Behind me, playing on the television as background noise is a program called "Our 27 children". It is absolutely amazing. This family has adopted 23 special needs children, along with giving birth to four others. It completely inspires me. I have always always planned to adopt. When I started having babies I let that dream get a little dim. It is now renewed, bright and shining again. I don't think I could handle 27 kids, but I want to make sure that I am open to whatever it is that God has for me. In 20 years, we'll just have to see where I am. I really want to love children - any and all, whatever their family history, medical needs, and however many God puts in my life. I don't think Andy is quite as open in the area of numbers, but he is willing to love any child, however they end up in our family. So, here I am, ready. When I first lost my baby I couldn't even consider another baby. I just needed to mourn for her. Then my friend Naomi lost her baby, and I mourned again. But now I am ready. It seems like it is time to look forward. So, once again, here I am, ready and waiting. If anyone hears a word from God for me, please pass it along. I think my biggest question right now is, "what is the next step?" Do I start that paperwork to get an international adoption? Do I place myself on a list for a baby in the foster system? I want to see a picture, or hear a story and just know. It sounds strange, but I don't want to have to look for my baby. I just want God to lead me to him or her.
On a completely different note... homeschooling is going really well. Since Canaan is only 4, I am trying to make it very laid back. I think he is really enjoying it. He asks me every morning if he can do school. We put the flag up outside, and do a little bit of desk work, then play educational games. It is really cute. Today he practiced writing our phone number. It just feels really great to be teaching again. I have missed it. He really is an easy kid.
Zion, on the other hand, is a little pistol. He keeps me on my toes every minute that he is awake. Yesterday when I put him down for his nap, he reached across his changing table, and pulled about 30 wipes out of the container. He then got ahold of the Desitin, and squirted it in his hair. In his HAIR!! For any of you who don't have babies, Desitin is a diaper rash ointment, and it is super thick, and fairly sticky. It does not do well in hair. Today during coloring time Canaan made a book. Very age appropriate, but creative. Zion colored himself. Also very age appropriate. I had forgotten how busy this age is.
We have almost completely unpacked now. My sisters came down this weekend to see my new house, and helped do a little more decorating. I have done most of it by myself, which is very out of the ordinary, but they helped do some finishing touches in my bedroom. I am beginning to feel settled. Today we planted trees. We put a Maple in the front, and a Chinese Pistache (sp?) in the back. I feel like such a homeowner, planting a tree in our yard. It feels really good.
Andy has now switched the channel to WWE Raw, so I think I better go. I can't stand to sit here and listen to it, and the computer is right next to the tv. That narrows my choices. My next project is going to be figuring out how to put pictures on here, so keep your eyes posted. Until then.... Blessings
Who writes this stuff?
- Andysbethy
- I try to keep my priorities in order: Jesus, my Andy, our children, everything else. I homeschool our boys, love to read almost all written words and have been challenged by the military life for 18 years. Right now my faulty human body is demanding a lot of attention. One day at a time, learning as much as possible every day and remembering to look for JOY when other things threaten to overwhelm.
9 comments:
So glad your're back...again!
Corey and I just had a big discussion Sunday night about the "more kids" thing. We happened to meet several families with lots of kids (4-8 average lol) at the homeschool group picnic. I am pretty sure it was because of the particular demographic, but they all had at least 3 kids, most of them 4. We talked about it pretty much all the way home, the different views people have about having more kids. Corey also mentioned adoption. Adopting is something I always said I was going to do because childbirth sounded just horrible and painful...then one day 7 monthes after we got married "surprise!" lol. Since I have had two of my own I just can't imagine within myself feeling the same way with an adopted baby. It really is a struggle for me, a terrible struggle. Corey was in the "adopt one day" camp and I was in the "but I want to have more of our own" camp. I don't know..I'm torn, which probably means we're not ready either way. As far as the foster child route goes...that would terrify me if I really wanted to adopt. So many children are placed back with their parents after a few months, and more hurtful than a child being taken away after you have cared for it for several months is the fact that you know it may very well be going back into the same bad situation again. If we ever decided to do adoption, I am sure we would try to go international.
I am glad school is going so well! We are having fun here also! I feel like I am not getting enough done with only doing 3 days a week, but maybe its just because we stopped early Monday to make "spider cookies" from a magazine. Oh well...we'll get there. Trying to not stress!
good to hear from you! love you guys!
Well, Carrie already said what I was going to say regarding adoption so that kind of killed that.
On a different note, Desitin in kid hair sounds terrifyingly amusing. Kid hair is hard to get stuff out of already with it being so fine in texture, let alone coating the hair in bum tar.
I am glad you guys are settling in. I have to say I got used to seeing you guys every few days for a couple of weeks there. We all gotta get together again soon.
We will keep praying for you guys.
Bethany, When I started blogging, I used the "help" feather on blogger a lot. It is good. But, to add pictures to a post, there are those little icons across the top of your posting window and towards the right, there is a little icon that looks like a picture of looking out a window (if memory serves me right). Just click that and it will let you browse your computer to look for pictures. I am really enjoying reading your blog. Yours is much more "deep" than mine. It's just so good to be back in touch with you. Keep smiling your beautiful smile. I'll keep praying for you.
Sorry, I said "feather" instead of "feature" on my last post. Bethany, what's your email address? Mine is marcy418@yahoo.com
Ahhhh, I loved the "age appropriate" comments. I often remind myself of the very same thing around here ;-)
Glad to hear you are homeschooling!!! I'm planning to do the same thing -- I'll be picking your brain in a couple of years.
I have friends who have 9 children--one from China, 4 from LIberia, 4 of their own. They should be getting 2 more from Liberia any day now and they are always looking for homes for children they have met in the orphanage in Liberia and are always willing to give advice and offer assistance to anyone looking into international adoption.
Being that I work with foster families and families whose children are in foster care on a regular basis, I would only recommend that if you are ready to have the children leave you after a few months.
As always, it is great to hear about your children and their exploits. Just keeping you on your toes!
Hi Bethany,
I'm thrilled I found your blog (through your homemade body wash on Pinterest :) I am now going to be a very avid reader here!
I haven't read *a lot* yet, but what I have seen so far is that you and I have a bit in common. I am a Kindergarten teacher in Saskatchewan Canada. My hubby is not military, but Royal Canadian Mounted Police, so we do the posting/moving thing. I am also a Christian. And we are also going to adopt! We applied a couple of weeks ago and meet with a Social worker on Monday. I'm nervous and excited! We're also currently trying to conceive, and are going through a slew of testing as we've been trying for 15 months. We just decided that God will open and close whatever doors He sees fit, and we are learning (DAILY) to rely on Him and trust his plan for us.
Sorry to write practically a novel/autobiography on here! I was just so encouraged when i read some of your posts.
Take care!
Holly
wow! Just noticed your adoption blog was from '07. Now I need to obviously read on and catch up
Hello my name Betty Given. I saw your post on Pinterst about homemade soap. I am starting to try to do the " hippie " thing myself because it's just healthier all the way around. But as I read your blog about adopting I was reminded of the Smokey Mountain Children's Home.
It is ran through the Church of God in Cleveland, TN. They only require that you take parenting classes & will help pay pay for the adoption fee. You may want to google it & get some info. I hope that helps if you should decide to use it... Blessings...
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