New School Room

One of the things about schooling at home is that there isn't a real "first day of school." Last year we kept on Aaron's school schedule and officially started school on the day he went back to work. But, we got done early and were winding our work down already in March and were pretty much completely done by April. So we have had a lot of time off. It just felt right to ease back in to doing some school work this week, and since we set our own schedule, we did. We are not starting with anything to heavy or time consuming. Just some simple handwriting and math practice done in less than an hour this morning. 

A few weeks ago Aaron and I went to Ikea and purchased the furniture for our re-modeled room. Nothing fancy, just the basic cube shelving with a desk that accommodates both boys. I am actually glad that we waited until we were finished with our first full year of using this curriculum so that I could see how best we would use the space and what kind of furniture would really serve us well. 

 (this picture is dark, but you get the idea)

 Our read-alouds for the year. All nicely waiting in their own little cubby. 

Books with orange stickers are for this year. Books with red stickers are from last year. The color system makes it so easy for the boys to easily use the books and return them where they belong. 

 The cubby with my instructors guides and manuals for the year. 

A cozy reading area was a must since so much of our curriculum includes reading. 

And we LOVE reading! 

Silly faces prove that the new room is a hit!

I am really happy how everything came together. This room is probably the most used room in the house now. 

Camp week 2012

Last week was camp week. Aaron gone to Goldrush with the youth group from our church and Jeremiah scheduled for day camp at Camp New Dawn. He has been looking forward to camp all year. The weekend before camp was to start he was sick and had a fever. He had to miss the first day of camp, but thankfully he got better quickly and was able to join in the rest of the week. Nathaniel was sick all week so I was at home with him trying to help him rest (during a week with the most rain we have had since April). There was a lot going on. But it was a good week. It is nice to watch Jeremiah enjoy his time at day camp. He made friends and passed the swimming test (!) and generally wore himself out each day. This year his award was for his "high voltage personality." It seems he was pretty energetic.

Goldrush/sports camp week - not what we expected

I was actually looking forward to this week. Aaron was scheduled to chaperon the annual youth group trip to Goldrush and Jeremiah was scheduled to be at sports camp during the day. That left just me and Nathaniel to hang out. I was planning on lots of meals eaten out (because I don't really enjoy cooking and cleaning up). I was planning on the boys being so tired out from their days of fun that I could easily put them to bed and enjoy quiet evening hours by myself. But on Saturday night Jeremiah got a fever and yesterday it hovered around 102. So this morning he is not going to camp. His fever is down and he seems more himself.  Hopefully one more day of rest and he can start tomorrow.

Last night I was starting to get very disappointed, thinking about the possibility of both boys being home all day, all week while Aaron was gone. I was getting ready to pitch an all-out pity party. Obviously I don't want my son to feel bad, but part of my prayer last night for his healing was selfish because my week will be easier if he can go to camp. 

Last night in his fevered state Jeremiah was disappointed that he wouldn't be going to camp in the morning but he was resigned. He groaned and said, "I wish this had happened sometime in the future, not today." I sat by his bed putting a cool cloth on his head and rubbing his back. I told him I was proud of him for being so mature. I told him about some of my childhood disappointments. We prayed together asking God to encourage and heal him. 

We are going to take one day at a time this week. We will lay low here at home today and if his fever stays down then he can go to camp tomorrow. If not, well, then we make another game plan. And this is where the rubber meets the road in the applying what I believe about God and who He is to the daily work of parenting. I can grump my way through the changed expectations of the week or I can embrace that this right now is what God has ordained and He will give me joy. 

We have had a quiet morning. We waved Aaron off a few minutes ago and are about to enjoy lunch and then hopefully some naps. We are going to watch some movies this afternoon. We will probably finish our current read-aloud. With God's help and grace I intend to embrace with joy whatever circumstance unfolds this week. 

Let the official wait begin

The lady who did our home study turned it in to our DFCS office in April. Since then it has been sitting on a case worker's desk waiting to be reviewed and approved. I am a former DFCS caseworker so I tried really hard to be patient and not make annoying phone calls. But I will admit, I was getting a tad frustrated. 

Then yesterday, in the midst of our normal daily doings, the phone rang and Aaron was told that our home study was approved and we are officially open as a foster-to-adopt home, ages 0-6 years, up to two children, boy or girl, no racial preference. 

So now we wait some more...

When Jeremiah said something about us "buying" our new child we talked through the expected process in as much detail as we could. It is a balancing act trying to give them information about abuse and neglect to help them understand the situation but in an age appropriate way. Jeremiah showed some amazing insight and selflessness when he out of the blue said, "It might be a good idea to put away all our toy guns and swords until they get used to how we play in this house and know that we don't want to hurt them. Because sometimes we do play kind of rough." 

We explained that we could be waiting for a while before a child is matched to us. Both boys were insistent that it happen soon. "I hope it is tomorrow mama!" Nathaniel exclaimed. 

There was animated conversation about where the child will sit at the dinner table, and where they will sleep, and making sure that we know when their birthday is so that we can give them a big party, and if it is a girl then hopefully she will like robots because we have lots of boys toys and no girl toys, and making sure we ask what their name is. 

We talked a bit about how it will take time for us all to adjust. How it may seem strange at first, and we will need get to know the child and for them to get to know us. We talked about how we may need to step back from outside activities for a few weeks in order for us to connect and for the child to see us as their family. 

Then I suggested that we pray together. And Jeremiah insisted that we kneel to pray because it shows respect. So we did. We knelt and held hands and asked God to help us wait, and to protect our child, and to give us what we need. And my heart cracked a bit when Nathaniel lisped, "Thank you for our child. Help them come here quickly so we can find out what kind of cake they like." 

After we prayed we got up and went about our evening routine. Except in the back of my mind is the knowledge that any day we could get a phone call that will change everything. 

Pray for us please? We know that God is in complete control. He knew about all of our children before He created the world. There is peace in that knowledge. Yet there are days for me when the waiting is hard. And of course there are moments of fear that we will not be up to this task. All we can do is take each day as it comes. 

Pops by the River - 4th of July

We don't usually make big plans for the 4th of July. It kind of sneaks up on us smack-dab in the middle of summer and we usually take the opportunity to lay low and chill out. But yesterday we were feeling the itch to get out and do something and it turned out it was the night of Pops By The River, an outdoor concert by the Chattanooga Symphony with fireworks afterward. So we headed out and enjoyed a beautiful evening in this pleasant little city. 

We arrived early to set up our spot. Then we ate a delicious dinner at Taco Mamacitas, followed of course by ice cream at Clumpies. The boys rode the carousel and played in the fountains. Then we sat in the cooling dusk listening to good music, eating watermelon, feeling the breeze from the river. Fire works exploded in the night and the boys were awed. 

There are so many memories in this place. I held Aaron's hand and watched our boys turn cartwheels in the grass, the lights of the bridge that was the scene of our first date and engagement shining behind them.