Birthdays Galore!

April and May are pretty intense for birthdays around here.  The four girls in our home all have their birthdays within three weeks of each other!  Lots of pink and cake for days on end!  Lots of excitement, squealing and giggling, as girls are so much more emotional than boys about things, you know.

The first girl to start the birthday parade was Elizabeth.  She turned 15 years old this year.  Her whole miracle life has been amazing to me.  She has been one of the hardest children I have ever had in our home.  Raising her has been a challenge at every turn, almost daily.  Over the last few years, she has slowly been improving.  Giving me hope that she will be able to live on her own one day, have a normal life with normal relationships.  I must say, that over the last six weeks, she has made a very positive and amazing transformation.  The biggest change I have seen in her yet.  We have been talking together, about her adult future and goals.  I shared with her what I was doing at her age and where she is and why there is such a huge difference.  We have talked about, that no one can totally change without God helping them daily.  She is really trying.  She is really putting forth effort now.  All of these years, she has been set on rebellion at all things placed before her, just to defy.  Just to prove that no one can make her do anything in life...from schooling to chores.  She would behave to get what she wanted or to get to go somewhere and then act up as soon as she got what she wanted.  Raw... I know..but the honest truth.  I am amazed at her new found restraint in her temper.  No tantrums in weeks.  Very little slamming things and throwing things...a reminder or talk can defuse things.  Wow...  She is praying and listening to our devotions much more intently and participating in asking questions and taking in the answers.  She is working hard at her schoolwork with out being monitored or asked.  Sometimes six days a week.  She is being much more respectful not just to authority but to her siblings.

Holding her very sick sister at the doctors office.

I am beyond grateful that God is touching her heart.   I am grateful for this season in parenting her.  For this very normal and calm place she is at.  I pray she stays here.  I pray we never look back.   I am so please with her progress and commitment these last many weeks.  I am amazed.  I have always loved her fiercely (as I do all our children)  or would have given up many years ago.  It is worth it to hang in there and wait on God and the miracles he brings about.  Not just in those we are praying for but what it teaches us!  I have learned so much about God and parenting, in having Elizabeth be our daughter.  I would have it no other way!  She is a blessing to me and our home and God has great plans for her life!

Elizabeth and Carolyn used to play with dolls a lot as children.  With the new trend in reborn dolls sweeping the nation, in young children, teens and adults, collecting them...my girls have started to collect life like dolls.  Many grown women have whole nurseries set up with clothing for them and take them out in public!  Anyways, to me, it is good role playing for my young ladies, to help them be  good moms someday and better people.   Elizabeth wanted a doll from Paradise Gallery for her birthday this year.  So we got her that and a Joovy car seat.  She was beyond happy.

She wanted a home made cheese cake from her Aunt for her cake!  YUM!  Thank you Aunt "S"!

 Happy Birthday Elizabeth!  I am so impressed with your determination lately and goals you have set.  I am so excited to see how God uses you for His glory!  May the Lord God in heaven keep you healthy and safe.  May He lead and guide you all the days of your life as you live and grow in Him!

For about 10 days in the year, my middles are all a year numerically apart.  This year it was Elizabeth 15 at her recent birthday, Zeke 16 and Carolyn 17 but...then my dear sweet daughter Carolyn has a birthday and this year she turned 18!!!  I know. I can't believe it either!  I remember the day she was placed in my arms for the first time.  I remember her adoption day.  Time has just flown by.

Carolyn has grown into a wonderful godly woman.  She works beside me all day long, learning life skills and helping me in all I do.  She is a tender loving soul.  Even though on paper she has graduated, she enjoys homeschooling and learning, so does independent work just because she wants to every evening, in her free time.  She got her own room recently and loves the quiet away from siblings.  She still takes ballet, is on point and rides her pony several times a month.

This is Carolyn with one of her very old dolls Daisy.

She wanted a Paradise Gallery doll like her sister as well.  So we ordered that for her. It will be coming very soon!

She asked her aunt to make her a chocolate cake with Joy on it, from one of the kids  movies she has seen.  She loved it!  Thank you again aunt "S" for blessing the children with your talent.     

Carolyn is such a blessing to our home and friend to me.  I love her dearly and don't know what I would do with out her.  Such a sweet and lovely soul.

May the Lord God above hold you in the palm of His mighty hand all the days of your life.  May He help you be all you can be as you live and grow in Him!!

Glory to God!  The miracles I have had the privilege to witness in my life, in these children, has been nothing short of amazing!


 
1 Chronicles 16:24 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

Love, Dad, mom, Stephen, Antonio, William, Zeke, Billy, Timothy, Kinsley and Anna-Kate!  

My Right Hand Girl!

This week I decided to do an update on my sweet, sweet, daughter, Carolyn.  I have no way to put into words how dear she is to my heart.  I could ask for no better daughter or friend. She is reliable in temperament and behavior, most of the time, so is a child I don't have to worry about misbehaving or causing trouble when out in public, or at home.  We work very well together and enjoy each others company all day long.

