Its warming up here...

It is really warming up in Northern Indiana! We started out the week the temps in the single digits at night and below freezing during the day, and now it is 47! My daughter received an ice fishing for Christmas and has been itching to try it. Today they went back to the pond and one last go before the ice gets too thin. Aubrey and her dad have been fishing almost every night this week. They love it. Me? Not so much. I cant get the idea of the ice cracking while I am standing in the middle of the pond out of my mind. Today they caught 6 blue gill and we fried them up for dinner. The kids loved it!

Until it gets colder again, the ice is off limits. At least she got to use the pole right when she got it rather than waiting for it to get cold enough. Daddy/Daughter time is very precious and they love to spend it together hunting, fishing and hiking the farm. I couldn't ask for more than that!

Blessings!

Cybil

Loving my husband

Joe and I have been married for over 14 years.  I love him sooo much but as we all know we hurt those we love the most.  At the end of January we will have had our adopted son in our home for 1 year.  This has been a really tough year for our marriage.  So much adjustment and frustration.  This morning he came home from work and held me in his arms and told me how much he loved me.  I really needed that! With 5 kids, our relationship can get put on the back burner....or even out with the trash.  I never want to forget that Joe comes before the kids. Without him, there would be no them. He was first and needs to stay that way in our home.  We are heading off to our daughters basketball game tomorrow and hopefully will get lots of conversing done in the 3 hour van ride!

Blessings!

Cybil

Someone stole the Christmas tree!

Those were the exact words of my son when he woke up and found the tree gone from our living room. I had taken it along with all the other decorations after he had gone to bed on Sunday night. Call me scrooge, but when my tree goes up the week before Thanksgiving, I am ready to have my living room back!
Christmas went well this year and we all made it through, but I am tired and ready for spring. I am being tested for Mono, so we will see if maybe some of my aches and pains, tiredness and depression might be from that. sigh.

Blessings!

Cybil

Today my husband turns 40....

Today my husband of 15 years, turned 40. He is a wonderful guy with a heart for the Lord and he loves us all very much. I was kind of shocked when he confided that he was a little distrssed about the whole thing. REALLY??!! Forty is not a huge deal to me, of course I am only 35, so what do I know? He just kept thinking about when he was a boy and his dad turned 40 and how old that seemed. He also remembers the day we brought our oldest daughter home from the hospital 13 years ago and sees just how fast time is flying.
 No matter what he thinks, I still think he is very young at heart.

My 40 year old Joe!



Getting it all done....

I went to the elementary school today to deliver the gifts for the teachers, bus drivers, secretaries and principal. I also took in the kids exchange gifts and food supplies for their Christmas parties. This makes me excited because now I can see the top of my dinning room table!  My older girls took their gift to their bus driver only to see that there was a substitute. They were disapointed and asked the sub when Ron would be back only to find that he wouldn't be back until January. I understood. His wife died last year and its too painful to be at home during the holidays. We will save his gift. It got me to thinking about all of the people that view Christmas with heavy hearts just wishing the whole season didn't exist. Those who have lost loved ones, those who may be in foster homes or nursing homes or youth facilities or even prison. Lonely people and those who struggle finacially and Christmas is just a heavy burden for their pocketbooks. Christmas is not so merry for everyone. Let us all remember that the greatest gift you can give this season is love and the witness of Christ. After all, it is His birthday.

Blessings!

Cybil

4 out of 7 isn't too bad.....

The detestable stomach virus is making the rounds in our house. YUCK! It has hit 4 of the 7 of us. Aubrey on Saturday, me on Sunday, and two little boys today. Praying it has hit its limit. Cleaning up puke is right up there with shoveling chicken manure.

Blessings!

Cybil

Made noodles today....

Today was noodle day for the teachers. I like to give the elementary teachers Christmas gifts of appreciation for all their hard work. I have a cousin who was a teacher and she was telling me about the tons of lotion and candles that she would recieve from her students. I always try to think of something different and honestly its difficult to come up with new ideas. I made lots of noodles for the local farmers market this summer and they sold really well.  I decided to make up 12lbs of noodles ( teachers, bus drivers,  secretaries, principals), bought 16 oz. cans of chicken from our local butcher, made little bullion and spice pouches and will bag it all with a recipe for Chicken & Noodles. I hope they like it.

Blessings!

Cybil

Please DON"T share....

My #3 baby is sick! Not a head cold kinda sick, but the puke/diahrea kinda sick. UGH! Sooo praying that she dosent share it with the rest of the family......especially on Christmas break!
This is probably one of the only times I tell my kidos NOT to share. My poor baby looks like a drowned rat laying there on the couch. Could'nt even pull herself out of the shower, she was so weak. {Sigh} 

Blessings!

Cybil

Determination!

The washer is sitting on cement blocks
IN a kiddy pool. Leak away!

