Tuesday, March 29, 2011

T-Ball

I love, love, love the spring.  It's a time for new beginnings, warmer weather and baseball!  We just love the game of baseball at our house.  And new this year we have been asked to coach a 4U t-ball team.  We had our first practice last weekend and it was tons of fun.  The kiddos loved running around the bases (and all in the right direction), hitting the ball (or at least attempting to) and playing in the dirt.  I am not sure how much baseball we were able to teach between all the wonderful randomness of 4 year olds but we had a great time.  Our team is full of energy and I am looking forward to our first game! 

On a completely different topic our youngest niece will be in town this weekend and I am hoping to be "one of those people" who take bluebonnet pictures of her and also we will watch the Rangers, learn Texas our Texas and maybe I will read her a book about the Alamo.  She does need to be reminded  that she really is a Texan at heart and that she wants to live near her aunt! :) 

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

So Close

Over the past few weeks we have made much progress on the process to become foster parents.  My grandparents were in a weekend and were super nice and bought us some items we needed, Buck's bought us a crib, my mom helped me shop and bought some bedding and then Buck's mom helped us paint. Also a huge thanks to my best friend Cindy for the box of kitchen goodies she sent and to my sister, Stephen and Hallie for the many things they have given and mailed to us! The room looks wonderful and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

We are still waiting on our fire/health inspection and then we have officially completed the process.  All we have to do is wait around until May 20 and then they will be able to place children in our home.  There are lots of reason of why May 20 but that was the last official word from Buckner.  The cool part about May 20 is that I have been offered a long term sub job at the high school Buck works at that ends on May 20.  Even better about this date is that Buck and i have been working hard to pay off all of our debt (minus car and house) before they place kids in our home.  Unless there is an emergency this will  be accomplished since I was offered the sub position.  I can't wait to be able to go see a movie again!  I think I miss those the most :)  We both know that this has to be from God since we could  have not asked for it to work out any better.

Over the past weeks too God has provided several people to give us words of encouragement or they have given us items we may need.  I am super grateful that we really haven't had to buy too much considering w have to be ready for any gender child raging from 0-10.  We are blessed with a great group of friends, family and church family.

As we wait out our last month and a half I ask that you pray that God will continue to prepare our hearts for this adventure, that families will be healed and that we will be able to meet the unique needs that each child will bring to our home.  And of course once there are children here, come along with us, come visit us, or continue to pray for us as we learn how to do life with not only the children but the many many adults that will be in and out of our home all helping us love each child. We truly could not do this without the support we have been given!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Baseball and Buckner

Ok, so I know this blog is suppose to be about our adventures as we become foster parents however, I must take a few moments to rant about my Rangers.  Ever since I moved to the DFW area I have been at opening day.  I would save vacation days, flex days or take off from school so I could be there.  It means spring has started which is the most wonderful time here in Texas.  I love it.  I love Ranger baseball and seeing families take trips to the ballpark and friends hanging out.  The smells, the sounds, ballpark nachos, the hope of catching a foul ball....just a few of the wonderful things about baseball.   With all the wonderful things I can saw about Ranger baseball (and I even thought they were wonderful with they weren't winning, I sat through many many losing seasons) I am sad to have gotten a rejection letter from them.  This year we had to sign up for the "opportunity" to have the chance to maybe get to buy opening day tickets.  Everyone I know got a rejection letter and I felt like it was personal when I got mine.  Me, a fan through the ugliness that use to be the Rangers, a fan of Ian's the first game he played, a fan who has been at the coldest game in Ranger history and who will sit in the 100 degree weather, I was rejected by the Rangers.  It was a sad sad day here but I am trying to remind myself it's not personal, it's business but it still stings a little.

And just in case you are wondering what I will be doing come April 1 for opening day, I will be grilling out at friends and watching the Rangers play (on TV).    And  whether we win or lose I am here from the beginning to cheer on my Rangers!


Today Buckner will be coming and doing their last walk through and then we will have our inspections from the county and we are done.  Buck and I are super excited about getting all the steps completed with and are grateful for all the help people have provided us.  My mom and I had a great time last weekend out shopping and organizing  and we are looking forward to Buck's mom coming and helping us paint.  And as our time gets nearer I get more and more excited about playing a role in helping families heal and getting to love on little ones.  We have all needed help from time to time in our lives and this is our way of helping others hopefully through us others will know the love and hope and God can provide.