Monday Randoms...

1) Hopefully you're not too disappointed that this is a "WHTGT Randoms" post & not a Nursery REVEAL post. I promise it will be up by the end of my Spring Break! I thought I would celebrate a wonderful, relaxing Spring Break with that post before entering into the final home stretch of the school year. Our FINAL day is May 18th. That is the earliest we've gotten out of school for summer vacay since I've worked here. Last year we had more Snow Days than any other year & this year we had the least amount- ZERO. I will have about a week off before Disney to pack our bags & get prepared. Perfect!

2) Today is my first "official" day of SB. What I mean is - - my first i'm supposed to be working but i'm not day.  On the agenda for today is Reddington's 1st Dentist Apppointment.  The office calls it a Happy Visit. Let's hope it is just that & that there are no tears from the boy or from the Mama who can't believe it's already time for her boy's first dentist visit ...or maybe tears from the Mama because she's being scorned for not making said boy brush his teeth more than once a day. Did I just tell the world that?!

3) I'm soooooooo ready to relax this week. No, I don't really know what that looks like. I do know that this Mama is tired & ready to put her feet up. Evenings at our house are crazy-busy. When you throw in a home redecorating project, evenings turn to chaos. Every night I'm doing the normal household things (dinner, baths, playtime, bedtime routine, laundry, etc) plus a coat of paint here or there, hanging curtains, a diy project - -  you get the idea. Other than relaxing, we have a play date scheduled with Denise & Cruz on Wednesday. I have a list of things (go figure) that I would like to do/complete sometime before next Tuesday. If it gets done, fine. If not, that's ok, too! Spending time with my babies, getting dirty while playing outside, & taking naps are more important than any list - - at least this week! We have a couple of Easter celebrations with our families, a concert on Good Friday, & an Easter Egg Hunt at church that we'll be attending to celebrate the risen King. Reddington is at such a fun age where everything is exciting that I love doing these things with him as a family. 

4) This is my mother's very 1st week of RETIREMENT. She is officially a retired gal! Here is the "tribute" I posted on her facebook page after asking my Dad for her password: "Hello to Cathy's facebook friends! We (Tatum & Megan) have taken over our mom's fb page to let you know that she is retiring THIS MONTH from Tate & Lyle after 30+ years.  We only know our mom as a "full-time" working mom - - something she has done with grace & perfection as a wife, mom, grandma, & best friend.  We would love for you to encourage her into this next stage of her life w/ your words of congratulations.  It's going to be a big adjustment for her that, as always, she will handle beautifully.  We are so proud of her & the example she is to us on a daily basis.  WE COULD NOT LOVE HER MORE! To the moon, Mama, we love you!

5) After living in our house for over 5 years we have finally booked someone to re-do our hardwood floors.  His name is Reuben & he's an Amish gentlemen from Arthur. He came highly recommended from a friend I went to high school with.  Our floors could be beautiful & are just waiting to make an appearance under our nasty, stained carpet. The entire house has the original hardwood floors & we've planned to do this since we bought the house back in December of 2006.  The time has come. The best part? They are going to be sanded & refinished while we are in Disney World (my parents are taking us to celebrate their retirements) the end of May! Instead of having to pack up and head to my parents for a few days, we will be gone already when the work is completed. I think that is the best part! I will have all summer to get my house back in order. I.CAN'T.WAIT! I am a neat-freak kind-of-gal & like my home clean & every single thing in it's place. This disgusting carpet has about sent me over the edge on multiple occassions. It has been professionally cleaned & the stains come back every.single.time. It is embarrassing. Thank you, Lord, for making a way -both on our calendars & financially- for us to have this done to our home.  It is LONG overdue. 

6) Hubby has been quite the rockstar through all of this.  He has done his fair share with Reddington & Baby Girl to meet their needs.  He has done multiple diy projects in the Nursery, too.  I feel like he has truly stepped up & been exactly what I needed throughout this process with the Baby.  I could not have done this without him, that's for sure! I know he thought I was off my rocker when I first mentioned Foster Care to him.  Now, I definitely feel like he is just as much of a cheerleader for this experience & being licensed for this as anyone. I used to look at my future & see a perfect little family of four - - 2 boys or 2 girls or one of each and that was it.  Now, I don't have a clear picture in my mind of what our family will look like. And I like it that way! Am I crazy? Perhaps! I'm not interested in a swag wagon (aka mini van) for no good reason :)  Deep down, I want to fill that swag wagon with my hubby and kiddos. We shall see what the Lord does with us.  Hubby is along for the ride.  He is not quick to say no or cast off my thoughts & desires and I LOVE THAT ABOUT HIM. The Lord was so good to me when He sent him as my spouse. Lord, do your thing. We are ready!

I haven't updated lately on Baby Girl & thought that I should do so. In our home she is doing wonderful! We are used to having her around & miss her when she is gone at her visits.  I'm used to her and can pretty much tell why she is crying/fussy if she is.  I feel like she is less content than she was when she first joined our family which could be for a variety of reasons - - quite possibly the main one could be that Big Bro doesn't leave her alone! HA. I will catch him trying to give her toys or stick her paci in when she is completely happy-go-lucky. Thus, the fussy-ness begins. Surprised? We do have a court date this summer & may know more then.  It truly is a roller coaster & a waiting game.  We are along for the ride, remember?  Anyways, I don't have a whole lot to say other than we're praying that she is able to become part of our forever family. We would love for you to pray that for us, too.


"God sets the lonely in families..." Psalm 68:6


“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."Psalm 37:4

"...and see if I wil not throw open the floodgates of heaven & pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it..." Malachi 3:10

"...He who began a good work will carry it on to completion."  Philippians 1:6

"You are good. But it is not enough just to be good. You must be good for something. You must contribute good to the world. The world must be a better place for your presence. And the good that is in you must be spread to others....” -Gordon B. Hinckley

WE want to be the ones to teach her, help her change the world, praise her, celebrate her, encourage her to be a woman of God, & tell her: 

 Lord, hear our prayer!

Ok, I will not be back until I'm ready to post the Nursery: Eclectic REVEAL post. I think I've said enough to last you until then [smile]... And I didn't think I had much to say! I guess you can tell I'm not working right now.  A promise is a promise- See you soon with the big reveal.