2013 - 2014

I was thinking a bit about how the past 2 years I've had a specific Bible verse that spoke to me.  (2012 - Zephaniah 3:17, 2013 - John 10:10)  Sometimes, as in 2012, it came during the year.  Today as I was reading Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst, I found my verse for 2014. 

"Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith."  1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV 1984.

I've also had a song...in 2012 it was "Never Once" by Matt Redman.  For 2013, the song "Worn" by Tenth Avenue North really spoke to me.  I think "Lay Me Down" by Chris Tomlin may be the song for 2014...but we'll see.  (And it's kind of funny because I sort of made fun of a Praise & Worship song with that title...a title that could be taken all wrong...but nonetheless, I think it may be the song of 2014 for me....)  :-)

I was reflecting a bit on 2013 today...
High Points:

• Our camping trip to see each of the 5 Great Lakes.  Fabulous.
• Our week at the beach is always a blessing.
• Redoing our basement (old house)...it looked fabulous!
• The amazing way that moving to this house came about
• The sunrises and sunsets at this home.

Low Points:

• Parenting a very volatile child...I've learned so much (and have so much to learn) about the effects of trauma on children and about what constitutes trauma.
• While moving was worth it, it was also hard to leave our home of almost 19 years (Randy)/16 years (me).  Especially after we had just finished the basement and had 4 of our children in their own rooms...and needed to move them back to sharing rooms again.

Books that I really appreciated in 2013

• Wounded Children, Healing Homes
• Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control vol. 1 and 2
• Dare to Love

2014
Well, I don't do resolutions...that is to say, I see no reasons to tie goals/resolutions to a date on the calendar...if I decide to make a goal I do so whenever.

What do I anticipate for the coming year?  Who knows!  We'll see what comes down our road...but I certainly hope this is the year that we go down to no diapers...I've been buying diapers and changing them for nearly 14 years...

And perhaps this will be the year that I manage my time better and am more effective at managing my household (then again, with the constant needs of children, I have my doubts).

I also need to decide what I'm doing in the meeting with God department.  Last year I took a book a month and focused on it.  I also worked through the book "A Place I Didn't Belong:  Hope for Adoptive Moms."  The (two) years before that I worked through reading the Bible chronologically.  Not sure what I'm going to do this year...

I'd really like to go to the Northeast Adoption Summit in April.  And I'm not sure what we're doing about vacation this year...what with buying the new house.  We'd certainly like to use our camper a bit more than last year.  Last year we used it a lot all on a pile...then not again the rest of the summer.  We'd also like to take advantage of the Creation Museum's offer of free children admissions (under 12).  So we'll see how it all works out...

Now, back to normal programming...dishes, laundry, clean up the house.

Happy New Year!

Potty Training...

...okay, you've been forewarned...potty training is the topic of choice right now...so feel free to move on to another blog.  :-)

I've always been very low key about potty-training...and I have 4 children with whom that pretty much worked.  They were all trained around age 3 or 3-1/2 with minimal effort on my part.  I have the potty available.  They use it if they choose up to age 3 or so (depending on the time of year they turn 3).  I put them in underwear once they understand the concept.  And it usually happens.  A few of them I had to "run out" of pullups or they would continue to go in those, but it wasn't really a big deal.  I do have 1 that still wets at night but that is just not a big deal to me.

Micah was pretty much trained (at almost age 4...he was ready before but I had my hands full with other things)...and then we decided to move so we regressed.  But we are now getting back on track.  He will be wearing underwear at home and then progressing to away for short trips as we are able.

Mark has shown no signs of readiness, but nonetheless I somehow need to figure out a way to train him due to his age and school more than anything.

In preparation, I've read books geared towards potty-training kids with mental handicaps and/or autism.  I've talked about it with parents of similar children and professional therapists in our lives.

