This was just sent to me in an e-mail. I think it's beautiful.
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not share the true meaning of Christmas, I'm just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not demonstrate kindness to strangers, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure. "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Spend the Night Parties
Anna Beth's birthday is tomorrow, so we decided to have a little spend the night party. We sent Billy and the little kids to my mom's to spend the night. We live in a small house, and also this gave AB time alone with her friends without having brothers and sisters bugging them.
3rd grade girls can be quite loud and obnoxious! It has been a fun night. We made ice cream sundaes, decorated pillowcases, and watched a movie. It's funny how spend-the-night traditions pass from generation to generation - I just heard mention of Truth or Dare. They are winding down now, and I think I am about to make them go to sleep (I know party pooper.)
3rd grade girls can be quite loud and obnoxious! It has been a fun night. We made ice cream sundaes, decorated pillowcases, and watched a movie. It's funny how spend-the-night traditions pass from generation to generation - I just heard mention of Truth or Dare. They are winding down now, and I think I am about to make them go to sleep (I know party pooper.)
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Santa Update
My sister-in-law works in the tower (office part) of the Galleria. Santa has an office there and they have been less than impressed with him as well. On their lunch break, they caught this...
Santa asleep on the job!
Santa asleep on the job!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
24 days of December
***I found the website!***
In an effort to make the holidays more relational, we are trying to do something "special" every day until Christmas. I got the idea from a new blog I found. I can't remember the URL, so I'll post it later. She did an advent calendar of sorts with an activity for each day. Some are fun, some are service, and some are religious. Being that I did not get my act together to actually make something, I am just flying by the seat of my pants this year!
Last night the Shrek Christmas special was on TV, so we watched it as a family.
Today this little guy showed up. AB has been asking for him, you know, she's the only 3rd grader who doesn't have one. We'll see how it goes. We named him Lightning Dart. Dart is what we will call him, but Ben thought lightening was cool - and we do like double names around here.
Tonight we went to see Santa. I was less than impressed. I don't want to dampen my holiday mood further, but I was looking more for the whole Santa experience and less for the picture. This Santa was not all about hugging and conversating with my kids, he was all about saying cheese and sending us on our merry way.
Ok, so I am going to rant about Santa. First of all, I normally wait until the last week before Christmas to go see him, which in turn leads to a 2 hour wait, but it has always been a great experience where Santa actually talks to my kids. That said only to let you know that there were about 5 other people in line. The family before us was done and waiting for their pictures - Santa's lap was empty and Ben walked up to him. Apparently you need to be called before approaching the throne of the great St. Nick at the Galleria Mall. Ben got reprimanded by the fat man himself and sent back to the holding area. We turn in our picture thing and she tells me I can only take 2 pictures with my camera. (I am a rule follower. I expect my kids to follow rules, so I do too.) I am paying $17 for 1 5x7, and there are no lines - can't I take pictures with my own camera? So, anyway, rather than gathering the kids up to find out what they want for Christmas, whether they have been good or bad, etc. He poses them for the picture!!!
After the picture was taken, he did ask the kids what they wanted (or I think they may have just told him), but no jovial small talk - no ho, ho, ho -not even a Merry Christmas. It was so commercial, so posed, so staged, so (as much as I hate to say it) Xmas.
In one week I have been reminded twice of the way we have turned this beautiful holiday about celebrating Emmanuel - God with us - into craziness. (I'll have to post about my experience in the electronics line in Target where I almost witnessed a fight in the wee hours of the morning last Friday). The whole basis for my quest toward more relational, family time this Christmas was to be reminded of why we celebrate in the first place. Jesus was born, lived and died to be in relation with us.
Oh and by the way, the inner rebel in me took 5 pictures!
In an effort to make the holidays more relational, we are trying to do something "special" every day until Christmas. I got the idea from a new blog I found. I can't remember the URL, so I'll post it later. She did an advent calendar of sorts with an activity for each day. Some are fun, some are service, and some are religious. Being that I did not get my act together to actually make something, I am just flying by the seat of my pants this year!
Last night the Shrek Christmas special was on TV, so we watched it as a family.
Today this little guy showed up. AB has been asking for him, you know, she's the only 3rd grader who doesn't have one. We'll see how it goes. We named him Lightning Dart. Dart is what we will call him, but Ben thought lightening was cool - and we do like double names around here.
Tonight we went to see Santa. I was less than impressed. I don't want to dampen my holiday mood further, but I was looking more for the whole Santa experience and less for the picture. This Santa was not all about hugging and conversating with my kids, he was all about saying cheese and sending us on our merry way.
