Let's talk about Mental Health....

So, navigating the mental health side of my insurance plan has been painful, complicated, and for lack of a better term, stinky.  I just don't understand why it is so hard to get someone who is in a mental health crisis good care.  In fact, I find it despicable that we have to wait until someone is in a mental health crisis before serious concerns are listened to and addressed.  This should not ever happen.  If we had better preventative mental health care, particularly at the adolescent level, then maybe we wouldn't see kids reach such dramatic crisis levels.  Its heartbreaking to see not only the sheer number of kids involved in in-patient and out-patient care, but also the range of ages....  Some of these kids are really, really young.   I hope they get the help they need now so that they can stay maintain care and not have to live in and out of crisis mode.  I also wonder when mental health issues got to have a such a stigma..  Many people are ashamed to talk about what happened to their kids or what led them to the place they are at.  How can we ever help each other if we don't talk about it?   It's hard to find resources, support groups, etc. on your own. We should be able to talk to each other and pass along what works and what doesn't, without fear of judgement, because that's what it comes down to.  Judgement  by others - how did they get there? They seemed so 'normal'... What did they do to his/her child?  Parenting skills are brought into question both verbally and implied.  It's so sad.  We should stop judging and ask what we can do to help?  Meals, errands, someone to talk to, whatever you can lend a hand in doing to help.  Just please, stop judging....

It has been awhile, hasn't it?

Well, as a friend recently pointed out, it's been awhile.  Yes, make that a long while.  It's been a year since my last post.  Sad, yes.  At some point though, life just takes over and pushes forward quickly leaving little time to document what is actually going on in life.  I have begun fleshing out the details of adding to my little family again.  I think about constantly, feel the need to, however you want to describe it, but really, really want to add another sweet little person or persons to my home.  I haven't stopped thinking about it since I brought Zeri home. Many of the others who adopted around the same time as I have already been through the process again.  I have been patiently waiting for just the right time...  which never seems to come.  There are always things coming up at home that make me question whether adding more people to my household would be a wise decision.  We definitely have a large cast of characters at home and I wonder about tipping the delicately balanced scales of our life..  That is my biggest fear. What then..  There are times when it's just the two boys & myself at home & I think "I can add more, it would be fine".   There are times when everyone is home and I think "There would be a lot of people in this house and they all seem pretty needy now".  However, the two older kids are supposed to be young adults, right? They should be able to take care of themselves and worry about their own issues. They live in my house though, and one lives in my house with her son, my grandson, full-time.  The other one moves back in May after college.  The dynamics of it all makes my head hurt and then I stop thinking about my dream, my goals for the future. My sweet little dream that I have been hanging onto for 3 years...  Is it time to abandon my dream or push forward with it?   I continue to pray and hope for answers on what my next steps should be....  

Better than Good: Last Day of the Raffle!! Still Time!

C'mon folks... We can all do something to help out this family help bring their children home! Let's show them that we care, that God can provide.

Better than Good: Last Day of the Raffle!! Still Time!: "Here's a recap just in case you want to see all the cool things you could win! So here is the deal...Use the Chip-in button to the Right.$5 ..."

Merry Christmas

So this is my Christmas present this year.  A beautiful healthy new grand baby.  It's certainly interesting to have a baby in the house again.  All the boys want to do is hold him and love on him. Let's just say he doesn't really love people touching him all.the.time.   But he is mostly patient, and is definitely used to the noise and chaos of our house.  Merry Christmas everyone.



My Favorite Zeri-isms...

1.) When going to bed at night “Don’t let the bugs eat you.” Meaning Don’t let the bed bugs bite…


2.) When making his Christmas list the other day “Write down Beaver g*un mom. I really want a Beaver gun.” Thinking he means B-B g*un but you never know. (Side note – we did have a discussion about how Santa doesn’t bring g*uns)

3.) When I leave for work “Have fun with your people mom.”

These are just a few of the funnies in our house lately… This kid is too funny!

