Summer

Summer is coming to an end. Books are being read, football practice every morning is coming to an end. We have had a wonderful fun filled summer. We went on vacation for the first time as a family in many many years. It actually turned out kinda nice. Hopefully we can make this an annual event. For too many years it has been just me & the boys. They always want their dad to come but he never has time for us. We went to Chattanooga and stayed for a few days. Went to caves, dinner and a mystery show, aquarium, rode the incline and a few other things. Took lots of photos. We have also gone canoeing this summer. I love floating down the river and having fun. I've found more and more ole friends on facebook or rather they found me. I love reconnecting with them. We have had cookouts with friends, gone out to eat and just reconnected. One of my lost loves also found me on facebook. I was so happy to see him even if it was on a computer. I'm learning to live knowing that I'm not #1 in certain people's life even if I should be. I still have no air in my car. Yes I know this is the 4th summer. I've been told I will NOT ever have air in my car. It needs to be replaced but that won't happen for a few more years. For now I'm driving my old '94 Ford Ranger that does have air. It looks horrible and I really do not like having to drive it but since it has air I will love it. I want my car fixed but unless I find a way to fix it myself it will not be fixed. Scooter has been invited to be a US Student Ambassador with People to People for next summer. I sure wish I had the money to make it happen. I don't think that I can raise that kind of money or I would jump at the chance. Hopefully in another two years I can let him go. I hate that his brother was allowed to go but now he can't go also. Trip of a lifetime. Wish I had known about this group when I was growing up. I would have gone, no doubt about it. We are working on my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary party. That's something that really needs to be celebrated. Will I ever make it that far knowing that I'm not #1. I have to learn to get past his toys being #1. Always have been and will always be that way I guess. First it was the horses, then team roping, then cowboy mounted shooting and now that the horses are sold but we still have the horse trailer and we have added motorcycles. I refuse to ride. I have kids to raise. I don't want on one of those things with kids to raise. Wonder what I can get into before school starts back.

School is almost out

Well school is almost out. We survived the 10th & 6th grades. McMuffin is exempt from all final exams. 6th grade does not allow that so Scooter will have to take his. McMuffin is still loving his job at McAllister's and has bought himself a truck. He is learning just how far his paycheck will not go. He is learning how to budget and manage his own paycheck with is always a good thing. He ask for extra hours and loves having his own money. Scooter is about to be allowed into the youth program at church. He can't wait. I just hope it lives up to his expectations. I loved my youth group growing up but found out really quick that it was not what i expected when I was allowed to attend. Hopefully he will fit in like he wants to and have really good friends there. We are planning out little mini vacation. This will be the first time in many many years we have all gone somewhere together. Usually its just me and the boys. Mcdaddy usually skips these events. We are going back to the Smokey Mountains. The boys and I went a few years ago and had so much fun. They want McDaddy to go then but he wouldn't/couldn't. Like I said this will be a short trip so we will not be able to do much. We plan on going to Rock City, Ruby Falls and go through some other caves. I'm taking my handy dandy camera and hopefully getting so really good pics this time. Hope everyone has a great end of the school year and a fun summer.

Frustrated Mom

Yes that describes me today. Christmas came and went and so did the new year. Work is busy as usual and the boys are back in school. I'm glad to be back on a schedule. I usually walk daily with two ladies from the neighborhood. Friday morning started as usual with us walking but it was super cold. When we started out it was 17 degrees and I had on 4 layers of clothes and two sets of gloves. I sure didn't want to get cold but I do need to walk. We were walking right along until the car started coming. We all tried to get out of the way and I ended up stepping in a pot hole. I fell and hurt my hand and my foot. Both seem to be better and I know it will just take a little while to get well and start walking again. Fast forward to Sunday. Found out that the clutch is out in McMuffin's truck. I've said before we need to fix it and now its broken and it needs to be fixed really soon. I'm afraid it will just sit there with the excuse we can't fix it now and I'll end up with no vehicle. McMuffin will have to use my car or rather I'll let him since I only work one mile away but now is no time for this. We can't seem to fix my air in my car thats been broke for 3 years, nor can we fix the pop pop I have in my front end when I turn. The truck that I'm usually stuck with has no air, the door is screwed up and other things are screwed up on it. Now the other truck is broke and I just know there will be excuse after excuse on fixing this one too. I'm tired of this merry go round and want off.

