Last Post for 2010

Here in my last post of 2010, I really wanted to recap our year.  This year has been an incredible year.

Claire-turned 13 this year, so we offically have a teenager girl in the house.  Claire has got to be the best big sister anyone could ever have.  She loves Macie & Conner and helps them out so much.  There are many times that I have walked in to see her playing baby dolls & Barbie with Macie  or seen her playing cars & firetrucks with Conner.  She also helps out a lot with our newborn babies.  I haven't seen too many "tweens" that will feed, clothe, change or allow a newborn to spit up on them, but not Claire.  I'm not sure that she doesn't love babies more than I do...and most of you know how much I love babies.  Claire played softball this year after only playing at 6 years old.  She loved playing fall ball and is going to play park ball again in the spring.  Claire is in 7th grade this year and is loving homeschooling.  She doesn't want to go back to public school next year because she doesn't want to be a participate in all of the drama.  Doesn't sound typical does it?  I told you Claire was in incredible child.  She would much rather spend her day at home, working at her own pace and helping me out with day to day routine than to "chat it up" at the lunch table with school peers.  All I can think in my mind, is that God has an awesome plan for her and she will be a great wife & mom one day.

Macie-oh, Macie.  Macie is 6 and is all girl.  She is very strong on her feelings, expresses herself extremely well, and can convience a tin can that she's got what it takes to run the show.  She often flips her head around to pose for anyone willing to look and will dance to only the music in her head.  This is one child that has no problem being a leader and bringing as many along with her as will follow. She is a huge helper during our day and will gladly load the dishwasher, take out the dog, fold towels, feed a newborn, talk on the phone, or shower 3 times a day.  However, she will be quick to tell you that she WILL NOT change diapers, fold clothes (only towels), take out the trash or dry her hair by herself.  Homeschooling has been fun with Macie this year, as she loves doing her schoolwork and showing Conner She played fall softball as well and says she had lots of fun.  She plans to play again in the spring.  Macie is a great encourager and constantly tells me that she loves me and how beautiful I am.  Macie wants to be a mommy when she grows up and wants to be a vet.  Macie still can't say vanilla, but says a-limma instead.  However, I think the correction is coming near because she struggles to say it right each time.  My baby is growing up too fast and her sweet little pronunciations are changing into correct word forms.  Macie asked Jesus into her heart and was baptized this year. 

Conner-Our youngest child by only seconds.  Conner is one tiny strong kid.  He played football this year on the Helena Wildcat 80lb team and weighed in at 38lbs.  It is said that he is the smallest child to ever register to play football in Helena.  However, even though he was tiny, he never backed away from the football field.  He loved every minute of it.  As a matter of fact, the harder they worked, the better he liked it.  He struggles with school but homeschooling has been great for him this year.  He works better if we school many different times during the day instead of all at once.  I have been known to be schooling Conner at 9:30 at night because he seemed interested to learn right before bed.  He doesn't mind homeschooling and isn't sure if he wants to go back to Helena Elementary School.  Conner is a great "play by myself" child and will sit for hours and play with some cars/trucks/firetrucks.  He can mimic the que sound of a fire engine perfectly.  Conner is very inquisitive and will ask lots of questions about "deep" things.  He also remembers things very well.  He can give details of an event from months ago and remember even things such as words spoken during a routine conversation.  Conner helps out in many ways here at home.  He doesn't do much without being prompted, but he will do just about anything you ask him to do.  He loves the newborn babies and I can't think of a time that he isn't asking me if he can hold or feed one.  Conner is the only one of my children that willl come sit in my lap and hug me at various times during the day anymore.  Conner wants to be a firefighter when he grows up.

Heath-my loving husband... He has had a very productive year in 2010.  He was just awarded EMT of the Year for Shelby County.  He works his 24 hour shift at the firestation and then spends a lot of his time off working with the explorer group or offering classes to the community.  He teaches CPR/First Aid to anyone needing/wanting the certification, works with the Helena schools to provide Risk Watch to the children, teaches Remembering When to the senior citizens, and helps out at just about any public event here in the city.  As his wife, I am very proud of him and am very proud to say that he is my husband and the daddy of my children.  He has even been known to have his nails painted just to make one little girl happy.  As a matter of fact, Macie made him a necklace and he vowed to wear it for a week 24/7.  Macie was so proud. 

Pierce-our newest family member.  Pierce is a 6 month old dalmation.  Pierce is very much a part of our family but is also so much more.  Pierce came from a breeder (Lakeshore Dalmations) and was already being trained in obedience when we got him.  Heath plans to use him to help teach fire prevention/public education.  He attends classes each week to prepare him for his future goals.  We feel like Pierce will be a great asset to the fire department.  Until he's able to go into the schools, he just visits the fire station, attends public events and runs around our house seeing what kind of trouble his little puppy self can get into.

Leslie- I hate talking about myself.  It's hard.  But, if I had to reflect back on 2010, I would say that I have had an interesting year.  I still love fostering the newborns just as much today as I did when I first started.  No suprise there, right?  We even had a set of older siblings (1 and 2 years old) this year.  Since we began forstering 2 years ago, we have loved on 36 children.  For the short time (5-19 days) that they are with us, we are able to love on them, meet new adoptive parents and pray for all families involved.  I believe this is one thing that has moved my family to a  measure of closeness that we otherwise woudn't have had.  There is nothing more sweet than to tell my children that we have a mommy that is going to have a baby that she is going to place for adoption.  They immediately ask if they can pray for that mommy. So, we begin praying specifically for that mommy, the baby, and the adoptive family.  Their prayers are always different and often bring tears to my eyes.  I school our children and love it.  It has been so great to see them learn a new concept as we go throughout our year.  I'm not sure who has learned more...me or them!  I am still a terrible housekeeper and often wonder when the maidfairy is going to stop by and decide she wants to make this her permanent residence.

Well, that about recaps the year and I am sure I forgot tons of stuff, but I promise to do better in 2011.  We are getting together some goals as a family for this next year and will work together as a family to get them accomplished.  So, if I had to sum up the year to just one word, it would be*****AMAZING******.  I pray that you all have a Happy New Year and a blessed 2011.