We have a court date!!
OCTOBER 21, 2010!!!!!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Okay day today...
No court date yet...miscommunication again. We must have the post placement visit before the hearing. Our new social worker, lovely, a new one at the end of this process, is coming tomorrow to do the post placement visit. I hope we have the procedures clear now.
Ann took forever to do her school work. The girls loves to color!!! It prevented her from finishing her other work. She did finish after her music class today, before we went to the soccer field.
Beth doesn't understand the value of things. She spent her only dollar, a gold coin given to her as a gift, for a candy bar at the field tonight. I told her if she bought something she could only have one piece because it was so late. She returns with a large candy bar which she was able to take one bite of and then put away. So she paid way too much for the candy, only got one bite, and spent her gold coin. How do we teach her the value of things?
Ann took forever to do her school work. The girls loves to color!!! It prevented her from finishing her other work. She did finish after her music class today, before we went to the soccer field.
Beth doesn't understand the value of things. She spent her only dollar, a gold coin given to her as a gift, for a candy bar at the field tonight. I told her if she bought something she could only have one piece because it was so late. She returns with a large candy bar which she was able to take one bite of and then put away. So she paid way too much for the candy, only got one bite, and spent her gold coin. How do we teach her the value of things?
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sugar Pill?
Is it really medicine or just a sugar pill? We are back to square one. Ann is eating fine and taking forever to finish her school work.
Beth had no tears during school today!!! Yea!! Praise God!!
Beth had no tears during school today!!! Yea!! Praise God!!
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
I have always loved this verse. I have played it over and over in my mind thousands of times since we brought the girls home.
Our days aren't always easy or peaceful. I often don't have time to stop and think. I get really tired and grumpy sometimes. I get very selfish some days. I can make many reasons and excuses for my issues. But really all that matters is that I do my best for God.
God has always known the plan for my life. It is for my good, not to harm me. Even on the bad days, God has given me hope and a future. He is in control of everything. He knows every mistake I will make each day. He knows when I repent and when I don't. HE KNOWS MY HEART!!
Each time he calls us to change, or a different season, it is for His glory and our good. It may not seem that way when we are going through it, but He knows the big picture. He knows the result. I have been through seasons, whether days or months, where I can't seem to find the good things. We often get stuck on all of the negative and forget about all of the things we have.
God knows the plan for our life. They are for good, not to harm us. They are plans to give us a hope and a future.
We know God called us to adoption. It would have been easier to make excuses about why we couldn't adopt. I can still name many reasons. However, we chose to focus on the reasons we could adopt. We chose to think of how God had prepared us for adoption.
About 1 1/2 years after having Morgan, I was having female problems. The doctor told me the only way to help was to have a hysterectomy. My husband and I had been praying about whether to have more children. We decided this was the answer to our prayer. I was relieved to have a way to relieve the pain I was having, but sad that I wouldn't have anymore birth children. I had the surgery. A couple years later, I really wanted more children. God gave my husband and I both the strong call to adoption. Years after surgery, we have five, instead of three, beautiful children. God knew the plans he had for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us...
We had always dreamed of building our own house. We were sad when we weren't able to build the house we wanted. We ended up purchasing and renovating the one we have. This house is ideal for adoption. The bedrooms are much larger than we would have built. Perfect for adding children to our family. We were sad and discouraged when we made the decision not to build. However, this house is perfect for His plan for our family. God knew the plan for us...
I am sure Ann and Beth have questioned things that have happened in their life in such a short 8 1/2 years. They continue to question and try to understand the best they can. As they grow older and begin puberty the questions will change and continue. I remind them when they ask that God knew them in their mother's womb. He knew the plan for each of their lives. He designed them perfectly. He knew they would be my girls one day. He designed them to look just like my family. (I can't wait to show you our family pictures. They look so much like our family.) He knew the plans for their life, plans to prosper and not to harm them, plans to give them hope and a future.
Wow, just writing this now makes me feel so selfish. My children have had days where they had no idea what was in their future. Would they ever have a forever home? Would they ever have a forever Mom and Dad that would love them unconditionally? Would they ever be able to trust anyone again? So many worries for such sweet little girls. No wonder they have problems. They are such sweet girls. We are so blessed to have them in our lives. I have learned so much from their little lives already. God uses the trials to teach me something every time.
