You know you have 5 boys when............

.......At Wal-mart you get looks of pity from other Mother's.

......You have 2 boys in the cart, 2 hanging off of the cart and one trailing behind complaining about wanting to look at video games.

........There is more dirt and sand dumped on the bathroom floor than is left outside.

........ The dryer lint trap has more sand in it than lint.

........ There is no safe place to hide from the nerf and pellet wars. ( Not even the bathroom!)

......... Finding a kid tied to a chair is not an unusual find.

........ Brotherly love is shown more in a punch or kick than a hug or kiss.

........ Hosing a kid down, to remove the layers of dirt, before they can enter the house is pretty common.

......... having, bugs, toads, frogs, snakes and worms given to you as loving gifts throughout the day.

......... you have a vase of weeds on the kitchen table.

........ " Stop that, you're going to get hurt" gets repeated over and over.

....... You get showered with hugs and kisses

........You find the youngest peeing in the dirt to make "mud"

........ More to come, when time permits!

Our little guys are so funny. They absolutely love to hear someone pray in tongues. When I put them to bed they say"Are you going to say ABAKA BAkA?" It took me awhile before I knew what they were talking about.

The Power of Prayer

R3 (age 3) can be quit a handful. There are days I exhaust my options in discipline and I still have a 3 year old that will not mind. It can be frustrating, but at my last discipleship meeting with Beth she gave me some great advice and today I was able to use it.
At naptime R3 can get out of control and I don't have many options to deal with him. I usually end up getting frustrated and that never helps the situation. Today was like any other day and I was getting very frustrated with him, then I remembered what Beth said. I sat on his bed and rocked him and just prayed in the Spirit. He is fascinated by speaking in tongues and always asks me to pray more. The more I prayed, the more he and I both relaxed. It was a great moment and I know God is doing deep things in his little heart. Life is so much easier when I ask God for help first!

Prayer

Today the 3 young ones were playing outside. I looked out and R3 was sitting on the frisbee and the other 2 were squatting around him talking to him. I watched to see what would happen next. I figured R3 was refusing to give up the frisbee and a fight was sure to break out. R2 saw me watching out the window and gave me his big smile and came running to the door. He yelled" we are teaching R3 how to pray. He didn't know how and we are telling him."
The frisbee, it turns out was his prayer seat ( so his butt didn't get wet, I was later told!)
Later I saw R2 on the frisbee, he needed a break to pray.
How completely awesome is that?
These kids teach me over and over my shortcomings and over and over they teach me of God's goodness and how much he really loves us.

Sunday night I really appreciated Pastor Jason's message and R2 did also. He has been telling me over and over, "My God is a personal God." That is in his heart. He might not understand it but he recieved that message and is clinging to it! Praise God! He is a personal God!

Settling In

Tonight at dinner I finally felt as though we were starting to interact as a real family. Suddenly adding 3 little boys to a family can disrupt a lot of things. After a month we are starting to settle in. I needed that after a few rough days. As with the last time we fostered, I was at a point, I was ready to throw in the towel. God is so good and helped me through, along with prayersand lots of love from all my family and friends.

It was so nice to laugh and have fun and enjoy all of the kids. We all seem to be settling in.

I made pizza for everyone and we were eating and talking and the youngest( age 3) started sniffing and making weird noises. I looked in his nose and sure enough he had shoved a mushroom up his nose. I got the tweezers and pulled it out. It was huge, I don't know how we didn't notice him shoving it up there. I guess it was his way of saying" I don't like mushrooms!"
Life at our house is never dull!

What a Day!!

Yesterday I made pb&j's for the kids lunch. I set them out on the table and then went to gather all the boys. I came back in and the "p" part of one of the pb&j's was missing and Miss Zoe was licking her lips. I was so frustrated I grabbed her collar and took her to the corner and made her stay. As I was walking away, I had to laugh at myself. I put the dog in time-out without even thinking aboyut it!

Elijah & Ethan

I always worry that our boys will resent Randy & I because we are fostering. Last night my kids so wonderfully reassured me that they enjoy(for the most part) fostering and what it means to our family.
The boys were upstairs playing with the oldest(51/2) and they came downstairs so excited and having such a good time. Ethan said this is so cool. I like being a big brother. Fostering is pretty cool.
When we have bad days and think we just can't do it any more God brings a good thought or an encouraging word or deed that gives us the strength to go on.

