Friday Is a Fine Day

It's Friday-we've been back from the camping trip now for almost a week. I've had no return to head spinnies! Our little big family is taking GIANT steps forward. Every day I am knowing more and more who each of my kids is, their strengths and weaknesses.

I have one that is a helper, always asking to fill the water glasses, set the table, generally, trying to keep justice and order in the place. Another one needs clear explanations with demonstrations and almost a definition of each word. I can't say, "Go get the lotion, it's in the bottom drawer of the kid bathroom." I have to show what a "drawer" is (versus a cupboard) and which is top and which is bottom-this is not the littlest kiddos either. Yet another child has issues with having an attitude, pouting, taking offense easily yet that one will rise to meet our big expectations too. One follows me around all day wanting to do what I do. One is barely able to put feet in the water, another was scared initially with me in the water yesterday, but by the end of the day she was floating around in a life jacket and noodle all by herself (ok, THAT is the 3 year old.)

A hurdle I wasn't prepared for is "language" differences. So many expressions and phrases that I can't understand. If one of my new kids says, "Ah gotta USE it" with crossed legs, that's the signal for potty. We are insisting they say "potty" or "bathroom." There are many things I don't understand and I bend down and ask for them to repeat it again and again and again. Sometimes I just give up trying to interpret.

If you're wondering how we're doing...we are wonderful. This is a time in all our lives where God is at work in us in big ways. One month ago I was bored out of my mind. I would sit down to read to my kids (from N.D. Wilson's book-a fun series, by the way) and I'd fall asleep after 1.5 chapters. My days were easy, I was lazy, and I didn't make the most of my days to organize, clean, minister-I did enough to where no one could say I needed to step things up but I knew I needed to. I always figured I'd have time tomorrow.
My house is better organized than it was a month ago. And the 8 of us stronger spiritually than we were a month ago.
I also look my original 2 and am thankful for the good things I see in them. I see how they have grown since we got them. I know June 1, 2013 will hold amazing differences for all these wee Killys.

Camping Trip Does Wonders for Mom of 6

Hi Friends,

Another email to update you on our progress. But this is a blog you say, not an email! Since I've found keeping friends and family updated on our big changes enough of a priority to make it happen I decided to continue but in blog format so I can save these notes for myself since I don't have time to journal.   Our relationships here at home are growing and changing quickly and even reading the emails from 1 week ago seem so distant as things progress and time keeps ticking by.

I am a new woman! My last email I was spinning and woozy. We managed to get the camping trip off the ground only 1 day late and once we were there it was AWESOME. (Praise the Lord!) I didn't wonder if my kids were riding bikes in the street without permission, I KNEW they were riding bikes in "the street" (dirt road around our little group camp sites.) All us campers KNOW there are a zillion kids around so everyone drives super duper wooper slow and we all look out for each others chitlins (by that I mean children) as if they were each our own.

I have the final stages of unpacking to go and I'll see if I'm all adjusted and feeling mentally "normal" again or if being home returns me to a state of mental jello. I walk through the house and in every room something yells, "pick me up, put me away, organize me..." (not the kids although they are in every room yelling as well.)

The day we were leaving for camping the kids' things got dropped off. 4 big black garbage bags and 4 boxes full of clothes and toys that belong to my kids, and now to me. One week I'm scrambling for clean underwear and the next week it's coming out my ears.

I did take my camera camping but the only pix I took were of the slip n slide:

Whee! 2 girls enjoy the ride.

Goin' Back for More!

At the top

2 Girls and a slide

Chloe takes the little one.

No Sweat!

The Ringleader of our crew.

A Bible verse for camping with 6 kids:

Psalm 27:6

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

Sidenote for those of you helping me look: I am so thankful that we found the cord to charge the camera battery. I was thinking I was going to have to buy a new one. Turns out the cord that charges the camera also works with the video cam (although the video cam cord, which was laying around, would not work on the regular camera.) So happy, it's found, YAY!