She is a huge help with the children and has a gift when working with them. She has compassion and a gentle, patient, nature with any person or creature.

Carolyn is doing very well and is at a time in life that she is on the cusp of being an adult.  She is 17 years old, soon to be 18 within a few months.  That in and of itself is just beyond grasping.  She came to us when she was just 10 weeks old.

She has FAS, so had many sensory, emotional, and learning disabilities. She cried a lot as an infant and was my only child I had to wear, to keep her from crying and being so anxious all of the time.  As long as she was held, or very close to someone, she was fine., put her down and she was terrified.  She was very tiny and grew slowly.  She was fun to dress cute and cuddle with.

Don't get me wrong...I enjoyed her immensely and was so grateful for her but her behavior could and did easily escalate and become over the top when she was little.  When she was about six/seven years old, all of that changed.  I seriously don't know if it was all of my prayers being answered, she truly understood the gospel and got saved or what... but a u-turn, life changing, occurrence happened in her life and heart and she stopped the tantruming, bad behavior and rebellion.  She became very compliant and I could see her try so hard to control herself in all areas.  At that point in time, we both started a wonderful relationship and bond, that I can not explain.  She tries so hard to please me, be helpful and learn skills that I do daily.  She is just a precious soul.  She still struggles with learning disabilities, her emotions, her nerves, and how to behave socially but knows she has these issues and what is expected behavior...she tries so hard to keep herself acting in a kind and exceptable manor.

Carolyn spends her days working on daily living skills, helping with the children, loving on her animals and dancing.  She has just started to understand math for the first time in her life.  She has never been able to grasp the concept at all.  She has started doing simple math books, for fun, in her free time.

She rides her pony (Millie) about once a week.  I will not let her go out and ride alone, so I pay William to go out and watch her ride.  He usually brings out a chair and good book to read, while out there.  She usually rides about an hour.

She also has a leopard geko,  a Guinea pig and two companion dogs.  She totally takes care of her own animals and her dogs are on her lap or by her side pretty much at all times.  The dogs really help with her anxiety.  She has had a companion/therapy dog since she was very young.  Her first dog passed away after eight years of service to her.  We had to go right out to get another for her as she did not do well without one.  She has had her new dog (Bella) for two years now. 

Recently, she was gifted a second dog!  I know...what was I thinking!   Our neighbor is a vet tech and had bottle fed a litter of puppies and begged us to take the last two she could not find homes for because they were so dear to her heart and wanted to know where they went.  One (the runt) had a cleft pallet and since Carolyn always spoils and takes such doting care of her dogs, I allowed Carolyn to have that one.  She has had the new one Sadie about seven months.

It is almost house broken.  I know Carolyn will most likely live with Tim and I most of her life so we allow her to have her "babies" to smother with attention.

Carolyn's dream since starting to dance as a little girl was to be on point.  Last year she was graduated to point.  She is so beautiful and graceful when she dances.  She practices almost daily and I know she looks so small but that compact little lady is all muscle!  This picture is from the girls most recent recital in January.

We don't wear make up but for the recital, they wear stage make up.  Boy, does it make her look much older!

Our plans for her future are a bit sketchy.  I would love for her to find some kind of employment at some point in her life but has to be supervised closely because if something out of the ordinary happens, she does not know how to reason to make a good decision every time.  Also, because of the FAS, people can manipulate her and talk her into and out of things easily.  She really tries to please people around her.  I would also love to see her have social outlets at some point as well.  Right now, she has dance and all the girls at the studio that she has known for years but at some point she may not be able to dance there because of her age.  So having a safe group to go out and do things with would be nice for her.

God is so good to us and we feel so blessed to be given Carolyn to be our daughter.  We all love her dearly and it blesses my heart to see her grow into such a lovely, godly young women.  We love you girl!

Isaiah 60:1-2  "Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

Blessings,

susan         

Birthdays!!...Events!! and Other Things...

All four of our daughters, that are here at home, have birthdays within three weeks of each other!  It is a flurry of cake and celebrations back to back.  My children are all so precious to me but I never realized what a gift daughters are to a mother.  The comradery as we work side by side.  The love, support and friendship that develops over the years as they mature and grow.  I am blessed beyond measure.  They are all treasures to me.

Elizabeth turned 14 this year!  I see her blooming into a beautiful woman with every passing year.  She loves to do ballet and color.  She likes to help me garden, cook and keeps the kitchen in great shape.

Tim always gives the girls flowers on their birthdays!

Elizabeth wanted a cake with flowers on it, so my sister made her a very beautiful cake, for her special day.

Elizabeth has always been one of our hardest children to raise.  She has RAD and was so difficult, day after day her whole life...at times her behaviors were out of control and very taxing on our whole family.  Just exhausting.  We have staid the course all these years and been steadfast in prayer, love, discipline and hope, only by the grace of God.  I am overjoyed to share, that God has done a miracle and great work in Elizabeth, over the last six months.  The change has been nothing short of remarkable.  Her heart has been totally changed.  She is working very hard to be a new creature in Christ Jesus and the difference it has made in our home is breathtaking.  God is so faithful and true.  His Word does not return void and His mercies are fresh and new every morning.  Only our faithful God can change a heart and mind and make it truly His.  From her very fragile beginnings to now, she always was and will be my miracle girl!

