Bed Time Sleepyhead!

When our beautiful younger children came home it took us over two hours to get them all in bed and settled for the night.

We had chaos! Seemingly endless crying, refusals, shouting, jumping on the bed, throwing things across the room, ugliness! It was more like a carnival than bedtime.

We tried bathing... reading a quiet book... hugs... talking... but nothing seemed to calm them down.

It was bedtime so that meant terror.

After being home for about six months Buttons said, "No bombs behind eyes in Canada. Bombs in Lithuania."

The terror was bedtime itself. The inability to shut down the thoughts and memories of the past.

Now it is six months later again.

We had an awesome day yesterday. We went to a bigger church than normal which the kids enjoy but often sets Treasure into a spiral because of the overstimulation. We have learned to see the signs and remove her from all the noise for a while. She did well yesterday.

Then we had a fun evening with friends at their farm with a BBQ and bonfire. There were teens and young adults chatting, playing soccer, and jumping on the tramp. The kids were hyped-up and scattered everywhere!

Buttons had a meltdown. I had no idea how I was going to get them settled and into bed by myself. Jelly Beans and Wiggles were staying longer to hang with friends and Papa Bear is away.

When it was time to leave the kids  slowly made their way to the bus. They calmed themselves down on the short drive home.

At home they brushed their teeth in an orderly fashion, put on their pj's, and climbed into bed quietly. After a hug and a prayer they went to sleep.

No arguments, no shouting, no fuss!

This is what family does for these hurting lonely children. It is amazing to see the way Jesus heals their hearts through His love and our hands and feet.


May all praise belong to God the Father who first loved us!


Mumzy

We Did It!!!

A year ago yesterday

 our waiting in an ex-soviet apartment building

 finally came to an end

We had been

 waiting for

five

 long

 endless

 days

Waiting to see

 if the four children under our care

were going to have to go

 back to life

 as orphans

We had had them for only

 one week and a day

 

One

 very hard

 terrifying

 week

We had been waiting

for them in particular

 for four

extremely busy

long months

Wanting to adopt

 for twenty years

Waiting for God

 to say

 it was time

Time to grow our family

Time to love some more kids

Time to take them in our arms and into our hearts

Time to call them orphans no more

Time to give them the honour of being called

 Sons and Daughters

A year ago

 a judge decreed

 that these children

 could have

 a forever family

We could become...

OUR FAMILY

Happy Mother's Day!!!

This morning I was awakened,

 

 

 to the dreaded sound of someone vomiting.

 

 

It was then that I was reminded,

 

 

I was a Mother!

 

 

I hope you are having a wonderful day,

 

 

 with laughter and joy for you background music!!!

 

 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

 

 

Mumzy

 

 

 

 

 

Soap Making

Our family isn't exactly small, so around here that means that we don't buy everything new or for that matter buy it if we can make it. Just because we make things and have to be smart about what we spend it doesn't mean we live our lives as though life is a list of continual chores and work. But rather it means that we get to find joy in doing little things. We get to have fun doing things that people just take for granted or purchase made. We could never miss the opportunity to be having fun now could we? 

Because of this we make our own laundry soup. Having fun taking turns and learning family doesn't mean that we have all the stuff or that we have to go without.


Ingredients:
1 big (2kg) box of borax
1 big (2kg) box of baking soda
1 big (2kg) box of washing soda (or baking soda to be turned into washing soda)
4 sunlight soap bars

Supplies:
2 large baking sheets with sides
Tinfoil to cover sheets
Oven pre heated to 204*C (400* F)
1 large bowl
1 grater
Water tight containers to house the finished product (We use glass jars)

Instructions:
If buying washing soda skip  steps 1-4
1. Spread 1 box of Baking Soda out on the baking sheets covered in tinfoil.
2. Place trays in preheated oven for 30 min taking the trays out of the oven every 10 min to mix the baking soda.
3. After 30 min take out and allow to cool.
4. The cooked baking soda is now washing soda.
5. Finely grate all 4 sunlight bars into your large bowl. (you can use a food processor for this step)
6. Place the Borax, Baking soda, and Washing soda in the bowl with the soap.
7. Mix the ingredients.
8. Place laundry detergent in water tight containers.

To Use:
Use 1-2 tbsp. as you would with any other laundry powder.

Don't forget to have fun!


~Wiggles~

Well Done!!!

Congratulations,

 Jelly Beans,

 on successfully completing another university year!

 

 

May you have an awesome summer serving God in Taiwan, hanging out with your family and friends,

 and being a nanny to those cool kids!

 

 

You are an awesome role model,

swim coach,

Sunday School leader,

and BIG SISTER!

 

 

Lot of love,

 

Mumzy

The Winter That Was...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mumzy

 

 

 

 

We are not the only ones...

 

 

 

 

 

...Who think it should be spring.