The Countdown to Homecoming

So yesterday I posted about the bread and rolls I baked on Facebook. On the way to deliver them, Sofia squished the bread- majorly. I was so upset about it. I messaged Dennis this morning and said- "My life is like this bread! I work on it and spend a good chunk of my time and then bam- 2 seconds later it's all 'messed up!'"After I sent the message, I felt so convicted about complaining. I waited so long for these beautiful children. I cried so many tears just wanting a chance to be a mom. And here I am now so far removed with a whole herd who are 11, 9, 7, 5, and 18 months! Usually I am good to be extra thankful for Holden after my multiple miscarriages, but the others? So often I'll catch myself only seeing the "burdens" and not the multiple blessings! All the messes, all the fighting, all the needs. Sometimes I find it all soooo overwhelming! But I need to just stop. Just breathe. Just be so thankful for these kids I've been entrusted with- ...

We have made it over 2 months! I'm so excited and thankful. I kept telling myself if I could get the kids in school, time would fly. Yes- almost the first week is done, and I know everything will be going so fast now. The kids are already counting down to Hallelujah night at our church now. Speaking of being thankful, at first the thought of this deployment really freaked me out. I wasn't sure how it would go without my dad. And although I try to have a grateful attitude about people, I know before my dad died, I did tend to take things for granted. Or maybe I realized, but didn't outwardly show my appreciation as well. Now I try very hard not to take people in my life for granted. And with my dad being gone, I have gained an even bigger circle of people who have stepped in. I'm not saying I'm glad my dad is gone, or that I think he needed to be in order for me to learn these lessons... However, I do feel like I'm more open to finding positive things. I hope h...