Sing with me Elmo should be outlawed!

Sing with me Elmo has some problems. we were so sick of hearing him that I stashed it in my bedroom. This morning at 2AM Randy and I were awakened with "A,B,C,1,2,3, sing with Elmo"
It scared us half to death. Randy was grumbling if it wasn't the kids now it is stupid Elmo! I grabbed my scissors off the dresser and was ready to cut the battery pack out of Elmo and be done with it. Randy had a bit cooler head and got his toolman and just removed the batteries.
Elmo will not be getting his batteries put back in any time soon!

silence is golden

Ahhh! the sound of nothing. Never knew it could be so beautiful. Nap-time is a wonderful thing!
having extra's in the house has really made me rely totally on God and it has made me see a few things in a different light.
One thing I have learned is how gifted my husband is at counseling. Our new boys need a lot of help and Randy has been so good at talking with them and they are doing so much better. I am amazed at the wisdom God gives him as he talks to these little guys.
I can really see how Randy and I fit as a team. My gifts and strenghts are not even close to his, but we compliment each other and it works.
I'll up-date as I can. One thing I can give praise to God about is the fact that we are getting sleep. Now that is a beautiful thing!

5 Boys

We now are a family of 5 boys. We increased our family by 3 Friday night. Everything is going pretty well, but we could always use lots of prayer.
This is a more difficult situation and Randy & I are needing a lot of wisdom from God.
We already are seeing the effects of prayer.

The first night the youngest 2 (ages 3 & almost 4) were very scared of going to bed. They have seen way too much and were scard of boogey men, clowns and the bad man under the bed. They said they always have bad , scary dreams. We read stories and then we prayed. The next morning they said they had a good night and had good dreams about God. The middle boy said he talked to God all night and every time he takes a nap or goes to bed he says He is going to have a good dream about God.
That is so powerful to me. God is comforting them in this difficult time. he is being real to them and they are feeling His Presence. No matter what comes up God is fully able to handle it and He is helpimng these boys. He is so good!

My Beekepers

The Mighty Beekeepers

It is a beautiful thing to see a Dad teach his children. What a gift to teach something, to hand it down to the next generation. Beekeeping is a connector in our family. It keeps Randy connected to his Dad. It gives them a point of interest that they can spend time together and enjoy the same thing. Now it is a teaching and learning experience between Randy and his boys. It is a beautiful thing!

Report

I did not die nor did I vomit from nervousness ( althought I wanted to)
I obeyed and the feeling of relief is overwhelming. God is good and I know His purpose will be accomplished with me doing a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny part.

Another thing on Obedience

I have been in a bit of a mood lately. I feel as though I am spinning my wheels and doing nothing for God. I thought that after we got our foster liscense we would be busy with kids and I would feel as though I as "doing" something productive. Last week as I was praying (whyning) to God about this. I disctinctly heard Him say" If you aren't going to do this one thing for me why am I going to trust you with more?" today I am going to do this one thing even if I puke from nervousness! I know God will be with me and it will be o.k.

Obedience is better than Sacrifice

God asked me to do something a few months ago. I put it on my to-do list and then forgot it. But in my heart I can't for get it, so today is the day.
God's request will only take 5 minuts, tops, out of my day. It isn't even the time involved, it's the fact that what He is asking will stretch me out of my comfort zone. I really am terrified, but I think now I am more terrified of not obeying God.
So I'm going to step out and obey. It is ridiculous how scared I am to do this. If you knew what I was so afraid of you would laugh ( that's why I'm not telling).
So today I will obey. If the results are Earth-shattering I will post them. If not I will just know that I made one more step closer to being fully obedient to God. Sometimes it is the small things that are so hard to do!

