Dad--part 3

So let me tell you the real reason dad and Pam came to visit this past weekend. At church, my friend Kim started a manners class for 2nd-5th grade girls. It was wonderful for the girls. Before she started it, she talked to me about wanting to end the class with a father/daughter dinner. Of course, my first thought went to my girls...what would they do? What would they think? Are they going to feel bad? I panic easily...but then I get myself together. They will be ok. The Lord has us in our specific situation at this specific time for a reason. He WILL take care of us in every way. So....I called my dad and asked if he would like to come and take the girls. Then I contacted my uncle (my dad's brother) Scott and asked if he would take the girls. They were happy to.

The girls LOVED it!!! They had so much fun with their grandpa and uncle. Thank you Lord for these men...thank you that they step in when needed. The Lord has given us so many great friends. There are many men in our church, or other uncles we could have called if dad and Scott couldn't have come. Thank you Lord for taking care of us and caring about the details in our lives!

Some high school girls came in and did the girls' hair and nails before the dinner....they had so much fun!!!

LOVE IT!!!

And the award goes to....

Well, if we are talking about the "Mother of the year" award, I lost that a LONG time ago, but yesterday was yet another example of why I lost that award! Let me tell you a little story. We have to flash back to five years ago. Five years ago, we had a little 8 year old girl that had been in our home a week and had one more week to be in our home before returning to her foster/adoptive home. We felt that we should get another girl in our home before B left, that way she could learn better how to live with siblings. Well, that afternoon Autumn called me. I, unfortunately, do not remember the exact conversation, but it was something like this: Autumn: "Remember that little M that is in the shelter?" (Autumn worked at the shelter and we had been praying about whether to get M or not) Me: Yeah (a little hesitation, LOTS of excitement, lots of nervousness) Autumn: Well, we can get her Me: Tonight? Are you kidding? But RaeAnn (our very very good friend) just had her baby and we are going to the city to see her, and she is so whiny, are you sure? Autumn: It's okay (she is so calm)...we can just take her for the weekend, and if it doesn't work out, then we can take her back on Monday Me: Like a pass? Autumn: yes Me: Okay. We can do a weekend pass What I figured out later, and just confirmed right now as I write this, is that Autumn never just signed her out on a pass. She signed her out for good. Smart Autumn knew that we were not going to take her back. And don't get me wrong...it's not like I just thought we could take a kid and try them out then take them back. That isn't the mindset I had. It was just so overwhelming to me at that time to get a phone call and know that just a couple of hours later, you would welcome in a child for who knows how long. And to know that we needed to get things for her. Tooth brush, undergarments, clothes, school things. She came with the clothes she had on (that matched), and then a couple of other pieces of clothing, but none of them matched. It was overwhelming to me to think about what we needed to get, and what kind of story does this girl have. It was overwhelming to not know how she would react to anything we put before her. Now, looking back on that situation, I thank the LORD that he shows us JUST enough for us to handle. Can you imagine the shock I would have felt if in that phone call Autumn said, "I am bringing home the girl that will be your daughter forever, and we will soon get her other sisters, and here is all of the terrible things she has faced..." Thank you Lord that all I knew at that time was that we were getting her for a weekend pass. That is all I could handle. Autumn called on her way home and told me that it was going to be a REALLY long night taking M to see RaeAnn and the new baby because M was so wild on the ride home. Oh great...oh great...oh great! We found out two things about M that night: 1-She would run into ANYONE'S arms, jump up and hug them...ANYONE...it doesn't matter if we know them or not. 2-when a tv is on, she sits VERY still, when there is not a tv on, she is all over the whole room...RaeAnn's room had a tv! So, why am I not getting the award you may ask? Well, flash forward to this week. When we tell the girls when their anniversaries are, I say that M's is March 30th. So, I knew that Friday is April 1, so Thursday is M's anniversary...March 30. On Tuesday evening, we were doing doing homework, and M's homework had to do with the number of days in the first three months of the year. That is when we realized that there are 31 days in March. Well, that is all fine, but we had it in our heads that M's anniversary is the last day in March...March 30. So, now we are in a pickle...is it the 30, which is the number that stuck in my head, or the last day of the month, the 31st? We were pretty convinced that it was the last day of the month, so we explained to M our mix up, and that her anniversary is really the 31st. On Wednesday morning, M was frustrated easily, and obviously upset about something, but really, mood swings are not unusual, so we did not think too much about it! I got to work and quickly got a call from Autumn...she had looked on facebook and realized something. It was B's (RaeAnn's baby that is now 5) birthday! That meant that March 30 REALLY was her anniversary! I think we go through that every year, and I think probably next year we will do the same thing...30 or 31!!! We felt AWFUL! I mean really, what mother forgets the day she got her child? Good grief! I decided to go to the school and let M know it was her anniversary so she could enjoy it. Thankfully, our school administration is so good and let me go talk to her. I pulled her out of class, and her whole countenance showed that she was having a bad day. I asked, "What's wrong?" She replied, "Well, I'm just sad cause I thought today was my anniversary!" THAT is the reason for the bad mood this morning! So I started jumping up and down and celebrating telling her it IS today! There we were, in the middle of the school hallway, both jumping up and down and laughing with joy! Next year...anyone reading this please help us remember when we second guess ourselves, that it is NOT the last day of the month...it is the 30th! Also, we have decided that after we celebrate 5 anniversaries with them, they get to give them away. Now, don't worry, we will still celebrate them on that day, but we will do it differently. Instead of the focus being only on them, they get to do something for someone else. So we can celebrate them by giving back. So many people have helped us along the way in SO many different ways...we can help someone else. It might be that they make cookies for the kids in a shelter, or buy a game or something for a foster family, the ideas are endless, but our hope is that when they are older...when their anniversary time comes along, they will use that date to be intentional about helping others. We are so excited about this...H is so excited about this...M was a little sad at first to give away her anniversary, but now that she understands it better, she is excited too! I am forever thankful that the Lord brought my daughter into my life 5 years ago! Thank you Lord for the way you have worked in her life and used her to bless others!