Thanks...

I just wanted  to follow up and say thank you for the posts and emails.  I know that I will love the baby once it gets here.  She is a smart girl and I pray that she receives the wisdom she needs to continue to move her and her child's life in the right direction.  It was not my intention to sound like I was whining about not getting my way or being able to do what I wanted to do in regards to adoption.  I know that whatever happens will happen in God's time, not mine. I have to accept that and practice patience.  It's just SO hard...  Anyway, I'm out of town for business this week.  This is the first time I've left Zeri for more than one night since he's been home, a year and a half now...  My mom is staying with them to make sure that everything is under control.  The oldest 2 could be in charge &  left to take care of the littles, but they constantly fight now, and that's no good for the boys. I get home tomorrow night, can't wait! Miss everyone, and miss sleeping in my own bed! 

Dealing with disappointment...

I have been so looking forward to dipping my toe into the adoption pool again - it was my dream to bring home a little girl. I was happily in the research stage going about my business. That’s when reality comes and smacks me really hard in the face, bringing me crashing back down to earth. So it seems that I am going to be a grandmother. Yes, I know, I am only 39, but I too had my kids young and my second oldest is 18 and pregnant… She told me the news about 3 months ago and I have been devastated ever since. Hopes & dreams, hers and mine, completely dashed and/or put on hold. She is not married, and I do not advocate for her to get married just because she’s having a baby. Two rights do NOT make a wrong and it’s not in her best interest at this time. She finally got a part-time job and she will enroll in the junior college by the house for classes in the fall. She will have to maintain 15 credit hours to stay on my insurance, in addition to working. She’s on the same path I travelled, and it’s definitely not an easy one. She will be living at home for now, she needs to finish school & get on her feet. At this point, I don’t feel that I can move forward with my dream, there’s too much that will be going on in the next few months. I try to keep telling myself that the dream is just shelved for now. That it’s not put away into a box, locked up, not to be opened again. But as the time ticks away I feel the opportunity slipping away as well. Restrictions on singles are changing all the time, in many countries, and not in favor of single adoptions. It’s hard to sit by and watch everyone else going through the process when I know that’s exactly where I want to be – right in the process. Most everyone that adopted at the same time as I have all gone back for their second round  of kiddos…. It’s hard to also sit by and watch my daughter go through what she’s going through and know what she will go through. It’s hard to sit through and listen to all the family drama this has created. Some of it I do not know how to deal with. So, I find myself depressed at times and having a hard time pulling myself out of the pit. I just have to remember that I can’t let myself slide down into that pit, or it will suck me in for sure.

So what comes next?

It’s been absolutely FOREVER since I’ve posted and I can come up with a million and one reasons why, but frankly it’s purely lack of motivation, and definitely depression. I feel… unsettled, like I am searching for something I’ve lost and can’t find. I’m not sure why that is, but I don’t like it. I feel like I’m supposed to be doing something different with my life(work related), something with more purpose. I just don’t know what that is right now, or how to get there. Got this in an email today & it speaks to me, right in the heart, leading me to believe I am supposed to be doing something else. But what that something else is remains the question for now...

TEN THINGS GOD WON'T ASK ON THAT DAY..

1... God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation..

2.. God won't ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3... God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4... God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5... God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6.. God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7..... God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8.... God won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character.

9... God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.

10... God won't have to ask how many people you forwarded this to, He already knows your decision.

Yes, we're still here...

Ok, so I haven't posted in months. Cut me some slack, I've been a teensy bit busy: Brought home active 3 year old, Rocky got moved to YET another school, a round of evaluations at Childen's for Rocky, Easter, First Communion, and Prom. Still to do: Move eldest home from college, graduation for second oldest. Very busy with lots going on, emotionally draining at times as well. Moving Rocky again was not easy, and with a very BIG fight, I probably could have made them keep him, but it just wasn't worth it. He's in a better place during the day, but he just got kicked out of after-care. Good thing the eldest is home next week, she will be able to give me a hand.
Anyway, here's some Easter pictures to get you caught up..

