It may be complete:

Reminder this is for fun. Look below at my 2 most recent posts for the other items in her room. Remember this is a hypothetical "her." This is just a way to get my mind off the boys, {who left me a week ago today}. :(

I already have this green cubby with zebra bins... I will also be adding these bins to complete her room...




I saw these months ago and LOVED them! How cute are they!? Didn't buy them because I didn't really have a need for them- well I do now. {so, I guess it is not really a need since this is all hypothetical and all} lol

Ok, so I have to give all my self control to not buy and decorate this room. Maybe one day, Lord willing, I can, but for now, I have to restrain myself!!

Daydream Girl

I think this is where we would go for a girls room. :) See blog below to see the furniture. These are all from IKEA, with the exception of the rug. Mr. Incredible will cut silhouettes of random animals that I will paint in diff random colors, (pink elephant, orange lion, green hippo, blue zebra, red giraffe, green monkey, purple alligator, etc) AND REMEMBER- THIS IS JUST FOR FUN!!! I am not announcing anything- I am just daydreaming and trying to keep my mind off the boys.
I really like this bedding because it is not ALL animals. Ya know? :)
Out of these textiles, the top left is the one I will use for some accent decor. :)
Love the curtains. Once again, not too focused on the animals which I like.
For over the bed. I would love to have 3- 1 facing left, 1 facing right, and 1 over the bed it self- like a palm tree is over the bed. However these are $20 a piece, so we may just get one.
With the pink and red in the furniture- how pretty is this?!? :)

Just For Fun

I have been under loads of stress, not to mention trying to grieve. I "self medicate" in 3 ways: getting out of the house, watching movies, and designing new rooms. ;)

Just for fun, I am designing a safari room for a little girl. Just for fun. Just in case. ;)
I was at the Christian store and I saw this. This is my inspiration for the room!! :) I am thinking doing "real" animals, like this, and cheetah and zebra prints, (like not pink zebra or purple cheetah- they will look realistic). And I may accent with a few fun aminals- I am leaning towards silhouettes: pink elephant etc.
Everytime I go to IKEA, I see this collection and I drool over it. I LOVE IT!!! I will get this furniture and use these colors, (with accents of turquoise and bright green, while yellow and orange may be used in small amounts too). This may look like a toddler bed, but it actually is a small twin bed- the height of a toddler bed- so she can grow with it for quite awhie. By the time she outgrows it, it will be time to redecorate anyway, (I loved decorating as a kid too, so if she wants to decorate hers, I will allow it and help her along the way) :)

Oh, and I am thinking plain tan walls, and accenting with burlap. :)
This piece sold me on the collection!! I love pink, but too much in a room is never good- I love the red with it! :)
The matching night stand. How cute is this?!?


I am hanging out with a friend today that is taking her daughter to get new bedding, YES!!! That has been my mission lately- getting ideas for this room.

You know, Just for fun. Just in case. ;)

Grateful

I am so thankful for all of your love, support and prayers at this time. I am sorry I have been absent, but I think you understand why. It has been very difficult for us, in many different avenues actually.

I will humbly ask you to continue to pray for us.
---- for the boys salvation. for their safety. maybe that they could return to us. for our broken
hearts. and I ask for a new one: satan is attacking strongly and he is using some pretty
nasty artillery.


............................................................................................................................................


Over the weekend I got to meet one of my faithful blog stalkers for the first time, and I am so thankful I did! Thanks E for the wonderful gift too! I hope to spend more time with y'all in the future. :) {and I am so thankful that you are a faithful reader. Now I know there are at least 3 of you who check this as much as I check other peoples' blogs. It is nice to know that I am not just talking to myself here} lol

I promise I will get back to my old bloggin self soon. There is just so much I want to say but I can't on here, so I hold back from blogging at all.

Here are a few pics, and I mean a few.. much more to come when I have the energy.

My FAV of Mr. Incredible and Buzz
Our break dancin' Buzz. He really is a pretty good dancer.
How sad is this people? (this is not all their stuff, I was packing their clothes in the other room). :(

Nuff Said

heart. Always.