Dad--part 2

I knew dad and Pam were coming to town, and I KNEW I wanted him to bring his guitar so we could get pictures. These pictures are invaluable to me. Seriously. I remember growing up listening to my dad play this guitar...the guitar is older than I am. There are certain things in life...smells, food, sounds, whatever, that brings comfort to a soul. Dad's playing the guitar is definitely comfort to my soul. I LOVE it! The girls really haven't been able to hear him play the guitar that much, so I wanted them to hear him and I wanted pictures. Dad got his guitar out and started to leave the case in the trunk of the car. I wanted it out. Why? Because I love that old case too. We weren't allowed to touch the guitar really. I mean, we just knew not to, and that is why it is in such good shape still. However, the case, yeah, we could touch it. I don't know why I love this case, but I do.

Do you know my two favorite songs for him to play on this guitar? One: Amazing Grace. Probably not a surprising choice. And the second song: Abilene.

Yes, Abilene.

"Abilene, Abilene...Prettiest town that I ever seen. People there don't treat you mean in Abilene, my Abilene."

That was his first song to learn on that guitar, and I LOVE it!!!

This is one of my other favorite memories and I am so happy the girls got a chance...strumming the guitar.

Her hands look so small in his hands! I LOVE IT!!!

Can you just see the hundreds of questions in her eyes? I can.

I have tried to express how thankful I am for these pictures, but I just can't express it...I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!