I have always loved this verse. I have played it over and over in my mind thousands of times since we brought the girls home.
Our days aren't always easy or peaceful. I often don't have time to stop and think. I get really tired and grumpy sometimes. I get very selfish some days. I can make many reasons and excuses for my issues. But really all that matters is that I do my best for God.
God has always known the plan for my life. It is for my good, not to harm me. Even on the bad days, God has given me hope and a future. He is in control of everything. He knows every mistake I will make each day. He knows when I repent and when I don't. HE KNOWS MY HEART!!
Each time he calls us to change, or a different season, it is for His glory and our good. It may not seem that way when we are going through it, but He knows the big picture. He knows the result. I have been through seasons, whether days or months, where I can't seem to find the good things. We often get stuck on all of the negative and forget about all of the things we have.
God knows the plan for our life. They are for good, not to harm us. They are plans to give us a hope and a future.
We know God called us to adoption. It would have been easier to make excuses about why we couldn't adopt. I can still name many reasons. However, we chose to focus on the reasons we could adopt. We chose to think of how God had prepared us for adoption.
About 1 1/2 years after having Morgan, I was having female problems. The doctor told me the only way to help was to have a hysterectomy. My husband and I had been praying about whether to have more children. We decided this was the answer to our prayer. I was relieved to have a way to relieve the pain I was having, but sad that I wouldn't have anymore birth children. I had the surgery. A couple years later, I really wanted more children. God gave my husband and I both the strong call to adoption. Years after surgery, we have five, instead of three, beautiful children. God knew the plans he had for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us...
We had always dreamed of building our own house. We were sad when we weren't able to build the house we wanted. We ended up purchasing and renovating the one we have. This house is ideal for adoption. The bedrooms are much larger than we would have built. Perfect for adding children to our family. We were sad and discouraged when we made the decision not to build. However, this house is perfect for His plan for our family. God knew the plan for us...
I am sure Ann and Beth have questioned things that have happened in their life in such a short 8 1/2 years. They continue to question and try to understand the best they can. As they grow older and begin puberty the questions will change and continue. I remind them when they ask that God knew them in their mother's womb. He knew the plan for each of their lives. He designed them perfectly. He knew they would be my girls one day. He designed them to look just like my family. (I can't wait to show you our family pictures. They look so much like our family.) He knew the plans for their life, plans to prosper and not to harm them, plans to give them hope and a future.
Wow, just writing this now makes me feel so selfish. My children have had days where they had no idea what was in their future. Would they ever have a forever home? Would they ever have a forever Mom and Dad that would love them unconditionally? Would they ever be able to trust anyone again? So many worries for such sweet little girls. No wonder they have problems. They are such sweet girls. We are so blessed to have them in our lives. I have learned so much from their little lives already. God uses the trials to teach me something every time.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Math
Each day the girls have a math lesson and a worksheet. Beth is always rushing to finish her school work. We go through the same song and dance everyday. I teach the lesson. She quickly completes her sheet and gives it to me to check. The math program reviews constantly so the sheet is very comprehensive. She usually misses quite a few the first time around. I hand it back to her to correct her work. She gets angry and starts the silent tears. The tears don't work with me. When they came in April the crying may have worked once or twice, but that is it. Then I had her number. She shuts down and can't function. I try to help her, not enable her, and she can't even think straight. She can't answer the simple questions which I know she knows the answers too. She wants me to tell her the answer so she can get her school finished. I refuse to tell her the answers. I am totally willing to walk her through the steps to find the answer. I am not sure they were made to think on their own in their previous environment.
Yesterday, she had a number line to number and then tell what number some letters were on. I told her the number line was correct, but she had the wrong number beside a letter. She was one off on a number. She proceeds to erase all of the numbers on the line and all of her answers. Only one number was wrong and it was circled in red as I alway do. After about 15 minutes of crying and being angry, she was still not able to renumber the line. She did it with no problem the first time. I suggested that she go play or ride her bike for a while and then try. She chose to sit and cry. Is this control? She can't handle being wrong? She knows I will not help her while she is crying and whining. I feel like she is trying to manipulate and control the situation.l She knows that I will not accept, "I don't know how" or "I can't" either, especially when I know that she does know how.
Once she finishes her little fit, she can complete the work. This may take an hour of tears and frustration. She gets mad at me because I won't do it for her.
