What's your call?

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

James 1:27

      "Learn to do good; Seek justice; Reprove the ruthless; Defend the orphan; Plead for the widow."
Isaiah 1:17

What is your call??

What is your role??

What are you supposed to be doing?

What am I supposed to be doing?

I have several friends who have adopted.  Shonda and Travis have sweet Joseph in their lives now because they followed their call to Ethiopia, and they are waiting for sweet MB to come home!  Kristen and Jim have sweet Sophie in their lives now because they followed their call to China.  Jamie and Greg have sweet Brandon in their lives now because they followed their call in the US.  Andy and Kari have their sweet people in their lives because they followed their call in the US.  But are we ALL called to adopt and bring home sweet people from all over the world?  I think not.  But if not everyone can adopt or should adopt or is asked to adopt, does that mean you do nothing?  I think not. 

I am writing all this to say, I don't know what I am supposed to be doing.  I have had some time lately to read lots of blogs.   Let me reiterate, my eyes have gone through lots and lots and lots of adoption blogs in the last 14 days.  (If you too find some time on your hands, I recommend reading blogs....it's like an endless library of short stories.)   I have read of joyous unions of babies with families, and I have read of heartache and pain in adopting. I have read of trials with agencies, doubts of callings, money struggles, difficulties with embassies, legal battles and attachment problems. I have read of tears of joy, boys loving their new toys, mommas bonding with their babies, babies sleeping on long flights home, and the untold blessings of having your family added to through adoption.  After all that READING, I still don't feel I am supposed to be searching for an agency.  But I still don't know what I am to be doing. 

In my current job, I see my fair share of widows and widowers. I hear sweet love stories of long times past.  I try to love on those who are grieving, keep the company of those who are healing, and celebrate those marriages that are still in tact, til death do they part.  There is a little lady, we'll call her Pearl ( my dear Great Grandmother's name), who I see every Thursday morning.   We always, and I mean always, talk about what day it is. She stands in front of the beauty salon, then comes in and asks if the salon is open. I explain that she's only open on Wednesday's and Friday's.  She asks what day it is. I always tell her it is Thursday.  She always asks again when she can go to the beauty shop. I explain it is open on Wednesday and Friday.  She then wonders what day it is. I say it's Thursday. Then she asks....well, you get the picture, this goes on and on for quite some time some days.  My patience for this woman, is this part of my calling?  Am I helping the widows? 

When I was teaching, I had students who came from broken homes, who had rough times that I even still have not experienced anything like.  I had a student who came to school one day, obviously distressed. I asked this child what was wrong.  The story went like this..."The police came for my mom last night while we were asleep. Me and my sister heard them, and we hid under our beds, so they wouldn't find us.  My neighbor brought us to school today, I think she will tomorrow too."  I was teaching first grade at the time folks. This NIGHTMARE was a REALITY to one of my students!!!  Within a few weeks, the grandmother had temporary custody, and this precious child transferred to a different school, but I will never forget the fear and worry in the eyes of this 6 year old.  Stress, worry, concern, fear, anguish like I have never experienced.  My love for this sweet soul, is this part of my calling?

There are social workers and others who work in adoption, family preservation, and counseling centers. There are teachers who love on kiddos.  There are nurses who help the widows. There are people who adopt, people who donate money to those who adopt and to organizations who give scholarships.  There are so many ways to answer your call to look after the widows and the orphans.

After all that jibber jabber, I still can't tell you exactly what my call is. I CAN tell you that I pray Eric and I have our eyes and hearts open to what God wants us to do.  My heart is open to the orphans and kiddos I have been blessed to know and love. My heart is open to the widows in front of me daily. My heart will be open to whatever call God will make.  If it is another child or not, I don't know.  But I will get ready.

   "Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share"
1 Timothy 6:18

"When my world is shaking, heaven stands. When my heart is breaking, I never leave your hands."

JJ Heller, Your Hands

Click here to LISTEN and SEE her!!

Wordsday Thursday

Wordless Wednesday is just that....a picture that tells the story all on it's own....hopefully!!!  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so Wordless Wednesday means I can just post a picture, and the picture tells the story itself.

Well, we have already established that I am long-winded, exaggerate and use too many words to describe anyything wordy, and so it was hurting me deep down in my soul to not have any words to my pictures on Wordless Wednesday.  BUT since the title was Wordless, then that meant no words.  Well, I quickly realized that while it was fun to do that, I needed a fix, and Wordsday Thursday was born.  Welcome to the first installment of Wordsday Thursday!!

You can look at Wordless Wednesday if you haven't yet.  Cale and now Jenna go to time-out when they are having problems getting control of their bodies and need a break. Our time-out is "put your nose on the door."   Jenna learned this concept from her brother, who has modeled this concept frequently for her for nearly 2 years now.  And now she has it perfected, and somestimes even mandates this for herself.  Last night, for whatever reason, Daddy put Jenna in time-out, so she went to the door and stood staring at it.  Not long after she'd been there, her sweet brother went to stand with her, in support of her indiscretion and to show her love.  Everyone now.....ahhhhhhh, that is precious!!! 

