And then I discovered what was REALLY wrong with the printer

So, come along a ride with me won't you? Crazy day back to work, workload tripled in a matter of 3 hours and now I had to do some sort of update to my computer and I am completely computer illiterate (those computers for dummies books were written for me!).

I'm trying to print out the IT translation of what I am supposed to do and my printer will not work. Again I try...again...again. Just that same annoying beep. Needs paper. I see paper there. Why won't it just take a piece and print?

Here's why.....



Need a closer look?


Yes folks, that would be my Reece's matchbox cars. Evidently my printer made the perfect garage :-)

Thanksgiving for all of the right reasons

You know, I'm as guilty as anyone in getting sucked up into the world's notion of what holidays should look like. Tree up by Thanksgiving, perfect looking food on our beautifully decorated table, everyone going around and giving thanks like we are reading out of individual Hallmark cards, sitting around watching football and getting ready for the next day's sales.

While our Thanksgiving was not straight out of the latest holiday movie, it was perfect. We had 11 people all together for Thanksgiving yesterday. While I could have gotten stressed out about the sheer number to feed or about the fact that there was one less since my dad was not here with us this year (Thanksgiving last year was the last time he would be able to visit us, the last time I would ever stand and hug him), I didn't. I was so grateful to have everyone come together from both families (Bobby's mom - "Grandma" and dad - "Big Papa", my mom - "Nannie" and step dad - "Papa", Bobby's brother - "Uncle John" and my two nephews came - "Bryson and Bryon").

I don't know how, but we got it all cooked and on the table only 30 minutes past when I hoped we would. The kids were a little crazy, but just excited to see each other I guess. Lots of running and screaming going on for sure! Bobby, his dad and brother were outside working on his car. A dad and his sons working together. Something to be said about those simple things no matter how frustrating the car was! It made me smile thinking about Bobby saying earlier that week that he wanted to put a car together with our son. I hope by next Thanksgiving we at least have our referral!!

The dinner went great, and while we didn't go around and verbalize everything we were grateful for, we didn't need to. If you looked around, you saw it. There was Kyleigh giving my mom (Nannie) a hand made birthday card and giving her a hug, my step dad (Papa) walking with all of the kids so they could get out and ride bikes and scooters around the neighborhood, Bobby's mom (Grandma) helping the girls with crafts or playing games with the boys, John under Bobby's car helping him, Big Papa getting attacked by my girls even though he had a hurt knee and the kids just so excited to see each other. Those little things are what mean so much. And this Thanksgiving I'm so thankful for each of them.

Uncertainty

Everyone who reads this blog should know by now I don't do well with uncertainty. I think it's a hard concept for any of us to grab onto...not sure what is going to happen from one day to the next, especially if you have your heart set on one big event or happening. It's something I've been trying to get better at.

I have a lot of friends right now going through some uncertain times. Some are having biological babies, some are adopting babies, some are needing financial questions answered, some are questioning careers, some are trying to sell their homes and some are just trying to start a new life and not knowing where to begin. The uncertainty of each of their situations is hard.

I just wanted to share a few words of encouragement for you today. This blog post is not about me or my family or my uncertainties, but providing hope and encouragement for yours. I pray you will comforted and the answers will come in perfect timing for each of you. My love and prayers with you always.

Be content with what you have, for God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid." - Hebrews 13:5,6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. - Proverbs 3:5,6

Anything God asks us to do he supplies us with the energy and grace to do.

My job is to take care of the possible and trust God with the impossible.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 1 Corinthians 13:12

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

Running out of room!

I am defeated. My house has won. We haven't even been in it two years and the "stuff" has won out. I don't even want to open my closet at this point or walk into the garage. I like organization projects, but I just haven't had the time to take these on. Between the ever going adoption talk between Bobby and I and the new SAFE project I am now heading up (see link on the left side of my blog now for more information)...we are going to run out of room even quicker. We have a play room upstairs, which will become Kyleigh's room once the baby is here, and while we are A LONG WAY AWAY from that reality, I still find myself wondering what in the world I'm going to do with all of the stuff up there? And the garage. We cleaned out half of it after my dad passed to give his mustang a good home, but prompted shoved everything else to the other side....in all intentions of going through it soon too. That was January.

I am SO thankful to already be getting such a great response to the SAFE website and will have donations coming in from all over the state soon. I am still working with donation sites in Horry County, SC and hope to move calls to Brunswick county sometime this week. That said, we will need to store numerous amounts of stuffed animals. I need time to sort through them...to clean them before I can donate them. While my loving husband is supportive and loving about my new endeavor the question came "And where are we going to keep all of these in the process?"

So time to wipe some sweat off our brows to get it done. He's called his dad, who will be coming down this Wednesday to help get the garage cleaned out. Then we will be buying shelving for the garage and hopefully have it organized by next week. A tall order! Of course that leaves our closet and the play room, which I'm hoping I can put off for a little bit longer! Sounds like a good Christmas break project I can do!

