My Daughter the Cheerleader

What has more wiggles than woman with a wedgie, more moves than the globe trotters and a cuter smile than, well than just about anyone any where? My little one. I'm worn out just reflecting on her busy-ness.

When I suggested to my husband that our little one try cheer leading he was ambivalent. I said, "She could go with Fluffy and I to football Monday, Wednesday and Friday....she wouldn't be just sitting around watching TV." Which is unfortunately what my husband prefers to do...I won't start in on all I think he should do. There's months worth of blogging material right there! But I digress. He said, "She doesn't just watch TV...she stands on her head she jumps rope, she does back bends." Yes, I know I just spent a summer watching her busy-ness grow in magnitude. But I wanted to see my little one dressed up in a cute outfit, watch her cheer on her brother, and enjoy her cute little self. She wants to be just like her big sissy. I want her to have a positive outlet for her energy, make friends, and get some exercise. She wants to be just like her big sissy.

Tonight began her cheer leading adventure. I watched. My perfect little one could not stand still. She wiggled her knees back and forth, she did windmills with her hands, she hopped on one foot, then the other. She pulled up her skirt, she twirled her pig tails, she spun around. She smiled, she giggled, she cheered! When there was something to do she did it....when there wasn't, she did all of the above. I loved it, but I'm concerned. Not worried, just concerned.

See, little one wants to be just like big sissy. Big sissy, as well as two big brothers has adhd. So far I had convinced myself that adhd had passed over little one. I'm not so sure. We adopted our first three at 8, 6, and 4. Little one we've had since she was just a few months. She has benefited from the parenting we developed in response to the needs of our older children and has developed some very good habits. So we wait and see....and respond. Big sissy has made some rather selfish, impusive decisions which have cost her dearly.

Here's a little video I took while waiting just a few minutes for her brother's school bus. Busy, busy, busy!

The other one she made while waiting at the Dr for her cheerleading physical....I uploaded it by mistake and can't seem to get it off!!!

Good-bye My Friend

I lost a friend last week. I should be so sad, and I am...in a way. The thing is she was battling cancer and I just can't be sad that her battle wasn't longer. One day the end of May she went to the chiropractor for some lower back pain. He thankfully and wisely told her she really needed to go see her regular doctor. Within the following three weeks she had a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Chemo began, she developed blood clots and was assigned bed rest. Before completing her first round of chemo she was admitted to the hospital and taken off of blood thinners. Doing a little better and waiting for her ride home she ventured down the hall to visit a friend. On the way she suffered several strokes leaving her left side paralyzed and unable to communicate. Her family was given the grave news that the spread of the cancer was massive and she would not likely make it through the week. She went home Tuesday and passed away early Saturday morning, August 8. From diagnosis to death, a month and a half.

My friend was a 65 year old woman of class and grace with a husband, five grown children, and 14 grandchildren. She worked part time as a retail manager, was our local seamstress, raised goats, llamas, chickens, and a sundry other animals. She gardened, took care of the church roses, staffed the Sunday morning nursery, lead with gusto an after school program for middle schoolers...yes, middle schoolers, and attended all church functions without fail (even though her husband decided we were all a bunch of hypocrites years ago) Did I mention she had 14 grandchildren? Until just a few years ago she and her husband were alfalfa farmers. Driving by their place overlooking the river bluff you would often see her, alone, moving wheel lines...those incredibly heavy, full of water, irrigating devices we have to use in places where rain is not more plentiful. She was one of the strongest women I have ever known.

In her home she proudly displayed reminders of her dutch ancestry. The wooden clogs of her childhood have holes in them. I can only imagine this industrious, hard working woman wearing holes in her wooden shoes as a child!

We moved to the small town I live in when I began high school. I knew my friend first as Mrs Baker, the mother of my new, and soon to be best friend. The mothers of your friends while in high school become like surrogates at times. I have been blessed with a great Mom, but something about talking to a friends mom....as a mom now myself I do not take this responsibility lightly. I'm not sure when she went from being Mrs Baker to Rose. Some right of passage when a name kind of defines a relationship. She was no longer the mom of my friend, but my friend. And a good friend.

I will miss her. So many suffer for months or years. Why she didn't have to I may never know. I am thankful her battle wasn't longer. Long ago I was told God answers prayer for grace not wants of nature. I am ever thankful for grace.

Lessons from the Laundromat

The last thing I wanted to do today was go to the laundromat. I hate the laundromat, and as an optimist there isn't much that I can really say I "hate". I hate coconut, I hate public restrooms, I hate the laundromat. It grosses me out to think of my clothes mingling with whatever creepy goo might be left from the load before mine. I wouldn't have gone except school starts Thursday (yeah, Thursday, weird day to start school!) and we've been without the washer for a week. I have a bed wetter (not my youngest either) and did I mention.....school starts Thursday. The fix it man won't arrive until next week.

Next time I forgo the fancy dancy appliance for the one my dad, neighbor, passer-by can fix.

Amazing what you can learn while cringing with disgust.

My soon to be 1st grade daughter can read, without pictures, "Sorry, No pets allowed." And she has the audacity, I mean, self-confidence, to tell a stranger entering with a cute puppy.

My 13 yr old can be incredibly generous to his 11 year old brother, who failed to bring something to do. (Of course he didn't...those were my last words as we left the house. He's the one that hears the first thing I say, and only the first thing.)

