Things I Learned Today

10) No matter how many expensive toys are spewed across the floor, a 2 year old considers the teal balloon to be, hands down, the most interesting.

9) You can play with said balloon for hours on end.

8) I can work in the yard all day and be exhausted that night. I can cook, chase kids, lay on the floor, coloring and talking for half a day and it's the same level of exhaustion.

7) At breakfast, you can pour maple syrup on anything and it will get eaten.

6) Little heads come ----> <---- close to fitting between the stair rails.

5) Gliding on a wood floor wearing socks is as fun as ice skating.

4) No, a 2 year old can't handle the glass of water by himself (no matter how adamant his 7 year old sister is that he can). It's best to go with your gut instincts.

3) The water drinker's drenched clothes dry much quicker using a hair dryer rather than the clothes dryer.

2) On most first attempts while eating spaghetti by hand, a 2 year old is capable of hitting every clean spot on his face, missing his mouth completely.

1) Children's joyful giggles and belly laughs are gifts from God to make grown ups relax and their hearts smile.

Is Knowledge Really Power?

Okay, it is... but I have to be honest.. it's scaring the hell out of me.

Since we began this whole, crazy process last December, we've plunged into the highly recommended books on neglect and abuse. If we're armed with information we won't be blind sided, right? Let me tell ya, these are no light summer reads. It's the most gut wrenching and heart breaking stuff imaginable... it has brought me to sobbing tears and given me nightmares. The abuse that goes on out there that those sweet, innocent angels endure is mind numbing.

I was at B&N picking up some books for Dad's birthday care package (he wants to learn about min pins) and I decided to grab a few more on adoption. Along with the ones that will make us wonder if we're worthy and up for this HUGE daunting challenge, I grabbed some uplifting ones, as well. Can I just say, it's a breath of fresh air getting to read snippets from the positive side of adoption for a change? I know it's not going to be the fairy tale and we can't love all the bad things away but I so needed encouragement for once. If any of you Foster and Adoption Gurus out there have any other reading recommendations, please pass them along!

Mama always said there's nothing like the healing power Chicken Soup (and prayer).. and boy, she was right!