nine and ten

#9

I can't explain how thankful I am for the love between my kids.  When we were preparing for Gabby's arrival we didn't know how to explain to Nathan that he was about to learn a big lesson in sharing.  We figured he would be extremely jealous and angry at his new baby sister. 

Well, God works in crazy ways. When Gabby came home Nathan was fascinated with her. He was checking out her tiny toes, fingers and her little nose.

Nathan loves his baby sister!

I'm also thankful that I have an older brother.  Growing up, I always leaned on Robby for strength and encouragement.  Now, I think he leans more on me but I can owe some of my success to him.


#10

I've lost 40 pounds!  I feel so great and this is just a milestone along my journey.  I know it will take me a long time to reach my ultimate goal but I know with God on my side I can get there.  Thank you to everyone who is praying for me and sending me encouragement.  I will try to post before and after pictures soon.

Eight

So, I talked to my BFF Kendall the other day and she decided that she was so much of a blessing my life that she deserved a spot in the top ten. Well, I wasn't exactly ordering them by importance but she did get me thinking about our friendship and how it all began...I am thinking by God's divine ordinance!

#8-Kendall Bohman

Her beginnings where actually with, of all people, my mother! My mom was her crazy eighth grade social studies teacher.  It wasn't until 10th grade that Kendall and I had some true BFF moments in  Mrs. Manning's class. I, completely by accident, called her twin boys Hughie, Dewey, and Louie instead of Kevin, Devin, and Trevin...I mean really it was an honest mistake.  Well, of course Kendall had to die laughing and Mrs. Manning thought we were making fun of her children and so she wrote us both up.  Her substitute wasn't any better.  That crazy substitute would write us up as soon as we walked through the door...she wouldn't even give us a chance to redeem ourselves.  For 11th and 12th grade Kendall left the good times of public education for the private sector and we lost touch.

The fun started again in college, where we ran into each other one day on campus and starting laughing about everything else that had happened since high school.  College was filled with ups and downs between friends, sorority and everyone elses drama. But Kendall and I always managed to stay friends through it all.  We were the girls that prayed for each other before class when the other had a test, we would skip class to hang by the lake or watch the entire series of Lost, and we even went hunting for bugs for biology class.  We even were summonsed by the Winthrop police and almost got kicked out of school... but our quick talking ways got us out of that one too.

Kendall has stood by me when I got married and when gave birth. I know I will be the one standing by her on those days too.

Kendall, I want to thank you for being not just my friend but also my therapist, comedian, private chef, and spiritual leader.  Thank you for being my kids' Godmother.  Thank you for being such a great example of true Christian faith. 

Even though you may leave the country to go spread the gospel, I know we will always remain friends because we just can't seem to break up!!!

Five, Six, Seven

#5 Today, we have entered the wonderful world of relief weekends. 

Our "weekends off" only occur twice a month from Wednesday to Saturday.  This weekend was extra special because we didn't have to pack up our lives, instead we sent the kids packing to next door.  We're able to stay in our own house, with our own groceries, bed, high chair, and most importantly no suitcase! 

#6 My little boy is growing up....

Nathan got his first haircut today by a sweet friend Susannah.  She was so calm while he was screaming and swinging his head around.  I love his curls but it was getting out of control. 

 #7 I have seen, in the last week, two wonderful examples of God's reset button for our lives.  Have you ever felt like you are going strong down one path and you feel like there isn't any hope but things just suddenly make a 180?  Well, I call that God's reset button.  I love that I can sit back and rest in the fact that God is in control over everything in our life.

 First example, my dear friend Allison has recently gone through a horrible divorce and she has a little boy.  Well, in her mind she never thought anyone would ever want to be with her again.  But God reset her life recently and she got engaged this week!  I am so very happy for her to have a new beginning in her life. 

Second example, our teenage foster son, Chet (he picked his blog name since I can't say his real name) has been having the worst attitude lately, he has been very defiant and extremely apathetic.  Adam and I were at our wits end with him.  We felt as if we had tried everything with him and nothing seemed to make an impact to his heart.  Well, yesterday was a breaking point for him.  We had a sit down with him and talked about everything that had been going on and how he needed to pick a path in life...he can either make something of himself or be a bum all his life.  After he pouted in his room for awhile he came out with a new attitude.  God totally reset him because he was a completely different kid coming out of that room compared to the kid that went into his room.  Lets just pray that it will last.  It is very easy to forget that God is in control of all things.  Even though He is running a universe He still has time to change the attitude of a teenage boy.

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." -Psalm 55:22

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." -1 Peter 5:7 

Two, Three, Four

#2- OK so I had a very exciting weekend with the boys.  They make me laugh everyday and give me such a reality check on what is truly important in life. 

#3- Cheryl Hopkins-- She is totally the most patient and loving nursery worker.  Every Sunday we pray that Nathan will make it through the service and Sunday School...most weeks he doesn't.  He simply can't handle being away from Adam and me. Cheryl maintains such a calm composure when he is screaming his head off and Nathan always calms down with her.  Thanks Cheryl for your dedication to our children.

#4- I lost 20 pounds!!!! I have been struggling with my weight for such a long time but after having Gabby I thought I would us this to jump start my weight loss.  My goal is to lose 50 pounds by the summer. I think what makes it different this time is that I really turned my concerns over to God to let him carry the burden.  Only He can give me the strength to fight my cravings and the energy and endurance to keep active. I pray everyday that I can really do it this time.  I ask for any support that I can get.  I don't really want advice because I don't want to talk about it all the time...just encouragement.  Thanks for understanding. I even had to buy some new pants already!!!

One--My Family

#1--- My family is by far the biggest blessing in my life. 

This is our story...

Adam and I met while at college at Winthrop, I was a freshman and he was a junior.  We were set up on blind date and never looked back.  We were married shortly after I graduated.  Adam was my first love and even though it sounds so cliche he really is my better half.  He keeps me totally grounded and he has taught me how to keep my mouth shut even though I totally feel like sharing my opinion.  Since we got married, he has truly shown me what a Godly, Christian husband looks like. He really holds me up on a pedestal, like he has won a prize by having me in his life.  I know women get a lot of grief about being submissive wives, but I have no trouble with this.  If a husband truly loves his wife like Christ loved the church then he would ultimately put his wife ahead of himself.  Adam has always done this and therefore I can sit back and let Adam be the leader of our family.  He has not only loved me unconditionally, but he has also given me the greatest gift I could ever ask for, our two beautiful kids.

When I was pregnant with Nathan I was scared out of my mind! I knew things would never be the same.  I was sick everyday and was waiting on this little guy to be born so I can get back to feeling normal. Once Nathan was born I didn't return to my old self, in fact I think I turned into a better version of Laura.  I became a loving version of Laura...I became a mommy! 

Gabby was our second surprise and the timing was incredible...we found out I was pregnant two days before we were to receive our first set of kids at Calvary Home for Children.  Not only did I have to adjust to raising someone else's kids but also to being pregnant again and still raising my now six month old son. 

Nathan and Gabby were both suprises but I was told today that they should be called "hidden blessings" because we are raising mutiple sets of foser kids and if we 'planned' our kids we probably would not of had them yet. And who knows with our job when we would say that we had the time or energy to have them. So God thought we needed to have our kids before we took on the task of taking care of someone else's kids.   

First Blog...I hope this works

So I recently saw a blog where a mom counted her blessings and it made me realize that I am so beyond blessed.  I thought it was be a surreal experience to count them one by one.  This blog will be a documentation of my life as a wife, friend and mother to not only my kids but also to the children of Anderson county.  Thanks to everyone who pushed me to do this....hopefully I can find time for myself everyday to do this.