This one is for Amy

OK - I was tagged by my friend Amy, who has the cutest kids ever! The "Challenge" was to pull the fourth photo from my fourth file off my computer! And to pass this challenge along to at least two other people... Here is the photo. Now, I send the challenge to Stefanie, Kim, and Jill.

This photo is of some baby birds that hatched in our yard (on top of a fence post) and made a lot of noise. Zoey would go out each day and check on them and wonder why their mother left them all day. So cute.

Closing out the Year

Wow - I can't believe the end of the year is here. This year went so fast. These last few months have been event filled. I love my new job situation. I work for a company in a contract type role and it is the flexibility I love. The people are great. They realize right now I don't want to be climbing the ladder and accept the fact I just want to do my work and go home. God has blessed me tremendously with the job situation. I hope they continue to have projects to keep me busy. My plan is to work all I can and take July and August off. (unless I need to work for future time off for reasons noted below)

Zoey is still sleeping with me. I tried every suggestion every one posted. She is a hard-headed little toot. The only thing that worked for two nights was I told her the doctor said she could not sleep with me. She believed that --- then two days later wised up. I have been telling her that Santa will not come here if she is in my bed. She has been really worried - so she starts off the night in her bed - and comes to mine around 1 or 2. Finally she wised up and told me "duh, I will just sleep in my bed the night Santa comes and he won't know". Today, we went to visit Santa and I told him to tell her to sleep in her bed. She told him she did. I told her - Santa and Jesus know if you lie. So, she tells him --- "I sleep with mama, but when you come I will sleep in my bed so you can leave my barbie". I give up.

In early November, my wonderful, precious, incredible, best dog ever had to be put down. I still think about him. I miss him so much. He was an awesome dog. The best. Every one was sad, me mostly. Brinks was sad, and became destructive in the house. So, I decided to go ahead and get another dog. I didn't want a puppy or the potty training work -- so we went to the cocker rescue and found Norman. He is so sweet, and him and Brinks are fast friends. Our family is whole again, but will never be the same without Spencer.

I have started the process again. I will have a new blog set up after the first of the year to track that adoption. I will be going to Kazakhstan. I thought for so long Russia was the place --- but in the end I feel God is leading me to Kaz. He and I are still arguing over 1 or 2. So, we will see over the next few months what is in store for us. Please keep us in your prayers. It is hard being a single mom, and I question daily whether I should adopt more. But, I don't feel my family is complete.

My nephew left this week for Iraq. Though I know he is in God's hands, I worry a little about him. I have no faith in our incoming government and am very disappointed in the outcome of November's election. America as we knew it is about the end. I thank God he has chosen me to be a child of his fold, as during these times I would not want otherwise.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed Christmas and New Year. Stay tuned for a new chapter.

Jennifer and Zoey

What is the REAL harm?

OK -- I need guidance. Other's thoughts. Someone to tell me to get over it. Or, some reason as to why Zoey needs to sleep in her own bed. Here is the deal. Zoey slept in her bed with no problems until last Christmas -- right about the time we got back from Ukraine. Of course in Ukraine - we slept together every night of the 12 days we were there. We came home - she slept in her bed fine. Then, my parents took her to a Christmas light display - and there was a Grinch display there. She was terrified. That is the reason she says she needed to sleep with me. At the old house - she said he looked at her through the window. (on 2nd floor - and my bedroom was just down the hall) Since then --- I fight with her every night to get her out of my bed. At the new house - her bedroom is upstairs and mine is down. She usually waits for me to go to bed - then comes down and gets in my bed. I was walking her back upstairs for a long time. But, she'd come right back down. Then, repeat. I'd do this 3 or 4 times a night --- then I'd get tired of it. We were both suffering from lack of sleep. The interruptions were causing me to lose a lot of sleep --- cause I have trouble going back to sleep once I am up.

I am to the point where I am tired of fighting it. This last week ---I said to heck with it --- and just put her in my bed to start with. Here are my observations.

