This is the time of year where Halloween is everywhere. As a family we decided years ago not to celebrate this holiday. This year the six year old is really struggling with this decision. Everywhere he turns there are Halloween themed...cartoons, decorated yards, costumes, candy, pumpkins, etc. He has even announced that when he is a grownup he plans to celebrate Halloween. (Then in the next breath mutters "yuck, Halloween" at a nearby yard full of jack-o-lanterns, skulls and ghosts.)
But this weekend we go a different kind of scare. Driving home from visiting family we stopped in Gonzales for some gas. As I prepare to pump the gas, I hear a child screaming. I looked around to see a boy about 10 years old laying on the pavement kicking and screaming as his mother sits on him. Then the dad steps in. He grabbed the boy by the shirt, lifts him, and then throws him back on the ground. Then he proceeds to angrily pull the boys pants down and spank him. The dad was in a rage and after many, many whippings I couldn't take it anymore. I locked the boys in the van and went inside to call the police. They showed up in just 2-3 minutes.
As a foster parent, I was shocked. Needless to say I am done with anything scary for a LONG time!!!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Car trouble again
I've seen it happen in the movies. I've seen it in cartoons. But I never...absolutely never thought it would happen to me.
Yesterday I had to go to the post office to mail a letter. I parked up the incline in the spot which is a straight shot in. I normally leave the boys in the car and run in quickly to do my business. But the athlete and the techie both wanted to come in with me. So we all got out and went inside.
It was business as usual until we came out...
My car was gone! The parking spot was empty!
"Some one stole our car" the techie cried out.
My vision panned out and I realized there was a cute little red car on the other side of the intersection. MY car.
I don't know whether I left the car in neutral or it popped out of gear. But I know that I had not put the parking break on. And my car had rolled backwards through the parking lot, down the driveway, across the street and stopped in the neighbor's front yard when it bumped into their truck.
No damage was done and we just loaded up in the car and drove off.
Then I started laughing. It was all I could do. I'm so glad I didn't see it happen. The picture in my head is hilarious. It is something like the cartoon with the runaway baby basket. My car, no driver, just backing through the streets of town.
K wasn't quite as amused as I was.
Yesterday I had to go to the post office to mail a letter. I parked up the incline in the spot which is a straight shot in. I normally leave the boys in the car and run in quickly to do my business. But the athlete and the techie both wanted to come in with me. So we all got out and went inside.
It was business as usual until we came out...
My car was gone! The parking spot was empty!
"Some one stole our car" the techie cried out.
My vision panned out and I realized there was a cute little red car on the other side of the intersection. MY car.
I don't know whether I left the car in neutral or it popped out of gear. But I know that I had not put the parking break on. And my car had rolled backwards through the parking lot, down the driveway, across the street and stopped in the neighbor's front yard when it bumped into their truck.
No damage was done and we just loaded up in the car and drove off.
Then I started laughing. It was all I could do. I'm so glad I didn't see it happen. The picture in my head is hilarious. It is something like the cartoon with the runaway baby basket. My car, no driver, just backing through the streets of town.
K wasn't quite as amused as I was.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Car trouble
My car has been broken for a couple of months. The clutch went out right before Christmas (after all our extra money had been spent on a more elaborate Christmas than normal). K is very handy and got together with a mechanic friend and attempted to fix it. Unlike usual...
He couldn't.
So I've been stuck driving his big truck everywhere. And he's been stuck riding his motorcycle to work. He's driven in rain, wind, mild ice. And we've prayed for his safety every night.
Now that we've got the money to take my car into the shop, K spent Sunday morning putting a part back on the car (a slave cylinder?). He started the engine and..........
It worked!
I'm counting this as one of God's miracles in our lives. At least for now my car works. Yea!
This morning K took the truck to work.
He couldn't.
So I've been stuck driving his big truck everywhere. And he's been stuck riding his motorcycle to work. He's driven in rain, wind, mild ice. And we've prayed for his safety every night.
Now that we've got the money to take my car into the shop, K spent Sunday morning putting a part back on the car (a slave cylinder?). He started the engine and..........
It worked!
I'm counting this as one of God's miracles in our lives. At least for now my car works. Yea!
This morning K took the truck to work.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Adoption Day
Today is a great day! K and I finalized the adoption of the athlete today. He's been a part of our family for almost three years. He was the first foster child we ever had. He came to us barely three years old with few language skills and loads of energy. Now almost six years old, he talks up a storm and still has loads of energy!
What he is most excited about is that now he can go on overnight sleepovers with friends. He's seen the techie do this several times and always felt left out. Foster care rules prohibited the athlete from being able to go. After the adoption, one of the first things he said was, "Can I spend the night with B tonight?". While tonight wasn't an option, I assured him that his chance would come soon.
