N & P, Day 5

Tuesday, we took the boys out to the local children's home. I started this blog as a way to process and document our journey to building a family . We spent 3 years in limbo with miscarriages, failed adoptions attempts and more fertility and pregnancy tests than j care to own up to. 

NMCCH is who we filled in pages upon pages of referrals, backgrounds, history, profiles with. Billy and his family have been involved with this ministry since its inception. Explaining to Matthew where we were going, who lived there and why chocked me up . 

They gave us and he kids a full tour including offices, learning center and let the kids play on the playground for a while. 

On our way back to their house, we drove by a modest farm where my father in law gee up with his two brothers . 

After quiet time, it began to pour which is rare in the NM valley. The streets flooded fast, so we rented a few movies for the kids. 

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After their dinner and baths, we got them to bed and then Billy and I went to Cattle Baron's for dinner while Nana sat with the kids. Papa took food to Billy's cousins because the funeral was the next day for their mother. 

N & P, Day 4 Labor Day

I'm kind of infatuated with small town life. The slower pace, the focus on simpler, classic, timeless experiences and traditions. No rat race, climbing ladders or agendas. Ironically since Billy was born and raised in one, he's been there/ done that and isn't interested in going back. 

This morning after breakfast, the guys and I all headed to the state park for kite flying, hiking and park playing. The atmosphere was southwest and beautiful. 

After a great cook out and naps, the boys had watermelon in the backyard. It was a classic Labor Day weekend and I loved it! 

Between playing with toys friends of my inlaws loaned us for the week, the boys wanted to shuck corn with Papa. 

Yes, many places were closed yesterday and today in a small town. And that was ok. 

N & P, Day 3

Papa took the boys for a walk while we got ready for church after his prayer meeting. 

We played on the church playground as we somehow got there early. 

Morning church: 

Hearing Rick Atchley preach again was a flood of memories . His church is where I really found God, got baptized and learned that there really were people out there wanting to be like Jesus. People who wanted to be different than this world and to reflect that in their speech, attitudes, actions and money. I could write posts upon posts about how Jesus met and changed me and it's the best thing that ever happened in my life and worth everything I gave up before. 

After lunch and quiet time for the boys , we tried a splash pad and snow cones but both were closed. Small town life ;-) 

We took them to a nearby park, then went to the visitation for Billy's ain't who passed the day we arrived in town. We came home to play with toys loaned to my inlaws, had dinner and watched a video.

N&P, day 2

The boys woke up at their regular 7 am DFW time, which is 6 am NM time. We fed breakfast, picked fresh tomatoes, squash and cucumbers from their garden 

and then headed to the zoo. 

We played in the backyard, 

fed lunch, the boys had quiet time and then we headed to the park 

Then we went to a child hood friend of Billy's store opening and got photos with super hero characters: 

We chilled out with a new video I picked up of Charlotte's Web after dinner and then baths and bed time. 

Nana and Papa

Billy's parents have been great the last 4 years to travel 430 miles one way every 2-3 months to come visit us and Billy's brother in the Dallas area. We've had ASD issues to learn to manage and adding our third little guy. 

For Labor Day weekend, we felt we were ready to make the trip. My inlaws live in a small town of about 17,000 people.  The time spent and activities done have a hometown, simpler slow down times to them. It's not extravagant, expensive or new. 

We packed oh so much food since they don't have a specialty health food store and we couldn't garauntee access to gluten/ dairy free foods. 

We left Friday morning after breakfast and made better time (8 1/2 hours) then the last trip 4 years ago (11hours) with minimal whining or complaining. Tablets with videos and games loaded helped lots, plus snacks , silly songs, car games and small cat naps. 

When we arrived , hugs all around with some running and playing to get energy out before bed time. 

At bed time, our older two boys shared a bed and room for the first time. They were almost as excited as the two year old in a big full size bed. 

Successful travel day, ya! 

FNL

We joined a group called Friday Night Lights. No, the group doesn't have anything to do with football . It's a support group and regular date night out for kids with all kinds of special needs and their siblings. 

