After a HARD weekend....

Today, I officially, start my new position...maybe...at least I will be announced as the newest supervisor, at work (that was the news I couldn't share till today, for those inquiring minds).  I *know* I'm on the supervisor schedule for next week, not sure what I'll do this week.  


It is going to be different, more hours, more responsibility and that will make it hard on me, with the kids....praying God continues to move and that life can begin a new normal, very very soon.


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Who knows this little gem of a person?

Anyone?

She is the character of "Nancy Olsen" on Little House on the Prairie.

I talked to my sister, the other day...we were solving the worlds problems and then she got tickled.  She said that when they got home from vacation, that sat down and turned on the tv and Little House was on.  It was the episode where Nels and Harriet adopt Nancy.  She said, as she was watching it, that she began getting very tickled at the antics of Nancy.  How she is such an angel for some people and such a terror to others.  

She started laughing, out loud, saying that after a few moments she realized WHO Nancy reminded her off...and it is Gigi LOLOL.  I laughed because when she said that she was watching that episode, my first reaction was that Nancy had RAD and Little House had pegged it, without even knowing.  

We were both belly laughing at the irony of putting a character to such a horrible diagnosis of anyone and not even realizing what they are doing.  We probably shouldn't have laughed, it isn't a funny thing to have or to deal with, but if you can't life and find an ounce of joy in your trials, then you won't be refined, as God promises in the book of James.

He loves Gigi....warts and all.

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Last Sunday morning, I sat by my friend, Nina.  We have sat next to each other in Sunday School for the last year.  The past few months, with her family issues and my family issues, we have connected.  She is a source of peace for me and we are so different that it makes things fun.

I don't speak of our adoption, much, in church because I feel like a broken record.  I'm always requesting prayer for the same thing...for a year.  I know that they are still praying, but I just keep things to myself.

Last Sunday, I didn't.  I remembered that I had some post it notes in my bag and I pulled one out.  I put down 4 things:

1)  to be approved

2)  for the dad's death certificate to be in before the Oct. 14th deadline

3) for the paperwork to be turned in by Oct. 14th deadline

4)  I get hired for the supervisors position

I slipped my post it to Nina and she said that she would put it on her mirror and pray over each thing on the list.  I am humbled because she was willing.

WELL....

On Monday (after the Post It)....I got a call stating that the death certificate was HERE after we had been told that it would take at least 3 days to a week to have it translated and sent.  Then, at work, on that same Monday, I got offered the supervisors position AND all the paperwork is being sent today or tomorrow.

WOW!

So, yesterday, before even telling Nina how her dedicated prayers affected our lives, she said "hey, I like the post its...got anymore, I want to write on one and I need a new one for you!"  I told her of my exciting news...she about jumped out of her chair....we squealed at the graciousness of God.  I whipped out my post it's and now I have one for her and she has an updated one for me.

My challenge for you...find a friend...someone you trust...get some post its...see how God can answer YOUR prayers this week.

6 Ingredient Pizza Casserole

1 lb. ground beef
Package of pepperoni
1 large jar spaghetti sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Egg Noodles

Grease 13 x 9 baking dish and preheat oven to 350.

Cook egg noodles till soft, drain and set aside.

Cook ground beef (salt, pepper, onion powder, italian seasoning); drain.

In dish, layer spaghetti sauce, noodles, ground beef, pepperoni, mozz, parm, sauce, noodles, beef, pepperoni, mozz, parm.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 min.  Uncover and bake for 15 min.

It was YUMMY!

Cute pair of pants VS the fat roll

Okay, so I have a 20% discount at work (YAY ME) and that coupled with a 30% off coupon and clearance items equals a huge YAY YAY YAY.

So, on my lunch break, I decide to shop.  I randomly walk around the store thinking "where are all those cute things that I sell that is $1.97?"  Eventually, throughout my time, I find a cute cute pair of pants.  They are khaki pants that can either be rolled down or used as capris.  Cute.  I buy the size I normally wear (gasp) and don't try them on.....I loathe trying on clothes and I refuse to buy a size bigger.

I get home, all excited and try them on....they fit, but I can't breathe or sit.  It has a snap closer, so when I do try to breathe, my snap pops :(

In the quest for cuteness, I decide this morning, that I will wear those pants.  I anxiously rip the tags off and contemplate how I'm going to function for the next 8 hrs in these too tight pants.  I chose a shirt that covers my gut and so if the snap blows, then I can discreetly snap them back (if you count sucking it up and turning blue to get them to snap).

