What I am Thankful For

Well it is thanksgiving week. We have been talking to the kids about going home to Grandma Judy and Grandma Pam's houses for the last week, and they have been excited! But also our little smarty Rosetta had asked me "what is Thanksgiving?" Ok, what do you say, you explain about the pilgrims and native Americans how they had a feast one day and came together to share their food.... then i went on and on about sharing. (i thought that was a good seqway into how we share with everyone!) I also talked about thankfulness and what we are thankful for. And she understands thanking people for when they give her something, or when people are nice....... but asking her what she is thankful for she was stumped. So i then started a list of what I am thankful for to help her. This year, I realize, I am more thankful than ever. Our life has been blessed with sooooooo many things.

What I am thankful for (My Gratitude List):

1. My Husband, my best friend, for his never ending love for me and our three children. He sacrifices so much for us and works hard to provide so much, and we don't thank him enough. I am more in love with him today than the day I married him 5 years ago.

2. For our three children, precious gifts from God. The Lord only knew how our family would be complete and to put those three angels in our life is the most amazing blessing anyone could receive.

3. For Family, who give us constant support and guidance. They are the most amazing family who are very caring and compassionate people and have opened their hearts to our three children without question.

4. For Dodger and Archie, my first two babies. I am thankful that they are there to snuggle with me when i need it and to entertain the kids when i need it! ;-)

5. I am Thankful for our friends. We have been blessed with the most amazing network of friends. They are here in an instant if you need help, they have been babysitters, shoulders to cry on, ears to confide to, baby proofers, prayer warriors, our social outlets, and much much more.

6. For my house, after 4 years I still think it is an awesome house. It has been a perfect fit for us and our expanding family.

7. I am thankful to have the kids potty trained. That in it's self is an amazing feat! But, it is astounding how much one saves on diapers and wet wipes. I also am thankful not to clean poopy butts anymore ;-)

8. I am thankful for donated toys and clothes. For everyone who donated... we owe you a debt of gratitude. We were able to be prepared for our little angels and spend the time connecting with them and not shopping for necessities.

9. I am thankful for wonderful co-workers, who are so supportive of our family. They are also very understanding of our decisions and helpful in every way possible.

10. For the peace I receive from scrapbooking and being crafty. It is such an outlet and always calms me down and stabilizes me.

11. For the internet, especially -- Twopeasinabucket, Etsy, blogs i frequent,.... without theses i would go insane being at home everyday and not socializing with adults. Thanks you ;-)

12. For facebook -- for keeping me connected to friends who i do not see frequently and to allowing me to chat with friends and family from home no matter what the noise level is in the house!!

13. For our adoption agency, the women and men who have been with us every step of the way. They have been great listeners, counselors, and advocates for us and our family. They are there for us whenever we need them and we would not be this amazing family without them!

14. For my education. I am not currently using my degree in anyway, but i appreciate the opportunities my parents have given me and value that each and every day.

15. For getting to be a Stay At Home Mom. I know I don't always appreciate this everyday (nate would know) but it is a huge luxury even to have the choice to stay at home and not miss a moment with my three angels. For the most part I love it and enjoy seeing the kids grow and learn new things.

16. For naptime.

17. For my faith and my ability to express my faith freely. In the world today, which seems to be lost, we are still able to express the values we hold dearly and our faith in the Heavenly Father. My faith is also which gets me through each and everyday... knowing that I am not alone.

18. For financial stability, we able to live comfortably and do the things that we want to do. Somedays i feel like the richest girl in the world.

19. For our steamer ( i am serous) because this allows Nate to do all the ironing and i don't have to anymore!! One of the worst chores in the world!!!

20. For the holiday season, which allows us to see family and friends and share special moments. The true Christmas spirit and seeing the faces of everyone we hold dear!

Ok.... i challenge you all to come up with your own list for what you are thankful for and think about all those things you take for granted!!!

Love, Lynn

Another Step Behind Us

So another step behind us in this process .... and one step closer to being a family.

The final court date for TPR (termination of Parental Rights) was today. Nate and I both went up to Vinton, IA for the court hearing. The father did not show up, which was a relief. The judge took testimony from our adoption agency director, our social worker and Nate. Both our lawyer and the Kid's lawyer was there.

The judge has not made a ruling yet, because he needs to read through the court documents and the evidence(affidavits) our lawyer submitted. But everything was positive! After the trial he adjourned and said he would notify the lawyer of his ruling he went off the record and talked with Nate and I asking us a few questions. I gave him a photo album of the kids to look at and he posed this question: "if your kids end up to be very athletic and are deciding between going to Ohio State, Michigan, or Iowa for school.... will you have a say on where he/she goes?" This created laughter in the court room and talk about Iowa/OSU football game. He also asked me... which i thought i got out of without testifying.... if we thought of how we are going to enrich the kids culturally with their African American heritage, and our thoughts on daycare (which i told him i quit my job and am staying home with them) and their future development.

At the end when he gave me back my photo album, he said "congrats" which i take as a Great Sign. All the lawyers said congratulations and we have been relieved and celebrating ever since. It has been a rocky road and a emotional roller coaster and it seems to be coming to an end... or at least a point where we can stop thinking about whatif's and thinking about when's.


THE NEXT STEPS --

ok, so next steps.... we obviously need to fill out some more paper work, which they have been putting off until everything was legally in the clear and we had a more definite answer. We are applying for a adoption grant through our agency to receive some relief on the adoption fees and then we are also getting some of their Title 19 (insurance) stuff taken care of before we can have the adoption day. The adoption day can only happen 180 days after the kids are in our home and so far almost 4 months of that is over!!! The date is around the first of February but they won't finalize until alot of the insurance things are transferred into their new names!!

