The StanClan is good

I can't believe that almost a month has passed since I wrote.  What a month.  Every day I would think I need to write, to share how God continues to work in our lives on a daily, hourly, every second.  Computer problems, sleep problems, etc., and now I at least have a new computer.  Love the click of the keyboard under my fingers.  Not the same with the iPhone.  BG circles at my feet and is distracted momentarily by a toy.  N scours the ToysRus newspaper ad.  He fits in well around here.  Enjoyed having little ones for Halloween although BG did not cooperate for her kitty costume at all.  Spiderman did great wearing his but he was very choosy about which homes he would go up to.  Made the circle around the block and that was enough.  He came home, ate a couple of pieces of candy and said he was ready for jammies.  Madeline & Brianna took Camille and a friend around the neighborhood. Todd took Lucas and a friend.  All in all a divide and conquer method that seems to work best for us.
We went to foster care training on Saturday.  Irving Bible Church has an awesome foster/adoption ministry called Tapestry and they do a conference every year.  Excellent workshops and a great way for us to get in some hours towards our 30 hours of training a year.  One of the things that stood out to both Todd & I was that one of the speakers mentioned how foster/adoption can often alienate families from friends and extended family.  This is so not the case with us.  God has drawn close friends even closer and brought a friend, Helen, even closer.  I think part of it is that I am more willing to ask for help than when its just the 3 hatched kids.  Ultimately, I praise God for the huge support system we have.  I couldn't have made it thru these last 2 months or even the past year without everyone's help. 
Some days I am exceptionally tired.  I think about how easy it is with just 3 kids, especially 3 who are so self sufficient.  I get frustrated when N is sick and here I am taking care of someone else's sick kid.  Then God sends me sweet reminders.  Camille sitting at the table making a get well card for N.  Laying in bed with Mad after she returns from homegroup to tell me that she asked for prayers that we would be good role models for N.  This weekend when all of a sudden BG has bonded with Buddy.  Warms my heart.  Thank goodness for these reminders.  And that's how we do it.  Friends, family, prayers, some tough times mixed with sweet blessings.The stanclan is good.