The most rewarding task we could ever imagine...

"It takes focus, dedication, and energy to train children in the way they should go.  And though motherhood is the most taxing job we will ever undertake, it also has the potential of being the most joyful and most rewarding task we could ever imagine... if we do it for the glory of our King." 

Leslie Ludy

Whirlwind Summer 2016

 The summer started with sweet friends and strawberry picking...

We fell in love with a home in Evansville and decided to list our house to see if it would sell. 

It sold in 3 days after 3 offers!

 We started the packing process in between trips, park dates and summer fun!

 These kiddos kept growing up and Bauer continued to be his chill, happy self :)

We celebrated Father's Day with the most patient, faithful & goofy dad.

 and even got to see Dado, my dad and brother Sam on stage together at Southeast!

 Vera's curls kept growing, giggles louder & personality even bigger!

Her birthday flowers bloomed right around her 3rd birthday!

 We went blueberry picking in Owensboro with friends 

while Vera had special time with grandparents.

Patrick and I celebrated our 8th anniversary with a little Louisville getaway to the Seelbach.

 The kids got their final swings in at our old home...

 and enjoyed summer sports camp at the Y! 

JR- Baseball & Vera- Gymnastics :)

Then we drove over to Kiawah Island for a big Garcia family vacation over July 4th!

So much fun & joy with all of the cousins- we had so much to celebrate! 

Lots of swimming, laughing & yummy food & a special day trip to Charleston

I could have spent all day looking at the beautiful southern architecture- 

but it was humid and HOT, so the morning was enough ;)

Then we had two days to unpack, wash and repack before flying out to California.  

The house was already packed and ready to move, so why not travel from coast to coast ;)

We attended the NACC and my dad planned an amazing week as president-

remarkable sessions and lots of memories made in Anaheim!

Knotts Berry Farm rides, Vera throwing up in the hotel hallway, Bauer smiling the entire flight, afternoon naps in the hotel, kids in the front row of For King & Country concert,  Downtown Disney (remote control cars & princesses!) In & Out Burger at midnight, airport exhaustion and laughing way too much with friends from around the country!

We flew home late Sunday night and closed on our new home the next morning!! 

Thankfully we had some time to move over and get settled before handing off the keys to our old house. That was one LONG exhausting week, but after lots of hard work and help from friends, we were moved in and out of boxes pretty quick.  I love decorating and organizing everything out of the boxes in a new fresh place- so this was the fun part for me!     

 We broke in the house with several parties and lots of friends, even from Texas & California!
So many sweet memories already made- feels like home!

This summer sure has been one for the books!
We might have eaten popsicles for breakfast (in bed!)

Hung artwork quickly on walls with thumbtacks...

 

 found random treasures in the garage & had tons of help from my mom decorating!

Patrick was confused with why I brought an old mailbox inside ;)

oh and we bought a kitten (still can't believe we did that?!)

but what a sweet sweet summer it was.
My heart is so grateful. I love this little family of mine!

Mother's Day & End of the School Year

Vera made the cutest flower pot in her Mom's Morning Out class!  The flower has already died but I'll treasure that colorful art forever :)  And I hadn't even seen her gift to me when I dressed her that morning- maybe it was her inspiration for the art haha! (This is our favorite reversible pinafore from {junebugtennessee})

JR and Vera were both in MMO one day a week this past year.  Even though JR started out pretty quiet and observant & Vera struggled some days during drop-off, they always came home with lots of fun stories wishing they could go back the next day!  They both had the sweetest teachers and learned so much this year!  It's amazing to see how much they have grown since their first day in the fall. 

 (above) first day right after getting home from Sadie's Wedding!

(below) last day of school...

John Ryman painted me a beautiful pot with a handmade flower- I just don't have a photo.  He also filled out this classic paper that I especially loved :)

December "Give" Family- The Maurers

So excited for you all to hear from Jen Maurer and her precious family...