Dad--part 1

We have gotten to visit my parents the last 2 weekends in a row. We went to see them, and then they came to see us. I will tell you details about those visits in a minute. First, I would like to say that after visiting with my dad this past weekend, I realized something...I should not post stories that demonstrate me making bad decisions. For example, in the future, if I run over any animals while driving and I close my eyes like I always do...you will not see a post about it. Dad doesn't like to read about things that may cause a little danger to his daughters or granddaughters. So I will no longer post those! We had great visits with my parents. I am so thankful for these visits. SO thankful! Let me tell you a bit about them. Last Sunday, we left right after church, ate sandwiches we had packed while we flew down the road...I mean drove safely under the speed limit down the road for 5 hours, and made it just in time to surprise dad right before his deacon ordination. You see, my dad has been a pastor for 25 years, and before that, he was a music and youth minister. My parents moved to their town a while back...trusting the Lord, but not knowing fully what he has in store for them. Their heart is to fully invest in their grandchildren and to be obedient to the Lord in whatever He brings their way. Right now, at this moment, it means being a deacon in their church. Let me just tell you how absolutely PROUD I was of my dad as he was ordained. They do a question/answer time, where any deacons and then members of the church can ask dad any question. I would be a nervous wreck. Dad was calm. I was so glad I got to hear his answers...he is so smart! Autumn definitely takes after him! At that moment, listening to his answers, I realized how incredibly blessed I am. He sat up there answering questions about the Bible and his views on everything...he is the same man up there answering those questions that I saw at home. He is not perfect. He has never claimed to be perfect. He doesn't know everything. He never claimed to know everything. He strives in everything he does to please the Lord...he strives to be obedient to what God calls him to do. One of the questions they asked dad was, "What do you believe to be your spiritual gifts?" My dad quickly answered that teaching was one of his strongest. I totally agree. He loves to learn and LOVES to teach and will MAKE SURE that you understand and learn...you might guess that it sometimes took/takes me longer than other people to understand! Dad said one of the greatest statements about teaching...he said, "Part of what makes a good teacher is to remember what it is like not to know." Yeah. That is powerful. To remember what it is like not to know...not to think how dumb that person must be for not getting it...but to remember what it is like not to know, then we can teach so much more effectively! I loved being there for the ordination. I do have pictures from that night, and I will post those, but I was in the mood tonight to post these! I have more to write about him and about our visits. That will wait...this will do for now!

This is my favorite one! I love the way everyone is looking at him, and I LOVE that guitar...yes, I will post more on that guitar later!

My friend Syndi wanted to come along on our little photo shoot, so I put her to work and got in a shot! Thanks Syndi!!!

LOVE my dad!

Funny conversations

There have been several funny conversations Autumn or I have had with the girls and I keep forgetting to write them on here. I have posted a lot of them on facebook, so some of you may have seen them before, but this post is really more for my memory than for your entertainment, but don't worry, you will probably be entertained along the way!


A couple of weeks ago, I was in the car with just the two little girls (they will forever be the little girls I think). Any time we have just two of the girls together, there are different dynamics. Most of the time, when it is just the little girls, they are partners in crime. This particular afternoon, they were both in the mood to pick at each other. S asked me a question and A answered her question. S was not satisfied with her sister answering the question, she wanted ME to answer the question. I, however, was completely satisfied with the sister answering the question, so I chose to keep silent. Here is what I heard:
S: Didn't hear you...didn't hear you...didn't hear!!!
A: Yes you did!
S: Didn't hear...didn't hear...
A: Yes you did HEAR, but you didn't UNDERSTAND. Hearing and understanding are two different things!!!
Wise words A!

Autumn saw something funny one of the girls said that I had posted on facebook one day. She came to me.
Her: I didn't know that happened.
Me: Oh, I didn't tell you that?
Her: No, when did that happen?
Me: Remember when I was giving the girls a bath and I started laughing really really hard and loud? You didn't hear me laughing?
Her: Trinity, you laughing is nothing new....no, it doesn't stick out to me!

A came home one day from school thinking a LOT about presidents. And when I say thinking, just know that she thinks out loud with a ton of questions! One of the most interesting questions:
A: Was Abraham Lincoln killed with a gun?
Autumn: Yeah I guess so.
A: ....or a basketball?
Autumn laughed and then came and told me about it. That's when she got it. Mrs. Sprague told A that Abraham Lincoln got shot. I guess she thought of two things you could shoot...a gun and a basketball! Hmmm....wonder what the poor girl thought when we took her to basketball games!

The girls were getting ready one day and A was moving very very slow. M gave her a little encouragement: Hurry up, A...you move slower than my grandma! Oh wait...my grandma moves pretty fast. Nevermind!

Bargain

Our family loves a good bargain. I do most of the clothes shopping. Actually, we have very good friends that hand down their clothes, so I don't do a ton of clothes shopping, but we like to shop. I do not like to spend very much at all on clothes. Really. I don't buy much unless it is on sale or consignment. That's just how we are. My mom loved a bargain, and my dad is wise and resourceful in spending his money. Autumn spends who knows how many hours doing research on different products and places...finding the best deals and such. Our family loves a good bargain. When we find a bargain, we talk about it for a long time, get really excited...we LOVE a good bargain!

