The Doty Bunch Year in Review 2009

So, for those of you whose snail mail address I don't have, I thought I would post my yearly rant on the blog as well. Special thanks to my BFF Jess for helping me put together the "Doty Bunch" image. Sometimes I have such a hard time putting together what I come up with in this always-thinking brain of mine. Enjoy!

This year I thought I’d start my Christmas letter out with a song. I have stolen the melody so as you sing it in your head, please use the tune to the theme song of the TV show “The Brady Bunch”. Here goes…

Here’s a story…
Of a gal named Amy
Who got hitched to a guy named Kirk one day in May
And they had 4 kids
Kyle, Keaton, Abby
And lil’ Alexa Kay

Then they felt called to
Add to their happy family
And they knew it was much more than a hunch
Added Brianna and Hongru the Chinaman
And now no one ever asks them over for lunch

The Doty Bunch
The Doty Bunch
That’s the way we became the Doty Bunch


Aren’t I just the clever one? And just when you thought I couldn’t top the previous Christmas letter I go and get all creative once again. I even amaze myself sometimes.

So, on with all the news of 2009. Has been a very big year here at the Doty house. Additions and changes….all part of life but seems we had our fair share this year. One of our biggest additions this year was the addition of Brianna to our family. She came to us a couple days before Valentine’s Day thru the foster care system and appears she is going to be with us for quite some time. She is 9 years old and is in the 4th grade. She is all girl and loves to sing. Some mornings I feel like I am in the midst of a musical. Can cause some drama as she is pretty much the ONLY morning person here (myself included) and there is not much of a tolerance for singing so early in the morning. She is also enjoys art and is an excellent reader. She has adjusted to Doty Life quite well. We are glad to have her.

Our second addition came to us in August. My friend Callico is a supervisor for a student exchange program and had asked if we would be interested in hosting. Because our last bed available was in the boys’ room, we knew our newest member would need to be a boy. Hongru was who we chose and before we knew it, we added #6 to the crew. I have now gotten a taste of what it is like to feed a teenager (and am contemplating taking on a 3rd job to finance it!). He loves meat as he is “sick of rice and vegetables” as they eat a lot of that in China. His favorite place to eat is KFC and he tells us that the joke in China about KFC is that it stands for “Kentucky Fried Children”. Kind of morbid but funny in a sick way. He is also very studious and his language skills are much better than I had anticipated. I will often ask him to teach me some Chinese but I pretty much am awful at it and often will end up saying a completely different thing. One evening I was trying to get him to teach me how to say “Close your mouth” in Chinese as that is a frequent phrase I am in need of around here. Apparently I was saying “Close your legs” in my many attempts so figured that may not be the best phrase to have in my vocabulary and have since given up on Chinese. If I ever have a need for it, I will have to resort to just calling in a favor with my Chinese son. He is currently spending time applying to colleges as he wants to attend next year. He has applied at University of Chicago and Northwestern among his choices and speaks of coming “home” on the weekends if either of these choices work out, so he must not mind us all that much. He is happy that we are within a bike ride’s distance from the public library as I think the chaos is a bit much for him at times (went from being an only child to one of six!). It has been a positive thing all around having Hongru here. A good learning experience too. I am teaching him lots of English slang and he is teaching me SAT words so it’s a good arrangement. He’ll be here til the end of the school year when he graduates from Ridgewood Baptist Academy. That brings me to the next topic, as Hongru is not the only member of the family attending Ridgewood this year. After 4 years of homeschooling, Kirk and I decided to put the kids in school and they, too, are now attending Ridgewood. Had been a bit of an adjustment for everybody but overall has been a good choice for the family I think. So, my days have suddenly gotten different. I’ve still got Alexa here and she now thinks I need to be her constant playmate, but we have found some ways to keep her occupied. Grandma Pat takes her on Mondays so I can go and volunteer at the school so that is a highlight of her week. Wednesdays we go to my BFF Jessica’s house for a play day, and Daddy tends to be home on Fridays so she is not completely stuck w/ just Mama all day every day. Hard to believe Midge will be in Kindergarten next year! She is her mama’s daughter as she is Ms. Social and makes friends easily and often. She is a wild woman and has a ton of energy. She knows her alphabet and can write most of the letters so guess the eavesdropping of the previous homeschooling years has rubbed off. She’s a trip.

