I submitted this piece to the website herviewfromhome.com and was so excited to have it published on January 17th, 2016! http://herviewfromhome.com/life-was-so-much-easier-before/
My
husband and I were foster parents over the past seven years. Last
month, we had the blessing of completing the adoption of our two most
recent foster daughters. Along with the other two adoptions – our
daughter and our son – we have now OFFICIALLY become a family with four
kids. How much fun was that – standing in front of the courthouse,
holding up signs that proudly read: “Party of Six!”
As
I was pondering the events of the adoption week, and reflecting back to
before we had these last little monkeys added to our family, I have to
admit it was “easier” then. How simple and laid back it seems now to
have “only” two kids to feed and get dressed and put to bed and arrange
schedules.
It
was so much easier with only two kids. I have two hands – one for each.
Between the Man of the House and me, there were two laps and two kids –
perfect! Our son and daughter are each other’s best friends and get
along pretty swimmingly. We were blessed to have “normal” sibling tiffs
over toys and personal space and such, but very rarely, and nothing
huge.
But,
before that, it was so much easier with only one kid. Miss A had our
full attention whenever she was with us. If one of us had somewhere we
had to be, no sweat. The other was there to step in. One kid is easy to
take to meetings, when they can play quietly on the floor for a period
of time. One kid is easy to take to the grocery story; they only take up
the child seat on the cart and don’t weight the cart down.
It
was so much easier in fact before we had kids. Walking to the car after
work, knowing we had an evening of good food and quiet television
watching together on the couch. Taking a run whenever I wanted. Taking a
hot bath whenever I wanted. Only worrying about one pair of shoes – my
own. Doing laundry for only two people.
Yes, life sure was a lot easier in the past.
But there’s no way I would exchange it for what we have now.
I
look behind me while driving and see four shining faces and hear their
sweet voices singing. I look around the kitchen table while we eat and
see the bedlam that is four kids eating a meal. I watch the kids color
together, or play some cute game only they understand, and my heart
swells.
I
know that the craziness that is life with young children will pass all
too soon. The daily routine will be less of a frantic rush to juggle
everyone and everything. It will get “easier”, in a way. And yet, I
don’t want it to be gone. I want to treasure each stage and soak it all
in for as long as we’re able. Every day is a glorious adventure when
you’re young. The giggles, the chubby tummies, the toddler talk, the
dress-up clothes, the mood swings (well, we’ll have those when they’re
all teenagers again!)… These will be the memories cherished in the years
to come.
My
soul is humbly grateful to be here for such a time as this, to be a
part of my children’s lives at this stage. God is so good, and so
faithful to provide strength and patience when we need it the most. He
has given us the gift of all four of these little ones, and we thank Him
with all of our hearts.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Monday, January 4, 2016
Party of 6!
Happy Adoption Day, Curly Sue and Brown-Eyed-Girl!
We were so very happy that this day finally happened! 493 days - WHEW! When we calculated that, it made us feel incredibly grateful that the conclusion had happened!
We began the adoption celebration the night before by eating at Lulu's Cafe in downtown San Antonio - home of the 3 pound cinnamon roll! Lots of yummy chicken fried steak was to be had, and of course we grabbed a cinnamon roll for the road!
We were met by my mother- and father-in-law love, my husband's youngest sister, and his oldest sister's family with our little niece. We were missing some of the rest of the family, but we were happy to meet up later that day and for Christmas. Sad face - I wish my parents and siblings could have been there as well, but it was good to have time with our Texas family, especially having moved out of state. We are so blessed that both of our families love our kids so much, and have supported and encouraged us, lifting us up when the road has been rough, and celebrating the good times, whether from close by or from afar.
Our hotel (the former Bexar County Jail - really cool and built in 1879, supposedly haunted!) was right on the River Walk, so after checking in, we took a walk down to see the lights. It's always so pretty during the holidays!
In the morning, we crammed some breakfast down our throats to be at the courthouse at 7:30. The hotel was only three blocks away from the courthouse, so we enjoyed a brisk walk in the Texas sunshine.
Our adoption coordinator caseworker and our two lawyers (one for the girls, one for us) met us when we arrived. We had the quick work of signing the "day-of" paperwork to make the adoption officially official.
It was about time for us to be called in. Curly Sue had a funny look on her face, part frozen, part bewildered, and you could see something happening in her five-year-old brain. I pulled her into a hug and asked if she was doing okay. She said, "I'm feeling nervous about seeing the judge. I don't know what I'm going to say." I told her that the judge would probably just ask her name, and if she wanted to be adopted. Curly Sue nodded very seriously and took a deep breath. (Oh my goodness. To think of everything she'd been through and how resilient she had been.)
