Why I became a foster parent

Too cute kitties is on Animal Planet.  Best way to describe it is an hour of cats being born (from their eggs, Payten says).  Erin is asleep in the chair and the eyes of my 3 girls are transfixed on the kitties running and jumping.  Id like to say the whole time I was enthusiastic about watching it, but as the children began to drift asleep..I...just...want....to...reach....the remote.  As I went to grab the remote Payten was still awake and as she saw the climax of the show, where the cats are given to good homes she said, "oh kitties I hope you find a good mommy and daddy like I have"  I am aware at some point my children will mutate into curling iron (people still use those right?) makeup maniacs.  Even now I begin to see Katrina really interested in wanting to look "like a princess." I hold out hope that Serena will be the protector of her brothers and sisters, and Collin, I just want to survive :-)  I became a foster parent to try to make a difference in someones life, but they have made all the difference in mine.  Make no mistake, I am clumsy, goofy, and can have moments where I'm lucky to even get out the door each morning, so If I can be a foster/adoptive parent anyone can.....provided you pass the background check of course.

The girl from Rifle Range Road

I still get the feeling in the pit of my stomach when you approach me, the butterflies of the hope of a kiss from you.  I still suck in my gut when I am near you in the hopes that you find what I am trying to pass as a fashionable look worthy of a smile from you.  You have a quiet sense of humor that makes me smile and a tenderness that you try to hide.  I have given you card after card, sang songs, made meals and tried my best to be your best friend.  You are inspirational I can only imagine how much more amazing you will become when you finally lose the weight that has become the one stumbling block for you to see yourself as I have always seen you.  Beautiful, Compassionate & Strong.  You work in a field that gets a bad rap, fostered and adopted 4 kids and taking care of nieces and nephews when needed.  You may drive me just a little crazy but marriage is work and not all sunshine and rainbows.  I wish I can give you so much more, but till then, I love you Erin and Happy Birthday.

Horse Coconuts

When I started this blog I intended it to be an encouraging blog, filled with smiles and laughter in hopes of avoiding or at the very least diffusing the insanity.  So how about some humor today.

Some of my favorite times being a parent are the trips I take in the morning to drop them off at school.  We sing songs, talk about lunch and other thoughts from today's guest Serena.

There is a horse up on a hill near the school where my children attend.  We have named this horse sally and the girls are concerned whenever Sally is outside when it rains or snows.  Daddy someone needs to find that horse a nice home or a coat.  Today when had this exchange

Daddy, I really want a horse, but I would like a girl horse (Sure boy horses are always left out)

Well, I don't think we have room for the horse.... (Refinancing for the hay alone.....maybe a reverse mortgage)

Well daddy I want a lady horse because it will lay an egg and hatch a baby horse right????

Uhhhhh (Pegasus?!??)

As we arrived to school a little early I did what I call "Daddy driving school"  where the girls take turns sitting on my lap and we drive circles in the parking lot them at the wheel, me on the gas.  Serena and I notice a particular tree and I comment on how nice it is and she says to me

"Do you know that tree has coconuts in it? (Kentucky Coconuts!!!)

Uhhh (A common response)

It does daddy we pick them up every day!

Thankful for my kids who do so much for me without even knowing it

Silent Cries

Driving home last night I was struggling to help my nephew who is staying with us for a little bit.  He was missing his mommy and his friends and his Papaw "Super bad."  I tend to deal with adversity with humor or fatty foods but during this time all I could do was hold his hand.  His cries grew stronger as told me how he was "Papaws 1st grandson" and just wanted to talk to him for just one more minute.  The funny thing is I was feeling that pain of sorts in my stomach and all around me since his passing.  Other unforeseen complications have sought to instead of taking the wind out of my sails, sink the boat all together.  I prayed aloud just asking the Lord for comfort, but when you hit that wave of frustration and despair its easy to just close your eyes and just let the waves keep hitting.  Here was the 6 year old boy struggling, all I could do was love him.

We parked the car and just before we get out he says to me.  "You know what uncle Kev?"  "What Bud?"  When Papaw died everyone told Mamaw "So sorry for your loss".....nobody told me that they just rubbed my head.

Like a punch to the gut....

So sorry for your loss my buddy was the only thing I could push out of my mouth at that moment, just dumbstruck by the statement.

Thank you Uncle Kev, I sure do love you

6yr olds teaching 37yr olds every day.