More Ethiopia pics...

Remember to click on the picture to make it bigger!

View from our guest house


Another view from the guest house


Cow crossing


Construction


Big Mak Cafe - Burgers, Coffee & Tea, Wedding Cakes. Interesting combinations.

Merry Christmas (a little late...)

Putting lights on the tree....

That's a lot of work. Time for a nap (with my boots on, of course!)

My first Christmas Present (I wasn't really sure what was going on!)

A Bears Jersey!! I love this box!

ROCKSTAR!!

Pictures

Pictures

Here's some of the 500+ pictures taken in the last 2 weeks..

The Day We First Met

Here's the day we met Zerihun

Hello Everyone

Well, we finally have internet access!  It's been strange not checking emails every day.So much to catch you up on, so we'll hit the highlights. The 17 plus hour flight was awful. I somehow manged to be sick throughout the entire flight & it continued even once we were on solid ground. Then Rocky had it Monday night & all day Tuesday. Steph has been lucky, she didn't get it, but it could be because of the 'special' medicine she took. We went to Z's orphanage on Monday, it was amazing to finally meet him. It brings tears to my eyes just typing it. We walked into the gated compound & were immediately surrounded by about 30 little kids. They all want to shake your hand, be picked up, and hugged. They just want to be loved. The Sisters that run K.M. (Z's orphanage) are amazing people. They know everything about each kid there. There are about 170 kids there total this week, from the new baby brought the day we were there, to the older kids 11,12,13. They are all awaiting their forever families. Such hope, and still so heartbreaking.
We've been all over town, it's quite a city.Cows walking through the streets, along with cars & buses. People chatting on cellphones, walking past homeless people who literally have nothing. The Sheraton hotel that charges $335 per night & is one of the most extravagant hotels in the world down the street from tin shacks. Amazing contrasts.
We went to the US Embassy today to start our paperwork. Now it's a waiting and praying game that our paperwork gets done expeditiously.
Z is amazing.He is very quiet, content to play today with a cracker. He LOVES Stephanie. She is definitely his favorite, and she won't let him go.
He and Rocky seem to get along well, but it's hard to tell as Steph monopolizes him. We miss you all and will try to write soon!

We're Outta Here

This is it! We leave in 2 hours. The bags are packed and we're ready to roll. We'll update as often as we can throughout the way! Wish us luck!

Test...

Testing the email to blog feature for when we're travelling...

Halloween

We had a very low key Halloween this year. I got home later than I wanted from work. S & R had gone out only to one house earlier, R was too hot (the mask made him hot) and he said it was too much work. So they stayed at home until I got there handing out candy.










Then when I got home, we headed out for about a half hour.











We ended the night with a black cat crossing our path. The perfect ending for Halloween.

He's Ours...

We passed court on 10/13 and received Z's Birth Certificate on 10/22. It was so strange to see Zerihun Kathleen Owsiak... It's not quite fair to his first family to see that we've essentially rewritten his history by taking their names off of it. Anyway, our embassy appointment is 12/3. We will leave here 11/29 & return, hopefully on 12/12 if the paperwork gets processed in a timely fashion. Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer. Both S & R are coming with. The school wasn't particularly impressed with S taking 2 weeks to go, but she's spoken with each of her teachers and they've all promised to work with her both before & after the trip to make sure she doesn't fall behind. She's also organized some fundraising efforts to get some donations to bring with us. It seems so strange that we leave in 4 weeks. I can't wait to have him home with us.

End of Summer

Now that summer is almost officially over, here' some pictures of some of the more interesting highlights

Here is when the neighbors tree crashed into our front yard...










About a week after the tree fell, we found a nest of baby squirrels on the sidewalk. We loaded them & their nest into a box to take to a wildlife refuge.














and we went to the Air & Water Show....