Oh What a Night!

Last night Big Guy and I travelled to Bellaire, Ohio, just over the W Va border to watch our baby boy coach his first high school basketball game.

It was a blast!

Sometimes watching high school sports can be a little like watching paint dry. Not so on the new hardwood floor at the gym of St John Central. Jeremy had his boys ready to play Jefferson Christian.

In his coaching debut, his Fighting Irish players dominated, winning by 22 points!

The crowd was really into it, including the student dressed as a Leprechaun. The gym was decorated with signs for the boys, orange basketballs with the name of each player. There was even a basketball sign that said "Coach Grubbs".

When the score was 4-3 in favor of Jer's team, I looked over, and my better half was tearing up. I said, "Are you crying because he's winning his first game?"....at which point I was told to look the other way. I trust none of you will tell on me that I revealed that :)

One of my favorite moments was when I went out in the hallway at half time. There on the wall was this sign: WE LOVE COACH GRUBBS

So do I, St. John fans. So do I.

Somewhere Out There

On our way to our getaway with L, N, and E to the Poconos, we watched several flicks. We were blessed that we acquired a van equipped with a VCR player to take this trip. (Thanks to Vern and Wheels to Work). "Big Guy" had done a VCR purge of our home about a year ago (saying who has a VCR anymore in this day of DVDs?) but luckily I salvaged a few and Bethy salvaged a lot. We had quite a selection from which to chose for the trip.

One of the ones we watched was "American Tale". What a classic.

What I didn't expect was how much the story of Fievel's predicament, being separated from his parents, was going to present such a strong parallel to the real life situation my 3 little ones are in.

When the featured song, "Somewhere Out There" was over, L, aged 8, said in a quiet voice, "Great song." Consider some of the words:

Somewhere out there, Someone's saying a prayer

That we'll find one another in the big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are

It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star.....

it goes on...

Somewhere out there if Love can see us through

Then we'll be together, Somewhere out there, out where dreams come true

When the ending came, and Fievel was reunited with his parents, the lump in my throat was large and the tear in my eye was real. I could not help but think of these 3 precious little ones searching to have that someone to reunite with underneath the great big sky.

Double knot

Did you teach your children to double knot their shoes? The premise being that, if your shoelaces are double-knoted, they are less likely to become untied.

Well, I believe the case we are involved in with Children and Youth services has become quadruple-knotted as of today. A very complicated case has just become even more so, times ten.

What that means to us is, we will more than likely still have these children when the calendar turns to 2011. Our original commitment was 3 months. We are definitely looking at five to six months. xxx

Since I had a pretty bad evening yesterday (nothing was going right!) I had to have a pretty good talk with myself today when I faced reality.

My conclusion: ( and I need your help holding myself to these)

I am going to try not to sweat the small stuff.

I am going to enjoy the hilarious and endearing personalities of these 3 little souls more every day.

I am going to try not to sweat the small stuff.

I am going to fill my freezer with frozen entries.

I am going to use paper plates more often.

I am going to try not to sweat the small stuff.

I am going to do a better job using the resources around me.

I am going to try to remember that these six months of my life are a drop in the bucket compared to the 598+ months I have been alive.

I am going to pray more.

I am going to try not to sweat the small stuff.

How are we blessed? let me count the ways

Although we are tres disappointed in the support we have been receiving from the authorities (see previous post), I would be remiss if I did not state loud and clear how VERY BLESSED we have been throughout this fostering situation by our friends and family.
First of all, the prayer support. Without your prayers, we would be flat on our backs with an IV sticking out of our arms. No kidding. The physical work involved in having a 2yr old and a 4yr old at age 54 is staggering. We have felt the extra measure of patience at bedtimes (most nights), at mealtimes with copious spills and demands, and during potty training (repeat: most times). Those are the three biggest challenges with the younger 2. Bedtime has become easier as they are falling into a more peaceful routine. Mealtime remains challenging; and potty training has always gotten the best of me. I suck at it. Period.
The meals that have come from near and far have been lifesavers. IF I NEVER HAD TO COOK AGAIN I WOULD BE ONE HAPPY LADY. So to each who has provided a casserole, a roast, pasta or chicken, THANK YOU.
The care-taking: So many have stepped up to lovingly watch the children when we have needed it. Of the two months we have had them, we have had 3 weeks of free daycare at a Christian daycare. It has been wonderful for them to learn in that godly atmosphere. But filling in at other times have been loving and godly friends and family that have opened their home and hearts to them.
The "stutz" (stuff) as E would say: Clothes, toys, beds, sheets, blankets, wipes, and pull-ups. Just yesterday we came home to find two cases, one pink, one blue, of pull-ups on our front porch.
Blessed? I WOULD SAY SO!

Kinship Caregivers--two month check in

We have just passed the two-month mark of being Kinship caregivers to L, E and N. Some tips and pointers to the powers-that-be involved in this are in order:

1. When you place 3 children in one home, please don't put the same deadlines on the kinship/foster family as you do when you place one child in a home. There are 3 times as many hoops to jump through! Guess what? That takes a little longer!

2. When there are court-ordered visits, don't alter the schedule due to the demands of the parties involved. That's not fair to us, and probably not legal.

3. When you make a promise of aid, please follow through.

4. Return phone calls from kinship/foster families. We aren't calling to chat. We need something.

5. Don't make demands with less than 24 hour notice. There are work schedules, school schedules, daycare arrangements, etc that need to be worked out.

6. Don't demand that paperwork be accomplished, signed, etc just for the sake of the paperwork being done. Try to remember what the paperwork represents: healthy and safe environments for everyone involved. A signature doesn't prove didly-squat.

OK! Got those off my chest! Now where is the pen to sign that document????

Around and around it goes

Over a month since I've last posted; I've been a little busy!

Three beautiful young souls came to live with us six or so weeks ago. How it happened had to have been an act of God. So, we accept how the path is unfolding and find a way to keep the world spinning.

There have been some absolute highs having an 8 yr old, 4 yr old and 2 yr old around. A trip to Cook Forest was a highlight, with the 3 of them riding ponies that we led through a meadow. Going to the zoo (first time for the two youngest) was a lot of fun and memories were made.

There have been meltdowns as well, by both the young ones and the "mature". Recently both the dryer and the washer quit, on a day when beauracracy and paperwork had already threatened to choke us. *Snap* went my cool, right after a visit from a county caseworker.

Third graders defintely need clean underwear; that 's not optional. Luckily I had done a load right before the washer decided it's quittin' time. How to dry before school starts the next day? L and I decided to put the boxers on a hanger and hang from the ceiling fan in his room. It was one of those warm nights so the ceiling fan went round and round all night long, as did the boxers. Voila! Dry undies for school the next day!

My Reputation

Evidently, I have a reputation with the toddler set.

While travelling to Station Square (Jon driving), 4 yr old E says, "Big Guy, go faster!"

Jon replies, "I can't! The cops will stop me!"

To which E retorts, " No sir! The cops never stop Patty!"