Soon they will be Schulte's for better of for worse!! LOL We did figure out after playing candyland and Hungry Hungry Hippos that the oldest two are very competitive... so i know they are going to have some of the Blankemeyer Spirit to Win at all costs in them!!!! ;-)

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers and thinking of us today. It really made me sit up taller and less nervous knowing that this was all in God's hands and that so many people out there were sending up prayers on our behalf. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.... now off to beat the kids and daddy in Candyland!!!! HAHA

Love,
The Schulte's

Sunday -

Sunday --
So the weekends are awesome, because at our household the kids wake up and jump into bed with mom and dad gets to sleep on the couch.... and then when dad is supposed to be watching the kids, he falls asleep in the chair! (get the picture?) BUT Nate has be awesome and letting me take some time to work downstairs on some scrapbooking projects! YEAH!!! I am getting used to my cozy little dungeon :-)

We took the kids to church this morning, they were really good! When they said the second reading, it started with "Brothers and Sisters" and Xavier looks at me and says he is talking to me!! and my sisters rosetta and glora!! So Cute!! The people in front of us kept looking and smiling because Xavier was saying the Our Father and he was trying to sing the Alleluia.

The rest of the day has been a lazy Sunday afternoon, mommy is making meatloaf and potatoes for supper and the kids are right now still taking a nap.

We are praying that Tuesday goes well, and will keep you posted. The trial is in the afternoon so nate and i will be going up and preparing with our lawyer.

Love,
The Schulte Clan

O-H I-O

Well - we made it home safely from Ohio! The trip went very well, the kids and I ate our lunch picnic style in the car and made 3 stops for potty breaks! The kids got home before daddy made it home from work.... we were outside when he pulled up in the truck and the kids went ballistic!! They gave him big hugs and kisses and Rosetta kept saying "I missed you very much!" Then daddy took us out to dinner to celebrate our homecoming~

This morning the kids and us went to a Kids Symphony. All three kids got triangles to play as music with the symphony. It was cute, but the kids weren't supposed to play the triangle s until the last song.... very hard for a 3 year old to comprehend.

Glorianna fell asleep half way through....but the other two had a good time.


The kids looking at their reflections... they loved being outside at grandma and grandpa's house.

And at 2:30 pm we were all ready for the Buckeye game vs. the Iowa Hawkeyes. The kids were pumped up hooting and a hollering. Let's Go Buckeyes!!

Traveling Home~

So we (me and the kids) decided to travel to Ohio this week, while daddy was busy at work. Pretty much 12 hour days, and maybe more.... not home too much, so off to grandma's house we go! We left Monday morning after daddy went to work, the trip was unevenful we packed sandwiches for the car and ate in the car. We stopped three times, and watched 3 movies. They slept for 2 hours straight and we got to Grandma Pam's by 6:00 pm. They have had fun seeing cousins, playing with grandma and grandpa, and running around in the country.

We have been playing in the leaves, raking them up and jumping in them.

Cousins -- having fun playing dress up, coloring, and goofing off!

Lauren and Glorianna -- All Smiles!
Xavier and Lincoln... Best Buds!

Rosetta and Megan.....all dressed up and no where to go! ;-)

We are here in Ohio until Friday then we will leave so we can get back to daddy before he gets home from work. The week is already going fast and we will be back in Iowa before we know it. It was great to get to spend sometime in Ohio without having things to do.

I have to take these moments now, since next year i will have one in kindergarten and 2 in preschool!!!

Have a Great Wednesday!!!

Happy Birthday Uncle Kurt!

Is there anything more wonderful then going through this journey we call life with a brother? An older brother to lead the way with wisdom of years gone before. To gently guide me through good times and bad. A brother to laugh with and make me laugh. A brother to simple, quiet times, and many milestones along the path. A brother to lean on with the road gets tedious and tough. A brother is the best thing in life!

Happy Birthday Kurt!!!

Halloween Fun!!!

Happy Halloween!!!!

So yesterday was a fun day!!! The kids woke up wanting to put on their costumes... it was hard to deter them from wearing them ALL DAY!! We decided to go to Autumn Acres a nursery not far from our house who in the fall have all kinds of fun things for kids to do like: a giant slide, corn box, corn maze, corn cannon, face painting, etc. It was a bit windy so we bundled up and headed up to Autumn Acres. We had friends of ours go up with us, Beth and Chris Carter and their 3 year old daughter Audrey.


Daddy had fun going down the slide with the kids and climbing on the bales of corn in the corn maze. We even got hot chocolate and before we left, Rosetta got her face painted by dizzy the clown. The other two weren't so sure about getting their face painted... but next time they really will want it like their big sister!!!

The kids had played sooo hard that morning that they took a good nap, and when they woke up we autimatically started putting on their costumes. The Carters came over for pizza before Trick or treating and then we were off. Neither of us wanted to stay at home, so we set our bowl of candy outside on our step and then headed off down the road to Trick or Treat!!! We stopped at a few of our friends houses and got lots of candy soooo much that we don't know what to do with it!! --(some of it diappeared over night!! ;-)) The candy fairy got it!!!

Today, Sunday, we are having fun playing around. The kids helped daddy make chili for supper and we played Candy Land and hopefully we can get outside after nap to enjoy one of the last few nice days out before it gets to cold to play at the park!!!

We hope everyone else enjoys their Sundays as well, the first day of November. Hopefully everyone remembered to set their clocks back an hour -- our kids this morning did not get the idea of sleeping in and getting an extra hour of sleep!!! I hope they get adjusted to the new time soon!!!!! 6:15 am is really too early for them to be waking up!!!

Love you all,

Lynn