Mims' Memories

Friday, March 6, 2009

Hello Sunshine!

What a beautiful day! This morning we met with our Konos group for co-op and afterwards we all went to the Natchez Trace for a picnic and hike. We have been studying the Midwest and Rocky Mountain States for the past few weeks. Tammy, one of the moms in our group, is an expert backpacker. She gave an excellent presentation with lots of interesting information. This was right up John Parker and Carson's alley. They are ready to go and buy all the neat, little gadgets that Tammy showed and go backpacking in the Rockies!!!! The weather couldn't have been more perfect for a hike. It was really a fun time, and the kids loved it!

John Parker giving his presentation on "The Pony Express"

Tammy, the backpacking queen!

Carson volunteering for Ms. Tammy's presentation

Our small group learning about the Lewis & Clark Expedition and making nature journals

Ready for the hike!!

Avery

Tammy and baby Abigail

Sam, Joshua & Avery on the trail!

Ben, Carson, Jonah, John Parker, Clay, Sam & Eli

Look at all the vans!!!!

You might be a homeschooler if...........

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Jared Update

Jared has been with us for almost 4 months, hard to believe. This morning his case worker carried him to a doctor's appointment in Memphis. She picked him up at 8:30, and he still isn't home and it's 9:15. He was supposed to be back by 2, but the case worker had another foster child she had to wait on to have admitted into the hospital. I talked to her awhile ago, and she said that Jared had been a real trooper, and he had fallen asleep in the waiting room of the hospital. It has been really different without him here today, I have missed him. I have thought many times about when he leaves to be with his mom again. I know that it will be bitter sweet. Our prayers have been all along for her recovery and reuniting her family again. Jared has done so well here with our family. Jared very seldom talks about his mom and has only cried a couple of times missing her, but some days he will talk constantly about her and his brother. He is trying to remember. It is so sad and breaks my heart for him. We meet with the case workers and his mother in a few weeks for a permanency planning meeting. We have been told that 1 of 3 things will happen. The case workers based on information from us and progress that his mom has or hasn't made will make a recommendation to the judge at her 6 month court of jurisdiction review. The judge will either place Jared back with his mother, give her 6 more months to get it together, or change his plan to adoption. We have been told that this is pretty basic procedure, and lots of times parents will understand the seriousness of losing their child permanently and will really step up to the plate. I really feel like I am in the dark most of the time. What information I have gotten, I have had to basically quiz them, asking tons of questions. Wendy just called and said they should be here soon. She said that he was wonderful today, that she couldn't have asked for a better child. She said that he had talked about us all day, including the dogs! They took him to Build-A-Bear in some of their down time, and he is so excited and ready to get here to show everyone! This experience as foster parents has been one with lots of different emotions experienced from all of us. We are just taking it all one day at a time. Pray for peace for whatever the future holds with Jared.

Monday, March 2, 2009

I've got the blues.....

I am singing the winter time blues! I am so tired of this crazy winter weather we have been having and all the sickness that comes with it..... I want sunshine, warm temperatures, birds singing, grass greening, flowers blooming, kids swinging, and the list goes on! I don't know what it is, but it seems like every year between Christmas and spring time, I get the blues, not depression really, but just a yearning for new birth, spring cleaning, yard work! I love being outside planting flowers and enjoying the fresh air, it truly is therapy for me. Growing up I never understood my mama's love for flowers and being outdoors working so diligently! I thought it was so silly to waste time that way, but now I see. I am making my list of all those things I want to do in and around our house, and it is insanely long, but I am ready to start checking them off one at a time. Sunny days are coming............

Friday, February 27, 2009

Sleep Over!!!

Boys enjoying hamburgers

Tonight John Parker has some of his friends here for a sleep over. Kelly grilled hamburgers, which were delicious, by the way, and John Parker wanted nachos and cheese dip. Oh so healthy, but the boys really enjoyed it! They have played X-Box, Wii, they have been running like a bunch of wild bucks up and down the hall upstairs battling with light sabers! Kelly just went up and told them to get in their pj's and settle down. They are watching Star Wars and are very quite now. I just hope that they go to sleep soon and don't wake up before 5 a.m.!!!

Fun times!!!!!!!

Ryan, John Parker, Matthew, Alexander,

Clay, Ben & Carson

John Ashford about to dump his cake!

Doesn't he look so sweet with his new, big boy haircut!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Happy Birthday John Parker!

Our firstborn is 10 years old!!! What a blessing the past 10 years have been! What joy we have experienced seeing and watching John Parker grow into such a wonderful young man. He is a great big brother to Carson and Avery, always enjoying being with them, protecting them, playing with them. He has really grown and matured so much over the past year. Sometimes, I hear him say things or see him do something, and I have to step back and remind myself to soak it all in, don't take a single milestone, conversation, smile, hug, laugh, or moment for granted!!!!

Happy Birthday John Parker..... We love you so much!

3 years

4 Years

5 Years

6 Years

7 Years

8 Years

9 Years

Monday, February 16, 2009

Day Six - Animal Kingdom

We spent our last day at Animal Kingdom. As soon as we entered the park,we headed straight to Mt.Everest! This is the best roller coaster in all of the parks. The boys talked about nothing else but this since they found out we were going back to Disney. We spent probably a good hour or more riding. Most of us at least rode it twice, some even three times! Lots of fun!!!!

I had never seen the "tree lady" before, but just minutes before I did, Roan was telling me about her and how strange she was! She walked on stilts and moved around in the trees. She was kinda creepy, but very beautiful!

Mt. Everest

You can see us coming down right above the tree top!

Hidden Mickey

Avery and Pocahontas

Jared, Avery, Jimmy the Cricket, Carson & John Parker

Another Hidden Mickey

Donald & Avery

Kali River Rapids

Just about the time the rain came in, it was time for the rapids!

This was the very end of our day, so the timing could not have been more perfect!

The kids really enjoyed this ride! They loved getting wet!

Wet, tired & hungry

We all went back to the hotel and started packing for home.

Jimmy & Roan decided to leave Thursday night and break up the trip into two days.

Kelly and I stayed and got up early Friday morning and headed home.

We had a wonderful time, and the kids can't wait to go AGAIN!!!!!!!

Fun time and great memories!!!!!!!

Friday, February 6, 2009

Day Five - Magic Kingdom

On our second day at Magic Kingdom, we celebrated Leah and Sam's birthday. The first half of the day the girls and Sam went to breakfast at Cinderella's castle, and the boys all went to ride the thrill rides again.

Avery

John Parker & Carson

Avery, Rebecca, Cinderella, Olivia, Julie & Leah

Finally, we meet Cinderella! She greeted us as we entered her castle.
Avery loved meeting all the princesses and getting their autographs.

Snow White & Avery

Avery, her favorite princess, Aurora & Leah

Leah & Roan

Thanks Roan for treating us to a wonderful time and a delicious breakfast! We ate so much that we didn't even want anything for the rest of the day!