Hi Everyone!
If you are by any chance still stopping by my blog from time to time.....thank you. It's been quite awhile since my last post. I'm just checking in to say that for the time being I've really got nothing much to update. I'm not able to discuss many things that are going on right now. Please pray for my family including myself, my children and my father struggling with cancer.
I hope to get back to posting soon............Kate
August 8, 2010
May 26, 2010
Another Day
Whenever I hear this song I think about my amazing children and how blessed I am to be given the opportunity to be their mother!
May 14, 2010
Follow the link to Urban Servant
Urban Servant Blog, now known as (Sub)urban Servant since their move from the city to the suburbs four months ago. Of course, they moved 1000 miles to get from the city to the suburbs...quite a long commute, don't you think?
I really love this blog. It always causes me to stop, think and requires some kind of response of my heart.
Here is a sample of what you will find:
Pain in The Journey....Mothers Day.
As the mom to 11 you would assume my Mothers Day would be full of dandy lions in jam jars and homemade cards, and it is to a point. But Mothers Day digs up a lot of issues within our family they are painful to work through. Our eight adoptions represent 6 different women who gave birth to our children and then released them into our family.Some did it intentionally and with careful planning, others had no choice and have no idea that their children are safely in our home today. Can you imagine not knowing where your baby is? A week, three years or ten years after they are born having no idea of how they are faring. Being that baby is not easy either. I field questions about relinquishment's, photos, biological fathers, addictions, prison and strangely, the hardest questions of all are those that ask 'who do I look like?' There is something so elemental in that question, so identifying and basic that we overlook it in our adoption stories and a gap is left in their hearts. For some of them I have photos we can look at or physical descriptions, for others there is a gaping silence to that question.Not that they don't love me as their mother, but they don't have have my eyes or my hair or my nose. When they look into the mirror their faces are made up of the pieces of strangers, mysterious and missing in their life. It doesn't bother me, I am not threatened or angry that we talk about these things on Mothers Day. It simply is a fact that I was not the mother that bore my children and there is nothing I can do to change the pain hidden deep in their wondering hearts.
I really love this blog. It always causes me to stop, think and requires some kind of response of my heart.
Here is a sample of what you will find:
Pain in The Journey....Mothers Day.
As the mom to 11 you would assume my Mothers Day would be full of dandy lions in jam jars and homemade cards, and it is to a point. But Mothers Day digs up a lot of issues within our family they are painful to work through. Our eight adoptions represent 6 different women who gave birth to our children and then released them into our family.Some did it intentionally and with careful planning, others had no choice and have no idea that their children are safely in our home today. Can you imagine not knowing where your baby is? A week, three years or ten years after they are born having no idea of how they are faring. Being that baby is not easy either. I field questions about relinquishment's, photos, biological fathers, addictions, prison and strangely, the hardest questions of all are those that ask 'who do I look like?' There is something so elemental in that question, so identifying and basic that we overlook it in our adoption stories and a gap is left in their hearts. For some of them I have photos we can look at or physical descriptions, for others there is a gaping silence to that question.Not that they don't love me as their mother, but they don't have have my eyes or my hair or my nose. When they look into the mirror their faces are made up of the pieces of strangers, mysterious and missing in their life. It doesn't bother me, I am not threatened or angry that we talk about these things on Mothers Day. It simply is a fact that I was not the mother that bore my children and there is nothing I can do to change the pain hidden deep in their wondering hearts.
May 12, 2010
At What Point
At what point did it become commonplace to say things like, "Son, please don't point the gun at your brother's head during dinner."
Yeah, 'cause it's just fine to point a gun at his brother's head other times........
And the latest, "Please don't kill your brother when he's politely asked you not too."
Wow, bringing up boys......
Yeah, 'cause it's just fine to point a gun at his brother's head other times........
And the latest, "Please don't kill your brother when he's politely asked you not too."
Wow, bringing up boys......
May 8, 2010
Dark Nights = Beautiful Days
Long, dark nights open up to the favor of beautiful days. I sat on the front steps to watch the sunrise this morning, wishing I'd thought to get the camera. It was glorious! I think that sometimes the rhythm of life works this way, darkness opening to light, over and over again.
Today will be an average Saturday: Laundry; house cleaning; yard work; gardening. The mundane becomes gentle and comforting. The emails and phone calls will be left until Monday. Today we will work. Together as a family there will be no electronic games, no TV. We will work side by side and celebrate the days ending with a BBQ dinner and a stimulating game of "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader." Enjoy your day!
Today will be an average Saturday: Laundry; house cleaning; yard work; gardening. The mundane becomes gentle and comforting. The emails and phone calls will be left until Monday. Today we will work. Together as a family there will be no electronic games, no TV. We will work side by side and celebrate the days ending with a BBQ dinner and a stimulating game of "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader." Enjoy your day!
May 3, 2010
Exciting News
I received a letter from NILD today. (National Institute for Learning Development)
Drum roll, please......They gave me a scholarship towards my Level II class to cover OVER HALF of the tuition for my class this summer. HUGE blessing! I sent in my scholarship application last week. :-)
And the other EXCITING news is......Office Max was having a buy two packs get two free sale on my FAVORITE pens!
Imagine that? All in one day. :-)
Drum roll, please......They gave me a scholarship towards my Level II class to cover OVER HALF of the tuition for my class this summer. HUGE blessing! I sent in my scholarship application last week. :-)
And the other EXCITING news is......Office Max was having a buy two packs get two free sale on my FAVORITE pens!
