June

Many awesome things happened this month. Highlights of the month are:

-sand volleyball season

-Indians games

-dinner at the Mahon's

-my birthday dinner

-whiskey island picnic & cornhole

-when cleaning service happens

-cluster group meeting

-a new niece... the 1st one on the Morris side

-a wedding

-graduation parties

O Me O My O May

Wow. What a roller coaster ride this month has been. Ups and downs and in betweens. We had 2 funerals we attended. Andy's paternal grandma and Aunt Nancy. We traveled to Illinois on the weekend of the 15th for Grandma's. And then on the weekend of the 29th we traveled to Canada for Aunt Nancy's. We took in a new boy on May 21st. His name is Joseph but goes by Joey and he is almost 18 mos. It is pretty cool that he is exactly 1 year and 3 days younger than Gabe. Boy o boy is that time of year busy with birthdays, anniversaries, and Thanksgiving already. He fits in real well and sleeps through the night already. On the 27th we had a permanency planning meeting for Gabe with CFS. It left a lot of unknowns. I dread this now in-between time period we are in when a decision has to be made and it is just on hold. It hasn't been this way the whole time with Gabe until then. I pray that Gabe doesn't become emotionally scared from all of this that may happen. I wonder if he knows what is going on? Andy seems to think that he may understand a little what is happening because he seems a bit stressed out when we are too, and extra clingy. He knows us as mommy and daddy. We take care of him in all aspects. He loves us and we love him. For some reason this all came about only 6 days after we took in Joey. I don't understand. Praise the Lord for our strong marriage! I can't imagine most people staying together with the amounts of crazy circumstances we have had. We are grateful for our family in the Lord and the many prayer warriers there are out there praying for us.

Relax

This week was all around an awesome week. On Wednesday Gabe & I met my mom at the Lodi Prime Outlet mall. From there we headed down to the Amish Country. It has been a long time coming. Gabe really enjoyed seeing the "horseeeees". And then after we shopped the entire outlet mall at the end of the day, we all rode on the train. This is the only outlet mall in the country that has a hop-on hop-off train that goes all thru and around the mall for the shopper's convenience. Trains and horses were on his mind all the next day too. I got some great buys. There was only one item on my list that I didn't get. A butter crock. I will have to keep looking. The one I saw only held one stick and that won't work for my family. I will continue to look elsewhere and look online as well too.
And the next, and very exciting other happening of this week is that we hired a house cleaner! Andy told me long ago that when we have kids that he wanted to hire someone to keep up the house. At first I was not okay with the idea of it. It is anti-me. Or should I say it is quite contrary to my family of origin's way of life. Mom does those things. Having hired help for this seems foreign. But I sure am already warmed up to the idea and actuality of it already. No more bathrooms or kitchens to do for me. She even will do special projects if requested. It is a priority to de-stress our lives as much as possible.
And now... we're getting ready to leave for someones 40th surprise birthday party at BW3's. Don't worry, it isn't ruined since I'm positive this person doesn't read this. It is a colleague of Andy's. I know, I know... I also have a relative turning 40 this month too. But this is not concerning him.

Our very own support group

This evening we attended a cluster group for foster-adoptive parents. Sadly, we regret that it is the first time ever attending. We should've went a long time ago. It was such a tremendous help having people who share experiences with us to eat, talk, and discuss the "system". We got to meet new people and people who are great contacts if we ever have a need for a babysitter. That need is coming soon too! We're going back next month too and the month after etc. It starts with a potluck and you bring your kids and they have planned activities for them after dinner so the adult can have the meeting. Good stuff!

Kid Swap

Tomorrow we get the Morris boys. A while ago we started our very own kid swap with Andy's brother and SIL. It is always a joy to have Gabe's little cousins over. And of course, he loves going over to their house when it is our turn. It is worked out so one week we have their boys and the next week they have Gabe. So far it has worked out great! Every time we get in the car Gabe asks if we're going to their house actually. He has his family lists in his head for sure and theirs is at the top.
It is definitely a good break for the kids and the parents :)

Home Alone

It was a strange but nice reminiscing of life living on my own yesterday. Andy left for Columbus way early in the morning yesterday. Prior to that, on Wednesday night we left Gabe to stay over at the cousins house. We really appreciate having family around! Anyways, I worked all day Thursday and Friday and sometime on Thursday Gabe was transferred to my MIL's house where I would pick him up Friday night. I came home Thursday to an empty house and had a bed to myself. It never bothers me to be home alone. I slept well.

In honor of today...

FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY

In Florida , an atheist created a case against the upcoming Easter and Passover Holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.

The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring," Case dismissed!"

The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my Client and all other atheists have no such holidays."

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."

The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."

The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned." 

book

"Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment on Its Ear" by Kaylene Johnson
- I read it in 2 days.
- Very short, simple, and inspiring biography of Sarah Palin.
- For those who hate that she ran as VP on the republican ticket... don't get hung up on it as this book was written and published before she was chosen or even considered.
- admired the truth she stands for in the face of corruption in politics (in both parties).

Ready for summer!

It has been ages... big surprise! It usually has been when I actually have a spare moment to blog. Snow is covering the ground and the temperatures have been in the negative numbers. brrrr and ouch! Gabe is growing up sooo fast. For a while now he has been using 3 word phrases. He is ready to potty train but I am not. We're looking forward to vacation in a few weeks out to visit my brother and family. I have 4 weeks of vacation time this year and I am so excited. I find myself daydreaming a lot lately of summertime last year. I was not working due to FMLA for Gabriel. We had such a good time traveling and playing outside in the water at parks and such. Baseball games, cookouts, camp season.... these are all such fond memories.