What Am I Thinking!?!

So, the other night, I went to a Mary Kay thing for a friend who start selling it a few months ago.  Joan is a sweet friend and I really enjoy her, so I decided to go becuase she is cool!!! I have sold a few things... candles, jewelry, knives even... and enjoyed some of it.  I especially enjoyed the jewelry.  But when I stopped selling it, I pretty much decided I was done selling stuff.  Its not that I'm not good at it... I did make some nice money, but I think I'm out of time, out of energy, and out of people who want to buy more stuff from me.. haha!
Anyways... somehow I got talked into staying for the "you know you wanna do this" part.  They said, it will give Joan some more points, so, ok.  I stayed.  I listened.  And its all so tempting. 
And all I can think then is:

WHAT AM I THINKING!?!?!

Do I really want to do this again?  The money would be nice... but the fellowship and friendship would be even nicer! The paperwork and the time would be hard to deal with, but half priced makeup (that I already use) would be a big benefit.  

If (big IF) I would do this.. I think I would look at it as a hobby.  As a fun thing to do... get some cheap makeup, some friends, and maybe make a few extra bucks to buy myself something pretty.  Or more likely... to buy the kids something they need.  (Ugh... I just got the list of stuff Kiki needs to start soccer... what the heck!! lol... they need a lot to kick a ball around in Middle School!!)

Seriously.  I cant believe I'm actually entertaining the notion of selling Mary Kay.  I always always snubbed my nose at selling that stuff.  Yet... I LOVE pink!  I like that they encourage you to put God first, family second, and job 3rd.  Why was I always so against it.  And why in the world am I even considering this! Ha!

The lady who called me tonight as a follow up said I sounded like I am at war with myself.  Darn tootin' I am! :o)

Oh help.  lol!

New Church...

We have been praying a lot as a family about what church the Lord is leading us to... and we have visited a few.
We made our criterea based on prayers and personal needs and preferences. 
They were:
   Worship- musically sound, Spirit led, modern and contemporary but with a respect of the older hymns and such.
   Little Kids- a ministry that taught kids the value of the Word, fellowship, and GOOD solid friendships, and also knows that kids are powerpacked little prayer warriors and evangelists given the right tools.
   Youth- a solid youth ministry for middle school and high school that has fun, Christ-centered events and has astrong emphasis on worship, prayer, and evangelism.
   One other thing that we really wanted was a church that could minister to any special needs kids that could come into our family.  We knew that was a long shot and probably not something that we would find, but something to look for anyways.
   And of course, good solid, bible-based, spirit-led, Christ-centered preaching!! Oh, and not to big, not to small.  We like the 250-400 member churches.
This past Sunday, we went to http://www.worshipcenter.org/  and really enjoyed it.  It is a large church... I think the average weekly attendance for 3 services is about 2,000... huge to us! 
But, the worship was amazing.  Oh my goodness... it sounded like it could have been a recording.. the quality was awesome!  And it was definitly spirit-led and it felt good.  Do you know what I mean?  Just being in the congregation, letting the music wash over you, Jesus soak into you... relaxing, refreshing, and intimate.  It felt good!! :o)  And the Word was good!  Not at all boring, the pastor was funny... and real.  I had one of those light bulb moments when we was explaining his one point.  I love those... and admittedly, I haven't had one in a while... it was so good to have one and go home and read more about it and then share it with Mike and the kids!!
Jay and Madi went to children's church, called Faith Factory, and LOVED it!! They had so many stories to tell and they were so excited to tell us that they sang songs that we sing at home, and they made friends and played games, and just had FUN!
We took Kiki to the middle school level youth group tonight called Go180, and Mike said she talked the entire ride home about how much she loved it!! She made a friend, got some tasty ice cream, got a reallly cool dry erase/magnetic board (pink, of course, in the shape of a cat), and wants to go back asap!!  She asked me to sign her up for the girls spa night they are having Friday!! I had to send her to bed, but I'm going to ask her about the worship and teaching too. 
To sign Kiki up for the spa night, I had to go to the church's website where I found out about a program in tandem with the Faith Factory called One2One.  As I read this, tears formed in my eyes (directly from the website):
One2One Ministry allows special needs children to attend their age-specific classroom along with a special buddy during our weekend services. This includes children from birth through 5th grade. All buddies (6th grade and older) go through the FAITH Factory application process and then are matched with a child. Both buddy and child attend the child's class together, enabling their parents to freely attend the adult service. The buddy's sole responsibility is to involve and assist the child in the classroom activities. Buddies serve one service per month.