Knowing all of this about our family makes this story even better.

I wonder how many funny things I miss that the girls say because I am totally zoned out. I zone out easily when I am driving, but this particular night, I was listening...thank goodness because it was funny. We were driving in the dark home from AWANA, all six of us telling stories from each of our evenings. The first funny conversation is as follows?
A: (tattling) Trinity...M had beer!
Me: WHAT?
A: M said she put beer on her hand!
Me: WHAT???
M: A...I did NOT put beer on my hand! My finger was hurt, so I put alcohol on it...NOT the same thing!!!
Oh man, did we ever crack up at this one!!
When I laugh so hard, one of the girls always seem to ask if that one is going on facebook...yes darling...went on facebook AND the blog!
As we were approaching the house and my mind was moving to all of the things that needed to get done to get everyone to bed, A spoke with a little concern in her voice.
A: Trinity, how much money did you pay her for us?
Me: What? Pay who?
A: Mama C...how much did you give mama C for us? Or did she give you money for us?
Me: No, she did not give us money for you...and we did not give her money for you. We got you for free!
H: Yeah, they just got us from the orphanage right?
Me: Well, kind of.
H: But do some kids at the orphanage get paid for?
Autumn: Well, there are some kids in an orphanage where there parents have died or can't take care of them, and people might pay some money to the orphanage to help pay for travel, medicine, and such. But we didn't do it that way.
A: We were a bargain!
S: (she calls herself mommy's little piggy) Mommy's little piggy is a bargain!
A: Mama's horse is a deal!
So we joked and were excited in what a bargain they were! Yes, I know that our girls are priceless...I know you can't buy love...I realize all of these things. We were just having fun with our situation. We figure that with a situation as different as ours...you might as well just have fun with it! And I LOVE it that my girls count it an honor to be considered a bargain!!!

hmmm...can't think of a good title

I couldn't think of a good title. Sometimes I feel very creative, but right now just isn't that moment. We went out one afternoon to do a girl's senior pictures. While she was changing clothes, I got a few of us...the other girls were in the car playing a game or drawing. Emily came along with us. She has become an honorary Tinsley sister! However, she is exactly 10 years older than M and exactly 10 years younger than me, so I'm not sure which generation of Tinsley sisters she fits with! We love Emily!!!

Few pics from the wedding

Finally...some pictures from the wedding...my cousin Marci's wedding! Now, I will say that I made a choice during all of the wedding festivities. My choice was to put down my camera. I chose very specific times to pick up my camera and times to put it down. Marci asked me to take pics of the girls getting ready, but other than that I got very few shots. Her photographer looked like she got awesome shots. Yes, I could have clicked away all night, but you see, I have a problem. When I pick up my camera, I see awesome things through the lens, but that's just it...I see them through the lens, and therefore, I miss out on the being in the moment. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE seeing things through the lens...it is very fulfilling, but I miss out on just being there. So...I made the choice to get some shots, then put the camera down and enjoy being the cousin of the bride! Here are a few of what I got:

Parents of the bride...Aunt Becky and Uncle Robert were so gracious to feed us just about every meal while we were down there...like they didn't have anything else to do! They made the whole weekend so fun, and my aunt Becky was so thoughtful...she had special wedding plates and napkins for the meals, baskets of snacks and prizes for our hotel, and so many other special touches. They are so sweet to our girls and we love them so much!
The girls LOVED watching the beautiful bride and all of the bridesmaids get ready. They were in awe.

She was beautiful!

Let's just say that cousin B has lots of little mother hens ready to help at all times. He sometimes loves the help and sometimes not so much. However, he is much more likely to let "his girls" help than he is his aunt TT right now...boo! Hopefully that is a short stage!

They got that tie on just right!

My cousins are really more like having a few more sisters. "Cousin" seems so distant...we are close cousins....we love each other so much....It was so much fun to spend time together, although we were missing a cousin due to her little girl's illness. I have beautiful cousins!

BEAUTIFUL mother of the bride!

Cousin B kept going up to Marci the bride and my girls and telling them they were beautiful princesses! He came up with that one on his own....sweet boy!

Thanks to aunt Bethany for coming to the rescue on the hair! I curled the girls hair before we left the hotel, but while I was taking pics, Beth did the final touches!

They felt so pretty!