Determination is the word of the day when it comes to my washing machine. I have a Whirlpool Atlantis washer and dryer that we bought new 6 years ago. I came home a few weeks ago to water in my basement and couldn't figure out where it had come from. I dried up the water only to find it happening again. It usually happened when I would fill the washer and leave the house. Ironic. My honey finally found where the washer was leaking and it is going to be expensive to fix. I am frustrated because to me, 6 years is not old for a washer. (My mother has a Whirlpool that is 35 years old and still works, though she dosent use it on a daily basis) They dont make things the way they used to. I have figured out a way to continue to use the machine without getting it fixed until after the new year.  It is really hillbilly, but I dont know what else to do. I am determined not to buy a new machine.

God is good, I must add, because we have a friend who offered us their machine that works fine. I am going to have the honey hook up both machines and try tofind another dryer because of the amount of laundry that I do.  So thankful that I live in the 21st centure and am not complaining that my washboard is broke!

Blessings!

Cybil

Its all coming together...right?

So who is ready for Christmas? I soooo wish that could be me. My cards are sitting on the dinning room table partially finished, not a single gift or stocking stuffer wrapped, shopping....not finished with that either, and I have only 10 days left!

Just not in the mood.

I have been reading the Gospels and the different versions of Jesus birth. It has been just about the only part of the season that I have enjoyed this year.

Lord, help me to celebrate the birth of Your Son with great passion and energy!

Blessings!

Cybil

Inspection 101

Tomorrow is the day for our annual foster care license renewal house inspection. Kathleen will come and check our smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, child cabinet locks, the gun safe, etc., etc. Not what I call a good time. Last year (our first for this), I scrubbed the tar our of this house. It was immaculate and the kids were spit shiny! I had the house decorated for Christmas straight out of Martha Stewart Magazine.

She didn't even notice!

 Well this year I am relaxing and not exactly enjoying the inspection, but not stressing over it either. I know they wont give up a foster home because I forgot one of the light switch covers. I should take this approach to many other things in my life and see where it gets me! 

Blessings!

Cybil

Thanks Kidos!

I was so proud of my kids today that I must brag on them, just a bit. We had some snow in our area so school was cancelled today. It just happened to be on the same day that my mother and I had scheduled to make Christmas candy.  I knew that taking all five kids to moms would be counter productive, but I also hated to leave them home all day while their dad slept. (He works 3rd) The have stayed home by themselves tons, but for the whole day and keeping quiet enough so they dont wake dad is another story.

Not only did they not wake dad, but they knew we were up for home inspection for our foster home renewal licensing this week, so they cleaned the kitchen, living room, and kept the basement in good order. I was so happy when I got home and the house was more than just standing! Sigh! Now I can relax and sample a few of the treats I made today.

Blessings!

Cybil

I am trying....

Christmas this year has been very hard for me to get excited about. Its been such a tough year and a half for our family in so many ways that I am......tired, depressed, blah. 

My husband had 3 stints put in his heart

Becoming foster parents

A horrible adoption process

Daughter #1 blew out her knee and had to have surgery, bed rest, therapy, etc..

Finally closing the adoption and dealing with all of the judgement and misunderstanding 

My dad has no set diagnosis for the 2 tumors found in his head

Daughter #3 had an emergency appendectomymy

Dealing with my diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The huge financial stress caused by all of the above.

The stress of bring a 4 (now 5) year old into our family.

I just feel so tired after all of this. I sound so winey! God has truly brought us through, and I am so thankful for it, but I am beat.

This attitude is way out of character for me. Usually I am  just as excited for Christmas as the kids, maybe more.  Maybe over time I will get my zest for life back, but for this season....I am tired.

I am so thankful that I have my family, friends and an amazing God who always comforts me when I need Him.

To God be the Glory!

TheToy Box

Today was the dreaded day for cleaning out the the Toy box and organizing all of the toys. YUCK! Usually I do this when the kids aren't home (duh!), but for some reason I decided to tackle it with their help. Below is the finished product.

I dont think I will actually have to buy as many Christmas gifts this year. The "newly found" toys are a big hit. I might have to do this before birthdays as well! What a great way to save money. My daughter is looking over my shoulder as I type this and has some serious objections.

Blessings to you and yours today!

Cybil

Traditions....

Today I went to my moms with the intention of making cookies and candy for Christmas gifts and treats to eat. Snow delay in the A.M. set us back 2 hours, so the candy will have to wait till monday.  Thats OK though, I dont mind spending another day at the parents. Actually I love going over there. They still live in the same house where I grew up. Even though it has been remodeled in some places, it still feels very comfortable and homey. One day, I hope to call it "my house" where I can invite my grandchildren over to make Christmas candy and cookies.

Way too long!

Have mercy it has been so long since I have posted. I daily read most of my favorite blogs, but cant seem to be able to post myself I often get frustrated about what I want to express or am too depressed to get it out.  These last 18 months have been the most stressful of my life and of our marriage.  The stress has resulted in early onset Rhumatoid Arthritis. I am hoping/praying that the Lord will free me from this when things settle down, which they are...slowly. While I may be 34, I feel like 60. This is both depressing and frustrating as I love to be active with my family. I may add it to my "interests" and see if there are others who might have a similar situation. It could only help. I am currently on a heavy perscription to helpwith the swelling and pain, but would love to find another alternative.

Anyway, God is good and I will try my best to see the blessing in this.

Blessings!

Cybil