Take Me Back To The Day

My husband recently sent me this picture that he had come across.

Instantly it took me back to 2001 when I met the love of my life. Wow, has it really been 13 years ago that we met? Looking at that picture I was thinking that was a whole life ago. It certainly seems that way.

Organizing tips from a party of six

This post is a continuation of the journey of the Benson family to adopt two children. Read more of their journey through fostering and adoption here. 

It was within the first week of David and Graces’ arrival when the reality of having a family of six hit me smack in the face!

I found myself facing mounds of laundry that I swear was multiplying on its own and covering the hallway that led to my laundry room.  To make things worse, I found myself facing an empty refrigerator which had been raided by four growing children and I didn’t have the courage or strength to tow four hungry children through Kroger.  Not to mention the house was in total disarray and the thought of CPS or the State popping up to just check in didn’t help my nerves much.

“No birthday cake for me, thank you”

After recently celebrating my daughter’s one-year birthday, I am realizing all over again that my children are growing up faster than I’d like. I’m also noticing that my youngest is becoming a finicky eater, just like her big sister.

For Talia’s birthday, we had colorful cupcakes, along with ice cream as a back-up dessert. While serenading the little lady, she looked at us like we were crazy, not even cracking a smile the entire time. I thought she’d dive right into her birthday cupcake when I placed it on her tray, but that was not the case. She frowned, and then looked at me with displeasure in her big, beautiful eyes.

One on One

I love a little one on one with my big kids. And I don’t mean basketball. I mean getting a little time just me and one of them at a time. I find out more and different things about what’s going on in their lives and their minds than when all five of us are together, or even when it’s just me with all the kids.

My big guys are rather reserved in nature (they come by it honestly, from their Daddy), especially in big groups, and often around each other. They are brothers, you know, with a healthy amount of sibling rivalry between them. But when you get them one-on-one, especially in a moving vehicle? Chatterbox city! And the topic isn’t always sports (don’t mistake me, that often comes up, but they also know they’ll get more out of a sports talk with their Dad than with me).

Letter to my four-month-old

My dear sweet girl,

How is it possible you are already four months old? The time is flying by. It seems like each day now brings a new milestone. In one day recently you both officially rolled over and had your first giggle. I say officially because it doesn’t truly count for the record books until both your Dad and I see it.

Now you’re grasping for toys, holding your head up like a champ, starting to “talk,” wiggling to sit up whenever you’re held and not too tired or eating. I can practically see your brain synapses firing as you are learning at an incredible rate. You glance around the room categorizing each thing and studying new objects. Things are starting to go into your mouth aside from that pesky thumb you found several weeks ago. It is thrilling to watch and yet I worry, can I keep up?

Facing tough questions

This post is a continuation of the journey of the Benson family to adopt two children. Read more of their journey through fostering and adoption here. 

I had the biggest over the top visions and dreamy plans in my head of what we were going to do when we all arrived home and how their whole arrival would be. I mean, they were completely unrealistic but I like to live in my own little dream world sometimes.  

As soon as we got home, David and Grace raced up the stairs so fast they never saw the welcome home sign or any other part of the house to be frank. They saw stairs and literally sprouted wings in search of their very own bedroom. Over the years, David and Grace never had a bed or even their own bedroom. This was huge for them!  We didn’t share any details about their room before we arrived. We kept this little detail a secret from them; we wanted them to have some element of surprise when we arrived home.

Just the six of us

Our kitchen table was covered in markers, crayons, and a huge brightly colored poster board that I believe could glow in the dark because it’s so blinding.  Our youngest biological son was prepared to make the best welcome home sign for his new siblings with a little help from me with his spelling.

As we sat down at and created a welcome home sign we talked about what we might do when we arrived at their foster home. I explained to him again that we were adopting them, and it’s not like foster care which we had done for years. This time, they’d never leave and they would have our same last name in six months.  He was so excited and said he finally had a sister that he could share his afterschool snack with at aftercare like the other children who have siblings. This was his highlight, somebody to share his snacks with!