Adoption is almost here!!

Well, like everyone I'm sure, life has so many twists and turns! I have felt like the past six months has especially been like that for my family. The journey of foster care and adoption has proven to be amazing and hard all at the same time! I have had days of wanting to curl up into a ball and hide from life in general and then days of utter joy and amazement for what God has truly blessed me with! Ty's case has been, in the words of our agency " completely unique". I know that everyone who walks down the path of foster care will have a different story, but our seems to be uniquely LONG! We have had many scarey points throughout this journey where I thought I would have to say goodbye to my son! Thankfully, we have a God who controls everything and knows whats best! I was recently put to one of the hardest tests so far in this journey with Ty. After his biological mom signed away her rights she asked to talk to me about a few things. I was of course a little apprehensive but I agreed! Now, let me also say that throughout these three years I have tried to establish a relationship with her to ease her fears about us and where Ty is living. So, that being said, I agreed to sit down and talk! She talked with Ty first and told him she wanted him to live with "Miss Rochelle" as she calls me and "Mr. Jeremy" because he is happy and likes it here. She told him she tried fighting but in the end did what she thought was best. Those words were very mature, and I'm sure, very difficult for her to speak. Then she turned and looked at me with tears in her eyes. I had all I could do not to join in the tears! She begged to see him more often then what we agreed on and expressed her deep desire to be apart of his life and our family. My heart completely broke for her! I knew in my mind why we established a plan for contact and how often it would be, but I still ached for her! She is giving me a gift that I could never pay enough for! The gift of her SON! And she she gave up her rights so that he would be happy and well taken care of! She will now have no more children in her home to call her own, how sad! I am reminding though of another person who did the same thing for the entire world! I'm not trying to compare this mother to our Heavenly Father in the least! But the act that Ty's mom did for our family reminded me of what Christ did so long ago! I take for granted this truth so often! I forget because life is busy and zooms by so fast! I forget to stop and thank my God for what he did for MY family! I was adopted into God's family because He sent his son for me! What love and sacrifice!! I wonder how Christ felt?! I can't exactly know, but I do know that adopting a child out of a sinful world and watching him grow and accept Christ's love it's a perfect example of WHY He did it! My son is a blessing and gift from the Lord and I am forever grateful for his Biological mom and the difficult choice she made for Jeremy and I.

Blessings

I love the song "Blessings" by Laura's Story because it talks about the way blessings from the Lord come into your life in the most unexpected ways! This has happened to me several times in the last month and it's amazing! Every foster parent knows that there is a "honeymoon" stage with each child you bring into your home! This stage of life with your new child is amazing! They are well-behaved, loving, caring, respectful and the list goes on. BUT, don't get too comfortable!! It doesn't last long! :) Once your child is comfortable with you, life has you have known it comes to a SWIFT hult! :) That is where we are at this current time with Nicholas! But you know, on our worst day of our foster parent "career" a girl in our church told me that her mom  called her and wanted to know if I was ok. She said she started to pray for me! She had no clue what was going on, just that the Lord burdened her to pray! That's what I call a "God thing" :) In that week I also got 2 cards from the most awesome aunts in the world saying they were praying and thinking about me as well(both with McDonalds giftcards for coffee!)!! All I can say is....WOW! God is good, all the time!! Even when all I want to do is hide in the bathroom and CRY my eyes out, He's there and loves me every step of the way! It's in those times that I can leave the bathroom, give the boys a hug and go on with my day! :) Parenting two 7 year olds is hard, but it will pay off! :)

A time to catch up

So it's been a long time since I've used my blog. I figured now with so much going on in our lives and people asking us how things are going, I should use this avenue to share with you our lives! It's been an amazing roller coaster ride lately at the Peck house! We have added a new addition to the family, Nicholas (age 7), and it's been a fun change. I can't tell you it's been easy, but we are managing pretty well considering! Tyrell likes having a playmate and he is a great "big Brother" :) I must say, Jeremy and I feel a little bit more experienced this time around then when we started out almost 2 years ago with little Tyrell!! Not to say that it's been a walk in the park, but we definitly know what to expect! Not only are we dealing with all of the new challenges that comes with adding a new foster kid, but we are also in the midst of court cases for Tyrell. It feels very overwhelming when I sit and think about it and all the possible outcomes that could come of this! We have had 2 court cases lined up, only to hear that they have been postponed for a later date. It's so hard to sit and wait but I know that it's in God's hands and I can't do anything about it! Jeremy and I just earnestly pray and I quote Rom. 8:28 A LOT to myself! :) Yesterday I had the "pleasure" of meeting Tyrell's biological mom. It was by far one of the hardest things I've ever had to do! To look someone in the eye who had the child that you love more than anything and you treat as your own is SO HARD. She talked to him about making a room and buying a bed and all this stuff she has for him at "home" . It was like a knife in my heart! I wanted to ball, but instead smiled and watched "my son" talk to his 2 "mom's" (he doesn't grasp what's going on at all, and I am so glad!!). I know God has a plan and purpose for all that goes on in our lives and it's so encouraging to know that He knows the outcome of all this drama with Tyrell's Court cases. I take comfort in watching him grow and change into a great little boy who loves the Lord and loves life! I love both of these little boys so much and count it a privildge that God allowed us to care for them!! Please keep us in your prayers as we wait!

Amber and I had an awesome visit! We spent one day at this cool place called 2000 Degrees where we made plates for each other! Of course, we did Daisies! :) I'm going to miss her SOOO much, but know she's going to be exactly where God wants her to be!

Summer Fun

We had a blast w/ my Cousins in Lancaster, PA. We went to a Pretzel factory where Tori and Jeremy were attempting to create the pretzel shape out of their dough ball! :) Then, Jeremy and Tori got bored w/ all of our shopping and found a swing set! :) Don't ya think we need kids?! haha

Jeremy and I were also lucky enough to house all the girls at our house! 3 teenagers and an 8 yr. old! FUN TIMES!! :)

Daisy

Sleeping with his blanket!!! He loves this one and always has!! :) Silly Boy!!

The Crazy Daisy would spend his whole day in the sink if we would let him!! He is in LOVE with water!! Weird huh?



The other part of the day he would spend climbing and eating the Christmas tree!! We never claimed he was normal! ;)

We have to leave all the blinds a few inched up so he can look out!!! I think it's so cute!!

Christmas activities with our teens!

The Teens came over Saturday night and helped to decorated a bunch of sugar cookies to give to the residents at our favorite nursing home!! They had a lot of fun!! I did too, but there was also a big mess!!! It's ok though, it's Christmas! :)

The Teens were also in charge of serving dinner to our church people for our Church Christmas party! Jeremy and I were in charge of catering the meal and the teens helped. Well....we got a "big" snow storm and the Sunday Morning Service got cancelled as well as the dinner. We were all bummed.....but, Dad decided to move it to the evening. SO.....Jeremy and I rushed to the store and all over creation and then came home and cooked a 4 course meal in about 4 hours!! It was CRAZY in our small apartment kitchen....but we did it and it turned out well!!!

The Peck's First Christmas Tree!

Our First Christmas Tree Together!
Jeremy and I decided to go get our Christmas tree on Saturday!! So, we headed to the farm and looked around until we found it....it was a very chilly day, but Jeremy got down and started sawing! It's such a pretty tree!! All the ornaments are from Jerem's 25 years of life and some are mine as well! :)