My 11 year old has it in him to defend his 13 year old brother, who failed to bring his guitar. (See, he tends to hear the last thing I say, just like it was the only thing I said) The first thing I said was "Remember your guitar and football gear, we won't have time to come home first".

My children are kind to strangers.....even really strange, ehem...unique strangers. They held open doors, picked up trash, smiled, chatted appropriately, impressed fellow patrons by reading in their few spare moments, helped a woman using a walker, and even loaded the clean clothes....without being asked!

Did I mention the fix it man arrives next week? And of course he'll need to order parts....

So my next trip to the dreaded laundromat may be on my own. (Remember school starts Thursday, weird...Thursday!) I hope my humanity rises to the level of my children. I feel a little guilty now that I didn't have it in me to bring my own clothes.

I really do hate the laundromat.

What's My Niche?

Twitter has taught me many things about myself. Too many things. I'm supposed to be finding my niche. Do you have a niche?

I'm a Mom. I'm a Christian Mom. I'm a Christian adoptive Mom. I'm a Christian adoptive Mom of four. I'm a Christian adoptive Mom of four ADHD children. I am a Christian adoptive Mom of four ADHD children adopted as an "older sib set". I am a Christian, adoptive Mom of four ADHD children adopted domestically as an "older sib set". I'm a Christian Libertarian leaning adoptive Mom of four ADHD children, adopted domestically as an "older sib set". I'm a Christian, libertarian leaning, adoptive Mom of four ADHD children, adopted domestically as an "older sib set" who is interested in music, crafts, reading, cooking, sewing, psychology, politics, religon.....former homeschool mom, former teacher....small town girl....gardener wannabe....grape tomato addict...

I think, for now, instead of settling in a niche, I'm going to enjoy the opportunity I have to expand my knowledge in so many areas. Each day I find something new that excites me.

Today it was this article: http://bit.ly/2G1mW

I'm not against everyone having good quality health care. Who is? I am just for Liberty. The real kind. The kind that is for everyone, regardless of intellect, sophistication, or status. Unless my choice infringes on the liberty of another then it's mine to make. Right or wrong, success or fail, neat and tidy or sticky and messy.

So, thank you my eclectic followees, and my followers, although I think many of you want to sell me something or get me to pay to look at naked pictures... at least I'm not too naive ;o)

Wonder what will spark my interest tomorrow?

Until then read the article...or was it a blog?

It's All Part of the Plan

What a week...I've been trying to keep busy since taking my daughter to family for the summer and my yard looks it. I'm sure when its done it will be amazing, but the in between is a mess. Piles of dirt haphazardly dumped, tools scattered about, no evidence of a plan. It's all in my head.

I've got my two teenagish sons helping. One is 13 with ADHD inattentive type. He thinks he should be reading a book. Any book....anything but ...ugh, working! My younger son is 11. ADHD combined type, incredibly impulsive and very competitive. He loves working as long as he gets the biggest shovel, and gets to control the hose (watch out!). So I've got two sons moving dirt. My 13 year old has made a dent, mainly from leaning too hard on the shovel, and my 11 year old has dug a hole so deep whoever is at the other end will have to help fill it in!

I just keep plugging away, setting a good example, biting my tongue, letting them see what works and what doesn't. May be today will be the day I see the results of my efforts, but may be not. I'm OK either way.

It's all part of the plan.

But the sunburn wasn't, ouch!

Family Has Your Back

I have often told my children how fortunate they are to have each other. In fact just last year we had a friend visiting who had burned bridges with her siblings and I used this as an example of how important it is to keep your family close. You never know when you will need them, or they will need you. Family has your back.


Now I say that, and relate it to my children, but I will be honest, I don't like to depend on anyone. I am self-relient to a fault. Even depending on God is an act of discipline on my part. I rarely ask for help and if I can't do something I figure out how.

When I planned the life I would provide for my children I was excited that I had such a great extended family to offer them. It never occurred to me that I would actually come to the place of relying on them. I was fully prepared to meet every need my children may have. I knew they were broken. This was part of my desire to provide a home for them, I knew I was strong enough. I am.

But this isn't about my strength. Friday my Mom and I drove my nearly 16 year old daughter 921 miles to her Aunt and Uncles for the summer. I planned for what I could do for my children.....I didn't plan what I might need others to do. The issue is I have three other children and along with her own personal issues Sissy has become a danger to them. She does not have their back.

So I am in a position I never anticipated. I need my family, and they had my back.

I am thankful.

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Kids....Huh?

When I mention that my four children are adopted the first comment is usually, "Aaaaw, it takes such a special person to do that." I always reply, "No, I'm not the special one. They made me a mom."

I am always happy to share our story, my children are as well. We adopted our oldest three as a sibling set at 8, 6 and 4. Their birth mom had two older children being raised by their birth father and a son born in a neighboring county after our three were in foster care. He was adopted in his county of birth. A year after placement we were blessed with her 7th child, a baby girl born in 2003. I'm sure you've already thought about what I hear next. "When are THEY going to tie her tubes?"

I usually hold it together. Then I calmly ask, "So, which of my children shouldn't have been born?" I then inquire, "Who is they?" Needless to say I don't get very good answers to either question. There just aren't any. An apology is the general response. Very much appreciated and my point all along.

I am honestly not genuinely offended by the comments. What really gets me is the lack of respect for personal liberty. Follow the link to this story....

http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/45871127.html

I'd defend his liberty as well...but we shouldn't be paying for his 20+ kids.

So much more I could say but I'm off to dinner....just something to think about.