Shawn is from northeast Ohio and I [Jen] am from southeast Indiana, and the two of us met in college in Kentucky. We were married in 2005 and spent five years ministering in Winston-Salem, NC before moving to Texas in 2010 where Shawn currently serves as the Lead Student Pastor of Compass Christian Church. Adoption and fostering has been on both of our hearts since we were dating, and we both knew that it would one day be something we'd pursue. God spoke to each of us separately and distinctly about a year ago, and we realized that the time to begin this part of our journey was now. Shawn's degree and experiences in student ministry combined with my degree and experiences in Counseling/Psychology have culminated in us hearts that break for the most vulnerable in our society - children in the foster care system. We feel called to walk through the pain, hurt, neglect, abuse, and prayerfully - healing with the children God has prepared for us. 

Our family will be officially licensed on December 4th, which was an arduous process unto itself! However, I think the most challenging aspect of our preparation so far has been working with our boys to understand what is about to happen. Our six year old [Jude] understands why children would be put in foster care and understands that our family can help, love, and serve those children, but also seems to think that all a child would need is a week or so of kind words and they'll be "good as new." Helping him see that the healing process is long, slow, and often even unseen has been challenging. Our four year old son [Cohen] is excited about the prospect of having a foster brother or sister, although we're still working to help him understand that his new sibling will require significant patience, gentleness, kindness, and selflessness. That's a hard lesson for many adults to get...much less a 4 year old! 

One of our greatest concerns in entering this process was our need for a support system. Our families live across the country, and we knew we'd need help, support, and understanding to parent our foster children [as well as Jude and Cohen] well. As we took our first steps in paperwork and training, Shawn and I began praying earnestly for a support system. I can remember crying on my knees, pleading with God and telling Him we couldn't do it alone. Within the hour, my phone began blowing up with friends offering their help and support - friends who were willing to be certified to babysit our foster children, friends who were happy to watch Jude and Cohen so we could make all of our training sessions, and friends who were offering encouragement and prayers. I've seen God provide over and over in many ways at each junction of our journey. Just when I get overwhelmed and think I'm not going to be able to make it through the next step, He reminds me of His faithfulness and everlasting love. 

We're not exactly sure when we'll get the call for a placement, but it's looking like we'll have a placement by Christmas. I can't help but think about Joseph in the days after Mary's labor. He was looking at a sweet boy. A sweet boy who wasn't biologically connected to him. During Mary's pregnancy, I wonder if he questioned if he'd be able to love that baby. I wonder if he thought he'd have a hard time raising a child he didn't help make, or worried about feeling resentful. But I think as he looked at Jesus' tiny fingers, any worries he'd had surely vanished. God called Joseph to adopt and raise His son, and Joseph submitted to that call. And the world will never be the same. 

My favorite quote, my battle cry, my anthem is from Derek Loux. "My friends, adoption is redemption. It's costly, exhausting, expensive, and outrageous. Buying back lives costs so much. When God set out to redeem us, it killed Him." 

Our family blog: 

				jenny.erally : speak.ing {speaking before i think since 1981}
				View on jennyerallyspeaking.w...	Preview by Yahoo

jenny.erally : speak.ing

_________________________________________________________________________________

All profit from the December Give Scarf will go directly to the Maurer family to help fund their foster care and adoption process.  Thank you so much for your generosity.  Stock up on Christmas gifts, tell your friends and help us share with the Maurers!  Here is this month's Give Scarf:

John Ryman- my Christmas Boy

John Ryman will turn 3 on Christmas Eve.  Such a little boy now. 
His precious little voice asks questions all day long.  And if he wants to talk serious, his voice takes on a deeper tone which makes me laugh every time.  He has been asking to get out our Christmas train, well, since last January.  So we said when we saw the first snow flurries we could get it from the attic!  Of course John Ryman spotted flurries while Patrick was out of town, so the next day when he got home, you better believe JR was waiting at the garage door ready to get the train out!  He takes his train job very seriously and makes sure everyone know the difference between the engines and the caboose and where the smoke comes out :)  He even introduced himself to someone at church "John Ryman Garcia and I have a Christmas train and there is an engine..." 
JR is always asking, always testing, and always smiling.  I love that at my most exhausted moments his little voice can tell me just what I need to hear.  Here's to celebrating this season with my Christmas boy!   

