Tonight Reese and I went to the grocery store. Usually I make an effort to go when he is not with me because it is easier that way. At first he was talking loudly. I don't mind that, as a matter of fact, I think that it is sweet that he babbles so empathicly. The longer we were in the store, it turned into loud fussing. He was hungry and tired. I got to the dairy section and picked up a small can of biscuits. (By this time Reese has been fussing really loudly for 15 minutes.) I put the biscuits in the cart. He proceeded to take the biscuits out of the cart and started eating the can. EUREKA! He giggled and chewed on those biscuits the rest of the trip. I hated to take them away from him in the check out lane.
Next time you need a quick fix in the grocery store, grab a can of biscuits!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Walking in Memphis
Well, we are not technically walking in Memphis. At the moment I am sitting and Reese doesn't know how to walk. Reese is actually sleeping. I guess he has adjusted to the change of time zone well because we still have 30 minutes before he would be awake at home.
We could not have been more proud of him yesterday. He was a trooper dealing with the airport, the plane, and all the craziness of settling into a new place for a few days. Even the TSA people at ATL commented about how cute and sweet he was. You know those TSA people aren't always friendly especially at 8:30 am in the country's busiest airport. I guess this is why it surprised me when two different sets of people asked to be moved from the seats behind us on the plane.
Reese got a little fussy in the terminal, but that was because it was time to eat. He is always a little fussy at meal times, especially if you don't feed him fast enough. Once we boarded we gave him some snacks and a bottle and he was good. I was very concerned about his ears, but it didn't seem to bother him. He never got upset, but was excited and laughed a lot. If you have ever been around this child, you know everything he does is full speed ahead... even laughing. He was a little loud, but that is the sweetest sound to me.
We started out with a man behind us and before we even took off, he asked to be moved. Soon two ladies were behind us. About half way into the flight we realized that they had moved also. I am not sure why, they missed seeing my sweet baby sleep. He went to sleep about half way through the flight which was his regular nap time.
He was a real trooper yesterday and had a lot of first experiences. You can check out his blog to see the photos of those. Well, it is time to feed the Reese man then we're off to Mississippi to the outlet mall. (Bryan is playing golf. We'll do some serious tourist stuff when he returns!)
We could not have been more proud of him yesterday. He was a trooper dealing with the airport, the plane, and all the craziness of settling into a new place for a few days. Even the TSA people at ATL commented about how cute and sweet he was. You know those TSA people aren't always friendly especially at 8:30 am in the country's busiest airport. I guess this is why it surprised me when two different sets of people asked to be moved from the seats behind us on the plane.
Reese got a little fussy in the terminal, but that was because it was time to eat. He is always a little fussy at meal times, especially if you don't feed him fast enough. Once we boarded we gave him some snacks and a bottle and he was good. I was very concerned about his ears, but it didn't seem to bother him. He never got upset, but was excited and laughed a lot. If you have ever been around this child, you know everything he does is full speed ahead... even laughing. He was a little loud, but that is the sweetest sound to me.
We started out with a man behind us and before we even took off, he asked to be moved. Soon two ladies were behind us. About half way into the flight we realized that they had moved also. I am not sure why, they missed seeing my sweet baby sleep. He went to sleep about half way through the flight which was his regular nap time.
He was a real trooper yesterday and had a lot of first experiences. You can check out his blog to see the photos of those. Well, it is time to feed the Reese man then we're off to Mississippi to the outlet mall. (Bryan is playing golf. We'll do some serious tourist stuff when he returns!)
Monday, April 20, 2009
It was a crying day
A friend posted this article on her blog this weekend. It was written by a man in her church for the Elk Grove Citizen (Elk Grove, CA). It is definitely worth sharing.
Many of us have friends and family serving in the military. Personally, my nephew and brother-in-law both have served in Iraq. I couldn't help but think of them when I read this.
It was a crying day
Published: Friday, April 17, 2009 7:59 AM PDT
Every day at the Air Force Theatre Hospital has been a little different for me. I’ve had rewarding days. I’ve had boring days. I’ve had angry days. I’ve had indifferent days. I’ve even had a few happy days.
However, in the three months I’ve been here, I haven’t really had a crying day.
Last week, I finally cried. There had been so many reasons to shed tears on this 120-day deployment, but as precious as water is in the desert, I suppose I thought I needed to conserve them until the end.
The tears started as I sat at my office desk. I think they caught my chaplain assistant off guard.
What had brought the tears? Both of us had a lot of guesses. Perhaps my tears came while thinking of the soldier who recently lost his arms and legs. Both he and his battle buddy had been “med evac’d” out of the country so quickly that none of us really had time to cry for them.
As quickly as they left, another wounded squad arrived to replace them. They too, had been blown apart by an IED. Among them was a wounded medic who was tearfully asking if she had done everything possible to save her battle buddy -- an expectant father. He had pled with her to save him even as he bled to death.
