A really bad day, that just got better

Original Post--
Today was one of those days. I had a horrible day at school. You know the day, nothing goes right, NOTHING. I love what I do, but on days like today, I would rather curl up in a ball at home than deal with the things I dealt with today. Working with special needs kids is usually a challenge, but always a blessing. Today, I had a hard time finding that blessing.

Actually, I didn't find it at school. I found it at home. As a family, we serve our church by being host parents to students from SWOSU. We have had lots of them in the 6 or 7 years we have been doing this. Our "kids" are all over the country now. We have them in Alaska, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, you get the idea. They are all blessings to us. What we do for our "kids" we do without regard for any "payback". They just need a "home" and that we can provide. These kids often do things for me that blesses me and I don't think they realize it. I have one sweet daughter, Meredith, who has the knack of calling "home" just when I need to hear her voice. She has been a memeber of our family for almost 3 years, but she has moved to Texas. She still calls just when I need her too. Tonight, three more of our kids, blessed me without even realizing what they were doing.

I needed a break tonight. After a tough day at school, I didn't want to deal with my own kids. They are great kids, but they are KIDS! Brittni and Ari have been at each others throats for the past couple of days. It has gotten so bad, that I made them go to their room and stay there until they could work out their differences. They didn't come out until the next day! They aren't here right now. They are with Brady and Stefanie. Brady took them to the Surf Shop to play RockBand. Then he took them to the Coffee Cup and now they are at Brady's house where Stefanie has joined them. They are not here fighting. As a matter of fact, they are having a GREAT time and not fighting at all. Just being teenagers with their older brother and sister!

While they were gone, the boys and I ran to Braum's to buy milk. When we came back there was a pick up backed up to our house. As usual, I panicked first and thought second. Once I realized, I knew the pick up, I knew exactly what was going on. Jesse, another one of our great adopted kids, was unloading firewood on the side of our house. Firewood, cut and stacked, and ready for winter. What an amazing thing that was. We needed fire wood, we don't have the time to cut it and who wants to pay for it? It was Jesse's way of "paying" us back for our weekly supper and Survivor nights.

These kids have no idea what they have done for me. Just when I needed a boost, they gave it. Sometimes I forget the good and only focus on the bad. I am working on that and these kids have helped me see that today.




--Edit--Ok, so when God puts someone in your path to bless you He is in control. I think he knew I needed an extra boost. A former host student just showed up. He just recently moved from far Eastern Oklahoma back to OKC. During the move everything in his Uhaul was stolen. Everything except his electronics which where moved the weekend before in his pickup. Now, Shawn hasn't had it easy and the last year has been paticularly tough. He brought a student to Weatherford with him from a summer job last year. We took James in as one of our adopted kids, but soon realized he needed more than just a family. We moved James to an older couple in our church who could do more for him. We did help him get his birth certificate and some other papers that allowed him to enroll at SWOSU. James took his own life in January 2007. Shawn took this especially hard and seemed to struggle everyday from then on. He moved away and apparently that didn't work. Shawn has fought back from a terrible ordeal and now is working at a private school in OKC and volunteering again at his church. Praise the Lord. Now back to Shawn's visit. Do you know what he brought us? FIREWOOD! Stacked very neatly right next to Jesse's wood on the side of our home. The girls didn't get home until 9:30. They ended up eating supper with Brady, Stefanie and Rachel, who joined them after coffee. Brittni had a school function, they took her and picked her up! Wow! What a great day Friday turned out to be.

Ask and ye shall receive!

Weight loss buddy

I read several blogs during the course of my day. Angelosity is one of my favorites. She has great card ideas, and recently did 30 days of card sketches. She is now working on buddying up some of us "bloggers" to help keep us motivated to stick to our diets during the holidays. If you are interested, check out her blog. I am signed up and can't wait to meet my blog buddy.

cindi

Check out her post here:

http://angelosity.blogspot.com/2007/11/weight-loss-buddies-wanted.html

Thanksgiving Lunch 2007

Courtney, Cindi, Connor and Hunter, Thanksgiving 2007


Thanks for the pic, Tamara.

We had a great time at my Father in Laws home yesterday. My poor stepdad thought we were eating in Weatherford, so after he left his family restaurant, he drove to my house instead of El Reno. Needless to say, he was over an hour late for dinner. Sorry, Bob. We ate without him, but there was plenty of yummy food. We made some folder albums and some tags for gifts. It was lots of fun.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving @ Bopmyspace.com

Thanksgiving

Wow, It is hard to believe Thanksgiving is here. Seems like only a few days ago, we were starting school. We are celebrating in typical fashion with family, from both sides, at my father in laws home in El Reno. We are excited to have my cousins from my mom's side join us. They like to stamp so we are going to "play" a while before one of them has to leave for another dinner. And for anyone who is even wondering, my DIET is OFF for the rest of the week. There is no way I would give up this food!!!!!!

Things with the kids are going well. Brittni is excited to be enrolled at SWOSU for the spring. Ari is excited that she will get her permit soon. Connor is excited that Christmas is coming and Hunter is excited that we are going to grandpas for Thanksgiving. He loves to go upstairs and play darts, pool and basketball.

I hope all of you have a joyous, blessed day. I know our lives are filled with so many things that wear us down, but we all have lots to be thankful for. I encourage you to spend a few minutes thinking about those things and thank God for all He has done for you!

Be Thankful, Eat LOTS!

Just Checking In

Sorry, we have been so busy, I haven't had time to post. Brittni's senior pictures were Saturday and we can't wait to get them. I will post some when we do.

Courtney and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary on Sunday. Hard to believe it has been that long. I am preparing for my annual Christmas open house this weekend, so I will try to post after it is over.

Hope all is well,

Love to all,
Cindi