Holy Week Lessons

After seriously confusing Josie last week when I tried to explain what Easter was, I realized I needed to find an age appropriate way to teach her about it.

And when I started looking into it, I learned so much about the whole week that I never put together with Easter.

My First Communion Teacher would be so disappointed.

I have a lot planned for this week to help us focus on the events that happened over 2000 years ago so I hope you come check it out!

I found this idea on The Domestic Notebook and wanted to share it. We are a couple days behind so we will be doing three days today, but it is an awesome way to learn a little everyday!

Patience.

I'm trying to be patient.

But it's really, really hard.

This week marks one year since our last foster care placement. And I want another baby.

Bad.

I tell myself that my life is so easy right now with only one child. I know her schedule to a T. We can pick up and go whenever we want. I get free time.

I use these as reasons that maybe I don't really want another baby.

But I do.

Bad.

I hate that for me to get what I want, something tramatic has to happen for a child. So that makes me feel kind of bad too. But I can't help it and I'm getting tired of being patient.

Honestly, I am 100% ok if it's a temporary placement. Of course I'd like to adopt again, but I feel like I'm not being used and we have so much to give.

I know that when we do get a call it will turn my perfectly in order life completely upside down. And I'm ready for that.

I finally sent an email asking what the hold up was (in a much nicer way of course!) to our caseworker. I think I'm going to have to be annoying and email everyday to stay on their minds.

Today I spent an hour looking back at the posts from last April when we had sweet baby Karmen.

I forgot how huge she was.

And how beautiful.

I'm trying desperatly to be patient, but it's getting really, really hard.

730 Days

It's been two years since Josie Pope officially became Josie Pope.

For Birthdays and Gotcha Days we have a big shindig.

But for Adoption Day we keep it simple.

Mommy, Daddy, and Josie Kathryn.

Since that's what we became on this day.

The light of my entire World.

Unbelievably prayed for and 100% a Pope!

Happy Adoption Day Josie Kathryn!

And since I'm feeling sentimental, here are links to the two most important days of my life:

Welcome Home Post

Adoption Day Post

Little School - Letter P!

Verse : "Pray Without Ceasing." (1 Thes. 5:17)

Book : A Penguin Pup For Pemperton

Activity : Make Pretzels

Craft : Paper Plate Pigs

We had a ton of fun today at Little School! We learned about the letter P. I might have gotten a little carried away with all the P words and activities, but the kids enjoyed it.

I had the grand idea of making homemade pretzels. I looked online and found what I thought would be an easy recipe.

This should have been my first clue that things weren't quite right.

They were seriously an epic failure.

Josie told everyone that they were "Super Yucky." Thanks kid.

While we waited for the Super Yucky Pretzels to rise (they never did), I read the kids a book filled with P's while they munched on Popcorn.

Then we did some art. I came up with this idea last night somewhere between my fourth glass of wine and passing out. It actually was really fun!

I gave them red and white paint to mix together to make pink and then had them paint a paper plate and a couple scraps of paper for the ears and nose.

We wrapped it up with Pizza Wheels (english muffins topped with sauce and cheese).

Next week we are doing activites all week to learn about Easter so I should have some fun posts!

Random Random

This has been a pretty uneventful week so not much blog material.

Our excitement can be wrapped up into three points:

We bought Josie her first kite. I only paid $1 for it and I think we got what we paid for. The kite never took flight, but I did manage to snap a pretty funny picture of Andrew trying desperatly to get the kite airborn.

Poor guy, he tried so hard!

Second, we started our Adoption Discovery class on Wednesday. We thought 25 people had signed up but only one couple showed up. It made it a little awkward at first, but they were an awesome couple and it really reminded me how confusing and scary adoption is when you don't have the facts. I had forgotten the late nights spent on Google trying to make sense of all the information. So I'm excited to help them navigate through the process.

And that church is reopening the registration so we might start up another one if there is any interest.

And lastly, Andrew finished up his semester while we were on vacation! He did extremely well. In School Andrew doesn't have a ton of extra time for hanging out so we've been trying to make up for it while Out Of School Andrew is around. Last night we had our Besties over for dinner and it was so so fun!

