What I Can Tell You About Fostering

**Every month or so I write about being a foster parent.  It's an important message and it's not fun or entertaining and I can't share details so it's tricky.  I don't even know if this is anything new (ha, I'm really "selling it" ) but I just ask that you read with an open heart.  We've been foster parents for one year now and I don't know what the future holds but I hope that we will be able to welcome other children into our home and hearts for years to come.  We can only help one child at a time and many more homes are needed.**

"You'll be so happy! You'll look and feel great!  Your life will be easier!"  I wish I could say some of these things to entice you to consider being a foster parent but unfortunately the reality is a little less exciting.  Somehow "You'll be tired, frustrated, confused and hurt!" doesn't quite have the same ring to it. Okay, so you will feel joy and love and other great things, but to be clear: it's not easy.

Thankful Thursday

Every Thursday I write 10 things that I am thankful for so here we go!  This week I am thankful for:

Hiking the Abby Grind with Kids

Living in Surrey means we have many walks nearby but there aren't any challenging hikes that I'm aware of.  In the past we have gone over various bridges to hike at Golden Ears, Grouse Mountain, Mount Seymour and Lynn Canyon, but rarely do we head east.  This morning we drove 45 minutes east to try out the Abby Grind.  It is located off of the Whatcom Exit where you take North Parallel Road (you do need to go over a small bridge to stay on North Parallel Road) and then left on McDermott until you go right past the Abbotsford Fish and Game Club to a big gravel parking lot.

I was so curious: Would it be like the Grouse Grind? How would the kids do?

What to Do When Work Leads to Chronic Stress

{This Sunday we are hearing from Kimberly de Blieck.  Kimberly is sharing one way in which her life did not go according to plan–chronic stress took her far from where she wanted to be.  I want to thank Kimberly for sharing her story as others will be able to relate or understand someone else in their life a little more.}

Happy Canada Day! {Langley Events Centre}

Happy Canada Day, friends!  I am so thankful to live in this beautiful country of ours and was more than happy to celebrate it today.  We decided to go to the celebration at the Langley Events Centre.  There was a bigger one at Cloverdale Fairgrounds but I was hesitant to take our four because there would be bigger crowds and the constant asking to go on the rides!  

It was pretty low key which was perfect for our crew!  There were draws to enter, a photo booth and activities to try out (free of charge).  Here are some photos:

Thankful Thursday

Once again plans have changed.  A sick little one meant a cancelled visit which meant trying to keep my kids healthy while taking care of a sick and whiny child while Gary worked.  We skipped the zoo and beach and instead went to the clinic with four kids and as many electronic devices that I could pack in my purse. Not my favourite start to summer.  However, I know this is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things it's just not how I wanted to spend my day yesterday. I don't like that I feel frustrated that there is just so much beyond our control right now. Obviously I really need to focus on the positives along with my venting so here we go–I'm especially excited about #10 as today is his first day home.

This week I am thankful for:

Our New Backyard and Trampoline

I love our home yet I've always struggled with our backyard. I grew up on an acreage with a Christmas tree farm, forest, chickens and goats, and dirt bikes–so much room to play and explore. When Gary and I bought our house ten years ago we were just thankful to get a brand new home!  We didn't think far down the line about what kind of yard our kids would have (I'm not sure why not?!) and were happy about the many parks nearby.  I'm so glad we bought when we did because there is no way we could afford our home now on a single income.

Instead of moving we always try to make our home work for our family.  About a month ago, the boys and I went to a Springfree Trampoline party and I was sold.  I was ready for an upgrade from our Little Tykes 7' round trampoline and I wanted something safe and durable.  My boys can be rough and we are also foster parents which means I want the safest trampoline out there.

Five Quotes That Have Altered My Way of Thinking

I love reading and enjoy learning from other people's experiences.  Quotes are a fantastic way to speak into various aspects of my life.  I don't have many memorized but there are some specific ones that have changed my perspective and opened my eyes.

From parenting to marriage to self-worth, there are so many lessons to be learned as we grow and our situations change.  Here are five quotes that have altered my way of thinking:

Thankful Thursday

Zoinks. What a crazy week.  I finally recovered energy-wise from my surgery and then I got laryngitis.  For a person who needs physical activity and has a desire to talk everything out, this has been a doozy.  That said, still something to be thankful for.

This week I am thankful for:

I Love My Paper Calendar and Change Is Hard

I love my paper calendar. A lot.  I like having my days, weeks, and months laid out.  I can see what I need to do to prepare for what is coming up, what countdowns we should be celebrating, and holidays we can look forward to. I do know, from life experience, that plans change.  I got an autoimmune disease and so the return-to-work-date came and passed while I remained home.  We hoped to have our kids two years apart but that was not to be.  There was a struggle getting pregnant with child number two and the experience of not being chosen as adoptive parents and a miscarriage leading to child number three.