We are so excited that you have decided to look into the life of the Normal Beaty Bunch. We hope that these words will encourage you to fall passionately in love with Jesus and follow him with your whole life and heart!
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Showing posts with label Whole Lot Of Jesus~Little Bit Of Coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Whole Lot Of Jesus~Little Bit Of Coffee. Show all posts

Monday, July 10, 2023

Such a short honeymoon

Posted in ,,,,,,,, | 11:25 AM | by SuperMomma


S has been home just over a week.  He was dropped on our doorstep at 1am Saturday morning (July 1).  He was excited, scared, happy, sad, frightened, relieved, anxious, etc.  Probably every feeling possible was in his little heart!


Saturday was a 'get to know you again' day and a Cornbelter's game.  Sunday - CHURCH!  We were all excited to have him back and to go to church together.


The first week was busy.  S needed to get back into the routine of school.  We do homeschooling all year around - so it was 'back to the grind'!  



Also, B helped S do his job charts.  I'm not sure either boy was excited about this partnership!!  It did make the rest of us smile a LOT!  



When the jobs were done, and the school (mostly) finished for the week, next was the traditional weekend movie night.   S requested to watch 'The Chosen", so we did that plus a Disney movie!  



THEN, the honeymoon ended!  First, a couple of yelling fits (followed by a quick apology!) 


Next, 'mr.sticky.fingers' came back.  Silly stuff: a comb, some D-rings, soap, spray paint.  He started going off on his own - (against his safety plan)...but always followed with 'I'm sorry. I'm trying, it's just hard."



THEN:  I find a tablet in his room, hidden under his towel.  "It didn't matter, no one was using it!"  So, as we start to talk through his safety plan - and how there are rules to follow, I find another very disturbing situation!


We find the trim from the window in his bedroom. It was laying on the window sill.  He pulled it off Saturday night - and we found out Sunday night. 

The glass on the left side is now exposed.  Andrew most likely will try to caulk it, just to keep the glass in and keep Samuel safe from getting cut (or cutting himself).  Again "I'm sorry Mom & Dad. I wasn't in my right mind. I'm so sorry. I messed up.  I goofed."

FRUSTRATING - the window is a special order size (it was clearance years ago when we bought it) so of course - between seeing RED and being so upset, we are seeing  $$$$$$  

Of course - true to form, he apologizes.  And, I wonder how in the WORLD does God forgive me - when I sin, and apologize, and sin, and apologize, and sin, and.... over and over and over.  

On a side note - big brother Joseph was AMAZING in talking to Samuel.  My favorite part of all that - Joseph said "Samuel. You and I are a LOT alike. We are both very stubborn."  (I'd like to end there - but I'll respect Joseph and continue)  "We can use that stubborn spirit for bad stuff, or we can choose to use it for good!  Being determined can be a blessing - so make good choices." 




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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

* * * * S*H*A*T*T*E*R*E*D * * * * *

Posted in ,,,,,, | 7:47 PM | by SuperMomma

After school is hard work.  Anyone with kiddos knows that transitioning home from school can really mess with the best!! Today was no exception....

But let me back up first.  Before 8 am I got a message from a friend:


Wow - TRUE religion - is caring for orphans ... (and even those orphans who've been adopted!!) 


Today was a busy day for us... a couple of meetings and then paperwork on top of that... so I said:
(I'm learning to ask for help!  This took me about 10 minutes to ask!)
and she said ... 


WOW!  What a servant's heart!  Thank  you Jesus!  Today is going to be a GREAT day!

I went on about my day - showered, fixed hair (even looked cute!), wore a new shirt, got some paperwork done.  I was feeling pretty good about myself!

Our afternoon meeting was .... interesting.  Concerned friends, checking in on us to make sure we are doing OK.  "Your kids are a handful, they are getting worse. They are struggling, and life is going to get harder and harder for you two.  More than just surviving, we want you to thrive.  What can we do to make sure you're thriving?"  They didn't have the answers, because there are NOT any easy answers, but they care - and they showed that!

Hurry home - kids get off of bus soon - then CHAOS begins!  Titus first, then Noah, then Samuel.  It was rough.  Titus was crabby, Noah was angry. Samuel ... just meltdown material! 

Daddy did an EXCELLENT job of calming Samuel (for the time being) and Noah and Titus went outside to play. 

Our supper arrived, and I talk with my friend... THANKS so much for making our day just a little bit easier.  


