but it was nice to all huddle around the table together.

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It seems like the kids grow up so quickly. When they are little you knew where they would be on Christmas morning. They were still in your home and didn't have other obligations to be elsewhere.

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We have no idea what next Christmas will bring. We threw out the idea that Tasha and David should host the next meal and they offered up peanut butter and jelly. Guess they are not ready.

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Our Christmas did include gifts. Too many gifts.

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During the year I typically don't buy any toys unless it is some garage sale item. So at Christmas time I do indulge a little too much. It is easier when they are little because their wants are so simple. But, I am thinking that next year we may do something different.

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Even the Grinch needs loving.

I did get the camera I wanted for Christmas. Now I am overwhelmed. My loving husband also bought me several lenses and filters. I need to figure out the camera. My concern is that I wanted this nicer camera and what if my pictures don't look any better? What if they actually look worse? My old reliable camera is a 4 pixel camera and has been dropped several times.
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The following pictures were taken with my new camera......the kids enjoying the Playmobil toys and played together nicely.


You may notice Larissa wearing dresses more frequently. I have decided to stop fighting a battle. Larissa doesn't like to keep her pants on for some reason. I am always telling her to put her pants on. Well, I ran into a bunch of clearance dresses for $10 each and bought several. I am pushing the dresses....no fighting about pants.

I know some folks are wondering how Joselin did after her sudden return. She actually did well for the most part. She did have some tears on Christmas Eve when Jason decided to tell her how he felt. I was there when this happened and he wasn't particularly mean or even yelling. He just point blank told her how he felt about how she treated the family and how he doesn't appreciate it. She didn't like it and started crying. I didn't stop the conversation. I didn't try to protect her. Jason was speaking the truth. Her actions have effected the entire family, not just herself.

The girls did not say anything to her and were just being kind. But I know that they harbor some ill feelings as well. They have come to me and talked about it but keep the peace and don't say anything to Joselin. Maybe the kids do need to speak to her more. I am in an unknown area here. Joselin is now 17 years old, no longer a little child. She needs to be more aware of how much her actions effect others around her.

Obviously I don't have the magic answers or I wouldn't be struggling so much with my daughter. Some days I feel that all I can do is pray for her, it is out of my hands. Day by day is all we can do. Today she is home and save.

My youngest daughter Larissa told me this evening that this was her best Christmas ever. She sure knows how to make her momma happy.

I wish that happiness onto everyone else tonight. Have a great evening.