Ok, so I am going to rant about Santa. First of all, I normally wait until the last week before Christmas to go see him, which in turn leads to a 2 hour wait, but it has always been a great experience where Santa actually talks to my kids. That said only to let you know that there were about 5 other people in line. The family before us was done and waiting for their pictures - Santa's lap was empty and Ben walked up to him. Apparently you need to be called before approaching the throne of the great St. Nick at the Galleria Mall. Ben got reprimanded by the fat man himself and sent back to the holding area. We turn in our picture thing and she tells me I can only take 2 pictures with my camera. (I am a rule follower. I expect my kids to follow rules, so I do too.) I am paying $17 for 1 5x7, and there are no lines - can't I take pictures with my own camera? So, anyway, rather than gathering the kids up to find out what they want for Christmas, whether they have been good or bad, etc. He poses them for the picture!!!
After the picture was taken, he did ask the kids what they wanted (or I think they may have just told him), but no jovial small talk - no ho, ho, ho -not even a Merry Christmas. It was so commercial, so posed, so staged, so (as much as I hate to say it) Xmas.
In one week I have been reminded twice of the way we have turned this beautiful holiday about celebrating Emmanuel - God with us - into craziness. (I'll have to post about my experience in the electronics line in Target where I almost witnessed a fight in the wee hours of the morning last Friday). The whole basis for my quest toward more relational, family time this Christmas was to be reminded of why we celebrate in the first place. Jesus was born, lived and died to be in relation with us.
Oh and by the way, the inner rebel in me took 5 pictures!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Fun trip to the ER...
Last night, Billy took pictures of all of our super-heroes. The older 3 got dressed up in Ben's dress-up clothes and played in a "fort" daddy made hanging sheets from the bunk beds. After the fun was over, we got a light and read books inside the fort.
Our kids slept until 8 this morning. I got up, got the baby out of the crib, put biscuits in the oven and started cooking sausage. By 8:05 Ben was in his hulk attire. At 8:13 Ben was screaming that he had hit his head. I comforted him, and asked how. This was the response "I was trying to do a flip in the air and hit my head." This is when I saw the blood and knew. I carefully removed his hair from the bleeding area and found a nasty gash. At this point Ben had calmed down and I was trying not to laugh (I'm not heartless, innappropriate laughter is my coping mechanism and I couldn't get the picture of him trying to flip out of my head) then HE saw it. His hands had blood on them. Anyone with children knows that a scratch is a scratch -or in this case a gash is a gash - unless it bleeds. Blood makes the pain-o-meter go through the roof. I finally calmed him down and called our doctors office.
Our doctors office told us to go to the ER to get it stitched up - I'm not happy. Our co-pay just went up $70 and I was not pleased at the thought of the wait. FYI - Wednesday mornings at 9 am are a great time to go to the ER - we had their undivided attention.
Ben was timid when the triage nurse took his vitals. We were immediately put into a room and Ben chose to continue watching Sportscenter on TV instead of changing it to kid shows. Our nurse and resident came in to assess him. The nurse shakes his hand and says "Hi, my name is Evan." Ben replies, "I have a cousin named Evan." Ben relays his incredible hulk flipping in the air story and the doctor confirms that he needs a stitch. The two leave the room, but not before the nurse puts up the railing on Ben's hospital bed. This is when I wish I was my friend Kristi J. who ALWAYS has her camera with her. The railings on the hospital bed made for a perfect pretend gun. Ben has a wild imagination and began shooting spiders (no, there were not any real spiders in the ER at children's) then deer, then...Rudolph. At this point the nurse, and two doctors came in. Guess what? My son shot them too - and they played along. They pulled the privacy curtain and to Ben's shooting-crazed amazement it was decorated with animals - aka more targets. By this point we were all cracking up.
Ben was a trooper and layed still while they put one stitch in his head. I talked to the doctor (the resident actually did all the work) and we laughed about how I could have dropped him off, signed the papers, and had him call me to come pick him up. He left with one stitch, and the two syringes they irrigated his wound with, which happen to be the best water guns a $100 co-pay can buy.
The wound - post stitch.
I did learn that the attempted flip didn't happen, because he hit the corner of the wall first. I'm very thankful for a stitch, who knows what injury a flip would have caused! Ben said he "forgot" that he could only do flips in the air on trampolines.
Hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Our kids slept until 8 this morning. I got up, got the baby out of the crib, put biscuits in the oven and started cooking sausage. By 8:05 Ben was in his hulk attire. At 8:13 Ben was screaming that he had hit his head. I comforted him, and asked how. This was the response "I was trying to do a flip in the air and hit my head." This is when I saw the blood and knew. I carefully removed his hair from the bleeding area and found a nasty gash. At this point Ben had calmed down and I was trying not to laugh (I'm not heartless, innappropriate laughter is my coping mechanism and I couldn't get the picture of him trying to flip out of my head) then HE saw it. His hands had blood on them. Anyone with children knows that a scratch is a scratch -or in this case a gash is a gash - unless it bleeds. Blood makes the pain-o-meter go through the roof. I finally calmed him down and called our doctors office.
Our doctors office told us to go to the ER to get it stitched up - I'm not happy. Our co-pay just went up $70 and I was not pleased at the thought of the wait. FYI - Wednesday mornings at 9 am are a great time to go to the ER - we had their undivided attention.
