Birthdays, Created for Care…and THE REST OF THE STORY {it’s coming!}

I can’t believe it’s just the middle of August. Oh my glory. Just in AUGUST…we have seen T off, celebrated Isaac’s birthday (3 times mind you!)–and THIS weekend we celebrate Parker’s birthday. ON TOP of that craziness–we’ve officially started back to homeschool (crazy with 2 preschoolers running around)!

LAST weekend’s party was for Isaac turning 3. At his request we had a Thomas party (again). Yes–he had a Thomas birthday theme last year too:)

Here was Saturday at our house…

Party day with his new Thomas pillow pet…

Isn’t this the most favorite part for every mommy?! Watching her little one as everyone sings to them…

Before we go further–please take note of the Thomas piñata;). That was whipped up by yours truly after spotting a piñata at Party City for a whopping $35. For real? $35 on something kids are gonna smash the next day with a bat? No thank you. I opted for a $5 loss with $4 Thomas centerpiece taped on a brown grocery bag with short stripes cut from a blue crepe paper roll taped around. The big kids did all the taping and they were so proud of themselves. And Rico Suave was proud of our saved $. Double score:)

Oh what–oh what will you wish for this next year my sweet baby boy??? (Mommy can’t believe the baby of the house just turned THREE!)

THIS was the face he made the ENTIRE time everyone sang…

Okay–this one just makes me laugh. FRANK is feeling it in this picture. And little VBFF William on the right is dreaming of eating that donut.

Here goes $5 piñata…oh so much fun!

JUST SO YOU KNOW–paper grocery bags are made to hold heavy jugs of milk. They are also very hard to break through with a plastic bat–so they really do make great pinatas! They had so much fun–and I had to cheat a bit and tear the bag some so we didn’t have to have round 3 for the kids. And–because I like to keep it real. We have a really disorganized, messy garage:) If you would like to come organize it for me–please have at it. Otherwise it will be organized when Isaac goes off to college:)

Soo–that was Saturday!

AND some how we got everything ready for Created for Care registration which was JUST LAST NIGHT! We had spots for 900 ladies (2 retreats of 450 each)–and they filled up after hours of registration. WHEW! (Trying to get a breath after very little sleep last night–our crew had to stay up deleting double registration entries so our server wouldn’t close it out at the wrong number.) NOW–I’m putting on my Lego Ninjago thinking cap to get ready for another party.

The retreat is just a really amazing weekend designed for moms with a heart for foster care and adoption. Many moms come with their friends who have adopted to learn how to better support them as they transition home with a new one (the transition home with a child who has grown up in an orphanage with many different care givers is quite different than a hospital transition.) I’m always so touched by the moms, sisters and friends who come because they love their friends and their children. BLESSES MY SOUL…because it takes a village.

The rest of the story???

I want to thank my Princess T prayer warriors for waiting so patiently the last 2 weeks. I know the last 2 weeks for us have seemed like a lifetime–and according to some of your comments on Facebook who love her too–y’all are patient but ready to hear. I received some pretty great news–and I think we’ll be able to share this weekend!!! It’s going to take several blog posts to share–and several leading up just to really understand and see the full glory and hand of God in all of it. To go there–I need to take you back to parts of my heart I was unable to share in the beginning…so if you felt like we left off the chapter of the most beautiful story…get ready to snuggle up with a blanket and read the rest of the story in the days ahead!!! The story is mind-boggling beautiful. It’s one that you will want to treasure in your heart as it will remind you of how BIG God is, how GOOD He is–and how you are never forgotten…even when it seems you are faced with the possible and it’s just too late.

Whether it’s a struggling marriage, a prodigal son, a battle of depression, a struggle in financial provision…what appears to be a hopeless future–there is a God that is always on time. In our perspective it may APPEAR He is late. But no. Not my God. He is always, always, ALWAYS on time. Did you hear that? Well, read it again. He is always, always, ALWAYS on time. When something doesn’t go right this week and everything seems off–say that to yourself. MY GOD IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS ON TIME. And if you don’t believe me–I have a story to come that will prove it. He is always on time. He is always good. And you are not forgotten. Momma is thankful it’s finally time to get thoughts together and begin the last chapter of this story—that is really not the last chapter at all.

It’s the beginning of the most beautiful story…one that NO MAN could have ever written. (Your gonna want tissues for this series. So thankful the time is almost right to share!)

Blessings to you all as you follow Him on the journey. Y’all He is so, so worth it.

P.S. Can you add a prayer request in your prayers for me??? I have a friend whose daughter is going through another round of chemo. THIS WEEK is her first week back to school after she had to miss most of spring last year. She usually spikes a fever a week or so after treatment. She is LOVING being back to school–and how fun it would be to see her not spike a fever this time and get to keep tracking with her friends and just get a little more normal in her life. Will you please pray for Bailey??? Please pray that now her surgery is complete that no more cancer will ever be in this precious child’s body–and that she will not get a fever after this round of chemo so she can stay at school and be a KID! Thank you for praying!!! I know my readers are some prayer warriors–so thank you for praying!