Youll be in my heart. Yes youll be in my heart. From this day on now and forever more. Youll be in my heart. No matter what they say. Youll be here in my

What hurts the most was being so close and havin so much to say and watchin you walk away. And never knowin what coulda been.

hard.

We explained to the boys what would happen tomorrow, (how it is out of our hands, but how we want and love them). Second hardest thing I have had to do. First hardest thing- saying goodbye to them tomorrow. Prayers appreciated.

is heartbroken. The boys leave tomorrow. :( pray please!

Guarded Heart

Everyone has told me from the beginning to guard my heart in regards to the boys. Let me tell you, their former foster home and our home may be the only places where they were truly, unconditionally loved. They deserve my whole heart. Not only is it fair to them it is Biblical...
"Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves." Romans 15:1

It would be easier for us to guard our hearts, but they deserve to know love.

ENOUGH ALREADY!

With the exception of the first post- ALL of the posts in July have been sad posts! I am sorry for this- however, more sad posts will be coming unfortunately. BUT for now, I will leave you with a happy post!
Sad but true. {at Fudruckers in Sugar Land} Not for long!! We are so excited to be going back! Since this has been so bittersweet, I have been planning what to do when we get there to help me look forward to it. :)
We are planning on staying in this hotel...
Pretty cool, huh? I know there is one similar to this in San Antonio. :)
Last time we stayed at the Omni Parker House- In this restaurant, Parker's, the Boston Creme Pie was invented! Well, we did NOT eat here! I know, so sad right? Well, we ARE going to get a Boston Creme Pie there this time around!!
You betcha we will be retuning here!!! There is a pizza stand on Yawkey Way with AWESOME pizza which we are totally getting. Not to mention catching another game and enjoying another Fenway Frank! :)
This street had cute buildings and shops which we did not get to explore because of lack of time. Can't wait to return. :)
We wanted to eat here- The Barking Crab- but ran out of time. {do you recognize this- it was in the movie, The Game Plan} :)
We will be getting to try one of these Lobster Tails, from many of the pastry shops in Little Italy! I want to get one one day at one pastry shop and another one another day from another shop to compare!

I cannot tell you how therapeutic going there will be. When we first thought about doing this trip, I just thought it would be fun. Now, I know I NEED this getaway! We could go anywhere- Disney, a cruise, NY, DC, but honestly, there is nowhere else I want to go other than Boston!

{if us going on a trip seems weird read this post and this post to see why we are going}

Rookie of the Year

I hope y'all enjoyed Mr. Incredible's previous post. I am encouraging him to continue- esp during this time as a way to get out his emotions. Before I get to the title of this post- let me go off for a second...

... We are looking into our mourningmoon trip to Boston! It is earlier than we would like/anticipated, but we think it can work out. We will be saving pennies for it, but it will work our in the end I believe. ;) We can celebrate our birthdays, (Mr. Incredible turns the big 3-0), mourn the boys, and have one last babymoon- all at the same time. I am looking forward to it, 1. because I love Boston, and 2. because today I was in Walmart without the boys and was so sad. I kept seeing Toy Story things that I had planned to buy them, that now I can't. I would see birthday party items and would be sad I couldn't celebrate with them. I NEED a vacay after they leave! A little break from reality where I can mourn and move on, (in a sense), all at the same time, ya know?

...back to the title...

I have had tons of experience with kids. Tons. I was the oldest of 4 kids, have babysat regularly since I was 12, worked with kids for the school district during college, my degree is basically in child development, and most recently I was a nanny, (not to mention when I am with my mommy friends, I pick their brains for advice and watch how they "mommy" their kids). I think it is safe to say without being cocky that I have a degree in parenting. Now that doesn't mean I know everything, (for instance, having say a teaching degree does not mean you are a good teacher- it just means you are prepared to take on the job. Does this make sense?) Anyway, since I have this "degree," I have been helping Mr. Incredible along through the years. Whenever we would babysit or see a child in a store etc, I would explain how to handle the discipline in that situation, if the behavior was age appropriate etc. I always knew he would make a great dad one day, but he didn't have his "degree" like I did- it could take him a lil while to get the hang of it.