The girls and I finished a big bottle of wine a little too quickly, but it made for some good laughs. Nobody parties like us on a Thursday night!

I went to sleep last night smiling about how much I love my life. I have an awesome husband who I can't get enough of, a (sassy) great daughter, and friends that I'm pretty sure I'll still have when I'm old and grey(er).

No pictures from last night except this one:

I've been telling Amy for weeks that Matalie was too big for the bouncy seat, but we couldn't find a weight limit so she kept sticking her in there. During dinner Josie told us, "Somethings wrong with Matawee."

Indeed there was.

On a totally different note: If you ordered a Crayon Roll for Easter, they are all going out by Monday. I've had a hard time getting my Sewing Mojo back, but a trip to Hobby Lobby yesterday kicked me in gear. They will still be there in time for Easter! Sorry for the delay!

The Next Chapter - March

The night before Josie and I left for Florida The Next Chapter met for our March Bookclub.

Amber had picked, "The Help" and she held Bookclub at her house.

I had never heard of this book, but in the past month I've talked to a bunch of people who are reading it.

I loved this book. It's told from 3 different woman's veiwpoints during the Civil Right Movement in the Deep South.

I know that at some point I learned about the crazy stuff that went on in our country during that time, but I guess reading about it as an adult struck a different cord in me. I found it so interesting and so strange that people were so segregated just 40 years ago.

The discussion for this book was our best yet. Darlene was able to share what she saw first hand when the integrated her high school right here in our town her Senior Year. A few members grew up in the North and the rest in the South so it was really neat to learn about how different parts of the country handled those times.

I for sure recommend this book. It was hard to put down and not too long.

Amber made a yummy, yummy dinner and then whipped up a homemade Chocolate Pie.

If you read the book you'll understand why we all made her take the first bite!

Amy is hosting next month and we are reading, "The Next Thing On My List."

Puddin Pop Kids

I found a site that I just have to share.

About a month before Matalie's 1st birthday I started hunting for the perfect babydoll for her. I had originally planned to get her Baby Abby from PBK, but decided I wanted to get her something a little more personalized.

I looked everywhere for a cute, handmade doll for her. Everything I found was either too expensive or not very original.

Then I stumbled across Puddin Pop Kids and I fell in love!

These sweet babies are handmade by a Mama that has 5, count'em, 5 kiddos under the age of 4!

Seriously Super Mom!

You get to pick out the color of the skin, hair, and eyes. She can do curly hair or straight.

And what totally sold me on this being the doll for my Fat Mat? She adds whatever Bible Verse you'd like to the belly.

Matalie was very, very prayed for before she made her arrival so Amy picked this verse.

And of course I had to get one for Josie too.

Her's was supposed to be an Easter gift, but I've never been very good about keeping a secret so I gave it to her already.

And they are already great friends. Josie hasn't put her down yet.

We picked a verse from Proverbs 31 for Josie's doll, "She is far more precious then rubies and her value is far above rubies or pearls."

And get this: both the dolls were under $20!

I still can't believe that!

So if you're needing any gifts, head over to Puddin Pop Kids and get your own! I promise you won't be disappointed!

The Ties That Bind

Ten years ago this May I moved 1200 miles from everything I knew and started a new life.

I was a 17 year old girl with a serious meth habit trying to pick up my broken life. I had been in bad relationships, broken my parents trust, and let my entire family down. I'm sure it came as a surprise when this good student from an upperclass family had her secret life revealed.

Moving to Georgia was something I saw as temporary when I first came. Something to get my parents off my back for the Summer so I could come back to Minnesota and finish out my Senior Year with the kids I had spent the last 12 years in school with.

That Summer is the Summer that God finally got my attention and I surrendered to Him. I finally figured out my way wasn't working.

I met Andrew that Summer, and the rest is history.

When I think back to the day I made the decision to stay in Georgia for my Senior Year I never imagined that would turn into me living here forever. Don't get me wrong, I am completely in love with every aspect of my life.

