Maybe I Should Have an "Open Basement"

I'm thinking I should have an open house of sorts for:

The furnace guy who just happened to notice 

the cat poop in the old sawdust on the floor.

The friend who needed to borrow a book and 

endured a trip down to the book shelf/library.

The social worker who I brought down to see the 

girl's bedroom and prayed that she didn't look left.

The fire inspector who had to look.

The girlfriends who stayed over night down stairs. 

 

Yes, it was really that bad.

The picture above, believe it or not, is a huge improvement.

 I started out with some cheap boxes and filled 'em up.

With all kinds of important "stuff."

And now we can see floor and we can walk 

in a straight line to find something.

We haven't seen this much carpet in years.

My daughter said I needed an "intervention" for my book issue.

I might have a problem.

Then I sheepishly admitted that I got two books in the mail. 

And three yesterday.

And (oh help me) four were coming tomorrow.

So tough love has arrived.

As of this writing, 8 boxes of books have departed.

I'm hanging in there. I keep sifting and gleaning.

I won't tell you how many duplicates I've found.

How many books does one really need about dinosaurs, weather, birds, Helen Keller (5) before they all start to say the same thing?

My daughter is a go-getter. She is making it happen. I am so grateful because I couldn't see the forest through the trees. The walls and floor are being sealed. Look at that tremendous white space. Isn't it beautiful.

 On the other side, I am still working on 

organizing, categorizing, and purging.

Really, I am.

Two shelves done and three to go.

We have progress.

Major good stuff over the weekend.

Like carpet and lights and maybe even a craft station. 

It had to be done.

Stay tuned.

Good Morning Girls

 Grateful

 for an online community who hungers for the Word.

We are studying the book of Ephesians over the next 12 weeks.

Wouldn't you know that the first two days have 

inspired and convicted me all over again.

When the word "adoption" crops up, my heart flip flops.

'Cause that's who I am and where we are at right now.

Here is what I wrote for my observation of Ephesians 1:5-6

A poignant passage because we have adopted multiple children. I have stood in court and divided my inheritance again and again. They became mine the moment that stern judge looking down at us signed the paper. That moment, we became one in the eyes of the law, the people, and the world. 

God has adopted me. Am I one with God? Do the eyes of the people around me see God when they see me? Did I take his "name" and do I honor Him with my thoughts, word, and deed?

So much to learn.

And think about.

Growing closer to the Christ.

Who gives new life.  

Thank you, Good Morning Girls.

For community.
Inspiration.

Love.

Cat Meets Kitten

After years of multiple cats and dogs, we are down to one feline other than rabbits who will ALWAYS live outside. However, we've had a visitor while our daughter is home on college break. Our cat, Cloud, is barely tolerating the foolishness of the kitten, Derby. I'm not sure I would look at a bunch of pictures of cats but my goal with Project 365 is to be a better photographer and the only way to do that is to practice, practice, practice. The fun part was that the cats were sitting on top of a stairwell. Off the back side was about a 10 foot drop. Living dangerously.

"Does this thing ever stop?"

 "Are you touching my head?"

 "Smile for the camera."

 "Oh, good grief. If I ignore her, will she go away?"

  "Watch it girlie!"

 "Stay in your own airspace."

 Resume bored expression. Kitten takes submissive pose.

 Lower.

 We love this picture because Cloud looks like an owl.

This is my second favorite picture. 

King Cloud and his loyal subject, Derby.

Coming and Going

 The best of both worlds.

I think.

Miss R came for the weekend. 

She can put a face on like no other.

 She is kind of like our tenth child.

We will always love her.

Care for her.

Be there when she needs us.

We will respect her family.

But claim our own place in her life.

Brothers and sisters.

Mamma Jen and Daddy Bob.

 Miss R, you are so beautiful.

The coming and going is bittersweet.

This arrangement is working for now. 

Not without its trials from the blood brothers 

who love her desperately.

We get behaviors and moodiness and confusion.

But we want to be there for Miss R, too.

And I hope they will understand some day 

why we have chosen this path.

For them.

Let The Purge Begin

The January-Jobless-College student has agreed 

to lead the charge against "The Stuff."

First stop. Containment. Check.

The goal: To create an indoor play space. We have a huge basement that has collected dust and stuff in equal amount. We've organized, categorized, and thrown out a whole bunch. Stay tuned for progress.

Easier said than done in some instances. 
Here's the thing. 
I need to organize my desk area.
First I must contend with heaps of paperwork. 
Stacks of reports, meeting reminders, court papers, correspondence and so on.

As the pile amassed, I couldn't help but wonder why I kept every single piece of information that came my way, anything with a name on it. I have another box just like it downstairs.

One day, I realized what is in those boxes represents a piece of someone's life. In some cases, it is all the history I have for my children.

Makes me sad.

That I can't change the past.

Looking to the future is all we can do.

Together. 

With a lot of help from God. 

Who had a plan all along.

Pictures of the Week 1/8-14

Project 365 pictures for the second week of January include
a baby,
a beautiful girl,
a delicious breakfast,
yet another toilet,
a snowstorm,
my youngest,
and 
the shampoo dance.

ENJOY!

  Baby Levi

8 / 365

We got to visit Levi in the hospital today. He is about 15 hours old in this picture. We brought one of his sisters, Grace, to meet him for the first time.

  Green Eyes

9 / 365

My beautiful "Irish Girl" with her green eyes and freckles. Eyes speak volumes if you let them.

 Breakfast Treat

10 / 365

Erika made French Breakfast Puffs for us this morning. Pioneer Woman comes through again. Love the cookbook. Love my daughter more!

 Foot pedal

11 / 365

My 10 year old daughter was AMAZED to find a foot flusher in the Federal Building we visited today. I'm still not sure whether this was modern or antiquated.

A Man and His Machine

12 / 365

Erik has complete and full control of the snow blower.

Eyelashes

13 / 365

A cooperative three year old with beautiful lashes. 

The Shampoo Dance

14 / 365

What you find when your artistic child cleans the bathroom.

You're Hot?

All of the sudden, I looked over and there was 

some monkey business going on at the dinner table.

"Joshua, what ARE you doing?

  "I'm hot." 

Seriously, the boy owns two long sleeved shirts 

and only wears one to church on Sunday.

Bob has a rule about wearing a shirt at the table. 

Clever boy got around that one, now didn't he?

 Monkey see, monkey do!

Hello Winter! You're Back.

 If it's going to be cold, we might as well have snow. 

'Cause my kids were trying to make do.

 Yesterday, I ran around town in a long sleeved shirt and a vest.

 Winter made a comeback today.

 Complete with chapped cheeks and runny noses.

 About 4:00, the troops rallied for clean-up. 

This is one snazzy car mover.

 Erik owns the snow blower these days. 

We all (gratefully) let him.

 I believe he's been wearing that hat since about age 4. 

I love that he is a worker-bee.

 Grateful for the big kids home today.

 Their enthusiasm went a long way towards making my day better.

 Photo flops.

Erika gave a thumbs up.

What was I thinking? My artistic streak needs a revamp.

I thought this one was cool 

but the photographer said the flash was obvious.

At least I got outside for 10 minutes.

Welcome back winter.

White is much prettier than brown.