Anyone have humble pie, cause I need a slice, nay- the whole thing?! Mr. Incredible has officially earned his blog nickname, and the award of Rookie of the Year. I have just been in awe of what a good dad he is! Seriously, in awe. I know he learned from the best, and let me tell you, it shows. Next time I see his dad- he is getting a huge hug from me! I have always been thankful for being married to Mr. Incredible. He loves the Lord with all his heart- even more than he loves me, he loves me second only to Christ, and loves me passionately, he is a handy man if there ever was one, and the list goes on and on. I ALWAYS KNEW he would make an amazing dad- but this early in the game? I am amazed and more in love than ever with my Rookie. :)

Mr. Incredible, the committee for Dad of the Year called- they said the award is yours IF you can become a diaper changing champ. ;) I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, AND I AM SO BLESSED TO BE MARRIED TO YOU. Even if you HATE changing diapers. ;)

Now for some pics:
We took the boys to Kemah on Sunday. Love this one of Buzz. :)
Mommy and Buzz on the Ferris Wheel.

Woody and his entourage. Our BFFs and neighbors- "Aunt" Elise and "Uncle" James. The boys love them and they love the boys. {BTW, about a month ago I mentioned a friend who basically got infertility news- this was her. I am thrilled to say they just completed all their adoption classes and are almost done with the process. They WILL be parents soon!!} :)

Real Men

From the Desk of Mr. Incredible:

I can definitely say that being a dad is awesome. I can say that it is a great responsibility that not only takes a ton of patience, understanding, and discipline (you have to work at it), but the rewards are great. To see children respond to your efforts in pouring knowledge, wisdom, and skill to them is the blessed role a father plays in the life of a child.

At this moment in time I will not get to look forward to the rewards with the boys (Buzz and Woody). Unfortunately they will be leaving our home to go back to the environment that they came from, which is definitely less than desirable. The nicest way I can say this is that the system has failed. I am not going to say everything I feel about the system, but I can say that I am disappointed. Woody told me the other night that he wanted to be an astronaut. Kinda funny coming from the character we named "Woody." I told him that he can accomplish this with hard and diligent work. The first thought that goes into my head is, "This child is going to have next to no chance obtaining this goal going back into the environment that he came from!" I know what you are thinking, "Every little boy wants to be an astronaut." Well the point is not being an astronaut, baseball player, musician, or scientist. The point is having the chance at an opportunity to make something of yourself! With us, he is given so many more opportunities, and we encourage all of his dreams and aspirations. This is upsetting to me and it really bothers me.

Even more than opportunities on occupations, it's the Gospel. I highly doubt the boys will ever be taken to Church and hear the Gospel on a regular basis that I get to. They will most likely not be read the Word of God. This is what is so upsetting to me deep in my heart. I know God is sovereign and His plan is perfect. At this point, all I can do is pray for their salvation. I invite all those who are believers in Christ to join in this prayer. I pray that there will be a miracle in the situation that the boys are going back to. I am not praying that they will grow up to be these effluenct well educated people, I mean pray for the miracle of all miracles! Pray for salvation in Christ! I pray that the Lord will draw them to Him and that they will embrace Christ with repentance and genuine faith. This scares me, I am not so much worried about us at all. Cinderella and I are secured for eternity, but I am worried about the boys' eternal destiny. Woody is already asking a few questions and we are answering them. Please pray that this seed will continue with him and will effect the environment he is going back to. If loosing the boys means that they will go back for the sake of God's will, then who am I to be sorrowful? I will praise the Lord!

Please pray for the boys!

I will miss them dearly. The other week we saw a kit car that a friend and his son built! It kinda stayed in my head that I will not be able to do a fun project like this with these boys. It saddens my heart that I can't pass down any knowledge to them. The whole thought of not being a daddy anymore saddens my heart even more. I know that moms are great, important, and special and all, but I believe dads are just as special. Dads are the anchor in the household! The problem with our society is boys growing up with either no dad or a dad who is just present! Dad should be held up in high regards, but in order to for that to happen dads need to man up!

