Late last week I got a sneak peek at the new branding and designs for David’s business. The project is shaping up and hopefully will be ready for release soon. I think that people will be quite impressed with the new look and feel of the company. (more…)
Author Archive
Family Update
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010Peace- Devotional
Monday, August 9th, 2010
My life for the past 10 months has been anything but peaceful. I have been living questioning God’s plan for my life, and trying to come to terms with the circumstances that entered my life by surprise. Something that was suppose to be good turned out to be a nightmare. Sometimes life throws us things we can not handle on our own, (see Be Still post). The past three or four weeks things have gotten better because I have finally admitted that I am not in control and can do nothing to change what has and is currently happening in my life. In order to have peace in my life I can not be in control of my life. (more…)
Delegation- Devotional
Friday, August 6th, 2010
As a wife, mom, and woman I have a great desire to provide a clean and safe home for my husband and children. Sometimes I get so caught up in all that needs to be done in the house that I neglect spending time with my family. Often our family time becomes nothing more than working together so that the neatness of the house can meet my expectations. My confinement to bed has helped me to realize that everything does NOT have to be perfect in my home in order for my family to be happy, healthy and safe. This week David and Caleb have kept up with the cleaning and laundry. While not done to my standards the work is getting done and isn’t that all that matters?
Will she know?
Thursday, August 5th, 2010
The number one question David and I get about our adoption of Madilyn is “Will she know?” The answer is yes she will know. In a family like ours there is no way we could keep this information from her if we wanted to. Keeping the fact that a child is adopted from the child really serves no purpose. The real question is, “when will she be told the details surrounding her adoption?” (more…)
HysterSisters- A support group
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
Many people misunderstand the feelings, emotions and pain of hysterectomy. Hysterectomies deal with both physical and emotional pain. For many women a hysterectomy is a solution of last resort, not a first resort. For me a hysterectomy was medically necessary to improve the quality and health of my life. Someone actually suggested to me that a hysterectomy is no more painful than a c-section. It was also suggested by that same person that a c-section and hysterectomy were so similar in nature that by day 4 or 5 I should be back to normal and able to resume normal activities. I had to bite my tongue on that one. (more…)
Back to school
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
Caleb started high school on Monday. I hate that I was not able to be at school these first few days. I know most parents don’t get to be in the building for their kids, I just hate that I do get to be there for him, but could not be. Caleb has a pretty good schedule with all of his academics in the morning and his electives in the afternoon. He is in all advanced classes, so he should be challenged and learn a lot this year. (more…)
Be Still- Devotional
Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Even with all that is going on in my life I still feel blessed. David and I have faced many rough times during our 19 years together. Lately we have seen many fighting in this life for the bare essentials needed to live, it is hard to watch when there is not much that we can do to help. When Dave and I first married we had nothing and I wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. Somehow through miracle after miracle all of our needs were provided. Our bills were paid, there was always food on the table and we had a place to live. We relied on God to provide for all of our needs great and small.
Verse: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).
Hard times come to all of us in this life. During these times we need to just be still and focus on God and know that he is here to fight for us and with us. We were not meant to travel this life alone within the means of our own power. We were made to be dependent on God and his power. If you are going through rough times right now try shifting your focus from your problems to God and place all of your faith and trust in him and believe that he is fighting for you.
Surgery
Saturday, July 31st, 2010
I arrived at Cherokee Northside Hospital yesterday morning around 5:45 for surgery. All seems to have gone well and I should be released sometime after lunch this afternoon. I am in some pain, which is to be expected and am very sleepy. The doctors were able to leave the ovaries, but had to remove both the uterus and cervix. Tests will be run to try to figure out exactly why I never properly healed from the D&C that was performed in November. I am just looking forward to feeling better and being my healthy self again.
I would like to thank Jessica for spending the night with us on Thursday and taking care of the kids in the morning. I am told that Madilyn woke up in a great mood and was very good. Also, thanks to Sara who came and surprised me with a short visit.
My in-laws arrived yesterday afternoon to help out for a few days. It will be a great help to have them here to help with Madilyn. I have been informed I must be on bed rest for at least 2 weeks, and after that point I can slowly resume normal activities. I am not a lay in bed do nothing kind of person so the next few days will be hard.
Keep us in your prayers as the healing continues.
Types of Adoption
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
There are three basic types of adoption; open, closed, and semi-open. When considering adoption the level of openness is one of the most important aspects that must be decided upon. Agencies will normally use the preferences of both adoptive parents and birth parents in order to help make matches. The type of adoption you are looking for is a personal decision, and should be carefully considered before accepting any match.
Open adoption is a plan in which parties involved exchange contact information and have regular communication. Open adoption may also include visits between the adoptive family and the birth family. Open adoptions have become more popular during the past several years. A closed adoption is a plan in which no identifying information is exchanged and there is no contact between the parties. A semi-open adoption is a plan in which some identifying information is shared, and communication occurs several times a year. Communication is usually handled by a third party so that privacy can be maintained. Many states do not recognize or legally enforce open and semi-open adoptions so you should check out the laws in your state before entering into any adoption situation. This is especially important for birth families that are hoping to maintain contact after the adoption is finalized.
Adoptive parents should be reminded that it is unethical although not illegal in most states to say that you will have an open or semi-open adoption and then change your mind after finalization. Sometimes there are valid reasons to change the adoption agreement however, decisions to change the agreement should not be taken lightly. Everyone involved with adoption should be upfront and truthful about the intentions that they have concerning the type of adoption in which they wish to participate. Adoptive parents and birth parents should not agree to anything that they are uncomfortable with or can not follow through with. In the end all parties will suffer if the adoption is finalized and everyone is not 100% comfortable with the level agreed to communication.
Trying something new
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
My yellow squash finally came in. The problem is that we had too much of it ripen at the same time. I hate to waste anything so I came up with a few ideas on how to use the squash. First, I cut a bunch of it into slices and flash froze it for use after the garden quits producing. Maybe next year I will take on the task of learning how to can. (more…)