Beating the Heat and birthdays

My little man Logan turned 4 last Thursday. I always get a bit nostalgic each year as his birthday approaches. You see, 2 weeks before he was born I had told Mike (and the Lord) that I was finally "done". Done longing for, wishing for, dreaming about having a child. We had been foster parents for a period of time and had had several short-term placements that had left us feeling a little weary. I had finally begun dealing with the idea that I was obviously not meant to be anyones mommy. Then, on Saturday morning July 24 at 8:15 am we were awakened by my BFF Kelly (who is also a caseworker for DCS). Mike answered the phone and when Kelly said "we have a baby for you" he said "Oh for heaven sake" and handed me the phone. All we had was a crib, so I very calmly called my mom and told her we needed to go shopping. We picked our sweet boy up at the hospital 48 hours later and ......the rest they say is history. My aunt said it best when she explained that I got pregnant on a Saturday and delivered on a Monday:). God truly stretches us in times like these and the blessings He bestows are oh so sweet!!!!!!

Its been SO hot here the last week or so that we have been spending alot of time hanging out at the lake or under the sprinklers. My little water bugs are loving it.

Racism

I knew that it was bound to happen at some point....but it still feels like a sucker punch in the gut. We had our first "encounter" of blatant racism. Our babysitter Lynda is a wonderful lady with 2 grown kids of her own. Her husband is finishing up his degree and is home with the kids during the day alot of times as well. Our best friends twin girls stay with her too. They are just the best, always going above and beyond to help our family. There were a couple of kids who Lynda has been watching a few days here and there recently. Today Lynda explained to me that she will not be watching them anymore as their father decided they would not continue to bring them to a babysitter who was also watching black kids. What......are you kidding me????? I teased with my mom that the kids are in more danger of learning bad habits, etc. from Logan than from the "black" children. But in all seriousness my heart just aches. Helina has the kindest, most generous heart and has so much to offer to those she encounters. What will happen when she and Noah are old enough to understand this stupidity that is racism? These 2 kids (who both LOVED Helina) may very well be the next generation of narrow-minded people because of their parents influence. Racism is LEARNED at the hands of those who have the responsibility of teaching the next generation.

"Parking" it

We were able to get away for a few days last week. We headed to one of our favorite summer time places. Cedar Point Amusement Park in Northern Ohio. Its one of the biggest (and best) amusement parks in the world and is located on beautiful Lake Erie. We stayed at one of their resorts right on the lake. We were "on the go" for 72 hours. From water slide, to wave pool to rollercoaster to hotel pool. I came home more tired than when I left:). I'm not complaining though. We had so much fun together. We bonded over the icecream and bumper cars. Nothing better than spending quality (and fun) time with my family!!!!!!

Walkway to our hotel
Beautiful Lake Erie

Logan LOVED the bumper cars (whats better than being able to ram into people and not getting time-out for it:))

Ok guys.....give me the corny smiles

Helina and Megan, or....aliens from another planet

My peeps:)

Logan and I on his first rollercoaster ride (nope, he didnt put his hands up)

Papaw with Helina on her first rollercoaster ride (yep, she had her hands up the WHOLE time)

This is one worn out girl

Looking back

I was scanning all of my favorite blogs tonight and was reminded of how hard the wait to bring your child/children home can be. AlthoughI cant imagine how, I had in some ways forgotten just how hard it is. On the 4th we always watch the fireworks out on an island of one of our big area lakes (thanks Janice for letting us popsquat on your yard:)) and as I was watching Helina and Logan run around playing it struck me that exactly 1 year ago I was sitting in that exact spot dreaming of the time when Noah and Helina would be enjoying the fireworks with us. Wow, what a difference a year can make. It seems like time slows down when you children are waiting for you on the other side of the world but I want to encourage those who are waiting who might be visiting me here. Before you know it your children WILL be here and your lives will be richer and fuller for it.

Tonight as the kids were out front playing in the sprinkler Helina came running towards me (trying to get me wet I think). Something in the way she was smiling as she ran took me back to that day in January when I was anxiously awaiting my first glimpse of her at her orphanage. She came running through the gate after school with that same big smile on her face. It brought me to tears for some reason. I feel so blessed to have been given the gift of these children. And now that I am looking back on this journey and all that it entailed instead of trudging through it I can say without a doubt that it is ALL worth it!

Summer Fun

We are having such a great summer. The weather has been absolutely beautiful and we have enjoyed being outside in it as much as possible. We enjoyed our 4th of July weekend by keeping with some of our oldest "traditions" and starting a new one. Attending a 4th of July parade in our area that we have gone to since I was a little girl and then heading to my Aunt and Uncles house for a big family cookout afterwards was a blast. Helina LOVED her first fireworks display. She kept saying "oh mommy, that one was really cute":). We also started the new tradition of a block party. Good food, friends and our husbands fireworks display (they wait all to buy and set off their fireworks) had us all saying we couldnt wait to do it again next year!


Waiting for the fireworks to start
Doesnt get much better than this for scenery to watch while you wait.

Hangin with cousins at Aunt Pollys cookout. The kids rode on this golf cart ALL afternoon.

My patriotic sweeties!

Noah enjoying his daddies rocking chair from when he was a little guy.

Zoey is the most patient little thing. Good thing in this household

Helina and Megan. This is the night we went to see Wizard of Oz at our local theatre. Helina was completely mesmerized. She loved the singing and dancing.

Enjoying a Friday night concert in the park.