1) She goes right to sleep. If I put her in her bed, she comes down stairs, needs water, needs kisses, hugs, to pee, to tell the dogs goodnight, etc. You get the drift. It takes her like an hour to go to sleep. There was a lot of yelling going on with this method.

2) She gets more sleep. Her bedtime is 8pm. She was waking as soon as it hit daylight and basically getting about 7 to 8 hours of sleep. And, was a holy terror. At school, at home, etc. When she sleeps in my bed. She goes to sleep at 8pm --- and has been sleeping till like 8:30 or 9am. THAT IS HUGE. She has never done that.

3) Her behavior is more tolerable as she is not so tired. She doesn't act out. But, she wakes up wanting to know if she can sleep in my bed all night again the upcoming night. It seems to occupy her every thought. She is so worried she will have to sleep in her bed. She asks me about it on the way to school, on the way home, during dinner, after dinner --- it is a constant thought for her.

So what is my problem? She isn't the greatest sleeper. She gets very restless and thrashes during the night and it drives me crazy. Though I have to admit --- since she has been in there the whole night -- it is subsiding. I have a sleeper couch - she won't sleep on it. It is beside my bed. She says my bed is very comfortable. (and it is) Also, I don't want her sleeping with me forever. My parents tell me all the time I slept with them till I was 16. But, I didn't - though I remember being about 8 to 10 and slipping into their room. Be that as it may --- I don't want her to repeat my bad habit.

OK - what does everyone else think. Am I being too uptight? She is 4. I'd like her in her own bed. I am not married or cohabitating. Of course, I still have hope God is going to drop a man in on me someday - so I don't want her there when it finally does happen. :) So, what is the harm? I know it is a security thing with her --- I can tell by the way she sleeps that she feels very secure in my bed. I thought by having Jasmin upstairs with her --- she'd feel better about being upstairs --- but she doesn't.

Also, Jasmin is doing well. She is starting to make friends. She is warming up to Zoey and being a lot more interactive and helpful with her. Some days I want to ship her home (she is a teenage you know) --- but mostly she is a keeper. Really helpful around the house and good sense of humor.

BTW --- My contract company found me work --- so I start on Monday 10/27 working on projects. It is project based work --- which is fine by me --- and the first project lasts for 4 weeks. I just hope they find me continuous work and I can keep it up. I know a lot of you have prayed and I have felt the prayers --- thank you so much!

Happy Halloween.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the Arboretum today to see the pumpkin patch. It was pretty fun. Zoey had lots of fun dancing and twirling around the park. We went with our friends Whitney and Maria - Maria was adopted from Ukraine in February of 2008. She is cute as a button and Zoey tries to mother her. Calls her baby Maria. It is funny to watch Zoey with younger kids.

Not much is going on. I am still looking for the right job. I accepted a job - then it did not work out due to funding reasons. I am now awaiting news on a second opportunity. Meanwhile - we are just hanging.

September Bliss

Well, summer is about gone. In Texas, that is typically about December weatherwise, but on the calendar, that would be Sept. 21. I will actually say with all the hurricanes we've had -- the weather has cooled down a bit.

All is well in the Hanks household. Jasmin has been here about a month. She is really a good girl - except she doesn't like kids. So, her interaction with Zoey is nil. Which makes for a not so good situation. We are working on this relationship. I hope it gets better. Zoey doesn't understand and just wants her to pay her some attention. Meanwhile, we have gone to the rodeo, bowling, meeting new friends, etc. So, the last month or so has been activity filled.