Or were my tears for her other battle buddy who lay in a nearby bed begging me to explain God’s purpose in all of this? His shoulders heaved as he asked for a new Bible to replace the one that had been blown up. Could I share with him a purpose?
Perhaps the tears were for the soldier who told me last month that he was worried he’d grown used to killing insurgents. His eyes moistened as he told me how his parents saw him as a hero. “They wouldn’t call me a hero if they knew what I do,” he declared. “Is it normal to see killing as routine?” he asked. I assured him that he wasn’t crazy or he wouldn’t have come to me. While some of my tears were for him, I was likely thinking of my son who joined the Marines two years ago. “Dad, we’re learning to kill from 500 yards,” he wrote from boot camp, “Is it wrong to kill?”
I answered him with an ancient scripture: “There is a time to kill.” Sometimes we are compelled to eradicate evil with deadly force. In so doing, we run a risk of destroying our own moral fiber.
In the process tears will come. They are a way of protecting our core being. If we didn’t shed tears for such horrendous losses, we wouldn’t be human. That’s the simple difference between the “good guys” and the “bad guys” -- we cry when we are forced to use violence, they don’t.
As I considered my tears, it occurred to me that maybe they were proud tears. We were asking so much of our young heroes. Most of them knew the price they’d pay and many of them had overpaid. “You going to be alright?” my chaplain assistant asked as the office phone rang.
It was the ICU. The soldier who asked about the purpose of all this wanted to see me again.“I want you to pray, chaplain” he said. “I want you to pray for the insurgents that did this.”
“What should I pray?” I asked.The soldier responded by telling me to pray the prayer that Jesus prayed from the cross,” – “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
I’m not sure I’m finished crying.
Chaplain Norris returns home next month and will be available to do community speaking. Feel free to contact him at Norris@thechaplain.net or write him at Norris Burkes P.O. Box 19522 Sacramento CA 95819-0522
No matter where you stand on the war, our men and women (someones brother, son, nephew, father, husband) are putting their lives on the line because they chose to. They deserve our prayers and support. They make sacrifices everyday so that we don't have to. Many of them make the ultimate sacrifice.
We can not imagine the things that they see and live with everyday. Pray for their safety and that God gives them a way to process the things that they deal with. Next time you see a solider, offer them the honor and respect that they deserve.
Many of us have friends and family serving in the military. Personally, my nephew and brother-in-law both have served in Iraq. I couldn't help but think of them when I read this.
It was a crying day
Published: Friday, April 17, 2009 7:59 AM PDT
Every day at the Air Force Theatre Hospital has been a little different for me. I’ve had rewarding days. I’ve had boring days. I’ve had angry days. I’ve had indifferent days. I’ve even had a few happy days.
However, in the three months I’ve been here, I haven’t really had a crying day.
Last week, I finally cried. There had been so many reasons to shed tears on this 120-day deployment, but as precious as water is in the desert, I suppose I thought I needed to conserve them until the end.
The tears started as I sat at my office desk. I think they caught my chaplain assistant off guard.
What had brought the tears? Both of us had a lot of guesses. Perhaps my tears came while thinking of the soldier who recently lost his arms and legs. Both he and his battle buddy had been “med evac’d” out of the country so quickly that none of us really had time to cry for them.
As quickly as they left, another wounded squad arrived to replace them. They too, had been blown apart by an IED. Among them was a wounded medic who was tearfully asking if she had done everything possible to save her battle buddy -- an expectant father. He had pled with her to save him even as he bled to death.
Or were my tears for her other battle buddy who lay in a nearby bed begging me to explain God’s purpose in all of this? His shoulders heaved as he asked for a new Bible to replace the one that had been blown up. Could I share with him a purpose?
Perhaps the tears were for the soldier who told me last month that he was worried he’d grown used to killing insurgents. His eyes moistened as he told me how his parents saw him as a hero. “They wouldn’t call me a hero if they knew what I do,” he declared. “Is it normal to see killing as routine?” he asked. I assured him that he wasn’t crazy or he wouldn’t have come to me. While some of my tears were for him, I was likely thinking of my son who joined the Marines two years ago. “Dad, we’re learning to kill from 500 yards,” he wrote from boot camp, “Is it wrong to kill?”
I answered him with an ancient scripture: “There is a time to kill.” Sometimes we are compelled to eradicate evil with deadly force. In so doing, we run a risk of destroying our own moral fiber.
In the process tears will come. They are a way of protecting our core being. If we didn’t shed tears for such horrendous losses, we wouldn’t be human. That’s the simple difference between the “good guys” and the “bad guys” -- we cry when we are forced to use violence, they don’t.
As I considered my tears, it occurred to me that maybe they were proud tears. We were asking so much of our young heroes. Most of them knew the price they’d pay and many of them had overpaid. “You going to be alright?” my chaplain assistant asked as the office phone rang.