Today I had another thought...break it down into small parts.  So today we are "practicing" wearing underwear as he was not interested in even wearing underwear.  I figured out that I need to put him in underwear so that I can see if there are any patterns for when he goes.  Then I hope to progress to having him try at specific times as some children with sensory issues do not feel the urge to go and basically have to train themselves to go on command and I don't know if this is part of the issue.

Mark has NEVER gone in the potty for me.  I've never started potty-training a child who had never gone (at bathtime for instance) on the little potty before I "officially" started training.

It's going to be a challenge for me...I hate cleaning up messy underwear, but the boys are 4 and 5 and must move on out of pull-ups if at all physically possible.  So my new year's resolution....get the boys out of diapers (and won't that extra money every month be helpful as well...)  :-)

So...pray for me & the 2 youngest boys as we do this together!

Random

Sunday night.  I'm sitting here waiting for the last little boy to go to sleep so I can continue watching the first Lord of the Rings movie.  I read through the books again last week and started through the movies.  The problem is, Micah slept really badly last night so I'm getting really sleepy...so maybe I'll just go to bed instead...we'll see.  He's coughing and hacking over there...

We had a very nice Christmas.  The family get-togethers all went well.  We had some moments with our challenging child, changes in schedule and holiday excitement don't usually bode so well for his behaviors....but we got through it.  I think things will even out this week.

Mark has a therapy appointment this week...but just 1.  Next week we'll get back into the swing of multiple therapy appointments per week.

I really need to potty-train Mark.  He shows no signs of readiness.  He is 5 years old and goes to school in the fall.  I really need to get over myself and just do this....somehow....

Micah...as for his potty-training that derailed when we decided to move...I need to get that kid back in underwear and I think then we can get it accomplished.

Janae got one of those loom things for Christmas.  She's having a good time with that.

Autumn and Josiah have been at loose ends over vacation...they didn't want/get toys, so nothing new to do.  I think they'll be glad to get back to school.

Zach loved the skateboard he got.  And he snuggled up to me a few times while watching movies.  This is unusual for him so I fully enjoyed it and took advantage of it.  :-)

Okay.  I think the house is quiet...now bed or movie....

Merry Christmas!

 

Despite the sparseness of our tree...we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

"The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth."  John 1

 

 

 

 

And for those who are struggling this year, at this time of the year, we wish you comfort and peace.

 

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.

And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor.

The Mighty God.

The Prince of Peace."

Isaiah (something or other)

Random December photos

 

Micah's Birthday

one of the first snows.

The photo of Autumn that I missed from the cookie post I did.

Snow day...snow fun!

Baking cookies on that snow day.

 

Just can't get enough of my view of the sunrise...

Christmas Cookies

I love baking cookies (well, baking in general).  I hate cleaning up the mess.  I love eating the results...preferably with a nice cup of tea or coffee.  :-)

Quick Post

I've got about 2 minutes before the kids come down to get ready for school...and I need to pack lunches (not doing so well on my plan to pack the night before)...in fact, I just heard one of the kids' alarms go off.

We had a lovely weekend...more snow, Christmas caroling, hanging out with friends.

This is a busy week...and then Friday is the last day of school until January 2.  Not sure what I'm going to do with energetic kids for nearly 2 weeks!?!

Our old house goes on the market today...ready to get that chapter closed, but sad too.

Okay, gotta go...well try to elaborate on all this as the week rolls on...

Have a lovely day!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree....

Our Christmas Tree tradition:

 

 Somewhere along the line of lots of babies, Randy started taking the kids for the tree...and now it's a tradition.  Dad & kids go find a tree.  They go to a local lot where the trees are only $2/foot.  They invariably bring home one that takes all of what little creativity I have to figure out a way to put the lights on it.

This year's tree has needles on the last 3 inches of each branch...an not much else.

As you can see...you can see clear through it.

 

I string up the lights and put on the delicate ornaments.

The kids pretty much do the rest.

It's beautiful...just like every year!  :-)

My baby

My baby had a birthday last week...

 

A glimpse into our new home.

