Dressing up

First off, let me just say that my son is growing up way too fast! When I posted these pictures on Facebook I got comments from people saying how they didn't recognize him, how he looks like a pre-teen. And all I can say is, yikes! It is scary how fast Jeremiah is growing up!

Second, I know that a lot of people would (and did) question my choice to let Jeremiah dress up as something scary this year. In my defense; he has no idea what a vampire really is. He saw a picture of a Lego one in his Lego magazine and decided that is what he wanted to be for Halloween. (I can't say I appreciate a magazine geared toward elementary aged children promoting under-wordly things like vampires and zombies.) He took complete initiative and got the whole costume together. I did take him to Goodwill where he looked around and found the tie, vest, and cape all by himself. Aaron bought the face paint at the Dollar Tree. I just couldn't bring myself to squelch his creativity and initiative.

We took the opportunity to talk about maturity. He volunteered to only wear the vampire costume to the Harvest Party, not to the church sponsored Fall Festival. We talked about his responsibility not to scare other children and we asked him not to threaten to "suck your blood!" while we were at the Harvest Party.

He was so excited about this costume!

I feel like we struck a good balance of letting him use his creativity but also be mindful and respectful of others.

All I can say is that the current popular vampire heart-throb has nothing on my handsome boy!

Tradition

Our annual Harvest Party, hayride picture.

Because we moved so much I didn't grow up with many traditions, so it is a bit strange for me to have yearly pictures of this annual tradition. But I love it! The boys went on the first hayride all by themselves. They were off and loaded and on their own adventure with a group of "big kids" before I even had a chance to realize what was going on. After their hayride was done I made sure to ask if we could go on one together. I was not about to give up my tradition of snuggling my boys, riding through dark cornfields and watching the stars, without a fight. They were more than willing.

We have a busy week ahead. We are wrapping up soccer season with tournament games and parties. Our church is having a Fall Festival on Halloween night. I am trying to do some cleaning and organizing with the anticipation of little S joining our household in the next few weeks. In the midst of it all we are trying to keep our normal school schedule.

So far I am doing well enjoying each day as it comes. Focusing on these two boys I have here right now and not allowing myself to get too caught up in the "what ifs" of the future.

Update

I think I can post this update now. Maybe. I haven't asked Aaron for official permission.

We had a rough summer in the adoption department. I won't go in to details other than to say that we suffered an emotional loss and the whole experience had us reeling a little bit. Then one evening in September our case worker showed up on our doorstep and asked if we wanted our home study to be considered for the possible placement of a 2 year old. We discussed it, decided why not, submitted our study and went about our business.

Yesterday afternoon we had a meeting with the DFCS workers. We have decided to proceed slowly with this placement. Aaron and I will meet the little boy next week and if that goes well we will start our transition visits. I would describe our emotions as cautiously optimistic. And a little bit nervous. And just a tad bit completely freaked out. We do not yet know with 100% certainty if this will be a permanent placement so we are limited in what we can say and how many details we can give. For now, we covet your prayers as we go through this process. We need wisdom. We need grace. We need provision of practical items. We need patience. We need love.

Thank you.

12 years

We had an insane week and weekend. It was all full of fun and good things, but now my little introverted self needs to take a step back and regroup. Not to mention my house is an absolute disaster and that just stresses everyone out.

Last Sunday (10/14) was our 12th wedding anniversary. This life together is an adventure. We are more and more mindful of the fact that our love for each other can only first flow out of the love we have received through Christ. This man is a gift to me. I am grateful for his love and care.

Fall!

As they say here, "Happy Fall, Y'all!"

And it is fall for real! My favorite season of cool mornings and golden evenings. Pumpkin spice coffee creamer and fuzzy slippers. Brilliant mums, breathtaking leaves, and plump pumpkins. We are enjoying every minute!

Pumpkin Picking

 

Friday dawned rainy and grey. We were scheduled to meet some of our other home school friends at a pumpkin patch. My friend Carrie had just had a baby 2 weeks ago so I offered to take her 2 oldest kids for her so she could rest. We had a great time at a family farm that had a corn maze, petting zoo, play ground, obstacle course, and hay ride out to the pumpkin patch. I did pretty well keeping track of 4 kids. My only irritation came when we were 10 minutes down the road on our way home and of course suddenly everyone had to go to the bathroom. Jeremiah and Nathaniel were so helpful and kind. We had a great day. We came home muddy and exhausted. We may just have to add pumpkin picking to our list of fall traditions.

On kids growing up

 Ya'll. Honestly. I look at these pictures and all the cliches I have ever heard about mothering flood my thoughts. When the boys were little and the days seemed never ending, and just the act of getting a shower seemed like a major accomplishment, and women would say to me, "Enjoy these days! They are precious. They will be gone too quickly." I would roll my eyes and sigh deep. I swore never to say that to a young mother with multiple little ones. But I did, just yesterday.

Yesterday morning my kids picked out these clothes. I was surprised because letting my kids pick out their own clothes means I never know what exactly they will end up with. There they were all tucked in and matching and so danged grown up looking. I took pictures before we headed off to church. I stood in the sanctuary talking to a young mother. She was tired. And overwhelmed. I was doing my best to speak grace and truth to her. To encourage. Her little one started smiling at me. He was plump and happy. The words just slipped out, the cliche, "Enjoy these days! They will be gone before you know it." I felt like rolling my eyes at myself.

What I wish I had said was:  "I know you don't believe this now, but the days do pass and before you know it they are gone. Try to treasure them. In the midst of the exhaustion and frustration find those moments that will evaporate all too quickly. Because believe it or not, as much as you can't imagine it now, there will come a day when you don't really remember his little baby smell. Or how he curls up into you to fall asleep.Ask God to show you how to enjoy these all consuming little years, instead of just trying to survive them. They will shape you in ways you never imagined. You will feel like you are losing yourself, yet becoming your truest self at the same time. And one day you will realize that your kids have spent the whole morning playing together without needing you and you will rejoice and mourn just a little bit."

I wish I had said that to her because I wish I had been able to do that myself.