Abby is 8 and in 3rd grade this year. She was not happy about going to school as she loves her mama and wanted to stay home. Can’s say as I blame her cuz I am pretty awesome. Anyways, the first few months were a bit rough as she cried almost daily prior to school and followed me around in the mornings begging me to keep her home. Was feeling like a horrible mother every time she would climb out of the car and look at me with those big brown crocodile tear filled eyes . But, by October, she finally came to grips with it all and is now okay with it. I think it has helped going to volunteer in her classroom on Mondays and having lunch with her on Mondays at school. All her classmates are jealous that her mama brings her fast food every Monday. So, it’s all good. Abby is quiet out in public but at home she is a card. She is always coming up w/ these out-of-nowhere one liners that just crack us up. She is very particular and I will no longer buy her clothes without her present as she is far too picky and I will end up returning them anyways. Her favorite food is bacon and KFC chicken, all though you would not know it by looking at her as she is a bit of a twig. She gets good grades and I quite enjoy her.

Next to speak of is Keaton. He’s 11 this year and in 6th grade. He continues to be the funny guy and enjoys getting a charge out of people. His grades are good as well and he is playing on the Jr. High Basketball team. He has such a natural athletic ability and started in the game last week, which was a big deal to him. He has adjusted to the new school life well. He continues to play the drums and has taken up bass this year as well.

Kyle is now in 7th grade and turned 12 this past April. He, too, is playing on the basketball team at school. He is learning some tough lessons this year as it is a bit different being in 7th grade at school then homeschooling. So many more authorities to answer to than just Mom. He continues to enjoy anything audiovisual like movies and video games but not much time for them these days. He has to work harder at the school stuff and there are only so many hours in a day. But, he will get there….we will keep pressing on! He continues to play electric guitar and is still taking lessons. He and Keaton also play in a band thru the music studio. He has also gotten out to the land some w/ his dad, which he really enjoys.

Speaking of the land---we have had an addition out there. We just had a 40x60 pole building built out there, much to the delight of my hubby. We will have it for storage as well as the hopes of having a lumber mill of some sort in the coming years. Kirk continues to do some hunting out there as well and he took a buck a couple weekends ago. I had contemplated including the pictures of he and the kids cleaning the deer in the garage in my little picture collage, but figured it may not be something you would want to see or put on the fridge. But, was happy for the few dinners he provided. Several deer were taken at our property by friends and we also inherited a second deer to the freezer from one of them. Will help feed our many mouths. Kirk’s job has remained steady, but much less overtime than times past. The company has since put him back in the field and downscaled their work force. I am just glad he’s still got a job as I know many have lost their jobs in this economy.

Part of the economy-related decisions being made in the workplace may have contributed to my former employer’s (Edward Hospital) decision to sell our homecare division. This means I am no longer an Edward Hospital employee (after 12 years of service) and am now an employee of Residential Home Health. Has been a bit of a rough adjustment as changes like this affect the everyday operations and morale. Had to learn a completely new computer program and be part of working out new processes, but I still have a job with them. I continue to do the on-call triage with them for the time being. Their main office is out of Michigan and some of what I am doing is likely being shifted there but will just go along and see how it all plays out. I am able to continue to work from home with them, so I will ride that deal out as long as I can. I also decided to pick up a second job working a couple 12 hr shifts a month. The name of the place is Timberline Knolls and it is a residential treatment center for women and adolescent girls who suffer from things like eating disorders, substance abuse issues, mood disorders, self harming etc. My mom works there full time so it’s fun to be working at the same place. I work the adolescent side and I completely LOVE it! I really click with the girls and feel like this field is a good fit. Kind of funny that I initially took this job for a “mental break” to get out of the house a bit and it’s at a mental health facility. I leave 6 kids and go to work w/ 26 kids. But, I love it. It’s how God wired me. A lot of people don’t understand it. And that’s okay. Initially, when Kirk and I decided to do “the big family” thing this way, people thought we were crazy. Now, I kind of enjoy getting those reactions. It’s different and people find it interesting and it opens doors to discuss the reason why we do what we do. Simply put—it is what God has called us to do. Plain and simple. Like in Hongru’s case, he had never even heard of a Bible until he walked in my front door. And we have been able to show him first hand of what a powerful thing God’s love is by inviting him, a perfect stranger to us, live with us, come along side of him over the course of this year, and do it because of the love God gave us for him before we even knew him. I think if more people did that kind of thing, we could see big things happen. I don’t think having a kid from China in your home for a year is everyone’s calling, but just taking an interest in a person and showing love and concern without “getting something in return” speaks volumes. Funny thing is that we are getting LOTS in return. May not be in the form that people would deem as valuable (like money or gifts) but the pure knowledge of knowing that our actions could be impacting ETERNITY! How cool is that? (am I too old to use the word “cool”? I hope not.) But I think you get it…..

