Life just got busier....

What was I thinking? Am I insane? Didn't I have the "already busy life" with two already busy little girls?!?!

So almost two years ago, God started preparing us to become foster parents. At first we said "there is this one child we want". God said no. Then we said "we just want to be relief parents. Help out those foster patents that are working so hard.". God said no. "we want all this paperwork and classes over with. Why can't DHS get their stuff together and get us open??". God said "not yet". Until about two weeks ago. And O MY. What were we thinking??

God didn't send us one child or two children. He sent us TWO babies. TWO! SIBLINGS. What was their mom thinking! That's just it she wasn't, but I digress.
This challenge from God has sent my world into a crazy topsy turvey whirl-spin. Not only did foster children/babies come into our life, we have had crazy work schedules, sickness and just plain ole life that was already going on. I think the devil likes to stir the pot, too, when your doing God's work.

I made this cake for Leah's birthday. With extra kids in my house.
Am I wore out? Am I looking a little ruff around the edges? Am I crazy? Crazier? YES. But does God ask us to do easy? Sometimes, but not always. Sometimes the things we need to do are very hard, but as Isaiah 55:8 says "My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways,". Many times this last two weeks I have asked, my friends and family have asked "what are you thinking?". I'm trying not to think. I'm trying to rely on God.

What a good couple of weekend........

What a beautiful and productive weekend. We have really had some beautiful weather the past few weekends.

We have been "doing" weddings, cooking, birthday partying, and spending time with family. This last weekend was VERY busy....well last weekend was too!

It's not that bad, Tucker!! We've survived!

Granny got a new horse. It's on hospice care. He's about 18 years old and our friend Penny gave him to us. He's blind in one eye and kind of cantankerous. But he will make a good riding horse for the girls

I planted some pansies to kill this weekend. That's just the way I roll.

This is what Eric and his brother have been working on. My new deer stand. They have also built one with John's name on it.

This is Tucker and Granny. During church. Yes, I took a picture during church. It was too cute to miss the moment. Tucker was very intent on learning about stickers.

This is our family today. This week it may grow. Almost two years ago we began a process of becoming foster parents because Eric and I felt that was what God was leading us to do. Our home is officially open. Our home is open because they, DHS, wants to place kids/babies in our home. God wants to place children in our care. It may not be what we want, but sometimes He ask us to do things we are uncomfortable with. I am definitely gonna be uncomfortable this week. Pray for us.

God is good and life is good.

Birthday weekend

After stitches on Thursday night, Friday was spent getting ready for our birthday weekend. My precious Elizabeth turned 9 Sunday. NINE!! My husbands step-mom really made me feel terrible when she said "I wonder if the next 9 years will go by this fast?!?". Urg!

Friday, Leah and I spent all day shopping for Elizabeth's present and party supplies. We also had to make a few trips to my Little Rock office for computer repairs. I thought Leah might would get bored, but she was a real trooper. She even indulged me, and let us eat at the sushi buffet. She earned a few brownie points.

On Saturday morning, we began the birthday celebration. My nephew, Samuel's birthday is the 16th, Elizabeth's is the 17th and my niece, Lauren's is the 18th. We decided this would be the year to combine a party in Fordyce for the Petty clan. Eric's brother in Fordyce preaches at a church there, and so a lot of kids come for the celebration. This year, Lauren is really into to horses, so we even got to go ride horses at an arena close by. But boy was it HOT!

Then we had a party at our house for friends of Elizabeth. It was all kids from church. I told the parents that if they wanted to spend the night, they were welcome to do so. We had about 9 kids show up and 4 kids spent the night. They had so much fun and had lots of cake and ice cream AND candy. They didn't go to sleep till after 1am and it was hard to get up for church the next morning.

After church on Sunday, We ate a wonderful lunch at mom's. Elizabeth opened all her presents from us and the Barnes side of the family. Harley got to stay with us after church and go swimming with the girls. It was a great day.

Now we just have to get the house back in order. ):

Bumps, lumps and stitches

What a week!! But the topper came on Thursday afternoon at 2 when the babysitter, Sammie, called and said in a sweet calm voice "I think you need to come home."

Me "oh- ok. What's wrong?".

Sammie " Well- Leah and Elizabeth were playing in your bedroom and Leah flipped off your bed and her head hit the recliner.". It's an old recliner with wood trim. "she has a big knot and it's bleeding a lot."