The second picture is them after she can take her nose off the door.  What a consequence, so rough, that you can immediately smile happily for the camera when it is over!! 

Wordless Wednesday

Mother of the Year

This morning was a normal, rainy, gloomy morning.  Cale's backpack was ready, complete with the checks I stayed up writing and the homework he stayed up late finishing safely tucked in his folder in his backpack.  The kids were eating the breakfast of champions (cereal, milk and a banana) and I even had the neighbor girl's breakfast ready for her.  Her cereal was getting soggy though, I thought as I wondered where she was and why she was so late coming over. I try to call her mom, no answer.  Then Eric says he sees our neighbor Lisa leave, with all her kids. Hmmm, ODD!  So I try to call again, no answer.  I keep on with my morning, calling both of Elizabeth's parents, no answer, before I leave a little bit grouchy message that I was leaving for school.  Jenna and Cale get into the car nicely, and since we had the time, we went in the direction of daycare and not school.
Still normal, we went into Ann's to chat for a few before we headed to school. And here is where my official entry for Mother of the Year begins (sorry Shonda, you have competition for this prestigious award)...
Me:  Cale, time to go. Tell Sissy and Annie bye.
Ann:  Where are you taking Cale?
Me: Umm, to school!
Ann: There's no school today!
Me: What?  (long pause) Ooooohhhhh, there's not school today!  I guess I'm leaving Cale here!
Ann: Well, that's what I was planning on!
Me: Ooooohhhh, that explains why Elizabeth didn't come over!!!


WOW!!!  Now, let me remind you, I am a teacher at heart and have giggled at numerous parents for dropping their kids off on non-school days.  I have been upset and irritable at those who don't read the newsletters and calendars. And today, I was THAT mom!!!!!  Now, let me defend (if that's possible) myself with the following...

• I make the monthly calendar for Cale's classroom. Mrs. H sends me all the dates and I put it together in what I think is a pretty cute format for all the parents to print and oogle over all month long. I DO THAT!  I made a cute little text box inside the April 25th spot that says NO SCHOOL in bright spring colors.  What I am trying to say that I DO read the calendars and the memos and the newsletters, but this may only be implicating me for a crime of stupidity, instead of a defense!!
• One of the checks I stayed up last night writing for school was for the school carnival. It said on there, return by April 25th.  See, they forgot there was no school on April 25th when they made that form!  I am not alone!

I have since communicated with my dear neighbor Lisa, and she has confirmed that Elizabeth will be coming over in the morning, because there is school tomorrow.  I really hope Cale enjoyed his totally bonus day off of school today!!!  Thanks Annie for keeping me straight, and Lisa, just delete those voicemails. 

Happy Birthday to My Baby Boy, Who Thinks He is NOT My Baby Anymore



God has so far given us 6 wonderful years with our sweet Cale. We have seen him grow and learn so much in those short years. Short, yet it feels like forever ago when he first came, and I don't know what we did before we had him.  His smile brings joy to our hearts and to many others, so I'm told.  He has a loving soul, a crazy giggle that you can't help but love, and a spunky personality. His eyes are big and bright and blue and take in all the world has.  He is smart, sensitive and a full of emotion.  He is my Cale Owen. 

My sweet son, just minutes old.  You can see his birthmark on the side of his nose.  At first, all the doctors and nurses kept trying to clean it off, until they realized it was stuck on there. My first thought was that he would hate it when he got older, but that is not the case.  Now it is lighter and part of him so natural.  Shortly after Cale was born, his Grandpa Daymond passed away. I will never forget, at his funeral with my 10 day old son, this kind old man comes up to me and says, "Do you know your baby has a tick on his head?"  I, as nicely and quickly as I could, explained it was his birthmark.   

He was such a good snuggler!  He fell asleep so easily on your chest and would stay there as long as he could. It was a wonderful feeling of closeness and love and comfort.  How could you put him down to sleep in his bed if he slept so cozy like this????

Happy first birthday to Cale!!  We were at Red Robin, and we started a tradition for the next 4 years. Of course, this year, Mr. Opinionated wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese instead.  We'll try again for number 7.

He is 22 months old here, already showing his spunk and goofy side!  Playing with 2 binks at once?  Must be time for them to go bye-bye soon!  He was cracking himself up, by the way. 

It was about here when he started really experimenting with humor. I also have pictures of him wearing daddy's shoes and laughing so hard.  He was already trying to make us laugh too!

What a great memory this party is!!  Happy 4th birthday little man!  We were at Deanna Rose and it rained and rained and rained.  I was 6 months pregnant, giant and emotional, but this kid, well it is obvious, he is having the time of his life!  A little rain was not going to bring him down!  