I'm so excited, though, because I remembered I had fake spanks, deep down in my drawer.  Here lies the answer.  I lay on the bed and shimmy them up, thinking I'm gonna die and there will be no way I will be able to go to the bathroom.  I pull them all the way up and then I proceed to put on my new pants.  They fit, comfortably!  Yippee!  I think I look quite stylin' as I load up the kids and head to work.

Throughout the day, I bend, lift and move...a lot...fake spanks aren't quite built for that and at one point, I notice the back of my spanks (I walked past a mirrored column at work) and there was a HUGE fat roll on the back because the back of my spanks was rolling south.  I thought I was still safe because the front was still up....then....I squatted.  Big Big mistake.  In one instant, my fake spanks rolled under my fat roll and there was no easy way to "lift" them back up without going to the bathroom (which I couldn't do because I was training a new kid and he can't be left alone) or hide in the stock room.

I thought I'd be okay, even though it was incredibly uncomfortable for me, until I realized that my pants were starting to give way.  I quickly got someone to cover me and rushed to the bathroom.  It took an Act.Of.Congress to get out of the spanks and then to roll them back up over my fat roll.  I got everything back up and headed back out to the floor.  I felt pretty good cause the back roll was gone and the front was way up over my fat roll.

Did you know once you "stretch" out elastic, it is never the same?  I didn't.....I quickly learned that fact because within 10 minutes, my fake spanks was headin' south and then there was a POP and out came the fat roll.  I was very thankful to be clocking out and heading home.  I can handle anything for 40 minutes.

I rush in, grab my sweet Big Daddy and tell him I need him upstairs.  It sparks an interest in him and he rushes upstairs.  By the time I got there, I was standing in the bedroom with my fake spanks sucking the life out of me and sticking to my person.  I beg him to help me get out of this contraption.  I felt like Miss Scarlett, in Gone With the Wind, when Mammie is tightening her corset (although I'd make 4 of Miss Scarlett).  He got so tickled because it was *so* hard to peel off my body.  By the time it was over, I rushed to the bathroom.  Big Daddy asked why I was in such a hurry and I tried to explain to him that I hadn't had the privilege of using the bathroom because of my need to wear the cute pants.

I guess it is time to do the Fat Smash diet again or to simply eat better.  I don't want to be skinny, I just want to be able to breathe in cute, incredibly cheap, pants............

Tomorrow, I'm wearing elastic.

WE HAVE IT WE HAVE IT WE HAVE IT

The GREATEST Woudneh in the WHOLE world sent a worker bee (whomever you are, thank you) to the region where my son lived and has his dad's death certificate!

It is now being translated into English and then will be scanned to our agency.  Once the agency has it, they will send it to the attorney...once the attorney has it, it is off to immigration (again).

Once immigration has it they WILL approve us.

Once they approve us, they send the approval to the Embassy in Ethiopia.

Once they send it there, we get an Embassy appointment.

Once we get the appointment WE FLY TO ETHIOPIA TO BRING OUR SON HOME!

Only God could have orchestrated this.  He allowed us to meet and adopt our son in Oct. 2010.  We should've had him home by Dec 2010, but God had other plans.  He had to clean out a very cluttered room of my heart.  It has taken a year, but I can say that the room that he cleaned is clutter free and now I'm going to hold my son again.  He did this, He delayed us, He did so so I would re-learn to love my daughter.  I fell in love with her, by accident.  Fixing her hair (it is another post, so scroll down).

I am in AWE.....

I'm seriously going to sniff his afro right off his head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's all okay

Death certificate for son's father (in Ethiopia) STILL NOT HERE after 4 weeks.  

It HAS to be in immigrations hands by Oct. 14th.

My house smells of pee because the dog had an accident in the chair.

The laundry got left in the washing machine by Peach and it smells of mildew and stank.

Gigi's fingertip definitely looks broke.

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God is still on the throne.

All we have to do is ask and pray that our desires are in His will.

I got *really* good news yesterday, but can't share till next week.

My kids are healthy.

My husband is wonderful.

I thought I had to go into work at 2 and I don't have to be there till 3:30 YIPPEE.

Gigi is doing Bug's chores....not sure if she realizes it yet, but hey, the kitchen is getting cleaned.

