Ahhh, its cooling down

So, we are amazed and thankful that it is October 5 and I'm still sitting at my computer in FL. For this means that dear birth mom in TN is still holding on! She has made it to 32 weeks when we were afraid she wouldn't go past 30. Praise be to God!

Each day seems full of frantic planning and preparation not only for the addition of babies to our family and home but also for the time I'm away in TN. Aunt Cece is comin' to town! She is going to take over my life here while I'm in TN and Joe goes back and forth, juggling us in TN, boys at home and a full schedule of work, travel, board meetings, church planning, etc.

At this point in the game, our total stay in TN could be down to 4-5 weeks or less, if all goes smoothly. Prayer requests: peaceful hospital experience including a scheduled c-section rather than an emergency one; peaceful and on-time signing of all paperwork 2 days after birth; healing and blessing to birth mom as she continues on this difficult journey in her life.

But meanwhile, life plugs along here at home! Home study is done. woot woot! October is a busy month at Geneva Classical Academy (ha! Every month is a busy one). Tomorrow is the big walk-a-thon fundraiser. Later in the month is Reformation Day - huge event.

Last Friday was build-your-own pyramid day for 2nd grade. Shockingly Joseph made his out of Lego complete with

a mummy and sophisticated entrance. BTW, this cat turns 8 on Sunday and I simply can't believe it. (He has asked to go to Planet Hollywood for dinner...because "it is round and I want to see inside.")

Our other all-consuming event is Fall baseball. With boys two years apart in age, we are guaranteed to always be in two different leagues. This means 3 or 4 nights at the ball field each week. Jacob has started to pitch. He has great potential but very little of it is being realized yet! Here he is on the mound for the first time ever in a game.

Not to be left out, here is a glimpse of the most recent must-have when getting into the van for any travel.

Phew. That was a crazy week and I'm thankful its Friday night. Except that we are missing our daddy for a few more hours.

Since our "on hold" status began last week, time has drug along until we could

have a meeting today and get a sense of the direction our adoption plan was heading. Oh wait... time didn't drag along...there was plenty to fill it: baseball practices, homework, music lessons, gymnastics, oh and chicken pox!

Only sweet Jonah was struck with the pox because he didn't get the shot. The older two had the dreaded vaccine so they, so far, have shown no signs of the illness. Jonah has taken it in great stride and with a fairly happy spirit. No fever and his appetite is fine. Last night he began to say his skin was "uncomferble." Today he began to itch.

So anyway, today we received some encouragement about our adoption plan and we are pretty hopeful and excited that two little precious souls should be joining us soon. I kinda can't believe it! The boys are so excited. The very first thing they asked when they got home from school was, "how was the meeting?" and "will we get the babies???" It was a comfort to my heart that they are so into this adventure. I feared they would dread the pending attention-divider but they are so excited to bring these children into our family. Praise God!

Tonight the boys and I had a date on the town that included dinner out and a movie. I utterly hate spending money at the movies. Tonight I have no regrets. We went to see Dolphin Tale, which opened today and was filmed in nearby Clearwater. I cried. Jacob cringed at my tears. Yes, we're at that stage. Oh, this movie was great. Even better is that I bought a groupon recently for a family membership to the marine aquarium where Winter (the star) lives!! Woo hoo!

There are two widows in the movie. Their widowhood is almost a non-issue, hardly mentioned. Harry Connick Jr, clean-shaven plays one and Kris Kristoferson, goateed, plays his dad, also a widow. Somehow, smack in the middle of the heartwarming movie, my classically morbid son (yes, Joseph) leans over and says, "mom, if you die before dad...he may end up growing a beard." This is the kind of stuff I get, folks. Artistic, often-disturbing, randomness.

So, I ask him if he would like daddy to grow a beard.."maybe, not really" ok...what made you think of this? "um, I don't know..." Ok then, back to the movie, shall we?

I was very moved by the movie and it seemed the boys were too. On the way home we talked about the parts that moved us and why. At one point Jacob said, "you know what part really affectioned me...?" I love it. At 9 1/2 he still uses the wrong, yet-still-big-and-fun words.

A big theme is overcoming the obstacle of limb loss. Jonah kept saying over and over, 'they jumped in but had no wegs and swimmed but had no wegs.' Mr. Morbid said to me, "do you

think when we go see Winter at the aquarium, there will be hundreds of people there missing their arms or legs because that might freak me out. " A real sensitive soul, that one. The great thing about him is he says what he feels, whether its PC or not.

And during the beginning when Winter is found stranded on the beach caught in the trap and her tail is bleeding he kept saying (loudly) "oh, she has a bwister!" Charming, for sure. At least to me!

Good night!

We've had a roller coaster of a week. Last Friday we decided to apply for a last-minute adoption of a baby born that day. We ended up not being chosen by the birth mom but it is always a whirlwind to enter the fray and start to wonder/pray about this being the next child to come into your family.

We tend to tell the boys about these situations. Perhaps some would say we shouldn't for there is a fair amount of disappointment and "why didn't God give us..." questions. However, we believe the benefit of having them pray with us and get excited about the prospect outweighs the disappointments. And is always a good lesson, for all of us, in trusting that God is still answering your prayer even if the answer is NO.