Anther picture of Cowboy Cale, Age 4!!  He's been a cowboy for a couple of years by this point, and he has just received his first pony!!  I say first, because I hope he somehow will have another horse someday.  He is a cowboy at heart, which is a difficult task since he has grown up in the city!  Thanks to Papa Pappy for starting him watching old westerns at the young age of 2 and Uncle Jimmie for having all the horses and Charlie the pony, he learned early how to wear boots, tight jeans and a hat.  Gene Autry, if you are reading this, Cale would still like to invite you to his birthday party.

Do you feel the love?!?!  Well, although this picture doesn't do their love justice, he ADORES his sister.  You can read more about that here.  This is Cale at age 5 (and Jenna at age 1 as you can see). 

I will leave you with this final picture of my little man, in Florida this March, almost 6 years old and doing his professional model pose.  How can you NOT think he is absolutely adorable!?!?!

To my little man, I am so proud of the person you are becoming.  You are loved and treasured so so so much.  I love you a million, plus infinity!!   

What did YOU have for dinner 6 years ago???

We were at Applebee's.  I had the honey barbecue chicken with mashed potatoes. We had some kind of dessert, probably a chocolate cake or brownie with ice cream with chocolate drizzled all over.  Yum oh yum, It was an excellent meal, my favorite Applebee's dish at the time.  I had leftovers though, because I was a wee bit distracted.  I also had doctor's orders to eat a "light meal."  We were also running a wee bit behind to our 7pm check in at the hospital.  It was time to be induced!!

Earlier that day, I had lunch with some friends. They brought Goodcents over, yum!  At our mid afternoon doctor's appointment, Dr. Snider came in and said, "Well, I'll see you back at 7 tonight, we are going to induce."  I freaked out!  I had been on bed rest for high blood pressure for 2 weeks, it was only 2 weeks from my due date, and this shouldn't have come as such a shock to me!  We quickly sprung into action, making phone calls and last minute preparations.  Eric went back to work to wrap stuff up, and I went home to have a freak out panic attack because this was REALLY happening RIGHT NOW pack and let our friends and family know it was go time.  Yes, 2 weeks out and I hadn't even packed!  I even made an appointment for a massage. I wanted her to work on the pressure points for labor. I foolishly thought this was help move things along more quickly. 

It was a long night, with nurses coming in to bug me, check vitals on me and little man, and all sorts of things hooked up to me.  This was my first hospital experience, and I was slightly overwhelmed!  And a long night led to a much longer day....

Acceptance Speech

Recently I described the prize that I have WON!  WOO HOO for me, it was a tonsillectomy!  Well, with any great prize, there should be an acceptance speech.  So, here is it.

I just first want to thank my family for their support in the last couple of week.  My husband has been working weekends and late nights thanks to the recent hail storm, and on top of that, he is having to do more at home.  My mother was so lucky to get to take care of me the 1st couple days after surgery when I was my whiniest and most demanding.  BUT WAIT, there's more!  She also had the pleasure of taking care of Jenna, who had the stomach flu.  She did lots of running for me also, to Sonic for ice and slushes and to Price Chopper for sherbet, pudding and jello.  Then my mother in law got to take a turn and has been my care taker during the week.  She has had the opportunity to get the kids ready for school and daycare, take the kids, along with the neighbor girl to school, cook and clean all our meals, do some after school pick up and has managed to get my house clean too. We even found some counter tops that Eric and I thought were permanently covered in paper!  So, a giant thank you to them for taking all this good care of me and the kids.  And thank you to Dad and Larry for giving them to us so willingly during my time of no lifting and driving. 
My sweet grandparents have come to visit and brought beautiful flowers.  Kudos to my wonderful boss Suzy and my co-workers at the bank.  They all completely understood the importance of this surgery for Jenna's sake and have been uber supportive of this time off of work.  AND they also sent beautiful flowers.  The Lafferty's made me a GIANT tub of homemade vanilla ice cream, YUM!  My fiend Karen was our life saver a couple Saturdays ago by coming to get Cale and entertain him ALL day while Mommy and Jenna were feeling yucky.  My lovely neighbors took charge over me at our neighborhood party by taking great care of my kids while I just chilled out.  Countless friends have checked on me and prayed for us during this time too. 
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you for your help and support. I am nearly back to normal and have my 2 week check up appointment tomorrow afternoon.  I even will get to drive again!!  I will tell you, it hasn't been fun, but I wouldn't say it is the worst experience ever either.  It definitely gets you down though.  It is a weird thing, but there are waves of light-headedness that just came over me and frequently!  Hmmm, maybe that's one of  the reasons they say don't drive! 
What are my next big plans you wonder  (or maybe not!)  ??  After my appointment on Friday, I plan on picking Jenna up and carrying her around for the rest of the day!  And soon very soon, I hope to eat a wonderful meal at a Mexican restaurant, complete with crunchy chips and spicy salsa!