I applaud all the Christ centered dads out there and to encourage them to keep focus on the cross! For all the other so called dads, take your role seriously! Please for the sake of your kids and more for the sake of God's Kingdom!

I will miss being a dad and daddy. For the short time I have been one, I appreciate the title, role, and responsibility even more than before.

Dads, be thankful for this blessing.

It takes a real man to carry his wife's purse. My man resume is beefed up enough that I can get away with doing this!
Explaining why people throw money in fountains. Tell you the truth, it's literally a waste of money!
The 'Chicken Foot' on another victim
After the Astros game. It was OK, definitely not the Red Sox. Boston ROCKS!
Being man-handled by future tag team wrestling champions!


Cinderella's comment for the night: "I wish I could save these moments, and put them in a jar. I wish I could stop the world from turning, keep things just the way they are. I wish I could shelter you from everything, not pure and sweet and good. I know I can't, I know I can't, but I wish I could." Collin Raye "I Wish I Could."

Third Day

Praise God for the third day!

1. Jesus was resurrected from the GRAVE on the third day. Yeah, greatest third day in our history!

2. When my sister died, I didn't eat or sleep and was in dazed mode for three days. I wasn't sure if she was a Believer and so I was concerned if she was in Heaven or not. On the third day, God revealed to me that she was indeed in Heaven, which brought me immense comfort. I still mourned my sister, but in a much healthier fashion.

3. I was impatient, snappy and void of joy for three days in regards to the boys. On day 3, (yesterday's post), I made it public and I asked for prayer. By lunch time, I was feeling so much better! My patience and joy started slowly returning. I still am mourning them, but it is once again in a healthier way.

PRAISE GOD FOR THE THIRD DAY!

We are still mourning. Mr. Incredible is going to do a post of his feelings on here, (and eventually he will continue his time "article"). :) Most people assume since they were foster boys that they will be easy to get over. Not true. They are our SONS. Mr. Incredible and I became parents in March. They will forever be a part of our family.

Your prayers are being heard, and we are so grateful for them! Keep em comin!




Songs that are bringing me comfort:

♥ My Savior My God

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed what God has planned.
I only know at His right hand,
Stands the One who is my Savior



by Steven Curtis Chapman, Beauty Will Rise CD

♥Our God is in Control

This is not how is should be
This is not how it could be
This is how it is
And our God is in control...

...

This is not where we planned to be
When we started this journey
But this is where we are
And our God is in control

♥ Beauty Will Rise

But buried deep beneath
All our broken dreams
We have this hope:

Out of these ashes...beauty will rise
And we will dance among the ruins,
We will see Him with our own eyes
For we know joy is coming in the morning...



by Selah, You Deliver Me CD

♥Unredeemed

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing.
They may be unfulfilled, they may be unrestored,
But when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord,
Just watch and see, it will not be
Unredeemed

♥ I Will Carry You

There were photographs I wanted to take
Things I wanted to show you
Sing sweet lullabies, wipe your teary eyes
Who could love you like this?

People say that I am brave but I'm not
Truth is I'm barely hanging on
But there's a greater story
Written long before me
Because He loves you like this

I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All my life
And I will praise the One Who's chosen me
To carry you

Such a short time
Such a long road
All this madness
But I know
That the silence
Has brought me to His voice
And He says ...

This is HARD

Honestly, if they were dying, I think it would be easier. I would know they were safe in Heaven where no one could hurt them. When they leave here, I will not know how they are, what is happening to them, etc. That is HARD.

I am in need of major prayer.

