Monday Musings

For today...Monday, January 19, 2009

Outside my window...is Disneyland!!

I am thinking...that I don't know how much more my feet can take!

I am thankful for...Megan and Michael; this trip would have been less fun without them here.

From the kitchen...we brought groceries to make our stay more affordable.

I am wearing...comfy clothes.

I am creating...memories.

I am going...to be leaving to Disneyland in a few minutes!

I am reading...Kelly's blog and praying for baby Harper.

I am hoping...that the crowds have thinned out since yesterday.

I am hearing...my kiddos laugh.  I love it.

Around the house...not in our house but the hotel is nice enough.

One of my favorite things...vacations. ;)

A few plans for the rest of the week: here until Tuesday, women's group on Wednesday, probably hang out with friends during the weekend, church on Sunday.

Here is a picture that I'm sharing:

The Happiest Place On Earth

We're on our way to Disneyland and I am fully utilizing my BlackBerry to make the time go by! Needless to say, Emma is STOKED!!! But in all honesty, I felt like an 8 year old on Christmas Eve last night. I slept maybe 3 hours total. I've been to DL several times, but haven't been there in nearly 9 years. I went so much during jr high and high school that I swore I wouldn't return until I had kids of my own.

And here we are...

So this trip is gonna rock! My youngest sis, Megan and her bf are meeting us there to help with the kids, which means hubby and I actually get some time to play too!

So excited! :)

How Did I Not Know?

Okay...so I have been reading blogs lately and I have NO idea how I didn't know how awesome some of these people are.  I thought blogs were kind of dorky until I decided to start my own (naturally), but now I actively follow the captivating and informational stories of others and it is such a blessing to know that there are so many wonderful, Christ-loving families out there.  I am so inspired by the amazing stories I've read.  

If you are new to this and just browsing around you MUST check out Angie Smith's blog and read from the beginning of the story...AMAZING.  I love that family.  Also check out Melanie's blog which is completely entertaining and honestly, she's from Texas so she rocks.  

I am off to make some soup for my sick Emma, who is passed out on the couch at the moment. Poor baby never gets sick, so this is hard on her.  Have a great Friday and 3-day weekend! :)

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Musings

For Today...Monday, January 12, 2008

Outside my window... I hear the sound of a lawn mower on a sunny Southern CA day.

I am thinking... that I need to get in the shower and clean the house a little.

I am thankful for... my life.  I am truly happy.

From the kitchen... plans to make chili for dinner.

I am wearing... workout clothes from my morning workout.

I am creating... my first afghan and I am very proud of it.

I am going... to my women's small group on Wednesday and I am really looking forward to it.

I am reading... the book of Acts right now.

I am hoping... that I model patience today.

I am hearing... Emma doing schoolwork and Brody waking up from nap.

Around the house... there are small piles of mess.  *sigh*

One of my favorite things... today will be naptime.  I need some time alone.

A few plans for the rest of the week: get Molly groomed, serve at and attend church, members meeting at church, laundry, workout, and maybe go to the beach if the weather stays this warm.

Here is a picture that I'm sharing: my Dad; because I'm thinking about him.

Another Delay

I spoke with our licensing worker (LW) yesterday and there is yet another delay in processing our license.  Our background check for NH need to be re-sent because apparently the papers need to be notarized.  Our LW wasn't aware of that and so we have to do the paper work again, get it notarized and resend.  

Have I mentioned that I am NOT a patient person?

So now we're at this place where we aren't sure that we even want to move forward.  Not because we don't want to do foster care, but because there is a good possibility that we will be moving come September/November...is it even worth it to commit to a child if there is a possibility that we may have to leave?  We've always known that we might move, but in November, when we thought we'd get a placement, we felt like we had more time to work with. Now that its two months later we're just not so sure.  We were definitely expecting a placement by now.  The room/house has been ready for her arrival since October.  

What's most frustrating is that the social workers express what a need there is for foster parents but seem to do very little to expedite the process.  Please pray that God's will be done. I know that I am only seeing a piece of the whole picture.  There is something bigger in store...whether it works with my timeline or not.

