A little bit of MAGIC!!

As for God, his way is perfect;

the word of the Lord is flawless.

He is a shield

for all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 18:30

We had a great day in Orlando yesterday! We went down for some high schools games at the Amway Arena and we stayed on and watched the Magic that Night! What a great time!

The little J loved this cow! It was radio controlled and it "flew" all over the arena!

Magic Dancers all dressed for the Holiday!!

enjoying the Magic game in Orlando! What a great time we had!!!

Smile for the camera!

Three brothers... 4 , 2, and 1

Head shots anyone????

Love this pic... the Big J is actually doing homework in FRONT of me!!!

A winning smile always!!!!

I can't remember who was taking pictures here... M, B, or me...

#3 is also one of our travel ball players! We are super proud of J! A freshman who starts on Varsity!!!

M had a big dance routine in our Christmas musical~

Peppermint has been busy this year! He has had his hands full with all the comings and goings around here!

The Big J had a birthday. Clothes and cash seem to be key here!!

This was at our church after Hanging of the Green.

As you can tell in these two pictures there was no place the Big J would have rather been! But hey, a FREE Santa picture... Say Cheese!!!

M and her friend T (both patrols at my school) share the Christmas Story.

B singing her song during our service.

Well.. for J's part he hung his ornament, but he did not sing on stage. He sang quite loudly from his pew!!!

M waiting!

The Big J is #20! Go Wolfpack!!!!

These were my Flowers from the school production of The Nutcracker! It was a blast to work with girls that have never danced before.
So every year I fry latkes for my kids. This year however, I deep fried them (on accident) and they were the best I have ever made! The kids at school loved getting their plates!



So, what has been going on around here you ask (nicely of course, for I know you are not the slightest bit distraught over the long post absence!!)
We will go in age order...
The Big J is extremely busy with HS basketball. I think this week, we started last Saturday in Ocala, and then had games, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and yesterday we were in Orlando for the high school games and then the Magic at 7:30. It was a great week of basketball. Although the break is here, we will have basketball this Tuesday, and then tournament play starts next week! There is never a dull moment with a HS kid!! He is managing to keep good grades, despite all his extra curricular activities. For that, we are glad. After this season of sports, I thought we were going to have a small break from school activities, but alas.. it seems the track and field coach has gotten to him, so we may add track to our schedule! It will all depend on our travel ball schedule this year. So we will see. He keeps us very busy!
M has been just as busy! She is still dancing 3 nights a week, with team practices every other Saturday. She will compete in January down in Orlando, and then again in March at Disney. I am looking forward to that trip. She is doing very well in school, and we continue to laugh that still about 1/3 of our class has no clue she is in fact, my daughter! It has gotten to be pretty funny when somebody ask "Is that your mom?" Really, where have you been the last 65 days??? She is very excited about the break. Monday we will take a trip to the library to get some "good" reading for her! She just wants to stay around the house and read. Who can blame her!!
B is also glad for the break. She wants to play and just hang out. We are going to convince her to read some on this long winter break! After all, the weather has not been too great this year! Lots of rain. We are amazed that this school year is going by so fast. B is already talking about who she wants for 3rd grade. She is very spoiled going to school with mom! She is also still dancing 3 times a week and every other Saturday. And because of their ages, of course we are dancing Monday-Thursday! It couldn't be on just the same 3 nights for each of them!! Needless to say we are running quite a bit during the week.
The Little J is doing great. He is just absolutely fascinated by Peppermint, our elf on the shelf. Maybe fascinated is not quite the right word, sometimes scared, sometimes in awe.. He is really excited about the tree and the lights all around. He really does not understand Santa and the whole gift thing yet. He does know that it is Baby Jesus's birthday and he must sing happy birthday at least 50 times a day! Thanks to his Sunday School teacher!! He is running all over the place. A big difference between girls and boys I am here to tell you. And no, we don't think he is hyper, we just think he is a boy's boy! Thank goodness for basketball games, balls, and trains! He is finally starting to play in his "blue" room by himself. For a long time, he would only play if we were there. But now, he is very comfortable in his house, with his toys, and his things. It is hard to believe he has only been here six months. For us, it seems like he has always been with us, and in some ways, he has I guess!

Derek and I have been busy as well. I have to finish my dissertation by March. No more putting it off. The shell is there, and much of the work is done. I am sure my editor will be thankful for the work after the holidays! I plan on working on a large part of that next week. I am now at the "jacked-up super rate" for being ABD. And, that my friends has put that fire a little hotter under me! There is a big difference in place value of $200 a term to $2000 a term. HAHA!!

