We are on TV!

Early in the summer (in June) we taped a public service announcement about adoption at our house. Well the editing is finally over, and here is the link to our TV debut. As soon as I get a hard copy of it, I will attach it as a video, but for now you have to click on the link yourself :)

http://www.wftv.com/video/17201923/?taf=orlc

Let me know what you think!

1st Day of School 2008

We had a great first day of school. Here is the picture of us on our way.... We have tomorrow off, thanks to Hurricane Fay. My kids are so disappointed. After all the hype of starting school, we have to spend a day inside while we watch bad weather out the window. (Unlike some friends I know, we will not be mattress surfing! hee hee) Check out Jerome, as he is now picking out his daily wardrobe! Jerome 4th, Kevin 3rd, Kendra 1st

Hands of Love

The kids and I were headed over to my parents for lunch and a swim when Kevin asked me to tell the story of how he was adopted. No problem, as this is a story that I like to tell! Each time I tell it to the kids, I add in new details that they either don't remember from telling to telling, or it wasn't appropriate at the last telling. (Here is our first family picture from 2 1/2 years ago).

So I started this time with talking about how Mommy and Daddy had to take a class and fill out lots of paperwork. Then we went to an Ice Skating event to meet kids who needed mom's and dad's. That is when I first saw Kendra wearing a red dress. That Mom and Dad talked with you and we decorated cookies with frosting and candies. I told how Jerome wanted to ice skate and that Kendra was scared but willing to give it a try... and that after we met, we still didn't know if we could become your mom and dad. That we had to wait for the judge to talk to us. I shared that we had to wait for 4 long weeks to find out if we could be your mom and dad. We got to go to Jerome's 8th birthday party and that the kids called us Ms. Christina and Mr. Lowell because we didn't have the go ahead yet to be officially mom and dad. The story ended at my parents driveway and off we the kids went into the house.

Except for Jerome. He was crying... What is the matter?, I questioned... He explained to me that he wished he still had the gift that I gave him for his 8th birthday. This seemed strange to me, as he has not mentioned this in the 2 1/2 years he has lived with us... I said that I felt that perhaps the tears weren't about the toy as he has a room full of toys, and the back porch that is loaded with toys too, but that perhaps he was remembering a time of his life that happened before he moved in with mom and dad, and that something made him sad. He said, no it was the toy he missed but my mothers intuition told me otherwise.

Oh how I wish that my little ones had a different start in life. One with control, basic needs being met, without irresponsible caretakers... I wish that I could see into their past, and comfort exactly what makes them sad in the present... but that isn't the case. Instead I trust God that He will heal their emotions, memories, and whole being.. that He will help them heal, and hold their hearts in the hands of love that surround them now.

Go For the Gold

Is anyone else addicted to the Olympics? I cannot stop watching them. I am not sure if it is just because they are on later in the evening so the kids are asleep (I love when the house is quiet!) or if they are truly entertaining. A little bit of both, I'm sure.

Onto deeper thoughts... the kids start school on Monday. I thought that because I am a teacher that I would feel less anxious each year about my kids going to school. For heavens sake, they attend the school I work at, I hand pick their teachers, and I see them during the school day the way most parents are never able to.... and yet I worry....

I pray that Kevin's teacher will be strong with him, and help me fine tune his work ethic (he told me this summer that he need not read this summer, he would just do it when school started!) Too bad for him that it doesn't work that way in our house, and he has had to read 13 chapter books this summer! Kevin is going into 3rd grade.

I pray that Jerome will continue to grow and be accepted by his peers as we prepare for middle school in 2 short years. His teacher is my mom again this year, and that is WONDERFUL... We had a speech/language evaluation done, and he will start therapy as soon as the insurance gives the okay, 2 days a week for 30 minutes. I pray that the therapy will help stop his stuttering... and that he will continue to fill in pot holes of experiences he is missing. I call them pot holes because the road looks like it is paved until you get right up on it, and then boom, pot hole... not all bad, he has just had 8 years of missing experiences that leads to pot holes other kids don't always experience. Jerome read 30 chapter books this summer! YEA! He is going into 4th grade.

I pray for my daughter who is so smart academically that it gets her into trouble. She is like me, and likes to talk.... (can't fault her for being like her mommy!) I pray her teacher will be able to challenge her. She is already reading independently (wanted so badly to be like her older brothers!) She can already add and subtract 2 digit numbers without regrouping too. She read 12 picture books this summer. Kendra is going into 1st grade.

Tomorrow is Meet Your Teacher. I will be working, so the kids will have the babysitter take them to their teachers. This is okay because they have met their teachers before... but I wish that I could take them... I am excited about seeing my class. I am looping with the same kids I had last year for 4th, I will teach 5th grade to this year.

Hello World

After enjoying several other blogs, I thought I would give this blogging thing a try.... Enjoy!

We have had a great summer. We started the summer with a bang going on the Disney Cruise to the Bahamas. It was awesome! We certainly needed the help of my mom who joined us on the trip. The kids loved the evening shows on the cruise, and we have been blessed with so many "shows" put on by the kids since our return! The entire family is hoping to cruise again soon!

The kids went to Disney's Animal Kingdom Camp in June. They really enjoyed the animal encounters each day at camp. I would have loved to go with Jerome to the giraffe barn! The camp took the kids all around Disney property, behind the scenes and on rides that correlated with the animals they were studying for the day. Oh if only I could be a kid again!

We took several trips to my grandma's house. The kids were so well behaved, and we enjoyed getting to see her. It was fun to go to a place called Shell World. They have lots of shells, and also a collection of animals that have been stuffed (the technical name escapes me). The kids loved seeing all kinds of "real" animals.

We were asked to tape a public service announcement regarding adoption. This was a lot of fun for the kids, as they videotaped us in almost every room in our house! Last we heard, they are awaiting approval from dcf, and then they will set the air dates. The kids can't wait to see us on tv!

In July the kids joined their cousins at Soccer Camp for a week of fun! Kendra was thrilled that she was finally old enough to join her brothers at soccer camp. Once she was there, she had a good time, but thought that it was too hot outside! I don't blame her one bit. All of the kids enjoyed the time with their cousins who live 4 hours away. It was a great week.

I learned how to braid extensions into Kendra's hair this summer, and they are now ready for public viewing :)

We ended the summer with our second "family birthday" at the Nick Hotel. It was such a great couple of days. We had a hard time packing the car to leave. The summer has come to an end. Sad, but a necessary evil I suppose as school starts on Monday for me, and the following week for the kids.