Hurricane Sandy

*Please note...I realize the hurricane caused everything from minor inconveniences to utter devastation all along the East Coast.  We have been praying for those affected and I don't want to in any way minimize the losses that have been felt or the severity of the storm in so many communities.  This is just our little miracle in the midst of the storm.*

With the promise of Hurricane Sandy, school was cancelled for Monday and Tuesday, as were all the activities that are built into our daily lives, week after week.

There was no school, no football practice, no cheerleading practice, no biological family visits, no voice lessons, no homework, no gym, no therapist appointment, no foster care continuing education, no social worker visits.

Having had the show the night prior, the house all slept in.  Z was the first one up at 9:30 and they slowly trickled down, until the last, Amanda, at 11:56.  We all stayed in sweatpants the entire day.  

The kids watched a movie together and snuggled and giggled.  We played game after game, I baked homemade bread, cooked several meals and we dined...all of us gathered around the same table, at the same time, in the dining room (imagine that!!).  

I painted Avery' fingernails since she can't wear it to school, Amanda and I took a hot bath together and  shared a deep conversation (and several not so deep, as is her way :).  Shaun and I puttered on the computer a bit, but nothing you could really call work.  In the evening we ALL gathered and watched a family movie.

It felt SO wonderful yet SO strange....then it dawned on me...its because it had been SO long.  I racked my brain, trying to remember the last time our family was home together for an entire day without somewhere to be or something pressing to do.  I could not think of a time.  The last time it would have even been possible was in May, possibly going back to December or early January.  TOO long!  In every way it was bliss.  Refreshing to my soul, good medicine for our family, such as it is.

 

 

 The next day we ventured out for some fresh air and exercise.  Good times.

 I noticed Aiden had been missing for a bit, so I went searching for him.  Put himself down for a nap...

 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make 

me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Project 365, Week 44

An unusual week, for sure.  You might ask what a "usual" week is for us and I'd have a hard time answering that, but throwing a hurricane, a show and an extra foster child into one week truly does make it interesting.

Sunday afternoon we were feverishly packing up our hotel room five minutes before our late checkout time when we got a call from another foster family asking if we'd take their child because they were leaving, due to the threat of the storm.

So, on the way home from the show, at 11 PM, I picked her up.  It was her 16th birthday and I felt awful that I hadn't had more time to prepare.

We enjoyed the few days we had with her (this is the same girl we had while Shaun was in Europe back in September).  On the last day, on the car ride home from soccer practice, Amanda was talking about what she wants to do for her birthday, later this month.  K asked me, Do you know what I did for my birthday this year?  I said, Yes, you said you played paintball at your friend's house.  She said, I went on respite.

Wow...took my breath away.  So much of the time I feel completely inadequate to do what we are doing (especially with a 16 year-old!!) but also so very honored that God has called us to this and is equipping us on an as-needed basis...daily!

So here is a bit of our week....

October 28

We spent much of the morning and afternoon playing at Coco Key Resort.

We got word pretty early that school was cancelled for Monday and Tuesday, so I made the decision to stay with the kids through the final show.

 October 29
We stayed in all day...we had rain and wind in our little part of the world from Hurricane Sandy.

October 30
Time to get the dog exercise and the kids some fresh air...me, five kids and a dog walked/biked to the highschool to get some air.

October 31
Can you guess what we did on Halloween?  :)

 November 1
A mighty warrior met me in the hallway.

 Later he brought me a stack of books to read.  Oh, how I love board books!!  I've memorized many of them and the times and memories that they hold from all three kids are simply priceless.

 View from my kitchen window.

November 2

No picture.  My favorite memory of the day is the date Shaun and I had while the kids were at their Friday night activities.  :)

November 3

Football just will not die.  This was the Consolation game for the two teams who didn't make it to the SuperBowl.

This past Thursday I was doing a happy dance all the way to pick Z up from his last football practice.  He got in the car and announced, Guess what!  I made the All-Star team!  Oh...super!  Another week of practice, another game.

Aiden sure doesn't mind football though, especially since he usually has a cousin or three there to play with.  :)

 Meg and I arranged a time to get our families together so we could swap family picture taking.  Cold, windy and quick, but we got the job done!  Love this "outtake".

Football Playoffs

Saturday was playoffs day, which meant a four-hour roundtrip from and back to Massachusetts.  After a quick stop at home so the kids could change into their uniforms, we were on the field.

Z had some of his biological family there as well as Shaun's entire family to support and cheer him on.  He scored touchdowns and extra points, he made big tackles, long kick offs...he played his heart out.  But they still lost.  And he took it hard.

There will be no SuperBowl this year for the Red Hurricanes, still much was learned and much was gained.

 Aiden-guy got to join the loosey-goosey cheer squad and couldn't have been happier.

 Auntie:  I have airplanes on my phone.  :)

 My nephew Jared was so sweet to walk with him and talk him through it.  The girls?  Probably not as helpful.

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.  I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Ephesians 3:12,13

Coco Keeeeeys

The last piece of last weekend in MA I wanted to document was our day in the Coco key Resort at our hotel.  The kids had been VERY excited about it.  

All on his own, Aiden packed his "pack-pack" for Coco Keeeeeys.  He packed his shark bathing suit, UNO cards and some tools.  He strapped it on his pack and walked around the house for several days like that.  He also told random strangers that we came in contact with that he was going to Coco Keeeeys and that they had a big bucket that filled with water and then dumped out!

Sunday during the day was free time, so that's when we went.  What a great place for our group...something for all ages!  It was a bonus that cousin Maddie was there with us.  

Amanda was considerably bummed that she wasn't tall enough for two of the water slides, but she managed to have an ok time.

So grateful for the opportunity to have a fun family day!  

 October family pic!

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people

Ephesians 1:18