I can't seem to find a job I like or that doesn't have low to no travel. So, I have decided to venture out into the self-emplyment world. I prayed hard about this --- and it seems to be the door that God is opening wide. So, I will walk through it - while still looking for a full-time position. I am working through 2 different consulting firms. Basically they send a work order with what the job is and how much it pays. Then I do the work. They get a cut and I get a cut. The downside is lack of benefits - so no medical/dental, sick/vacation/holiday pay, disability, etc. But, the hourly rates are higher than I'd get for full-time employment. And, when they don't have work - neither do I. But, since I don't work for them - I can find other things to tide me over if I want. My plan is to save every penny I can for the times there might not be work. This option of work also provides the greatest flexibility. So, I am not locked down 8 to 6 each day - worrying about picking up Zoey. Who knows? It might work out and I do it long term. Keep me in your prayers.

Not much else is going on. We are gearing up for the State Fair. Starts in 2 weeks. Then Halloween. Which I have been informed that Zoey wants to be a princess - "cause I am a princess". So, be looking out for Halloween photos. Happy Autumn.

Summer in Full Swing

I know - I haven't posted in a while. So much has been going on. We have been getting settled in our new home. There is lots to do here in our community - but swimming is #1 with Zoey. So, usually we go swimming 3 to 4 times a week. We go to the parks, ride bicycles, etc. It really is a nice place to live. I hope I can afford it --- as I got laid off from my job this month. Other than having a paycheck come in --- it was not the job for me and I am surprised I lasted two years. From day one --- I knew I had made a mistake --- but tried to make the best of it. So, much of my days are spent looking for a job. I am hopeful to have something soon --- at least consulting work. In my field, there is a lot of travel involved and obviously I can't do that any more - so it is harder to find no travel jobs. But, I feel good that I will find something.

Our exchange student comes in two weeks. We are very excited. We have been communicating by email for a while and she seems like a great girl. Zoey is overly excited to have a big sister for a year. She asks me every day if today is August when Jasmin comes.

I went to NC with my friend Stefanie two weeks ago. It was my first trip without Zoey. I have to admit. I had fun. Freedom for 6 days. I almost didn't want to come home. But, I missed my baby. We had fun at the beach and just acted pure crazy. Girls only. Very fun.

Here is a picture of Princess. And, Brinks and Spencer. And my bed - which I am not in. Cause I can't find room for me. This is why I wake up in a cranky mood. Someone is always kicking, pawing, or drooling on me. You can't see the clock --- but is says 11:35pm.

Hope every one is having a great summer!

So here’s another update for the Hanks household. So much has happened. Where do I start? Well, we got moved into our new house. It was such a whirlwind. My old house sold on March 27 (closed on April 10) and I was in my new house on April 11. We love the new house and all of the space. The back yard is an oasis. We spend a lot of time out there playing. The community has many parks, a water park, swimming pools, fishing ponds, golf, etc. We have lots to do to keep a 4 year old busy.

Zoey turned 4 yesterday – but we celebrated her birthday over the weekend. We had the family at the house for a cook-out, and for her friends – it was Peter Piper Pizza. That was awesome as I had no clean-up. And, Zoey loved it. Of course the party was all Dora. She is loving Dora these days.

I took some time off in March and April --- just to get caught up and get some thinking out of the way. It came at a great time – as the house sold. Anyway, I decided to have surgery done for a life-long problem and went into surgery on Tuesday of this week. I am healing fine and feel good right now. Zoey is with my parents. I go back to work on Wednesday of next week.

Also, during that time – I decided to have a foreign exchange student come live with us for a year. So, on August 15 – Jasmin from Finland will be moving in. Zoey is so excited. Except periodically she gets confused as she has a friend at school named Jasmine and she thinks she is coming to live with us.

I want to adopt again – but right now Ukraine is closed to me. Russia is too expensive (though still my main option) since I just laid out all my cash getting moved in. The house didn’t need many changes to make it feel like mine – but I had to have wood floors installed where there was tile. It was a huge area of white tile and after a few weeks – I couldn’t stand how dirty they got. The wood floors were finished on Tuesday of this week and they are beautiful. We are home.

That's our update for now. Stay tuned. I will have a teenager living with me in 2 and a half short months.