Well, almost.

There is one thing I desperatly wish I could change.

I wish my family lived here too.

Most of the year I am able to block out the distance. Phone calls and email have made it easy for us to talk whenever we want and that seems to numb the lonesome feelings.

But coming home from two weeks surrounded by them has made me realize how much I wish I could be close to them.

My Dad only lives 4 hours away, but I'm awful about driving down to see them. Seriously, I only went once last year. My goal this year is to schedule when we will go and then for sure go. Once I get my car back that is.

Anyways, while I was sitting here trying to come up with a mid point between Florida, Arizona, Georgia, and Minnesota that we could all relocate to, God pointed out to me how lucky I am.

Lucky that, not only does Josie have amazing Grandparents that love every inch of her, but she has Great Grandparents that love her just as much (if not a wee bit more!)

Lucky that I can have images like this in my head:

On my side, Josie is able to spend quality time with all of her Great Grandparents.

And, boy oh boy, does she love them like crazy.

Andrew and I were talking about whether or not Josie understood who they are to her. I'm not sure if she does or not, but I do know that they are five of her favorite people.

There is something inside her that seems to bind her heart to theirs. And I think it's amazing.

I hope Josie remembers these times she has with her Great Grandparents and always remembers the things she learns from them.

I pray she is able to comprehend the amount of love these people have for her. I look over her case file from before she came home to us and realize that she came pretty darn close to having nobody love her.

But instead, everywhere she turns she is loved. Unconditionally.

I love seeing her face light up when she spends time with my grandparents. And I really love watching their faces light up when she's around.

In this Fast Food, Microwave Generation that she is going to grow up in, they can teach her of a more simple time. Times when you reaped what you sowed, that pateince is a virtue, and that often times, less is more.

So until I get down to Florida, over to Arizona, or up to Minnesota for another family fix I'll be recalling these past couple weeks and smile that I even have a family to visit.

The Remainder Of Vacation

We are home.

I feel like the past two weeks flew by.

Now I am unpacking and adjusting to the 3 hour time difference.

All while trying not to be lonesome.

Be back tomorrow with normal life.

Wait A Minute Mr. Postman

Well, I almost made it.

Yesterday was the day of my big hike.

I know a climb like this one isn't that big of a deal. But as all my friends know, I am not a fan of exercise. I want to be and I even have grand plans to start actually intentionally exercising when I get home, but up to this point, I only run if I'm being chased.

And honestly, if I was being chased I'd probably just lay down and let the person catch me rather then run away for too long.

But a year ago I claimed that I would never ever do this climb with Andrew and he made it his personal goal to make sure that I did.

I'm not sure when I changed my mind, but I do know that it included the promise of some new shoes and a workout outfit and I guess that was enough to win me over.

We headed out early to try to beat the heat. Andrew made me eat a nasty banana and drink this sugar water. That alone almost did me in. I hate breakfast and really don't like bananas!

The park was busy. I seriously don't think anyone actually works in this city! The parks and bike paths are always being used!

The weather was gorgeous and I was feeling good.

Extremely nervous, but good.

The first half mile is just a ton (and I do mean a ton) of rugged stairs. It's made for pretty much anyone to be able to go up.

I won't lie, I was huffing and puffing it up the stairs and had to take a few breaks to text my girls!

We made it up the first half mile and I was really proud of myself! My heart rate slowed down and we decided to go for the rest of the climb.

And that's where it gets shaky.

Gone were the nice stairs with a safe distance from the edge.

In their place was this:

I wish this picture did justice to what I was feeling inside when Andrew told me this was next.

It wasn't going up that scared me. Well, it did scare me, but I knew I could manage. It was coming down that freaked me out.

Andrew went behind me and pep talked me up the whole way.

.

When we managed to get to the top of 2 more of those type of climbs we stopped for a rest. And that's when I made my mistake.

I asked Andrew how much further to the top and he pointed out some little specks of people another mile up and I decided I was done.

So I made it a mile up a cliff.

Not as far as I wanted, but there's always next year.