Thank You!

Thanks friends for the advice and the prayers.

Im still not sure what to do and how to go about it.  I know a lot of it is the holidays... and we are almost done with them, so Im hoping we get a reprieve!

I have decided that at least once a week I am going to send Madi to either my mom's (her Mimi) or to Mike's dad (her Pap Pap) so I can get some work done for church and also just have some down time.  Madi loves her grandparents and any time she gets to spend with them is always good.  She is blessed with Godly grandparents in all her local ones!! :o)  My dad is Jewish, but lives in Cali.  Mikes dad is amazing... he truly is a godly man... and just retired this month!  Haha... :o)

I really think that this will help me relax and have less anxiety.  I also think this will help Madi too because I believe part of her problem is missing her daddy.  When he is home and she is much better.  So then Wed- Sat when he doesnt get home till almost 8, she is at her worst.  I think spending this time with Mimi or Pap Pap will help fill that daddy void.  Especially Pap Pap.

After the other 2 go back to school, we might try the "staking" thing.  From what I understand, that is when you just keep them with you for most of the day.  Im not looking forward to it...  Ill admit that.  But at least she wont get in trouble.  Most of her poor choices are when she is alone. 

Well, I hope all you have tons of fun on New Years Eve... and your New Year is awesomely blessed!!! :O)

Momma In Need Of Help! :o)

Well.. we did have a good Christmas.  Some drama, but not unbearable!!
The kids were really blessed with tons of presents, including a trampoline from us!  I cant wait until Mike sets it up... I wanna jump on it! Haha!! :o)
We really had a lot of fun with family and friends... and for the first time in years and years, we were able to celebrate Christmas with my best friend and her hubby and kids.  We played Wii Dance and Wii Party... and had a blast!!  We exchanged gifts and had dinner... truly one of my favorite parts of the week!!!
We are really struggling with Madi and her total lack of impulse control.  She wants to do good, but just keeps making bad choices because she is just not thinking about them before she makes them.  This has resulted in her damaging things in our home and even damaging some of her most prized possesions.  She has always been so careful and loving towards her things, that the willful destruction of stuff has really taken us by surprise. 

She has also be disobeying a lot.  Doing things she absolutly knows she shouldnt but has decided she either doesnt care about the rules, or thinks she wont get caught. 

It has me on edge... wndering what she will do next... if she will damage something, or do something that could cause her or us harm.  And I dont know how to stop it.  I have tried many different consequences for the actions... but none are working and its been going on for over a month.

So, I am asking for some prayer... and also advice.  Have any of you parents been down this road??  What did you do? 

This momma needs some help!!

Oh PLEASE!!

Dear Jesus,

I have one wish this year for Christmas Eve.

I wish that today could be good... happy... peaceful... calm... and fun.

Thats all.

Thanks,
Dana



Oh please join us in that prayer!!  :o)  Seriously... the drama started bright and early this morning!  I have a grumpy nasty little girl on my hands.  I know that this time of year is so hard for adopted and foster kids.  They have so many memories and stuff surrounding these days that sometimes bad behaviors surface.

This frazzeled momma could seriously use some peace today!!  Those bad behaviors have been in my face for about 2 weeks now... and I could use a break.

Anyways... enough complaining!!
I hope everyone has an amazing Christmas... I know that despite it all, we will!  Our tree is beautiful, theres lots of presents under it, we have had opporunity to give to others, we will spend today and tomorrow with friends and family, and our house is warm, clean, and cozy.  And not only that, but most importantly... we have Jesus.  I am so thankful and blessed to know and serve the most holy King of Kings.... and that I can call Him Daddy!!  Do you know Him?  Cause if not... He is the reason for the season and He is so cool! :o)

Merry Christmas!!

Yea, He is Amazing!

God is so cool.

Seriously.  SO. COOL.

Last week, our TV went kaputz.  And being so close to Christmas and wanting to bless our family and friends and also strangers, we didnt want to put any money into something like that.

So I jokingly put on facebook... rest in peace dear TV.  And a friend saw that and went to work.  He had a friend who was getting rid of his and the huge entertainment unit he kept it in.  Then this wonderful friend borrowed a big ole truck from a guy at church to move it.  THEN... he told me about it but made me not tell Mike.  He told Mike that he had a tv and unit for a friend and he needed his help to move it.  Lol.

So.... I now have a beautiful new entertainment unit... with lots n lotsa of storage space!  And our old stand is now in the girls room.  I have been looking for a tv stand for them to put their little tv with Madi's collection of VHS tapes and some of their toys... but I didnt really want to spend much.  Well, free is even better!! 

God just knew how to bless me. He just knew that would put a smile on my face... so He worked it out.

Yea, He is Amazing!

What a Weekend!!

Wow.... talk about fitting a LOT in a little bit of time.  But all went well.. adn we made it through in one peice! 