One2One also offers PawPals, a group setting where therapeutic dogs are brought in to interact with the children and help teach the lesson. This is offered one service every other month. Fun activities for the children, families, and buddies are also planned throughout the year.
Holy Hannah!!  How much more of a "special needs" program could we get!?!?!???
I told Mike that I wanted a big flashing neon sign that said "HOME" when we walked into the "right" church.  Well... it wasnt when we walked in... but it seems that maybe it was when I needed to read it the most.
We will go where you send us Jesus.. and it seems that maybe this huge church is it?
The kids say it is.  They want to "go there forever mom".

One of those days.

Ever have one of those days when it seems the sun will never shine?

I'm having one.

Ever have one of those days when it seems like nothing you do is right?

I'm having one.

Ever have one of those days when you are trying to figure out how to purchase groceries?

I'm having one.

Ever have one of those days when you know your supposed to be trusting God for the necessities, but can't seem to find the trust?

I'm having one.

Ever have one of those days when you cry every time the kids walk out of the room, and then put on the magic happy face when they walk back in it?

I'm having one.

Ever have one of those days when you know you did everything you were supposed to, but you still can't figure out how to make ends meet?

I'm having one.

Oh. Today.  I don't like today.  I don't like feeling this way.  I just want to trust God.  But even more, I don't want to be here again.  I know I did what I was supposed to.  Its days like these that I wish I had a job, or even still sold Premier Designs (though I know that I simply dont have the time or the inclination to deal with all the paperwork anymore).  I'm trying to trust God.  I'm trying to remember all the times He has come through before.... just in time.  

Jesus be the center
Be my source be my light Jesus
Jesus be the center
Be my song Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live

Jesus Jesus
Jesus be my vision
Be my help
Be my guide Jesus

(Michael Frye)

Yay for a Blog Award!

I just recieved a blog award! 

Mama K @ Daily Life: Sanford Style  nominated me for the Sunshine Award!
Thanks a ton... made me smile in the midst of a very busy day (one where my kids finially went back to school after a whole week off due to snow)!!

The rules are:
1. Post picture on your blog or in your post.
2. Link to the person who gave you the award.
3. Spread the sunshine to 12 blogs.

 

1. http://hishandshisfeettoday.blogspot.com/  This family continues to inspire me every single day!!  They have adopted 10 kids and managed to do it all while remaining positive and Jesu-focused.  They are such an inspiration to Mike and I!!!

2.  http://imghanaadopt.blogspot.com/  Laurel and her family have a CRAP TON of kids (haha... technical termof measurement, I assure you), 2 of which were adopted from Ghana.  This amazing family has and is walking through an adoption disruption and doing it with the Grace of God just covering them.  They are truly beautiful as they, and all their crazy kids go through this with heads held high, knowing beyond all knowing that the Divine Creator is guiding them!!!

3.http://www.getright.org/blog/Crystal is a wonderful, kind, and caring friend who is walking the path of chronic illness and infertility with grace and a Godly heart.  Her and her hubby are also feeling led to foster to adopt and I know that when they get through it all, they will be amazing parents!!

4.http://mountaintopmemories.blogspot.com/ Sean & Lisa have added to their family by adopting some pretty cute kids... they are working on treating their kids in some natural therapies, like chelation and gluten and casein free diets.... the diets have been working for their kids, and thats super encouraging. Lisa seems a bit like a super mom to me... in a way that makes me want to be the best I can be for my kids, like I believe she tries to be.  She is also a super Godly woman and you can tell she truly loves the Lord!!