The judge was very kind to our family and allowed the boys to come behind his throne. It was no time at all when the athlete asked about the gavel. The judge allowed him to hammer it. Laughter rang throughout the courtroom. Yep, that's our boy!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Chase
Our family loves animals. For as long as K and I have been married we have had animals to bless our lives. Our first dog was a dalmation named Zach. He was probably the best trained of any of our pets. He would sit, lay down and come on command. Of course, with no children, we had plenty of time to work with him.
Many, many pets later we now have Chase. He is a small black dog of unknown heritage...a mutt. The vet said he look like he is part papillon so we'll go with that. He is...not the best trained dog we've ever had. While he is house trained ( a must in our house), he pretty much does whatever he wants otherwise. He loves to rough house with the boys. He loves to chase (thus the name) the athlete through the house. What keeps him a family member in good standing is that he will also snuggle with me on the couch during quiet times.
Perhaps the funniest thing Chase does is try to bury his bones. He will take any new bone we give him and run to the couch. If there is a pillow, he will push the bone under it and use his nose to scoot imaginary dirt on top of it. But the most hilarious time he did this was when there was not a pillow. So, he tried to bury his 4 inch bone behind a tennis ball. As always he scooped imaginary dirt up with his nose, followed by some whining. Then finally satisfied, he went off to play. All we could do was laugh. "Sure Chase, we'll never find that bone".
While I'm sure there will be more pets in our future, Chase will always hold a special spot in our hearts, and his bones will always have a place on our couch.
Many, many pets later we now have Chase. He is a small black dog of unknown heritage...a mutt. The vet said he look like he is part papillon so we'll go with that. He is...not the best trained dog we've ever had. While he is house trained ( a must in our house), he pretty much does whatever he wants otherwise. He loves to rough house with the boys. He loves to chase (thus the name) the athlete through the house. What keeps him a family member in good standing is that he will also snuggle with me on the couch during quiet times.
Perhaps the funniest thing Chase does is try to bury his bones. He will take any new bone we give him and run to the couch. If there is a pillow, he will push the bone under it and use his nose to scoot imaginary dirt on top of it. But the most hilarious time he did this was when there was not a pillow. So, he tried to bury his 4 inch bone behind a tennis ball. As always he scooped imaginary dirt up with his nose, followed by some whining. Then finally satisfied, he went off to play. All we could do was laugh. "Sure Chase, we'll never find that bone".
While I'm sure there will be more pets in our future, Chase will always hold a special spot in our hearts, and his bones will always have a place on our couch.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Whee...Wii
Our family gift has without a doubt been worth every penny. We have had hours of family fun on our Wii. Twice now we've had friends come over and play the Wii with us for the whole evening.
No this isn't a paid advertisement.
My favorite part of the Wii is that we aren't sitting on the couch watching a little cartoon on the screen. We are jumping, walking, running, balancing...exercising?
The funny part is watching the people who aren't playing. You can't sit still. We are leaning, motioning, and acting out what we want the player to do.
This morning voices echo throughout the house, "jump, turn, right, left, walk, run....". Okay, it isn't exactly serene....but it is happy!
No this isn't a paid advertisement.
My favorite part of the Wii is that we aren't sitting on the couch watching a little cartoon on the screen. We are jumping, walking, running, balancing...exercising?
The funny part is watching the people who aren't playing. You can't sit still. We are leaning, motioning, and acting out what we want the player to do.
This morning voices echo throughout the house, "jump, turn, right, left, walk, run....". Okay, it isn't exactly serene....but it is happy!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Winter Camp
K and the techie came home today. They've been at Webelo Winter Camp. As a boy scout, the techie is now at the age where he teaches the younger boys. It seems so recent that he was the younger boy and looked to the boy scouts for their wisdom.
Every camp has its challenges. This time it was the weather. While the techie has a very warm sleeping bag, K usually makes due with a cheaper one. This time it wasn't enough. The temperature was in the 40s each night, and during the day it was rainy and wet. The athlete and I had to bring a few extra blankets for reinforcements the second day. Thankfully the camp is only 20 miles away.
Scouting runs in my family. I was a girl scout. My father was an eagle scout and my grandfather was a huge supporter of scouting in his community. The techie is in line to earn his eagle in the next couple of years. But we're not done.......
The path of scouting is just beginning again for our family as the athlete will start as a tiger cub next year!
Every camp has its challenges. This time it was the weather. While the techie has a very warm sleeping bag, K usually makes due with a cheaper one. This time it wasn't enough. The temperature was in the 40s each night, and during the day it was rainy and wet. The athlete and I had to bring a few extra blankets for reinforcements the second day. Thankfully the camp is only 20 miles away.
Scouting runs in my family. I was a girl scout. My father was an eagle scout and my grandfather was a huge supporter of scouting in his community. The techie is in line to earn his eagle in the next couple of years. But we're not done.......
The path of scouting is just beginning again for our family as the athlete will start as a tiger cub next year!
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