We had:
Dress Rehearsals
Caroling
Christmas Party
Make cards for Caroling
Membership Class
2 Performances of the Nutcracker
Lead worship for 2 services
Practice with the worship team
Pick up a truck
Pick up a TV & Cabinet someone gave us (YAY God)
Drop Truck off
Sleep
Eat
All since Friday evening!!!

:o)  Im tired... I took a huge nap today...

YAY NAPS!

On the mend....

We are on the mend.

Tonight is the first performance of the Nutcracker and we are excited.  I am still coughing a good bit, but thats about it.  Madi says she has a sore throat, but I suspect she just wants more of the lollipops we bought that make their throats better.  And Jay got it too... but not nearly as bad as the rest of us (thank goodness!!).

I would like to ask for more prayer though... I went to the Doc's and after talking about my RA and whatnot... he suspects that there might be more going on.  Some of my symptoms arent adding up to just RA.  (UGH.)  So he is sending me for more blood work.  Please pray.  Some of the things he is testing me for are kinda (ok, a lot) scary!!  Lymes disease, Lupus, and a few others.  The lupus thing is the scariest for me. 

I read about it. Scary. Scary stuff.  I go for the bloodwork on Monday and IM not sure when I will have the results... but I know that I dont have a docs appt until the middle of January.  I hope to know whats going on before that though.

Please just pray.  Im only 28.  I havent even gotten to have a baby yet.  Im so young and so not done with living life as full as I can get it.  I already have been slowed down by the RA... this isnt the life I want for me or my kids!!

(Oh... side note... I lost more weight!!  woot woot!  Go me!)

Sick, Sick, Sick!

Oh the sickies have visited this house!!

First Mike got a touch, then both J and K.... then it SMACKED ME! This is day 4 of being down for the count.  Stuffy nose, totally congested head and chest, wicked cough. Fever, head ache.  Oh yea... this thing is a doosey.  The Madi started to get it, but thank the LORD that kid is strong, becuase she has only had a sore throat and some congestion.  She took a voluntary nap on Tuesday (which NEVER happens) and didnt sleep very well Monday night, but seems much better today.

And this is just NOT the week to be sick.  Madi takes ballet lessons with an AMAZING Christian non-profit studio that is so God-centered... its awesome.  This week is their annual Christmas ballet.. and this year is the Nutcracker, which is Madi's favorite story.  She was soooo excited to find out she is an angel and she also has a little solo.  Most adorable angel ever.
But all this means we have rehearsal every day.  It started Saturday.  Tonight is the first dress rehearsal and I am a dressing room mom... so I have to be better!!  UGH.  But it will all be worth it.  To see her little face light up as she dances... yup.  Makes my heart proud!

Going to lay back down now. I think my head has monkeys playing congas in it.  Loudly.  :oD

Great Giving Challenge

From (another blog) Dave Ramsey ...


(personally, this sort of stuff should be done all year, not just as Christmas!)



"This year, Dave is challenging all of us to give like no one else (my note: Christians should be known by their generousity!!!). So what does that mean? It means you need to get out of your comfort zone, think outside the box, and find ways to bless others. Whether you give some money to help a needy family with bills or give your time and energy to a shut-in, there are plenty of ways you can give like no else this Christmas. Here are some ideas to get you started:



Buy several winter jackets at a discount retail store and deliver them to the homeless in your community.



Pay the power bill for a family who is struggling financially.



Purchase a restaurant gift card for a young couple who are new parents, and offer to babysit their kiddo for free.



When checking out at the grocery store, hand the cashier some cash and tell her you want to pay for a needy family's groceries.



Take a single mom on a Christmas shopping spree for her kids.



Clean the home of a shut-in and cook for them. Stay and chat with them over dinner.



Bless your pastor with a Christmas bonus.



Call your church and ask them if they know a family in need of gifts this year. Then, purchase a gift for each family member and drop it off at their doorstep on Christmas Eve.



Shovel snow, rake leaves, or pick weeds for an elderly couple in or near your neighborhood.



Next time you fill up your gas tank, give the clerk $50 and tell him you want to pay for someone else's gas bill."



More GREAT ideas!!! http://www.daveramsey.com/specials/great-giving-challenge/
 
After reading this... I have decided to do 12 Days of Christmas... in this Giving-Challenge Style!
Im not buying the kids anymore presents... there are plenty to put under the tree.   And one big one that wont fit... (we got them a trampline... yay!)
 
So the rest of the money that we would have used will go towards doing some of those giving things.  Im kinda excited!  And Im thinking of taking it even further... and do it in honor of other family memebers instead of presents. 
 
:o)  Its gonna be a good Christmas!  Time to go get ready... our first Christmas Party is tonight... its our foster's agencies annual one!  YAY! :o)