10 Things I've Learned Since May

1. I know more about the treatment and killing of lice than I ever cared to know.
2. I spend more money than ever buying clothes from Children's Place.
3. My body has gone back to sleeping the same amount as I did in college.
4. Sometimes I want to smack birth parents.
5. Mother's Day Out is worth every penny.
6. Watching a baby learning to walk is amazing.
7. Temper tantrums are from the devil.
8. My house is never clean.
9. Always have sippy cups ready to go first thing in the morning.
10. This is totally what I was created to do.

Yes, I'm Still Here and Mostly Alive

Blogging, showering, getting someplace on time have all taken a back burner since May. Before I get 5,293 comments asking for pictures and specifics, I can't give you any of those. Rest assured, these kids are super cute and look like they fit into our family. They came in May and were the tiniest things you've ever seen, so much so that they didn't even make it on "the charts" at the doctor's office. Fast forward to present, they are on the charts moving upward. It's amazing what happens when kids gets get proper food, rest, and attention.

Bueller?

Bueller? Bueller? That's kinda where we are at. Opened, sitting, waiting, not knowing. Maybe our name will be called next?

On a positive note, Big Al comes home from school each day asking, "So, do we have anyone?" When I say no, he has a disappointed look on his face. I consider this to be GOOD! He's had some up and down feelings about this whole thing, but this tells me he is 100% on board.

Guess What?

We passed our final walk-thru this morning and tomorrow we officially open!(That means we are in the database and any county in Arkansas can call us.) It feels so weird to be at this point, the reality of it all looms in the distance. Perhaps when my phone starts ringing in the middle of the night reality will hit!

Meanwhile, anyone want to come over for the Royal Wedding tomorrow? Tea and scones will be served promptly at 4 a.m.

Months, Weeks, and Almost Days

Months have turned into weeks and I anticipate the weeks are going to be changing into days before we know it. We are still waiting on our last home study to be completed so we can open. A few weeks ago I discovered that we lacked yet another background check. Perhaps this week will be the one that shifts from counting weeks to days.

Meanwhile, if you are reading this and live in the NW Arkansas metro, the CALL Foster Kids Closet is in desperate need of NEW underwear for boys and girls (all sizes) and socks. More times than not, children come into care with nothing needing to be clothed and that includes underwear. Most of us wouldn't let our kids wear used undergarments, so the next time you are shopping consider picking up a few packages of undies or socks to donate to the CALL Foster Closet.

Foster Care, Part III

God is moving, He is working, He is sovereign. Amen?

Just to bring you up to speed one what is going on at our house. January was a ridiculous month full of 30 hours worth of training, a ream of paperwork, CPR certification, and new friends. February brought two home study meetings which went smoothly and remarkably quick. March brings us to waiting. Waiting on someone to go through our ream of paperwork and schedule us for a DHS home visit. I’m prepping that visit to be a check everything in your house including what’s in your underwear drawer, Mrs. Larsen type of visit. Maybe it’s not, but I’m mentally preparing myself for a complete stranger to walk through the house poking around in drawers and checking to see what I can cram underneath my bed. (Let me tell you, it’s impressive what I can pack under a bed and in a closet!)

Can I just tell you that fostering and adopting is popping up everywhere in my life? From Bible Study to ads to call-in radio shows, I’m getting confirmation left and right. The latest occurrence was last week when I was driving home from a friend’s house at midnight. An ad comes on the secular station I’m jamming to that says multiple children in the foster care system are eligible for adoption, even teenagers. Ok, I got it; you don’t have to give me blinking marquee signs every single time! How great is it that even at midnight God still has time to remind me that we’re on the right path.

Then yesterday, this story breaks locally. It will take your breath away.

Please pray for patience. It’s very hard to read stories like these and know we are stuck in a broken bureaucratic pipeline.

New Socks & Undies Needed

If anyone has a connection to someone at Hanes, Jockey, or Fruit of the Loom, give me a shout. The CALL Foster Child Clothes Closet is looking for someone to donate NEW children's socks and undies. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't ever put my own child in used undies, therefore, I would never put my foster child in used undies.

Let me know if you are able to help.

Burlap Ruffle Wreath

This week I led a group of ladies in a "Mom Project." We made the satin flowers on the wreath pictured above. As promised, I'm posting the instructions for making the ruffle wreath.

You will need:

:: wreath form: foam or straw

:: 1 1/2 yards of burlap

:: floral or straight pins

:: tapestry needle

:: embroidery floss

You can purchase all of the supplies at Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's Fabric. I used a straw wreath on this project because my sister and I found them on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $2.

Step One :: Cut burlap into long strips 4" wide.