Ben was timid when the triage nurse took his vitals. We were immediately put into a room and Ben chose to continue watching Sportscenter on TV instead of changing it to kid shows. Our nurse and resident came in to assess him. The nurse shakes his hand and says "Hi, my name is Evan." Ben replies, "I have a cousin named Evan." Ben relays his incredible hulk flipping in the air story and the doctor confirms that he needs a stitch. The two leave the room, but not before the nurse puts up the railing on Ben's hospital bed. This is when I wish I was my friend Kristi J. who ALWAYS has her camera with her. The railings on the hospital bed made for a perfect pretend gun. Ben has a wild imagination and began shooting spiders (no, there were not any real spiders in the ER at children's) then deer, then...Rudolph. At this point the nurse, and two doctors came in. Guess what? My son shot them too - and they played along. They pulled the privacy curtain and to Ben's shooting-crazed amazement it was decorated with animals - aka more targets. By this point we were all cracking up.
Ben was a trooper and layed still while they put one stitch in his head. I talked to the doctor (the resident actually did all the work) and we laughed about how I could have dropped him off, signed the papers, and had him call me to come pick him up. He left with one stitch, and the two syringes they irrigated his wound with, which happen to be the best water guns a $100 co-pay can buy.
The wound - post stitch.
I did learn that the attempted flip didn't happen, because he hit the corner of the wall first. I'm very thankful for a stitch, who knows what injury a flip would have caused! Ben said he "forgot" that he could only do flips in the air on trampolines.
Hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
We are thankful...
Ben and MC had their Thanksgiving program at preschool today.
Merrie Cannon
Ben was most excited about holding the gun.
Ben shooting the camera...I hope.
All the Ivey kids.
I checked Anna Beth out to see the program and enjoy the Thankgiving feast with her siblings. Provided there are no tests, I always include them in supporting each other.
Last night at dinner, we talked about what we were thankful for. Here's what each of them said...
Billy: Healthy Kids
Bethany: Leaves changing and falling - Billy did not share the falling part.
Anna Beth: Barf Buckets -the stomach bug was here a few weeks ago.
Ben: Water
Merrie Cannon: Friends and Family
Abe: Bottle (I don't think he actually knew what he was saying, but it was very appropriate.)
Merrie Cannon
Ben was most excited about holding the gun.
Ben shooting the camera...I hope.
All the Ivey kids.
I checked Anna Beth out to see the program and enjoy the Thankgiving feast with her siblings. Provided there are no tests, I always include them in supporting each other.
Last night at dinner, we talked about what we were thankful for. Here's what each of them said...
Billy: Healthy Kids
Bethany: Leaves changing and falling - Billy did not share the falling part.
Anna Beth: Barf Buckets -the stomach bug was here a few weeks ago.
Ben: Water
Merrie Cannon: Friends and Family
Abe: Bottle (I don't think he actually knew what he was saying, but it was very appropriate.)
Monday, November 17, 2008
Clean, Sanitary, and Orderly
The highlight of our week last week was a trip to the Hoover Jail....
To get fingerprinted. Billy set his status on facebook to...I just got fingerprinted at the Hoover jail, and was loving the responses until our brother-in-law ratted out that it involved a minor. All went silent until Billy explained he was actually just fulfilling requirements to become foster or adoptive parents.
Our social worker called today, because we had failed to fill in some information on our fingerprint cards, and I asked her to tell me what on our list needed to be attended to now, and what could wait. We have a checklist that I have gone over millions of times, but I pulled it out again today to look at the items she has instructed me were imperative and noticed (for the first time) it says ***HOME & PROPERTY MUST ALWAYS REMAIN IN CLEAN, SANITARY, & ORDERLY CONDITION!!!*** Notice the three stars, three exclamation points and bold all caps. Coke almost came out of my nose I was laughing so hard. I try to keep our home that way, but I have four kids - 3 of which are not in school yet. Clean - funny, Sanitary - funnier, Orderly - funniest (unless you count the hours between 10 pm and 7:15 am. My kids go to bed at 8, so by 10 we have picked up and can see our floor. My kids wake up around 7 and by 7:15 all things orderly are out the window.) I hope DHR has as much grace and mercy as God does for all of my shortcomings - and housekeeping skills!
Our weekend re-cap....
We got our favorite babysitter to come Friday night so we could go to dinner with some friends from church. In true Ivey fashion, we had excitement. I return from AB's swim team practice to a very dark street and home. Only our street was without power, go figure. I don't have flashlights because my kids have broken all of them. We have one candle which was lit and our only other light was by cell phone - we originally did get them for emergency's. AB was spending the night with a friend, so we are searching to pack her bag by cell phone. We sent the sitter to Chick-fil-a with the kids, not realizing the cow was there, and all of Hoover as well. The power was back on when they got home, so all was fine and we enjoyed dinner as grown-ups.
