One Texas Mama: January 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

25 Years and Counting.....

Twenty-Five years ago, a 19 year old girl and 20 year old boy, stood before God, family and friends and pledged to love each other till death do us part. Well, hopefully we are nowhere near the end. It's been an amazing 25 years!!!

I've had a few people ask, what's the secret to staying together? I don't know that it is a big secret, but for us, it's been God, each other, kids, then everything else. Has it been like that all the time? No! We mess up, get things out of order, but figure it out and come back together. We also told each other from the beginning that divorce will never be an option. Murder, maybe, but never divorce!! Just kidding!

We spent our anniversary in New Orleans. We had driven through before, but had never stopped. We stayed in the French Quarter. Walked, shopped, ate, walked, listened to some street musicians, walked, ate some more. It was a great few days. We are taking a bigger anniversary trip in March. A cruise to Roatan, Honduras; Belize, and Mexico. So excited to be visiting countries we've not seen before and to do it with friends, Mike and Lisa, who are also celebrating 25 years of marriage. I can't wait!!

So, I will leave you with a few pictures of us through the years and our New Orleans getaway. Enjoy (And don't judge the hairstyles, it was the 80's when we met!!)

Engagement July 1987

Wedding Day 1-23-88

Our Family grew one little boy at a time!!

Brian Jr

Brian Jr and Jeremy

Brian Jr, Jeremy and Joseph

Serving in Haiti

June 2012 The day the last son graduated High School

Our Family all grown up!!

New Orleans!!

Our Hotel

Cafe Du Monde and Beignets

Mississippi River

The Man who serenaded us while walking along the Mississippi River!!

One of the places we ate for dinner!! So Good!

Decked out for Mardi Gras!

At the Crescent City Brewhouse - Here's to the next 25 years!!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Foster Care

My husband and I have been taking foster care classes to get licensed to care for children in need. Each class is on a different area of need for these children and lasts approximately 3 hours. On Saturday we had a double dose...2 classes! It was overwhelming to say the least, but also very informative.Each class has an activity. This time we were given a spelling test. I know, felt like we were in school again!! We had been talking about kids who have undiagnosed disabilities, such as dyslexia. So, he had us number 1-10. Then he asked us to raise our writing hand. When we did, he told us to write with the opposite hand. Then he said, turn your paper upside down. Now, trying to write with the opposite hand is challenging enough, but now upside down? Then, before we started he chose one lady to write with her correct writing hand. He said he would say the word, say it in a sentence, then move on...no going back or repeating any missed words. When we were finished, he asked how many of us thought that the speed of giving the words was too fast? Everyone, but the lady who was writing with her correct hand, said yes it was too fast. He then told us, that he used her as a guide. When she finished her word he moved on. He then told us this is the best way to show us how some of these kids struggle in regular classes. They have moved from school to school and slipped through the system.

The second class activity was a debate. He divided the class into to sides. He said our side was pro and the other side was con. (whether it was your actual position on not) Then he gave us a statement and we went to another room to come up with our position. We came back and the debate began. Some got very heated over the subject matter, but no one was out of line with what they said. Then he told us, there is no right answer to this, you have to take it case by case, child by child and have multiple conversations. Ok, so you're wondering what the topic was? I'll leave you with this... You have a 14 year old foster daughter in your care. She sends you a text that says... I want to be on birth control. What do you do, how do you react!!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

2013 - It's going to be a Great Year!!

Ok, So I've not been very good at keeping up with blogging!! I'm going to try it again...no promises though!

To start off this great year, we ended 2012 with Joseph and Amber watching Harry Potter movies and listening to the neighbors shoot off their gun 13x at midnight! I know, you're all jealous and wish you had that much fun!! I'm not really one for making resolutions, but I do want to accomplish one thing this year and that is to run a 5k. I signed up to run the Jail Break 5k in February, only to have Joseph tell me that he graduates Tech School in Wichita Falls the same weekend. Oh, well...Next!!

This month we will celebrate our 25th anniversary on the 23rd!! I'm really excited about our anniversary! We are going to take off for three days and visit New Orleans! I've driven through before, but never stopped and explored the French Quarter! It'll be nice to have a few days alone with my husband after the busy year he just had at work!! Our BIG anniversary celebration won't be until March!! We are finally taking a cruise for a week! We will be going from Tampa, FL to Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Cozumel, Mexico. I can't wait to go ziplining, cave tubing, exploring, shopping and relaxing on the beach!!

After we return from our vacation, our oldest son, Brian, will be returning from his deployment to Afghanistan. It's been a long year having him gone, but I've been able to talk to him quite frequently on the computer and occasionally on Skype! He will be here in Texas for a little while, then off to Colorado. Joseph will be stationed near Destin, FL. Thankfully I have one son, Jeremy, who lives close to home. Makes for a happy mom that they all didn't go far away.

This month we are also picking up our foster care/ adoption classes where we left off last fall. It's been difficult going through Arrow, because the classes are not always in the same location and are only offered every other month. So, here we go again.

Summer will be pretty slow going. Only trip planned is Youth Camp!! That will be a great time with my wonderful niece, Haley, joining me this year!

So, to finish off this post, here are a few pictures from 2012 and here's to 2013! Make everyday count!!