What's in a Name?

Growing up, I used to try to think of what the very best names would be for my kids. Or pets.

 Maybe it was because I came from a big family or because I had dreams of having a large family myself (either that or a ton of animals) 

Fast forward and here I am the mom to two sweeties who came with names of their own. Names that their birth families gave to them and ones that I would never dream of taking away. Those names are a part of them. Part of their heritage. 

Are they sometimes hard to pronounce. Yep. But, people can learn. I'm kind of ornery like that.

Many people have told me that it wouldn't matter, that I should just give them whatever name I wanted to. I am their mom now after all. They're right and because I'm their mom, I will keep their birth names and teach them to treasure their birth history.

So, what to do with all of those names that I wanted to use? Well, it looks like my future pets are going to be named Isabella, Caedman, Demeras, Joshua, Anne, etc.

That is unless I can convince my children to use those names for my grandkids...

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Date Night

I was treated to a movie and dinner with the man in my life tonight.

Isn't he handsome? 

Growing up, my dad would take us girls out for our birthdays. I decided that Little Man and I would make it a regular thing to have 'date nights.' I think it's good for him to learn how to be a good date. How to order, how to talk to the server, table manners, etc. He loves it and always feels really important (although I'm not allowed to tell our servers that we are out on a date...He claims that I talk too much?!)

Sometimes, Little Man will surprise me by announcing from the back seat that he is treating me to a salad, and to 'turn in at McDonald's'. It's so sweet. He'll always lean forward after I've paid and ask, "You paid with my money not your's right?"

Wish all my dates in life had been so considerate!

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Just B...

...Yourself

Little Man had his second soccer tournament today. The tournament was an invitational that the area soccer association sponsors each summer. You see, although he has been playing soccer for years, I have been hesitant to have Little Man begin playing at the competitive level.  

Little Man has the World Cup written into his version of the future. He's all, "GO! GO! GO!" I more like, "Are you having fun? Good. Want a snack? Let's have everyone be a winner. Okay?" 

The truth: I am a little bit afraid to be a soccer mom. There. I said it.

Competitive sports have never been my thing. I'm more of the artsy, drama, music, nature hikes, non-competitive kinda mom.

I've seen all of those parents who are totally into soccer and some of them are scary. They make me want to cry! I can't imagine how their kids feel. I don't want to turn into that. Plus they sit there and trash talk the kids on the other team so horribly. I sit there thinking, "Wait a minute. Aren't these seven and eight year old kids that you are lacerating and beating down verbally? Wait...is that MY seven year old you're talking about?!"

There is a fine line between supporting your child and being, how should I say this... overzealous. I'm determined to stay true to myself, while helping him navigating the world of competition.

In the next couple of weeks, Little Man is going to be making the jump into competitive soccer. I am terrified, but determined to make sure I keep track of what is best for him, and still balance his schedule so that he won't be over-stressed. I am praying for him to be put on a team where the kids (and their parents) have a good outlook about what is important in life. I'm praying for a coach that teaches the kids well and brings out the best in them without berating them. 

I'm praying that I can be adequately supportive of Little Man's love of soccer. He is naturally drawn to anything athletic and usually picks up on any sport easily. That's who he is. I am starting to think that maybe I am here to make sure he stays well rounded (and he's here to get me up and active!)

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Freebie Friday!

I've always loved this verse. Hope you like it.

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Blue Days

We finally made it out of the one office that our paperwork has been sitting in since May 8th. Yay! More proof that, one day, Baby B will be home.

Sometimes during the adoption process, the wait gets long. Really really long. Even when there is progress, although you are excited, you're afraid to get too excited. What if the next wait is a long one? So often, there are glitches, paperwork hang ups, and BAM, things are delayed yet again.  

You hate to buy too many things or set too many things up, because you have no idea how old your child will actually be when he/she gets home. Will she still be sleeping in a crib? Will she need those diapers or will she already be potty trained?

I know it will all work out, but, that's where I'm at right now.

 Baby B will probably not be home until sometime early this fall. This adds an entire laundry list of extra things I need to start planning for. How will I budget in taking all of that time off of work? (I was counting on having the summer to stay home with her). How will Little Man do when I am staying home and he is going to school every day? Will I be able to stay home long enough for Baby B to bond well before I have to head back to work? How many weeks of lesson plans to I need to plan for? (Lesson plans for the two schools that I will be splitting my time between). It's a tad bit stressful.

I long for the day that Baby B comes home. I dream of it. Some days, it just feels really far away.

 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

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Somewhere There is a Little Child

Somewhere, a little child sits and wonders why she is alone, and unloved. Why others get to go to school, and she cannot. Her young mind worries over whether or not she will get a meal before she goes to bed. Or will she have to sleep again with the roaring pain of her hunger her only companion. Will she be warm enough, or even have a place to sleep?

What if she wakes up afraid in the night?

Somewhere, a little child will rise in the morning, to another uncertain day.

She will wish will all of her heart that there was someone to love her. 

But maybe she's not worth it, she'll start to think...Maybe she isn't deserving of love.

I think she's worth it and I think we can help. 

A new car, or being a part of someone's life, forever? There will always be a newer and better...something. A person's life? Priceless.

Pick one. Try it. I think you'll like it.

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Sometimes, Age Does Make a Difference

Has anyone besides me noticed that depending on your age, a simple sentence can mean something completely different? I'll give you an embarrassing example from my past. Now please don't judge.

In my early years of teaching, I taught a reading class to sixth graders. One fine spring day, I was chatting with my students about sandals versus flip flops. The conversation went a little something like this.

Me: Yeah, I hate how thongs feel. They are so uncomfortable. 

My class: Cricket sounds and horrified stares.

Me: They are so uncomfortable in between my toes.

One very kind student: Oh, Miss B, we call those shoes flip flops now, thongs are something different.

Me (now also horrified): Oh nasty! I was talking about the shoes. 

Today, I made the comment "Is it hot in here, or is it just me?" My teenage niece looked horrified, my mom (Grandma) thought nothing of it. And no, I wasn't implying I was hot. Just that I was hot.

What a difference some years make.

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