Yes, just once I’d like to be completely caught up on the laundry.  My personality type lends itself well to the idea of experiencing, at the very minimum, a momentary glimpse of an empty laundry basket.  I’ve yet to experience this.  Laundry is probably my biggest hassle.  Right now, as I type an overflowing basket of Hannah’s clean clothing is waiting to be returned to it’s rightful home in the closet.  Considering the fact that her’s is the last of the little’s laundry, I’m pretty content letting it sit in the laundry basket.  I think the washer and dryer have run non stop all day.  In an attempt to avoid another Saturday spent loading, unloading and reloading, I’ve come up with a laundry schedule.  This is long overdue for me, but alas it is done!

Monday: Jenna’s laundry

Tuesday:  Cam’s laundry

Wednesday:  Delaine’s laundry

Thursday:  The little’s laundry (all five)

Friday:  Mom and Dad’s laundry

Saturday:  Bedding and towels

All of the older kids are responsible for completing their laundry from beginning to end.  They’ve been doing so for years.  On Thursday, when we do the little’s laundry the older kids help with the process.  On Saturday, everyone (except the Hayden and Chloe) is responsible for stripping down their own beds and bringing their linens downstairs.  From that point the big kids will get everything washed and dried and help the little’s make their beds and hang up their towels.  We’ll see if this plan is successful in freeing up my Saturdays!

The last few months have literally been a blur!  I feel like we may finally be settling into the new changes in our family.  We are so thankful for how the Lord has worked to bring these three precious children into our lives.  We know that He indeed has a special plan for each of them.  We look forward with great anticipation to seeing this plan unfold.

The Lord is so good.  As a foster/adoptive parent I often times hear people say things like “it’s a wonderful thing that you’re doing for these children” or “these kids are so blessed to have a family like your’s who will take them in and love them.”  I can certainly see why people may make these comments, but I’ve got a different perspective.  My perspective is one that focuses on what the Lord is trying to accomplish not only in the childs life, but in our lives (my husband, myself and our family as a whole) by bringing this precious child into our life.  As much as our family may be a blessing to a child in need of a loving home, that child is a blessing to us.  A wonderful gift from the Giver.  A tool used to refine us, to move us more towards Christ-likeness.  One of our most recent placements has done just that.

She’s a precious six year old girl who joined our family on November 2nd.  She’s endured more heartache than many of us do in a lifetime.  She has many emotional needs that have been neglected, which has created a child who lacks trust in just about anyone.  We’ve had quite an adjustment period and it hasn’t been easy, but one thing is quite evident…the Lord is at work.  We have been so blessed to see steady progress and are so thankful that the Lord chose our family to place her in.  It has been a privilege to share God’s word with her and see her soak it in.  I pray daily that the Lord will quickly turn her heart towards Him and that she’ll trust him as her Lord and Savior.  The severence on this case should be completed in about three months (assuming everything goes as planned legally!)

The other precious little girl the Lord brought to our home is now a thriving little four month old.  She’s come a long way since her days in the NICU unit.  Our little peanut was a 30 week preemie and spent the first month of her life in the hospital.  We were blessed enough to start visiting her the day after she was born and participate in her care the first month while she was in the NICU.  Like our other foster daughter she came home November 2nd as well.   She’s on the fast track to adoption due to her biological mother’s history.  We’re praying that the Lord will move her case along quickly without any unsuspected snafus!

Hayden, our precious little boy who joined our family in April 2007 (just after his birth) had his parental rights terminated a couple of weeks ago and is now legally free for adoption.  Praise the Lord Hayden is one step closer to being our forever son.  He’s a delight and is proving to be quite the little bruiser!  He recently sprouted his very first tooth and has decided that table food is the only food for him.  Gone are the days where pureed food satisfied him.

In a nutshell we went from five to eight blessings in seven months.  Life is very busy and God is very good!

Welcome to my new home on the World Wide Web.  My previous occupancy was here.  I’m looking forward to sharing a bit about our family, our life, our faith.  The Lord has been so very good to our family and I love to share how He is working in our lives.  I’m not the most consistant blogger, but when I do have time, blogging is a great opportunity to document the the happenings in our family.