It was the ICU. The soldier who asked about the purpose of all this wanted to see me again.“I want you to pray, chaplain” he said. “I want you to pray for the insurgents that did this.”
“What should I pray?” I asked.The soldier responded by telling me to pray the prayer that Jesus prayed from the cross,” – “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
I’m not sure I’m finished crying.
Chaplain Norris returns home next month and will be available to do community speaking. Feel free to contact him at Norris@thechaplain.net or write him at Norris Burkes P.O. Box 19522 Sacramento CA 95819-0522
No matter where you stand on the war, our men and women (someones brother, son, nephew, father, husband) are putting their lives on the line because they chose to. They deserve our prayers and support. They make sacrifices everyday so that we don't have to. Many of them make the ultimate sacrifice.
We can not imagine the things that they see and live with everyday. Pray for their safety and that God gives them a way to process the things that they deal with. Next time you see a solider, offer them the honor and respect that they deserve.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Info on visit with birth mom
Our case worker just called to give us an update. She visited with BM on Wednesday at the jail. Unfortunately, at this point she is still adamantly opposed to relinquishing her rights. She says that she is going to get herself together and get her baby back. She believes that she will be able to make bond within a few months and will then have a period of time before she is sentenced on her charges and returns to prison. The case worker says that BM told her that she didn't do all the things they have her charged for. According to the Guardian Ad Litem, this is always the case. BM never believes that she actually did the things the police catch her doing. When she is charged, she will be serving at least a few years. The sheriff's department has told us that it could be 5-15 years, but some of that could be suspended down to probation.
Crystal, our caseworker, assured us that this is typical with birth parents. BM can still chose at any time to relinquish. Please continue to pray that she will realize that this is best and make that decision. With BM's track record, we have no reason to believe that anything is going to change in her personal life. I hate that for her, but I also know that even if she does make that effort, she will be in prison. No matter how sincere she is, she can not parent from prison.
The formal complaint is scheduled to be filed on May 20th unless she relinquishes before then. Thank you for your prayers and please continue!
Crystal, our caseworker, assured us that this is typical with birth parents. BM can still chose at any time to relinquish. Please continue to pray that she will realize that this is best and make that decision. With BM's track record, we have no reason to believe that anything is going to change in her personal life. I hate that for her, but I also know that even if she does make that effort, she will be in prison. No matter how sincere she is, she can not parent from prison.
The formal complaint is scheduled to be filed on May 20th unless she relinquishes before then. Thank you for your prayers and please continue!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
No news
We have no news for now about the adoption. Our case worker has been out of the office so she has not been able to meet with BM yet. Please continue to pray!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Update on Reese
You may have noticed that it has been a couple of weeks since I last posted. There are many reasons for that, but the main one is a sick baby. Last week we had our first round of the stomach bug. NO FUN!!! We had 6 days of nasty poo poo. Nasty, runny poo poo.
There was no time to write because I had to bathe Reese every time he pooped due to the fact that it was running down his legs. We visited the Dr. and got some dietary supplements that were pretty much a wonder drug! I will give it up for Culturelle! We used it for two days. Almost immediately solidified the stools and cleared up the problem in 2 days.
It is an understatement to say that we were very excited to get over this issue.
There was no time to write because I had to bathe Reese every time he pooped due to the fact that it was running down his legs. We visited the Dr. and got some dietary supplements that were pretty much a wonder drug! I will give it up for Culturelle! We used it for two days. Almost immediately solidified the stools and cleared up the problem in 2 days.
It is an understatement to say that we were very excited to get over this issue.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Prayer Warriors Needed: Adoption Update
This morning we had our monthly visits with both of Reese's case workers. The state is proceeding with the termination of parental rights. The formal complaint will be filed on May 20th. At that point the birth mother (BM) will have had 6 months to comply with the stipulations DSS gave her. She has failed to comply or attempt to comply with any of them.
Next week (probably Tuesday) our foster care worker will be visiting her at the county jail to let her know that the state is proceeding with the case. She will also let BM know that she has the option to relinquish her rights. By law she can not "talk her into" this, but she can offer the option. If, by the grace of God, she chooses to do this our process would move forward quickly.
Please pray that BM would consider this step. Pray that she will think about the best interest of Reese. Pray for Crystal (the case worker) that God would give her the words that she needs when dealing with BM.
Crystal is supposed to contact us after the visit. I will post as soon as we have more info.
God is good and He is in control!
Next week (probably Tuesday) our foster care worker will be visiting her at the county jail to let her know that the state is proceeding with the case. She will also let BM know that she has the option to relinquish her rights. By law she can not "talk her into" this, but she can offer the option. If, by the grace of God, she chooses to do this our process would move forward quickly.
Please pray that BM would consider this step. Pray that she will think about the best interest of Reese. Pray for Crystal (the case worker) that God would give her the words that she needs when dealing with BM.
Crystal is supposed to contact us after the visit. I will post as soon as we have more info.
God is good and He is in control!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)