Amazing Grace and a Safe Haven: And a Happy New Year!
The house is quiet as I creep up on the end of the first day of 2012. It was a pretty good first day. We got all the laundry on the couch folded. We managed to rid the house of most remaining sweets so Brian can get back on track with the last push on his diet. The river of snot that has been running out of Manny and JoJo seems to be slowing down a bit.
And we might just have some good news to share in the next few days. Yes, that kind of news. So say a little prayer for us.
2011 has been a year full of change and blessings for our family. On this day, one year ago, we got a phone call to tell us to start packing because we could be leaving to go pick up Manny and JoJo at any time. Of course, as it turned out we didn't leave until the end of March. But we probably needed that extra time to get our ducks in a row. And our ducks have certainly not been in any kind of a row since returning from that trip. In fact, traveling to DRC really turned my world upside down. If you didn't get a chance to read about it or you're new to my blog you might want to check out some entries I wrote right after we returned.
Changing from a family of four to a family of six has been a huge transition. Bathing four, dressing four, feeding four, getting four into the car and buckled into their car seats, taking four to the grocery store. Everything takes a really really really long time. But the trade offs are well worth it. Four sets of giggles as we wrestle on the floor. Four sets of dancing feet rocking out to YouTube videos in my living room. Four goodnight kisses. Four beautiful futures.
And I guess all that wonderful is what led us to turn our four into six. Even before we brought the boys home in March we were talking about whether we would ever adopt again. In fact, I remember sitting on the scabies couch with Kristie Craig, both of us daydreaming about coming back for another girl. Or two. If one of the boys had been a girl we probably would not have adopted again. We probably would have thought two of each was just fine. But the plans were not ours to make. Manny and JoJo are most definitely both boys and our house feels out of balance with 3 boys and only one girl. Besides we couldn't say no to Princess Grace when she asked for two sisters, now could we! So we made the call in August to get the ball rolling again on another adoption for a baby sister. In October we were referred a set of twins and one baby sister suddenly turned into two. Then just as suddenly we lost the twins. But that picture of two girls just wouldn't get out of our heads so we have plugged along waiting for a referral for two more girls, two more sisters for Grace.
We've ended the year with a lovely quiet holiday vacation. Lots of trips to the park, lots of movie nights and sleeping in. Unfortunately, tomorrow I go back to work. I'm glad to have a job because lots of teachers in Texas lost their jobs this year, but it is so hard to leave my babies every morning. Even if it is in the hands of my way-more-capable-than-me husband. I told Grace today that I wouldn't be there when she woke up tomorrow. She said "Oh Mama, you're going to miss me aren't you!" I sure am, Grace.
I'll end today with a link to one of my most read and most commented on blogs of this year. It was the post where I explained why we had decided to adopt again. Even though the Baby K mentioned in the blog is not the same one that will be joining our family, all the sentiments are still true!
And finally, what every reader needs--some video clips of my kiddos. JoJo at the piano and Grace and Haven cutting a rug. Enjoy! And have a very happy new year! I plan to do the same.