Everything

This past summer we attended a worship concert at our church that was amazing, to say the least. We attend a mega-church that is filled with wonderful people living for Christ.  Its very contemporary yet very real.  During the concert a song was preformed called "Everything" (by Tim Hughes) that really spoke to me.  The lyrics are below.  (If you can find it preformed by Marcus Jones, even better.)

Everything

God in my living, there in my breathing

God in my waking, God in my sleeping

God in my resting, there in my working

God in my thinking, God in my speaking

Be my everything, be my everything

Be my everything, be my everything

God in my hoping, there in my dreaming

God in my watching, God in my waiting

God in my laughing, there in my weeping

God in my hurting, God in my healing

Christ in me, Christ in me

Christ in me, the Hope of Glory

You are everything

Be my everything, be my everything

Be my everything, be my everything

A Delay

We were supposed to receive our license last week and mid-week I decided to call our licensing worker to see when we should expect it.  She informed me that she forgot to give us paperwork to fill out for background checks since we've lived in two other states other than CA in the past 5 years.  Apparently this should have been completed in October when she did our home inspection.  So she mailed them to us, we filled them out and mailed them back to her yesterday and on Monday she'll mail them out to the respective states.  UGH!  

I'm just praying that this delay isn't too lengthy.  We were really hoping to have a little girl join us for Christmas, but its not looking like that will happen now.  So we continue to wait and try to be as patient as possible (if you know me you know this is not my forte).  I wonder why the social workers don't move this along quicker...especially since there are so many children needing homes?  Its sad.  The kids are the ones who lose out.

We're DONE!!!

We have finally completed our 27 hours of foster care licensing classes!!  We are SO thrilled that we are finished and that we can resume Saturday's as normal.  We were missing our babies; it was hard being away all day, especially for me since I'm never away from them for more than a few hours at a time and even that is pretty rare.  

Our last class (Nov.22) was not great.  We missed the classes on October 25th because I had a wedding that I was coordinating (something I do here and there) so we had to make it up at a different location with different social workers.  Thank goodness we didn't sign up for those classes.  The social workers weren't as knowledgeable as the ones we had been working with and the other members of the class participated very little.  But I'm sure they were all good people.

Anyway, we're done and now all that is left to do it wait for that phone call.  We should receive our actual license next week and I expect a call around then.  But who knows...  I am just praying for this little girl and also for our family.  I pray that God blesses this experience and that ultimately His will is done.

Only 9 Hours Left...

We have 9 hours left of  licensing classes.  THANK THE LORD!!!  

I have to be honest, I am SO sick of these classes!  I hate being away from the kids and I miss my Saturday's.  Although they have been informative, I can totally understand why people decide not to do this. Not only is the process long, but the state rules are rigid and pretty unrealistic.  For example, in a recent class we learned that we probably shouldn't allow our little 2 year old foster daughter to sit on our laps because its not appropriate(?)....here's the kicker....and so as a result, we also shouldn't allow our OWN children to sit on our laps because it will cause the foster child to feel different and unloved.  Are they kidding me?  Perhaps this rule would apply to an older child, but sorry, I'm not going to change the way I love my kids.  I know that they have to say and cover all area's of the rules and regulations, but much of it is completely unrealistic.  Don't even get me started on the spanking topic...apparently if you spank, you abuse (they group any type of physical discipline in the abuse category) and no spanking (even your own children) is allowed within earshot of the foster child. It really upsets me that a few bad apples have spoiled the bunch. But we'll be fine; we will continue to parent the way we feel God has called us to parent and I know this little child will feel loved and accepted while she is here. 

As far as the Concurrent Planning Program, I think that right now its better for us to do traditional foster care, mostly because we really cannot say with 100% certainty that we are staying in southern CA long-term.  Once we know either way, we will get started with adoption, but are unsure as to what that will look like.  We are praying for God's guidance and perspective over the entire situation.

Something interesting to note:  We learned this past weekend that if you adopt from CA's foster care system, not only are you given a monthly stipend until the child turns 18, but the child also receives MediCal until they turn 18.  This makes adopting from the foster care system so doable for the average family!