Grieving The Leaving

While not my intent to invade anyone's privacy, it is no secret that Miss R has been with us for 3 out of the last 4 weeks. Our usual schedule has been one weekend a month giving us a chance to check in and support her family in lots of ways.

Unfortunately, this time the situation meant....a family in crisis.We all have them, the tough times. How we handle those bumps in the road, well that looks different for everyone.

As life on the other end got straightened out, the time came for Miss R to go back. 

Suddenly we found ourselves in familiar territory except this time without government agency support.

When it came time for her to go, the leaving felt oh-so familiar.

Emotionally, I checked out a few days before. I hate that about myself. We each preserve those inmost feelings our own way. I recognized the pattern from past experience when we reunified foster kids with their parents. It's super hard to say good bye even in the best circumstances. 

Micah refused to say good-bye to his sister. Broke my heart. 

New boundaries have been set.

The unknown future held in prayer.

I made mistakes and learned a lot.

And I would make them again

In a heartbeat.

 If you asked me.

Pictures of the Week 6/24-6/30

Summertime is an opportunity for lessons in choosing what's best for our family as there are so many fun things to participate in. This week brought a trip to the East, a leaving, a birthday, and an airshow. I had some help with the photography this week.

  Yum Yum Summertime

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Eat little man. What ever you want. Eat some more!

  Nature Provides

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My daughter offered me a roadside bouquet of wildflowers.

 Creation

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Only God could create the beauty we find outside our door.

  Bananas Are A Food Group

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She would eat bananas all day if she could.

  New Addition

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Last day of fourteen brought a new bunny named Topaz. 

She is a Thrianta and a beautiful orange-red.

  Older

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Erik made his own cake this year. What a great job. 

Blue Angels

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Bob, Erik, and Grandpa went to the airshow today.

 I'm told these Blue Angels are only 18 inches apart.

Strawberry Pickin'

The inevitable came as we piled out of a full van.

"Is this a field trip? she asks."

"Yep." 

I'm learning to keep it short.

Surveying  our assigned territory.

Ripe and ready.

Endless rows of summer.

She smiles.

The perfect one?

Or this?

Another first experience. Ah, the joy. 

Don't ask Mama whose is best, just take a bite.

Be proud of your work.

In her glory.

She was everyone's helper.

Go for it girly.

"Look what I found."

We spread out and conquered.

 

Gone the next morning.

Not sure who was more scary, the owl or a couple of toddlers.

On the way home, God gave us a reason to praise him 

with a glorious sunset.

What a great night.

Food, fun, and beauty.

Pictures of the Week 6/17-6/23

We had a little foray to the East and enjoyed our time away...from home and cell phones and internet. Highly recommended every once in awhile.

  What's Outside Your Window

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Just feet from the back door, a visitor was discovered feasting on last night's refuse. 

Somebody didn't take the trash all the way to the shed.

  When You Are Two...

170 / 365

Quiet is amazing.

  Determination

171 / 365

Hershey Track is an outstanding program.

  Strawberry Fields Forever

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We went picking on a ridge at sunset.

  Bathing Beauties

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No words.

Out for a stroll

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As far East as you can go in the US of A.

Seaweed Monster

175 / 365

The most impressive piece of seaweed I have ever seen.

Whose RAD Is It Anyway?

Over the last couple of months, I've spent some time with a few psychologists doing basic routine assessments for a few of my kids. 

Not sure if I reported it here or on FB, (too lazy to go back and look it up) but one meeting included me having a serious discussion on the developmental aspects of my Chinese adoptee with only one loopy dangley earring. The other ear: naked. Call me a crazy homeschooling mother of many, why don't you?

The other psychologist? She was not impressed with our less than "typical" lifestyle with under the breath comments like, "That's a passel of kids. You certainly have your hands full" and "So your child doesn't have any friends because you never socialize with other kids" after I relayed the multitude of activities we participate in on a weekly basis. Swallow hard, carry on.

When your kids come to you at 8 years, or 5 years, or 5 weeks old for that matter, a lot has happened in their lives. More than we will ever know and it is advantageous to gather as much information in every possible way. 

Being informed helps us

understand the past,
deal with the present,
plan for the future.

As I was talking to the psychologist about my child, she had the nerve to suggest that during a particularly prickly stage with my child, the bonding and attachment was compromised. Not the child's. Mine. Ouch. I took that nugget home to think about with my tail between my legs.

Yes, she actually said I have attachment issues. 

Time for: (Insert deep announcer's voice) 

Confessions of an Adoptive Mom:

I love my children. I really do.

Yet sometimes, there is one that is very hard to like.

All that history that I wasn't part of?

It gets in the way.

Of my understanding. It disrupts my compassion. 

And the truth of it all?

God has given me a vehicle for growth. 

A way to learn more about how Jesus loved the unlovable.

And He did exactly that in the best possible way.

Pictures of the Week 6/10-6/16

Pictures dominated by graduation this week. 

And that's okay! 

 Reflections

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The Baccalaureate was a time to reflect on the end of high school and the beginning of the next part of life. I inadvertently caught myself in the cool dude shades.

  Hide 'N Seek

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Rosy and Micah thought they were so clever to hide behind the door. 

Just imagine the giggles....

 Ready To Run

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In the middle of the track meet, 

they have a fun run for the little kids.

 Experiment

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A pine needle floating in air caught on a spider's string.

  Twelve

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Our first public school graduation. 

Here's to bling on the rear view mirror!

 

In The Garden

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The best helper ever!

Speaking at Graduation

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My son gave the Invocation at his public high school graduation.

He did a great job.

My Dad...

Our church put a video together for Father's Day. One thing about having a large family is that we are usually well represented in just about everything at our church. I can't wait to see the slideshow today. Or I may be too busy watching my husband's face as he watches. Then again, I may be looking at my Dad, who is sure to get emotional as his three kids attend church with him on Father's Day 2012.