Life as We Know It

If any of you have seen the movie Life as We Know It with Katherine Hegel and Josh Duhamel, then I'm sure that you laughed as these two single, independent people took on the task of raising a baby. I thought the movie was hilarious- and now I find myself living it!
Josh and I have been in the process of getting approved to do foster care, ultimately with the hope of adopting at some point, and last Friday we got our first placement- a 2 1/2 year old girl (Genny) and a 7 month old boy (Christian). Let's just say that if someone were to film our lives in the last week, some parts of it wouldn't be to far off from Life as We know It!
Our induction into parenthood has been a whirlwind to say the least, but we have survived the first week, temper tantrums, ER visits and all. I've realized that as much as you think you are ready for kids, nothing can really ever prepare you for what life will be like.
We knew going into it that the kids would be a little shell shocked from all the changes the first few days, we just didn't realize how shell shocked we would be. Despite the anticipation and excitement about taking these little ones into our home, the reality is that last Friday, two little strangers came into our home. This last week has been a week of all of us getting to know each other and it has not been without its trials. On Wednesday night we had to put our dog down; later that night the baby got sick, and Thursday night I was in the ER with him while Josh was at home having his own struggles with bedtime. Then last night Josh came down with the stomach flu.
Despite all of these things, there have been glimmers of light in the midst of it. Moments that make me realize God's daily sustaining grace in the midst of hard times. And Oh, how I need His grace! Little things like watching Josh play tickle monster with Genny, reading bedtimes stories together on our bed, blowing bubbles together, hugs and kisses, and snuggling.
Here are a few pictures from our week (sorry, no kid pics for confidentiality reasons). A visual look at all the little changes in our life.






But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Project 52- Week 10

Week 9 never happened- lot's of craziness going on here (which I'll be blogging about in the next couple of posts)!
But Luke offered to pose for week 10 of my project 52. Well, he didn't really pose, I coerced him- and this was only one of the few I got before he flopped down and demanded I scratch his belly.

Project 52- Week 8

One of my goals in doing a Project 52 this year is to really challenge myself in my photography to try new things and improve my skill as a photographer. For week eights challenge I definitely challenged myself and learned a lot!
Since we had that Monday off for President's day (which was a much needed day of recovery from Winter Retreat with the college group!), I did a little photo shoot for some friends. This definitely stretched me and while I'm not thrilled with how all of the pictures came out, I learned a lot and can't wait to do another photo shoot for them and hopefully get some better pictures. Yay for friends who are willing to be my guinea pigs (and super cute ones at that)!

Project 52- Week 7

Week 7's Project 52 theme in honor of Valentine's Day (yes, I know I'm a little behind in posting) was "Open your Heart." I thought it appropriate that I was starting Wuthering Heights in my AP class on Valentine's Day. In addition to beginning our study of one of the most passionate and tragic love stories in English Literature, I made them read love poems while listening to cheesy love songs in honor of the day:)


" I love him. . .because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same, and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightening, or frost from fire. . . My great miseries in this world have been Heathcliff's miseries, and I watched and felt each from the beginning; my great thought in living is himself. If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and, if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the Universe would turn to a mighty stranger. I should not seem a part of it. My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods. Time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees- my love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath- a source of little visible delight but neccesary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff- he's always, always in my mind- not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself- but, as my own being"
(Catherine, Wuthering Heights, chapter 9).

Oh, the romantic in me just goes all swooney (and yes I just coined the word) whenever I read that section!