Annual Post

With the looks of things...I guess I will update my blog annually in January. We are just wrapped up in....LIFE.
Since my last post, we have officially added two children to our family and another dog.
We fostered a sibling pair, Charlotte and William, beginning May 2009 and fell head over heels for them. The fit into our family perfectly and loved us too. Their adoptions were final July 30, 2010.
Its been a long road but I wouldn't trade for it. I think our family has grown in more ways than size. We are more devoted to each other, Christ and our community. Life is all about the small things and not so much the drama. We also adopted an elephant in Africa, Murka is her name. She is 2 and we send financial support. Ava gets monthly updates on her little friend. And, then we decided to adopt a schnauzer from a local rescue center. His name is Diesel...that is the name he came with and I guess we will stick with it. (I do however call him Dash when no one else is around.)
I am in graduate school now and Dustin is getting his bachelors.....and we aren't killing each other yet. Ava thinks it is funny that we have homework. I think I could be a professional student if it didn't cost so much!
Last year we enjoyed a trip to Maui to celebrate our anniversary.


We are so blessed to have three wonderfully healthy children and God's grace to shine on.

Wow, so its been over a year since my last post!

I can't believe its been so long since my last post! INSANE....guess that word is a reflection of our life. In Jan of 2009 Dustin and I went to Sedona alone for some RNR, and we got our first foster placement, Emmaleigh. She left in March before our trip to Colorado and right after our adult only trip to Disney. Ava was sad about Emmaleigh leaving in March and began praying for a little brother and a little sister to come. In May she abruptly stated that she was mad at God and was not going to pray anymore. She said that he wasn't listening to her prayers. We discussed how God's time and our time are not the same and that we really shouldn't be mad at him if our prayers aren't answered. About 5 days after this conversation we received a phone call from CPS stating that they had a placement for us if we were open. I said we were without talking to Dustin...LOL
The caseworker then said that it was a sibling group, girl and boy. I about died. I ran to Dustin to tell him the news. God was listening to Ava.....and he delivered!!! On May 28th, we got Charlotte, 2 (Charlie) and Will, 10mo. they were in horrible condition and looked like they were extracted from a dumpster...literally! They had so many health issues and were so neglected that I had to do a lot of research on severely neglected children and feral children. We worked night and day with them. We postponed our summer vacation to build stability at home and the kids attended many church camps instead. It was a nice change. In August Ava started back to school and Charlie began a preschool in September. Will qualified for respite care one day a week so I chose Tuesday to get a day to myself. I LOVE Tuesdays. hahaha
In December we took the girls to Disney and Will stayed with my parents. We had a fantastic holiday and really feel like we are a tribe of 5.
The month of January has been a bit rough for us. Hoping that February is much better.
We are also hoping to adopt Charlie and Will in April of this year. The biologicals have a jury trial for termination set for early April. We are praying that it is God's will the children stay with us.
Our daily prayers are that the children grow up in the most stable, nurturing environment possible....as hope that our home is the answer.
I need to post pics as I haven't in a while. Hope everyone is enjoying 2010 and living life authentically.
Don't forget to feed the pig this year....piggie bank that is!!! LOL That is our number one goal for 2010.

I will be a doctor!

On Monday, Ava and I went to Dallas to eat lunch with my aunt and uncle. 

Ava was sporting her new stethoscope she got from Santa.  

(Ava's requests from Santa were a talking dollhouse, stuffed kitty, real fish, fresh flowers and a stethoscope.) 

She wears this stethoscope around her neck pretending to be a doctor.  

We were walking through the mall and several people looked at her and smiled.  She whispers to me that everybody thinks she is a "real" doctor.  LOL 

As we are turning the corner to our restaurant, a woman bends down and says, ''do you want to be a doctor when you grow up?" Ava looks at her very determined and says, "no, I will be a doctor when I grow up."

 

Holy Spirit

This past weekend we took Massimo to the new dog park in our area.  I guess we had a mental pause and forgot that it had rained all night!!! He quickly turned from white to brown, so we dropped him off to get a bath before bringing him home.  While killing time, we decided to drop in the SPCA to look at dogs they had on  their adoption list.  Dustin wanted to look because he had never been there, and while we were in Orlando his sister adopted a puppy.  He became obsessed with the idea that instead of paying for a Westie (which is what I want and have already sent deposit money on) we would adopt a "mutt", which would in  turn be the BEST dog we have ever had.  

So, we walk in and spot a Chihuahua.  Ava says immediately that she is taking him home.  We are there for about 2 hrs playing with him and waiting for him to poop.  Dustin wanted him to pass the poop test.  Ava runs around telling everyone that she is getting this puppy and will have him forever.  So being the suckers we are, we now have 2 dogs.  

Here is a piece of the dialogue: 

Me: Okay, I guess we are getting him so what should we name him.  Lets take a family vote. 

Dustin: I really like Cujo and think its a funny name.

Ava:  I really like Charlie and thats going to be his name.  

For a day we decide to name him Cujo.  That name soon fades, so we are back to the drawing board. 

Me:  Ava, do you still want to name our new dog Charlie?

Ava:  No, I don't.  I did yesterday, but today I have the best name ever!

Me: You do.  What is it? 

Ava: His name will be....Holy Spirit.  

Me: That name is already taken and we can't use it again.  

Ava: Well I guess I will settle for Charlie or Daisy. 

Me: Charlie it is.  

Charlie is a 2 year old Chi Chi Terrier mix and we already love him dearly. 

Ava's Party in Arkansas

This past weekend we celebrated Ava's 5th birthday and my mom's 50th.  We had the party at my parents and invited family and friends.  We had 32 family/friends show up....and had a total blast. 

The weather was cold, so we chilli with all the fixings.  I made guacamole and we made rotel dip.  

We had another "wedding" cake as Ava describes them. She was big on having two tier cakes this year.  I don't know where she gets the idea for these things....at least we all know she comes by in honest.  

We planned a hayride, pinata, cake festivities and a bonfire.  It was by far the easiest party this year for us.  (Maybe because I could share responsibility...who knows!) 

Ava's Party in Texas

We had Ava's birthday party with her friends last weekend.  She had a total blast! 

We had her party at a gymnastics venue, which of course spelt like stinky feet.  

I won the party from a local e-newsletter that goes around and won a birthday cake. 

Ava insisted that she get a wedding cake for her party so we got a two tier (stacked) cake....for her 5th birthday. 

She is more excited about this birthday than any other.  She realized the concept of growth and age now.  Right now she is learning the piano and participating in Mud Works(a pottery class) at her school.  

Birthdays are so stressful!!! My sister in law and I have a new tradition that after the parties of our children they go home with their aunt.  So after Hayden's birthday, we took him home for a sleep over and after Ava's party, she went home with Krissie.  It is GREAT!!! 

Halloween 2008

We had a great Halloween.  

Ava was Giselle from the Disney movie, Enchanted.  

Ava was out of school so we got to do a lot.  

She went with me to VOTE!

Then we went to lunch and I made a dirt cake for a party we attended. 

After the party (hosted by Snow White), we stayed with some friends and went Trick or Treating in their neighborhood.  

Ava really enjoyed it.