Foster2Forever

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REWARDS!!!

This week I purchased a Reward Chart for my 2-year-olds. I especially wanted to use it in potty training, but was hopeful that getting a sticker for “picking up toys” would be an fun incentive for both of them. (They are so competitive!)

It was both a success & a failure. At 2 years, my little ones just can’t see the reward in chart form; however, the good news is that they LOVE to get a sticker on their hand. A reward that they can feel & touch & show!

Stickers are GREAT! So far, Stinkpot has #2 in the potty TWICE! Both of them will now eat almost ANYTHING for a sticker! Later, I may find these stickers all over the place – but who cares? – they are currently model children. No more “terrible twos” hopefully!!!

Wouldn’t it be great if as mothers, we got stickers everytime we had a great “mommy moment”? Wow! I caught the vomit in my bare hands before it hit the sofa! “STICKER!” Boy, I did a great job in cleaning up that diarrhea all over the bed! STICKER!

But, honestly, the reward stickers we get as moms last a lot longer than a sticker. The hugs, the kiss good-night, the smiles & giggles will be in my memory forever!

As with motherhood, the rewards of following Christ can come with some sacrifices. As Christians, our labors & sacrifices will be rewarded. “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (Ephesians 3:20, The Message) So God promises us rewards more than we can imagine! The best of these is eternal life through Him. We may have suffering in this life, but the blessings will outweigh our difficulties 100 to 1! (see Matthew 19:29 & Mark 10:30) Have a BLESSED week!

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Frustrations of a Working Mom

Today Walgreen’s had a WONDERFUL special to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation. They were offering photo DVDs for only $1 and donating that to the cure. I put together a DVD of 80 pictures of my foster girl to give to her mother this week. My hope is that it will give her the motivation to get her life on track, if not for herself, but for her little girl.

Lately, I’ve been struggling with trying to juggle it all! I have responsibilities at my job, at home, at church & even by being part of a local cancer non-profit. I want to be the best mother to my 2 toddlers & don’t want to short-change them. Sometimes I feel as if I’m spread too thin & feel insufficient in every aspect of my life.

I found this handy little chart that I’m going to print & start using these verses to turn around those negative thoughts & lift my spirits when I am feeling insufficient. My hope is that God blesses you this week!

HANDY LITTLE CHART – GOD HAS A POSITIVE ANSWER:

YOU SAY

GOD SAYS

BIBLE VERSES

You say: ‘It’s impossible’

God says: All things are possible

(Luke 18:27)

You say: ‘I’m too tired’

God says: I will give you rest

(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: ‘Nobody really loves me’

God says: I love you

(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

You say: ‘I can’t go on’

God says: My grace is sufficient

(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: ‘I can’t figure things out’

God says: I will direct your steps

(Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: ‘I can’t do it’

God says: You can do all things

( Phil ippians 4:13)

You say: ‘I’m not able’

God says: I am able

(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: ‘It’s not worth it’

God says: It will be worth it

(Roman 8:28 )

You say: ‘I can’t forgive my self’

God says: I Forgive you

(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: ‘I can’t manage’

God says: I will supply all your needs

( Phil ippians 4:19)

You say: ‘I’m afraid’

God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear

(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: ‘I’m always worried and frustrated’

God says: Cast all your cares on ME

(I Peter 5:7)

You say: ‘I’m not smart enough’

God says: I give you wisdom

(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: ‘I feel all alone’

God says: I will never leave you or forsake you

(Hebrews 13:5)

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On Being a Christian Working Mom

24! It’s the same for everyone. 24 hours is what each of us have in each day. But to us mothers that work outside the home – it just isn’t enough!

At one time I was a stay at home mom (SAHM) & even homeschooled my teenage stepson. Although we struggled financially, our home life was very satisfying. Homeschooling did keep me quite busy, but I could multi-task my home duties at the same time. Dinner was ready when my wonderful husband came home on most days. It was a peaceful homelife.

However, my struggles with infertility & an incredible career opportunity, made me realize that God wanted to change my focus for a while. The move and the new job were exhilarating, but the desire to have a child still left an emptiness.

