Where to start....?

We have enjoyed very nice November weather the past few days. It's been unseasonably warm, and many people have been using this time to work on their yards. I've seen quite a few people out there with rakes and bags. Some people have mowers that suck the leaves up and turn them into mulch. I don't have one of those, but I have 2 arms and a rake. I raked many leaves into my compost pile over the weekend. The leaves are a crucial element to the compost pile. It is the "brown" element that works with the "green" (grass clippings) element to create a very fertile fertilizer that makes gardens produce a good harvest. I've never tried a compost pile before, and am hoping that by next Spring, it will be ready to perform it's intended job.

I took time out of my weekend to watch a KU/KSU football game with some friends from church. They are very loyal KSU fans, and we've never gotten together to watch our rivals play against each other. We had a really good time. Although KSU beat out my KU team, I'm happy to say that we are still friends with that family.  I had joked about our families not being friends anymore, depending on the outcome of the game.

Cold Turkey: Although I have changed the face of this blog to celebrate Thanksgiving, this has nothing to do with turkey. I have sworn off of soda and other unhealthy foods. I had a health assessment done last week, and I'm in the "unhealthy" category of almost everything. And, after reading about what's in diet pop (which is what I drink), I have decided that it is high time to eliminate this addiction. I am typing this with a caffeine withdrawal headache, but have ibuprofen on hand to help out. Please pray for me, this is not easy. I have been a pop drinker for years, and right now my body needs a Pepsi One!!

On a final note, we had an incident with William today. He has a friend that he walks to school with, and this morning they didn't make it to school. They ditched school and goofed around. I notified police and reported him as a runaway. About 2:30, the other boy's father found them hanging around the school and took his son home, and told Will to head home as well. Well, Will didn't come home. In fact, he is still not home as of about 4:15. I have been out looking, and the police have told me that I need to stay home in case he comes home. Sadly, this adventure is going to get him sent to the Juvenile center. More than likely he will be processed and come home later this evening. This past week, Will has been different. He has stopped calling to check in, has been coming home late, and been altogether grouchy. This past weekend was the exception, when he did check in and come home on time. However, this is the straw that broke the camel's back, and my camel's back is pretty strong. I'm sending a signal to Will that he's not going to play this game, and expect to get away with it. Normally, the police would find him and bring him home. I have asked that he be processed and get a taste of what happens when you violate rules and skip school. I think the police officers respected that: a parent that will not bail out their kids when they mess up. Call me hard-nosed, but they have to learn somehow. Please pray for us in this situation. I'll update this blog when everything is said and done.

Have to close now. Need to get supper on.

God bless you!

"The last mile?" you may be asking. I officially turned 39 years old yesterday, except I have very few people wishing me a happy 39th. It's been mostly "You'll be 40 next year!" LOL   It's my "last mile" of my 30's, before I turn 40. It was a wonderful day yesterday and today. I had numerous facebook wishes, and my staff threw a small party for me today. I'm still a person who loves their birthdays. The age aspect does not bother me so much. I feel I am right where God wants me, and that I am doing His work. Maybe that's why I enjoy my birthdays so much. I am celebrating another year I've been given to serve Him!

I meet with a social worker tomorrow afternoon concerning the appeal I'm submitting on Cody's behalf. Please be in prayer about this. I know that by going through this process, I may be opening myself up to more rejection and heartbreak, but I have to try. I know I will regret it for the rest of my life if I don't.  

Not much else to report here in my crazy world. Just needed to jump in here and inform all 2 of my readers what's going on!

God bless you!!

My last major meltdown was at work Monday before school started. My fellow staff members were there to support and encourage me. I have such a wonderful staff. I have had some weak moments since then, but none of the bawling out loud episodes. It still aches, and I miss him so much, but it's getting easier to press on.

On Tuesday, several of the men from our church, including our pastor, came to our house with pizza and had prayer with us. It meant a lot to my boys and I to know that we were being supported and prayed for. After the men left, the boys were saying things like , "They came to our house and prayed with us!" "The pastor was in our house!" It made an impression on them, as well as myself. I thank God for Christian men who will go the extra mile to lift up a brother in support and prayer. They were my "Aaron and Hur." They have no idea how much it meant to me to have them there.

I am appealing the decision made by the adoption board. I am looking for a lawyer that will go to bat for Cody and I. My pastor is making some calls, and some friends are making suggestions. I just pray that we will find just the right lawyer. Lawyers know the system, and can think of hundreds of things I would never think of if I were going to the adoption board alone. Hopefully, the lawyers's presence will make a dent on the adoption board, and they will know that I am serious.  

Please pray for this situation! I know Cody belongs with us. God directed him to our home without a hitch, and I know that this adoption denial is something not of God.  I don't claim to know the mind of Christ, but I do know that there is something seriously wrong. I have not had a peace about this since it happened. I was never able to advocate for myself when they made this decision, I had no input, I was not represented. This is not right.

