As I sit at my desk filling out MORE papers for Joseph's school for next year, so that he can receive all the services that he needs and realizing that Maggie will also need speech help, I have to giggle ...  WHEN DOES IT EVER SLOW DOWN !!!  Tomorrow I will get Jeremiah, Elijah, Emily, and Maggie up at 6 and out the door to school at 6:50 proceeded by getting Daisy up (who is NOT a morning person) ready for MDO at 9am, along w/ Joseph's bag packed for his school at 12:30 ... Now before Joseph goes to school we might have time for a quick 45 minute trip to the YMCA (my sanity time) and then off to pick up Emily, Maggie, and Elijah (who have 1/2 day tomorrow) ... We will go somewhere quick for lunch so that we can get Joseph to school on-time and then RUSH OVER to Daisy's MDO for her Mother's Day event at school ... I am sure I will scarf down some punch and cookies, so that we can then SCOOT back on over to FRA where Scott and I will tag team parent/teacher conferences ... Once the teachers have told us about how amazing our children are (hee hee) then we will JUMP right back in the Silver Bullet (that is my pet name for my van) and DART back over to pick up Daisy.  Once we are home we will wait patiently for the school bus to drop off Joseph and grab a snack AND THE FIRST BREATH of the day ...

I would love to say that this is NOT a typical day, but it is ... RUNNING, DARTING, JUMPING, AND RUSHING from one place to the next - schools, dr. appts, adoption meetings, house hold errands, or 147 work.   Scott and I have done our very best to NOT over commit ourselves or put the children in lots of programs or activities.  Jeremiah and Elijah are the only ones that play a sport.  They play on the same basketball team that Scott coaches, so that is definitely a family affair ... The girls haven't asked to do anything yet, so we are not pushing it or rushing it ... Just our daily lives seem cram packed, yet I know this time is but a VAPOR and I want to enjoy the CHAOS and feel blessed to be able to RUN, DART, JUMP, AND RUSH with and for my family ...

I am not going to say it isn't draining because that wouldn't be a REAL picture of my life ... Keeping up with the laundry alone is enough to put me under some days ... But the phrase that always rings in my head is - I WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY ...  So if you see me and I look tired, mad, or scattered just know that it is the same heart beating as when I look showered, peppy, joyful, and refreshed ... I often think that when others see me, they are immediately assessing WHETHER MY LIFE IS WORTH IT based on that exact moment they see me in.   That would be a HUGE mistake !!! I am in the middle of the most joyful time of my life ... I adore my husband, love my children, and feel so secure in my purpose here on earth for the kingdom, but that doesn't mean that my life doesn't go sideways on a daily basis ...

I guess I am just hoping that when people are on the fence about joining the orphan crisis or deciding whether they should or shouldn't adopt that they don't look at those of us who have and catch us on a bad day and think I DON'T WANT THAT ... Cause we can all gain wisdom from each other and get lots of information, but it is the journey on the inside of our hearts that is the true test of our faith and commitment to the LORD ...

So look and wonder, but never judge or assume ... Do always listen to the STILL QUIET WHISPER OF THE LORD ... That is where JOY is found ...

I hope that all made sense ... blessings BLOG FAMILY  !!! thanks for loving us ...