My Plate is Full

For the last several months I have been letting things slip.

I felt like I had good reason to not be the most responsible volunteer because of what was happening within our family. But now I have slowly tried to pick back up some of these duties.

It's amazing the balance it takes to soak in every second of life with Blake and the kids, and yet also live out my faith. Sometimes I say yes to things I shouldn't, and no too quickly because it's not comfortable to me. I am sure I'm not the only human that struggles with this, but it's been heavy on my heart lately.

SO, in May I have been playing catch up. We've been in touch with my Lil Sis in BB/BS, but we finally got to see her last week! It was so much fun! She had never met Sadie and Cooper was only a little guy (like 3 months) when we saw her last. This was such a wonderful time for me and the kids!

We met Little Blake (how funny that her name is Blake too!) when she was getting ready to turn 11...she is 17 now! Holy cow how time flies!

I just wish she was happy.

I've found great comfort and joy to be a part of the Waiting Mamas Group through Chosen! We meet every Monday night for coffee and just to check in and see how everyone is coping with the wait! Oh man...this has been wonderful for me! There are about 6 of us, so it's nice and intimate.

I finally planned another Kaleidoscope Kids play date for this weekend! This is our playgroup for families of trans racial adoption! We try and get together monthly, but someone has let this thing go too!!! Eeeeek! If you want to come just email and I will send you the details. mollykshockley@hotmail.com

May is also Foster Care Awareness Month. Chosen has had its fair share of loss within several of our families, so we've been kinda laying low and not taking on more than we can all handle. BUT, we have decided that we can at least pray for these pumpkins currently in our system! Chosen has enjoyed working with about 12 other churches in our city to make a bigger affect for the fatherless. This week we are all wearing bracelets with the first name and age of a child as a reminder to pray. Cooper is even wearing one...so sweet!

One thing that has been a huge relief for me....I am now officially a FULL TIME stay-at-home mom!!! I found out last week that because of the health care reform our hospital is trying to cut back and save money, and our department was cut almost completely. So, while this is very sad for people in our area with diabetes, as well as the other women I worked with...it was a relief for me! When I excitedly told Blake the news he said, "Now you can get that floor job you've always wanted!"

Punk.

Some of you don't know that I am the ONLY registered nurse who can't handle blood. Yep. You read that right. If it's squirting, it's guaranteed that I will be sheet white and on the ground in seconds. I went straight from nursing school into diabetes education (talking job, minimal blood). So Blake was just being a punk with his comment.

We are continuing to pray about another baby. While we still feel like there might be another child for us, we also know that things are getting ready to change drastically for our family. We have been waiting now for 2 months, and we will be pulling our profile in the next month if we haven't been picked. It takes about 8 months to finalize, and we are moving to Aspen in February (you do the math). We are trying to prepare our hearts and heads that we might not have #4, but also be ready for whatever God has planned for us and receive that with great joy and thanksgiving. We have already been blessed abundantly, I think you'd agree.

We've had some crappy weather lately in Oklahoma. This is us hiding out in the laundry room waiting for a tornado to pass. I grew up doing this, so it doesn't stress me out. We like to have snacks and watch a movie. I thought the helmets was a clever idea to protect the head. Of course they made me put one on too. I only release that photo for money. So you'll just have to imagine it.

So there you have it. That what's been keeping this momma busy!