Amanda and Dan

I have written about Amanda before.  Her and her husband are currently adopting three kids from the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo).  At this moment they are in Africa spending a week with their three children.  Three children that see Amanda and Dan as mom and dad, but can't go home with them.  I have been overwhelmed with empathy for what is going on many times over the last year but more recently the last few days. 

This experience has shown me what true perseverance looks like. There is a very slim chance that Amanda and Dan will be able to bring their three children home with them and I just can't wrap my head around how that will feel.  Amanda and I spoke a lot prior to going (as usual I was super helpful by saying "I just don't know......I can't imagine....this is so hard"), but there is really no way to prepare yourself for that.  They will get to come home to their two biological children, but that in no way can ease the pain of leaving their adoptive children.  They fly home Sunday, so all I ask is that by the grace of God they are able to leave that country with three children in tow.  I pray that this happens for them and it is easy and painless for all parties involved.

Amanda has updated us throughout their trip, which is wonderful because it makes us feel like we are a part of this long awaited trip.  I cry with every post and every comment.  I indulge in every video and every picture posted a million times over.  My kids are excited to meet these children. It only makes sense to bring them HOME, but life is never that simple.

I want to say that I will forever be changed by the this Amanda and Danny.  They really have no idea how their passion to become adoptive parents has changed all of those close to them. This has been the most brutal fight that they NEVER dreamed of having, and yet they are sitting in the DRC holding those kids as I type this.  That is perseverance, that is passion, that is love, and that is hope.  It is something amazing.  Something I can't put into words. 

I pray that you get off that plane with your three kids so that your life can be complete and you can begin to live. 

why? why? why? why? why?

Aiden has a discovered a word that is going to be the end of me....no, it's not some bad word or mean word, it is the word WHY?!!!

He asks "why" to everything.

It is time for dinner. "Why?"
We need to do your homework. "Why?" (now that I kinda get...notice I said "we" do homework....yeah I thought I'd never have to do homework again....wrong)
He is 21 (talking about someones age). "Why?" (I mean, really!?!?)
Do you want to go see that Bears movie? "Why?"
You have a football game Sunday. "Why?"
We need to get home so we can get dinner ready. "Why?" (son, I JUST told you why....)

That word is so annoying.  There really are no words to compare a curious 6 year old and the use of "Why?".  He asks it with everything, relevant or not.

I do love his curiosity.....I am just trying to be positive, it is flat out awful.  Not gonna be sad when this "stage" ends.

Sports have taken over the world......

SO many things going on….I can’t keep it all together.  I have decided I need to place a bet on what day I will finally NOT show up to something I am supposed to be at because I have overbooked my life so much. 

Aiden is playing baseball and football right now.  Not a big deal, I thought.  Football is every Sunday for about 2 hours.  Baseball is every second of every day.  Why have I done this to myself.  He has practice on Monday, a games on Wednesday and Thursday, practice on Saturday.  Oh but that is just this week, next week it will be practice different days and games different days.  I can’t keep it straight.  I am an organized soul too.  I love having to do lists…but only if it means I get to go shopping to buy things to complete my list. 

Aiden loves it, so I will only complain to my blog (and all my fine readers J).

Sloane is in dance on Thursdays and gymnastics on Tuesdays.  What makes her schedule easy is it is consistent.  Before today my kids have never played a sport where I can’t predict what is going to happen on a future date.  This has been an eye opening experience for this mom!

I can’t make plans.  I can’t make commitments….it is just so much pressure!

Yes, I am being dramatic.  It isn’t that bad.  Watching them play their sports and do their thing outweighs any burden it may have caused on my life.  I signed up for this and love being able to watch their accomplishments. 

Every month seems to bring on new territories as parent.  I wouldn’t trade any of it and I wouldn’t want to do it any differently than I do.  I love my job as a mom and I love my kids (minus their inability to listen)!

Marathon winner

You would have thought that Kyle didn't finish the marathon b/c I have been a slacker!

He not only finished but he kicked it's ass!  He would say he didn't do well at all.  He would say that it was awful.  He would say that he is disappointed in his time.  I kindly disagree!  He set a goal to run a marathon and he did it.  He ran a marathon that most people could never do.  Arkansas is what you call HILLY.  Indiana (where he trained) is what you call FLAT.  He couldn't properly train for the hills for Arkansas because we live in the flattest state on the planet. 

Around mile 16 his calves and ankles were killing him.  I will admit he didn't look happy like he did at mile 11...but he rocked out the last 10.2 miles like a champ!

I am very proud to call him my husband.  He continues to amaze me on a daily basis.  Experiencing things like this together bring us even closer and I love that.  The man is a badass, he won't admit it, but I will!