A box and a baby...

We got an ink shipment in the mail on Monday.  The girls got to work right away making a car for John.  They made him a steering wheel, toys, a seat, you name it, it's in there!

He even gets pushed around the house!

When you just get back off of school break...

...and you handle your first day back like champs and are finished with school by noon, how do you spend the rest of your day???

You curl up with a good book of course!!!  

It's going to be a good week!

The girls and I are kind of stuck at home for a bit this week, but thats ok!  The pilot has a brake hung up on the rear driver's side.  We don't want to do any more damage to it, so it's sitting in the garage for right now until parts arrive.  We have a friend that is willing to do it for us.  We would rather pay him durning his slow season, than to take it to the garage.  He does great work and is close so we won't have to drive it far.  

Saturday Doug and I took the brake apart, replaced the clips and lubed everything up.  We were hopeful that would do the trick, but a short test drive said otherwise.  We think we have a bad caliper, but we aren't mechanics by any means!  At this point in time its probably better to pass it off to someone who knows better.  We definitely want it all tip top before summer and I start hauling the camper with it.  

We are back to school this week and I have my extra kiddos everyday this week.  I like being busy because it makes the week fly by.  I'm hoping to get some sewing done this week.  I'm not sure what Doug's plans are.  I know he packed a full suitcase, but that doesn't mean anything for sure.  

I hope you all have a great week!

I know I have said this before...

....but I'm so thankful for my two girls.  They are the most thoughtful, caring kids I have ever met.  Yesterday, I had had enough of the house being neglected.  With everything going on here lately, it had definitely taken a back seat.  I started out asking them to help me by drying and putting away dishes while I washed.  When we finished, they both just asked on their own what else needed to be done.  Marissa ended up cleaning toilets, watering plants, dusting the high places and corners, and cleaning windows and mirrors.  Madalyn cleaned sinks and vacuumed half the house, as well as filling my flour canister.  By the time I finished dusting, I only had to vacuum the other half.  I think we had dishes and the house cleaned in less than an hour!  I'm really blessed and honestly, I feel honored that God chose me to be their mommy!  

A little reprieve...

I think tomorrow is the first day since Friday (other than the weekend) that I have not spent the majority of time on the phone with either the IRS or the State. 

One thing I have to say is everyone I spoke with were extremely nice.  I thought I was going to be dealing with pricks in all honesty, but they really did try to make things as easy on me as possible.  

I'm sorry I've been slacking...

but I'll be back tomorrow!  

So Friday didn't go at all as planned...

As I stated, I wanted to at least start filing my federal and state taxes.  I actually got them completed fairly quickly and I was super pumped.  That all came quickly crashing down though.  I e-filed them, and received an email back within 30 minutes stating that the IRS had denied my income tax return for 2015 because an income tax return had already been filed with the SS#'s provided.  GGRREEAATT!!!

The rest of the day was spent on the phone with the IRS and Credit Bureaus, getting everything locked up and trying to fix things with the IRS so we can actually file this year.  All 4 of our Socials were compromised.  What a pain in the butt!  I spent from 1pm -5pm on the phone.  All because someone wanted to get a free tax return out of us....over $9000 worth of a return!  

I quickly got ready once I got off the phone, only to find out that Doug was going to be late to the banquet...probably because I called him so many times!  I was pretty bummed, but what are you going to do?  It ended up being a good night and I'm glad I went. 

I'll be really happy when all this stuff is officially sorted out though.  I've been told this could take 180 days to rectify.  LOVELY!!!  LOL  

I got a letter from the IRS today that is dated from the 10th (before I even know anything was wrong) stating that I need to call and verify my information.  I'm pretty sure I already did this Friday, but since I'm not sure I have to add that to the list.  Only problem is when I call them they say that "Due to an extremely high call volume, my call can not be completed as dialed."  LOL  

Hopefully I can squeak a call in soon. 

 I hope you guys are all having a great week!  

Well I thought I had a blog post planned...

...now if I can only remember what it was about!  UGH I think I'm going to be in a nut house when I'm old.  I can't remember anything!  I should have sat down to write it when I thought about it.  Molly ended up coming in the bedroom while I was getting ready and I realized her face was swollen.  Both eyes are affected as well as her muzzle about half way up and the lower part of her tongue.  I just gave her the first dose of Benadryl.  Hopefully it does the trick.  My mother in law had to run and grab me the tablets since the amount of liquid I would have to get into her is ridiculous.  Bills are paid, so I think I'm going to tackle or at least start to tackle the taxes.  