Well, this is a record. Four pages! If I continue to add family members to this house I am afraid it may only get longer every year, my friends. We would have to move as well as I am currently out of bedrooms and beds. If anyone hears of a hotel for sale, please let me know. I think my husband would prefer a llama farm instead of the hotel (His dream is to have a llama farm and now the kids are hooked on the idea---yeah, like I said, we are DIFFERENT!) I could also use a bus at this point too. We did test drive a shuttle bus this summer and two days later went to buy it and it was sold. I was bummed cuz I wanted to paint it like the Partridge Family bus, have “The Doty Family” painted down the side, and go on tour but guess that wasn’t what God had for us. I have mourned the loss and am now okay with it. But that would have been fun.

Well, guess I will close for now. If you would like to keep up with us during the year, you can always look me up on Facebook as I am a little addicted (admitting there is a problem is the first step---I learned that at the new job at the mental health facility) You can also subscribe to my blog which is www.homeschoolmom2four.blogspot.com. Now that I am not homeschooling I may need to reconsider the name of my blog but maybe in all my spare time I will get around to that someday.

So, from my family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas! God Bless you this upcoming year and always! With Much Love, The Doty Bunch

Count it all WHAT?

Mama, you were right. As you get older, time does pass quickly. Has been a month since I've tapped away at these keys to document some of what is floating around this brain of mine. Partially, because I've been busy and partially because I wasn't sure what would come out. Ever go thru one of those funks? When it seems like life is just kinda beating you up? Just when you don't think another frustrating thing could fit into your day----BLAMO! There it is? Kinda just getting over the hump of one of those kinda seasons at the moment. It has been exhausting to speak very honestly. And then when those moments or situations arise, what do you do? How to you handle it? I am wired in such a way that I'm maybe a little bit more emotional than some---to what degree would be in the eye of the beholder I suppose. But it is especially noticeable in matters of the heart.....my family and kids, my relationships with others, the feelings of needing to right-the-wrongs-around-me....you know, that kind of stuff. Was feeling pretty desperate for a way to "fix-the-funk" I found myself in and walked myself into the Christian bookstore about 3 Saturdays ago. Wasn't sure what I was looking for so when the smiling teenager sales clerk asked me if she could help me find something, all I could mutter was, "Well, I'm just looking...". Looking for what though? That's the question.
I guess I was hoping for a word from God. Only seems feasible that it could happen among all the numerous titles in a Christian bookstore, doesn't it? I wasn't totally sure that it would hit me but, lo and behold, it did. A book about eye level caught my attention and I knew right away it was what I was looking for. The title said it all...."Finding God's Path Through Your Trials" by Elizabeth George. Bingo. Read the overview on the back of the book and went and slapped down my $14.95on the counter and off I went. Now to find the time to read it....well, about an hour later I found myself sitting in a parking lot waiting for Hongru and he was running late. Hmmmm....just me, the book, and almost an hour of quiet time. Chance? Not thinking so. Read the first 50 pages and had to stop for there was so much there to chew on that I felt like I couldn't move on. The biggest theme seemed to talk of "finding the joy" in ALL situations. How the heck can ya do that? Seems like a tall order, doesn't it? I mean really--especially with all that I've currently got going on! But, the author reminded me to "Count it all joy---counting trials as joy is a matter of faith, not feelings." ugh... What does that really mean? Well, basically, life is full of trials. No one will be exempt so there are a number of ways to you can respond. You can give in to anger, depression, or discouragement--all of which I have been guilty of in recent times. OR---you can choose to surrender your attitude and outlook to that of a joyful one and turn it around. Makes sense--but can be a difficult thing to implement. But, as I sit here and think about that, I am, once again, determined. Determined to make today a better day than yesterday--one that is pleasing to God. It's a daily decision to live a life of joy---and, like everything, the decisions you make can affect not only you but those around you. So, for me, today I choose joy. Even when I've got to ask Kyle for the four thousandth time in 10 years to put his seatbelt on when I pick him up from school. I'm gonna do it today with a smile on my face....but, I can't vouch for tomorrow! LOL

