3 Months Home

It seems like so much has happened and we've only been home with Greyson and Kristyn for 3 months.  We have been to all sorts of specialists and I am so very thankful to have had this summer to accomplish getting them to all of these appointments.

We will get Kristyn fitted for AFOs next week.  She also had an MRI to check out her spinal cord and make sure that we are just treating cerebral palsy.  We should also start some physical therapy for her, but expect it just to be a short stint of about 3 months.

Greyson will also go to the AFO appointment and we will be looking into some smaller options for him that help with his walk.  He tends to walk on the inside of his foot, which leads to his poor balance.  Some support should help him get back onto the middle of his foot.  He will most likely be getting some physical and occupational therapy.  He is our first sweetie with hand tremors, which make fine motor activities difficult.

School is also quickly approaching.  We had a big scare and it looked like our newest two wouldn't be attending our home elementary school.  We had LOTS of prayer support and found out last week that they WILL be attending the same school as Meilynn, Jayson, and Kaitlyn (Brayden is on to the middle school).  Huge answer to prayer!!

We would love to have continued prayer during this new school adventure, especially for our dear Greyson!!   Everything is so new to him and he is VERY hands on.  I realize now that it is all just such a big world to him.  However, touching EVERYTHING will not go over well at school.  He has such a curious little mind, I pray he stays focused and learns to be a student this year.

Paradigm Shift

So I had a paradigm shifting stream of consciousness last night.  There’s a loaded statement.  It’s strange, because even though I know that this perspective is good and correct, it is so easy to slide back to my old outlook.

It started when Mark shared that a friend had asked him if we were done adopting.  Of course Mark said, “YES! No more kids!” J  I immediately said, “No, I’m not done.”  ;)  So, I began to ponder life’s meaning.  I know, that’s a pretty big undertaking.  But what is it really all about?  Why are we here?  What is our purpose?  It gets a little heavier than this…  Up to this point, we have been more than happy to adopt children with special needs, but one requirement is that someday they would be able to be independent and on their own.  It was about to “get easier”.  Addi and Ryan are getting close to kindergarten.  Meilynn and Brayden are pretty self-sufficient.  Jayson and Kaitlyn entertain themselves and follow directions pretty well.  Enter our sweet Greyson.  He turned my world upside down.  This was not a simple, he will have English pretty well down by the end of summer.  We will start him a grade lower and he will excel like Meilynn.  He struggles.  

So, that lead me down the path of questioning, what is my end goal?  What is my purpose?  When will I know I “have arrived”?  You see, I thought it would be when I had enough money to pay all of my bills and have extra for a nice trip to Disney.  Or maybe, it would be when I had paid off my house, retired from my job, and all of my kiddos were in their own homes with families of their own.  But wait, something was wrong…

Is this why God created me?  So I could get to my self-imposed “finish line”?  What is His finish line?  When have I “arrived” in His eyes?  Uh-oh, I’m not sure He has a finish line this side of Heaven…  I have an entire eternity to live carefree and worship Him for the entire day.  That’s my finish line.  That’s my happy ending.  This life, this is the race.  This is the part where I live for His purpose every day!  Not to make myself happy or attain some sort of reward or life I believe I am entitled to.

I’m not gonna lie… This is TOUGH!  The “World” will try and change my perspective into the socially accepted norm on a daily basis.  Maybe, “taking up my cross daily” is just this.  Change out the viewpoint I’ve had and see things from God’s perspective.   That’s not to say that we can’t be happy or can’t have joys (family trips to Disney, retirement, parties).  But, I need to stop working towards some futuristic finish line and live, serve, and love where I’m at right now!  I can’t stop until I’ve reached Heaven.

Will we adopt again?  I don’t know.  But I do know that God intended me to love these kiddos, His kiddos, with a fierce mama love.   And if we are called to again, then I can relax when I get to Heaven someday.  THEN I will have reached the finish line.

Choosing Thankfulness

Greed and envy almost stole my thankfulness.  

We went out for my twice annual clearance shopping trip yesterday.  I try to stockpile the next size clothes when the season ends, so it is ready to go for the following year.  I was on the hunt for good deals for both Brayden and Meilynn for next summer.  I had missed out on last summer's clearance, so I knew that I would need plenty this year.

After rummaging through the deals at Walmart, we headed to Younkers.  I was distracted by all of the adorable outfits they have out for Fall.  I found my thoughts drifting and dreaming.  If only I had fewer children... I could provide the trendy, cute outfits I saw mothers purchasing for their little angels.

Wait... Where was my heart leading?  God has provided.  Not only do we have what we need, He provides above and beyond!  He has blessed us with 6 amazing adoptions!  We have food on the table for every meal, we eat out sometimes, and we even get desserts.  We eat well.  No one is left wishing for more food.  The kiddos are clothed.  They have closets full of clothes that we have been blessed with from other families and great shopping deals.

Daily, I need to choose thankfulness!  I should not wish for what I don't have, but dwell on what I do!!  For only $130, we are set for next summer and got leggings for the girls for Fall.  Thank you God for ALL you provide!

Family Pictures

We attended Mark's sister's wedding today.  We all dressed in blue, so it was a great opportunity to take some pictures! :)