We spent Saturday at my aunt's house with family and came home in time to watch our respective football teams play. I graduated from Alabama, and admit to being a crazed fan. Billy's dad played football for Vanderbilt, so he is their sole fan. Wouldn't you know they played at almost the same time, so we switched between games - it made me DIZZY. Bama continues its quest for the national championship with a win over Miss. State, and Vanderbilt is bowl eligible for the first time in over 20 years after beating Kentucky.
Sunday - church. Church was amazing. November is national adoption month (orphans are my new passion, btw) and what more appropriate than the baptism of our children's pastors child who was adopted from China. It was beautiful and brought tears. Being a pastor, the childs father had the privilege of baptizing his daughter. Apparently, when they met Hope for the first time she ran straight to her daddy and wrapped her arms around him. Her earthly father used it as the perfect picture of her running to her Heavenly Father one day and embracing Him as her Lord and Saviour. I'm tearing up as I write.
Sunday night the preschool choir did sang for their parents. Below is Ben doing motions while singing for us.
Today we enjoyed a trip to Publix - yes, my kids enjoy it - cookies! And daddy raked awesome piles of leaves in the yard for the kids to enjoy. Abe was napping, so he missed the fun and AB was at school, maybe I can get some more tomorrow with all my sweet babies!
Love to all my dear friends and family!
To get fingerprinted. Billy set his status on facebook to...I just got fingerprinted at the Hoover jail, and was loving the responses until our brother-in-law ratted out that it involved a minor. All went silent until Billy explained he was actually just fulfilling requirements to become foster or adoptive parents.
Our social worker called today, because we had failed to fill in some information on our fingerprint cards, and I asked her to tell me what on our list needed to be attended to now, and what could wait. We have a checklist that I have gone over millions of times, but I pulled it out again today to look at the items she has instructed me were imperative and noticed (for the first time) it says ***HOME & PROPERTY MUST ALWAYS REMAIN IN CLEAN, SANITARY, & ORDERLY CONDITION!!!*** Notice the three stars, three exclamation points and bold all caps. Coke almost came out of my nose I was laughing so hard. I try to keep our home that way, but I have four kids - 3 of which are not in school yet. Clean - funny, Sanitary - funnier, Orderly - funniest (unless you count the hours between 10 pm and 7:15 am. My kids go to bed at 8, so by 10 we have picked up and can see our floor. My kids wake up around 7 and by 7:15 all things orderly are out the window.) I hope DHR has as much grace and mercy as God does for all of my shortcomings - and housekeeping skills!
Our weekend re-cap....
We got our favorite babysitter to come Friday night so we could go to dinner with some friends from church. In true Ivey fashion, we had excitement. I return from AB's swim team practice to a very dark street and home. Only our street was without power, go figure. I don't have flashlights because my kids have broken all of them. We have one candle which was lit and our only other light was by cell phone - we originally did get them for emergency's. AB was spending the night with a friend, so we are searching to pack her bag by cell phone. We sent the sitter to Chick-fil-a with the kids, not realizing the cow was there, and all of Hoover as well. The power was back on when they got home, so all was fine and we enjoyed dinner as grown-ups.
We spent Saturday at my aunt's house with family and came home in time to watch our respective football teams play. I graduated from Alabama, and admit to being a crazed fan. Billy's dad played football for Vanderbilt, so he is their sole fan. Wouldn't you know they played at almost the same time, so we switched between games - it made me DIZZY. Bama continues its quest for the national championship with a win over Miss. State, and Vanderbilt is bowl eligible for the first time in over 20 years after beating Kentucky.
Sunday - church. Church was amazing. November is national adoption month (orphans are my new passion, btw) and what more appropriate than the baptism of our children's pastors child who was adopted from China. It was beautiful and brought tears. Being a pastor, the childs father had the privilege of baptizing his daughter. Apparently, when they met Hope for the first time she ran straight to her daddy and wrapped her arms around him. Her earthly father used it as the perfect picture of her running to her Heavenly Father one day and embracing Him as her Lord and Saviour. I'm tearing up as I write.
Sunday night the preschool choir did sang for their parents. Below is Ben doing motions while singing for us.
Today we enjoyed a trip to Publix - yes, my kids enjoy it - cookies! And daddy raked awesome piles of leaves in the yard for the kids to enjoy. Abe was napping, so he missed the fun and AB was at school, maybe I can get some more tomorrow with all my sweet babies!
Love to all my dear friends and family!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Baby Boys First Haircut
I took Abe to get a haircut Thursday. When it was hot and humid outside, his hair would curl in the back and looked oh so cute. With a change in the weather and humidity level, Abe was looking more like he had a mullet. He's almost 2, so time to cut that precious baby hair.
Before the scissors.
We went to my parent's house to watch the Bama/LSU game (Roll Tide, barely, but Roll Tide) on Saturday. My dad has a TV set up on the porch of his garage. You can watch the game and watch the kids playing outside at the same time. The boys were playing in a sand pile left over from the patio they added while remodeling their house and Ben comes running to the deck stripping off his shirt.
