For Jessi’s celebration of a decade on this planet, a trip to Fiesta Texas was planned. Unfortunately, Sammi and Joy got sick, so they had to stay home. But Dad, Becca, Jessi, and Lizzy drove to San Antonio after the soccer game on Saturday and had a wonderful time!
Happy 10th birthday Jessi!
Since Sammi couldn’t go, they got her this shirt – very sweet.
Cuteness: On the way to the soccer game, Mom, Dad, and Lizzy discussing employment and how some people have to have two jobs. Lizzy in her ego-centristic stage and in all of her 7 year-old wisdom, “Daddy has two jobs.” “oh?” “Yeah, he’s a soccer coach and that other thing he does.” I loved it and laughed! You can tell which job of Jason’s really is the most important!
Adoption: I attended a Young Women Training meeting on Thursday. It was good, but what I loved was the assignment they gave us before the meeting – to read Elder Bednar’s talk, “Line Upon Line” (Sept 2010 New Era). It is fantastic! I love to learn more about receiving revelation because I need it so much and so often! Anyway…last week I posted that I was frustrated on the slowness of finding out what the Lord really wants in all of this, but this week I feel much better about the whole thing. This is the way it always happens. We get little bits of direction here and there that ultimately lead us to where He wants us to be. It’s good. It’ll work out. I can try to push His hand or I can wait and see His plan unfold beautifully before my eyes. I like the later idea best.
Tuesday Lizzy got her “prizes” for selling cookie dough for her school. I think my opinion of hyping kids up in assemblies to do school fundraisers and then giving them junk for prizes goes without saying. Oh well. They had 30 minutes of fun out of it before they broke.
Science Fair was due this week – translation Mama and Jessi got some quality bonding time. One Mom from school told me, “Science Fair isn’t for the kids. It’s for the parents.” Yeah. Oh well – we had fun with the topic. We did an experiment to see which broke down in gastric juices faster – processed or non-processed foods. We got the stomach acid from Bella (thanks to her GJ tube we are often covered with it) and found processed food breaks down way faster than natural foods. Hmm. No wonder you can eat junk and be hungry 30 minutes later!
This creature freaked Becca out this week. Meet Mr. Raccoon. He was positioned right in the tree next to the car when we were trying to leave for Young Women. Then she heard noises in the attic that night. She slept on the living room couch that night.
Wednesday Marlissa had an early morning medical procedure downtown. Kathie just started her new job on Monday, so three families got involved and made this all happen. Nathan and Mandy spent the night here and then did school with us the next day. Mama took Marlissa to the test and meeting with the doc (which Kath was able to attend). Nathan helping Lizzy with her homework and then the three kids around my dining room table. 
I also didn’t have a nurse that day. What a great day! I loved it. Homeschooling and taking care of my baby – my heart was happy that day! Wish life was stable enough that I could do that every day!
A self-discovery: I have a new favorite candy. Good-bye Peanut M&M’s, while I love you I found a truer love. Chocolate covered almonds. HEB has a wonderful little sack for $1.50. Hmmm…..
I think I have some cute kids!
The little girls got their report cards – both straight A’s, and Lizzy had straight E’s. Jessi just needs to remember to turn in the homework she does every night and she’ll be there too!
I’m lovin’ that Bella can got off the vent a little. She joined us for movie night!
Soccer shots – Liz thinks it great that her number is the same as her age!
One thing I appreciate about Jason is that after working all day, when he comes home if dinner isn’t on the table, he jumps right in and starts cooking. What a blessing with our lives so crazy these days. I am thankful for a cooking husband! I thought I’d just throw in some random life shots:
It was also Sandi’s birthday – hope it was a great day for you Sandi!
Thursday our Bishop called just to check up on us. I am grateful. He is a very busy man, but he takes the time to check on my family. He reminds me of President Monson in that way. He told me once 
Thursday morning was the first meeting of Fitness Club at the Elementary school. Lizzy has joined this club. She told me that they run laps and exercise. And she is voluntarily doing this? Yes, she loves it! Whose child is this?
Friday our PT found this really cool Prying Mantis in our front yard. Sammi and I thought is it was great! That night we had red velvet cupcakes. For the season, we said they were blood cupcakes and we were vampires! Our cousin, Katie, came over. She had never had Red Velvet. What? We had to introduce her to this Southern classic.
Saturday Becca bought her first set of scrubs. The first of many she said! Adorable Joy.
Soccer:
And then our ward’s Halloween Party. It was great! There was a Chili Cook-Off, then games by the Young Men/Young Women, followed by Trunk or Treat. We invited a family from soccer. Everyone had a great time!
Crazy teeth, donuts on a string, and tons of candy – what could be better? The girls always trade candy at the end. I think it’s so funny – it’s like the NYSE in there!
back at home: Bella is so happy to see us.
Someone asked me how the search for baby brother is going. One word: frustrating. The girls want their baby brother so badly. Lizzy keeps telling me adamantly that she wants her brother to come through my tummy, not adoption. Well, I finally got to the bottom of that one. She assumed that if we adopted a little boy he would have Down syndrome. She wants a “normal” baby brother. Gotcha babe. We got that all straighten out.
Our home study is almost done, but then I started to think about a private home study and if that would be acceptable to a state agency (we are leaning toward adopting from the state). Well, the long and short of it is no, a private home study is not acceptable. They want to do their own study. They want to do all the training. OK. So we may have to change course. This is the way it always goes with us and adoption. It takes a while to feel out what exactly the Lord is leading us to. It’ll all come clear as we keep putting one foot in front of the other. Every child is important to our Heavenly Father. He will help us find the child meant for our family.
