Josh posted a link to this blog post on adoption earlier today. I just got a chance to read it -the refusal to nap, clogged toilet, potty accident on the floor, dinner, and bath time slightly delayed me. I'm not complaining though, and reading this post was a perfect reminder to me of the joy that is ours as we seek to adopt these two little ones.
So if you get a chance in the midst of all the things that God has put in your path today, I highly recommend reading this article!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Transitions
The other day it really hit me just how much my life has changed in the last 3 weeks. I was sitting on the bathroom floor, waving my hands around and chanting "You can poop! You can poop! Gooooo poop!" to a 2 year old who, though absolutely adorable, was less than happy to be sitting on the toilet. I just had to laugh as I thought about what a difference a few weeks can make.
So how has the transition from working full time to being a stay-at-home (mostly- I still teach one class) mom gone? I'll be honest, my first day back to teaching my class was a huge relief. Not only was I out of the house after what had seemed like a very long first week, but I was doing something that I knew and was comfortable with. In many ways teaching has been my security blanket over the last couple of weeks (I honestly can't believe that's all its been!). Even though I have been longing to be a mom, the feeling of being overwhelmed and in far over my head made me want to run to what I knew and was confident in. There is nothing like becoming a mom to make you realize your complete and utter dependence upon God. I don't think I would have survived the last few weeks without his grace and mercy and endless supply of strength.
That first week, especially the first few days, kind of felt like I was drowning. Like I said in my last post, there were glimmers of light and grace in the midst of it, but most of the time I felt like I was desperately trying to keep my head above water and failing miserably. I lived for nap time that first week, and yet even that time was fraught with battles of its own- a screaming 2 year old, crying hysterically for "Grandma" - which made naps and bedtime the most emotionally difficult part of the day for all of us.
Week two was a bit better. I braved the outside world and made it to Target and Trader Joe's with both kids in tow- the major achievement of my week! That first trip to Target I just wanted to keep circling the store even after I had everything I needed! It just felt so good to be in the real world again. As we began to settle into a routine things began to look better. Nap time and bedtime have become much better- the potential for a melt down is still there, but the occurrence is becoming less and less.
So here we are already into week three. We are beginning to feel like these are our kids, and I think they too are beginning to feel at home. We made it to church on Sunday (another huge accomplishment!) and the kids did great. Monday was the first day where I found myself really thinking, "We can do this." And today I really couldn't wait to get back to them after teaching my class and was a little sad when I remembered they would be sleeping when I got home. Our lives are still in transition. There are still hard days, hard hours, but ultimately we are loving the changes that God has brought into our lives in the form of these two little lives.
So how has the transition from working full time to being a stay-at-home (mostly- I still teach one class) mom gone? I'll be honest, my first day back to teaching my class was a huge relief. Not only was I out of the house after what had seemed like a very long first week, but I was doing something that I knew and was comfortable with. In many ways teaching has been my security blanket over the last couple of weeks (I honestly can't believe that's all its been!). Even though I have been longing to be a mom, the feeling of being overwhelmed and in far over my head made me want to run to what I knew and was confident in. There is nothing like becoming a mom to make you realize your complete and utter dependence upon God. I don't think I would have survived the last few weeks without his grace and mercy and endless supply of strength.
That first week, especially the first few days, kind of felt like I was drowning. Like I said in my last post, there were glimmers of light and grace in the midst of it, but most of the time I felt like I was desperately trying to keep my head above water and failing miserably. I lived for nap time that first week, and yet even that time was fraught with battles of its own- a screaming 2 year old, crying hysterically for "Grandma" - which made naps and bedtime the most emotionally difficult part of the day for all of us.
Week two was a bit better. I braved the outside world and made it to Target and Trader Joe's with both kids in tow- the major achievement of my week! That first trip to Target I just wanted to keep circling the store even after I had everything I needed! It just felt so good to be in the real world again. As we began to settle into a routine things began to look better. Nap time and bedtime have become much better- the potential for a melt down is still there, but the occurrence is becoming less and less.
So here we are already into week three. We are beginning to feel like these are our kids, and I think they too are beginning to feel at home. We made it to church on Sunday (another huge accomplishment!) and the kids did great. Monday was the first day where I found myself really thinking, "We can do this." And today I really couldn't wait to get back to them after teaching my class and was a little sad when I remembered they would be sleeping when I got home. Our lives are still in transition. There are still hard days, hard hours, but ultimately we are loving the changes that God has brought into our lives in the form of these two little lives.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
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.
Friday, March 11, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, March 4, 2011
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)!
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!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
I Heart Faces cell phone photo challenge
I took this picture with my iphone and then opened in in instagram and used the "Nashville" filter on it. Sigh....don't you just love those adorable cheeks?
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