Six Months

It's hard to believe that tomorrow marks six months since the girls came to stay at my house. It's also hard to believe that ever since they came to my house, all I have heard is "we are trying to get you home"...and yet, here they still are. To be honest, I actually don't think their mom appears to have done what she needed to do to get them back, but they could still be going back soon. I talked to the service coordinator on Thursday, and she said she thought it was important for me to go to court on Tuesday. I think I've watched too many court shows, because that makes me very nervous! Of course, I was CURIOUS as to what will happen in court and thought being a "fly on the wall" would be cool, but being in attendance with a possibility of having the judge talk to me is quite daunting!

Once again, the girls' mom "flaked out" on getting them for a visit yesterday...while I was at work. She loves pulling that when my family has to deal with the "fall out". However, this time we had discussed what needs to happen so we don't continue to enable her (like last Sunday when she "conned" us both into bringing the girls to her AND picking them up). I told her that if she couldn't come get them, then there would be no visit. Period. End of story.

I wasn't sure if she would really come to get the girls today and I volunteered to help with an event at the hospital, so I was a little worried. I did actually text her at 9:30 to make sure she was coming because I was supposed to be there between 9:30 and 10. She said she was on her way and I was very excited! The event at the hospital went really well (it was a location for the international "Help-Portrait" event :) ). I "only" stayed until 2 before going shopping with my aunt and cousin. My extended family decide to adopt the girls, their brothers, and their mom for Christmas. My aunt collected money and also gifts. They are going to have an AWESOME Christmas (seriously, my family went above and beyond and it really warms my heart). My one aunt got TONS of towels and house things for the mom and each of the kids is getting quite a few things, including hats, gloves, pajamas, toys and a flat iron, curling iron, and warm coat for the teen. Just amazing, and so sweet. I'm not sure if the girls will still be residents of my house come Christmas, but they will definitely be thinking about our family :)

Here's a few pictures of what we've been up to this last month--painting pottery, raking leaves, donating hair, going to homecoming, and putting up the Christmas tree.

All day long, I was thinking maybe I'll be okay when they go back home...and then when they got home, I was wondering what I'll do without them.

In other news, guy from church and I have had two "texting" conversations this week and then tonight talked for nearly 40 minutes...just sayin' ;)