Nice...

Nice...because it was BEAUTIFUL out today.

Nice...because I got some answers today.

Nice...because I saw my oldest stand up for my girly today.

Nice...because I saw my oldest HELPING my girly today.

Nice...because I got to have coffee with a friend and see her new sweet baby.

Nice...because I got to eat dinner at my favorite restaurant with two of my favorite people. (It was super yummy!)

Nice...because two more of my favorite people babysat for us. (Mr. Cef - if you don't get that, that is how Ethan spells Keith - cute.)

Nice...because I am learning more each day about how dying to self and living radically for Jesus isn't supposed to be easy.

Nice...because I have four beautiful children that I have been blessed enough to take care of and a wonderful husband to kiss good-night.

Nice.

Ethan's Theology

Ethan was singing his heart out in the back of the van yesterday. I loved it because I got a glimpse into his little mind and what He really believes about God.

Here are some of the things I heard:

God is AWESOME.
God never changes.
It's a good thing He sent Jesus because we sin.
He is so good.
God is amazing.
We need to have Jesus in our hearts.
We will get to go to heaven someday instead of hell.

(Remember, this is all to music...made-up Ethan-style...there was more but I can't remember it all)

I LOVE IT!

Purpose

I haven't blogged in a long time. I deleted my last blog because I am an all or nothing person and it was taking too much time. No one may ever read this one but me. I don't care...

I just need a place to try to be more consistent in my journaling. There are so many joys, so many struggles and so many questions in parenting that sometimes it is helpful to write them down. Sometimes I need to vent.

I fail daily. It drives me to my knees nightly. I make some good decisions, handle some situations well, train correctly sometimes...but only by God's grace.

So, if you dare, feel free to join me in reading about my struggles and triumphs. There are so many. So many times I want to quit. On top of the normal struggles and triumphs of parenting...we are foster parents. We have been for almost two years. We have only had one placement, but have had her for over a year and a half. It is hard. Everything about it is hard... but good.

We have learned so much through this. When I think of how I stood there talking to my friends before we started this journey and said, "we know it will be hard" I want to laugh. We had no idea just how hard and you cannot prep someone for what it will be like.

Is it rewarding? Sure. Was it way easier before we started this? Absolutely! Do we ever sit and think, "WHAT were we thinking?" YES YES YES~! Are we going to stop just because it is hard...no. way. THIS is what God has called this family to do.

I am now convinced that this isn't just about her and what God is doing in her life, but also about us and what He is teaching us through all of this...and it is mostly about HIM.

It has been teaching me patience for one thing and that I CAN'T control every situation. THAT is a huge one for me.

Here we go...