for myself...

The past few days I have been completing some projects for myself.  I made these pillows for my bed.  All from fabric and supplies that I already had.

Excuse the mess...it's laundry day...

After I put away all of the laundry...

not really...

my dad came over and helped me build some raised beds for a vegetable garden...again, with supplies we already had (from a not-so-successful attempt at an ice rink in the backyard)...thanks, dad!!!

But now it's time to get back to work.  Time to make flowers.  Time to sell said flowers.  Time to apply for grants.  Time to have a garage sale fundraiser.  Time to get creative.  Time to pray for God's provision.  Time to raise the 2nd to LAST goal amount of $5000 to keep things moving for our adoption.  I am so thankful that God's economy is not our economy.  As a friend put it...that's 100 people graciously giving $50.  Not a big deal when you look at it that way!  Pray with us for God's provision to keep moving forward.

We've had some setbacks along the road.  The lab work for our physicals for adoption was not covered under our insurance.  We have a ridiculously high deductible.  Nearly $1000 to pay for the lab work.  God is not surprised by our setbacks.  This is just another opportunity for Him to shine!

the last...

I find myself referring to milestones lately as the last.  Today I will spend my very last Mother's Day as a mom of 3 boys.  I wouldn't change a day in my life of mothering three boys.  (OK...maybe I would change yesterday.  Shopping with three boys is a nightmare.  Plain nightmare.)  But I have to say that around Mother's Day is one of those times that I wish I had a daughter....for those mother/daughter brunches that I usually frequent by myself.  Remember in the movie "Father of the Bride II" when George and Nina find out they are having another baby.  She looks out the window day dreaming of she and her daughter skipping down the street wearing sweet dresses and licking an ice cream cone.  Then George daydreams of a daughter running away from him screaming and throwing things...throwing a fit.  I'm thinking that having a daughter is like Nina's vision.  If its more like George's vision...keep your comments to yourself.  Don't kill my dreams.  I'd rather not know the truth.

homestudy

The beloved homestudy visit took place this week.  We prepped the kids.  We prepped the kids some more.  On how to be polite.  Why is that so quickly forgotten?  Prepping didn't help this situation.  I'm not sure anything could have helped this visit from the social worker.  The boys were silly.  Crazy silly.  Almost obnoxious.  Almost.  Rolling all over the floor while she was trying to talk to them.  Talking loudly.  I was ready to crawl out of my skin and show my ugly self to the social worker.  I showed restraint.  All the while thinking, these kids don't care who she is.  They don't care what she thinks of them.  They don't care what she'll write about them.  They are who they are.  I could learn a few things from my crazy, silly boys.  I'd be better for it.