Jessibear

Where does the time go? I have been meaning to posts pics of my beautiful Jessibear in honor of her birthday! This past week has been so crazy. Last thursday we were in the ER all night because TJ had a scooter injury and split his lip open...5 stitches later he is doing good. Friday Jess hurt her knee at volleyball and ended up at the docs for hours Friday night. ( I did get to go see Joyce Meyer with my girlfriends Friday morning!)
Saturday Markenley had soccer and did great!! He has the best smile...he runs around smiling not very aggressive but part of the team! Later that day we had a bunch of friends over to visit with my 2 friends that were here from out of town!
Sunday night we went back to the ER because TJ was having issues...going to the bathroom every 10 minutes. The advise nurse thought he may have an internal injury due to his previous injury!! He ended up being fine.
Monday we had to make appts for Jess for chest pains...and Taylor for a sty in her eye. Tomorrow TJ gets his stitches out and Markenley has a follow up doctors appt.
With all this we have all had colds this past week and have felt icky!!!
Anyway, life has been one big blurrr....

Here are some special pictures of my beautiful daughter!! I love you my Jessibear!

Happy 15th Birthday Jessica

Happy Birthday my beautiful Jessibear. I am so proud of you. You are amazingly beautiful and smart. I love you so much and admire your strength and conviction and devotion to God. We had a great day at your volleyball tournament, and you were SOOO wonderful. I love the way you are so encouraging to your teammates.
I love you!
Happy Birthday.
love you,
Mommy

Guada-La-La

The girls are blessed by many wonderful friends...Guadalupe is one of them..I love her as if she were my own! She is a great support and has a beautiful heart. :)
I love it when my kids friends come over, they don't go off to their room, or the living room, they plop down on the couch with Todd and I and hang out with us! I love you Guadalupe...you know you are welcome here ANYTIME!

more youth group

Youth group!

Tonight was the boys first night at youth group!! I love love love their teachers so I felt great about them going. I was working with the older kids. It usually starts at age 4 but Soly was allowed to go! They had so much fun. I had given my camera to KayAnn, one of the teachers and she took some pics for me. There is also a pic I took of TJ during the worship time. I love to watch him praise God! I am glad I get to witness such wonderful things! Usually Shanay and Jess are leaders on Wed. night too, but they haven't commited yet. Jess is super busy with volleyball and Shanay wanted to wait to see what her homework load would be like as a Jr.
It really helped me tonight to get out and be with big people!! I was blessed by my good friend Susan Newton tonight too! Thank you God for her!

Hangin out with the birthday girl

Here are a few random pics from Shanay's birthday weekend. I think she has the rest of the pics...i need to find them. I love her crown..because she is one of my princesses!

First day of school pics

We have to take them..every year! I can't walk them all to class the first day, but we must at least get one picture!! This year Shanay and Jess had to leave at 6:45 am because they hadn't gone to registration. I had to make sure tay and tj were up and ready for the pic before the other girls left. Yeahhh they were!!!!!...soly was still asleep though!

In a weird place...

I know that God has placed me here...exactly where I am at this very moment. I have prayed to be here....in God's perfect will....living His perfect plan. I can tell you it's not always easy. It's somehow pretty lonely, yet I am rarely alone. I am unbelievably happy that the boys are home. They are an amazing addition to our family. They are great kids. We are extremely blessed. At times I feel like I am going crazy...like today...but if I hadn't obeyed God I would have missed so many blessings as well. I am thankful for the opportunity. It bugs me when people think of it as a burden. They are children who are innocent and deserve to be loved.

I do stay home sooo much more than before, spend time with my friends so much less. I don't really have many friends who truly understand anything I am going through on a daily basis....or really ask. Everyone's lives keep on going, and mine does too..but maybe in a different direction. I am in a place of greater dependence on God..to be my friend and my Father...and so thankful for Him.

Markenley's first soccer game!

Written by my hubby..borrowed from his blog..