Leading up to Christmas

Just a week is left until Christmas. The outside decorations went up early this year. I was surprised that Pop wanted to put lights up since I usually do and he never gets around to it. I gave up years ago trying to make this happen. After the lights went up we put the tree up. Last year I didn't want a tree up. It just makes me sad since the money is low and I feel like I let the kids down when they do not get what they want for Christmas. This year it will be more of the same. Pop took the list, and since Pop gets a Christmas bonus check and I dont, he goes shopping. I tagged along and gave a little direction on some things but try to stay quiet. Its up to him. I can't do what I've always done and I can't get the big things they want so I just keep my mouth closed. Do you know how hard that is? The one day the following week I get it all out and count and see how many they each got. As usual one had more than the other so Pop gets to go back and fix that problem this weekend. I'll give just a little direction and see what happens. Scooter has already notice there is not much under the tree. They each have three small gifts, I have one and Pop has none under the tree. His was his motorcycle riding suit he already has. This makes me super sad but nothing I can do about it. All my income goes to pay the bills and there is nothing left for extras. There would be extra if and when I get the doctor bills paid (6 more months hopefully) and then try getting the tutoring bill paid after that. The bonus check seemed to pay Pops parents back the money he had borrowed from them and also pay for the leather motorcycle riding suit first, then Christmas second or rather third. Hopefully by next Christmas it won't be so hard and I'll be more in the spirit. Until then Bah Humbug!!

A family for Stacey

Girl, Born February 18, 2005

SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!!

Stacey is a lovely young lady who is about to turn 5 years old. She has golden blonde hair and big brown eyes. Stacey is DEAF. She is totally normal for her age. Normal development. She is reading by lips, she understands when people are talking looking at their lips. She is a favorite in the orphanage, and the staff and director so hope to find a family for her. She is a beautiful girl with a great personality.

Can you tell I've been looking all morning at the http://www.reecesrainbow.org/angelgirls.html site? These little angels just break my heart. If you can't adopt one now can you give toward helping another family adopt them? Check out the site and see how easy it is.

A family for Olga. Can you be that family?

Here is her information from Reece's Rainbow:

Olga is a beautiful girl with brown hair and deep brown eyes. She is almost 5 years old and has severe CP. She is not able to walk or do much of anything on her own. But she needs a FAMILY!
From one of our own adoptive families who visited with Olga in August 2009: "Little Olga really touched my heart, and I SO hope that she finds a family!!!!! She is such a pretty little girl with a very, very sweet spirit. Her CP is pretty severe, and I don't believe she sees well. Also, her hips look either to be dislocated pretty badly, or else they are just in a bad position. I didn't hold her or try to do anything with her on this first visit but I did talk to her, and stroked her face and arms and whispered sweet nothings in Russian to her. At first she seemed a little wary, but after awhile she softened and I could see what a beautiful little girl there was inside. To the right family who could handle her issues, oh, what a blessing she'd be. I just fell in love with her. I do have more pictures if anyone is interested."
Olga is almost 5 years old and is blessed to still be at the baby house. She is facing institutionalization this Winter, and will likely remain bedridden the rest of her life. :(( Someone please save Olga!
Now... if you are honest you are probably asking yourself the same question that I asked myself. This is all wonderful but, realistically, is anyone going to adopt Olga? In my heart we had to answer YES! We would not be raising money toward her adoption in vain... her family is out there, God is moving in their spirit.

Oh, and by the way, Olga means "Holy".

This post had me in tears. I so wish I could adopt a special child like Olga but I know I can't. How about you? Visit the Reece's Rainbow site and see all the beautiful special children.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. This year it will be a happy one for me. Since I am adopted and do not know my birthparents, I usually feel all alone on holidays. My adopted parents passed away many years ago and I was the only child they adopted. I know very few facts from being adopted and would love to find my birthparents. Growing up my adopted parents and I went yearly to South Alabama to my aunt and uncles house or to my grandmothers house. There were lots of cousins to play with and I loved it there. I always wanted to move there. I've gotten tired of being alone so with the help of facebook I have reconnected with my cousins and my wonderful aunt. We are heading to South Alabama to see (hopefully) all my cousins, their spouses, children, grandkids and my aunt. I can't wait. We went to visit not to long ago and my youngest son loves it there just as I did when I was young. He has been counting the days until he can go back. I so hope that both of my kids can find a family connection there and have some type of connection to family on my side. The next best thing to this would be for me to find my birth family and eventually have a relationship with them.