On Friday when I picked the boys up from school and told them the baby was a girl and they we were going to apply for her...Joseph was pensive (he'd clearly expressed a desire for boys only so I assumed he was mulling over this news)..."mom, you know why I'm glad boys don't have to have the babies?...because it seems like a lot of pain and then you STILL have to milk them!"

We've also been trying to get to the bottom of some stomach and headache issues with Jacob. Our doctor did a test on his level of stomach acid and found him pretty deficient. However, I'm not sure that is the full solution. We are still waiting for some other test results to come back. Is it 'simply' a nervous stomach or is there something physiological going on beyond the low-acid issue? Hopefully we'll see soon. We haven't had blood work done or other invasive screenings like an MRI or anything. Our doctor, a more holistic fellow, is trying some other things first and these are requiring patience!

We are so happy to be nearing the end of the official school year. I say official because I plan to try to keep up with some things over the summer. In between baseball camp and a very fun vacation we have planned in July.

One thing is for sure: their chore list is going to grow and, by God's grace, be followed better. I've let them totally slack off during baseball season so not only do we have to get back on the stick...I plan to add laundry to their list. My goal is that they are doing their own laundry very soon. Okay, not Jonah. I'll give him some more time. He is good at clearing his table setting after eating..he frisbees everything up and over the counter edge and into the sink...no, he doesn't eat on ceramic plates yet!

Reading Seraph on the Suwanee for my book club. Author is Zora Neal Hurston. Have you heard of her? She is a great writer and most of her stories take place in our neck of the woods here in FL. She wrote in the 30s so they are fun to read now.

Oh, did you know that LegoLand is building an amusement park here in FL. No? You didn't know that? Oh...you don't have any Lego crazed boys in your house? Well then I guess the news would have missed your notice then. Yes, we are counting down the days. It will be 30 minutes away and we bought in on their 'buy-passes-early-and-get-extra-months-thrown-in" gimmick. I'm pretty sure we'll be living there.

Ah...well here I am again after a month. Not really improving my efforts at keeping a blog, am I?

My main goal, of course, is to use this as a way of remember the details of my kiddies that I will otherwise forget because I suffer from scatterbrainitis. Lately I have been (lamely, I admit) posting facebook status reminders to myself and now I'm going to compose them into a fancy list.

For example, what is about to follow is a series of extreme randomness:

‎"No wuvvin' mommy!" that's what I got from Jonah when I tried to wake him with kisses one day last week. Now its become a family line.

Yet again, our tooth fairy was lame...this time she forgot two nights in a row! Joseph: "it's ok, Mom..I think it's because it's Holy Week."
(and you should see the letter and diagram he left for her...he deserves a raise in pay really).

and then there is this. Can you stand it? Well, I can't. Jonah has returned to his beloved Infant Swim Resource teacher for a couple refresher classes. He loves the water. This is him swimming toward her under water.

This is the float that saves:

At 8 months old, she trained him to flip over and float if he fell into a body of water. It doesn't buy him a lot of time...maybe 3-5 minutes..but it could be enough for someone to find him and rescue him. However, now that he is bigger, he can get himself to an edge and pull himself out of water. Awesomeness, baby.

Jacob, eating a piece of candy: "Ow! My sweet tooth is getting me!"
Me: ???
Him: "You know, that tooth at the back that zaps you when you've eaten too much sugar."

(if the dentist hadn't just examined him last week, I'd be taking him in!)

Um, Joe what are you doing out there? (on my kitchen chair). J: watching nature while I eat my sunflower seeds.

Weird.

This was funnier on Easter: Jonah sees a mini chocolate egg and asks to eat the chocwat football.

Joseph gives me a huge hug around the neck the other day and lovingly gazes at me and says, "mom, I don't think you're stupid." (um...thanks...?)

Of all the songs on my iPod, Jonah's song of choice for the past 3 weeks: All Shook Up (Elvis)..how is that even on my iPod?? He keeps asking for it and singing it, puffing out his lips as he sings it. I hear it 12 times a day, on average. Why can't it be something "spiritual?" (just kidding...although he does ask for Amazing Grace every single night...kinda balances out Elvis. Yes, Elvis by day. Grace by night. I like it).

One day, upon changing Jonah's bed sheets we found that Jonah's bible story book had fallen behind his bed, "Get it, Mom! Jesus down there!"

Jonah before the pool warmed up and I kept saying it was too cold. "Wu go first, mom..." I'm encouraged that he is mastering ordinal patterning at such a young age.

As my friend Kalla was telling me about her son's plans to begin seminary courses Jacob got a strange look on his face and whispered, "what's cemetary school???"

Other Jonah phrases of late:

"mom, wu have a fiet time (you have a quiet time) and don't get off my bed!"
"don't sip my welonade!" (lemonade)

"watch me swide into home pwate and make a home wun"

Joseph: "Andy Pettit (Yankee pitcher) once wore church socks to his games, I think. So that's why I know he is a Christian."