Eight months later, an 8-month-old foster baby was delivered to us one evening. Stinkpot’s arrival was a blessing that totally overwhelmed my life. It took a solid 6 weeks before I didn’t feel incredibly frazzled. It was then that I began to think about leaving a career I enjoyed to stay home again, however, because he was a foster child, we didn’t know how long he would be with us. We delayed any decisions until we knew he was ours.

We adopted Stinkpot in August 2009. Our life with a 2-year-old, although hectic, was managable. However, a week & a half before the adoption, we were brought a 2-year-old foster girl. We only had thought our life was hectic before then!!!

Since then, I struggle each day as I try to get 2 two-year-olds off to daycare, prepare dinner, keep the household together, get everyone (including myself) ready for bed & the next day. All the while, wondering, “Lord, am I a good parent? My time with my children is so short – Am I short-changing them?”

I know that there are other Christian working moms struggling as I do & I plan to use this blog as an outlet to possibly reach other Christian working moms that struggle with the same issues. Hopefully, we can support & encourage one another.

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TAKING OUT & GETTING AWAY

I’ll start today’s blog with a quote. I love this quote by Jay Leno:

‘With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?’

As a country, we’ve become so intent on taking God out of everything – which right now would be the worst thing to do. We now need God more than ever.

I have been blessed this week reading the devotions of Proverbs 31 Ministries. So down to earth & so relevent! Lysa’s blog today was the best!

I haven’t had a chance to do much scrapbooking lately – being the working mom of 2 two-year-olds – but was so thrilled that Shutterfly has announced a quicker way to create a photobook with a program called Simple Path. The best thing of all is that the photobooks are on sale for 20% off until October 14th! YEAH!

This weekend, our family is going camping for the first time since spring. We are renting a cabin on the lake (easier to “camp” when you are in a bed). I’m hoping to take advantage of getting away from it all, but with the “dueling toddlers” – we’ll just have to see how the relaxation thing will work out.

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Just another Manic Monday

Beginning a really busy week, both at work & at home.

This is coming off a worrisome weekend with my 2-year-old foster boy, Stinkpot. He has had so many breathing problems (2 hospitalizations for pneumonia). With the way he was gasping Saturday night, we began steroid medication. He woke up Sunday morning with 101 fever & we really thought “here we go again”, but his fever broke by noon & he has been feeling great since. THANKFUL for answered prayers!

This week is really crazy!

  • Tonight is the final meeting with Stinkpot’s adoption worker before his adoption on August 12th!
  • Wednesday we are stimulating the economy by installing new flooring in our living room -> Goodbye to our income tax refund!
  • Thursday we are off to an adoption fair & then to an evening at a waterpark with our new church family
  • Sunday Bubba, my stepson, leaves for a weeklong camp & getting him ready will take a few days!

One thing that helps with crazy weeks like this is to have meals planned ahead of time. I learned this tip from The New Messies Manual: The Procrastinator’s Guide to Good Housekeeping by Sandra Felton.

Please comment if you have any tips to keep Mondays (& the rest of the week) from being manic

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Freedom through God’s Grace

During this time of celebrating our freedom, I have been evaluating the freedom I have as a Christian. Sometimes as Christians, we get caught up in everything we can’t do, instead of looking at how we are free through Christ.

Galatians 5:1 states, “Freedom is what we have – Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.” (Good News Bible)

This freedom the apostle Paul talks about is not a freedom that we had to fight for. Jesus Christ gave us this freedom when he died on the cross 2,000 years ago. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are pardoned from sin & not a slave to it any longer!

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Allergies, Sore Throats and Viruses

I’ve been suffering through yet ANOTHER bout of allergies this week. I’ve lost count this year on how many times I’ve been going through this. Is it grass I’m allergic to now? Then I’m in big trouble! The coughing & sore throat are so annoying!

But the worst part is that my portable hard drive & now laptop have a virus. It’s so annoying & worrisome.

3 lessons I’ve learned from this:

  1. Always disconnect portable drives using the safely remove hardware button
  2. Don’t have them connected to your computer as it’s booting up or restarting
  3. Don’t procrastinate backing up your data!!!

Of course, #3 is the most important. Hopefully, I won’t lose all my digital pictures from this entire decade because of my procrastination…

I’m Clever

Sway