Blog Award

So my blogger friend at http://aheritagefromthelord.blogspot.com/ has given me a blog award describing my site as "honest". Thanks Jenny! I really enjoy reading your blog and wish you guys the best of luck!

So now I get to pass the love to someone else..
Here's the rules:

Thank the person who nominated you.
Copy and paste the logo on your blog.
Link the person who nominated you.
Nominate no more than 17 people (why 17?) who you love or think could use some love.
Write one word (you can only use a word once) about what you love about their blog.
You cannot nominate someone who's already been nominated - the love has to spread to all.
Post links to the blogs you've nominated.
Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they've been nominated.


http://buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/ :Inspiring
http://ethiopiatowilmington.blogspot.com/ :Positive
http://inhishands-ouradoptionjourney.blogspot.com/ :Adorable
http://huntforrachel.blogspot.com/ :Sweet
http://lifeglimpsedthedenglers.blogspot.com/ :Strong
http://babystjohn.blogspot.com/ :Honest
http://createdtocare.blogspot.com/ :Heart-changing
http://thebosofamily.blogspot.com/ :Anticipation!

That's it! For those of you that read my blog, feel free to check these out!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Blessings

As Thanksgiving is approaching, I am just overwhelmed by all my blessings. I just took a moment to really think about it. So many times I spend wishing and praying for things to happen, but what if we spent time thinking about what our lives would be like without everything we have?

Kyleigh Bear


I am so blessed to have Kyleigh. Although we were only 4 months into our marriage, Bobby and I were so excited to be pregnant! That was probably the craziest year I remember....getting married, pregnant for the first time, graduating college, working full time, buying a house, getting in debt! All at 22! And it was the best year. Kyleigh brought my dad back into my life. She made me remember what it was like to hope, be thankful. She continues to bless us everyday with her sweet tender heart. Stubborn, talkative, tender, sweet, competitive, not tough at all. Oh, how thankful we are for her!

Reece a roni


I am so blessed to have Reece. You are never sure how pregnancy is going to go and with this little girl, we were kept guessing until the very end. I was diagnosed with a heart condition during my 5th month and my doctors had not seen this with pregnancy before and did not know how to treat it. I took medication that was not approved for pregnancy because I had no choice. I was told to take it or have a heart attack and both of us could die. I spent the last 4 months of my pregnant hoping, praying that we would be ok. I have never been more scared in my entire life. I was put into the hospital about a month before her due date and she graced us with her presence a week later...and everyone else in the surgical ICU! It was so peaceful. Even with all of the drama going on, she didn't cry...we just gazed into each other's eyes...meeting for the first time. What a blessing that Reece was completely fine and I ended up being fine as well! She is tough, a tomboy, gives the best hugs, loves everyone, so sweet and caring, very outgoing. We are so thankful for her!

Bobby


Every single moment we have had together in these last 11+ years has been filled with love. Even the stressful, crazy ones. I knew in the very beginning I wanted to be with Bobby for the rest of my life...and I still feel that way today, even stronger. He is a wonderful husband, always there for me, always understanding and loves me so much. He is a wonderful dad, he would do anything in the world for our girls and they completely adore him. He amazes me everyday. He is kind, thoughtful, caring, giving and my best friend. I'm so thankful for him!!!

And all of our friends and family. I wouldn't be me without you guys. So many times you have leant your support and kind words. You have been there. Your support these last few years has made a world of difference in my life. Thank you so much to each and every one of you!!

Old Christmas gone....welcome new Christmas!

So, Bobby and I have been thinking a lot about Christmas this year...and decided definite changes need to be made. Normally, we would be caught up in the whirl wind of Christmas lists, last minute shopping, making sure we have an even amount of gifts for the girls and I would even sell back my personal time to try and finance it all.

What exactly are we doing? We are stressing over making sure our girls have what they want because they've "earned" it by being good all year? I am selling back personal time for $$ instead of taking that precious time with my family? We are stressing over the "perfect gift" for everyone?

This year, it just doesn't seem right. I always take such pleasure every year in seeing my kids faces when they open those gifts that they wanted. They are so excited and happy! And where is that wonderful gift in a week? In a pile with the others or taken away because of the fighting over it. What are we teaching our girls? Happiness comes from possessions...all you have to do is make a list and you get what you want...a man "magically" brings gifts every year...mommy thinks it's more important to have money then time off..and you can probably complete the list.

We have already started a couple of months ago looking into volunteer opportunities as a family. It's hard to find something all of us can do together because of the girl's ages, but we have managed to find a few and are still setting some up. I want to set the foundation for my girls to understand....REALLY understand how blessed we are. I've found it's not enough to tell them at their age, they need to SEE it.

Although we are not able to help build, we have started cooking and providing lunches to our local Habitat for Humanity two Saturdays out of the month. This was a great opportunity for the girls to help and actually meet the people that do this. They even gave them a tour of the house, which they thought was so much fun! Not sure how much Reece understood, but from conversations with Kyleigh, she got it. To stand on that porch and physically have a life lesson to show them, and continue to show them, is priceless.