Travel ball starts up next month as well. I am sure Derek will be on the road quite a bit with that. Not sure where they are going this year, but I know that we are all going back to Knoxville for the Knoxvegas tournament. And this year, thank GOODNESS it is NOT on Easter. It will be fun to see what kind of talent turns out this year.

Anybody facebooking? That has been kind of fun to hook-up with old friends from my childhood. Can't believe I have found 2 of my oldest friends. Isn't' it funny how you split and then find each other again? And, the funny part is that you experience all those fun times all over again!!!

Isn't this a happy post? Reads somewhat like a great Christmas letter! So, if you've had your happy Rowan fill... STOP reading HERE!!!

And now, the sibling saga updates!!

I am really trying not to worry about this. I am sort of a list / calendar kind of person. Not that I am inflexible, but I do like to know what is going to happen, and when it is going to happen. And I know.. that is my problem, and my problem alone. Shocking, but the whole world doesn't operate like that. I mean, if it did... (but that would be a whole other blogpost!)

Sorry to digress.

We went to court last Monday and about a week removed from it, it was kind of comical. Prior to this point, the Department of Children and Families had given a directive to the agency who holds the boys to move them to us. Again, they refused. So, they were told that in court, the Department would not prevent a move to us. It still amazes us that the Big Boss (The Department) can give an order, and it can be refused... Anyway we drive 2 hours to make our 11:00 court time and the fun begins! Like I said, "Action"

When we arrive we meet our guardian there, and we are talking and in walks the mom and paternal grandma. Then my attorney, and the siblings guardian arrives. Then, alas the State paid attorney for the mom shows up! We are all standing in a corridor together talking within our groups, when a huge group of about 15 people arrive. Yes, 15 people from the same Satan filled agency. Scowling, growling, and being their ever unpleasant self. At this point, there is a size-up going on, and I think attorneys like this!! I thought I needed to throw-up! Anyway, the mother's attorney approaches my attorney and inquires if she can represent the paternal grandmother!!! Not!! Hello.. she is already representing a participant in the case. So the bailiff (one that my attorney has just won a case against the same agency for the SAME thing!!!) let's us in and we all gather around waiting for the Judge. In she walks, and we proceed to begin. And what a surprise when we hear the baby daddy is on the phone calling in from his "retail therapy" assignment. To claim, yes that he is the daddy of the baby! I almost fell out of my chair!!! Anyway, the Judge has to remind him that he is in court and his language needs to reflect as much! So, she begins her speech about by saying this he is going to be required to pay child support, at which time he says "um.. no mamn, they said I just needed to say I was the dad!" Really... they, as in the agency that has the care of your ONE son??? And really, they forgot to mention that little bit of information. So.. as if it could not become any more strange, the Judge asks if he has any income or access to money, and he says YES, I have a charitable trust account".. Really, how do you get one of those?? Anyway, the Judge not in the least impressed inquires as to where those funds come from and he says "My friends and family" at which point she says, Good- you can use those funds to pay your attorney!!! Anyway, because his attorney was not in the building we had to postpone the hearing until the 7th of January. I was not happy, but in the legal arena, the Guardians, the Guardian's attorney, and my attorney felt that this was normal "monkey wrench" tactics, and that once we get in front of the judge, we will have some success. SO, we left that day NOT happy, but resolved that it will work out when it is supposed to work out! We did go back for a visit on Thursday, and it went very well. We asked for an extended visit over the holiday, but that does not look like it is going to happen. When I left for break my Vice Principal gave me these parting words : "When you give something to God to handle, you DO NOT worry about it... you can pray about it, but when you start to WORRY about it, you have taken it back!" So, we will continue to pray about it, let God know what we would like to happen, and let him iron out the details! Although, I do add that a timeline would be nice JK!!!!

We know that a lot can happen between now and March. And it is still our desire to have all the siblings together. However, we may end up with three separate adoptions if it works out for us, and we are still o.k. with that.

Now that we are off, and things have slowed a little bit, I have had time to reflect and think. My goals for this next year include doing things a little different. I am going to try and say No more often, and spend time with my family. I have already started talking less on my phone while in the car, and for the house... and this is really big for us.... we are going to do a super purge! We are going to get rid of a lot of "stuff". We have so much stuff that it seems almost wasteful to a degree! I wish Clean Sweep would come in and work their magic in my house!! There are a few agencies in town, that will gladly come to our house and pick-up our stuff, so in between writing next week, I am going to start at the front of the house, and work around to every room and just clean "house!!!" I am sure the feeling is going to be great!!!!

This week will be a light week for us! The Big J has a game Tuesday about an hour away, and then we will be homebound!! We are lighting the advent candles for the Christmas Eve Service and we are always honored to do that.

Hope you enjoyed the update!!! More frequent posts I promise!!!!