We have decided to start a new tradition in our house. Sometime on the last week of school I'll take the kids to have donuts. We NEVER eat donuts so it's a real treat. On Wednesday morning, I got up and told the kids to hurry up with their chores. We took some last week of school pictures to compare to the first day of school. Then, we were out the door. I took them to Shipley's donuts. Although, Robert kept calling it Shirley's donuts- whoever Shirley is. Robert picked out a strawberry donut and Asia got a chocolate one with sprinkles. They both had white milk to top it off. They really seemed to enjoy this small celebration. Our first full school year is almost in the books!
In her 1st grade class, Asia is learning about plants. She planted a seed at school and has watched it grow. She brought it home about a week ago and we've been watering it. I think it's a Morning Glory plant. Today, we decided to plant it on our lattice work to see if it will grow. She and her Daddy dug a hole and planted the plant. She learned how to water it and tied it to stakes so it might grow. I'm not sure if it will or not, but it was a great learning experience and bonding time.
Luke, the kids, and I had the chance to see our friends' kids play T-ball at Bishop Park last night. We even ran into Ms. Simmons/Lerew. It was fun visiting with her too! It was also great visiting with Jeff and Ellen and Blake and Chantel. Jeff and Blake are the coaches for the team. They asked Robert to be the bat boy. He thought that was awesome! They didn't get to play long before the rain came. It was fun just being together and talking foster/adoption stuff. They are all a hoot. We are SO thankful for great friends like the Barber's and Morris's. Our life wouldn't be complete without them!
Robert had his 2nd Grade Author's Tea today at school. He was so proud to have his writings on his desk for me to look at. There were a lot. He picked three that were his top favorite- Abraham Lincoln, the Digestive System, and a piece about his friends at school. The Digestive system doesn't surprise me at all. The day they learned that at school, he came home with a string telling me it was as long as his guts. He was amazed by that. Silly boy! After reading his papers to me, we went and got a cookie and some punch. We came back to the classroom and he showed me the rest of his writings. Some were true- and some not so much. He even wrote a paper about going to New York City. I asked him one day if he had really gone there before. He said yes and begin some elaborate story. I asked him if he saw the Eiffel Tower there too. I've heard that it was really neat in NYC. He said Yes Mom and begin describing it. Ahh, yeah not so much! We laughed about that day today. I ate lunch with both of the kids. Hard to believe the school year is winding down!
He looks happy with his trophy and certificate. Thanks Hawkins!!!!
Our Soccer Man Child
Warrior U9 Spring 2015 Team
The Warrior U9 team got together at U.S. Pizza to celebrate the end of the Spring 2015 season. Thanks to the Hawkins Family we had pizza waiting and a nice long table for the team to sit at. Robert loved his trophy. He was so proud. Coach Michael got a gift card from the team as well as a framed team picture. It was a fun night of Pizza and games for the kids.
Little hands, shoeless feet, lonely eyes looking back at me
Will we leave behind the innocent too brief
On their own, on the run when their lives have only begun
These could be our daughters and our sons
And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating
I know my God won’t let them be defeated
Every child has a dream to belong and be loved
[Chorus:]
Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout your name in victory
When we love when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these
Break our hearts once again
Help us to remember when
We were only children hoping for a friend
Won’t you look around these are the lives that the world has forgotten
Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to open
[Chorus]
If not us who will be like Jesus
To the least of these
If not us tell me who will be like Jesus
Like Jesus to the least of these
Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free shout your name in victory
We will love we will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
I heard this song on the radio today. I've heard it numerous times and never really listened to the words. Well today, it hit me a fresh. This song is written about MY kids. I realized today that Luke and I were called to do this. It's not easy and will never be easy- but it's what the Lord has called us to do. Robert and Asia definitely had lonely eyes when we first met them. Sometimes, they still do even though we try every day to reiterate the fact that we love them immensely.
I've honestly struggled with Motherhood lately. I know now it was truly Satan getting to me. I was at a point where I hated being a Mother. Being a Mom was not what I envisioned. I was looking at other Moms with bio kids and wishing I had that. I wished for kids that loved me just because I was their Mom. I wished for the business of life and endless counseling and dr. appointments to end. I wished to be anywhere but in my house. It was TOUGH!
Then, I started a new Beth Moore Bible Study with my sweet sista girls. It's on the fruits of the spirit. The first video we watched was just for me- no one else in our group. I'm learning (again) to give my fleshly self to the Lord every day. He can change my heart- he already is working on it. I have to pray daily to have a love for my kids- it's not natural here in our house. I pray daily/minutely to be able to parent these kids with Reactive Attachment Disorder.
I was thinking about all of this on the way home from lunch with Luke. This song came on the radio. The Lord reminded me again that this is my calling. It's not for everyone. It's certainly not easy. Then again, I don't think I've ever taken the easy path. I am used to being in control- of everything- and being organized. Well, that's all gone out the window now!
The Lord is enjoying keeping me on my toes. I'm learning to enjoy being a Mom again. Isn't it always like Him to want to stretch us far beyond where we think we can go? If someone had told me 2 years ago I'd feel like this or have been where I was some weeks ago- I wouldn't have imagined it. In fact, we'd never have gone through the adoption process to begin with. Robert and Asia would be a statistic and still in the system.
I laughed today when Luke and I were talking about our dreams for the kids. Bio parents across the board see college, lawyers, doctors, etc. for their kids. We're just happy if ours aren't in prison or pregnant! It truly is the little things!
We had a wonderful family day. We took the kids to pick strawberries. We had never done that before. The kids were amazed at how the strawberries grew in the ground. After picking strawberries, we ended up stopping at the Holland Bottoms fruit stand and bought some more strawberries. We munched on a few on our way to lunch. We came home later that day and made strawberry freezer jam. I had never done this before. The kids had a blast helping and trying our jam. It was certainly a hit in the Williams Family!