Today I bring you a few photos of our new home.  We have chosen not to do any redecorating yet, but to live in it "as is" for awhile to decide exactly what changes we wish to me.  We already know that will include removing wallpaper and painting, but we're biding our time on it all.

 

We moved all our furniture and photos, not buying much except extras needed (4 bathrooms instead of 2 require a few additions) to help us feel more at home immediately...less like living in a stranger's house.  And I do think that was a wise decision...anyway, I know I feel more comfortable with our own things here.

 

 

Our dining room window.  This is technically the family room, but we chose to make it a dining room.  I have since redecorated the window.  I have our Jesse Tree ornaments hanging from the curtain rod.

The doorway from the dining room into the living room.  With no mantle at this house, I hung the stockings from the door frame.  There are actually French doors here but we have them fully opened and blocked with furniture.  A bit of the boys banging them open and shut convinced us that making them mostly inaccessible would be easier than trying to persuade them to keep them open.

Our powder room.  I'm not terribly into the "Live, Laugh, Love" Mirror, but it does the job.  I do love all the faucets in this house.  The former owner was a plumber.

My laundry.  I love all this space!

Yes, this is in the laundry as well!

Master bathroom.  I'm not terribly impressed with the rustic looking antiqued cabinets, but they do the trick.  And provide much more storage than in any bathroom at our other house!

The closets in our master bedroom.  There's a matching set of these in the boys room.

Wednesday

It's almost 6 am.  I've been pretty much up since 4 as I was woken up by a little boy vomiting.  Yuck!  And in the top bunk at that...christening the new house.  :-)  Anyway, just when I was ready to go back to sleep another one was sick...so I gave up and got up and am doing that laundry awhile.  I had been up earlier as well as someone peed their bed (a normal occurrence, really, but this time the child woke up...usually sleeps through it).

So...because of this, I'm getting my longed for "day at home".  I need to cancel Mark's speech therapy when the office opens.  I had some other errands that I needed to run but I guess they'll wait for another day.

Yesterday I did take some time to put up a few decorations for the holiday season.  I love light so Christmas/winter decorations help me feel more cheery during the dark winter days.  It's been cloudy around here, not much sunlight, but no snow either.

Once again this year we're working through "Jesse Tree Journey:  A Jesus Advent Celebration" by Ann Voskamp & Nancy Rodden.  I had printed it off the internet several years ago (it's copyrighted 2010...not sure when I got it).  I couldn't find it on her website any more so it may no longer be available.  I love the way it covers everything from creation to Christ Jesus...the waiting and longing for Him to come.

In other Christmas items, I recommend "Buck Denver's What's so great about Christmas?" DVD (or something like that...title may not be exact).  It talks about the meanings behind a lot of what we consider "Christmas" (like trees and Santa) in a fun way.

I (almost) always listen to my CD "excerpts from Handel's Messiah" on the day after Thanksgiving.  Because of our move, I haven't listened to that...or pretty much any other Christmas music.  Hopefully today I can change that.  :-)

Well, the dryer just stopped...got to go switch the laundry around and then pack the kids lunches.

Monday

Moving is exhausting.  It's 8:21 and my body thinks it's 10.  I need to go pack school lunches as I'm determined to start doing that the night before...at least for now.  The kids get on the bus a lot earlier than at our other house so getting lunches done early will be a step in the right direction.  I need to find my alarm clock too.  I love school vacation...but I also love the structure that school forces upon us.

Zach seems exhausted...I hope he's not getting sick.  He left me hold him while we watched a movie tonight...rather unusual.  Several of the kids have complained about their stomachs feeling "off"...but that could be the stress of moving.

Okay...gotta get to those lunches...

Our new home...

Wednesday morning we settled on our new home.  Wednesday afternoon, Thursday morning before our Thanksgiving festivities, all day Friday, and all day Saturday we worked at moving our things into our new home.  Last night, with most things in their place, we slept there for the first time.  This morning I woke up, and while drinking my coffee enjoyed this lovely sunrise.

 

Looking out my back door from the kitchen.

The glow in the west.