Adoption Update

I have a friend who has been in the process of adoption from Haiti for quite some time, and she recently mentioned that in their case the old adage applies, "No news is good news".  I agree that sometimes there really isn't much to share, and it just means that things are moving along but there really isn't anything new to report.  In our case we are just throwing some leads out and seeing what doors God opens.

One door that I didn't expect to walk through presented itself about a month ago, when there was a plea on Facebook for a family for a baby boy.  The mother didn't know she was pregnant until it was time to deliver, and she didn't have any desire to have a baby.  So the little guy has been hanging out at the hospital due to some special needs while he waits for a family to be chosen for him.  We sent in a pre-application, hesitantly.  I say hesitantly because of our our history with special needs.  We understand how difficult it can be, but we also know how wonderful it can be.  It's just tricky.  I heard the next day that they had received hundreds of inquiries and figured we wouldn't hear anything back.  Much to our surprise we were contacted a couple of days later and asked for our home study.  I sent it in and we didn't hear anything for a couple of weeks.  Then I figured we for sure must have been passed over, until we got another email with the baby's medical information.  They asked that after we had a chance to talk it over with a pediatrician that we let them know if we wanted to go to the next stage, a phone interview.  So, we talked with two pediatricians (I like to overdo things) and prayed some more, then let them know we would be open to the next step.  I have not heard anything back yet.

The other area we are pursuing is the foster care system.  We have inquired about a couple of children and are waiting to hear back.  There is a sweet brother and sister I am especially interested in hearing back on.  Although we have never fostered, we know this wouldn't be the easiest type of adoption.  But our hearts are open to what God wants to do in our family.

There is a Bible passage that was especially powerful this week, as we dealt with some other issues and I had a weary realization (as I was feeling overwhelmed with our current life struggles) that adoption isn't going to make our lives any easier . . .

"Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

Isaiah 40: 28 - 29

Thank you, Jesus, for always showing me that Your strength is sufficient!

Canning Adventures/Back to School

 Many years ago, in high school, I was in our Future Homemakers of America club.  In fact, my junior year I was the president.  At the time I found that pretty amusing because I was quite sure I'd never actually BE a homemaker.

Well.

It turns out that God had other plans for me than me joining the CIA, which is what I wanted to do.  (Don't laugh, I'm serious.)  So now I have been a homemaker (and a happy one, I might add) for more than twelve years.  I always have had this list in my head of things that I need to do to be successful at this homemaking thing, and canning was one of them.  The problem was, I have been terrified of doing it by myself.  I have a lot of friends who have done it for years with their moms, but my mom's health hasn't ever been to the point where we could do this together.  About a year ago God brought a wonderful family into our lives; they live across the street.  He is a retired police chief and she is just finishing up homeschooling the second of their two sons.  I've been talking with her about wanting to learn to can, and last week she taught me how!

We still have some peaches waiting to be canned, but I've done about 48 quarts of peaches, pears, and spiced pears so far.

After my first afternoon of canning I told Ethan I finally get why people who live simpler lives are so happy.  There is something so peaceful about working to put away food for winter, while the big girls make homemade granola and the little two steal pieces of fruit away from my cutting board.  It's a good life.

In other news, we are entering our fifth week of school next week.  This year we have a 6th grader, 4th grader, 2nd grader, and Pre-Kindergartner.  Aren't they cute?
 

We started using Tapestry of Grace last year and love it.  We're learning about the Middle Ages this year.  That could be a post in itself, but I'll just say here that it has been a blast.  We found out we are related to Charlemagne, which is super cool.  The kids were posing here on their first day of co-op.  This year Spunky is taking Essay Writing and Cooking, Giggles is taking a class called Daughters of the King and Reader's Theater, Bubba is taking Art and Kids Crossfit, and Calico is taking Art and a combination class that has thinking skills, math, and literacy.  They are all happy with their classes.