New Year's Eve

I am so thankful for our little family. We have such a tight bond, and our family is so full of love that we don't really need extended family (although it would have been so nice to have). We feel so fulfilled within our little family. And I know that love will only grow as our children grow and as our family grows. And we have each other. How many people have a marriage as close or as solid as ours? Who could ask for more than a great marriage...

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Christmas Lights at the Botanical Gardens

I gave Rick and the boys haircuts this morning. We have been keeping their hair cut short because it is easier to manage. Little boys tend to mess up their hair quite easily. Jacob likes it so much better when I cut it, rather than going somewhere to have it done. I think even Rick is preferring that I do it, because he can keep it as short as he likes. All of their hair grows so fast that we really need to do hair cuts every other week. But...

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Last Sunday at Church

This evening was our last Fifth Sunday Night Singing at church. I sang "Breath of Heaven". Jacob was confused about why I went up front but he had to stay in the pew. Joshua watched me the whole time, which was sweet, but then he reached over and pulled Jacob's hair and I had to try not to laugh. Joshua was really good during the service, he really likes music. After I sang, Jacob went to play with Grant in the nursery.After the service they...

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A Big Boy Bed

I have an excited little, excuse me, I mean big boy. We bought him his big boy bed today. We bought bunk beds and mattresses and memory foam mattress pad so it will be extra comfy. Oh, he is so excited.We also bought Joshua a big boy carseat, so I know he will be happy about that. I am sure he will enjoy being able to see out of the window on the long trip.We also bought the boys matching winter coats and snowpants.These boys. They are growing...

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A Bad Day But a Big Blessing

Today is one of those days where my patience is truly being tested. Joshua is extremely cranky. I think he is cutting a new tooth. He is chewing on his finger constantly. I cannot feel where a new tooth is coming in but he is certainly acting like it.This morning Rick reminded me that the movers will be here in one week.It is raining and thunder storming outside. Both boys are in terrible moods. I cannot get Joshua to stop fussing and Jacob...

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The house has been so quiet with the dogs gone. I miss them at times, but I have to admit it is nice to not have to clean up after them or deal with the barking.We have our new phone number and we are all set there. We have the utilities arranged, our wireless card for internet is arriving tomorrow, and our moving company arrangements have been confirmed. It is all coming together.A week from now we will be loading the truck! And a week from tomorrow we are leavi...

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Moving Prep...

The house has been so quiet with the dogs gone. I miss them at times, but I have to admit it is nice to not have to clean up after them or deal with the barking.We have our new phone number and we are all set there. We have the utilities arranged, our wireless card for internet is arriving tomorrow, and our moving company arrangements have been confirmed. It is all coming together.A week from now we will be loading the truck! And a week from...

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God's Providence

I received Vision Forum's end of the year newsletter today and thought that I would take a little time to reflect upon it.It lists three main tasks to do , the first of which is to outline and chronicle the many Providences of God.1. Where did we travel?As a family we made several trips to Kansas City, which has changed our family's life because we have decided to follow where God is leading and relocate there.2. What significant household projects...

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Merry Christmas

The Christmas Eve church service was beautiful, but I started feeling sick about half way through and Rick ended up having to take me home. I spent most of Christmas day sick in bed, but we made it a special time anyway. We opened our stockings together in bed. Jacob thought that was great fun.Jacob loves his new train set. It is his first powered train set. It is driving me a little crazy, but it is a small price to pay, I suppose ;)Joshua...

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Christmas Eve

It is Christmas Eve! We went over to Tony and Shauneen's house for a few hours this afternoon. They have the boys a present, Jacob a train puzzle and Joshua one of those things where you press the buttons or turn the levers and little animals pop up. Tony also have Jacob a toy truck with a trailer. We also visited with Allie and she seems really happy. It made me sad to see her though, it is so hard to leave her. She is such a sweet dog, but...