One of the sweet ladies has been extending an invitation for over a year and finally I was ready to join. The journey of acceptance with a child with ASD is long and complicated. 

One of the families hosted a swim party last weekend and we all had a great time.  The boys played in the water, the swing set and had Popsicles. I had multiple conversations that had me thinking I should have done this a long time ago.

Talking with other parents who are navigating this particular parenting experience was supportive, encouraging and validating. It's hard and rewarding . We are our kid's advocates and warriors. They require that from us. 

Their challenges are overwhelming at times and yet the areas they shine are so very bright . Everyone has their strengths and challenges but with certain kids both catagories are extreme. 

My child struggles to get dressed and potty train at five but sails through academica and picks up songs on the piano astonishing fast with out sheet music . He feels everything so strongly and words are hard. He's also funny, silly and cute as all get out. 

 

Crafts

Crafts

Quilting is tied with general crafting for my personal hobbies. Today I personalized some school things for the boys . We got free backpacks at a minor league baseball game we went to recently, so I added the boys names to them. 

Also, one of the Pinterest projects I really liked was wearing an adult personalized shirt every year and watching as the kids fill them out as they grow. 

Another fun opportunity I get to get my craft on is decorating our preschool area at our church with a few other ladies. I really enjoy the creativity! 

August Blast Off! 

Craft on! 

Quilt Retreat

When I can get some hobby time in, I join a group of ladies from a nearby church for quilt nights and retreats. The group is headed by my long time dear friend Brooke, who taught me how to quilt 9 years ago. I treasure this time of chatting, learning , making progress on projects and slowed down conversations where people address me by my first name. Half the group is around my age and the other half is my parents generation. I LOVE having the rare distinction of being one of the younger kids in a group.

Funny husband saying goodbye with the kids. They had fun guy time while I was gone. Note the new light sabers in two of their hands. 

Last weekend was the fall retreat and I was thankful to be able to attend. The retreat center is cozy, sweet and I appreciate that it barely has internet connection. We have to go in the backyard and angle the phones just right to occasionally check on back home. 

The backyard: 

There was a high wind storm back home, so I was grateful to have the peace of mind that my boys were doing fine. 

Top 5 reasons I enjoy retreat time so much. 

5. Inspiration! I get so inspired by others work. So much experience and talent! They are all willing to teach and let you watch!

4. The decor. Retreat Center reminds me of Anne of Green Gables: 

The wall hanging are all quilted . Books, and magazines in the main rooms to flip through too. I took more pics of the interior back in the spring retreat. 

3. Free stuff!! The organizers and the retreat center do give aways, a bonus project and raffles. We also did a secret sister name pick beforehand. Everyone lets everyone borrow notions, help with struggles and even fabric if you're in a pinch. The generosity radiates love. 

2. The food. This is my second time at this Retreat Center. I have severe Celiac and my body has to have zero cross contamination of gluten to avoid damage. I trust them with my food and that's not a compliment I hand out easily. It's a huge deal for me. We are fed often and well. 

1. Hours upon hours of uninterrupted quilting. We sleep, eat and talk while quilting. I hope that's what retirement is like after the kids have leave home hehe.  

This weekend I finished up the center stained glass cross of my spring quilt for our guest room.  I've been dragging this project around for two years working a bit at a time. I finished the last 450+ squares this retreat. It's a total of 720 three inch squares. The squares come from left overs from every other project I've done since I learned how to quilt. I absolutely love it. It came together beautifully as I was 16 squares short and my friend Brooke asked the girls there if they had red or orange fabric and so many ladies kept coming up to me with fabric. The generosity had me in tears. That's the love and grace of the cross. 

Back to School 2016-2017

With the heat index around 107 this week, we decided to start school Monday.  It's been fun celebrating a new learning year together. 

Breakfast choice for the First Day : 

And Signs : 

Day 2 Favs boards 

Day 3: party time for hump day

Day 4 for all of our curricula is the end of our school week. They all allow for a nature day which in a few weeks will be our coop day. We did a three hour lunch with one of our fav friends at CFA. This was my sign it was time to go ...

Today Friday, will be new family orientation and brunch with our area coop.