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all tribulations.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Updates from the Doty Bunch

At the coaxing of my friend Amy, decided to sit down and blog. Has been far too long. Lots of happenings since the last posting. Hongru has been here about 6 weeks now and has done a fine job adjusting to our chaotic life. What a change for him---coming from his homeland as an only child and entering our not-so-typical American life and becoming one of 6. We have taught him some everyday slang and he has taught me some big English words that he has learned from one of the dozen SAT prep books he is working his way thru. Kinda funny. One of his first slang words learned is what "freaking-out" entails, which Keaton has graciously taught him (and showed him on way too many occasions). Hoping my child finds a more effective way to express his displeasure in the very near future but I am not holding my breath. For if I did, I would surely die....

We went to Disney for a nice long vacation. We've had this vacation planned for a long time and when we planned it, putting the kids back in school was not part of the plan so really the timing wasn't the greatest. Have been trying to play catch up ever since. Such an adjustment getting back into someone else's ideas of school and then throw in the mix taking off 2 weeks and make-up work, adjusting to having another family member, selling a rental house, and then the everyday stuff, and you will quickly see why it has been almost 2 months since I have blogged. Have also been fighting off illness amongst it all. So, just a couple things going on..... but I think we have finally climbed over the peak of the challenges. My mom has been a big help--coming over to help w/ homework some eves, taking a kid here and there to change up the "chemistry" here at the house, and such. So, she pretty much rocks. Maybe by March we will find a rhythm, have a few smooth sailing months, and then summer will be here and we will start all over again in August. Abby continues to cry at the thought of school, gives me the big crocodile tear look when she turns to walk into school, and insists that she is NOT going to school next year and that I will be homeschooling her once again. So, that gives you a little take on her opinion of our new changes. Gradewise, she's good--as is Keaton. My Kyle, on the other hand, is struggling and I have quickly found out that I am not smarter than a 7th grader. So, Kirk and I have been tag teaming him in the evenings and we are keeping our noses just above water. We are going to have him seen by an educational specialist in the coming weeks, I think, to see if there are some identifiable issues with him (namely dyslexia or an ADD kind of thing going on) or if he is simply uninterested, lazy, and/or unmotivated. Time will tell on that one....but he is hanging in there, as are we.
As I am reading back over this post, I sound kinda grumbly, don't I? Guess all my posts can't be roses. But, it's my reality. We all have seasons. Some are better than others. Some seasons are full of emergency room trips(like this week---Kyle ended up w/ stitches and Bri fractured her collarbone. SIGH!) and asking a kid for the umteenth time to pick up his dirty underwear off the middle of the bathroom floor. Others are full of games and giggles. It was never promised that all of life would always be good things. But, it's in those tougher times, that lately I muster up the effort to look at the good and I soon realize that 95 percent of whether or not things are "going well" for me is all based on my attitude and perception of a situation. As an example, morale at one of my jobs right now is awful and I wonder if I should just quit and be done with it. Then I think of the fact that some people right now don't even have a job and that puts it into perspective. Or maybe there is a day where my kids are dancing on my very last nerve and I just want to walk out the door and drive to Fannie Mae for some Pixies----lately, I've tried to look at the fact that I've been entrusted w/ 6 individuals and there are many couples out there who have not even been given the opportunity of parenthood at all. When I look in the mirror for the 30 somethingth year in a row and can't help but wish I could be thinner and there are those out there who are wasting away from malnourishment or, worse yet, a debilitating illness.....who would give anything to have my health. So much to be thankful for even in the trying times of life.....so, I choose to see it this way---well, that is my goal anyways! Doesn't always happen, but when it does, I find the biggest changes of a situation to be more in my own reaction and feeling on the matters rather than in the situational circumstances themselves. Go figure!

Just when you thought you had it all figured out....