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Holiday Baking

We had a lovely afternoon together as a family, baking cookies and making chocolates. Jacob had so much fun. We pulled a chair up to the counter and let him help measure ingredients and play in the flour. He used the rolling pin and cookie cutters and helped shape dough into balls. We made a huge mess and had such a good time. We sang Christmas carols while we baked. And we ate entirely too much sugar. Jacob has been wired, lol. But he had so much fun. He loved eating the cookie dough, but don't we all ;)?Jacob has been calling Shauneen "Miss Tony"....

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Another Amazing Blessing!

Things just keep getting better! Rick met with our attorney this morning, I just felt too much anxiety and did not want to go. I was just so worried that we would find out that we could not move. But, thanks be to God, that is not what happened. Apparently after we had informed the attorney about the case worker telling us they were closing the case, he called the guardian ad lidem who confirmed that the case was indeed closed. Our attorney...

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Almost Christmas

Yesterday evening we decorated the Christmas tree. Jacob really enjoyed that. I had placed all of the ornaments into two large baskets so that he could choose which ornament to put on the tree next. He said that the tree has "spots" on it. How cute!I thought that today was Wednesday, but it is actually Thursday. What a pleasant little surprise.The case worker came by for her final visit. She was very friendly and it was a very relaxed visit....

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Yesterday evening we decorated the Christmas tree. Jacob really enjoyed that. I had placed all of the ornaments into two large baskets so that he could choose which ornament to put on the tree next. He said that the tree has "spots" on it. How cute!I thought that today was Wednesday, but it is actually Thursday. What a pleasant little surprise.The case worker came by for her final visit. She was very friendly and it was a very relaxed visit. She said that she will be sending us a letter stating their findings that the case was non-indicated, meaning...

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An Amazing Blessing!

Praise be the Lord Jesus Christ! The case worker just called and they are officially closing the case! She is coming out tomorrow to see the boys on last time and then the case is closed.We still have the custody case but having this case closed only helps us. We have so much on our side with social services and the guardian ad lidem both on our side. So her only victory is that she has made our lives more stressful for several months. And...

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We Have a House!

We had a nice trip to Kansas City. We have a house, so that is a huge burden lifted off of us. The house seems so big, it is going to be nice to have so much space.Also, Tony and Shauneen have decided to keep Allie and Shannon is almost certain that they want Princess.I gave the boys their first home hair cuts today. Jacob is always so afraid of getting his hair cut, but he was completely comfortable with me doing it. He even volunteered to...

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Going on Another Trip to KC

The man from the relocation company came this morning to do the estimate. It is exciting to see things happening towards us moving. He said that it will take a 53 foot truck to move us.Shauneen called and said that they do want Allie, and that her daughter may want Princess.We decided to apply for that house and we are making plans to drive up there this weekend to look at it.Joshua is advancing so quickly. He is great at crawling now, he is pulling...

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Going on Another Trip to KC

The man from the relocation company came this morning to do the estimate. It is exciting to see things happening towards us moving. He said that it will take a 53 foot truck to move us.Shauneen called and said that they do want Allie, and that her daughter may want Princess.We decided to apply for that house and we are making plans to drive up there this weekend to look at it.Joshua is advancing so quickly. He is great at crawling now, he is pulling up, he can get himself into a sitting position, he is just always on the go. He is getting into...

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We May Have Found a House...

We have found a house that we are pretty interested in in Kansas City. Actually it is outside the city on three acres. We have been emailing back and forth to get additional information and pictures.I talked to Shauneen this afternoon and she said that they might be interested in taking Allie. We are going to have to find homes for both of our dogs before we move. At least we know she would be in a good home. I will be so sad to leave Allie,...

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Christmas Decorating and Such

Saturday we drove to Birmingham to look for candles for our advent wreath because we could not find any here in town. We found beautiful candles at a craft store there, and all some pretty candle holders, and they were all half price. So that is nice. We also bought a wooden advent calendar and new stocking and a few other decoratives.On Sunday there was a Christmas BBQ after church. Afterwards we came home and set up Christmas decorations.We bought a new nativity set for the breakfast room table that has a Scripture verse on each piece. Jacob...