Markenely has been in the U.S. for less than 4 months. So you can understand that we would be a little apprehensive to throw him into a great social sport event such as soccer. Well we did anyway and today was his first game. The first quarter he just sat on the field near the Goal Box not moving a bit. Even with the action swirling around him, he didn't budge. We encouraged him tremendously but to no avail. The second quarter he sat on the sidelines. But by the third quarter he finally found his soccer legs and was off and running. His smile filled his face. It was a great joy seeing him have so much fun. He only kicked the ball once, but he was on the field having a blast. This is a some of the footage from the game. Enjoy.

Trying Day

I am exhausted today...a lot has to do with the tons of yardwork/house maintenance stuff we are working on and the emotional stress of the kiddos.
Today was a tough day for Markenley. He seemed to be out of wack emotionally. I won't go into all the details but it is so difficult...it makes me sad...especially because I know that he doesn't want to act the way that he does. He literally cannot control his emotions. When these things happen I don't always handle it the best way. I am really trying to show love to him the way Jesus would love him. This can be very difficult with an out of control child. What I am finding works best is to just hold him and let him 'get it out' until he finally calms down and then clings to me and is very sorry. I just sit and pray and sing and comfort him...what he probably missed out on as an infant. After his rage and nap he was a darling little boy. I decided to put him on 'restriction' today...basically told him that he could not play outside in the front yard or with any friends from the neighborhood. I wasn't sure if he would 'get it' but he seemed to understand. He didn't fight it....when Solomon was out front he didn't try to go too. He was extra sweet and apologetic. I wasn't really trying to use this as a punishment as much as because I felt he needed to stay closer to Mommy and Daddy and not the other kids friends. It is hard because they love playing with Markenley and he loves them. I am praying that tomorrow will be a better day!! Tomorrow is Markenley's 1st soccer game! He has only had 3 practices..and didn't really pay attention the whole time!! He doesn't know what a 'game' is...i don't think he really knows what a 'goal' is...it should be interesting. He is really excited...so are we.

Beautiful One I Love!

growing up!

Happy 16th Birthday Shanay

Happy Birthday my beautiful daughter. I am in tears as I write this because i don't want you to grow up. The time has truly gone too fast. You are truly one of the most amazing people I know. Your strength and determination to stick to your godly values make me so proud. The other day when someone asked you about being around someone who may not be the best influence and your immediate response of "I live above the influence" cracked me up...but it's so true. Time and time again you make such Godly choices, and I know it's not always easy. I am constantly being told by others about how sweet you are and a joy to be around you are. I love the kind of friend you are! I love the way you serve the Lord with your life. You have been a big help to me, especially with the boys. I know I am your mommy but I also consider you one of my very best friends. I am blessed to know you. As you are embarking this next stage of your life I will be there for you always. I am excited for your future and know that God has great plans for your life. As much as I always want to protect you from any kind of hurt I know those are the times that you will grow and you will learn to depend more on God. You have proven that to me!! There are so many times that I learn from you...if I am talking about something you may think is gossip, you will correct me!! I thank the Lord for you! I could go on all day listing the great things about you...but for now I will just say I LOVE YOU with my whole heart and HAPPY BIRTHDAY my Pooh Bear!
love,
Mommy

Family Update:)

