Name Stealing and Accidental Face Kicking

What a ripper! I help teach the 3-year-old Sunday School class and I love those crazy kids but last week we had a visitor come in for "extended session" as I was leaving. The girl was on the arm of an old friend of ours; you see, when we moved to Hot Springs, we had two couples our age that became fast friends. One couple moved back to OK after a few months and the other couple (who had a daughter close to Beatle's age) got a divorce, sadly. As we found out, it's hard having friends that divorce and sometimes, even though we were relatively new friends, I still miss "them". I don't talk much to the wife anymore but we still bump into her every once in awhile but, without sounding like a weirdo, I really miss the husband. I didn't feel like it was ever appropriate though to send him cards, give him a call or email him as such. Brent tried to keep him hooked up with church but I think he just needed a fresh start at a new church. Anyways, I was SO excited to see him Sunday with his new fiancé and her daughter. He was holding her daughter who was obviously distressed about the new environment and was trying to soothe her by saying calming things like, "it's ok. Brendle, it's going to be alright." wait, wait, wait! I asked him, "wait. Like my Brendle??" he gave me a nonchalant "yeah" and went back to soothing her. I felt so ripped off!! I know we haven't trademarked her name yet but I've never heard of a little girl with that name, let alone, at our very church. How weird! And then, my paranoid wheels start turning because the little girl was MAYBE three (she came with a diaper bag and was acting so much younger than everyone else, the extended session teachers agreed she was probably in the wrong class). It made me wonder if this Hot Springs mom had heard Brendle's name within the first year of us being here and dubbed hers as such. I know, it's a stretch but it IS a small town. I think what hurt the worst was the fact that the daddy didn't even act like it was a big deal that we share that common bond, that he didn't even act like our families used to be close. He very well could have been preoccupied or maybe we just bring back bad memories, I'm not sure but it stung.

Moving right along, Beatle told us she's going to be famous for break dancing! We got a good laugh at that and, you know what, maybe she will and then who will be laughing??? :)

Her frienemy, M, "accidentally" kicked her in the face at their table and "accidentally" hit her that day too. Beatle says she made a big production about how it was an accident but Beatle felt quite sure it wasn't. I got upset about that and said, "yes, if it's just words, you need to ignore what she says and keep trying to show God's love but if it continues to be physical, you really need to talk to Mrs. S about it." Beatle said desperately, "she'll just say it was an accident." and to that, I retorted, "well, you need to just tell Mrs. S that Meyah needs help learning to control her body then because that's unacceptable." Beatle laughed a funny little laugh and I asked, "What?" She said, "well, you're usually such a Godly woman! I can't believe you're telling me to say this."

I'm going to leave it at that tonight. Night!

We're back, Baby!!

We had a great first day of first grade! It was so different than Kindergarten: we allowed more time in the morning for pictures, she wasn't nervous and I didn't cry! :) It's really hard to believe she's a first grader though! There was one girl that really got in her head last year. She's a major tattle-tell and she draws things out of Beatle and then Whamo! raises her hand to tell the teacher. Honestly, there are several other things that point to her not being a Christian and not having a very good home life; all things that Beatle's sensitivity led her to see too even though Meyah wears her smooth out. Last year, Beatle had to sit by her most of the second semester so Beatle was longing for a break from her this year. We get to class and whose name is taped down right beside Beatle's?? When Beatle read it, she just melted with helpless laughter. I felt very strongly that this was not a coincidence; God placed Meyah in her class and right beside her again to rub off God's love and truth on her some more. Beatle accepted the challenge but even yesterday when she got home there was some Meyah drama. Meyah told Beatle that she didn't have any friends besides her "precious Bailey" and that hurt her feelings and she started naming off friends she did have and threw a "boyfriend" in there too. Meyah's hand shot up and B got reminded that there are to be no talks of boyfriends. Beatle was feeling discouraged. Later, M said she wasn't going to be Beatle's friend, "....unless you give me one of those sequins (off of her new shirt)." So, Beatle tore one off to give to M and it started unraveling and she lost several more during the day. She came home feeling a used and manipulated; I really think a life lesson was learned yesterday that will hopefully help her in dealing with her classmate. Together, we examined the choices she made when she chased after Meyah's approval. I'm sure there will be plenty more M drama to come but there are Meyah's everywhere and I want her to figure this stuff out while she's just 6. On the upside, Beatle really loves her new teacher!

She lost a tooth on Sunday night, literally. She pulled it herself and she put it in the pillow we have for it and there was major tooth fairy confusion! I guess there was a coin from last time already in there and while she was messing with it her tooth fell out and she didn't know it. So, she thought the tooth fairy came and took the tooth but didn't leave her any money for this time...it was crazy! But she put the empty tooth pillow under hers and in the morning there was a written explaination for the confusion, along with a gold coin. Whew! Now, mom and dad have to find that baby tooth in the living room before she does!

Beatle was a dancing ma-chine at Aunt Suzy's wedding!!! It was SO funny! Her intense expressions and endless moves crack me up. Her flower girl dress was a wreck--stained and ripped. She passed out in the backseat on the way home. It was like she was a party girl on her 21st birthday. Like my friend Amanda said, "She'll remember this as being the best night ever." Birdie came through as a flower girl right at the last moment. She was ready to go about a minute and a half before it was her turn and when we stopped her, she crumpled. I had to go, Beatle had to go, leaving my dad, sis and the wedding planner to work their magic. It was like she came to her senses and relized she almost missed her chance so she started running down the aisle and then she'd stop and start running again. I was so glad for Brent's parents that night; I didn't fully realize how busy all of us would be and they helped so much with Birdie, making the wedding more pleasant for us all. Suzy looked beautiful! They both looked so happy and I'm so happy for them!

Being in so many beautiful homes while in OK, I've been inspired to up my game a little. I realized that with all the busyness of fostering and life, I've just been maintaining my house, maintaining my clutter and maintaining my schedule. Well, it's time to overhaul some things and I've been taking some hard looks at all of those and my school year resolution is PEACE. I want a manageable schedule, minimal clutter and lots of family time. I'm committed to giving it my best shot.