A big decision made at the Doty household this week....the kids are going back to school. Now the question comes, do I change the name of my blogsite? Obviously, when I chose the www.homeschoolmom2four.blogspot.com, I never intended to quit homeschooling. But, Life has a funny way of changing things up on you----Kirk and I got to assessing everything currently going on and decided that putting the kiddies in private school this year would be the best thing. The boys have actually been asking for awhile to go to school. Abby isn't really hopped up on the idea but is going along w/ it. We came to the conclusion that since we were going to be driving to the school anyways to take Hongru, it would be a good time to try it. (It also is a nice perk that the school is offering half off tuition this year to try to increase enrollment since the economy took a toll on them....) So, we just came to this decision 3 days ago and school starts Friday so I've been running around getting school clothes and supplies, taking kids to placement testing, getting haircuts (which was a little less drama filled than I had anticipated as Keaton was very fond of his hair and had to cut it to go to the school---probably the difference between Dad taking him to cut it and me doing it. He now has gone to spiking it into a mohawk and seems okay w/ the change) etc. etc. etc. So, we will see how this set up works for us around here. We debated as to whether or not to put Alexa in their preschool program but decided to go ahead and keep her home one last year since she will be in kindergarten next year--which is INSANE to think my baby will be in school full time next year! So, that's that story....
What else? Hongru comes in 4 short days so the next couple days w/ be more organizing and cleaning to prepare. We are also still working out details to possibly be purchasing a 15 passenger "bus" (ya know--like a shuttle bus type vehicle). We went and test drove it last week and really like it. Just waiting to hear back from our insurance dude to find out if the rates would be ridiculous or not.I had posted on facebook about what I want to do if we buy this thing. I thought it would be fun to paint it up like the Partridge Family bus and put "The Doty Family" down the side of it. When I told Kirk my idea, he liked it but his response was "Sounds like an expensive paint job". Always pinching pennies when you've got all these mouths to feed. Maybe I could pick up some overtime to foot the bill.... We do have the minivan still and it can seat 8 but it's pretty cramped. Since our house is usually full of other people's kids, if we have even one extra, we are taking 2 cars everywhere so the shuttle bus would be nice. The only not so nice part is that it gets like 10 miles to the gallon but whatcha gonna do? So, we will see on that one...Darn it! Now that stupid Partidge family theme song is going thru my brain again...."Hello world It's a Song that we're singing...come on get happy!"
So, that's pretty much the lastest from our household.....just thought I'd jot the update on the schooling subject. Part of me is kinda sad about giving up the homeschooling really. I love being w/ my kids. We have been together pretty much 24/7 for the most part for the last 4 years so maybe it will allow them to spread their wings a litlte bit, which isn't such a bad thing. We will see how this year goes and decide if school is for them or if we will go back to the homeschooling. Hope this school knows what they are in for! If not, they are about to find out....LOL.

Is 8 really enough?

Well, in the event you have not captured my excitement on my facebook, we are adding another family member to the Doty household in 9 short days---or 9 sleeps as Midge puts it. We are getting an exchange student from China. How about that for mixing things up around here? We all have our weaknesses---some people go the the grocery store and come come w/ bags of junk food, some people go to the pet store "to look" and come home with a puppy. Not us! We bring in other people's kids to live with us and experience the everyday antics of the Dotys and I love it! So, I will post his picture here (w/ his permission and the permission of his parents). I think he will be a very good fit. We have been emailing for about a week now--daily pretty much. His education is his priority and he just informed me that he is reading a 1000 page book currently about American History. My fear is that he is going to know more about my country than I do---which is highly likely. He will be going on our Disney trip w/ us, which should be fun. He tells me there is a Disneyland in Hong Kong and one being built in Shanghai, but he has been too busy studying to take time to go. I don't think my children will ever utter the words "I am too busy studying to go to Disney World". I have heard on several occasions that they are too busy playing video games to do their schoolwork---but somehow just not quite the same LOL. I am hoping some of his studious ways will rub off on them...here's to hoping. So, we are busy preparing---doing little projects around the house and such. I just purged 3 kitchen garbage bags of clothing in hopes of making some closet room for him. We've gotten some strange looks when we mention we are adding #6 to the gang and that's okay. My life isn't for everyone. We just happen to enjoy being a little different. What makes me shake my head ever time is when someone hears that Kirk and I do foster care and now getting the foreign exchange student--they might say, "Wow! You really have your hands full!". My response is usually "Well, better than empty!". I am kinda sick I think cuz I have gotten to where I actually kinda enjoy when people have a negative thing to say about our choice to open our home to other people's kids. Maybe because I work at a mental health facility, I think I'm a psychologist now but I like trying to figure out why people respond the way they do when they hear our story. Yeah, we could live in a bigger house rather than spend $1500 a month to feed our crew. Yeah, we could drive a nicer car than the 9 year old minivan I am currently cruising Jefferson Street in. Yeah, I could go out on the weekends with friends to fancy dinners and movies rather than ordering pizza and waiting for the movie to come out on DVD cuz going to the theater costs us a half a day's pay by the time I pay a sitter. But, that is not who we are and I'm good with it. It's not to say that things are always smooth sailing and tidy. The battle w/ the house is often and constant, and yes, I do even get grumpy at times.... But, we are doing what we feel called to do and that's it. I think everyone would agree that King Solomon is the wisest man who ever lived and I was reminded this week that his view on a large family are very similar to my own views....

Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate

Psalm 127:3-5

So, having the same view as the wisest man that ever lived isn't such a bad thing, is it?

So, who knows what else, or rather WHO else, is going to come our way. All I know is that we are where we are suppose to be and the blessings are flowing!

I will try to keep this blog updated as we introduce Hongru to the not-so-typical American lives we lead.....

Stuff

Some kind of record...posting another ramble and it's only be a couple weeks since the last one....Go ME! But what to ramble about, that's the question....
Got a plan for the kiddies' schooling this fall. We are signed up to do Classical Conversations in Oswego. Attended a 3 day practicum a few weeks back and although alot of it was beyond me, alot made sense too. We got a jump start on some of the material--namely the memorization. There is nothing cuter that seeing your four year old recite the prepositions! Who would have thunk it? Turns out Midge is digging spouting off her fun facts. She can even tell ya the 5 kingdoms of living things, the classifications of living things, and the first 11 prepositions on our list. Not to shabby! If only I could get the 12 year old to do the same~ he's just not interested! Told him he better get busy or else next year he'll be doing it all over again! Not sure he believes me, but he will find out I am serious if he doesn't get it together! Time will tell on that one I guess....
What else? Keaton turns 11 this Wednesday which makes me feel completely old---we are gonna go to Dave and Buster's I think---can never play too many video games I believe. So, that should be fun. He had his buddies over for a overnighter Friday night. I did manage to get some sleep but I think they got very little. Gave them a donut for breakfast and it was all good. As they get older, finding the birthday parties are much easier as they want to do their own thing and so there is virtually no planning---which is fine by me. Maybe the rentals of party ponies are done now, huh? My babies are getting big! We actually left ALL of them home alone for the first real time (well, the first time ON PURPOSE anyways--but that's another story! LOL). Went to dinner w/ our good buddies Jess and Hector Saturday night and left 3 kids here and 3 kids at their house and to our delight didn't get a single phone call to say that one was pestering the other so that was a glimmer of hope that we are entering a new phase of being able to entrust them with a little more freedom. Hoping we can contiue to do that as I feel like we've been on lock down the last 12 years and am excited about being able to leave my home without paying someone 8 bucks an hour to do it! So, we'll have to try it again and see if we will be able to keep making a few hours of "adult company" time. Was really nice to have a meal and not eat it cold because someone had to pee and be taken to the bathroom. I forgot just how good a meal can be when it is warm, ya know?
Well, guess I'll close this version of my ramble....
Until the next time....

My beautiful babies....

Went around yesterday and drug 6 kids along w/ me to take some shots. I try to do that in the spring but am just now getting around to it. They tolerated me pretty well. Took our foster daughter along as well as my BFF's son Isaiah along too. After our photo shoots we ended up at JC Penney's for "professional" pics too. I actually preferred the ones I took....maybe I should give up the nursing gig and become a photographer, huh? Check 'em out...

Flight of the butterfly.....

We hatched butterflies for science club and then decided since they only get to live 2 or 3 weeks to let them go rather than keep them....so this slideshow is us letting them go. A few weren't quite ready to leave. I think they really liked Midge's purple shirt or else her sugar sweet personality....

More updates.....our Family Camp weekend.

