It will slow down sooner or later

What a busy life we are having. I remember (many kids ago - I tell time in kids) when there were rarely any big plans. Now there's something going on all the time. I'd like to blame those kids but I believe its us big folk who are doing all the planning.
Since our last update it seems like its been something every single day.
Sunday we went back to our dear friends house. They are leaving to go to the other side of the planet meet their newest child TODAY!!! (did I take a picture? I don't think so.) But you can keep up with how God is working out their adoption on her blog A Journey that will Change Lives for All Eternity How I love this family! (And Mrs. Anne - when you read this remember that many are praying and God is in all the details - and NO freaking out! <3)

Monday we took Ava to Camp Little Light, tried to decorate our room for VBS, and left messages for family members that don't RSVP to stuff.
I taught 2 & 3 year olds - what a GREAT group of littles. I may have had more fun than them.

There were two girls also - just not in this picture
That's the back of our Josiah's head on the end and Jacob across from him.

Gene had the really BIG littles - and he really enjoyed it!

They turned out to be a good group of boys and girls too.
Some of them kept coming back so they must have enjoyed it too.

Tuesday, (this is where I talk about some of those "fringe benefits") we (Gene and I) went to court to make permanent a temporary order for visitation with the bio-mother of two of MY children. She called that morning to say she wasn't coming and she didn't. And as our lawyer said, "despite ALL that" she has failed to do, Gene "gave" her limited visits. For the past year, under the temporary order, she had every other weekend, two hours on Saturday and two hours on Sunday, in Gene's presence, and at a public location (McD's or a park). Its a long time to sit with . . . crazy, but the kids still (sometimes) want to see this person who birthed them and makes claims of loving them. She, more often than not, doesn't show up. Under the new order, she gets the same supervised visitation BUT she has to give 48 hour notice that shes going to show up that weekend. So when she doesn't call we can make other plans (I'm sure we will be making lots of other plans - which causes happy and sad feelings). (There are NO specifics for holidays).
And that's a small taste of fringe benefits. Gene took the high road and took the kids to see her today anyway. She showed up late.

Wednesday, I think we got to stay home until time for VBS. I did get a new cute fly trap.

Tiny Frog - as of Friday there are two tiny frogs

The Fly Trap

Thursday we HAD to go to the grocery store. I think I went through a phase where I was doing pretty good making a menu and grocery list - but I'm not currently in that phase. Josiah busted his lip while delightedly shopping, so it would match his black eye and bruised forehead he got earlier in the week. I'm not sure when he got the scrap under his nose. Poor little fella.

Friday, the Daddy was off and our friend Charles was over to play. I went shopping ALONE!!! Found a thrift store I've been wanting to visit was having a SALE!!! I spent $6.
I had supper with my little VBS class and then left to go pick up that tall girl from camp.

After hugging her Mama

The band and counselors

Singing

Ava (crying) and saying goodbye to her friends

The Lavender Thorns

Today is Saturday. The children have ALL been petitioning for a D-O-G. We got everyone ready this morning to surprise them with our newest family member. A man Gene works with asked if we would like to have a dog - well yes. Turns out its a golden retriever (fancy). Her name is Zoie and she is a SWEETIE!!!

Getting ready to go

The ride home

Zoie really likes the swing (must be the Mama's dog)

And thats about it. What have we learned this week? Hummm... I'm sure we learned something. Maybe that we really value just being at home. Maybe that Inspite of all the crazy fringe benefits God is working in our family. Maybe that we are still blessed beyond measure. Our crockpot runneth over (and our eyes want to close).