It's a wonderful life

Just when you think...

Just when you think  you've got it figured out, you get a curve ball from nowhere!  In efforts to control costs, my employer had to tweak my contract.  However, I felt like it was more of a gigantic loss of my annual salary.  After speaking, we reached the conclusion, that perhaps this job wasn't for me after all.  So yesterday, I drove to my employers (an hour away), for an 8:00a meeting-resigned, drove from there to Waverly (1 hour drive) to attend a funeral for a good friend whose life was cut short in a traffic accident, drove to Marshall, picked up my boys (I can't afford daycare anymore!) drove back to Boonville to pick up my check  (my last paycheck-YIKES), drove to Marshall, changed clothes for a wedding.  Drove back to Waverly for a beautiful Hawaiian themed wedding for my cousin.  We partied hard (with punch, watermelon, and chocolate covered strawberries-Yum!)  The kids spent hours rolling down the hill (which left Bug with a lovely rash all over) then home to crash in my bed after a ridiculously emotional day.  Thank God for Prozac!  (just kidding)

But we are going to be fine.  I will be able to spend the summer with the boys and will go back to selling travel.  I also have started teaching online classes, which I really like.  I can increase my work load there, if need be.  I truly feel blessed, and know God will provide.  My children are happy and healthy.  I have a great husband who tells me constantly how beautiful I am.  A great family close by and a great family only a phone call or plane ride away.  Truly blessed.

When faced with loss-loss of a friend, loss of a job-you try to find the lesson to be learned.  My friend Tabitha lived a life of ups and downs, ins and outs-her last year with us proved to be her finest.  She spent it friendly, faithful, and fearless.  She loved her life, her children, and her family to the fullest.  She is my lesson.  Our time here is short, spend it wisely.   

Fun stuff...

This was a fun week here in the Wells' household.  Both boys had a field trip on Thursday and Friday was the last day of school!  My sister and I chaperoned Bug & Bella's (Bella is my sister's girl and is in the same pre-k with Bug) field trip to "Paradise Park" and Uncle Gary went with Bear's class to a Diary Farm (Uncle Gary's son "Fish" is in K and Bear is in 1st--those 2 classes went together).  I have pictures of our trip, but none from Bear's yet (hopefully another parent is going to send me some).  I also have pictures of the awards ceremony on the last day of school.  Bear won several awards including the Book It award for successfully completing all six months of reading at home and for the 2nd year in a row, he won the Religion Award.  His teacher said not only does he answer most of the questions, he also asks some of the best questions she's ever heard!  She also gave Bear a "Completion of First Grade" certificate with the following poem.  She read it to her class outloud and fought to hold back her tears.  Needless to say, I cried!

"You are a very special person And you should really know,
How I've loved to be your teacher,
How fast the year did go.

Please come back to visit me
As through the grades you grow,
Try hard to learn all you can
There is so much to know.

One thing I tried to teach you
To last your whole life through
Is to know that you are special
Just because you are you!

Always remember you are a child of God
You are special and you are loved."

Isn't that just perfect?  She was a wonderful teacher and we are so thrilled that she is part of Bear's life! 

Enjoy the pictures!

If you're prayin' people...

For 2 years we have been waiting for a little girl to join our family.  The time *may* be close.  Believe me, I wish I had information I could pass on to you but I don't.  Not that I can't share, I literally have nothing to share, except that things are being to move.

The orphans in Burundi (small country in Africa) finally have the opportunity to find forever homes.  To be able to witness that first hand, though our agency and their efforts, is a once in a lifetime experience.  Pray for us, pray for a speedy referral, pray for speedy paperwork processing, pray for health for the children, pray for our friends who are one step ahead of us (see blog "waiting for little miss..." on right) and their sweet BB.  Pray with all of your might!

Love you all!  (fyi, tomorrow I will post pictures of the great field trip Bug & I took with his class today.  It was a perfect day!)

"My" Day...

I wake most every morning feeling blessed and thankful, and today was no exception.  When sunlight hit our room, I awoke to find my dear husband on my right and my youngest sweetie on my left.  The oldest of the corgi's wasn't too far away, laying on my feet.  Since I couldn't move without waking most of my family, I laid there and thought about Burundi Baby Girl.  We have seen some "movement' but are a long way from making any announcements.  We hope our beautiful girl is safe and cared for, until we can call her ours.  God has perfect timing, and I am keeping that in mind! 

I soon heard the sound of what we call "Bear and the Baby Elephants".  Bear's room is directly above ours.  The minute that boy;s eyes open, he is fully awake and rearing to go.  He literally jumps out of bed with a "thud".  Then "thud, thud" to his stairs and "BIG THUD" as he jumps down them (he only has 2).  Then "thud, thud, thud" to the second landing, then "thud, thud, thud, thud...you get the picture) down all 14 stairs.  Andy signs then, sits up.  "I've got it".  So Mommy went back to bed!  At 8:00am, Andy decided to wake me.  After all, we had to leave for church in 30 minutes!!  Needless to say, we were late!