Imagine that? All in one day. :-)
April 30, 2010
Community Garden, A Boy's Paradise
Here is my friend's property. It is a beautiful farm! Our garden is shown in some of the pictures. R.H. has goats, chickens, guineas(the birds) and a great owl! I spend at least one day a week here working in the garden with the boys and then hanging out with R while the boys play. Love it! The house was built in 1858 and was originally the local post office and home of the postmaster. So awesome inside! The buckets and jugs of water go from my home to the garden since we haven't seen much rain as of late. We do have blue rain barrels ready for the next downpour. Praying to see a good soaking rain soon!
April 20, 2010
When the World Turned Upside Down
October 24, 2009. The day my world turned upside down.
Since that day, I have discovered something that I never knew. I have true friends.
I mean REAL friends. The kind that say you can call at 2:30 in the morning just to talk, and they have their cell phone right by the bed in case you do. The kind that will call you every morning just to "check in" and make sure you're okay. The kind that will spend the night with you when you just can't be alone and make it into a "fun sleepover." I had kept people at arms length for so long, that I am still amazed by their love. I hope that everyone can experience that kind of face to face love during their lifetime. I know it has changed me in a way that nothing else could.
Since that day, I have discovered something that I never knew. I have true friends.
I mean REAL friends. The kind that say you can call at 2:30 in the morning just to talk, and they have their cell phone right by the bed in case you do. The kind that will call you every morning just to "check in" and make sure you're okay. The kind that will spend the night with you when you just can't be alone and make it into a "fun sleepover." I had kept people at arms length for so long, that I am still amazed by their love. I hope that everyone can experience that kind of face to face love during their lifetime. I know it has changed me in a way that nothing else could.
Organic Community Garden Adventure
I am so excited!!! Along with four other families, we are planting a HUGE community garden. My friend, Rachael H. has the land. We've built a fence, tilled, dug rows, planted, spread mulch and will plant some more tomorrow. So far we have potatoes, onions, peas and tomatoes. I will be there with the children bright and early!
This is such a fantastic opportunity to teach the children to garden and help them to understand community, service and then reap the rewards by the bounty that we will share. We have a schedule and each family has a planting, upkeep and watering day...depending on the current needs.
Our challenge has been keeping the garden watered. With a definite lack of "April Showers," our rain barrels are dry and we can only use limited water from Rachael's well. So, I have been filling 5 gallon buckets from my well. I put them in the back of my Honda minivan and drive the five miles to Rachael's (that's nothing out here in the country...no stoplights. :-) The kids and I haul the buckets to the garden and carefully move down the rows. Right now it takes about 6-8 five gallon buckets to give each row a little drink. But Praise the Lord! It is raining right now. Yippee!!!
I'm planning to take pictures soon and will post them on the blog. I can't wait until I can take pictures of the boys picking bugs off the plants.....a definite need in an organic garden. Somehow I think it will be a joy for them. Just think of it! Mom is ASKING them to play with bugs....please!
This is such a fantastic opportunity to teach the children to garden and help them to understand community, service and then reap the rewards by the bounty that we will share. We have a schedule and each family has a planting, upkeep and watering day...depending on the current needs.
Our challenge has been keeping the garden watered. With a definite lack of "April Showers," our rain barrels are dry and we can only use limited water from Rachael's well. So, I have been filling 5 gallon buckets from my well. I put them in the back of my Honda minivan and drive the five miles to Rachael's (that's nothing out here in the country...no stoplights. :-) The kids and I haul the buckets to the garden and carefully move down the rows. Right now it takes about 6-8 five gallon buckets to give each row a little drink. But Praise the Lord! It is raining right now. Yippee!!!
I'm planning to take pictures soon and will post them on the blog. I can't wait until I can take pictures of the boys picking bugs off the plants.....a definite need in an organic garden. Somehow I think it will be a joy for them. Just think of it! Mom is ASKING them to play with bugs....please!
Sugar Doll Award
Okay, Alleyn, you got me. My first post in months. Hopfully the new beginning of my blog!
I am to list 7 things about myself and then pass this award along to 7 other blogger ladies!
1. I love words. I like to look up words in a thesaurus and think of sentences.
2. I want to be a memory-keeper, but I am hopelessly behind. I have a scrapbook for each child, for our homeschool and a general one for the family. When all the children are grown, I will work on them. Or, in the southern tradition, "I'll think about that tomorrow." ~Scarlett O'Hara.
3. I am taking the next course toward my certification as an NILD Educational Therapist. Pre-course work now consists of lots of reading and writing response papers, recording a therapy session with one of my students and doing a self-critique and then off the Pennsylvania for the last two weeks of June.
4. I read most books in about two days. (I'm not much on sleeping :-)
5. I love to write! I do not like to type what I write. I fill up journals and just today almost had a panic attack when my pen ran out of ink! Seriously!
6. I play the violin.
7. I like to eat cucumber slices with hummus for breakfast.
I am to list 7 things about myself and then pass this award along to 7 other blogger ladies!
1. I love words. I like to look up words in a thesaurus and think of sentences.
2. I want to be a memory-keeper, but I am hopelessly behind. I have a scrapbook for each child, for our homeschool and a general one for the family. When all the children are grown, I will work on them. Or, in the southern tradition, "I'll think about that tomorrow." ~Scarlett O'Hara.
3. I am taking the next course toward my certification as an NILD Educational Therapist. Pre-course work now consists of lots of reading and writing response papers, recording a therapy session with one of my students and doing a self-critique and then off the Pennsylvania for the last two weeks of June.
4. I read most books in about two days. (I'm not much on sleeping :-)
5. I love to write! I do not like to type what I write. I fill up journals and just today almost had a panic attack when my pen ran out of ink! Seriously!
6. I play the violin.
7. I like to eat cucumber slices with hummus for breakfast.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)