We are also participating in Samaritan's purse. Each of them picked out gifts for a girl their age to put in their shoebox and send off. I posted some pictures of this and the website at the bottom of this post if you would like to help too. I wanted them to understand not only can we help people that are right here in our community, but all over the world.

And I am most excited about the chapter I just started for SAFE. SAFE stands for Stuffed Animals For Emergencies. I will be the representative for North Carolina (and parts of South Carolina since I'm so close) for this organization. We will be holding stuffed animal drives to donate to local police, fire, homeless shelters, children's homes and children's services programs. These stuffed animals will be cleaned, sanitized and given to these groups to give to children to help ease their fears during a traumatic time. I am currently working with Horry county, SC to compile my list of donation sites and will be moving onto Brunswick and New Hanover hopefully next week. Then setting up a drive hopefully the beginning of December.

This is so personal and very close to my heart. For years I have been wanting to give back and help and just not sure how. When I was 8, I was involved in a traumatic abusive situation and was given a bear, which I still have. I have never forgotten that police officer or his kindness and what that bear meant to me at that moment. To be able to give a child that comfort is unspeakable to me. I will post more information on drives I will be doing, so if you are reading this and live in my area, please let me know if you would like to donate any stuffed animals!

My bear "MD"


So basically, this Christmas will not be filled with presents overflowing from the tree (although yes we will still do presents). It will not be filled with Christmas lists or a stressed mama and daddy. It will be filled with understanding of what Christmas is really about. It will be about giving back and realizing how incredibly blessed we are!

Reece's box


Kyleigh's box


http://www.samaritan.org/

And I wait....

For those of you that really know me, you know that I'm always the best at waiting....who are we kidding, I really suck at it! I'm not sure if it's just my nature, if I'm accustomed to this fast paced world, or if I'm just spoiled. Probably a combo of all of that. It's so hard to wait. You feel like you should be doing SOMETHING...ANYTHING. I mean, what are you doing when you wait? Nothing.

Absolutely nothing. Human is all I am. I wish that I could some how transform myself into this patient person that wants for nothing, but I've tried and miserably failed. Anyone else have a "get better at waiting" New Year's Resolution?

I found myself this weekend wondering why I am like this and I discovered that while I'm not physically doing anything while I wait, God is. He sees the big picture. It's easy to get caught up in the circumstances of what is in front of you...why do adoptions take so long? How much more of this job can I take? When are changes going to finally happen? When will I know the right thing to do? (Insert your own question you are wondering right now). While I am pondering these questions (and so much more), God hears, He knows, He is working...but in HIS time and in HIS way.

Sometimes when I am in these "funks", I remember what my life might be like if I got everything I THOUGHT was right for me back through the years. Everything in my life would be fundamentally different....and I would be heart broken. I love my husband with everything I have, my kids are my entire world, I have a good job and I am so blessed. So blessed. I have wonderful friends and family and great support. Seriously, I really stink at putting this whole life thing together because I cannot imagine a better one....and it wouldn't be this way if I would have had control so many times.

I don't expect waiting to get any easier and I probably will not ever get much better at it, but at least I understand the purpose behind it. I am being molded and so much is going on behind the scenes...and I probably wouldn't believe it now even if God himself told me today it was going to happen.

Isn't that a wonderful feeling? To know that even though you may feel like you are in the dark or unsure, you never are.

At this point, I am choosing to change my outlook on waiting. I want to look with anticipation and hope instead of fear and instability. To know that everything that is in store for me and my family is being worked out right now as I write this. All I have to do is have faith and wait for it.

Cute story to share thanks to Reece

So, I thought this was too cute and funny not to share. We were at Walmart on Sunday letting Kyleigh cash in her gift cards she got for her birthday. It broke my heart because Reece wanted something too and was having to watch Kyleigh put things in the cart, so I broke down and let her pick out one thing. What was her choice? Rock star barbie.

Reece has loved music ever since I can remember. She sings in the car, everyday. She makes up her own songs...and chorography. And she likes it all...country, christian, classic rock and of course radio Disney. She has a guitar, drum set, microphone, etc.

So we were stuck in the check out line waiting for a price check on an item when the check out lady was handing Reece her rock star barbie and telling her what a pretty barbie she was. Cue Reece's conversation below:

Reece: Yeah, and I'm a rock star too. I have my own band.

CO lady: Oh yeah? (At this point I fill her in on Reece's "band" which consists of friends from school)

Reece: Yup, Shane plays guitar, Brooklyn plays the drums and flute (yes, they have a flute in their band) and I play microphone.

CO lady: Wow! That's a pretty big band!

Reece: Yeah, and we are thinking of letting Travare in...cause he's our friend.

After the CO lady and people behind us stopped laughing at Reece's seriousness in the conversation, we moved on out. Who knows, she may be the next rock star out there :-) Dream big Reece a roni.