5. http://arethesekidsallyours.blogspot.com/ Oh this family.  As my heart aches for them, my heart is also encouraged and blessed by them!!  They have 7 (i think!!) adopted adorable kids and were trying to adopt a little girl from africa, but were denied becuase she would have been #8... and someone said it was to many.  I dont know what will happen.... It seems Little Naomi is not coming home to them, but they are still believing God for her or another child... and Dawn is real and honest and a woman full of faith and love and hope and I believe God has something GREAT in store for them.  I love those "Then God" moments, and I believe they will have one of those soon... a true breakthrough!!! 

I know it says 12.... but these are my 5 favs right now!!

Madison's Adoption Day Pics!

This is the little note we gave to Madison the night before her adoption day!  It was such a great moment... in our favorite resturant, El Serrano's, just us and our little girl.  We knew it would be a night she wouldn't forget!!

She was so excited... she actually asked the waiter to take the picture... and thats a true and genuine smile from her!!

The next day, Madi, Mimi and I went shopping for a new dress and Mimi also bought her new shoes and a new coat!! Madi was on cloud nine... that kid loves dresses!!
Ok... for some reason blogger is making this difficult for me to type in between pictures, and its super late, so basically these are pics at the Court House, with the Judge, Aunt Shell, and Mimi, and also her lovely polar bear from Build-A-Bear.  The bear was from her caseworker and it also came with a tshirt with her new name printed on it and the date!  We also got a bunch of chocolate bars with her name and her adoption date printed on them!! It was sooo special!!  And I got flowers.. all of it made the day even more special for our girl!!
Sorry for the poor quality of pictures... it was very dark in the court room and I didnt have my good camera.. and since my computer was blown out, I havent loaded any of my photo editing software on here yet. But you can still see the joy... and thats the important part!

 

Madi & The Medicine Man

Last tuesday we took Madison to the doctor to start her on ADHD meds.  I have been avoiding this since she first came to live with us, so I was very nervous about this tranistion.  We picked up her meds, just as the second blizzard in less than a week started.  This blizzard has actually served us well on this front.  We started the Concerta on Wednesday morning and the kids have been off school since then!  (Driving this mama a lil batty!) The first day, Madi colored a picture that looked YEARS more advanced than one she did the day before!  That evening she went and sat with Mike on his lap for over 5 mins.  If you have any experience with an extremely adhd kid, you know that they cant sit still for 30 seconds, let alone 5 mins with no TV to watch.  Not only did she sit there, she sat still.  I could tell that for Mike it was a dream come true.  A true bonding moment.  And he isnt the only one who has had some this past week!! I held her in my lap for a long time the other morning just holding her.  She also sat with me while I read my book.  She just sat and was content to just be.  That was definitly not how Madi acted before!!  She was never happy being still.  We also have not had any fits until today!  There has been so much peace in this house since starting this medicine, it makes me wonder why I waited!  (She threw 2 fits today... but she threw up this morning only an hour after she took her pill and we had to get up super early for Kiki's tooth extraction!)
Im seeing parts of my little girls personality emerge through the hyperness and we are truly enjoying it!  She is soooo much more pleasant to be around and is a lot (LOOOTTTT) less volitile!  YAY for the Medicine... and the wonderful counselor who talked me into trying it!! Shes out Medicine Man.  And praise Jesus for helping us come to this conclusion with the peace of knowing we tried all the other methods to treat ADHD!  And Praise Jesus for bringing out the best parts of our baby girl! :o)

IM BAAAACK!!

Hallelujah... Im back!! Im sooo happy to be blogging from my very own laptop again!  Thank you Jesus for small miracles!!!
So much has happened since December 19th when the computer bit the dust.. so stay tuned for lots of blogs!

Little Praise Report:

Yesterday morning Mike was out shoveling the 20 feet of snow surrounding his car (not to much of an exageration).  His back was majorly hurting him and he still had a LOOONG way to go.  As the sun began its ascent over the snowy landscape, Mike said "God, I cant do this, you have to do something!"  And BAM, his back was perfectly fine!!  He finished his shoveling and even helped out neighbor!

God is SOO Good... to heal him for something as simple as shoveling out the car.

AHHH-MAZING God we serve!!

Well... I'm off for now... theopening ceremonies are pretty cool... the tap dancers are rockin' it!!  

Madi is enthralled!!!

(Ok, ok, ok, so am I!)