Hiatus

I have always loved blogging, more for myself than anyone else--although, I'm completely open to blog stalkers, as I am one myself--, and have often found myself writing about things I am passionate about or what is going on in the Cook abode at the current time.

That being said, I am having a hard time returning to normal. Although, we never really had a normal, but our un-normal is taking some time to return to normal...following me?

I feel bad carrying on with life, going to church, doing fun things with the kids, vacuuming the house, cooking supper, grocery shopping...I know Katie doesn't intend for me to shut down life just because she is having a party in Heaven, but I have had to fight the urge to do just that. And I'm fighting it with unnecessary business just to keep my mind from going places I don't want it to.

And because I blog about life in general, right not it's just going to have to take a backseat. I am going to take a hiatus, of sorts. It may last 2 days. It may last 2 months. I make no promises. I am non-committal.

Katie was supposed to fly into Louisville this past Tuesday to spend the week with us, with the rest of the family (like, ALL of them) joining us for the extended weekend. They arrived this afternoon...I looked into the living room this evening after dinner to see everyone watching as the cousins climbed on their great uncle as if he were a jungle gym. (Don't worry. Although he is graying, the chances of them actually breaking him are little to none.) Katie's picture sat there too, as an all too present reminder of her absence, but displaying her sweet smile...

I know it's still just shock, but I feel like one day this fog will just lift and all will be right again. Life just doesn't seem real right now. And Katie, just in case you are wondering, I'm a little ticked you left me here with all these yahoos by myself. You know we were the only two normal ones...geez...

My mixed emotions, current lack of coping skills, along with the constant pain that she isn't here for me to send a text to every half hour can't handle losing the amount of brain power it takes for me to blog right now. I need that brain power to return to my un-normal normal.

I will return. Just give me some time...

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

My Katie

On May 8, 2010, the Lord took home the sister He had loaned to me for 22 years…



I remember the day my aunt picked me up from school in 1st grade to take me to the hospital to see her for the first time. I remember bringing her home a couple of days later in a Christmas stocking. I remember a chubby toddler loving her “new oosh ‘an panjose” (new shoes and pantyhose). And her dresses. She loved her dresses. I remember sharing a room with her and our younger sister and thinking how unfair it was that I had to share with my little sisters. I remember being blamed when she fell off the bed and broke her collar bone. I remember her following me and my friends around trying to be just like us.


I remember a little girl who was so obsessed with doing right, she told on anyone she got the chance to…including her own father! I’m pretty sure I remember telling on her to get myself out of trouble! I remember someone so tender hearted that the death of her pet rabbit had her in tears for days. I remember an accident prone teenager who loved softball and track. I remember many tears on my wedding day as she accused me of leaving her for Kenny!


I remember her being so obsessed with shoes that she would rather have new shoes than a new outfit. I remember an aunt who was so excited to finally have her nephews home from Ethiopia. I remember a respiratory therapist who truly felt the pain her patients were in. I remember teaching her the habits of the sarcastic ones in her life and loving that she was finally able to keep up with me.

I remember a young woman who had a heart for Christ and a love for others. I remember a sister that was a best friend, a confidant, my fashion advisor, my bed buddy, my partner-in-crime, my twin…


At the celebration of Katie’s life, these verses, which were found on her keychain, were read…

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I never thought “rejoice always” would be one of God’s commands I would have trouble with, but please claim that with me as we take this one day at a time. Your continued prayers for the whole family are very much appreciated!

It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later…

AWANA Awards!

Last night was our Awards Night for the end of our AWANA year at church. Fortunately, the boys were here for most of the year and surprised ALL of us by memorizing Bible verses left and right, keeping up with their English (as a first language) speaking friends! Charlie even finished his first book in his Cubbie class! He will move to Sparks in the fall and Sam will be in Cubbies! So proud of both of them for learning so much!

Ditto

I originally posted this on Highview's Adoption Blog, but it is so important that it bears repeating. Feel free to repost it on your own blog! I tried to keep it tame and I know you can't read emotion through the words on a blog...but this is really something that is convicting to me and lays heavy on my heart! It is so important that we trust God in every aspect of our lives, but how many of us really do when it comes to OUR money...

I am an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition fan. We all know the deal...a family in desperate need gets to go on a mega vacation while Ty & the gang builds them a brand new, over-the-top house to meet all their needs!!

This past Sunday's episode was about a family in Texas that had adopted four children with special needs from Kazakhstan, so of course I was extra interested in the story. Barely 5 minutes into their story, I wished I could have notified ALL of you to watch! Here was a financially struggling family, one who no one in their right mind would have called well off, who had laid aside their own needs and adopted FOUR children!!

We're off to Mineola, Texas to help another amazing family. Mike and Katrina Carr are loving parents to four adopted children who were abandoned in Kazakhstan. Two of the children, Ryanne and Rina, were born with Amniotic Band Syndrome which caused many physical challenges. And Mike has been plagued with diabetes since he was a child.

Mike and Katrina have battled through their challenges to provide a loving home for their children. However, over $50,000 in repairs is needed and Mike was recently laid off from his job. The Carrs need help and we know a team that will step up to the challenge.

And read more here...about the fundraiser they did that provided needs for their adoptions to the very penny! Praise the Lord!! What I want you to take away from their story is that money is not all that is needed to make adoption happen. Adoption is not cheap, but it breaks my heart to think that there are children all over the world that may never know the security of a forever family because so many of us are worried about our finances!

How is God wanting YOU to provide for the needs of an orphan NOW?? James 4 talks about our life as a vapor...we are not guaranteed tomorrow and neither are the millions of orphans of this world...

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Particularly funny boy...

