Let there be FISH!!!

     A week or two ago my dad had a guy from the local pond and lake store come out to our family pond to do some testing and talk about stocking the pond with some more fish.  With the big rains we've had here this summer we had quit a few fish killed and some pond damage.  Anyway, he made some suggestions and my dad decided to put in some more bass and add some catfish, which he's never had before.  Well, last week the Fish Man came and brought 50 baby bass and 100 baby catfish.  The girls and I went down and took the 2 boys from next door, my niece was there, and 2 other little girls from down the road.  It was very educational and a lot of fun to watch.  The kids just loved the Fish Man and he engaged them so well in the process, telling them about the fish and making sure they named them all and kept them fed.  They just followed him around like little ducklings. 

Notice glow worm baby in Amelia's arms in this next picture!

Notice glow worn baby in Daddy Dent's hands dripping wet in this next one, she dropped him in the pond, but he still works, she was so upset!

Labor Day FUN!!!

     We have had a wonderful family and friend filled weekend.  Saturday we joined 2 other families at our pool for swimming and pizza, it was a lot of fun.  I took the camera, but forgot and didn't get it out until we were ready to leave.  I only took a picture of John Mac eating M&Ms.  Sunday we went to church and then shopping for Daniel a new recliner and he found one. It will be delivered later this week.  We also went to the fabric store for Edi and I; we are starting a few new projects.  We ate out Sunday for lunch(Burger King), dinner(local Mexican Restaurant), and bedtime snack(milkshakes at Cook-Out), we never do that, but it was nice not having to cook.  We'll definitely be keeping it low key for the rest of the month after all this weekend's activities.  Today 4 of us ventured out with my brother and niece to our local Kid's Museum to play and the local IMAX Theater to see Toy Story 3 in 3D.  My mom, dad, and Mrs. Denise watched John Mac.  The girls love the museum! The movie was great and I cried! Happy Labor Day!!!

The Adoption Waiting Game

    In May 2009 I was asked to put something on paper about waiting and adoption. In the summer of 2009 I completed the following. I've never put it on the Blog or sent it to anyone other than the person that asked me to do it. This week a few things have occurred that made me think it may be helpful to some people. I haven't looked at it or read it since last summer, so I did change a few minor things. I hope it helps in some small way those that are waiting for their precious gift from God.

Hurry Up and Wait

     I used to hate it when my parents would tell me to “hold on” or “wait just a minute”. Now I find myself saying it all the time to my children or my husband. The minute is never a minute; it’s always at least 5 and sometimes longer than that. I never really thought about the word ‘Wait” until I started the adoption process. You want to talk about holding on or waiting a minute, now adoption will test your ability to wait. Most things you wait for have a relatively defined time-line. For instance, my 4 year old wants to know when she gets to start big school and I can tell her that it’s about 1 year away. How about dinner time? You can usually predict how long it’s going to be until dinner within about 15 minutes or so. Of course that prediction would most likely change if you got a dreaded call from a telemarketer or you burned part of your dinner.

     But what about adoption? There is no time table. Yeah, when you’re doing all the paperwork; the foot high stack of paperwork, and the home study, and the photo book, and meeting with the agency Director, you can sometimes get an idea about how long each of those processes will take. But what about after all those things are complete and you’re what I call, “officially waiting”, what do you do then? I remember what I did; I jumped every time the phone rang for about the first 3 months, and I went through many periods of nesting where I would clean constantly, work in the nursery, and buy baby things. I would obsess over the agency website, the agency blog, the agency yahoo discussion group, and anything else I could find on the internet or read about adoption. I would find joy in the stories of people being placed, but I would also wonder why that birthmother didn’t choose us. All these things I did and more during our 14 ½ month wait (official wait). Don’t get me wrong the internet and book resources were wonderful and I got a lot from them, but I found that I could not drown myself in the adoption process and information completely. I had to have time where it was not always what I thought about. Removing myself at times from the adoption and trying to focus on other things was the hardest thing I did throughout the entire journey.

     Along with all the obsessive things, I also did things that didn’t have me obsessing over the adoption. I enjoyed my family, my friends, my church, I worked hard to cherish the time before the new baby. I spent special time with the children I already had. I know if you’re waiting on your first child then this would not be possible, but enjoy your nieces and nephews, your friend’s children, the children at your church. Put yourself around children of all ages as often as possible, you will be amazed at how much you will learn from them and how much strength they can give you just by smiling at you or making you laugh hysterically. I found comfort in my family, friends, church, the bible, and prayer.

What the Dictionary says about waiting…

To expect: look forward to the probable occurrence of

To remain or be in readiness

To tarry until another catches up

To stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

What the Bible says about waiting…

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

     The Lord's plans for us are always unknown, but through our Faith in Him we can be rest assured that they will be specifically for us and always at the right time.

Written by: Annice in July 2009

First Day of School 2010

   


      Well Wednesday was the first day of school for Edi and Amelia.  Edi started 4th grade and Amelia started her 2nd year of Preschool(4 year old Class).  They were both very excited and I have to admit that I was too.  They both love their teachers and I know it's going to be a great year of growing and learning for them.  With a new school year comes a new schedule for me, my schedule changes about 5 times a year.  It changes in August when school starts, it changes in January when Tax Season starts, it changes in April when Tax Season ends, and it changes again in June when school gets out.  It's a good thing because it keeps me on my toes, but it always takes me a few weeks to get my ducks in a row and get used to it.  This year Amelia goes to school 5 days a week from 8:30am-12:00pm.  Her preschool is about 17 minutes away from our house and Edi's bus does not pick her up until 8:28am and if I took her through carpool they can't unload and go into the school until 8:25am.  I either have to take Edi to a friend's house down the road from us in the mornings to catch the bus, so I can get Amelia to school on time or take Amelia to school first and then take Edi to school(which makes for a lot of driving).  I'm trying to work 1 day a week right now, mornings at the museum where I keep the books and do payroll and the afternoon at the tax office.  I had to find new childcare for John Mac since Leslie is now in college.  Leslie kept John Mac at our house this year during tax season and then continued to help me through the summer.  We love her!  This past tax season Amelia started going to Mrs. Jennifer's In-Home Daycare after preschool when I worked, so I called Mrs. Jennifer and she had room for John Mac and Amelia, so Friday was his first day and her first day starting back there since May.  They both did great, but John Mac didn't take a nap at all and he's still taking 2 naps a day most days.  I was worried about him because he is such a clingy little boy, he cried in the nursery at church for a solid hour last Sunday, it was heart breaking. I hope when he goes back this coming Thursday he will do just as good, but hopefully with a nap.