As I am uploading pictures today, I'm gonna be posting some pics and/or slideshows of the Doty Adventures in recent times. One highlight was our annual voyage to Decatur for Family Camp at good ole Camp Warren. This has become a yearly tradition for a number of families at church and we are no exception. My gal pal (and kickboxing cheerleader) Lucy and I have been heading things for it for awhile now and have to say we did a good job this year. Wanted to implement more family activities and a big highlight was the Video Scavenger Hunt. If I can figure out how to upload a video, it will be well worth watching cuz it was a riot. I came up w/ a list of random fun things to do and gave a point value to them. We divided into 2 teams and off we went to accomplish odd feats such as jumping in the pool fully clothed, taking a shot w/ the paintball gun, hanging in trees like monkeys, an catching a fish and making it sing the "Don't worry Be Happy" song like those plaques everyone owned in times past. Was a good time. Also played a game of kickball, the guys paintballed, and did a family mission statement project in the evening. Such a good weekend had by all! One of the crew's favorite things to do is to try to find wildlife to mess with...if you look at the slideshow, you will see that poor Tucker Turtle was put at the mercies of said children.... So, without any furthur delay.....here's the slideshow from that weekend....Enjoy!

Oh, what a month or so!

Okay--it's been a month or so since I've taken a second to sit and write. Just haven't had the moment to do so....been an emotional one really. I've made some general comments about Kirk's cousin Shane asking for prayer and such. Well, two weeks ago tomorrow he passed into eternity. You may have noticed the Memorial slide show that I posted on here. I was trying to find a way to display it for the service and not have all the extras/ads ect. that ends up showing up and thought maybe if I used the blog it might work. No such luck. After messing with it literally like 12 hours (I am a technical retard!) I enlisted my Kayla (pastor's daughter and number one babysitter) to come over to the church at 10 pm the night before the memorial and got it put into a powerpoint presentation. Much better! Was well worth the efforts cuz I think it added so much to the service. I ended up singing and speaking at the service, and boo-hoo'ed quite a bit---down to the non-stopping drippy nose. My BFF Jess was suppose to sing it duet w/ me and had her own bad week--having had to run to the side of her brother who was in a serious car accident. Please pray for him. He's gonna make it but has months of rehabilitation ahead of him. Broke a couple ankles, femur, and a wrist so 3 out of 4 limbs out of commission on that poor guy! Anyways, managed to get thru the song w/ the exception of the last line I went vaclempt(is that how you spell it?). I thought I'd copy and paste what I said---in so many words. (I did a little bit of paraphrasing but you get the basic gist...). Throughout the 3 months or so I spent w/ him, I had written letters to him to document all he had been thru and to encourage him and such. Got to read most of them to him. So, I thought it was a good way to say good bye....Get the tissues. Here goes....

Shane's Memorial Service:
June 11, 2009

My name is Amy Doty and I am Shane’s cousin. My husband Kirk’s Aunt Darlene and Uncle Ron are Shane’s Grandparents on his mother’s side so that is how I tie into the story. I first met Shane several years ago while still dating my husband and came across Shane a time or two at the occasional family gatherings. He was a cute little red headed kid in the background then to me. It wasn’t until this last October that he caught my attention again. Our family was invited to a birthday party for Makenzie(Shane’s niece and Jenny’s daughter) at good old Chuckie Cheese’s. So we packed up the crew and went. While there, a young man caught my eye and I had a hard time not staring at him throughout the evening. The nurse in me kicked in and began to assess his appearance and try to figure out what could possibly be going on with him medically to be in such shape. He was painfully thin and muscle wasted looking and was eating like he was never going to get another meal. I inquired of Ron as to who that person was and when I heard it was Shane, I shortly thereafter had to excuse myself as I felt the tears coming on. How could that lively little red headed kid I had met in times past be this person? Ron explained further that Shane didn’t have any insurance and wasn’t getting any medical care for his Crohn’s disease. I,as a registered nurse, knew that there were many treatments available for Chrohn’s and so the idea of not seeking those treatments out for the sake of finances did not sit well. Kirk and I exchanged a look and offered to help. I went home and started making phone calls and calling in favors and made arrangements for him to get some treatment. Kirk spoke w/ him 3 or 4 times and each time he would consent to go and then cancel and finally said he was getting treatment elsewhere now thru disability and basically “Thanks but no thanks” was what we got so we decided to stand down. About 3 months passed and the end of February came and got a call from Mandy (his mom) saying he was doing very badly, falling and not able to get up off the floor, and she was very concerned. Three days later, out of the blue, the doctor friend of mine who I had asked for help from back in October asked me how Shane was and offered help again—completely unprompted by us---Interesting timing. Tried again to get Shane to accept the help and was turned down again. The very next day (Monday, March 2) he finally agreed to go to the ER. We went and saw him in the hospital room and he spent 95 percent of the time w/ his head under the covers hollering at his mom and unhappy. Got pretty awkward so we stepped out in the hall and found out in addition to his Crohn’s issues, his situation was complicated by the fact it was now known that he also had a drug addiction history and had been going to the Methadone clinic for over a year. As testing was ordered and he was evaluated over the next 2 days, a perforation in his bowel was found which would have been a death sentence had he not been in the hospital setting. Emergency surgery happened and he spent the next 3 weeks in ICU. It was during this time that Shane and I came to know each other better. The first week or so I did most of the talking as he was unable but as time went on, he got stronger and able to speak, and eat. Again, the nurse in me kicked in, and I had gotten the idea to write letters to Shane thru this whole journey in hopes of reading them to him someday so that he could hear of all he had been thru and to see how far he had come and to hopefully encourage him to press on thru that difficult time. I did get to read a lot of the letters to him and one of my favorite memories w/ him was at a time when he wasn’t really talking much but the one sentence I got out of him that particular evening was “Read them” when I told him I had been writing to him and about everything that was going on. Afterwards he was able to get out “I liked them” so confirmed my efforts were appreciated.
One month to the day of being in the hospital, it was decided to send Shane to a nursing home. I had printed off all the letters and presented them to him. I had continue to write them, but a little less intensive that the initial letters. He had a nursing home stay, another hospitalization, a week and a half at home during which time I saw him almost daily, another hospitalization and then a transfer to a rehab hospital after that. The last few letters I didn’t get to share with him. So, when I was trying to decide what would be the best way to sum up what Shane means to me, it only seemed right to do it in letter form given the history I had w/ him. Just seemed fitting. So, I thought I would share my last letter to him with all of you…….

