Day One Accomplished!

Ok, so today was our first official day of summer homeschooling.

I love it!!

Wow. So I wasn't expecting to feel that way at first, but it was really really fun and so much easier than I expected. Of course, I know that can change and certainly don't expect things to go this well every day. I'm thankful, though, that we are at least off to a good start.

Here's how our day looked (I promise I won't repeat this, I'm just writing it down for the first day, you know?) 

Calendar/Weather/Devotional

Breakfast:
The boys helped me make egg and cheese sandwiches. They are becoming so helpful in the kitchen - never thought that would happen.

Outdoor Time:
I allowed for one hour. We all ran three laps around our courtyard together. Then David decided he wanted to build his Lego set outdoors and Anthony climbed a tree and looked for bugs. I did my devotional outdoors while they were playing.

Math:
David helped me 'teach' a lesson by drawing a number line on our white board and by counting to 100 so that Anthony could jump high on 10, 20, 30....you get the idea.

Handwriting:
We sang the song about starting from the top (I love that my boys are already familiar with the Handwriting Without Tears program) and worked on the introduction pages. We kept it short because Anthony was starting to look tired. David wrote down our memory Bible verse (Psalm 1) on the large whiteboard in their room.

Free Play:
This gave me time to write down some notes and get snack ready.

Snack/Read Aloud:
Since we had already read Charlotte's web and finished the first two chapters for the second time this weekend, I skipped that and just read them a poem.

Language Arts: 

The reading was way too easy for Anthony and he was very unimpressed by the lack of story line in the short story about the fat rat. The copy work confused him because the writing was different from Handwriting Without Tears. I'll have to fix that. 

Swimming: 

We spent 40 minutes swimming laps at the Rec Center Pool. It was great exercise for them AND me. David swims fairly well and is practicing his formation. Anthony is still just getting comfortable with me letting go of him in the water. After our laps, the boys played in the slightly more shallow area. It cracks me up how my impulsive child is so hesitant in the water and my more cautious child is so daring in the water it freaks me out:).

Lunch/Science/History: 

They made themselves peanut butter and honey sandwiches while I hopped in the shower and then they enjoyed the rest of their lunch while I read to them about where different species of animals live (those boys were shouting out random animal facts that left me impressed).  Then came history and we learned about different countries, currency, flags, etc. Anthony decided he wanted to make his own flag for Japan and David went along with it. Both boys spent a good 20 minutes working on their flags until I had to tell them to take a break and play before we headed out for Anthony's therapy session. 

Today was an easy day. Our science experiments and other extension activities will take longer, but it was a nice way to start off...you know, to actually finish a full day. 

Oh wait...I forgot to mention something about that Bible verse David wrote on the white board. The goal is to memorize it by week 6 so they tell you to read it twice a day. I was reading it aloud to them as they were finishing their dinner and was absolutely stunned to hear Anthony finishing my sentences. How in the WORLD did he almost memorize that verse in one day?? Memorizing is not that easy for him, but for some reason....he has a knack for memorizing Bible verses. It amazes me and I know that is all God:). 

Anyway, I have my bag of materials ready for tomorrow. I think we are going to do school at the Library for a good portion of the day. They have a cool playground nearby too! 

Yesterday's Visit

I really want to write in detail and share pictures from yesterday's visit, but in efforts to respect the privacy of all involved I will keep it short.

Yesterday we took a mini road trip with both boys and their birth moms down to have a visit with David's big brother.

It had been a very long time since he had seen his birth mom so we weren't really sure how things would go with all the strong emotions that would be felt.

While planning, we weren't sure where to meet for this visit. The water park? Too overstimulating for Anthony. The zoo? That would work, but it was closed. A park? Yep! I found one and minus the strange shirtless man screaming obscenities at us, it was perfect.

Let's just say that the reunion went as smoothly as possible and the overall visit was a blast. Seeing everyone together...playing soccer, running around the park, going swimming...it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The boys were amazing and I really feel like Anthony is turning a corner with visits with his Mommy A.