Kindly helping Antonio to bowl the other day.

I thank you and praise you God for our precious daughter Elizabeth and the new work you are doing in her life.  May you have your hand on her, her whole life, leading and guiding her every step of the way.

Carolyn had her birthday next.  She turned 17 this year!  My sweet hearted, young lady is almost an adult!  Where does the time go?

She is still my right hand girl and so helpful around here.  She loves to do ballet and ride her pony Millie.  She is very good with children and animals.  I can honestly call her one of my very best friends.

Carolyn and her little spoiled dog Bella.

Carolyn collects these little rubber animals and her very favorite one is called Perry.  I guess he is from some TV show but we don't have piped in TV, so she has never watched it.  She carries that little rubber Perry in her pocket everywhere.  He is quite worn out.  She likes him so much, she wanted him on her birthday cake.  My sister did a great job of making her a Perry cake!  It made Carolyn's day!

Thank you Lord for my sweet and sassy daughter.  May she serve you all the days of her life and dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

William finished his GED recently.  Praise God!  He has worked so very hard at it all.  We got notification a few weeks ago, that he was going to be inducted as a member, into the National Adult Education Honor Society.  Tim and I got a sitter for that day and went to his pinning ceremony.  As all Williams teachers stood to speak about him, I almost cried.  God is so amazing.  He chose Tim to do the honor of pinning him.  He will wear a gold cord at his graduation ceremony.  Tim's parents came to it as well.  The school put on a luncheon for William after the ceremony.  It was such a nice time for him.

  William we are so pleased with you!

My sister took some of the children on two outings last month. She took this crew to the Etowah Indian burial mounds.

She took these two to Amicalola Falls.

Thank you Aunt S for enriching the children's lives and for all you, your husband and family do for us.

Tim and William went away for a weekend recently.  They left for their yearly trip to Bug-A-Paluza.  I am always amazed at all they do around here.  I really feel it, when they both leave every year.  It makes me appreciate them so much more.

William always takes hundreds of pictures off all the bugs and wants me to post so many of them.  I told him to pick two this year.

The weather has still been pretty and the flowers are in bloom. 

It is almost time to plant our garden!

God is so very good.  I pray God will lead and guide you as you learn and grow in Him.

Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Blessings,

susan
 

Labor Day Outing!

My kind brother in law and thoughtful sister, took several of our older children on a wonderful and memorable outing on Labor Day.

William, Carolyn and Zeke went to see Ruby Falls and Rock City.  They could not wait for Labor Day to arrive, so they could go.  William has always wanted to go to these two places.  These three young people, are our children, I can always count on to be well behaved.  They always work so hard around here on our farm.  They always are so helpful with all the other children.  I am so blessed to be able to call them our children and have them in our life.  It was a wonderful day away for them, to go and do something fun and be spoiled, for the hard work and effort they exhibit daily.

First, they went to Ruby Falls.  It is a water fall, in a cave, under Lookout Mountain.  There is a huge rock castle as the entrance to the tour.  This picture was taken from the top of the castle.

There is a room full of pictures and information about the explorer, who found Ruby Falls and all the history on it. 

There is a huge cave network under that mountain.

You have to take an elevator 260 feet down, to take the tour.  I guess the elevator screen was interesting to William, as he was the main photographer, for this trip and it was in the pictures I down loaded.

They saw all kinds of cave formations.   It was very fun and educational.

I guess there are no potty's down there.  (Another random photo that showed up when I down loaded them all)

The highlight of the tour is of course Ruby Falls.  It is stunning.  It is a beautiful water fall 145 feet high and 1120 feet under the earth surface.  No picture can actually do it justice.  It is really beautiful.

 The kids really enjoyed the whole experience.

They took a break for lunch and then headed to Rock City. 

Rock City is an amazing place where God carved out beautiful caverns, structures, formations and walkways.

  There is a lot of walking but the children really enjoyed it all.

I believe there is 4,100 feet of walking trails through these beautiful structures and gardens. 

If you have spent much time in the deep south, you have seen a barn or two with the famous "See Rock City" words painted on its side or roof.   Here is the neat history of this practice, that has gone on for many decades. There are even coffee table books made, that have collections of pictures of old barns, with the sayings painted on them.  There are also many people who have bird houses in their yards, with that saying painted on them, all over the south.

I love the above and below pictures of the kids.  These three are very close and always goofing around together.  

Taking a break to have their picture taken.

The view from the top of Lookout Mountain is spectacular.

You can see seven states from up there!

The children have talked a lot about their trip and what they did.  It really made a very happy memory for them to be able to go and see these two sights.  Thank you so much Uncle "B" and Aunt "S" ,for taking the time to plan such a wonderful outing and giving the kids such a special day away.

Psalm 95:2-3  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.  For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Blessings,

susan