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St. Nicholas Day Party

Yesterday was the St. Nicholas Day party. We had a lovely time! The boys were adorable dressed as little lambs. Jacob was a little wild on stage and made everyone laugh. Joshua was adorably sweet and friendly. He spent most of the evening with Angelica and Joseph. They fed him a banana, which he loved.This evening I am going to try a new recipe for a cheesy corn chowder. Soup sounds good, with some homemade bread. Soup and bread always sounds...

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Good Days and Bad Days

Yesterday was not a good day. No one was feeling very well, I think that everyone was over-tired. I did not get anything accomplished, which is never a good thing.But today I finished everything on my to-do list and most of yesterday's as well.Jacob has been particularly sweet today. He has followed me around, copying my actions, and helping me clean. Then he found this little book of prayers and he has been "reading" his prayer book. He is...

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Homemaking and Playing and Things are Looking Up

Things have been better this last week. Nothing has changed in regards to our court case, except that we have a hearing scheduled for January tenth. So, that is quite a ways off, but everyone is in agreement that the boys having been with us through this whole ordeal can only help our case. Obviously they have been solely in our care and continued to thrive.The case aide workers came by this morning for just a minute. They were stopping by...

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Discouraged

It has been a miserable few days. On Monday we had an appointment with our attorney. He told us that we probably won't even be able to get a court date until January, at the earliest. And even once we win, "Mom" can turn around and file again. So she can essentially keep us tied up in the court system and there is nothing that we can do to protect ourselves (as long as we live in Alabama). It is just so discouragi...

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Grumpy

I am in a bit of a grumpy mood this morning. I did not get enough sleep last night. Rick was snoring, the dogs were barking. So I am exhausted.It looks like we are traveling to Kansas City next weekend to look at houses.We ordered lamb costumes for the boys for the party. They are going to be too cute. It is sweet. John-Paul didn't want to be the shepherd until he heard that he would get to hold the baby lambs. I think that is so sweet. How...

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Growing Up Fast!

My poor little Jacob is so congested! He really doesn't seem to be feeling bad, his energy level is pretty active, especially considering he is on cold medicine. I am hoping that we will somehow avoid Joshua getting sick, although I don't know what the likelihood of that is.I ended up accomplishing more yesterday than I thought I would. I dusted our bedroom, including the tops of door frames and windows and I dusted the living room and dining...

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Stress, and Parties, and Laundry, Oh My!

Yesterday was a particularly stressful day for me. There was nothing specific to make it so. I think it was just the weight of feeling like we have no power over our situation. Most people would probably be surprised to know that I am a bit of a control freak. Not in the manner that many people are, it seems contradictory since I am soft spoken and at times a bit timid. But I always want to feel as if my life is neat and ordered. My day to...

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Wonderful Blessings and a Difficult Situation

There is something so soothing about the feeling of warm hot chocolate in my tummy. I thoroughly enjoy such simple pleasures. It seems at times such small niceties add to the quality of life.My Joshua is such an active little monkey! This morning he somehow got himself on the other side of his bumper pads and had his arm and leg sticking out of the crib! That boy is on the go from the moment he wakes up. What a little bundle of energy! It is...

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Trials and Blessings

Our family has undergone many difficult trials recently, and yet I still look around me and see the many blessings that our Gracious Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us. One only has to look into the precious faces of our children to see His most holy goodness. I know that my life has been so richly blessed and that it is only by His Grace that I am able to receive so much. To some my life may not seem like much, and many times I am unable...

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The Kansas City Zoo

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Shopping and Dining in KC

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A Trip to Kansas City

What a time we have had! We are in Kansas City for a few days. Rick had to attend a conference for work and with all that has been going on, we thought it best for the whole family to go. We drove up yesterday and actually had a good trip. The boys behaved amazingly well on the car ride. Neither of them were fussy or awnry. They were both in great moods and were so sweet. We stopped at Bob Evans for dinner and the server thought that Jacob's...

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