We have our Valentines banquet tonight.  I'm excited to have some time with Doug ;) 

Waiting on the Lord...

Sometimes I sit back and wonder if God works the same way with everyone else, or if it really is just us.  For the longest time we had our house on the market and we were just waiting for God to open or close doors.  For the time being we chose to take the house off the market, give it a break for the winter and see how we felt in the spring.  I really felt a sigh of relief...we were finished waiting for a while.  

Last week we got a phone call, that I was very thankful for, but the waiting and wondering began again.  I have no idea how things will pan out, but one thing I do know is that we are not done waiting.  I realized this morning that I have talked to him more in the past week than I did when things were quiet, and nothing was going on.  

Why is it that I put Him on the back burner when this are calm and quiet?  I'm sure thankful He doesn't bless based off of whether we respond perfectly or not or I would be living in a hole.  I'm thankful today that God is patient and merciful, regardless as to what I deserve.

Thankful...

 When I started homeschooling the girls, I never imagined I would have people around me to share in that journey.  We belong to a pretty good size homeschool group that meets at least once a month for field trips and once a month for Mom's night.  For the past few months, Mom's night has been held at my house.  Honestly with being overwhelmed with a bunch going on this week, I was kind of dreading having ONE more thing going on on Monday night.  I sucked it up though, and got the house ready.  God was so good to me.  In reality, it was what I needed.  We had a great time of laughs and fun, had some great talks, and I went to bed that night very refreshed.  I'm so thankful that God allows my girls to have a good "support" group of other homeschoolers so they don't feel alone, and friends for me so that I don't feel alone in my journey either!  He sure is good!

Those moments....

I know I'm not alone in the overwhelmed feeling...

The end of last week, I was so overwhelmed and had so much on my mind.  I ended up frustrated, having headaches, etc.  I never once took it to the Lord and gave it to Him...honestly, it never crossed my mind.  Yesterday, He really showed me that He had the whole thing the entire time.  I was taken back at all He did to make my day.  God really is good all the time.  I just wish I could remember that ALL the time!  

I've been busy...

Yesterday kind of got away from me and I didn't realize I hadn't blogged until it was late.  My mind was running and I was busy sewing.  I know, it's no excuse ;)

However, I think I may have found a new hobby....

This one is roughly 27in x27in.  

I think I will make this 6 squares by 6 squares when I make it again.  

This bigger one is roughly 41in x 41 in.  I honestly didn't think about how much it would shrink up with this ragging method.  I started out thinking this was going to be crib sized, but it is more like a pack n play size.  It's so heavy though!  I'm not sure if I would actually make this any bigger just because of it's weight.  I'm undecided...

I absolutely LOVE them!  So incredibly soft, unique, and the babies love them!  I'm excited to make some more and already have some fabric on the way. ;)  

It's finally time...

I promised the girls when they got their new bedding set for Christmas that I would make them curtains to match it.  We have not had one curtain/valance in our house since 2011.  

(I know, I know....)

Yesterday we headed to the local fabric store and we brought the throw pillow from their bed, found some fabric we liked, and bought it.  This morning I got right to it.  I didn't expect to get them finished, but they came together really well!

I'm really happy with how they turned out!  The girls LOVE them!

The girls' first time singing...

...without Mom and Dad!

Their friend Anna is learning to play the piano and doing an amazing job!  She played a special on Sunday and decided she wanted the girls to sing while she played.  They all did a fabulous and I can't wait to hear them again!!!

Adoption...

It's time to finally release this news to the public... 

We are adopting!  

It's something that we have talked about for a long time now, but have decided that now is the time.  We completed our homestudy on Friday, which should be 100% finished by the middle of February.  We have an agency picked out, but are not opposed to going with a private adoption.  The social worker that was here on Friday encouraged us to spread the word that we are adopting.  She said you never know when something might land in your lap.  So we have decided to put it out there.  For the time being, we are moving forward with an agency, but financially we would love to have God place a private adoption on our hearts.  He knows what is best.  For now we wait...

I know a lot of people ask what we are looking for....

Honestly, we have no desires.  We are open to whoever God sends our way.  Madalyn is praying for a baby boy...breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime... lol.  She will admit that she will love him or her no matter what.  She sure is committed to praying though!  

Please pray with us as we continue down this road and keep us in mind if you happen to hear of someone in need!