Fall Activities

This week is a very busy week. Besides teaching school, cleaning house, doing laundry and so forth I needed to have fun doing several fall activities. Our church is hosting an All Saints Eve celebration for the children in our City. The teachers are in charge of hosting the Cake Walk. So I needed to make some super fun cupcakes. After all no one wants their cupcakes to be the last ones picked.

I started with plane white cupcakes. Can you smell them? Here they are innocently cooling on their rack. Oblivious as to what the next hour holds for them. I like to imagine that they are dreaming of becoming cute flowers or pretty fall colors.

I use plain white frosting to create these cute creatures. I wonder if they were thinking , "Thats all youve got . White! Give me a break with all the other colors in the world you chose white!"

Then the decorations take form and perhaps it's not quite as boring as they once thought.

"Oh my goodness. I am a mummy. She made me into a mummy. That is the coolest costume ever! I cant wait to show my friends."

"Hey they are wearing my costume. I cant go to the party looking the same as everyone else. What was she thinking. Doesn't she understand how embarrassing this is?"

Now that the cupcakes are under control. (not happy but under control) I can tell you about my second project. My son decided to be a scarecrow for All Saints. We had a great idea to hot glue straw into a pair of overalls. I think it turned out pretty cute.

This in its self was a fiasco. First I couldn't find my overalls so we had to use Tims. As you can tell they are quite large on him. Then I couldn't find the hot glue gun. I have two guns at my house and both were M.I.A. I finally found one hiding down in the shop.

To add final touches we shoved some extra straw into the pockets. I fear that he will be making a mess where ever he goes. But he will at least look cute doing it. Hmmm I wonder how many people wont like hay all over the church. Oh well I've done it before so I'll take the heat.

On Sunday we decided to carve our pumpkins. I just love this activity. We both chose two very different pumpkins.

Look at how proud he his standing by his pumpkin.

Everyone loves playing with the squishy slimy guts.

Yumm I cant wait for those roasted seeds. They are always so tasty.

Here is the finished product. It looked much more morbid earlier as it had 4 knives shoved in to its head.

There is nothing like the pretty glow of the jack-o-lantern and the smell of the insides getting warm from the candle.

I pray that each of you has a fun safe evening whether you are celebrating All Saints or going Trick or Treating.

The First Middle School Dance!

My 11 year old son came home from school so excited the other day. "There is a Halloween School Dance" He said. I asked if he was going and he said he thought he would if it was O.K.. Then I found out that a young lady wanted to know if he was going. Now I know why he was so excited. However the dance came and went and I asked if he danced with his new lady friend and he told me "no, I only danced by my self and with my friends". It sounds like the boys were on one side of the dance floor while the girls stood on the other. Does that sound familiar to any of you? I still remember the awkward feeling of wanting to be asked to dance, the fear of actually being asked and the disappointment of not being asked. I guess its a right of passage as we grow into young men and women. Before I know it the shyness will be gone and I will wish it would return. I'm not sure I am ready for him to even be thinking about girls. I pray that the Lord will guide his thoughts and actions so that they will be pleasing to him.

Homework Finally Rears It's Ugly Head!

I have waited all year to hear these words come from the mouth of my 11 yr old son: "I have homework." I figured there would be tears and yelling and frustration. But to my surprise there was excitement and laughter. I must be dreaming. This is what the homework looked like.

First he had to create an Egg Man!

Next he had to protect his Egg Man.

Then he had to drop the Egg Man from three different heights. First just standing.

Then on a step stool.

Finally from the window that looks down on the store.


This is what the poor Egg Man looked like after being dropped from the ladder.

And this is all that was left of the Egg Man that dropped from the window.
He actually tried three eggs wrapped three ways and surprisingly the one with the least wrapping lasted the longest. Who Knew?

New Adventures

Tim will be traveling about 5 hrs north for 5 days/week starting this week or perhaps next week. He has had a job offer that just couldn't be turned down. Full insurance, great pay and housing included! We are looking forward to paying off the remaining few bills that we still have. That fills like a never ending battle. We are also hoping to put some money away for other things as well. Please keep our family in your prayers as we once gain go through a life changing experience.

Bitter Sweet Goodbye

My little boy, how I will miss you. I am overcome with emotion as I think back on all the things I have watch you learn. My thoughts then turn to all the things I will never see you do and I am saddened even more. But then I think about your mother and how I would feel if I were in her shoes. I bet she was filled with sadness the day you left her home, regardless of what she did or didn't do. I am sure she felt empty as she sat in her quiet home as I am right now. I close my eyes and try to imagine your reunion, a tearful one I am sure. The joy and excitement she must be feeling as she holds you in her arms knowing that you are there to stay. I pray that Our Father and Creator will wrap you both in his arms and help them during this joyous time. I pray that she understands how special, smart and sweet you are. I pray that she will have the strength to make wise decisions when it comes to you. I pray that she will to come to know the Lord and the power that he has to help us through the difficult times. I pray that she does not see us as the enemy but as simple parents who also love her little boy with all our hearts. I pray that God gives me he strength to pick up the pieces left behind so that I can help another child in need of a safe loving home. I pray that my parents will also find strength in Gods love during this sad time. I couldn't be the loving parent I am with out there support. I also pray for my husband and oldest son that God will comfort them through their sadness. It is with these words that I say Amen.

Update

Today our little foster son went home to spend the weekend with his Parents. The house is already quiet and he has only been gone for 4 hours. Please keep him, his parents and our family in your prayers. We all need the strength that only the Lord can provide. He will be back on Tuesday and then will go back to his parents forever on Thursday.

Let The Tears Fall.

I knew it was coming. It was just a matter of time. The dreaded words telling us that our bundle of joy is going home soon. I try to be strong but I feel as though I am falling apart piece by piece. I keep reminding my self that at least we had 5 months with him. Look at all the love and attention he received from us. We kept him safe. He has heard the word of the Lord and I know the Holy Spirit will work through that. But secretly in the back of my mind I had hoped he would be mine forever. I always seem to do that. But this time it was different. He was a baby. I have longed for a baby of my own for so long and the Lord finally delivered one. Even if it was for a short time. Since he has been in our home we have watched him do many firsts. He started crawling, eating solid foods by him self, talking (a little) and now he is on the verge of walking. I wish I could share pictures with you but it is not safe. I once had a friend ask me if it made me mad. I said what? He replied well you spend so much time and energy teaching these children many things like talking, walking and possibly potty training. Then they are gone and you don't get to see who they grow up to be. I replied that it doesn't make me mad but rather sad. Sad that I won't get to watch him grow and learn new things, sad that he may never hear of Jesus again when he goes home, sad for my family who will miss him greatly and sad for my parents who give their hearts to these children and treat them like their own grand children. But then I think of their own families who have made poor choices but are really trying to get their lives in order. They followed all the rules and miss their babies. My heart goes out to them and the tears that they have shed. I know if it were me I would want my baby back. So sadly but willingly I will let him go with lots of love and tears. God has called me into this position of foster mom. He will never give me anything I can not handle. I know that during the following weeks while I am crushed and my house becomes terribly quiet God will be carrying me untill I can stand on my own again. The children in my classroom asked me why I was crying the other day and I told them. One of the little boys who has a big heart said " Mrs. Sutton is happy and sad at the same time." He also told his mom that I cry because God has given me a soft heart. This is true and I am asking for all of your prayers as in the coming weeks I will be saying good by and picking up the pieces he has left behind.