Last Football Game

Last night marked the end of the football season for our cheerleaders and football players.  And the final game for one local boy that is now in heaven.

Our last game was against the Spring Hill Broncos.  It was an intense game with many touchdowns.  At half time the football players went to the locker room and Brooke and the rest of the Dazzlers performed their dance and then the band began performing.  As the band performed we started hearing sirens and an ambulance pulled onto the track.  We all began to notice a crowd of people on the other side of the track.  A little while later the field and track were cleared of people and Life Flight landed, loaded someone and left.  It was announced that #44 Nathan Stiles, a senior Broncos player, had been injured.  The game resumed after both teams met in the middle of the field to say a prayer for Nathan.  The game ended with a final score of 72 to 99, the Broncos won.

Sadly this morning it was announced that Nathan Stiles died from his injuries.  It is being said that he had suffered a previous concussion but was cleared to play last night.  At the end of the second quarter he was hit hard on the field, collapsed after walking to the sidelines and began seizing.

Facebook was exploding this morning with prayers for family and friends as our students found out the news.  Such a sad shocking time for everyone. :( 

It seems to me that there needs to be way more precautions taken when it comes to preventing head injuries.  The boys on our team have had many players suffer concussions this season.  One incident resulting in one of our boys being Life Flighted, thankfully in his case things turned out ok.  One young life lost is too many!

Adoption Update

We are ready for this...why can't it just happen??!!  Ok so I know the answer, only God knows when the perfect kids, time, situation will happen.  I'm trying to be patient and enjoy this quiet time I have right now but I am one of those people that can't get motivated to do the million things on my to do list until I am busy beyond belief!  I have so many things I could be working on but her I sit day after day not doing any of them.  I really should get to work on those homemade Christmas gifts for Lexy & Brooke that are half done!

Yesterday we got paperwork to fill out (asking us silly questions like "why do you want to adopt outside of your race" and "what are your family's strengths" and "what will you do if the children have problems in the future") for J (3.5 yo boy) & J (2.5 yo girl).  Their caseworker received all the homestudies of interested families yesterday and should be narrowing them down in the next few weeks.

We also received the same paperwork for M (3 yo boy), M (2 yo girl) & Z (8 mo. boy).  The parental rights have not been terminated on this sib set (the date for that should have been set at court today) so it will be a while before they are ready to chose a family.  Our adoption worker did talk with the caseworker for these kids yesterday about us and the worker said they would love to have us included in the best interest staffing (even though we are adopt only) when that time comes.

I got all the paperwork turned in and now we just wait some more...

Sister Love

I found these pictures that the girls must have taken without me knowing on my camera this morning.  They made me smile :-)

Halloween Porch

Lexy has been asking to put up decorations on the porch for Halloween so yesterday her and I took the time to do it.  She was so proud of how it turned out!

PARTAY!

This weekend seemed like one big party!  Friday after school we had a full house of girls, Brooke and her two friends Kenzie & Cassie and Lexy and her friend Avree.  We hung out at the house, fed everyone pizza and then headed to the football game.  Brooke got to be a flyer (up in the air during stunts) for the first time this year and the squad did a really great dance at half time (the videos just won't load on here).

On Saturday, Lexy had a birthday party to go to for her friend Chase, Brooke had a birthday party for her friend Cassie and then Mike, Lexy and I went to Toby's first birthday party that evening.

On Sunday evening Brooke had another party to go to while the rest of us stayed home and rested!!  It was her first campout and she had a blast with that group of friends!  I love that she has two completely different sets of friends and that she loves spending time with both.


Kati, Brooke, Suzy, Audrey, Lindsey, Taryn, Kelly

More profiles

HA I should have known that the second guessing I did all weekend would be for nothing :-)  This afternoon I received two e-mails with new profiles from our adoption worker.  The first was:  B-8yrs, B-3yrs, G-2yrs., we will not be pursuing this sib set as there are concerns about sexual acting out by the oldest and we have to think of our girls' safety.  The second was:  B-3yrs, G-almost 2yrs, B-8mos., we are looking into this sib set but there is a possiblity that they may need a foster to adopt family (we are adopt only).  I'm feeling encouraged that at least we are getting more profiles.

I've decided that this whole situation is one of those things that we just have to have faith that we are doing the right thing and that God will let us know what to do next.  It's definately a lesson in patience, letting go of control and selflessness.

Discouraged

I'm usually the optimistic one...the dreamer, the believer.  Today I'm feeling discouraged and unsure of what to do.  I got an e-mail from our adoption worker this morning that the sib set of three from another state that we inquired about are now going to be staffed with just their current foster family...so WHY did they ask for homestudies???  I'm a huge advocate for kids staying with their foster parents if it's in the best interest of both the family and the kids...I just don't understand why the foster parents keep deciding at the last minute that they do indeed want the kids.  In our experience as foster parents, we knew from almost day one which kids we would keep forever if the opportunity arose and which ones would move on to their adoptive home if the time came. 

We are now down to one sib set of two (from our state) that we should be included in a best interest staffing for.  To be truthful I'm not feeling much hope.  I know that when the right kids come along it will just happen the problem is I'm not sure anymore if this is what we're supposed to be doing.  On a daily basis I doubt myself and my feelings that we are meant to add to our family again.

I'm discouraged and disappointed...

Soccer Star

Lexy has one more game tonight to make up for the one that got rained out but last night they got their participation medals.  

It has been really fun this season to watch as the kids' skills are beginning to grow.  Lexy is really getting good at staying with the ball, kicking and cheering on her team.  She LOVES to play and is so excited each game night!

Homecoming

Homecoming week concluded with a great game (we lost but it was close) and a dance, where Brooke was asked for her phone number by a boy she likes ;-).

  



 

Homecoming Court