The day I got the news I was with the boys so I couldn't let out my emotions. By 5 that evening I began acting in a way that is NOT me. You see, I have a ton of patience with kids, (by the Grace of God- Fruit of the Spirit). BUT that night, they would enter the room to tell me that THEY LOVED ME, and I would have to do all I could to not bite their heads off. Same goes for Mr. Incredible. It is not like me at all to be so short tempered, so I called my BFF and we ran did some retail therapy. I thought the trip out would cool me down and help me get over being so mean. Well, I am on day 3 of being mean mommy. Apparently, this time around in the grief process I have gotten stressed instead of sad. Oh, I am sad too, but most of the time this sadness is showing itself in meanness. Just last night Mr. Incredible was playing with Buzz- our home was filled with beautiful laughter and all I wanted to do was yell, "can you just shut up all ready!!" This nastyness is new to me, and I want it to be GONE. None of my boys deserve this. Bolt is even getting some of it. {Now don't get my wrong, I have not been mean to any of them- I would get a sitter if I couldn't control this- it is just that I am on a short fuse and I am not as gentle as I usually am. Also, being on a short fuse is not fun. I just want to be the gentle, loving, fun mommy I usually am} AND, since our time is limited, I want to ENJOY these last few weeks- not be like this the whole time.

See why I need prayer?

The grief is real. Besides being on a short fuse, I am sad too. I know God is in control, but it is still hard. Like I said, I think I could come to grips with their death a whole lot easier.

I have gotten so much encouragement and I am so grateful. One thing I would like to not hear anymore is this: "Well, at least it will only be for a month and you will not have time to get too attached."

Ok, that is like telling that to a woman who was just told her child in the womb would die shortly after birth. Or a mother whose baby died of SIDS. Or a mother who had to bury her toddler. UM, the attachment has already occurred people.

We fell in love with them in March. They became our sons in March. Nothing changes that. I had them for a week at that time, and when they left, I mourned them. I was so not myself- sad all the time. God got me through that and allowed me to have joy in the waiting process. I need that peace and joy now too. I need your prayers.

I try to look forward to the kids I know God has waiting for us to adopt once the boys leave. That is so hard. I know once they leave I will be able to move on a bit, and enjoy our new family, (you all know I will be overjoyed with our new babies). But right now, all I can think of is that I WANT TO ADOPT WOODY AND BUZZ!!

Woody and Buzz will always be a part of our family. We are gonna keep a pic of them in a common area, and we will teach our kids to pray for them on a regular basis. It is the least we can do.

Please pray for me. Please.

Bad to Worse

They are planning on the boys being home before school starts.

Yeah, that is a month from now. So within the next month, our sons will be gone.

We are very upset right now. We are planning on making the best of our last weeks with them. When the fog clears from my brain I will blog again.

Here are a few pics for you patient friends. :) {they are out of order cause frankly I do not care enough at the moment to make this a perfect post like I usually do} (ps I can't show their faces since they are not technically my children. Hence why we went with nicknames for the blog as well)
We got a pool- which is a huge hit!
Daddy blowing it up BY MOUTH! I blew on that thing for quite awhile and didn't make a dent! Buzz was watching and exclaimed, "Daddy you're amazing!" Well Buzz, that is why he is called Mr. Incredible! :)
My 3 sons. My 3 cheesetastic sons! :)
Yuck of Mommy, but this is my new life, (well for the next month only I guess... :/ ) PS look in the area where I would place my diaper bag... Come on now people, how cute is Bolt???
Daddy reading the boys the Bible. {same Bible his grandpa read, his dad read and he read. So special!}
Buzz going to INFINITY AND BEYOND! Or just doing his favorite pastime! ;)


While I am so sad, I am surprisingly strong, (by the Grace of God). I have to be for the boys. I am sure once they go to sleep Mr. Incredible and I will let it all out. Prayers much appreciated!

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

mourningmoon

Like a "babymoon," except instead of a last hoorah before baby, it will be a time to lick our wounds and prepare our hearts for our bundle(s) of joy the Lord has waiting for us. If you couldn't guess, our mourningmoon will be in Boston. We love that town and miss it so much. We can't think of a better place to go to recoup. This time we plan on spending a whole week.

Thinking of this trip is bittersweet. Actually this whole experience is bittersweet. Look up bittersweet in the dictionary and you will see us. We can't wait to return to Boston, but we would give anything to NOT have to go there, (under these circumstances of course). I was in the girl's clothing section of the mall today, and was thinking to myself that maybe the Lord has a little girl waiting for us, and I was deciding which dresses I would buy her. Partly fun, but also horribly depressing. I want WOODY AND BUZZ!! I can't fathom adopting other kids right now! I want to adopt them!

