Big News!

I have a big announcement: 

I'm getting married!  Haha, no.  But everyone else on my facebook wall is. I digress:

I’m pregnant!  Haha, no.  NO. NO.  Nononononono!  (And hopefully never, but that’s another post.)  Lol, but I AM going to be a mom!!!

A whole bunch of circumstances have come recently about, and I am going to move from my penthouse to Grace Home with my 8 girls to officially be a foster mama!  I am so excited about it, and it’s been really cool to see and learn how God has obviously orchestrated the whole thing. As He tends to do. :)

For those of you who are slightly concerned about introverted me who needs some of her personal space, I will still have my own room two floors above them, but I’m mainly going to use that as my closet/stuff space and a “Momma-needs-a-break-or-somebody’s-gonna-get-hurt-reeeal-baad” room.  (I hope you read that in Russell Peters’ Indian accent.) 

But I want to spend as much “living” time with my kiddos as possible—I want to be there nightly for bedtime cuddles, and to help direct the craziness when they get home from school.  I want to be the consistent person that they’ve never had—consistency to help them continue to come out of their shells, help them grow spiritually and progress academically. Consistency to build a lasting trust, to let them know they are loved unconditionally.  And yes, consistency to tackle those challenging things like potty-training that don’t get much follow up from busy ayahs. 

And, since they all go to school, I can do my motherly duties in the evenings and hold dance parties each night while still being an OT during the day.  Cool stuff :)

THANKFULLY, you have all already made this job much easier on me!  Mom has sent me pictures of the items you all have donated for my kids’ Christmas, I’ve received some CRAZY Paypal donations, and Mom is depositing the checks for me. I get a ridiculous smile each time I get an update about any of it.  AND not only is Paula’s wheelchair paid for (Woohoo!!!!) but those 8 kids are going to have an ABUNDANCE of toys!  We are going to have puzzles and games to play, art projects to complete, books to read, and much, much more!  My girls are really good at entertaining themselves with nothing, but now they’re going to be able to grow and learn SO MUCH by having toys and educational items to interact with. 

What’s more:  you have helped bless many more of the kids who don’t have foster moms. Some of us volunteers are going to go on a shopping spree at the local toy store next week, and we are EXCITED!  While my girls don’t have so many toys right now, their apartment seems fuller and busier as they have their school uniforms, bags, books, etc. to take up some space.  But other kids don’t go to school, and their apartments are quite bare.  (As in, completely bare.)  Well, NO MORE!

So, would you please continue to help us make these other apartments a bit less bare?  I think the suitcases that will be heading this way are filling up quickly, so financial donations may be a little more….erm, manageable…at this point, in order to be here for Christmas.  But if some toys don’t make it for Christmas but come a couple months later, the kids won’t care at all—so do what you are able and feel led to do!

**Oh, and my goal was to get 3 wheelchairs paid for.  We've got one down, so let's tackle Jessie's chair next!  Jessie (pictured above) came to SCH only a month or so ago, is absolutely beautiful, and LOVES hugs.  Her chair will cost $1337, and we have a little less than half of that so far.  Thanks!!! :)