Gotcha Day Celebration (in pictures)

Believe, Dream, Inspire

Every school year our school district asks the kids to participate in a competition where they can enter various methods of expression (art, photography, writing, etc.)  Katie's teacher assigned her students a paragraph on this year's topic:  "Believe, Dream, Inspire".  Following is Katie's paragraph:

I want to be a teacher when I grow up.  I want to be a teacher because I get to help kids learn.  I will teach them how to read and paint.  If they know how to read, they can learn everything.  If they know how to paint they can create beautiful things.  My mom and dad say I will be a good teacher.

Gotcha Day 2013

If you've never been to Family Court, I'll let you in on a secret:  it's not generally a happy place.  It's where parents go to part ways forever.  It's where decisions are made (arguably) "in the best interest of the child."  It's where parent's rights are forever terminated.  It represents mostly broken families.

On July 15, 2013, our family entered Family Court.  We, however, going against the grain, made it a happy place for just a few minutes.  We showed the judges, lawyers and caseworkers who spend day after day in Family Court that what they do matters -- that sometimes family works.  We gave them a happy ending to the many stories that they endure day after day.

Lots and lots of friends and family came to help us celebrate a life changing banging of the gavel.

We busted the seams of Courtroom #2!  

Seriously, the judge didn't know what she was getting when she invited us in!

It's official!  

Welcome to forever!

So very thankful for these and dozens of others who have walked this journey with us over the past five years!!

We celebrated at Tommy's with scrambled eggs and bacon!!

Soon, I'll post pictures of our Gotcha Party -- 

that was where the real celebrating was!!

Am I Allowed?

Here I sit.

In an empty house.

Alone in our home.

I can't remember the last time that happened.

9 years ago?

So, I decide to write?

Blog?

Am I still allowed?

Has it been too long?

My kids have all started school in the past few weeks.

Ella Grace, 4th grade.

Annabelle, 2nd.

Katie, Kindergarten (how can that be?).

Kanius, 4K.

And, Brielle started three days a week in a two year old class this week.

So, it's me and Mo, our dog.

Laundry is running; bread is baking; dinner is prepped for tonight.

Starting a new school year brings mixed emotions for me.  I like my kids being at home.  I also like the structure that being in school provides, and, honestly, my kids crave that structure.  Usually, we are all ready for the schedule, but not ready for our Summer to come to a close.

Mixed.

My emotions are also mixed because it's yet another reminder of the passage of time.  My sweeties will only stay under my roof for a little while and then I'll launch them out into this big, scary, exciting, adventure we call life.  Despite every warning to "treasure every moment," I find myself sad that time is passing so quickly.

I am trying to remind myself that in the midst of "treasuring every moment," real life happens.  There are still groceries to buy, spelling words to call out, car lines to sit in, dinner to make, baths to take . . . The truth I am trying to preach myself is that not every moment has to be a big production to be treasured.  Life happens in the day to day and that is where my children will learn most about how to live out their own adventure.

So, if I'm still allowed, I may use some of my new found time to blog about some of that day to day with five kids, a dog and an amazing man!

2012 in Review

January:  Settled from the chaos of the holidays!

February:  On the 9th, we welcomed our son home!  Katie turned 4 on the 13th!  K-man turned 3 on the 18th!

March:  March 3rd brought our little nephew Jeremiah Michael into the world!  He soon joined his mommy, daddy and 2 brothers and forever became a part of our family!

April:  Our Little Peanut turned 1!  We traveled to Ocean Isle for Spring Break and had a great time with the Williams side of our family.  All three girls kicked off soccer season!

May:  Annabelle turned 6!  We wrapped up K3, K5, and Second Grade!

June:  Ella Grace turned 8!  Our family participated in the Miracle Hill Cycling Challenge!  Ella Grace and Annabelle attended art camp and all three girls went to VBS.  We also all tagged along with daddy to Myrtle Beach -- he sat in conferences all day and we swam!

July:  We visited Michigan.  MB had another birthday and we celebrated our 13th anniversary!

August:  Wrapped up our very relaxed summer.  Begin to readjust to schedules.  Started K3, K4, 1st and 3rd grades.

September:  Spent a weekend in Stone Mt., GA.  Sweet, sweet family time!

October:  Eric grew another year older.

November:  Celebrated a sweet Thanksgiving with the Powell side of the family as well as Christmas and birthdays with them!

December:  Celebrated Christmas for the first time as a family of 7!  Traveled to Michigan for Christmas festivities!  Got notice of a court date . . .

2013 promises to be a life-changer!