I kinda know how a mother of a child with cancer feels. Yes, the boys do not have pain from cancer, but lets remember that they are in foster care for a reason. They have had pain, and I am sure that when they return home they will have more. I pray they won't, but the chances of it is high. I look a women who hold their babies till their dying moments. I wonder what it must be like to KNOW the end is near, but still cling to hope that maybe, JUST MAYBE, God has another plan in store that they can't see. I fully understand this now.

I live every moment with them showing them every ounce of love I can muster. I give them my whole heart; I am not holding anything back for my protection. They deserve my whole heart. Mark 9:37a says, "Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me;" I have clung to this verse since I first met the boys, (thanks CCoke). There was always a possibility they could go home, though we had a VERY good chance of adopting them. Since we got the news of reunification, I have been meditating on it, and God revealed this to me: When we love these boys, we are loving Jesus. If we give our whole hearts to the boys, we give our whole hearts to Jesus. Yes, our hearts will break in the end, but really in the end they will be in the hands of Christ. It doesn't get any safer than that.

This last (almost) week has been a mourning period for me. I can go my whole day with a smile and be truly happy. All of a sudden, I will see toys in Walmart that I would want to get them for Christmas, or dresses for my possible new daughter, or I find myself thinking of what to do in Boston, and suddenly I am overcome with grief. I can still make it though my day because I know the Prince of Peace. That doesn't take away the grief, but knowing Him allows me to grieve while still being at peace with it all.

Please continue to pray for the boys. Pray for their souls- that they will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior one day. Pray for their hearts as they go home. And selfishly, I will ask you to pray that God might decide to let them stay with us.

Boston, I dream of the day I can be with you again, though I don't want to see you for a mourningmoon, I would rather see you again as an adoption celebration.

Buzz was looking at the Green Monster pics and memorabilia in the monster bathroom, and pointed to it and said, "Mommy, I want to go to the monster game." Oh, Son. I cannot tell you how much I pray that I can take you one day.

{I have soo many pics, and I will post them soon I promise}

Touching Base

Hey friends! I have been without my computer and have been soo bummed about it!!! I have at least 100 pictures to post!! ahhh!!! I will be posting them little by little this week.

Woody and Buzz. ♥ They stole my heart back in March, and I have been dying to tell y'all all about them! Unfortunately the DAY before they moved in we got some bad news. CPS is trying to reunify them with their family. NOT what we were expecting. We had high high high hopes this would turn into an adoption. We just love them so much and we are heart broken. Please pray for what is to come in their lives, and also pray that maybe God will have it in His will that they could stay with us!

I am at peace with it all really. I am clinging to Romans 8:28 and Mark 9:37. I still get sad and cry at times- just normal mourning.

At least 20 times in a day, I hear this: "Mommy!" "Yes?" "I love you."

Yeah. Never gets old!

Thx for praying-please continue. Im feeling a lil better-if they go back it wont be for awhile prob which is easier to swallow. Theyre here now and Im lovin it!

We need some prayer! Unexpected things with the boys have sucker punched us. I am clinging to Romans 8:28 and Mark 9:37. BUT we get them today! PRAISE THE LORD!

Woody and Buzz

New layout for new CHARACTERS!!! We are so excited that our boys will be joining us THIS TUESDAY!!! Now, it is a foster situation, but we are trusting in Romans 8:28! Please keep these precious kiddos in your prayers!!

Mr. Incredible and I are very thankful for this rain, and we kinda hope it continues! He was off today and he is off Monday as well! We are on full lock down at the Keierleber casa, and we are going to enjoy some of our last few days childless. {come on now, when is the next time we will have the whole house to ourselves to be lazy and lounge around doing NOTHING? Yeah, that is what I thought. lol}

We will be posting later this weekend to fill y'all in on what we are doing on our "baby"moon. ;)
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28