Me: "joseph, I met your substitute teacher today at lunch. She seemed nice." Joseph: " she is only nice at those lunch hours"
I guess he'll look forward to his teachers return.

Picnic in Dobbins Park: I told Jacob we were having Cajun turkey sandwiches. "Oh! I LOVE Cajun turkey! I think...I've never actually had it..."

Joseph, upon watching two parachuters descend together, like a holding hands type of together: " ACK! I think they are smooching lip over lip!!! AAACCKK!!" (during our very awesome air show at the Lakeland airport). BTW, at this air show we experienced our first Blue Angels air show and it was fantastic!

Jacob: "I know I act tough...but I get really emotional." (a revelation). Ever since we had a tornado scare here, he has been really fearful about the weather. When the tornadoes ripped through the south last week, we barely mentioned it in front of him in hopes that it wouldn't make matters worse for him. So far it hasn't. Thankfully, we don't turn on the TV for him to see images of the devestation. He wouldn't sleep again.

Jacob and his brothers called us into the living room. "Mom and Dad, please sit. We have a play for you." Joseph: "Uh...Jacob...? I don't know my lines or when to say them." Jacob: "That's OK! This is a random speaking play!" "We are going to say things that pirates would say!"

5 minutes of chaotic screaming, furniture jumping and sword fighting ensued.

Decoram and a calm, quiet spirit flew out the nearest window. I wonder if it will ever return.

So, this fabulous chorale is touring central FL this week. It is comprised of home schooled high schoolers from NJ and we happen to know one of the choir members from our nostalgic days in NJ.

We enjoyed their excellent concert last night and right smack in the middle of it (just after he observed that one of the young men in the choir looked angry...), Joseph leaned over to me and whispered, "so, do you think they also have a football team?"

So, our efforts at refined culture around here will have to be stepped up a bit.

Joseph:

"I'm making a new store mom. Its called 'Joseph's Store. One dollar.' Everything will be one dollar."

"Mom, when I grow up I want to be a ninja. A good ninja. In a red suit. I'll help people. Good people. Do you think I can?"

"Did you know you can have more than 5 toes on a foot? It's pretty awkward."

"Instead of being a baseball player, I'm just going to be an empire."

One rainy day last week, Jonah put his head under his pillow and whined," no take boys to school!" whatever will he be like when it's his turn? Oh he is sooooo a sun-loving FL boy. He starts singing Twinkle Twinkle, throws in s couple ABCs and ends the song with " yes sir, yes sir, three bags full."

I'm reading The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoffer. Have you read it? Wow, its tough. I'm really loving it though.

What else? Filling out adoption agency applications...congratulating my bro and his wife for finally having a boy after 4 girls! Woo hoo!

Joseph: "I'm making a new store mom. Its called Joseph's Store. One dollar. Everything will be one dollar. I'm going to sell canes for old people and toys for kids."

Joseph: "Mom, do you like to draw?" Me: "I do but I'm not good so I get discouraged." Him: "Don't worry. I'll teach you. I can teach you landscapes. I've done one and now I know how. I'm pretty good. I'll show you."

Today was the beginning of their Spring break. We drove over to Sarasota to see a spring training game with our dear friend from NJ, Cheryl. The game was sold out except for standing room only tickets. We stood out beyond the outfield behind the folks who had bought seat tickets. As the crowd thinned near the end of the game, some seats opened up. Joseph in his usual form, befriended an older gentleman and promptly got offered a seat. This maddened Jacob...primarily because he isn't comfortable going up to people and asking for things or just starting a conversation. He gets too self-conscious. It is funny how different they are.

We are fully riding the adoption roller coaster again. We were presented with a possible placement last week and got very excited. However it did not happen. This mom, about whom we know very little, really wants to parent her son and we pray she is able to get the support she needs to succeed. So, we will keep waiting for the child that is meant to be ours!

Ahhhh, weekends

With daddy out of town this week, we had a pretty happy afternoon yesterday when he returned at 3. We soon entered the mad dash however. Two baseballs (at the same time in fields far apart), a bible study to be hosted at our house (at same time as games) and visiting after drove us in a variety of directions. Joe took boys to games, I stayed home to let people in.

Jacob's team got crushed and his coach lauded him as the best sportsman about it. There were boys crying about it. Pretty excited to be a part of THAT aspect of little league. Should be a fun season!

Joseph's team won but he didn't get a hit. He also decided that catching (as in playing catcher) isn't his fav. position. Jacob, however, loves it and has decided this is his new calling.

Sadly, he has also decided that Latin is NOT his calling, as evident by his current performance. So we are having a week of re-orienting our priorities. Spring is in the air and homework is gone from the mind. But not for long!

Today we attended a luncheon for Grove City College alumni. It was pretty cool to hear about the vision and plans being made, all based on a free-market understand of economics in general and the times in which we live, specifically. I want my kids to go there. Amen.

Baseball

Second games of the season tomorrow night. Joseph feels he won't be needing to finish Little League before he starts with the Yankees. And he means it.

Sadly, from day to day he can't keep all of his equipment in one place. He'll have to work on that.

My first blogspot post!