November "Give" Family- Brandon & Nichole

You all were such an encouragement to the Blandford family (and me!) last month.  I am more than excited to bless another family and share their story with you...

__________________________________________________________________________________

Brandon is from the Boston, Ky area and I am from Louisville. We now live in Bowling Green. We met at work in 2009 when Brandon was completing a physical therapy rotation at the clinic in which I was working. We have a really interesting love story, we met in July 2009, began dating a month later, got engaged in October 2009 and were married in April 2010. Most people give us that wide-eyed look when we tell them our story, but for us, we knew and trusted that God had brought us together.

Our adoption story really began when we started dating. My nephew was adopted from Guatemala in 2008 and after that experience, I felt God pressing on my heart to adopt a child someday. When I brought this passion of mine to Brandon, he agreed. We contacted our agency (Lifeline) in March 2014 and are now waiting to be matched with a birth-mother/birth-parents.

Most difficult (Nichole's perspective):

The most difficult thing has been reading over birth-parent profiles and knowing there is a child who needs a home and falling in love with every one, then hearing that we weren't chosen. Through each one, we prayed that God would provide the best parents for the child and He has. We also pray for the birth-parents and birth-family who will love this child and for their hearts to be comforted.

Most difficult (Brandon's perspective):

I found the homestudy process to be relatively easy. I was expecting it to be more difficult based on other people's statements and feelings about the homestudy process. I would say that the most difficult thing for me has been trying to raise the money for the adoption by ourselves. I had to come to the realization that we are not going to be able to raise the money without the help of God. Another difficult part has been hearing back from our social worker that we have not been chosen by the birthparents. We read the profiles, pray about them, and start to picture them as part of our family. Then, we get an email stating that we have not been chosen.

Most amazing:

We have been so impressed with how God keeps opening and changing our hearts with each birth-parent profile we read and pray over. We have so much love for these children and their first families, and it is easy for our thoughts and emotions to focus solely on what we are feeling But, as we pray for the children, their families and the adopting family, God reveals to us just how much adoption is a ministry, not just a personal event. For us, praying for the birth-family keeps our thoughts and emotions off of our personal feelings and points them to God.

 I (Nichole) also love how God has spoken to Brandon's heart during our journey. Going in, I did not have a positive view of open adoption, in which the birth-parents are involved. I had heard and read the stories and I was so afraid of what could happen. Brandon's heart for these birth-families is beautiful. He was immediately concerned with what they would be going through in making this adoption plan and leaving the hospital without a child. He said it would be cool to have a relationship with them. God has used Brandon to grow my own heart for the birth-parents. I look forward to being able to show the love of Jesus to them, and encouraging them.


Why we said "Yes" to God:

We knew that we wanted to grow our family through adoption, but the experience is different for each family, so it's hard to imagine what the journey will look like. It would be easy to say that we bllindly trusted God wholely and completely from the start, but that's not our story. God has provided just the right amount of faith, trust and strength as we have needed them. We have realized that God doesn't give us all we need for the journey at the beginning, but in small doses so we continue to follow Him for direction. we gain small glimpses of God's love for us as we have need. I think we have realized this more in raising the money for our adoption. There was time when we were doubtful that this was what God wanted because the idea of raising so much seemed impossible. But, it was God who provided again and built our faith up even more by showing us we were on the right path. If we had all the money at the start, I'm not sure our faith and trust would be as deep as it is now.
__________________________________________________________________________________

If you would like to hear more from Nichole and Brandon, you can read updates on their blog {PrayLoveAct.blogspot.com} or give directly to their adoption {here}

100% of the profit from the November give scarf will go directly to help fund the Davis family's adoption journey.  

Click {here} to purchase a give scarf from my Etsy shop and share with your friends! 

Just Laugh

Unusual Quiet.  You know the sound. That moment when your 2 1/2 year old is quiet and you know immediately he is into something. 

I ran upstairs to put Vera down for her nap and I heard the pantry door open.  I knew when I came down the steps one minute later it was going to be messy.  (so I grabbed my camera... and then ran on down)

Parenting is tough. Disciplining is tough. All the "no" and "say thank you" and "sister needs you to share with her" is oh so necessary but there are just some days when the messes and craziness need a little laughter!! We had the best laugh when I found him with his sprinkle mustache- and a huge belly laugh when I took him to a mirror to actually see what he looked like!

