I guess it's time.....

Some of my readers (all 2 of you) have been asking about why I haven't been blogging lately. I am actually really shocked, didn't know people actually read this thing. I do enjoy blogging, it is really helpful for me to document life's events and to remember all that we are doing.

A new month is starting tomorrow, and well....I would like to get back into blogging.  I am going to start tonight...by giving quick bullet points on life.

• We are stinkin tired at this house. Jon and I are not sleeping. The boys are taking turns staying up all night, as well as home life, work life etc....sleep is so not happening. I am so sick of it. I hit my wall this week. I was up with a crying baby around 1:30am one night and Jon had to take over. I felt bad because he had to wake up at 3am, but I was done. One can only live on no sleep for so long. 
• I am dying to put some huge effort and time into building this photography business. It is going to take work...and well, I am too tired:) 
• A new semester has started! I love my job and love my student leaders. 
• We are praying and seeking adoption again. When we ask Caleb if he wants a brother or a sister, he says he wants a chicken. We have moved on. Now he wants a sister and wants to name her chicken. 
• I haven't scrap booked in a year, but I did some with a student last weekend and it was amazing. That is definitely going to have to happen again. 
• Being a foster parent is the single most character shaping thing that I have ever done. I only wish that my character was what I wanted it to be. Lord, change me! 
• My niece, my beautiful one and only niece is turning one this week. AH! 
• I want to move. Still not sure what the Lord wants on this, but I want a different house. 
• We have a new minivan. I LOVE it. I never thought I would love being a minivan mom, but those designers knew what they were doing. Except that my doors don't open sometimes. That makes me crazy insane. I mean, seriously. I have two kids in car seats. Do you know HOW HARD it is to get two kids in car seats through the drivers seat? Man, I need a nap just thinking about it.
• I have a three year old now. A three year old! 

So my friends and blog readers....what do you want to read about? 

Overheard at my house....

Jon and G (8 year old foster son) reading:
G: Do I have to read all this? That's a lot of words.
Jon: Yes, it's good practice.
G: Dang it.

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When Caleb is stalling, particularly for nap or bed time, his tactics are to add things to his prayer list. The first thing to add, "Mommy pray for church." So we pray for our church....

And then he says, "Mommy pray for....for....um....pray for....."

And then he says, " I need something." We asks what he needs, and he responds, "Something."

Utterly annoying.
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Caleb: "Can I have juice with a straw and a wrapper?"
Me: "You mean a juice box?"
Caleb: "Yes."
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Me: "Caleb, why don't you go get yourself a kleenex and wipe your nose?"
Caleb: "Ok"
Caleb walking towards the bathroom...."Can I just look for money instead?"
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Whenever Caleb gets in trouble, he gets sent to his room or to the stairs for time out. We then will go talk with him and talk about why he is in time out. His response is always, "But I a good boy."
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While pouring Caleb some milk.
Caleb: "Is that warm milk or cold?"
Me: "Cold. I just got it out of the fridge."
Caleb: "This house is weird."
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Caleb: "Mom, am I adopted?"
Me: "Yes, you are!" (ready to start a long age appropriate conversation).
Caleb."Ok" (and runs off to play).

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Caleb: "Baby J has black face, I have a brown face, you have a white face."
Me: "Yes, God made us all that way."
Caleb: "Good. So you know?"  (As if I missed that the past three years)
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G to Caleb (a normal, everyday argument): "You snotty nose, you don't even know what 8+9 is."
Caleb: "Hahahha. Nope."
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November 19- A new beginning

Remember how we have a rocky relationship with our foster boys' mom?

Remember how yesterday she said thank you for all we have done?

Today....I received a series of texts that were so soft....so vulnerable....so nice....so grateful. Maybe we will eventually have a better relationship. I am still praying that I can be an encouragement to her and share Jesus with her.

Thank you Lord for a new start with the boys' mom.

November 18

I do not remember the last time I slept so much. I took a nap on Saturday and today. Today, so many things to be thankful for!

1. Sick Caleb. I don't enjoy seeing my boy sick, but he was mommy's snuggly boy today. He wanted mommy all day, and I can't complain. It was a wonderful, restful day with my boy. I do hope he feels better tomorrow though:)

2. The boys visited their aunt for about 7 hours today. It was wonderful to have them gone. I am so glad that they are transitioning to their aunt's house. It is good for us to have that rest and to be the three of us.

3. My husband. I am so crazy in love with him. I am so glad that God has strengthened our marriage.

4. A good night with G. Last night was G came back to our house, he was mad to be here. Tonight, he did much better and we even had a good night with him.

5. A thank you. I could fill this blog with stories about how much the boys' mom hates me, the things she has said to me, the allegations she has made, etc. But tonight, she called G, and said, "Be sure to tell Jon and Kristin thank you for all the do for you." Really? Wow. Thanks Lord. I needed that extra blessing.

6. Rest. Today was very restful!

November 17-- An afternoon "off"

Our two foster sons will be transitioning (we hope) to living with their aunt. To begin this process, they will be staying with her 4-5 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday. During that time, they also have a visit from their mom, and the baby visits his dad.

I am so grateful to have had time off today. Last night was probably one of the hardest nights with G, and to know that today I had some time to be without him was especially helpful.

Jon, Caleb and I went to lunch at our favorite Chinese buffet, we went grocery shopping and all three of us took naps. HOW GLORIOUS!!! I couldn't believe how long I slept--almost three hours! I was so incredibly tired. And don't judge me if I do the exact same thing tomorrow:) Minus the buffet and grocery shopping.

I am grateful that the boys might get to live with their aunt. I am grateful that right now we have some reprieve. I am grateful for family time and a wonderful nap.

And I am grateful that my sister-in-law bottles her own wine, and then gives me a bottle:) 

And because I haven't posted photos in a while.......

November 16- All About Caleb

Every single day I am thankful that the Lord has allowed me to be Caleb's mama. I don't take that role lightly, and pray that I would be a good steward of this life that God has given me. I tell Caleb every day that I am glad that I get to be his mommy and that he gets to be my son.

But this post is more than my love for Caleb.

This week was cause for a lot of celebration, even if in the midst of a busy week, we forgot:)

November 15 is our "Forever Family Day", the day a Calhoun County Judge signed the adoption papers and  said that Caleb was officially a Sausser.

This week is national adoption week. I am so grateful for people who are getting the word out about the need for adoption, and the call that God calls us to care for the orphaned. It is not an easy call, but man, do we see the face of God in these kids!

This week is also National Pre-mature birth day. I was born pre-maturely. Caleb was born 2 months early at   3 lbs and was in the hospital for 6 weeks. I am grateful for the advances that have been made in medicine so that these babies have the absolute best care.

I am thankful for adoption. I am thankful that Caleb's birth mom chose life. I am proud of her for making a hard decision to place Caleb in adoption. What a brave woman. I think about her often.

Today, I am thankful for adoption, and thankful for Caleb. I am so grateful that God has allowed us to be Caleb's parents. What a privilege and blessing!

November 15- A full night of sleep

Last night, I slept 6 hours. 6 hours ya'll!! So grateful for a full night of sleep. Way to go baby J.

Holding out for that tonight...though seeing it is 12:30, and my alarm will go off at 5:30, I am thinking that the 6 hours of sleep isn't happening:)