Peach is redoing the laundry with gusto and fervor because I told her no more horse sales until she can show some responsibility.

Date night with Big Daddy.  We ate at August Moon (yuck) and we went to see Courageous (amazing).

My mom watched the kids yesterday and will watch them tomorrow, so I can work.

It's all okay.

Hug your kids and husband, tell them how much you love them.

Forgive those who have hurt you.  It isn't for their benefit, but for yours.  Unforgiveness is a poison that can allow satan to have a foothold in your life.  God can't clean out your rooms with that on your heart.  Allow Him to heal the hurts, release the pain and let it go so He can do miraculous things in your life.

Blessings.

Guns, Bulls, Cops, Amish, OH MY

Note to self:


What happens between Peach and Papa at the horse sale STAYS with Peach and Papa.


Me to Peach:  "Are you behaving"


Peach:  "Yes"


Me to Peach:  "Is Papa behaving"


Peach:  "No."


Me:  "What is he doing"


Peach:  "Well, he got out his gun and was waving it around and shooting because of the stubborn bull.  Then, we got pulled over."


Me:  "Let me talk to Papa"


There ends the story because you would *NEVER* believe what he was trying to do.  It involves the gun, other people with guns and a stubborn bull..............hearing her giggle, hearing him giggle, makes all the trauma in my mind, okay.

Sneaky Kid and Sneakier Papa

I *would* post a picture of Papa (my daddy), but due to the fact that Martha *might* read this and daddy *may* see this....I'd rather not because he gets a bit....testy when his picture is broadcast all over the internet, so I'll post a pic of Peach and call that one a day.  Here is a description and you can conjure up in your mind what Papa looks like.  His voice is thick, like Sam Elliott....he also sports the long, handlebar mustache that Sam Elliott occasionally sports.  His hair is getting white with still a touch of black sprinkled in and he is normally wearing a hat (whether it be a cowboy hat, a baseball hat or a hat like Crocodile Dundee would wear).  He wears cowboy boots or moccasin type shoes, a pocketed t-shirt tucked in and always sporting his belt, belt buckle and knife.  When he goes to horse sales, he wears a nice button up western type shirt with a vest.  He always smells good and he sashays like John Wayne.  I simply adore him.

Thursday nights are the night that Bug goes to spend the night with my neighbor.  She works with him and his FMD class on Fridays.  She loves it.  I told Peach that she would be spending a FEW hours with Jojo and Papa and her excitement level was off the charts.  I thought she was just excited to not be home or that she didn't have to do schoolwork because Jojo thinks that is wrong to do work at her house or the fact that she was chore free for a FEW HOURS.  I couldn't understand.

She was up and at em on Friday morning...ready to fly out the door at 8 am.  I am half awake, driving the 40 miles to work. My mom meets me at work, which is wonderful because I can snuggle, even for a moment.  I love my mama....simple as that.  They are off, I'm off to clock in.

Here comes 1:00, I'm off and head to jojo's to pick up Peach.  I step out of the truck and Martha is in her shop, working on wreaths.  Peach is in there with her, fixing  her own wreath and Papa is in his shop speaking with a client.  I look up and Martha states that Peach is staying overnight and going to the horse sale with Papa.  I just stand there and say "okay"....this is odd....A) Papa doesn't take anyone to sales B) he has already done with once with Peach and I thought that would be the end C) Jojo is always busy

I go to hug Papa and tell him that I'm guessing that Peach is staying and to take care of her at the sale.  I then go into the house to use the bathroom and I notice Peach's backpack that she carries everywhere.  I noticed how "thick" it was.  I was proud thinking she had packed books or homework to do while at Jojo's.  I look in the bag and notice her toothbrush sticking out, sleep clothes and clothes to wear for the next day.  That little turd had planned to ask, without my knowledge, and was prepared just in case they said yes.  Papa can't hardly say no to her.  Her passion for horses matches his passion.  He is tickled, she is thrilled.  They are certainly two peas in a pod.

The answer to Papa's questions, last night when he called:

1)  No, she can't drive, she is only 13.
2)  I am still her boss
3)  She is not 17.
4)  Yes, you must feed her
5)  You must not give her the "rules of life"
6)  I know, Daddy, you are still my boss, therefore you are her boss, therefore have fun.

Love that man.  Love my mama.  Love my Peach.