We were allowed to go inside the court room (after we threatened/begged the kids up and down with anything and everything to make them be quiet! It was a packed court room, and many other cases were waiting their turn.). It was only a few minutes before we were called up to the front. We made our way down the aisle to our spots in front of her desk.
The judge barely had time to take a breath to begin proceedings, before Curly Sue blurted out, "I have a new name and I want to be adopted." The whole room cracked up. The judge very kindly began chatting with our little one, asking her questions - you could tell soon after that Curly Sue felt back in her gregarious element.
The caseworker and lawyers gave quick testimony stating their filings for adoption, we stated that we were here to adopt, and it was over!
The judge let the kids go up to her seat and take a picture. They also got chocolate and an apple! Curly Sue asked and was allowed to wear the judge's reindeer antlers. What a good time, and great memories for them to carry!
We stalled about fifteen more minutes in a waiting room for the certified copies of the adoption decree, chowing down on the apples. We were soon ready to go and be DONE - with paperwork in hand. What a quick resolution to 493 days of fostering!
Of course, we had to stop and take some pictures on the courthouse steps! There also was a beautiful, gigantic Christmas tree in the yard around/near the courthouse, so we took some pictures there. Wonderful momentos of the experience!
We had a great rest of the day, walking around downtown San Antonio, seeing the Alamo, eating at our favorite Mexican food restaurant... We hope that this Adoption Day will be one that all four of our kids will look back on fondly.
It has been a wild ride, but we're so happy it's done! Welcome OFFICIALLY to the family, Curly Sue and Brown-Eyed-Girl! We love you to pieces! - Mama and Daddy
We were so very happy that this day finally happened! 493 days - WHEW! When we calculated that, it made us feel incredibly grateful that the conclusion had happened!
We began the adoption celebration the night before by eating at Lulu's Cafe in downtown San Antonio - home of the 3 pound cinnamon roll! Lots of yummy chicken fried steak was to be had, and of course we grabbed a cinnamon roll for the road!
We were met by my mother- and father-in-
Our hotel (the former Bexar County Jail - really cool and built in 1879, supposedly haunted!) was right on the River Walk, so after checking in, we took a walk down to see the lights. It's always so pretty during the holidays!
In the morning, we crammed some breakfast down our throats to be at the courthouse at 7:30. The hotel was only three blocks away from the courthouse, so we enjoyed a brisk walk in the Texas sunshine.
Our adoption coordinator caseworker and our two lawyers (one for the girls, one for us) met us when we arrived. We had the quick work of signing the "day-of" paperwork to make the adoption officially official.
It was about time for us to be called in. Curly Sue had a funny look on her face, part frozen, part bewildered, and you could see something happening in her five-year-old brain. I pulled her into a hug and asked if she was doing okay. She said, "I'm feeling nervous about seeing the judge. I don't know what I'm going to say." I told her that the judge would probably just ask her name, and if she wanted to be adopted. Curly Sue nodded very seriously and took a deep breath. (Oh my goodness. To think of everything she'd been through and how resilient she had been.)
We were allowed to go inside the court room (after we threatened/begged the kids up and down with anything and everything to make them be quiet! It was a packed court room, and many other cases were waiting their turn.). It was only a few minutes before we were called up to the front. We made our way down the aisle to our spots in front of her desk.
The judge barely had time to take a breath to begin proceedings, before Curly Sue blurted out, "I have a new name and I want to be adopted." The whole room cracked up. The judge very kindly began chatting with our little one, asking her questions - you could tell soon after that Curly Sue felt back in her gregarious element.
The caseworker and lawyers gave quick testimony stating their filings for adoption, we stated that we were here to adopt, and it was over!
The judge let the kids go up to her seat and take a picture. They also got chocolate and an apple! Curly Sue asked and was allowed to wear the judge's reindeer antlers. What a good time, and great memories for them to carry!
We stalled about fifteen more minutes in a waiting room for the certified copies of the adoption decree, chowing down on the apples. We were soon ready to go and be DONE - with paperwork in hand. What a quick resolution to 493 days of fostering!
Of course, we had to stop and take some pictures on the courthouse steps! There also was a beautiful, gigantic Christmas tree in the yard around/near the courthouse, so we took some pictures there. Wonderful momentos of the experience!
We had a great rest of the day, walking around downtown San Antonio, seeing the Alamo, eating at our favorite Mexican food restaurant... We hope that this Adoption Day will be one that all four of our kids will look back on fondly.
It has been a wild ride, but we're so happy it's done! Welcome OFFICIALLY to the family, Curly Sue and Brown-Eyed-Girl! We love you to pieces! - Mama and Daddy
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