Ugh!!
Yesterday, she had a number line to number and then tell what number some letters were on. I told her the number line was correct, but she had the wrong number beside a letter. She was one off on a number. She proceeds to erase all of the numbers on the line and all of her answers. Only one number was wrong and it was circled in red as I alway do. After about 15 minutes of crying and being angry, she was still not able to renumber the line. She did it with no problem the first time. I suggested that she go play or ride her bike for a while and then try. She chose to sit and cry. Is this control? She can't handle being wrong? She knows I will not help her while she is crying and whining. I feel like she is trying to manipulate and control the situation.l She knows that I will not accept, "I don't know how" or "I can't" either, especially when I know that she does know how.
Once she finishes her little fit, she can complete the work. This may take an hour of tears and frustration. She gets mad at me because I won't do it for her.
Ugh!!
Selfishness
We all can have moments. of living a world of "self". However, that is not how we should live. We are to serve others and not expect everything to revolve around us.
I believe testing and control must be in the air based on the some of what my blog friends are saying. I am thinking that may be what I am dealing with in Beth. I think she is testing her boundaries to see what she can control. She is repeatedly asking for something after I have told her no because she wants it. No other reason. For example, we have had many discussions about not getting out of bed before a specified time and getting dressed because you disturb your sisters. It is showing respect and love for your sisters. Well, today is Saturday. We allowed the girls to stay up later to watch a movie. I told the girls to sleep late. Do not get up until after 7:30 or so. However, between 6:30 and 7:00 this morning the twins were both up. Morgan was trying to sleep. I am in my bed awake and at about 7:05, Beth appears in my room completely dresssed with hair fixed and everything. I could not believe it!! I wasn't happy. I asked her all of the questions concerning all of our morning rules. She answered everyone correctly. She knew the rules, but she chose to do it anyway because she wanted to get dressed. I asked what time she got up and she said she didn't know. Not the truth because she looks at the digital clock in her room first thing every morning. I asked her if she got up before seven. I don't know. Another lie. I told her I heard someone up before seven. She chose to break the rules.
I also reviewed the rules with Ann while Beth walked the dog and she also knew the rules and chose to break them. Ugh!! They both had to sit on the couch quietly while I showered. They weren't allowed to go in their room because Morgan had gone back to sleep. Ann and Beth will both go to bed one hour earlier than Morgan tonight. Is that mean? I don't know what else to do. This is a common occurance. I am wondering again if I need to give Morgan her own room and move the Alex and Tucker in together. I would put Beth and Ann in Alex's room.
Beth is testing her boundaries and control in different ways in addition to the incident this morning. One day this week is that she asked me if she could wear a certain hair clip on our family cotton field pictures the other day. I told her no. I was thinking that I may have time to fix her hair with it if I can get everyone else ready; however, I didn't tell her that. A few minutes later, I am ironing the boys shirts and she comes up behind me and asks again if she can wear the clip. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She repeated the same question. I told her I had already said no, why is she asking again. Her answer was, "Because I want to wear it."
Today we were keeping a friend of ours little girl that is 3 1/2. She wanted to watch Dora. Beth got mad and refused to watch TV because it wasn't what she wanted to watch. I had had enough. We had the discussion about the world revolving around us and that she doesn't get everything she wants her way. She has to share and serve others. Sometimes she needs to show love by considering another persons desires.
Ann's struggle is pouting when someone gets something or gets to do something that she doesn't get. She was mad the other day because they were all invited to a birthday party that Morgan has been invited to every year for about four years. She didn't appreciate the fact that she was invited when she has never met the girl. She was mad because Morgan had been for the last few years. I asked her if she had ever been to birthday parties of her friends before. She said she had. I said that Morgan didn' t get to attend those. How is that different?
Today at a yard sale I purchased 50 cent jacket for our friends little girl. Ann got pouty because it wasn't for her. She is getting pretty good at the pouty lip. Ugh!!
Today Morgan was showing our friend a porcelain doll that I made when I was in high school and had given to her quite a few years ago. The girls were playing with them because I had purchased them some dolls at a yard sale this morning. They each had porcelain heads. Ann started pouting because she didn't have one and Morgan did.
This is getting old.