God is good and we were thankful that our prayers for a special reunion visit were answered!

Summer is Here!

We have been having a fun week at VBS (Vacation Bible School).

It has taken Anthony a few days, but he is back to his more regulated self:). Although he is having difficulty with another child in his group who is constantly trying to touch his hearing aids. I chatted with his teachers once and am encouraging Anthony to let them know if this kiddo doesn't listen when he asks him nicely not to touch.

People are drawn to Anthony.  There was this older woman who saw him today and gave him a kiss on his cheek. Anthony didn't know what in the world to do. Neither did I for that matter!

David has been surprisingly easy going and enthusiastic about meeting new friends and having new teachers through VBS. I hope that this continues when he starts at his new school in the fall!

I've been volunteering in the nursery at VBS and am absolutely loving it! I get to love on some adorably sweet babies for close to five hours...it doesn't get much better than that:).

We have a new table! A 30 year old solid oak table we bought off Craigslist from a Christian family who have five children and live in a small home (with only one bathroom!) near us. Lee spent a lot of time chatting with the husband and he was such a great example of someone who is truly content with what God has given him.



Now we have this table and it is so so so nice. There is storage under those bench seats and we finally have room to welcome others over for dinner and all sit at the same table:). So we can seat more people AND it takes up less space than our other table. I call that a win - win.

Today we went to the pool with (Z)! Now that made it officially feel like summer.

And there you have it...the start to our summer. Tomorrow is another pool day and dinner at our place with (Z) and this Sunday all of us (Mommy N, Mommy A, Lee, the boys, and I) will be traveling to see David's big brother!!

Calm Down

Anthony had a few hard moments this afternoon. At one point, while he was crying, he asked me:

"Mommy, can you help me think of a strategy to help me calm down?"

Yes, I will be forever thankful for his amazing Kindergarten teachers and all that they taught him this year!

Definitely! Not so much...

Me: "The social worker is coming over this afternoon and she might ask you what you think about staying a foster family and caring for other children."

David: "Oh, definitely! I want to stay a foster family. What about you Anthony?"

Anthony: "It's hard work. I want to take a break."

-------------------------

Anthony is having a hard time with the end of the school year. He was really sad to say goodbye and when he is sad it comes out as irritability and defiance.  To be honest, I think I am the same way sometimes. I'm just thankful that the reasons for his behavior changes are becoming more obvious to me. 

He's right, though, we do need to take a break....his heart is healing and he deserves as much security and predictability as we can give him. 

Control - Content - Complacent

I have been thinking and praying about something.

It is likely on my mind because it is a time of change with school ending and changes happening next school year.

It is also the same time of year when we were surprised with sweet Baby C after I had FINALLY come to a place where I had accepted my husband's decision of taking a break from fostering:).

So I have been thinking a lot about 'what ifs' lately. What if social services calls us about another child who needs a home? Is deciding to take a break (since it is my first year homeschooling Anthony) selfish because it is the easy thing to do or is it the right decision for our family?

I had a conversation with another mom...a wise mom who gave me a lot of really great insight into this debate I was having over EASY vs. RIGHT. God uses easy times to prepare us...we should enjoy those times and wait expectantly for what God has planned.

Then, this morning, I woke up and there it was! The 3 C's.

CONTROL   ------- CONTENTMENT ---------  COMPLACENCY

It finally all made sense. There is a continuum, you see, and sometimes we sway too far to the left (that's me...I like to control) and sometimes we sway too far to the right. God wants us right in the middle. As long as we are in a place of contentment, we are in a place where we are available to be used.

And so I am praying that as summer approaches and this new season arrives, instead of wondering about all the 'what ifs' and instead of trying to control every detail, I will embrace this season with intentionality and be CONTENT with all the ways that God has blessed our family.

My Boys

My boys are goofballs. Boy can they make each other laugh. All Anthony has to do is look at David with his mischievous smile and David just cracks up. 