Step Two :: Wrap strips of burlap around your form. Use floral pins or straight pins to secure on the back so they are hidden.

Step Three :: Make a loose stitch at the bottom of one of the strips of burlap. Be sure to secure the end.

Step Four :: Pull the floss to make the burlap ruffle and tie at end to secure.

Step Five :: Attach ruffle to wreath using pins. I used three ruffles on my wreath: one in the center and two on the back.

Step Six :: Satin Flowers. Click here for a tutorial.

I used pin back to secure my flowers on my wreath so that I can change the flowers according to the season.

Enjoy!

New Project - House Rules

Today, since the world is coming to an end thanks to Snowmageddon 2011, I thought I would hit all of my favorite blogs to see what the latest and greatest project is. As always, the blogs did not disappoint. The newest, hottest project is creating a house rules canvas. Fantastic idea! We are close to our house being opened to accept foster kids and I'm thinking this could is the perfect project for me to complete in the coming weeks.

Tatertos and Jello is one of my new blogs to hit, check out how she created her house rules.

Ministry Opportunity to Foster Families

As most of you know we are traveling down the road to become a foster family for children in our county. We are half-way through training and hope to have our house open by March so we can start receiving children.

There is a huge need for foster families when it comes to simple everyday things like: clothes, socks/underwear, diapers, wipes, new sippy cups/bottles, new pacifiers, cribs, pack-n-plays, swings, bed/bedding, toiletry items, toys, etc. If you have any of this stuff laying around your house and you've been thinking about giving it away, consider donating it to The CALL of Benton County to help foster families in need. If you have items to donate but don't have the time to get them to The CALL, send me message and I'll be happy to pick up your items.

Thanks for Caring!
-Lindsay

Below is a message from Dionne, a CALL family:

Did you know that Benton County averages 175 foster children and only 62 foster homes?

YOU can help these children and their foster families! The CALL in Benton County is opening a Foster Child clothes closet and is seeking YOUR help!

Requested Donations include New or gently-used:
- clothes (from newborn to teen in both genders)
-shoes
-Pajamas
-socks and underwear
-toys and "teen entertainment"
-baby equipment (bottles, diapers, exersaucers, walkers, etc)


The Foster Child Clothes Closet will be a resource for foster families to receive necessities for a new child IMMEDIATELY upon taking in the child. When that child goes home (or to a shelter, adoption, a different foster home, or other placement) they can take their goods with them. These children often have nothing and need everything.

The need is enormous! A foster family may have a newborn boy one month and a sixteen year old girl the next. The CALL Foster Child Clothes Closet is JUST starting and we have very little!! We also need storage tubs, hangers, rolling clothes racks, laundry soap, portable shelving and monetary donations.

There are about 15 families (including ours) that will be completing training in the next month and open our homes to foster children. Can you help us as we help them?

For more information on The CALL please check out this site:
http://thecallinarkansas.org/about/counties/benton-county.html


Your donations are tax-deductible as The C.A.L.L. has been granted federal 501(c)3 non-profit organization status.

Are you being CALLED to get involved in a bigger way with the orphans of Benton County? I am HAPPY to discuss the MANY different ways you can help...from donating clothes to opening your home... and much more in between!

Thank you for reading this far!! Please contact me for information on where and how to donate!
Dionne Smith
dionneam@yahoo.com
479-531-6998

*Are you a foster parent interested in learning more about the CALL Clothes Closet? Email for info!

Snow Day Projects

We woke up to this scene outside the backdoor this morning. This means two things: no school and project day.


While Alex was catching up on his Netflix movies, I decided to make these little babies.



JoAnn's has their decor fabric on 50% this week and I found several prints to make slip covers for my 2,394 throw pillows around the house. I scored some terry cloth on clearance at HobLob a few weeks ago and I figured making burp clothes is easy and also provides me opportunity to restock my baby gift stash.

What winter projects are you working on?

Did it Without My Mommy!

Some ladies like to post "I did it without my Hubby!" projects and I want to declare, "I did it without my Mommy!" This is my test pillow that I made today before I cut and destroy my $10 a yard fabric. I figured ruining 75% off Christmas fabric was a good way to test my rusty sewing skills.

Just in case you are wondering, the back is an envelope closure to make it easy to sew and also change out the covers according to season, whims, and desires.

If I can sew pillowcases, I'm pretty much ready to sew a prom dress. Okay, maybe just hem a pair of pants.

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

I can't make pies but my Hubby is getting quite good at it. In fact, he is the closest person in the world that I've found that makes pie crust like my Grammy. That is tough because she has been perfecting her craft for over 65 years.

We found this recipe on Tasty Kitchen. I do not like pecan pie, but I liked this one!