Ben loves to be shirtless - and shoeless (It's in his blood, I mean, I am from small town Alabama). Even though I thought it was too cold, I obliged when Ben said he was sweaty. Not 2 seconds later cousin Matthew was bringing his shirt to us. About two minutes later here comes Abe...lifting his shirt up and saying "shirt, shirt." I guess the haircut was a rite of passage into boyhood. All three boys played in the sand shirtless.
For all keeping up with our foster situation, we had our first home visit from DHR on Tuesday. We were pleased to find out that our home is suitable for children. Good thing since 4 already live here! We have some minor things we have to do to pass the official visit early next year. Now, its on to mounds of paperwork, fingerprinting, background checks, and medical visits. Have a great week!
Before the scissors.
We went to my parent's house to watch the Bama/LSU game (Roll Tide, barely, but Roll Tide) on Saturday. My dad has a TV set up on the porch of his garage. You can watch the game and watch the kids playing outside at the same time. The boys were playing in a sand pile left over from the patio they added while remodeling their house and Ben comes running to the deck stripping off his shirt.
Ben loves to be shirtless - and shoeless (It's in his blood, I mean, I am from small town Alabama). Even though I thought it was too cold, I obliged when Ben said he was sweaty. Not 2 seconds later cousin Matthew was bringing his shirt to us. About two minutes later here comes Abe...lifting his shirt up and saying "shirt, shirt." I guess the haircut was a rite of passage into boyhood. All three boys played in the sand shirtless.
For all keeping up with our foster situation, we had our first home visit from DHR on Tuesday. We were pleased to find out that our home is suitable for children. Good thing since 4 already live here! We have some minor things we have to do to pass the official visit early next year. Now, its on to mounds of paperwork, fingerprinting, background checks, and medical visits. Have a great week!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Reports
I enjoyed a morning without my children today. I took back some dresses to Belk that didn't fit AB and then headed to Gap. FYI everything that is on sale at Gap is an additional 25% off. I got 2 pairs of pj's, 2 boys dress shirts, 3 pair of panties, 1 pair of jeans, 2 nice short sleeve shirts, and one long sleeve screened t-shirt for around $75. I then met Billy for lunch at this awesome cajun restaurant before going on a hunt for go-go boots or the like for my hopeful Halloween diva.
Upon my return from a relaxing and productive morning, I am greeted by Abe's teacher. "We had a little problem today", she said as she is grabbing his bag. I think to myself, did he mess up his clothes, no he's in the same outfit I brought him in. Huh.
Guess what? I have the child all other preschool parents hate. See exhibit A.
Exhibit A
Yes, I have a biter. This is only his second offense outside of the home, but I think that is enough to label him. So far his biting has been reserved for his big brother and sister and I think it occurs when they are bullying him, other than the girl at church on that Wednesday night. My question to his teacher was whether he was provoked or not. Not that its ok for him to bite, even in retaliation, but just to give me the peace of mind that he is not randomly targeting his classmates for his own teething pleasure. Bad choice. His sweet teacher was unaware whether Abe was provoked, but then told me (because the fact that he bit another child wasn't enough) that as soon as he was able to get out of time he walked right over and HIT the same child. Great.
AB got home from school and we immediately headed to swim team practice. As she was getting in the car she handed me an envelope with this in it...
All A's! Yeah Anna Beth! We are so proud of you.
Upon my return from a relaxing and productive morning, I am greeted by Abe's teacher. "We had a little problem today", she said as she is grabbing his bag. I think to myself, did he mess up his clothes, no he's in the same outfit I brought him in. Huh.
Guess what? I have the child all other preschool parents hate. See exhibit A.
Exhibit A
Yes, I have a biter. This is only his second offense outside of the home, but I think that is enough to label him. So far his biting has been reserved for his big brother and sister and I think it occurs when they are bullying him, other than the girl at church on that Wednesday night. My question to his teacher was whether he was provoked or not. Not that its ok for him to bite, even in retaliation, but just to give me the peace of mind that he is not randomly targeting his classmates for his own teething pleasure. Bad choice. His sweet teacher was unaware whether Abe was provoked, but then told me (because the fact that he bit another child wasn't enough) that as soon as he was able to get out of time he walked right over and HIT the same child. Great.
AB got home from school and we immediately headed to swim team practice. As she was getting in the car she handed me an envelope with this in it...
All A's! Yeah Anna Beth! We are so proud of you.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Dayplanners
I got an e-mail from Ben's soccer team mom today. Not an unusual e-mail, just one updating the who brings snacks to the soccer game and it hit me. He had soccer pictures on Sunday. Sunday at 1:25. Guess what? We were at home on Sunday at 1:25. How could I forget that? I mean, I think that just bombed my chances of mother of the year. So the new rule for me...write EVERYTHING in the dayplanner - and check it daily. I have one, it sits on my counter and I use it on occasion. How in the world have I thought that I could keep all our schedules straight without one? (I have done a pretty good job up until this little oops!)
PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one who does things like this!
I'm off to mark our snack Saturday in the dusted off Dayplanner.
PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one who does things like this!
I'm off to mark our snack Saturday in the dusted off Dayplanner.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Update on the baby...
Court didn't quite go as all wanted it to on Thursday. Paperwork has been filed with DHR (children's services) here, but we haven't heard from them. We need a home study and background check from them in order to proceed with fostering this sweet baby.
The baby has been moved into foster care - its what the mother wanted, but not what his advocate or social worker felt was the best situation. All I am going to say about that is the couple is not what I call a traditional family. I pray that they will love and care for him in a real way, even though I don't agree with their lifestyle.
Please pray that "the system" works fast - they tell me it could take as long as 6 months. I am going to try to pull strings on this end. If you have any connections at DHR in Jefferson County, please let me know.
Thanks for praying with us! Have a blessed weekend.
The baby has been moved into foster care - its what the mother wanted, but not what his advocate or social worker felt was the best situation. All I am going to say about that is the couple is not what I call a traditional family. I pray that they will love and care for him in a real way, even though I don't agree with their lifestyle.
Please pray that "the system" works fast - they tell me it could take as long as 6 months. I am going to try to pull strings on this end. If you have any connections at DHR in Jefferson County, please let me know.
Thanks for praying with us! Have a blessed weekend.
Monday, October 6, 2008
I Got Pictures...
I went to the mailbox this afternoon and to my surprise...the social worker had sent pictures. Pictures of this sweet, round, baby with big brown eyes and brown hair...He's so cute. I can't wait to love on him...for as long as I am needed.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Has Anyone Seen My Cell Phone?
Friday was a crazy mom day for me. Billy was out of town and wouldn't be returning until 5 pm. I had carpool duty to swim team practice, Ben had a soccer game, and we had dinner plans with our life group from church. Nothing in the schedule overlapped, but I knew I had to be strategic in my planning to get everywhere we needed to be on time. I was showered, dressed and ready to go out , and had Ben in uniform when I woke the babies up so we could go to pick AB and friend up at school for practice.
I picked them up, dropped them off at practice and then went to the grocery store to get a few things - mainly milk. Then to McDonalds to feed the 3 youngest an early dinner, since the soccer game was right at dinner time. I was like a drill sargeant telling them to eat, eat, eat so I could then get food for AB and pick her up. I remember seeing my cell phone on the tray as I was clearing it into the trash. I recall getting it off the tray, surely I wouldn't have thrown it away - after all I SAW IT ON THE TRAY. I got AB's food, loaded us into the car and off we went to pick up the big girls. Here is where my precise planning goes awry and I get frazzled. I need to call Billy and tell him where I am, what the plan is etc. (He had called me while in the grocery store and I quickly cut him off telling him I was on a tight schedule and would call him later.) No cell phone. Can't find it anywhere. I pick up the girls and race back to McDonald's where the guy at the counter says he hasn't seen one. I've lost 15 minutes. We drop the friend off, and get home as Billy is pulling out of the driveway. He gets into the car with us and off we go.
The game was great and Ben scored 2 goals (not that we're keeping score). Game over, rush the kids back in the car. My babysitter was waiting for us in the driveway. I had left the door unlocked in case we ran late, but didn't have her number to call and tell her because...I lost my cell phone. Toss the kids to her and go to eat Mexican with our LIFE group at church. I had to reprogram on the way over. Decompress from the adrenalin of running here and there, watching the clock, and did I mention I lost my cell phone?
We had a great time laughing, enjoying each other and getting to know each other better. It's such a great group that we kind of fell into and love the fellowship, support and prayers they are giving. It's amazing how quickly you feel comfortable sharing "life" with some people after only a short time. We are looking forward to getting to know each of them even better over the next year!
On Saturday, we went to cousin Mac's 2nd birthday party at a local children's gym. Fun was had by all. One of the best things about being back in Alabama is getting to share birthday's with all our cousins on my side of the family. The pictures from the party are in the next post (I use picasa and it will only blog 4 pics at a time, and I am too lazy to move them to a new folder so I can post more at a time)
Saturday afternoon was full of the kids playing with friends, and football. Roll Tide and Go 'Dores!
Have a wonderful week!
I picked them up, dropped them off at practice and then went to the grocery store to get a few things - mainly milk. Then to McDonalds to feed the 3 youngest an early dinner, since the soccer game was right at dinner time. I was like a drill sargeant telling them to eat, eat, eat so I could then get food for AB and pick her up. I remember seeing my cell phone on the tray as I was clearing it into the trash. I recall getting it off the tray, surely I wouldn't have thrown it away - after all I SAW IT ON THE TRAY. I got AB's food, loaded us into the car and off we went to pick up the big girls. Here is where my precise planning goes awry and I get frazzled. I need to call Billy and tell him where I am, what the plan is etc. (He had called me while in the grocery store and I quickly cut him off telling him I was on a tight schedule and would call him later.) No cell phone. Can't find it anywhere. I pick up the girls and race back to McDonald's where the guy at the counter says he hasn't seen one. I've lost 15 minutes. We drop the friend off, and get home as Billy is pulling out of the driveway. He gets into the car with us and off we go.