Really, anytime Charlie says something that is the correct use of grammar and English, it is hilariously funny because he usually has his own combination of words to tell us what he means! He also uses about a million more words than are actually needed, resulting in conversations that last 10 minutes, that should have only lasted 10 seconds. And he is really just repeating the same thing over and over because he usually just doesn't know the word he needs to use to convey his thoughts. It's really quite comical sometimes, but rather frustrating for him!

He also has this jibberish that he uses on a fairly regular basis. If you happen to come across him using his jibberish, it might appear there is actually really something wrong, but don't worry...it will pass. It usually comes out when he doesn't know what else to say. We decided the other day that he talks like that because sometimes...that's just what we sound like to him.


Charlie has also taken to calling Kenny a "monster", except because we have a most difficult time with our vowel sounds, it comes out sounding a little more like "master" instead. Let me assure you that Kenny takes this and runs...declaring that he is indeed--THE MASTER!

On a recent trip to Birmingham, Charlie was particularly funny..

He told his great-grandmother he couldn't eat her ham because he only eats meat that is cooked. I think the pink color threw him off.

While picking a DVD to watch in the car..."Me's favorite movies...Superman, He-man...and Tinkerbell!!" What a combination! And we don't even HAVE Tinkerbell...

He wasn't thrilled about having to get in the car to drive back to Kentucky, so he simply informed me he would fly back home. Except it took him 100 words to say that.

And as always, he constantly needs to know where everyone is. One morning during our run down of people and their locations, he wanted to know why Aunt Katie was still in the bed. I explained that she works at a hospital during the night, so she sleeps during the day. His response..."Oh. I know. Like an owl."

At least he knows his nocturnal birds.

29 Things I can't live without...

1. Jesus. 'Nuf said.
2. Kenny. Double 'nuf said.
3. Two little boys from Ethiopia. Maybe you have met them...they answer to Charlie and Sam...
4. Friends. I'm not gonna start naming names, but I honestly don't know how people get along without 'em. And of course, family falls in this category, too.
5. Paper towels. So, yeah, they aren't environmentally friendly, but what could be better than a single sheet of paper that instantly cleans up a mess and then goes right in the garbage with the mess on it?
6. Nothing...except maybe a baby wipe, which runs a close 2nd to the paper towel for those messes which occur on...well, those of the human persuasion.
7. Flip flops. Add t-shirts and comfy pants to that list and I'm fully clothed and ready to go!
8. Baby lotion. Call me crazy, but one of the best lotions every created. If you can get past the perpetual baby smell...
9. Pasta. Of any shape or size. Covered in any sauce or even just plain. Yummy!
10. Granola bars. Not attached to any single brand, although I prefer Quaker Chewy or Nature Valley Chewy, but they are a must have snack for anyone! They fit in a purse, a diaper bag, a pocket and are quick to relieve any munchies that might strike!
11. Any Lysol product. I'm a Lysol junkie. If it's on sale, I'm buying it. And I don't trust much else to clean my house.
12. Organization. Without it, life would be chaos. I'm only okay with organized chaos. I've often thought about renaming the blog that. "Organized Chaos"...What do you think?
13. My camera. Now that the two little boys listed above occupy...well, all of my time...I have to take pictures of them. All the time.
14. Zyrtec. I am definitely allergic to Kentucky. In the past month, I have spent significant time in two other neighboring states. Upon return to Kentucky...I get sick.
15. Adoption. Really, must I explain this one. Without it, life would just plain suck...
16. Technology. Cell phone, the internet...I am far from a tech junkie, I just need to stay in touch with people, stalk blogs and Facebook, etc. Just the basics will do.
17. Baby powder. (Between that, the wipes and the baby lotion, you would think I had a newborn in the house...) If you have super oily hair, like my father blessed me with, running a handful of baby powder through your hair is almost as good as a wash if you need to go out at the end of the day.
18. The Grocery Game. And coupons. Now, if you are paying full price for your groceries, I'm just gonna go ahead and call you a fool. With a little bit a time each week and a handful of coupons, you could potentially cut your grocery bill in half. YES! I said in HALF!! Check out this website for more info...and no, they aren't paying me, but if you list me as a referral, I could potentially benefit! It literally pains me to pay full price for anything...
19. Summit Energy. This is where Kenny works...and literally...I can't live without them...
20. Dark chocolate. A million times better than the regular kind!
21. A good orthopedic doctor. This is kinda a joke, but on the other hand, if you consider the amount of money we have spent on my orthopedic disasters over the last 10 years, then it really is a must need kind of thing.
22. My watch. I recently got a new one since the Fossil I got in 1995 was showing it's age. Sometimes I don't even use it. I just need to know it's there.
23. The radio. When I'm driving. When I'm cleaning house. Just all the time. I don't prefer silence.
24. My raincoat. (Which has been a necessity this weekend as we were actually on the lookout for Noah and his ark.) I am anti-umbrella. I would prefer to have my hands free and I tend to break umbrellas. It's harder to break a raincoat.
25. Seasonings. Things like garlic, red pepper, rosemary, basil, oregano, basic salt and pepper... I despise bland food. I'm certain I over season most everything, but I also have a kid who eats habanero sauce like ketchup, so I guess it's okay.
26. Pop Tarts. I personally don't care for them, but the boys would probably eat them for 2 out of 3 meals (don't worry, I don't allow that). I know it's not the healthiest choice, but man, it makes breakfast easy.
27. Sunshine. Just makes me happy. Happier.
28. Free time. Without it, how in the world would I have time to do ridiculously important things like...blogging.
29. Nap time. I only need one nap a week. My [wonderful] husband allows that on Sunday afternoons. Sam needs one everyday. And somedays, I need him to take it more than he does.

I could go on, but I should really wrap this up...Happy 29th...

EDITOR'S NOTE: These are in no particular order of importance. For the most part.