Samson & Delilah

Samson was a man set apart by God before his birth. His Momma had special instructions for him. He was a miracle. I am sure he was told all this numerous times during his childhood. Judges 13-16 talks of his life and all the things God did for him and how Samson was a tool in God's great plan. One thing that stuck out to me was the interaction between Samson & Delilah.
The Bible says Samson was in love with her, so he probably wasn't thinking too clearly about making wise decisions when he was with her. I know that she might have loved him, but not enough to refuse 1100 shekels from Samson's enemies, the philistines, for his capture.
This is the part of the story that in reading it you think Samson was an idiot. Delilah gets Samson alone and she gets all cuddly with him and says ," Oh Samy won't you tell me the secret of your strength?". So Samson makes up some bogus amswer and She does exactly what Samson said would subdue his strength and then yells out" O.k. Boys I got him! Come out and take your prisoner." And out jumps all these Philistines to pounce on Samson and take him captive. Samson beats them all up and then Delilah boo-hoos that Samson does not love her. This scenario goes on more than once. Each time there are Philistines in hiding waiting to capture Samson. What makes me think he just wasn't too bright was the fact that the last time he actually tells Delilah the secret of his strength. Seriously what does he think is going to happen now? The Philistines just wanted to sing lullabies to him? They want to capture him and make him their prisoner. And that is exactly what they did.
God got ahold of my heart while reading this because many times I, like Samson, am an absolute idiot. I know exactly what the outcome for my sin will be yet I still play with fire. after the first time Delilah pulled her little stunt, he should have run screaming from the room. But no, just like me I sometimes play with fire. How close to sin can I come without getting burnt? Before I know it I am consumed and I don't even know how.

Glad you are part of my family!

Is there anyone that you are blessed beyond measure to be part of thier family?
I feel that way about a lot of people, but this week I am especially blessed to know Randy's Grandmother. She lives up North and we don't spend as much time with her as we would like, but she is such a sweetheart. She has been writing poetry for God since she was young and never tires of telling others about Jesus' love. Over the last year Randy and I have had the privelege of compling her "book of poems". We have been typing them out and want to get her book finished for Christmas. I have been touched by God every time I sit down to work on this project. Here is one that really made me stop and think.

A Giant

By Ethel C. Kauffman

Be a giant in God's kingdom

Looking to Jesus for our freedom

Rise up in warfare for He watches nearby

Never letting Satan spit in your eye

Rebuke him in all he tries to do

Tell him that Jesus is your mighty tool

For Jesus is my armor and my shield

So leave me alone for I will not yield!

Reading these poems has made me realize what a gift God has given me in the Grandmothers I have and how I was blessed with this wonderful woman when I joined Randy's family. I need to seek the wisdom of Her and my own Grandmother before it is too late. They are a precious jewel that needs to be displayed and admired. Thier wisdom could save me a lot of trials and errors if I would stop to ask and listen. They are truely a gift from God that is often times overlooked.

Feeding the Fat

I sit, every Sunday, and listen and absorb wonderful teaching about God and His Word and how to live a holy life. I ponder it a few days and try to get it into my heart and then I complain that I forgot to tape Survivor and now I don't know who was voted off last week.
I am FEEDING the FAT!

I complain because I do not fit. I don't have a purpose. I use friends and families time and energy to console and pamper me when I am down.
I am FEEDING the FAT!

I sit everyday at a table with a loving husband, healthy kids and full plates of food. Everyday we leave that table with empty plates and full bellies. We thank the Lord for His Goodness to us and leave the table and continue with what we want to do.
I am FEEDING the FAT!

Every week I enjoy a wonderful Bible Study taught by a Godly man who teaches God's truths with a passion. I eat a dinner prepared by awesome cooks who love to make people feel welcome and loved. I enjoy love and fellowship. I feel safe. Who have I invited that needs God's truth? Who needs to feel safe? Who needs to have a meal to fill an empty belly?
I am FEEDING the FAT!

I have so many good teachings, words from the Lord, blessing from friends, love and safety of my family. I am wallowing in goodness. Goodness from God is only good when it is accepted and released. Taken and then given.
I am FEEDING the FAT!

Change, it is coming. It might be uncomfortable, but so necessary.

WHY!?!?

Have you ever noticed how much WHY? sounds like waaaaaa?
Or what the beginning sound of whining (whyning) is?
I had this revelation on my way to work whenI was doing the aforementioned whyning and asking why.
No more WHY!? and waaa and worry. I have to trust God.
My God is a BIG GOD!!

Road Closed

I have concluded that the English words, ROAD CLOSED, when used together on a huge sign in the middle of the road mysteriously changes meaning to a small percentage of my fellow hoosiers.
It some how configures in their brain in the following manner. ROAD CLOSED= speed up as fast as humanly possible, swerve around large sign, continue driving on closed road and try as hard as possible to hit the woman in the middle of the road wearing pink hat.