The game was great and Ben scored 2 goals (not that we're keeping score). Game over, rush the kids back in the car. My babysitter was waiting for us in the driveway. I had left the door unlocked in case we ran late, but didn't have her number to call and tell her because...I lost my cell phone. Toss the kids to her and go to eat Mexican with our LIFE group at church. I had to reprogram on the way over. Decompress from the adrenalin of running here and there, watching the clock, and did I mention I lost my cell phone?
We had a great time laughing, enjoying each other and getting to know each other better. It's such a great group that we kind of fell into and love the fellowship, support and prayers they are giving. It's amazing how quickly you feel comfortable sharing "life" with some people after only a short time. We are looking forward to getting to know each of them even better over the next year!
On Saturday, we went to cousin Mac's 2nd birthday party at a local children's gym. Fun was had by all. One of the best things about being back in Alabama is getting to share birthday's with all our cousins on my side of the family. The pictures from the party are in the next post (I use picasa and it will only blog 4 pics at a time, and I am too lazy to move them to a new folder so I can post more at a time)
Saturday afternoon was full of the kids playing with friends, and football. Roll Tide and Go 'Dores!
Have a wonderful week!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Expanding the Family
In a previous post, I mentioned getting a call from a social worker as a possible placement for my cousin's newborn. Well, we have moved from the possible category to the probable one. I have hesitated to write about this, because everything has been - and is still - up in the air. Right now we need prayer on a number levels.
The baby is in Ohio under the supervision of Children's Services, but they would like to place him with us. We live in Alabama. A lot of things have to happen in the legal department in order for this to happen because the child will be crossing state lines. Most of the time this takes around 6 months. We, meaning all parties involved, hope that we can expadite this process so he can come live with us sooner rather than later. Paperwork has been filed and there is a court date on Oct. 9 concerning his guardianship. Please pray that the judge will find in our favor concerning this.
My cousin (the mother) is a mess. It's a very complicated, sad situation. There is a real possibility that she may not be able to get the baby back. Please pray for her. I believe with all my heart that she is redeemable. Although she has done some really aweful things, God loves her as much as He does anyone else and He can do amazing things. Pray that my conversations with her and about her to others will honor Him.
Here's a little back story as to our decision to pursue this. When I found out I was pregnant with Abe, I was shocked - and done. My tubes were tied, and I was totally and completely at peace with that decision. No more babies. Period. I already got those crazy looks at Wal-Mart with 3 and pregnant. Total peace I tell you. Never questioned the decision. No more. We were even. Finished. Get the picture?
Then I went to a girls night with my friend and neighbor. I found out a girl I had met through her was adopting from Ethiopia. I thought how awesome that was. She had 4 kids and was adopting. Then it began. I started reading her blog and linking to other adoption blogs and weeping at how many children go to bed each night everywhere in the world without a mommy and a daddy. Weeping, I tell ya. 131 million orphans in the world. 131 million children who have no place to truly call home. No one to call mom or dad. I started to feel the tug to go get 1 (or all 131 million) of them.
Then bible verses started popping up.
"Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." James 1:27
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me," Matthew 25:40
""...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."(Proverbs 24:12)
I mean did God really put that in the Bible? I had heard them before but really. I'm done. Peace. Finished. Even. No more.
So after some prayer, in all MY wisdom, I thought that we would go to Ethiopia and bring home 2 sweet children. Billy got on board and it was set. In a year we would begin saving and start the process. This would give us time to get back on our feet after a tough financial time, figure out which state we would actually call home, make sure the new business was securely running, and have everyone potty trained by the time we brought a potentially unpotty trained child into our home. Enter God.
We get the call about the baby. There are many reason why we shouldn't do this. Some are selfish (starting with the whole not my plan thing) but most are complicated. At the end of the day, I really feel like God has practically placed a baby in need in my lap. To do anything but care for this baby would be disobedient to God.
We are excited about caring for this baby, and exhausted by the process all at the same time. We are optimistic that this will be short term, but prepared for the long haul. Yes, we are crazy. No, we don't have much room. Yes, we can love him like he was one of ours...and who knows how this story will end. I'll keep you posted.
The baby is in Ohio under the supervision of Children's Services, but they would like to place him with us. We live in Alabama. A lot of things have to happen in the legal department in order for this to happen because the child will be crossing state lines. Most of the time this takes around 6 months. We, meaning all parties involved, hope that we can expadite this process so he can come live with us sooner rather than later. Paperwork has been filed and there is a court date on Oct. 9 concerning his guardianship. Please pray that the judge will find in our favor concerning this.
