Laughter is the best medicine

Click here to see Evi's blog and a video of a sweet little man.

This boy has some moves!

A great opportunity

As some of you know, we lost a baby. It will be 3 years this September 9th. M.E.N.D. is a support group for ladies and their families who are going through a loss. It has been a blessing to me to have a place where I can go, and talk about our son, and cry with others who are experiencing the same pain.
This is a non-profit organization, so it runs on fundraising and contributions. That means that next month, the month of our anniversary loss, we will be having our first fundraising event. BUNKO!!!

For anyone who loves games, and wants a time to hang out and play Bunko, and have the chance to win some awesome prizes, you have got to come to this event. It is for an incredible ministry. The cost is not too much, and I guarantee you will have a blast. I hate asking people for money, but asking people to come play Bunko is a totally different matter.
In case the info is too small, here it is:

Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 6:30pm
First Baptist Church Tulsa
Dinner and snacks will be provided (baked potatoes and all the fixin's)
Suggested minimum donation $10
To register for Bunko Bash 2009 contact Erica Huff at 633-0668 erica@mendtulsaevents.com
or Michele Wilson at 694-4325 michele@mendtulsaevents.com or michele@mend.org

All pre-registered participants will be entered into a special prize drawing. Non-registered participants are welcome!

I hope to see lot's of familiar faces there. Most women either have experienced a loss or know of someone who has, and what better way to remember our babies, than helping out a ministry that helps women who are grieving. Thanks, and hope to see you there!

First day of school

School is here! Evi is in 4th grade this year, and has 2 teachers. She took a summer math course to help prepare her for the fourth grade. She has several friends in her class from last year, but the most she was happy about was Cowboy Colby. Oh my... Sebastian is in the 4 year old program at the same school. It so happens that when Evi was 4 she was in Miss Hammons class, and when Sebastian was born on a Tuesday we gave Evi the option of either staying home with the new baby, or going to school. She asked if she could take her baby brother to show and tell, and Miss Hammons met Sebastian when he was 10 hours old. Now he is in her class.
Evi has always been Miss Independent, but I was a little worried about Sebastian being such a momma's boy. Well, as I pulled into the school parking lot, I asked if he was excited, and he said "Mom, even my brain is excited!". Once I parked he grabbed his backpack and said that he was fine walking to class alone, since he already knew where Miss Hammons class was. We explained that we wanted to take him all the way, but he was so ready to start school.

Introducing....

the newest member of our household. I am now the proud Momma to 4 kids, two being on loan only. Malachi will be staying with us for a while, I don't know how long. All the kids seem to be taking to him well, especially Evi and Sebastian. He doesn't seem to phase Shawn one bit, and he likes touching his hair and says "baby". We are getting into a little routine and enjoy having a new baby in the house. Evi is a huge help! So now I have a nine year old, a 4 year old, an almost 2 year old, and a 6 week old. I felt like a woman who had just had a baby when my friend Melanie brought me a meal on his first night here. We are spoiled to have friends and family who look out for us. Thanks guys!

Could use some input

At this point I have no idea who reads this blog. But I have been discouraged and could use some input. I don't know where to go or who to talk to so... I am coming to my blog readers ( that is if I have any).

We are foster parents. We enjoy it so much. I think when people think of foster care they get a bitter taste in their mouth and say "Oh, that's great... just not for me". And that is fine. It is not meant for everyone. But what I am frustrated about isn't about the foster kids themselves, it is the people involved in their world. Here is my problem:

We became the foster parents of Shawn on March 31, 2009. Before he came to live with us, our case worker called twice to tell us they found a child for us. Both of those didn't work out. Not because we didn't want them, but because our case worker said (several hours after telling us when we could pick him/her up) that she had found another home for said child. Then we got Shawn, and after a couple of months told our case worker that we would be willing to provide a home for another foster child. Again, she called and said that she had a child for us. Several hours later we got the call they had already found a home for that child. Then again last week, we got a call saying they had a child for us. I know.... I should have learned my lesson by now.
But all I can think of is that there a little babies in the shelter, who are wanting so bad to be held.. and rocked... and someone to sing a little song ( as bad as they may sing) and someone to tickle them while putting baby lotion on them after a bath.. and someone to watch and learn from... and someone to say "I love you and you are special".
So back to the call... we agreed when and where to meet. I went and picked up our newest little foster child, went to Wal-Mart and got him diapers, formula, bottles, and clothes. Then 9 hours later, I get another call. "His grandpa wants him". That is great! But why didn't he want him last week when he was put in the shelter? Why did you call me when he has a grandpa that obviously wants him in his life? Why make me tell my kids that this little guy can't live with us?
So I call our case worker... twice. She hasn't called me back yet. It's been 4 business days. My question is... do I have the right to ask for a different case worker, or are all of them going to be like this? I kinda feel like in 4 months that we have been fostering we have had 4 failed placements. Something is wrong with the system, when there are families waiting for kids, and they can't get on top of things. It makes fostering have a really bad rap, and this is something that is a huge blessing to these kids. But why should people want to open their lives to these kids when DHS is so messed up. Did I mention they wanted me to take this 8 month old to speech therapy? It is not these kids' fault that DHS is not the best organization, but it saddens me to know that people won't consider fostering while DHS is so messed up. Anyway... that is how I feel. Thanks for reading if you have gotten this far.

Here is Evi learning to ride her horse. Red Rain just got back from the trainer, so now it is time for both Evi and Red to learn how to handle each other.
The Jones' have been great letting us come out and spend some time with her. So far, Marley has been the one riding Red ( in the pictures Marley is riding Red, Evi is riding Boomer) till she gets used to being handled, then Evi will take over. It seems Red senses that Evi is still getting the hang of things, and acts up a little when Evi is on her.
Evi has loved having a horse. Now we just need to get some land to have her closer to us.