Now - we have a LOT of windows in our front room - which is really good to be able to keep an eye on our boys in the back yard.
BANG! BANG! BANG!  Noah has a rock and he's hitting the window.  

I quickly say Good Bye to Jena, and Andrew and I corral Noah and try to figure out what's going on.  Maybe it was a rough day at school. Maybe his clothes don't feel right.  Who knows, but we have to stop the banging. 

Noah stops, and runs inside.   Andrew looks at me, I look at him. We sigh.  Survive...We just need to survive.....

CRACK!!!

WHAT was that NOISE?  
WHOA...the window SHATTERED!!

...survive....just survive...
forget trying to THRIVE









Noah had his meltdown.  Cam came to help

(although the screaming was loud and he hid his head in the pillows!)



Eventually, Noah calmed down and went to sit on the picnic bench and look at the window.


Noah sat on the picnic bench...and tried to process what happened. He doesn't know why he hit the window, he doesn't want to talk about it....


And then, the moment God spoke ... 


"Karen.  His life is shattered.  He's a mess. All of the kids ... they are all shattered.  They are not getting better.  

Karen.  I love Noah more than you do. I love all the kids more than you do. More than you can ever dream or  imagine.


Karen. I called you to this.  Don't just survive. THRIVE!"


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Monday, November 7, 2016

Praise God for TummyAches!

Posted in ,,, | 7:52 PM | by SuperMomma


Poor little Noah had a tummy ache after school.

He wanted to lay down.
He didn't want to play, 
or RUN!
WHEW!

So, we read books to big sister on the phone.



He practiced some commands with Rana, one of our Service Dogs.




One of the things that both Rana and Camelot do to help the boys calm down is apply pressure. The dogs will either lay their head on the boy's lap, or put their whole body over the child.  It has a unique calming effect on the boys.

Apparently Noah was feeling 'off' and he looked at Rana and said "Over!"  She IMMEDIATELY put her head on his lap, and he handed her a treat!

 Then, he'd move to a different position, and say "Rana! Over!" and she'd go right over to him and lay on him!!!

 Samuel got jealous of all the affection Noah was getting from Rana - so he got some treats and did the same thing with Camelot.  Cam was happy to practice- since he also got treats.

And poor Isabella ...  
... She's so jealous
... that she isn't a service dog 
... who gets treats 
... all of the time.
               And I'm thankful
for tummy aches
that keep little boys
from eloping!!






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Guests for Sunday lunch?

Posted in ,,, | 11:25 AM | by SuperMomma



You never know who will join us
for lunch
on any given Sunday
....
but really?

Bloomington Police?

Last Saturday, our Noah (almost 7 years old) eloped from our house and found that behind the houses at the end of our street there is a nifty little creek!  I followed Noah - for almost 45 minutes - through leaves and fallen trees and actually, a very beautiful little forest.  However, at the end of those 45 minutes, Noah fell in the deepest part of the water of this nifty little creek.  Even thought it was only about 3 feet deep, and very cold - HE LOVED IT.  (sigh)   

 Sunday morning, while I was getting ready for church, and Andrew was vacuuming, Noah sneaked over to the front door, moved the barricade, unlocked both locks, and RAN .... right back to the same spot he fell into the water the day before!   I called 911 - but Andrew was able to grab him before he jumped in the water.
Noah came home - and we had Titus babysit Noah!
See the leash - Titus has the green end
and Noah has the yellow end on his arm!

 Titus and Noah got tired of watching TV, and they ran outside to play in the back yard. 

 Right before lunch - while I was washing grapes & Titus was in the bathroom, Noah once again pushed the things away from the door - and RAN!!!!  I was home alone at this point with Noah and Titus.  So ... 911 has become my friend - and we talked again!  Two officers came, and they, along with help of neighbors and family, were able to catch Noah!  


YES - we have two locks on the front door, alarms on the door, and are even barricading the door when the boys are home.
YES - we are researching other options to keep that door locked. 
YES - we are putting alarms on the windows.
YES - we are out of ideas.
YES - we are in contact with professionals to get more help and ideas!

Yes... We trust God to protect ... even in these situations ...

YES ... We still do all we can to STOP the eloping!!

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Wednesday, November 2, 2016

My 5:15 AM view

Posted in ,, | 9:10 AM | by SuperMomma

Ah...the pitter patter of little feet 

at 5 am in the morning

does NOT bring 

warm fuzzy feelings.

3 half naked boys








2
(empty)
ice cream
cartons



1 VERY tired momma.

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