We enjoyed church at my parent's church, then headed to the Lake to eat Mother's Day lunch at my sister's restaurant.  My other sister and her family joined us.  It was a wonderful day!

The boys got me Marley & Me, and Andy got me a docking station for my IPOD!  That is the most exciting thing that happened today.  Wish I had more exciting news, but maybe soon.

This is the last week for school for my boys and they are so excited.  They have 2 fields trips this week-field day and dairy farm day!  They go to such a great christian school and I am so lucky it is only a few blocks from our house!  Could I be more spoiled?!? 

Well if you are still reading, I didn't bore you to death!  But thanks for hanging in there.  Pray for our Burundi baby and our very sweet boys.  Happy and healthy kids!  That is what every Mother hopes for!

  

"Helping" me crazy...

To say my youngest is "driving" me crazy would be unfair.  After all, he is only "helping".  I'll help you Mommy!  I can do it!  So far, this is what my dear has helped me do:

He helped me take all of the stamps I bought this morning off the sheet & place them on various items through out the house.  Thanks goodness it was only a sheet and not a 100 roll.

He has helped me stir his chocolate milk which then ended up all of the counter and floor.

He has helped me vacuum.  A 30 minute job that took 2 hours.

He has helped me fold the towels...they will  need to be refolded.

He has helped walked the dogs (he dropped the leash which led me to a nice brisk walk to catch Lucy)

He has helped me clean the kitchen, using an sos pad to "scrub" the newly painted wall.  That's going to need some touch up paint.

I don't know how much more help I can stand...

Been a long time...

So, Andy has returned from his one week hiatus.  We are glad to have him back!  I've posted some pics of our newest fur family member.  Also a few pics of the new kitties--however, about a week after we discovered our newborn kitties, Mama move them out of the garage and we haven't seen them since.  I was a bit sad at first, but then realized it was probably a blessing.  Now I don't have to worry about feeding 5 cats! 

Bear is battling a nasty cough and I feel so helpless.  Nothing seems to get it under control.  I hope it doesn't last too long.  He only has 2 weeks left of school and I know they are doing some really fun stuff this week!  I'd hate for him to miss it.

Hoagie's potty training is going very well and Lucy has accepted him as part of the family.  Nothing new on the adoption front.  A little disappointing...actually, a lot disappointing!  God is providing me the opportunity to exercise patience! 

Pretty much the same ole stuff here!  Enjoy the pictures.

The Kitties


Bear loves his new audience!

Best buds (or at least Bug thinks so!)

Smile for the camera!

Bear doesn't feel well, so has crawled into our bed...I wonder where we should sleep?!

Too pooped to post...

Got the puppy, named him Hoagie.  The boys love him.  Lucy hates him. He is NOT potty trained.  Found a stray cat and 4 kittens living in my garage.  Andy is gone for a whole week.  He's only been gone 3 days.  i'm exhausted.  good night.

Don't you think I need this little guy...?

Well, the wait for Burundi Baby has exceeded our expectations and my boys are going to be 4 and 8 this summer!  A close family member just announced she is expecting a baby the end of the year (I'm hoping for a boy!) and my best friend is due to give birth any day now (I'm hoping for a boy--imagine that!)  I am so excited for them both!  But suddenly I feel I need a project...I think this guy will do!

Hippity Hoppity

Yes, Easter has come and gone.  After a busy week of coloring eggs and searching for Easter socks (apparently little boys are not meant to wear white nylon socks) Sunday finally came.  During bath, my oldest pointed out "all this talk of the Easter Bunny, why aren't people talking about Jesus..."  Such a smart boy, and never scared to say exactly what he is thinking (both good & bad).  I leave you with pictures of my amazing sons and words to remember:

"By his wounds we are healed..."

My Jedi men & their "wookie"

Our first experience with "pop rocks"

A rare picture of Mom (me) & my boys!

Yeh, so my boys are dressed alike...but they are adorable!!  And the day will come that they say "I'm not wearing that!"  until they do, Mama still picks out the clothes!"  You can't tell in this picture, my bug (the little one) took a tumble on Grandma's sidewalk & bloodied both knees!  It makes me nervous when he runs!

"Wipeout", so my little man was so excited and took off running--which is never good--I snapped a picture of him picking up an egg (or so I thought) and he bit the dust!  So sweetly got up and said "oops" and took off running again!  I love him so much.

My beautiful boy...

Albertine...

Amazing song, amazing story, amazing person....enjoy the video.