Court This Month

So we went to court last week and as the justice system works we sat around for over 2 hours to get our 2 minutes in front of the judge asking for a continuance.

A failed transport of Aubry's bio-dad from the local county jail due to a misspelling of his name in his most recent arrest meant we couldn't proceed,
instead we will sit back in front of the judge in early December.

In case you haven't been keeping up we are going in front of the judge to ask him to change Aubry's case plan from reunification with her bio-parents to terminating their parental rights which will them allow her to be available for adoption, she is a ward of the state right now, and once she is available for adoption we can then wait for our day in front of the judge to, Lord willing, make that little girl a legal part of our family.

Now if there is parental resistance we'll go to trial.

So for another couple weeks we wait and then
we'll see-

good news...
this time we don't have to take Aubry!

Packing the Dinner Table in Your Knapsack

So my family and I haven't regularly sat around a dinner table together in years!

I read a recent FB post on family dinners and my heart ached a little, my initial reaction was "I want the family dinners like they have";
but they're not my family. 

They are a great family and they do family well but what fits them doesn't necessarily fit us all, and that's OK.

I am a fan of family dinners and we enjoyed them for many years but then, suddenly, for us- life happened. 
With that the family dinner slipped away from our reach.

But this is not a story of how I feel my family is out of touch with one another, 
on the contrary; 
this is a story of how we live life together.
How we've packed the family dinner table into our knapsacks and taken it on the road.

Family dinner was replaced with lunch at dad's shop
or a car ride just the lot of us laughing the whole way.

I am a big fan of family bonding around the dinner table and I think we're headed that way again soon but until then I'll take the conversations driving him to work, 
the late night bedroom chats 
and the last minute meet-ups at movie sets!! 

So if family dinner isn't working for you, find something else; a way to bond and connect, to make memories and create moments.

What are some ways you connect with your family?

Here's a link to some themed family nights we've done

Keeping Permanent Markers Away From Child

You may remember that I have been weeding out around here.
Well when I returned from my trip to Rhode Island I was inspired by my friend Niki to paint some of my dark wood.
I decided to start with the dining room table.
Only I haven't painted it yet but I have moved it out of the dining room.
Which, if you have a young child, is awesome!
All.
That.
Free.
Open.
Space!

I love having an empty room.
Easy to vacuum, easy to play in.
To see a taste of what we do in that open space go here.

But I am now met with a bit of a dilemma.
Tomorrow is Aubry's birthday party and we have no table to gather around.
On a  day to day we gather around our 10 foot bar but that will be a buffet of cookies and treats.
So the great furniture swap is happening today as treadmill, bookcase and craft table all migrate for a season and hopefully somewhere along the way we'll keep our wide open space!

Oh and why the title? because I had to navigate typing this blog and keeping permanent markers away form Aubry.
Smile today,

Love is deep

Happy November.
I can't believe this year is almost over.
Aubry will be 2 years old this month, wow!
It seems like yesterday I got the call saying I was the guardian/parent of a newborn baby girl.

1 week.
That's the time we had to prepare to bring a baby home.
No time to pick out wall colors or bedding themes,
no time to shop for baby furniture or clothes.

The girls at work threw us a baby shower the day after she came home form the hospital..
We got a tone of stuff!
and then for the last 2 years we've been overflowing with blessings.

We go to court next week; this time asking the judge to change the case plan from "reunification" to "adoption". Both her parents agree Aubry should stay in our home; so now they need to sign over their rights. 
I can't imagine making that decision.

Of course I think that's what's best for Aubry.

So I trust this whole process to the Lord.

Life is looking a little different now; Aubry bio-dad's side of the family makes visits as does her bio-mom. It's kind of a divorce family meets adoption with a whole lotta love stirred in.

Ya know I love her like my own kid.
No different.
Not that I thought I wouldn't love her a ton, I just didn't realize this magnitude of love.

I am amazed at the length of love.
The depth of it. 
Having my own kids is when the roots of love grew deep in my heart; then it overflowed to Steve.
It would be years before I'd feel that love for a student, a friend, a sister.
But there is something about your own kids. You hug them, love them, shake your head at them.
They amaze you,
baffle you and frustrate you beyond all comprehension.

They warm your heart,
bless it, melt it, make it smile
and sometimes break it right inside your chest.

Oh that's how I feel for Aubry May, deep rooted love grown on my inside.
Oh how I trust and hope this adoption goes through.

Well I'v been laying low on this subject because I just don't always know what to say, what to share and when. I'll be back with an update.

For now there is a birthday to plan, Thanksgiving to be hosted, family in town and then a fabulous trip with Illana, Stevie and their parents.

I leave you with this from Philippians chapter 4
"...the Lord is at hand, be anxious for nothing..."

If you need that reminder then claim it, grab it, believe it.
Look at your hand, the Lord is there, He's got it- so enjoy it!!!

Love a little more today, the one you wanna avoid,