I believe testing and control must be in the air based on the some of what my blog friends are saying. I am thinking that may be what I am dealing with in Beth. I think she is testing her boundaries to see what she can control. She is repeatedly asking for something after I have told her no because she wants it. No other reason. For example, we have had many discussions about not getting out of bed before a specified time and getting dressed because you disturb your sisters. It is showing respect and love for your sisters. Well, today is Saturday. We allowed the girls to stay up later to watch a movie. I told the girls to sleep late. Do not get up until after 7:30 or so. However, between 6:30 and 7:00 this morning the twins were both up. Morgan was trying to sleep. I am in my bed awake and at about 7:05, Beth appears in my room completely dresssed with hair fixed and everything. I could not believe it!! I wasn't happy. I asked her all of the questions concerning all of our morning rules. She answered everyone correctly. She knew the rules, but she chose to do it anyway because she wanted to get dressed. I asked what time she got up and she said she didn't know. Not the truth because she looks at the digital clock in her room first thing every morning. I asked her if she got up before seven. I don't know. Another lie. I told her I heard someone up before seven. She chose to break the rules.
I also reviewed the rules with Ann while Beth walked the dog and she also knew the rules and chose to break them. Ugh!! They both had to sit on the couch quietly while I showered. They weren't allowed to go in their room because Morgan had gone back to sleep. Ann and Beth will both go to bed one hour earlier than Morgan tonight. Is that mean? I don't know what else to do. This is a common occurance. I am wondering again if I need to give Morgan her own room and move the Alex and Tucker in together. I would put Beth and Ann in Alex's room.
Beth is testing her boundaries and control in different ways in addition to the incident this morning. One day this week is that she asked me if she could wear a certain hair clip on our family cotton field pictures the other day. I told her no. I was thinking that I may have time to fix her hair with it if I can get everyone else ready; however, I didn't tell her that. A few minutes later, I am ironing the boys shirts and she comes up behind me and asks again if she can wear the clip. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She repeated the same question. I told her I had already said no, why is she asking again. Her answer was, "Because I want to wear it."
Today we were keeping a friend of ours little girl that is 3 1/2. She wanted to watch Dora. Beth got mad and refused to watch TV because it wasn't what she wanted to watch. I had had enough. We had the discussion about the world revolving around us and that she doesn't get everything she wants her way. She has to share and serve others. Sometimes she needs to show love by considering another persons desires.
Ann's struggle is pouting when someone gets something or gets to do something that she doesn't get. She was mad the other day because they were all invited to a birthday party that Morgan has been invited to every year for about four years. She didn't appreciate the fact that she was invited when she has never met the girl. She was mad because Morgan had been for the last few years. I asked her if she had ever been to birthday parties of her friends before. She said she had. I said that Morgan didn' t get to attend those. How is that different?
Today at a yard sale I purchased 50 cent jacket for our friends little girl. Ann got pouty because it wasn't for her. She is getting pretty good at the pouty lip. Ugh!!
Today Morgan was showing our friend a porcelain doll that I made when I was in high school and had given to her quite a few years ago. The girls were playing with them because I had purchased them some dolls at a yard sale this morning. They each had porcelain heads. Ann started pouting because she didn't have one and Morgan did.
This is getting old.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Movie Night
The boys are camping this weekend, weekend so the girls, my husband and I are all about to watch a movie. The girls are very excited. The simple pleasures in life.
They decided to have a ballet theme for their birthday party. I have ordered all of the matching plates, blowers, pinatas, ballooons, etc for their party. We usually don't purchase all of this, but we are for them this time. They are VERY excited.
Ann's meds aren't working. She was very moody and emotional today. She wasn't finished with her school work at 4:30. She couldn't read clock time. She could this morning. I told her to finish it tomorrow morning. I thought we had mastered that skill. Hopefully, in the morning she will be able to do it.
I am being paged...
They decided to have a ballet theme for their birthday party. I have ordered all of the matching plates, blowers, pinatas, ballooons, etc for their party. We usually don't purchase all of this, but we are for them this time. They are VERY excited.
Ann's meds aren't working. She was very moody and emotional today. She wasn't finished with her school work at 4:30. She couldn't read clock time. She could this morning. I told her to finish it tomorrow morning. I thought we had mastered that skill. Hopefully, in the morning she will be able to do it.
I am being paged...
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