So I left little rock and headed home. Now, I've known Sammie a long time- all her life! I know she will never be a nurse because she is super squeamish. My mind conjured up ideas that she had passed out and the girls were freaking out trying to get her up. So I called my dad to go check out the situation. So he was there to help out before I came home. Also, when Leah gets hurt, which has been more often than not, Elizabeth is the one to flip out- and this time was no different she doesn't like blood either.

I knew as soon as I saw it it would be a trip to the ER. So off to Arkansas Children's Hospital we went.

I had to pay her a dollar to let me take pics for the blog. She was quite embarrassed. Scared to death too.

But the staff at Children's were wonderful. See the smile on her face??

This is the stuffed animal the hospital gave her after it was all over with. She is spoilt wherever she goes.

A "tree" in the hospital.

6 stitches later and all is better.

Cats

Granny and Pawpaws home has new family members.

^This is Precious.

^ and this is Tigger.

Granny thought some cats would be a nice early birthday present for Elizabeth and both girls agree. Cats- not so agreeable.

Happy Independence Day!

A good weekend we have had. And thanks go to our Veterans and those currently fighting and serving our country so that we may be free!

Saturday night, after I got done working, I made an 4th of July ice cream cake for us to enjoy this weekend. I also smoked some duck on dad's smoker while the girls swam, AGAIN. (that would be 3 times on Saturday).

Yesterday was church day. We brought Harley home with us after church. We ate a wonderful lunch that mom made- Boston butt, potato salad, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, fried zucchini, squash, okra and potatoes, and eggplant. They invited our neighbor, Mr Ronnie, to join us for lunch. He provided much entertainment lots of stories from the past. The girls went swimming after lunch and we relaxed in the air conditioner

Even spot relaxed inside.

Harley went home and the girls spent the night with granny and pawpaw. Eric and I pretended we were old folks and put our pj's on and watched crime shows on TV.

So today, we slept in late and then Eric mowed and I went to moms to help with our lunch of hamburgers and watermelon. While starting the grill mom found this little feller-

This black snake was tangled up in netting and Robin Ann thought we should save him. I stick to my theory that the only good snake is a dead snake. But, Nnnnoooo- not Granny.

...and so the snake went free after granny cut the net away.

We ate our hamburgers and watermelon. I can hear thunder over across the field, but no rain yet. We still could use some. Here is our lovely temp in the shade. The temp on the bottom is how hot it is in mom and dads attic.

......well we got a nice shower!! After a day at mom and dad's, we went to Harrington Holler for fireworks. I also made homemade peaches and cream ice cream to take with us. Blake and Penny put on a very, Very impressive fireworks show. The girls sat on the doc of the pond and the boys shot the fireworks. Life is good!

Bible School Week

It's vacation bible school week at Shiloh. Vacation?? I think it was called this because of the time of the year when most bible schools are held. When I first started going to Shiloh, not THAT many years ago, bible school was a LONG week affair. Bible school was held in the morning and revival was at night. Revival started on Sunday night, VBS was in the morning, with a sermon by the revival evangelist preaching after bible school, then a sermon that night, and it ended on SATURDAY!! Oh we were so tired and so were the evangelist. Now our revival is a separate week and Monday thru Friday. Bible schools are usually held at night too since most teachers/moms work during the day. Here are a few pics from last night.

These are two of the kids in my class...

......some kids never grow up.

Leah and Tucker in refreshments......

.....Tucker not so happy. She looks so much like Bradley.

........Craft time.

Father's day weekend

I'm cooking for all the dad's tomorrow. The plan is fried deer tenderloin, corn, green beans, squash and zucchini, cucumbers and rolls. I'm debating on home-made rolls or going into Walmart and buy some of Sister Shuberts home made rolls. Considering that I have to be at church at 8 on the morning (for a bible school prayer breakfast)) and won't be home until almost 12, Sister Shuberts is sounding like the better plan! I'm cooking for my dad, Eric's dad, and Eric's brother Nathan's family. Oh my. I better get started quick!!
We are so blessed to have all these men in our lives and blessed that they are such good examples of what a daddy should be.

....couldn't find a pic of Erics dad. Maybe I'll get one tomorrow. Happy father's dad.