7 years

Today is mine and hubby's 7 year anniversary. Has it really been that long? It doesn't seem like it to just glance back to our wedding day; but when you look at all that has happened between here and there....well then you come to realize it has ONLY been seven years. Don't get me wrong; I wouldn't change it for the world, but some days were definately harder than others. But we find ourselves here in our cozy little house, with our wonderful kids (and a baseball team of everyone else's) our two dogs, three vehichles, a good job and FAMILY.
It really is pretty funny to watch how things transpired for us. We got married with the immediate plan to start having children RIGHT THEN. Ha ha I must laugh....

NEWS FLASH!!!!

You are not in charge! You will be ready for your family when The Big Man is good and ready for you to have a family of your own. After finding out we were not able to conceive kids of our own (And let me tell ya, the doctor got a good laugh when I told him that Grandma Freeda had already announced to everyone at the Thanksgiving table that "Bart was shooting blanks" before we had any definate answers.) we decided that adopting was our plan.

ANOTHER NEWS FLASH!!!!

Once again; you will not have your family until God says so. So after a few years and kids we just knew we would get to adopt; we had our hearts ripped out again when we realized Mack and Mikayla would not be ours forever.
But there was something in the works.

We finally after six and a half years of marriage legally became parents. Now that is not to say that we weren't "parents" before that point. You see; we began parenting full time in 2005 when we got our first foster placement (see Mack and Mikayla above) and have had somewhere between 30 and 40 kids in and out of our house.
Now that has been the true test of our marriage. IT IS NOT EASY TO SURVIVE IN A HOUSE WITH EIGHT CHILDREN AT ANY ONE GIVEN TIME. Yet somehow we have managed to do it; and even, I believe, build a greater bond with each other. You learn to build a bridge, form an alliance and strive with every once of your being to instill some key virtures into these kids that have typically seen no moral value in their parents. My husband has become my team mate, my coach and my player all in one. And I have become his; granted I probably am alot more those annoying sideline parents fiercely barking orders at their poor little children who are just trying to stay afloat in a choppy body of water filled with starving sharks ready to attack at any given moment. But that is exalty my point.
No matter what I get us into; Bart is always up for the play. And I just do not know of any other man; besides my own father, who would be so willing to take on this life.
It is not until times of total chaos and disbelief that I realize this. Example: Yesterday Mom and I were pulling up at the hospital; you see my aunt's husband was having another heartattack. So off I run to get my Mom and go to be with my aunt while she goes through yet another ordeal this year. And this is one teeny, tiny point to a huge story. Who is at home with the five children? Bart. Poor Bart. There by himself with a 9 month old, 13 month old, 3 year old, 5 year old and 6 year old. Could you imagine that? But, I am cool and calm and have absolutely no concerns that my house will be in order, kids will be taken care of and all will be well when I return home. Don't let me forget to tell you that he must work that night for 10 and half hours from 6 pm to 430 am. So, here he is; up all day, taking care of a team of children, with one not yet old enough to even use the microwave by herself. And why I am so cool and noncholant with the fact that I just left my poor husband alone in the middle of this whilrwind I call home...simply because he has done it before. Several times before. Actually this is probably one of the easier times because I will be home in just a few hours. When this has happened before I am gone overnight; sometimes for 3 days before I come back to find.......my house is still standing, my kids are still healthy and my kitchen is usually cleaner than when I left.
He is always there for us. Giving so much of his time and energy and doing without and being so unselfish.
This is just one of the reasons I am thankful for the man I married.
Hopefully I can post more later today. We will see...I have court this afternoon, so guess who will be getting up early to watch the babies and pick up the school kids......SUPER HUSBAND!!!