A Couple of Things We've Learned...

What a start! We have been here for 17 days, today. This is our second week end off since we began. The first week end we were off, the relief parent had pneumonia, was hospitalized a few days after her shift...so, today I was a little aprehensive about leaving our boys again! However, we just got home, and this relief parent was raving about how good the boys were all day! They had all their chores done, and seemed pretty mellow!

Now, the girls are home, so that should add some drama! Actually, it has been good for the girls to have this experience of brothers. When the four of us go out, the girls always ask if we can get this one thing for the boys, or take home something special for them--just because! Today, we went to their favorite candy store at the mall, and the girls brought home jaw breakers & carmel/apple suckers for each of them.

Randy has great plans for them to become disc golf enthusiasts. We have located a course near here. While we were away today, he picked up some putters & drivers to share with them. (terms that I think are hilarious to describe a disc, similar to what we called 'frisbees' when I was growing up...Of course, I know 'frisbee' is a brand name...still funny to me) I'll keep you posted as to their progress in the sport!

We have learned many things since we have been here. Probably the most important lesson that we have faced together is that when one of the boys says "I don't want to do...or go... (fill in the blank)"--there's probably a bad memory attached to the blank...so, as usual, we have tried to remain flexible...and not force our agenda with them.

This week, I have had amazing teachable moments with each of the boys. From teaching one how to sew a button on his pants, to getting grass stains out of another's jeans (He swore when they came out of the dryer that I had just gone in to town and purchased him new jeans!!!), to real life issues that concern drugs, sex, relationships and Our God--Creator of the Universe! At least they are open, and they are opening up! Good thing, because the four of us have fallen completely in love with them, collectively as a group, and individually!

One of the high lights of our day is to sit on the front porch and watch as all 6 of our high schoolers stand at the end of our drive way and talk and gesture and wait for the bus...there's our pretty twins, the geek, the nerd, the prep and the jock--and not any one boy is one of those adjectives, they are all each one at different moments of the day--they keep us laughing and crying and praying--they keep us on our toes and on our knees and on our feet all at the same time--we must stay alert to their needs, their wants and desires and thier fears and pain.

This week, the boys were blessed to get new beds and new bedding. However, they did not get mattresses. I have made a couple of contacts with people I know in Illinois & Indiana...and I am praying that we will hear this week that soon our boys will have new mattresses, too! God's hand of provision is so clear!

To me, this is the most gorgeous place on earth. Randy & I are flourishing. The girls are growing up right before our eyes. Mallory has grown about an inch and a half taller--who knew she'd do that!?!!

I covet your prayers, as you think of us, pray for us and the boys and our girls... that God would be glorified and honored in what we do here!

Remember when?

Remember when I dreamed of our 'new home'? ...it should have only two bedrooms...a living area...a good sized bath room...a place for me to study?

Well, we are still in a LOT of boxes, but that's about the size of our apartment...the rest of the house has everything we need! It's lovely...we just need to take care of it all, and make sure that the boys are taking care of it, and not destroying things!

Remember when I dreamed of our 'new location'? ...it needed to have plenty of room between us and the neighbors...not on gravel...and a gorgeous view?

We live in a rural area, that doesn't have a post office of it's own, so here we are...North Georgia...lots of hills/mountains and trees...gorgeous!!!! There are cows and a donkey right next door that we are having fun watching and a huge back yard that the boys can build a camp fire...they are loving it!--Of course, the girls are wanting four-wheelers, but I don't think that'll happen!

Remember when I dreamed of our 'new life'? That it would include lots of laughter, church that we love to attend & be involved in, and friends who truly honor and cherish each other?

Well, somethings never change. Like our friends, we still have so many sweet sweet friends who call, text, e-mail, or facebook to check on us...friends that we've had for years, just now we must be separated by such distance. However, the new friends we are making are such treasures, I could go on and on!

The "on staff "tutor for the kids stopped by last night and visited with Rand for a while. He's had a year similar to ours, in that change happened to them, through the loss of his job. They now live in 1/2 of a garage that they've converted in to an apartment for him and his wife. His spirit is so positive, and he speaks freely of his faith. He's an educated person with emphasis on special education...which happens to be exactly what the kids in our home need, and he's a person of faith...he & his wife are just trusting in God's provision for their lives! What an inspiration! And, a huge reason for me to, again, pause and praise an Amazing God!

We are taking the kids tonight to hear our founder's adoptive daughter's testimony in their church in Tennessee...that sounds far away, but we are only 20 minutes or so from TN! I'm excited to take the boys to church, this will be the first time, but I'm just as excited to hear this little girl talk!

Speaking of church, we think we've found the one we'd like to become involved in....not exactly like anything we've been to in the past....but the preaching was timely and good good good! We'll see! We'll keep praying about that!

We took everyone to a place called Fort Mountain State Park on this past Monday, it was a holiday from school. There was a beach at the top of this mountain! And, after a hike and a half, we found a huge waterfall! The hike reminded me so very much of my roots in the Shawnee Forest in Southern Illinois. And, it didn't hurt a bit that the leaves were changing colors almost before my eyes! After the hike some of them got in the water, the boys perfected their tumbling abilities...and just had fun being themselves--we laughed until our sides hurt!

The encounters I've been having have been so hysterical...today I went to a grocery/gas station/hardware store to get two things I needed...the only checker in the store went outside to mail something. Another woman was standing there looking at the newspaper...and they were having a conversation about the contestants on 'Dancing with the Stars' like they were all best friends--I think that's hysterical!--And, kinda homey in a weird kinda way!

Gotta go serve the afternoon snack now...then get dinner on the table while they do their home work...in time to leave for church!--It's a good good day!!!

Oooooops...I blinked...and now, it's October...

In the blink of an eye, that's how quickly the past three weeks have gone for me! Two weeks of training, a whirlwind trip back to Southern Illinois to gather all our belongings, and here we are! North Georgia, beginning a new life...and new adventure...a new chapter...with a new address, and new responsibilities...

We are loving this so much. At every turn, it seems that our Heavenly Father is just waiting to show us His blessing. From the first morning of our training, to the young guy that sold us our cell service...to the sweet man that helped us with our local banking...to the young men that are now in our care...God is in it ALL!

We stopped for breakfast on our way to training that very first morning...at very popular fast food restaurant...there was Christian music playing through their sound system...and I could overhear the two young men (probably 20-30-somethings) holding each other accountable to their faith! One was saying something to the affect, as an encouragement to the other, "you just need to do the things today to make you a better man than you were yesterday!" While that is timely and true, I just took that as affirmation for being in the right place at the right time! It didn't hurt that they were sharing their thoughts about the previous day's sermon, either!

The cell phone guy, spoke very generally about his faith story, and then talked a lot about how blessed he was to have the wife he has, and how his work is prospering because he tries to live for Christ each day, how amazing is that?! He's only 27. We got to meet his wife, and I would agree with him, she's definitely a keeper! It took us three hours to purchase phones and a plan! But, we got so much more than phones! --Such a blessing!

Then, the next day, it took us another three hours to open savings and checking accounts! No, we aren't ' s l o w'...we are blessed! This guy could not stop talking about life, the Lord, the Lord's work, our work, and just the blessing of God on his life... And, again, we got so much more than a bank...we got to meet a brother in the Lord!

I do not think it is any accident that these encounters happened as they did...I believe it was God showing me exactly whom we could trust in a 'new community'...there were too many things that lined up with His word! Isn't God good!? Look for the blessing!