Please pray with me in this.  

I was just informed by Cody's worker that due to some past problems in John's past involving police and probation, Cody's adoption is being disrupted. He will not be joining our family, and will be placed back into foster care. Please pray for us, as we are extremely devastated. It's hard enough to be denied an adoption, but after a child has been placed into your home and has become attached to you, and you to them, it's even harder. Please keep us in your prayers as we attempt to put our lives back together.

It's been a rough past few days in our crazy world. William had stomach flu last week, John got it over the weekend (complete with trip to ER), and I got it last night. All that's left is Cody, and we're praying that he doesn't get it as well. FYI, carpeted bathrooms + sickness = nightmare.

Cody really enjoyed his first state fair. He got to ride the rides all day Sunday, and he just didn't know which ride to go on first.   John was home with the flu, so he didn't get a chance to enjoy the rides. I had a friend stay with him while I took Cody to the fair. Will enjoyed the rides, too, but he also went to socialize as well. Every so often I'd see him walking down the midway with a group of his buddies.

I'm going to cut this short and blog later, as I feel awful, and need to lay down.

God bless you! ***Rob, John, Will, & Cody***

Where to start....?

We have enjoyed very nice November weather the past few days. It's been unseasonably warm, and many people have been using this time to work on their yards. I've seen quite a few people out there with rakes and bags. Some people have mowers that suck the leaves up and turn them into mulch. I don't have one of those, but I have 2 arms and a rake. I raked many leaves into my compost pile over the weekend. The leaves are a crucial element to the compost pile. It is the "brown" element that works with the "green" (grass clippings) element to create a very fertile fertilizer that makes gardens produce a good harvest. I've never tried a compost pile before, and am hoping that by next Spring, it will be ready to perform it's intended job.

I took time out of my weekend to watch a KU/KSU football game with some friends from church. They are very loyal KSU fans, and we've never gotten together to watch our rivals play against each other. We had a really good time. Although KSU beat out my KU team, I'm happy to say that we are still friends with that family.  I had joked about our families not being friends anymore, depending on the outcome of the game.

Cold Turkey: Although I have changed the face of this blog to celebrate Thanksgiving, this has nothing to do with turkey. I have sworn off of soda and other unhealthy foods. I had a health assessment done last week, and I'm in the "unhealthy" category of almost everything. And, after reading about what's in diet pop (which is what I drink), I have decided that it is high time to eliminate this addiction. I am typing this with a caffeine withdrawal headache, but have ibuprofen on hand to help out. Please pray for me, this is not easy. I have been a pop drinker for years, and right now my body needs a Pepsi One!!

On a final note, we had an incident with William today. He has a friend that he walks to school with, and this morning they didn't make it to school. They ditched school and goofed around. I notified police and reported him as a runaway. About 2:30, the other boy's father found them hanging around the school and took his son home, and told Will to head home as well. Well, Will didn't come home. In fact, he is still not home as of about 4:15. I have been out looking, and the police have told me that I need to stay home in case he comes home. Sadly, this adventure is going to get him sent to the Juvenile center. More than likely he will be processed and come home later this evening. This past week, Will has been different. He has stopped calling to check in, has been coming home late, and been altogether grouchy. This past weekend was the exception, when he did check in and come home on time. However, this is the straw that broke the camel's back, and my camel's back is pretty strong. I'm sending a signal to Will that he's not going to play this game, and expect to get away with it. Normally, the police would find him and bring him home. I have asked that he be processed and get a taste of what happens when you violate rules and skip school. I think the police officers respected that: a parent that will not bail out their kids when they mess up. Call me hard-nosed, but they have to learn somehow. Please pray for us in this situation. I'll update this blog when everything is said and done.

Have to close now. Need to get supper on.

God bless you!

"The last mile?" you may be asking. I officially turned 39 years old yesterday, except I have very few people wishing me a happy 39th. It's been mostly "You'll be 40 next year!" LOL   It's my "last mile" of my 30's, before I turn 40. It was a wonderful day yesterday and today. I had numerous facebook wishes, and my staff threw a small party for me today. I'm still a person who loves their birthdays. The age aspect does not bother me so much. I feel I am right where God wants me, and that I am doing His work. Maybe that's why I enjoy my birthdays so much. I am celebrating another year I've been given to serve Him!

I meet with a social worker tomorrow afternoon concerning the appeal I'm submitting on Cody's behalf. Please be in prayer about this. I know that by going through this process, I may be opening myself up to more rejection and heartbreak, but I have to try. I know I will regret it for the rest of my life if I don't.  

Not much else to report here in my crazy world. Just needed to jump in here and inform all 2 of my readers what's going on!

God bless you!!