The latest from our home...

I really need to update this more often..but I find when I think about it..I am exhausted..from work, raising three kiddos (all girls, at that), helping with homework, going to soccer, gymnastics and violin, church, cooking, laundry, errands, and whatever else that day has entailed...

Anyway, I'll try to 'break it down' in segments..
Work: God answered a very specific prayer last August, after I was not re-hired to be a clerical aide at the elementary school where I worked last year. I was pretty upset about it, knowing I needed a job to help pay for adoption expenses...but our district is going thru this 'unitary status/desegregation...the federal govt. is watching all aspects of hiring practices as it relates to our minority ratios, etc.'..you get what I am saying...needless to say, they needed to hire someone else to make the quota correct, so when they went to court a few weeks ago, things would be better. Isn't that grand? Well, I truly believe God knows my heart and has a MUCH better plan than I could ever concoct for myself...so jobless, and desperate, I prayed this prayer in August 2010...

"Lord, you know my heart and you know I would love that Math Lab job again, like I had 2 years ago. You know that for some reason, DHS is my school of preference, and I have LOVED working part-time. With this whole adoption thing coming up, I know YOU know what is best for me. But should I get a job with this school district, since it seems impossible to get one these days, someone is going to have to call and offer me one, since none of the ones I've interviewed for have worked out." And about 2 or 3 days later, Mr. Ward, from DHS called and offered me a PART-time Math Lab job. All I could think was, 'God, You are too awesome!" So, since Aug. 30th, I have been teaching HS juniors and my job ends March 3rd. So, it's back to square-one, job hunting. It's almost kind of humorous now, and I axiously look forward to what He has next for me.

DanNi: DanNi has been playing soccer and she scored her first goal last week. I think she was proud of herself. When I asked her if she was happy about it, she gave her standard answer, "I don't know." I'm learning that children from traumatic pasts, are so out-of-touch with their feelings, they truly don't know, much of the time, how they feel. Teaching that, is kind of difficult, but we are working on it. I assured her, it is okay to be happy about that, and proud of herself. We are still hearing from kids at school, she is not talking at school. And she has come so far at home. She still has never come up to us, just to say something; but she will at least try to answer our questions. She still has never addressed us..Mama, Baba. And I wonder if that will ever happen. She doesn't call us anything. That is hard..but I know it is probably common. It is hard for her, I'm sure, to utter those words, b/c the people who once cared for her, as her 'parental figure' abandoned her. She will let us pat her head....no hugs and definitely no kisses, though. I can't dwell on that too long, b/c it is still pretty upsetting. Maybe she will let us one day.

JingJing: She is taking gymnastics and is enjoying that. She started taking Spelling tests after Christmas and has done very well. We are really proud of her. She is much more interested in the 'social' aspect of school, than academics. Although she says she wants to be a dentist. It is hard to believe she will be 7 in March!

Meredith: She is still taking violin lessons and enjoys that. She has a field trip coming up in March and I get to go with her to Montgomery. I even got to substitute for her teacher for a half-day last week. She thought that was neat! I cannot believe she will be 10 years old this June. She is such a sweet blessing to us.

Matthew: He is leading a mission trip to Costa Rica this July. The team will be working with 2 orphanages in Limon. He is excited about that, and we hope to be able to take more trips with this ministry in the future!

Our computer is so stinkin' slow...I can never upload any photos. One of these days, I'm going to break over and buy a decent laptop! So from our family to yours...may the Lord bless and keep you. Lately I've been meditating on Chris Tomlin's latest worship album. It is awesome!