Dear Sugar Pea

Dear Sugar Pea,


When we started this journey that is your life over 15 months ago.....


I'm so glad I didn't know everything.


I didn't know how many times I would have to watch your body struggle to gain the ground that wasn't gained prenatally.


I didn't know how many birth parent visits I would hold you after.


As your little body shook from sobs of confusion and fear.


I didn't know that one of your birth parents would threaten to hurt my family.


I didn't know that the judge in charge of your case would let it drag out this long.


(DHS was hoping to have it closed in six months.)


I didn't know that when I picked you up at the hospital I would have a police escort out of the building.


See, if I had known I might have tried to foster you on my own--with sheer determination--all these things that took me by surprise forced me to ask for help from the One who always heard my cries.


It's almost over now........the last TPR hearing is next week.


That doesn't mean I'm done asking for help to be your mamma though.


I'm pretty sure I'll be doing that for the rest of my life.


Love, Mamma

Favorite Quote

Updates

I keep thinking I need to update you on foster parenting, and pregnancy, but I'm too lazy to do two separate posts.

Sugar Pea's case is finally moving again.  Birth dad has a termination of parental rights trial coming up in about four weeks!!!!  The miracle that we had been praying for.  In the meantime he hasn't been showing up for his visits which means less trauma for Sugar Pea, and less trauma for me. :)

I'm still pregnant.  Someone told me early on in this pregnancy that you don't really get much bigger the last month or two.....well......they were WRONG.  Suffice it to say that I now walk a little like an overweight goose.

I feel good though--a little tired--but really fairly good.

I have about three more weeks to my official due date.

I looked at the mountain range of ripening tomatoes on my porch last night, and I cried.  Hubby caught me at it, and said I should just give them away.  I stubbornly set my jaw, and shook my head.  Sometimes I think I'm addicted to canning.........

So, there you have it--all the pertinent news around our house.  And probably one or two things that weren't all that pertinent.

Things I'm Happy For This Saturday 7

Flash from the past.......remember these Saturday posts?

Saturdays--Starting back to school makes me appreciate this day of the week for "catching up"

Produce from the garden--I'm trying to remember that all this bounty that I'm canning will be worth the pinched nerve in my back--this winter.

An Industrious 10 year old--Mopped my bathroom, cleaned my laundry room, and swept out several dusty corners all in the last half hour.

Bloggy Friends--I enjoy your comments, and interaction here on my blog so much.  I often lack adult conversation, and you help fill that gap in my life.

Toddlers Playing Together Happily--Peace is reigning for the moment, and I'm basking in it. 

What is making you smile today?

Can You Guess...

.......what I canned today?

It's not tomato juice, spaghetti sauce, or salsa.

Update.....

You all made really good guesses....well most of you. 

But, none of you were right.

It's ketchup!

If you're interested here is the recipe.

8 quarts tomato juice

1 1/2 quart vinegar

6 cups white sugar

1/2 cup salt

2 onions chopped

3/4 teaspoon ginger

3/4 teaspoon nutmeg ( I omitted this)

3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon red pepper

Mix together all ingredients and boil rapidly for 2 hours.  Cool until you can safely blend in the blender.  After you blend it put it back on the stove and bring to a simmer, and add 1 3/4 cups of Clear-Jell that has been blended with about 1 cup of water.  Simmer until thickened.  Process in pressure canner for 10 minutes at 10 pounds of pressure.

Sugar Pea

I'll confess that lately my impulse has been to scream.

Not because the roller coaster is going too fast.

Because it feels like it's stalled on the tracks.

Birth Dad has been a source of extreme frustration.

He does just enough toward his goals to be annoying.

But not enough to make much progress.

He shows up for Sugar Pea's visits about 1/3 of the time.

When he doesn't show up--he calls and claims he is running late.

Which means I have to wait 30 minutes for him.

Sitting in a van with five restless children for 30 minutes is not my idea of a good time.

The next court date is in about two weeks.

Praying for a miracle!!!!!

Impulse Purchase

I went to a local roadside farm market yesterday to get some tomatoes for fresh eating--since mine are refusing to ripen.

I saw these giant cheerful sunflowers, and couldn't resist.

Makes my kitchen seem brighter somehow.