March

This was a busy month for us and we packed in some fun things like a trip to the beach for a soccer tourney (Luke's team won the whole thing! Whoot! Whoot!) as well as a "Boys Only Trip" to ND for John and our three oldest sons. We also have been sick, so lots of lying around and temperature-taking has also happened. 

Oh, it's easier to just use pictures....

The guys went to ND to help celebrate John's Dad's 80th b day. That's him with some, but not all, of his Grandkids! John tries to take a "Guy Trip" with the boys once a year or so and I think it's excellent. I love that they are getting that time together. 

Our new foster dog is Cam. He has been through a lot of tough things in his life so we are taking time to help him relax and to get to know him well so we can help match him to the right home. 

Luke and Sam and I went out on Easter Saturday to spread some cheer with some simple & yummy gifts and invitations to come out for an Easter church service. We wanted people to know that they were welcome and wanted and that Easter was for them too, and of course, that they are loved. 💗 

Sam lost another tooth! He is so cute with two missing on top and one on the bottom.

His pre-school went to an egg hunt hosted by a senior's home. Isn't that a wonderful idea to bring the Seniors and the Littles together? 

I found this print and adore it! I want it on my wall! It's a good question too, right?

So, what do I want to do with my wild and precious life? I think making a list is a great exercise and it helps to make it specific, I think. How about you? 

I want to...

Take the time to play with play dough with my youngest (I find it hard to stop and just play!) 

Listen carefully as my oldest explains his Legos

Bring a meal to a family that is hurting

Take in sick, scared and scarred foster dogs

Walk barefoot in sand...often! 

Sew! Create art! Be adventourous with decorating my home.

Listen for the still, small voice of my precious Creator (no mysticism here...I mean Jesus! 💗)

Rest when I need to (regardless of what a mess the house is)

Care about others even if it hurts (it will) 

Listen to different points of view

Keep my sense of humor

Eat delicious food

Never, never, never stop loving and taking action to relieve suffering whenever and however I can

Be brave

Speak the truth even if my voice shakes

Be kind

Use fun polish colors with sparkles on my nails

See, really see people

Never forget that life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful.

❤️ 

No Time To Match Socks!

So, we have been doing more important things than sock matching! Our house may be a mess but we are living all-out the best way we know how. 

Sam lost a tooth! He was so excited because he pulled it out all by himself with lots of "helpful" coaching from his older brothers. 

We are taking down our barn. It's an amazing 70+ year old mule barn with so much character, the kind of place I would have adored to play in as a child. It's not on our property though, so we are moving it piece by piece. We plan to rebuild a smaller version and are selling some of the wood as part of our adoption fund raising. Yep, we are prayerfully prepping to adopt again! 

We play a lot. It's what little boys do! 

We got a new foster pup. Sugar is as sweet as her name implies and she is going to her amazing forever home this week! I love seeing the transition from often homeless and needy, to safe and healing in foster care, to a really well matched forever home. Redemption...irresistible to me in all it's forms. ❤️

On a less serious note, I want these stickers! 🤓

Winter

It has been a wonderful Winter. We had a simple family Christmas and it was just right. Completely not perfect, but good anyway.  Sam asked what the Christmas lights were for and I explained they were for Jesus' birthday so everywhere we went that had lights he would YELL "Jesus". It might have been misunderstood by some, but I knew he was exactly right. 

It's been a horrible Winter. We got the results of Major's biopsy and found out he has rare thyroid cancer. It's terminal. He is on meds to keep him comfortable and that is that. 

It's been a Winter of hoping, as I have opened up my Etsy shop to sell my sewing again as an adoption fundraiser. We are hoping to adopt more treasures (kiddos!). ❤️❤️❤️

It's been a happy Winter. Luke turned 12 and loved his presents. He is growing up to be an AWESOME kid and we are so proud of him! 

There have also been some times of acute pain this Winter. Times I will not be discussing publicly but that have happened all the same. Deep LOVE and deep HOPE sometimes bring pain. I KNOW they are still worth it though. 

"Wonderful"

"Horrible"

"Hoping" 

"Happy"

"Painful"

Isn't life just like that? There are so many ups and downs. I can honestly say that the only way I keep my balance in it all is through my and relationship with Jesus. I know no other way to avoid completely freaking out! He is my balance. 

Three Girls

There are three girls who live in my heart. Girls, I thought I might be the Mom of one day, ached I would be, was scared to hope I might be, and hoped anyway. 

I am not their Mom. I do not tuck them in at night or tell them how precious they are, or kiss their boo boos. But I love them and I pray for them and they each have a place of residence in my heart.

I want them to know ( and I hope that they DO know) that they are valuable and beautiful and deserving of love and tenderness. I want them to have fun and to feel safe and to giggle and play. I want them to be able to dream big and to dance and to look in the mirror and see a girl who knows she is loved. 

Oh little girls, you will always have a place in my heart and I will always be praying for you. 

Casey & Major

I started fostering for a German Shepherd Rescue last Summer.

 My first foster was Casey. I LOVED her! She was a pleasure to have in our home every single day. She was sweet, obedient, great with our kids, quirky and just easy to love. She was also a senior girl with health issues and four months after she arrived, I had to say a final goodbye to her (kidney failure) with the help of my vet. She went to sleep with her face cradled in my hands, loved and cared for. Tears.

 I will always miss Casey. That's just how it is. ❤️

*****************************************************************************************************************************

But ....there are many, many more that need help too! 

Major arrived almost two weeks ago. His story is painful. He stil wants to trust though and he is coming alive and becoming HAPPY here.  I love seeing his tail wag and his doggie-smile. He is deaf and I am teaching him sign language. He has already learned "sit" and "good job" and "come". 

❤️ Casey

❤️ Major

Thankful

I actually didn't even remember the date. Facebook reminded me that one year ago, on Dec 3, our sweet little son was in PICU. It's hard to believe this was only one year ago because Sam has had a wonderful year full of good health and "firsts", like the first time being on a soccer team, first time going to pre-school four days a week, first time going to Sunday School without Mom or Dad, first time  being able to speak so many words, first time camping out in a tent...

Dec 3, 2015

First time dressing up as a tough police man...

First time receiving a soccer trophy...

Being dedicated at church...

Fist time sleeping in a tent...

First time helping the Swim Team...

First time riding a wild bronco...

First time at the farm in ND...

We're thankful for every moment! ❤️

Sam the Soccer Player

Sam played soccer for the first time this year & it was amazing! Just two years ago, this little boy could barely run at all and fell often, even when walking. He could only walk short distances and spent many outings in a stroller. 

He started the season needing his Mom to walk through practices with him and ended it doing it all on his own and being so happy and proud. It was a JOY to see! Thank You God! 

 Here he is at the far right, so delighted with his end of season trophy. Be still my heart! ❤️