Sometimes it is really cute. Sometimes it is way too loud:).  

My boys don't mind standing out...like the other week when it was Wacky Wednesday at school and Anthony had a dentist appointment. They both wore their bathing suits and had the first letter of their names shaved on the back of their heads (compliments of Daddy). Sorry, we didn't take a picture of it this time, but I wouldn't be surprised if we get another chance later this summer! 

Oh, and this is Anthony at the dentist in his bathing suit before he had his two bottom teeth pulled. He was very brave. Yes, I still need to take a picture of him with his bottom teeth missing. His permanent teeth are really far back and crooked. I'm predicting braces in his future. 

Here we are with a picture from today! Grandma and Grandpa sent David a kit to make a terrarium for his birthday. We are growing carnivorous plants. Here's to hoping something grows because this mommy does NOT have a green thumb. We followed all the directions, though, so I am hopeful. Anthony got to write his first observations in his Science Journal (thank you, Christy-Ann, for the writing journal recommendation!) and David reviewed ordinal numbers as we listed the steps needed to make this thing. It was fun and I am reassured by the fact that I will be homeschooling the one who likes to write:). Just kidding...sort of. 

Summer is almost here....bring it on! 

Trapped

I sat inside my car inside a storage facility with my windows open.

Birds were chirping and as I looked up, I saw a nest in the corner.

Why in the world would they want to be trapped in this place? They are at the mercy of the gate in order to escape and find food. What a tedious process that must be.  Wouldn't they rather be free...flying outside....with easy access to food and their home?

Anthony's birth mom and her sister hopped in my car. They were dropping off some of their things in the storage unit. They took note of the birds too and guessed that they might feel safer here in the storage facility than outside where there might be predators.

Ahhh....fear. How often are we so afraid of the 'unknown' that we refuse to leave our comfort zones?

It looks different for each of us. For some it might mean only spending time with people who are just like them. For others it might mean resisting new experiences and preferring familiar routines.

We are trapped - just like the birds. We are happy with our false sense of security and completely unaware of the amazing experiences that God has waiting for us just outside of those gates.

I smiled as I looked over at my son's mom and thought about how God has gently coaxed Lee and I out of our comfort zones through foster care. He has given us the incredible gift of seeing Him actively at work in each and every relationship and we have been blessed with the constant reminder that He will provide for our family if we put our trust in Him.  

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the are; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown in the fire, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6: 25-34

Risk

Second Placement

The four year old is already on his second placement.

My heart breaks for him and I am praying hard that he won't have to move again.

Outward Appearances

It took me a little while to figure out what to do, but I problem solved. We took our COSTCO dinner and ate it outside of the store while waiting for daddy to arrive.

People walked by and smiled approvingly. I'm sure they were thinking: "What a wonderful mom, doing something fun and different with her kids on this beautiful day."

I laughed to myself. They had no idea that one of my kids didn't make it to the bathroom in time and it was my only solution since I didn't have a change of clothing for him.

Things are not always as they appear:).

SEVEN

Just seven more days until our oldest turns seven years old...CRAZY!

It will be nice to have six months without having to explain that they aren't twins:).

Pictures Galore

Guess who came to visit us all the way from California??

That's right, Lee's parents! David and Anthony had two full weeks with their Abuela and Abuelo. We all loved every minute of it. It was really special and miraculously, all six of us fit quite comfortably in our two bedroom condo:).

Here are some photos from these past two weeks:

Abuelo is now wearing Anthony's old hearing aids! They are both thrilled. 

Trip into DC to see the monuments.

Abuela bought the boys some bubbles. They were thoroughly enjoyed. 

Lee broke out the kite. 

We relaxed....

Spent a ton of time outdoors. 

Found some sprouting seeds. 

Planted them. 

We were sad to say goodbye early on Saturday morning, but are so thankful for the time we were able to spend together. Lee and I and the boys will cherish all the hugs, walks, laughs, talks...and we can't wait to add to those memories whenever we get to visit next!