My cousin (the mother) is a mess. It's a very complicated, sad situation. There is a real possibility that she may not be able to get the baby back. Please pray for her. I believe with all my heart that she is redeemable. Although she has done some really aweful things, God loves her as much as He does anyone else and He can do amazing things. Pray that my conversations with her and about her to others will honor Him.
Here's a little back story as to our decision to pursue this. When I found out I was pregnant with Abe, I was shocked - and done. My tubes were tied, and I was totally and completely at peace with that decision. No more babies. Period. I already got those crazy looks at Wal-Mart with 3 and pregnant. Total peace I tell you. Never questioned the decision. No more. We were even. Finished. Get the picture?
Then I went to a girls night with my friend and neighbor. I found out a girl I had met through her was adopting from Ethiopia. I thought how awesome that was. She had 4 kids and was adopting. Then it began. I started reading her blog and linking to other adoption blogs and weeping at how many children go to bed each night everywhere in the world without a mommy and a daddy. Weeping, I tell ya. 131 million orphans in the world. 131 million children who have no place to truly call home. No one to call mom or dad. I started to feel the tug to go get 1 (or all 131 million) of them.
Then bible verses started popping up.
"Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." James 1:27
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me," Matthew 25:40
""...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."(Proverbs 24:12)
I mean did God really put that in the Bible? I had heard them before but really. I'm done. Peace. Finished. Even. No more.
So after some prayer, in all MY wisdom, I thought that we would go to Ethiopia and bring home 2 sweet children. Billy got on board and it was set. In a year we would begin saving and start the process. This would give us time to get back on our feet after a tough financial time, figure out which state we would actually call home, make sure the new business was securely running, and have everyone potty trained by the time we brought a potentially unpotty trained child into our home. Enter God.
We get the call about the baby. There are many reason why we shouldn't do this. Some are selfish (starting with the whole not my plan thing) but most are complicated. At the end of the day, I really feel like God has practically placed a baby in need in my lap. To do anything but care for this baby would be disobedient to God.
We are excited about caring for this baby, and exhausted by the process all at the same time. We are optimistic that this will be short term, but prepared for the long haul. Yes, we are crazy. No, we don't have much room. Yes, we can love him like he was one of ours...and who knows how this story will end. I'll keep you posted.
Here we are!
All is well at the Ivey home. I am enjoying the ever crazy life of a mom of 4. We never slow down, but I love it.
Ben plays soccer in a league where the focus is on playing not winning. Cheering has to be super PC and no one keeps score...except Ben. Last week after every goal he would look at us and flash his fingers to reflect how many goals had been scored. Parents would get major repremanding for this. I wonder - Can a kid get kicked out of the league for being competitive? I survived my sweet boy turning 5 last week, and he survived his shots. Daddy is still recovering - I made him go. Not because I am a sissy, but because I am a weak woman and couldn't have held Ben still.
MC has always been the sweet, compliant one of the bunch. As I am going through her backpack today, I notice she didn't color any, not one page, of the letter book. When I asked her about it her response was "I didn't want to." Oh my! She is absolutely the last one I thought would utter these words. I hope its not a sign of things to come! We went to the zoo last week with her preschool class. I didn't realize how little we do with just her until she asked - more than once - on our drive over where Ben and Abe were. Her favorite animal is the "bgiraffe." Don't have a clue why she puts a b in front of that word.
AB is looking forward to getting her first report card with actual grades on it - not S's. It should come home on Friday and she is anticipating all A's.
Abe is just Abe. He is either happy or he is not. No in between. He has developed an affection for a certain purple dinosaur. If the TV is on - then Barney should be on it. I am OVER Barney right now (and kids shows don't normally drive me up the wall).
Ben plays soccer in a league where the focus is on playing not winning. Cheering has to be super PC and no one keeps score...except Ben. Last week after every goal he would look at us and flash his fingers to reflect how many goals had been scored. Parents would get major repremanding for this. I wonder - Can a kid get kicked out of the league for being competitive? I survived my sweet boy turning 5 last week, and he survived his shots. Daddy is still recovering - I made him go. Not because I am a sissy, but because I am a weak woman and couldn't have held Ben still.
MC has always been the sweet, compliant one of the bunch. As I am going through her backpack today, I notice she didn't color any, not one page, of the letter book. When I asked her about it her response was "I didn't want to." Oh my! She is absolutely the last one I thought would utter these words. I hope its not a sign of things to come! We went to the zoo last week with her preschool class. I didn't realize how little we do with just her until she asked - more than once - on our drive over where Ben and Abe were. Her favorite animal is the "bgiraffe." Don't have a clue why she puts a b in front of that word.
AB is looking forward to getting her first report card with actual grades on it - not S's. It should come home on Friday and she is anticipating all A's.
Abe is just Abe. He is either happy or he is not. No in between. He has developed an affection for a certain purple dinosaur. If the TV is on - then Barney should be on it. I am OVER Barney right now (and kids shows don't normally drive me up the wall).
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