Do Fun Stuff!

I am so excited about this! I LOVE the blog Pacing the Panic Room. Ryan's photography is breathtaking. His taste in music is fabulous and his videos are amazing! I have never left his site feeling uninspired. His son, LB, has SMS, and his dad as awesome as he is, got his friends together make this album to raise money for research. I really hope that if you have a young child or have a friend with a young child or are a young child at heart you buy this to support SMS research. Maybe if you can't afford to buy it you could stop by Pacing the Panic room and post this widget on your blog to spread the word! Thanks!

Ruffle Pants!

I watched this tutorial on how to sew ruffles

It was extremely helpful

I have been wondering about this

Since I got my sewing machine

But I just assumed it was out of my skill range

Considering sometimes I can't sew a straight line

As it turns out its much easier then I thought
And it inspired me to make some little ruffle pants for Mia
Oh how babies and ruffles go so well together
Melts my heart!

The whole thing took me about and hour total
It probably would have only taken 30 mins
If I had not broken my needle mid way
{did I mention I'm not a very experienced sewer}

Now I want to buy knit fabric in every color
And make her a pair for ever day of the week
Maybe I'll make myself some too!

Suffering

All of my life I have tried to use faith to avoid suffering
Asking GOD to hold an umbrella over me through the storms
Praying that no one I love would ever have to feel pain, loss, or fear
I really believed this was GODs purpose in my life
to protect me and shield me from these things

So when something did hurt, when there was loss, when I watched as those I loved suffered
I wondered where was he then?
How could he let this happen?
Why to children go hungry? why do good people lose so much?
Why does it seem like those who have little faith are never really challenged
Living the safe life, never really taking chances, never really giving their all?

Now I am realizing that I was looking at the whole thing completely backwards
That our relationship with GOD can only grow in these times of suffering
That without trials we never get to truly experience his presence
With all of our comforts it becomes so hard to really have faith
When we have nothing faith is all there is left to have
So why are we so afraid to lose everything if losing everything means being closer to him?

I think its time to stop being afraid of the suffering life brings
Its time to embrace it
Because through it we grow and learn to love
And all of these struggles are really blessings
I am no longer asking for an umbrella but a hand to hold as I walk in the rain

Family Friday

Homeschooling Help Please!!

We made the decision months ago
To homeschool William this year for Kindergarten
The only problem is I feel like I have no idea what I'd doing
Or if I can even do this.

I can't decide if I should buy a curriculum,
Or if I should just come up with my own lesson plans
I am not the most organized person
so I am wondering how this is all going to work out

I felt great about this in June when it was so far away
Now that I can feel September breathing down my neck
I am getting stressed!

If you homeschool your kids~ do you have a curriculum?
Or write your own lesson plans out everyday? or just kinda go with the flow?
Do you go to a co-op or a play group? Or just play at your local park?
Do you have a school room or space or table?
Really any advice you have to share would be so deeply appreciated!

Thanks!!

The Zoo and other things too

On Monday before our visit with Mia's mom
We spent the morning at the Philadelphia Zoo

The Philadelphia Zoo is america's frist Zoo
And a long time favorite of mine

You would think that being the frist would be great
As it turns out it is one of the worst Zoo's in America
but it is filled with so many memories of my childhood
And I love sharing that with William!

After we left the Zoo we went to see Mia's mom
It was short and sweet and we were on our way to pick up Michael from work
On our drive William starts talking about all of these crazy things
that have been going on with this body lately
I have noticed a few that he has mentioned here and there
But when he put them altogeter
I panicked and called his doctor
Luckily they were able to see us as soon as we could make it in
We rushed to get Micheal and at 6:30pm headed to the doctor

After explaining everything that had been going on
His suggestion was to head over to Childrens Hospital of Philadelpia
(Our home away from home)
Good thing its only 5 mins away
We sat in the ER for 8 + hours without even seeing a doctor
The Er doc finally made and appearance and ran a few test
It was 6 in the morning before we were done
And we left with less understanding of what was going on then when we came
It was a truly frustrating experience

We were back at his family doctor the next day and he ran a ton of tests
Everything came back looking better then the night before
So hopefully we are on the Up and Up
William seems to be feeling a little better
but its hard to tell with him
He hides his pain way too well
So that has been our last few days in a nutshell
Minus Mia's trip to the doctor the same day
but thats a whole different post

Updates!

I have had a few questions recently about Baby Mia
About if she will be staying with us or not
And the only reason I haven't written this update before
Is because I really have no idea

As soon as it starts looking like reunification is not going to happen
Her mama takes a step in the right direction
And when I begin think she might be going home
Then she misses a visit

We have a court date in October that will determine
if she should be reunited with her mom
Or if the goal will move to adoption
I really want to see her go home
But only if that home is a safe place for her

I am trying help her mom get some things she will need
I have been looking on craigslist for cribs 
I hope to find one for her so she wont have to sleep in a pack and play
I'm not sure how its all going to work out
October is a long way away
so I am just sitting back and enjoying the time I have with her

Her mom has a long road ahead
She needs to have a place to live, a job,
complete a drug and alcohol program, and take parenting class
All before October but something tells me she can do it

We have a two hour visit with her today
At first I really didn't like have to take her to visits
Its a hour away and there is always traffic
But now I really like have a weekly chance to touch base with her mom
And see how she is doing and watch her intact with her daughter

It makes me much more comfortable with the situation
Because I know that she will be loved regardless if she stays or  goes

Side Note~ We got a call from our agency on Friday and the 2 year old girl they were going to place with us last week ended up staying with her previous foster family. They had her sleeping in a room with boys but the situation was resolved and she has her own room now so she will stay with them. The placement worker did say she would be calling us very soon so we shall see!