Far Above Rubies

October.  It's one of the greatest months here in Upstate New York.  The weather turns cooler, but not yet cold, and sweatshirts and boots are the preferred attire.  The leaves turn colors creating a gorgeous backdrop to our day-to-day schedules.  The smells change and everything feels refreshing. As a family we spend our October weekends; apple and pumpkin picking, taking hay rides, walking mazes, eating donuts, drinking apple cider, making huge leaf piles, and doing all things autumn. It's my favorite time of year.  Except for 2016. This year, however, my family has been consistently sick.  From allergies to sinus infections. From hand foot and mouth to strep to the stomach bug.  From tonsillitis to ear infections.  My girls never made it through an entire week of school this October, and we have spent more time at the doctors office and on prescription medications in just this one month than we have the entire year...combined. ...

The courtroom...  It's a terrifying and humbling place.  A venue where integrity is valued, honesty is required, and ugly truths are revealed.  An area filled with attorneys, caseworkers, law gaurdians, and bailiffs.  A room where we have found ourselves often these past months in our efforts to adopt Aidan. We sit in the back left, as spectators facing the judge, listening to every side of the case - praying earnestly that we will be granted the right to make our son a permanent member of this family. Within it's four walls we smile as lawyers talk about how Aidan is flourishing in our home, and we cry for the breaking hearts of his biological family. The courtroom.  It is still an important part of our future.  Our journey there has not yet come to an end. The judge... He's the ultimate authority and deserves absolute respect.  His purpose is to evaluate the evidence and offer protection. His decisions impact the lives of many peop...

Tomorrow.  Tomorrow is a big day - and so many feelings are running circles around the inside my heart. From excitement to anxiousness.  From joy to sadness. Tomorrow, after a very challenging school experience last year, Isabella is off to start 2nd grade. Tomorrow, after having spent every moment together these past five and half years, Abigail is leaving for kindergarten.  Tomorrow, after 20 months of constant love and care, Aidan's future will be decided in court before the judge.  I feel helpless and vulnerable, but not alone.   Never  alone. And so, my sweet littles, I pray for you with a fierceness.  I pray God's protection over your bodies, your minds, your hearts, and your souls.  I pray that you will be a light for Jesus.  I pray that the Spirit, who resides in your very beings, will guide you - will remind you to act kindly and to extend grace to those around you. Isabella , my sensitive firstborn.  Do not...

Hi there - it's me.... again - the always-nervous-and-slightly-hysterical allergy mom. (If you're new to my blog you can catch up  here .) I am a stay at home mom.  I love being a stay at home mom.  Having all my littles around brings a joy to my heart that is indescribable  I like that they're young - that I can be part of shaping who they are, encourage them in good friendships, help them make the best choices - that I have some control over their environment and surroundings.  Then, they leave for school. Side note :  I've been asked many times. especially since I have a degree in elementary and special education, why we have chosen not to home school.  Dave and I feel God has called us to send our kids to public schools where we, as a family, can make a difference in the lives of the people there that we meet. It was challenging enough (in 2014) when I had to say "goodbye" to Isabella, our sweet and sensitive oldest daughter, and watc...

Thank you, all, for the overwhelming number of messages, phone calls, and personal followups regarding Aidan and his current status of adoption.  I have tried to write this post on several different occasions, but the words would not come.  There is so much I would love to share and yet there are only a few things I can legally disclose.  But, an update you certainly deserve. Aidan has now been in our home, our family and our hearts for more than 18 months.  (If you are new to our journey you can catch up on this story by reading Aidan, our baby boy.  -   Our Family... at least for the moment.  -  January 13th. What's the significance?  - and  When you want to kick and scream. )  When it comes to the NYS Foster Care System - a child who has been in state custody for 15 out of 22 months is brought before a judge to be released (or at least considered) for adoption. This is where we are at.  It's where w...

Aidan, our 15 month old foster son, is in that stage of learning boundaries. He often expresses his dislikes with very loud, very unnecessary tantrums.  Each time he is told “no,” it results with him throwing his toys on the floor and melting into a whining puddle at my feet.  Every opportunity we use to correct his behavior turns our typically-happy boy into one giant hot mess. Sin. Even at 15 months old manifests itself in ugly ways.  I keep reminding myself that this is just a phase—that he will outgrow it. But, the truth is, I have still not outgrown the desire to cry and yell and sometimes throw myself down in a fit of rage. The reason our family went into fostering was for the purpose of eventually being able to adopt.  We have had Aidan in our care since he was 10 days old.  For the last 11 months, he has been exclusively in our home—with no contact from his biological family. And we have been thrilled knowing that the end-game is in sight—that “W...

I don't know about you, but when it came time to pick names for our children, I had a terrible time finding ones I liked - and my husband was just as bad (if not worse) than I was!  It was important, essential even, that our littles had names with valuable meaning.  After all, your name belongs to you forever.  It defines you.  It's your personal imprint on this world. There were only two girl names and one boy name that Dave and I could agree on - this was before we were even thinking about growing our family - and those are now the names that our three children have today. Isabella Faith: Isabella means "consecrated to God" while Faith is defined as "believing and trusting in God." When you combine the two names together - it means that... My Bella is set apart to trust in God . Abigail Grace: Abigail means "father's joy" and Grace stands for "God's unmerited favor."  Together they signify... God pouring out...