 

I was encouraged my this week's Thrive newsletter (are you on their mailing list?!) 

 

"Instead of focusing on timeouts, endless diapers, dirty floors, hours of homework, force-fed dinners, lies and disobedience from your children- what can you see?  How about chances for showing them Jesus, an opportunity for fun and something out of the ordinary!  Allow yourself to step out of insanity and live a life filled with grace and joy!"

 

Yes, the things listed above are greatly important in training and teaching our children, but with so much daily repetition we can forget the bigger picture and why we are training in the first place.  We want to raise our children to grow to know & love the Lord and share Him with others- but if they do not see our joy that overflows from the grace of Christ then all they will see are rules and boring life.

 

 

"So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for

people in this world than to eat, drink & enjoy life."

Eccl. 8:15

 

 

Life Savers- Time Savers- Sanity Savers

Online Shopping

I am constantly trying to figure out grocery budgeting and money saving ideas for our family.  I've noticed since moving to Evansville, that I spend way more on groceries.  One reason is because it's harder to find healthy foods that are well priced (not much competition) so I have to shop around.  Another reason is that there isn't a ton to do around town (especially in the winter) and some days we all just need to get out of the house and take a trip to Target to peruse the end-of-aisle sales or get a free cookie at Fresh Market.  All these little trips add up and I always end up finding "an awesome deal" that wasn't on the list :) I'm finally starting to get into a rhythm, become more disciplined and figure out our family's needs.  One huge time and money saver has been shopping online for toiletries & extra household items.  The Honest Company has been our favorite- incredible customer service, quality items and great bundle deals.  JR has sensitive skin, so for him this has also been a great switch!  Until I can be more disciplined to say "no" to certain enticing things at Target, I'm sticking to monthly shipments from Honest- delivered right to my door- so diapers and toiletries don't have to take up precious space in my shopping cart with 2 kids.  Also saves me the time of having to run to the store when we run out of shampoo or laundry detergent- I just notice when things are halfway full & adjust my monthly bundle accordingly.  And who doesn't love a company that throws in surprise lip-gloss as a Mother's Day treat or extra wipes because they ran out of one diaper pattern.

Trunk Diaper Bag

I'm not saying to fill a cute Petunia Pickle and throw it in the trunk, one of those reusable market totes that you always forget when you head to the grocery will do just fine.  Put inside a couple diapers for each child, wipes, water bottles and maybe some squeezable meal pouches or puffs or granola bars... something for each child that can tide them over if they're hungry.  Throw in some stickers or crayons leftover from a restaurant kids meal.  And if you want to really be prepared maybe an old tshirt or extra onesie.
I have had a bag like this in my trunk since John Ryman was born and honestly had forgotten about it until one day we were at church and had to wait outside a little longer than expected.  I was out of diapers and there was a smell coming from one carseat, JR was hungry and ready to get home... ultimate meltdown.  Thankfully I remembered my bag in the trunk and we had an impromptu picnic with clean clothes (of course her smell hadn't stayed contained in her diaper... that's how it always goes) small lunch for both kids and snack for me!  Helped turn a pull-your-hair-out situation into a sweet memory and enjoyable picnic.  There is no way to prevent all meltdowns, but at least we can be prepared and have one less :)  Tiny peace of mind to know you don't have to rush home from an outing for diapers or be stuck on the side of the road with hungry kiddos.

