I Heart Faces Challenge- A Touch of Whimsy

Crazy Days of Summer- Yellow

Mom Tried It- Broken

This little guy has been with us longer than our children. It has weathered many storms. I was hoping when we moved from our last house, that my husband would be willing to throw it away since it has a cracked foot. Ohhhh noooo! Not my gnome loving husband! I am starting to think this may be a family heirloom for our children. Sad, I know! 

Fabulous Friday Challenge- Fort Worth Pride

Have you ever noticed that when you have lived somewhere your whole life that your forget to check out the tourist spots? Well, it's been about 15 years since I have been to the Fort Worth Stockyards. Loved getting there early to take some neat photos and beat the heat!

Yard Art- Belt Buckle

Yard Art- Spur

Photo Challenge- Cannonball

Have you ever noticed that boys are willing to push their limits and strengths to the extreme? My boy has no fear and is always up for a challenge. This challenge was the best " Cannonball Challenge". He won!

Fresh Strawberry Pie

I saw this recipe on busy mommy. com  and then went to our local farmer's market to find the most beautiful strawberries I have seen in a long time! Of course, I modified the recipe. So, I decided this would be my dessert for our Father's Day meal. 

What you need:

-Fresh strawberries (bought a basket at a farmer's market)

-4 Tbls. corn starch

-1 C. sugar

-Graham cracker crust

-Strawberry Jello (I used the large box)
-Whipping cream

Step 1: fill a saucepan with 4 cups water, 4 Tbls cornstarch and 1 cup sugar.  Cook on medium heat for twenty minutes, stirring occasionally. Add strawberry Jello mix.  Let cool.

Step 2: Fill the graham cracker crust with sliced strawberries.

Step 3: Pour mixture over strawberries once cooled. I refrigerated my pie overnight. Add whipping cream to the final product, and you are done. This was a hit!

Mom Tried It Photo Challenge- Upside Down

Chicken, Avocado, Bacon Quesadillas

I was inspired by the website Kevin and Amanda to make these quesadillas. I made some modifications to their recipe. The whole family loved these for lunch!

What you need to get started:
-Ripe avocado
-Chicken fajita meat
-Shredded cheese
-Cilantro
-Tortillas
-Bacon (I used thick cut)

Step 1: Bake the bacon in the oven. (Used a dripping pan.) Baked at 400 degrees for 15 min, flipped over, and continued to bake for 15 min.

Step 2: Saute the chicken and cilantro in butter. Add your bacon once it is cooked and chopped.

Step 3: Once you have your avocado peeled and cut, you are ready to heat your skillet with butter. Wait until your butter starts to look frothy on the skillet. Place your tortilla down, add chicken, bacon, avocado, and cheese. Fold over half way and flip after the cheese starts to melt.

Yummy, hope you enjoy~

Caterpillar

Paper Heart Camera- So Happy

I Heart Faces Challenge- Bright & Vivid

 

I love a jack-o-lantern smile!

 

Mom Tried It Photo Challenge- Action

Love this little park in Walnut Springs, Texas. Population= 2. 

Fabulous Friday Challenge

I loved using some of my old glassware for this shot. I just love antiques!

I Heart Faces Challenge- From a Distance

I instantly thought of this photo with this title. My husband and I celebrated a trip to Paris & Rome for our anniversary this year. Please know that this was a huge deal for us. We are parents of challenging children. Coordinating child care was a must before we could even book the special.

I took this photo from a point-and shoot camera. We were riding a tour bus, and I saw this nun collecting water form a public fountain on the corner of the street. As an American, I thought about why a nun would be stealing water from a public fountain. Since then, I have learned this is common practice. I love this photo!

Why It's Important to Connect

We joined many families last week at the Council for Adoptable Children (COAC) camping trip in Lake Whitney. 

We spent 3 days with approximately 100 people. We had family meals, craft time, hiking (visualize Ben with the children- and me back at the shelter laying in front of the fan reading The Pioneer Woman's love story)

What can I say? We live in Texas, and it was HOT! You would sweat sitting still. That part was horrible. Okay, back to the fun times... we also made s'mores by the campfire, and connected with other families that have adopted children through the foster care system. Most of the families there had more than 2 children, and some of those families were single moms. Bless them! We felt like lightweights being around such large families.

There are so many rewards and challenges that come with parenting children that have been abused and/or neglected. Most of us have struggled with the decision to medicate or not, many appointments that interfere work schedules, battling working with the school district to identify and provide resources to a child in need, parenting children that have difficulty trusting and loving you as a parent, children that have difficulty developing & maintaining friendships, and strained marriages. This decision is not for the weak!

You are probably wondering after reading those possible challenges... why would anyone do this? Because this child and these children did not ask to come into this world, they had no choice about the decisions their biological parents/caregivers made, and they have a right to be loved and reared as any planned child and family with resources would rear a child. To have a child call you "Mom", after you have worked so hard to connect, is one of the best feelings in the world. To see a child enjoy and thrive in school, when you know they would probably not have had the same educational opportunities, warms my heart. To learn how to forgive your children when they make a bad decision, to teach them the way you want them to think/talk/do, and to know you will have to repeat the lesson over and over again will make you become the best teacher in the world. To learn how to advocate for your child's needs will push you to become the strongest person in the world. We will be wearing superhero costumes to ARD's from now on~

Maybe not, but the visualization of such event makes me smile. I say all of the time how I feel my children have taught me more than a graduate degree and employment in a child development field. I know that I am a better person b/c they are in my life. Thankfully, I have a partner-in-crime to bail me out when I fail. I would not be able to parent this way without my supportive husband (a.k.a the Green Hornet)

Notice the superhero theme??? 

Most people have struggles and/or unique challenges with parenting or trying to become parents. Parenting twins is unique. Struggling with infertility is unique. You get the point. During these times, it is nice to find a group that connects you to other families that understand what your life might be like. We seek this out in our family. I need it! I need to know I am not crazy. I need to hear about resources, strategies, and struggles. This helps me connect. This keeps me growing in becoming the parent my children deserve. 

If you are interested in learning more about fostering and/or adoption, visit Texas Adoption Exchange Resource. Check out the children awaiting forever families.

Foto Friday- Food

Can Dr. Pepper be a food? I think so! I know many times it's all I've had for lunch. I love Dr. Pepper! My Nanny had this at her house and always let me have one when I stayed with her. My family didn't have soda in the house (for most years), and so it was always a special treat. Now, I would classify my love for Dr. Pepper as an addiction. The first step is admitting it, right???

 

 

Fabulous Friday Challenge

We found the most beautiful sunflower garden driving back from a camping trip last week. We immediately pulled over and started shooting.