Hi!
I haven't posted in a bit..so I thought I would catch up on a few things...
hmmm...let's see...On Aug. 14th my wonderful hubby and my sweet -n- sassy 12 year old left on a 10 day mission trip to Arizona. They went to work at a home for mentally disabled adults during the day and at night they do a VBS program for kids on an Indian Reservation. It is a wonderful trip, I went with my other 2 daughters a couple years ago. It is long...getting up at 5 am, working outside in the heat all day..getting to bed about midnight. It is an amazing mission trip for our Jr. High kids.
I wasn't thrilled with Todd leaving so soon after the boys coming home...but the boys did fine. They were sad at times and kept kissing his picture on my phone, or would just sit there sad and saying "I'm sad, I miss Daddy and Tay Tay".
I had my older girls here to help, when they weren't busy:) I did really enjoy evenings with the other kiddos. TJ was the man of the house! The girls and I would hang out in the evenings and had lots of great girl talks. I think when Todd came home they even missed me sitting with them and hanging out, so I will keep that up, it was wonderful.
I was soooo sad too. After 16+ years of marriage Todd is so much a part of ME. I am super glad he is home!!
The day he left was a monumental day in our family as well. SHANAY got her drivers permit!!!! Jessica stayed home with the boys so I could take Shanay to go take her test...it was an exciting time, but so nerve-wracking as her Mommy...what if she didn't pass???...i was so anxious. She did great!!! I was so proud of her.
I pulled the van over when we got around the corner from our house. She had never driven the van before...she was going 10 miles per hour and was so worried about going over the line that she nearly hit all the parked cars on the road...i was freaking out!!! I so wanted to be the one to teach her to drive, since Todd was gone this was my chance...after that I wasn't so sure!!! I did take her out another time in the CAR that she was used to and she did better. Someone almost hit her though...HIS fault, not hers.
The day that Todd and Tay came home we were off to Monterey for a week to stay in our timeshare. I had to book this trip 13 months in advance because it's always booked...Jess had volleyball try-outs during the week so we had to drive her back home where she stayed with my friend for 2 nights, and then we drove back to pick her up and bring her back to Monterey. Thanks Jen Jen!!
It was great though...we could walk about 100 steps to get to the beach, 40 steps to the pool and about 15 to the playground. It was super fun. We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium....i love it there!! The kids did too. The boys did wonderful in the new environment. It's amazing how go with the flow they are. They are both doing great in the water. Soly will just jump right in, not wanting you to catch him!!
TJ, thanks to the olympics, now wants to join the swim club!!
I posted some of the pictures!!! I love that my girls are so into taking pics...i remember forcing them to take pics before...now it's like "take a picture of me doing this..or that...or whatever"...we have a ton of pics!!
The girls are even wanting to scrapbook. While Todd was gone, Shanay had the opportunity to go out with some friends but chose to stay home and scrapbook...i love it!!
I will try to post more about the adoption-attachment soon. Some days are great...other moments aren't...The boys are learning so much, they really are doing great. Markenley recently has lied a couple times...hmmm....but he has a gentle spirit. Soly is funny too..he is super happy. He is doing great too with learning what is acceptable. He used to hit when he would get mad. Sometimes he will hit but then apologize right away.
Markenley is playing soccer and had his first practice before vacation and did so good. Paid attention, did what the coaches said...I am so proud of him.
The kids start school tomorrow. Each year is so emotional for me. I hate them getting older. Shanay will be a Jr., Jess a sophmore, Tay in 7th (JR. HIGH!!) and TJ is in 4th. UGGGHHH
Markenley will be doing home-school preschool too!! He is excited.

The journaling above was written on the 23rd...i am just getting around to finishing it 8/29...
The kids did start school and are all doing great. Jess made the volleyball team and Taylor joined cross country. (in school I would have never CHOSEN to run!! I did anything i could to get out of running the mile :) You go Tay Tay!! Please pray for Jess as volleyball is draining...last year, i am sure it was because of volleyball, is when Jess got drained and ended up with Mono which lead to a whole year of feeling yucky. We are happy she is trying again and is physically able.
TJ wants to play the trumpet and also joined the morning broadcast team. Markenley and Solomon had their 1st day of home preschool and they loved it, it was cute.
This is officially Shanay's 16th birthday weekend. I have been trying to get her to plan a party, i wanted to choose a theme etc. but she hasn't come up with what she wants to do...she does know she wants to go to the SF zoo!! She LOVES Giraffes! That's why in some of the pics she is wearing a giraffe sweatshirt:) I am so not ready for her to be 16!
Well, gotta run to the school to do my PTO duties.
love you,
Renee

Beach Trip and Stuph:)

Soly couldn't wait!

praying:)

guitar hero praise

Sibling torture

Shanay and Jess were home with the boys for a little while today...when we got home they showed us this video. Solomon is afraid of this little wind up toy...call it torture, or helping him get over his fears, i am not sure...what are big sisters for?? I love how polite he is at the end. We love him so much, he is a hysterical little guy!!

TJ's Batman Video:)

My son cracks me up with his wonderful acting skills!! Obviously he has seen the Dark Knight and loved it!