Rock N Play

This is the one item that both babies LOVED.  I don't know if it was the way it came up on the sides or that it was lifted up higher or rested them at an incline... whatever it was- I'm thankful for a sweet family member that got it for us because it was a life saver for their baby!  While our babies never had tummy/spit up issues, I've heard it is a huge help because the baby doesn't lay flat.  I could easily slide it through doorways and move it from room to room.  JR loved staring at the shower curtain while rocking in it and Vera loved being able to watch me in the kitchen while being out of JRs way on the floor.  It doesn't rock on its own, but it doesn't take them too long to figure out how to rock it a little themselves.  I tried to only let them nap in it as a last resort so they didn't get used to it and prefer over their crib, never really had an issue and after the first month or so, we only used it as play time.  The sides come up just enough to keep most toys inside which is super helpful!
Here are JR & Vera using their Rock N Play:

Moby Wrap

This is one of those literal life-savers for me.  When I had Vera, John Ryman was 18 months old.  A fast runner that is still learning obedience and safety is a dangerous match for a mom with a newborn.  The Moby gave me the flexiblity of letting him walk freely while carrying Vera and still having my hands free if I needed to capture him or even hold him on my hip.  I knew she would stay asleep longer if she was wrapped to me than in a car seat, so with her cuddled up I could go places without lugging the stroller (especially when you're not supposed to lift over a certain amount those first few weeks) and still be able to wrangle active brother.  Now at one year old, Vera still loves the Moby- being able to see everything and kick her legs wildly- while I can have hands free to shop or walk holding JR's hand.  Its amazing how much he has learned in one year- he walks with us and is a TON better at obedience- but it is still reassuring to know I can have both hands free if needed and not worry about leaving Vera in a car seat or falling from my hip :)  Those first few times wrapping all that fabric was pretty overwhelming, but I promise after 3 times- it is super simple! There are plenty of youtube videos you can watch and in the beginning I would actually strap it all on at home, then when I got somewhere I just had to slide Vera inside.  After using it enough I became more confident strapping it on in the parking lot while keeping the fabric off the asphalt.  No, it is not cool in the summer, but honestly holding a baby gets hot no matter what, I was just glad I could be hands free!

JJ Cole Bib

If you're like me you have an overabundance of bibs. Every color, every holiday, every size.  Some too pretty to actually get food on while others are so tiny they do not catch a thing.  I love the wipe-able bibs (especially for traveling- pack just one for each kid!) but some of mine are too thick and bother the kids- meaning they rip them off quickly- or they don't wash well because of the layers of plastic and fabric.  I also love the Aden & Anais burpy bib set, but didn't love having to wash every time.  I stumbled on my favorite bib when Zulily was having a sale.  Its from JJ Cole.  Gender neutral, thin fabric that handles the washing machine well but also is easy to wipe & go.  Even if you rinse it in the sink, it air dries super fast!  Now if I were smart and wanted to empty a drawer in my kitchen I would donate all my bibs and purchase a couple more of these!

Peace & Calming Oil

Okay, I'm still learning so much about essential oils, but this one made me a believer!  "Peace & Calm" I mean, what mama doesn't want that?! I rub one drop of P&C oil mixed with coconut oil on the kids feet in the evenings before bed or sometimes before naps if they are really wound up.  I also diffuse several drops in my diffuser or dab a little on my wrists & inhale from the bottle for myself... Over the winter I dealt with some anxiety and this oil really helped me on those long days, just wish I had tried it sooner!  You all know that afternoon frustration that takes over when the kids wake up early from naps but you still have a to-do list, dinner to cook and laundry sitting wet in the washer.   I don't know if it was the oil or the fact that I sat down for a moment to breathe it in and relax that did the trick, but I truly felt calmer.  And boy, does it smell amazing!  I have been out of it for a few weeks and my shipment arrives soon- interested to see if I can tell a difference in the kids once we start using it again.  I've also heard it can be a life-saver on long car rides.  Doesn't make you as sleepy as Lavender (dangerous for the driver!) but should be helpful.

And last but most certainly not least... probably the best sanity/time saver...
Apps on my phone!  Definitely not mom-of-the-year worthy!
In those moments when the checkout at Target takes twice as long and the kids are DONE or the kids are ready for lunch after church, but daddy needs to counsel or pray with someone- it's really the best way to keep them quiet and relaxed for a few minutes longer.  I do try to use it as a last resort so they don't expect to get the phone right when they enter a store or the car which makes those times they get to play that much more special!  And so I don't feel super guilty handing over youtube clips of Daniel Tiger or SuperWhy on my hulu app... we recently found The Bible App for Kids Very interactive on each page and it teaches Bible stories.  Win-win!