Sunday, June 7, 2009 about 6:45 am

Dear Shane,
This is probably going to be the hardest letter I have written you to date because I know it will be the last. I had gotten a call yesterday about 4:30 pm from the nursing supervisor at Kindred Hospital that you entered eternity. She said they took every measure to bring you back to us but were unsuccessful in their attempts. They tried to call your mom but could not get a hold of her so they called me and I had to break the news to her. Was one of the hardest things I have ever done. How do you tell a mother her child is no longer living? Honestly, I don’t even remember what I said. I was pretty numb at the moment. Still feeling that way even this morning.
Guess the hardest part is that you slipped into the next life without anyone sitting at your bedside or holding your hand. I am guessing that it was peaceful since the staff said there was no indication that you were doing that poorly so that is one thing I can hold to in all of this. Of course, hind sight is 20/20 and I am kicking myself for having turned around from my drive to come and see you Friday night. I had called your room as I was in route to the hospital Friday night to tell you I was coming and to see if you wanted me to bring anything. Your roommate took the call and I could hear you speaking in the background saying you were not feeling like visitors. I decided to turn around and go home since those were your wishes, even though you had not refused a visit from me ever before in the last 3 months of all this sickness. Something did not sit well with me that night and I even told Kirk then that something just wasn’t right. Now it makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?
So, what else is left to say? Given the hours of sitting and talking at your bedside I think a lot of it was said then---time I will look back on and treasure. I can’t help but look back on the last time I visited you and wish that I said more than I did. That night you had wanted me to stay longer than the visiting hours allowed and told me to stay until security came and kicked me out. Such the rule bender you were, Shane. Of course, I wouldn’t and had to go. I remember you watched me walk out of the room and I turned and looked over my shoulder and you gave a little brave smirk and wave and said “See ya” and I responded the same “See ya” in return. Little did I know that I wouldn’t…….”see ya” again. That’s a tough reality.
Our relationship was a funny one ,Shane. I vividly remember a conversation we had in my van when I came to pick you up from your grandparents and bring you over to my house for an afternoon. You told me you didn’t understand why it was that I gave a crap and didn’t get what I possibly could be “getting out of all this”. I tried to explain it to you in a way that you could understand by using your niece Makenzie as an example and how when she was first born that you cared about her very much even though you barely knew her and the reason you cared for her is because of your love for your sister Jenny. Because Makenzie was important to Jenny and that you loved Jenny, then loving Makenzie was only natural. The same thing applied in our relationship. You are God’s child, Shane, and He loves you. And because I love God and you are important and loved by Him, it came very natural for me to have a heart for you as well. You looked at me like you thought I was a bit squirrely but I think you got it. At least, that is my hope…..that you knew you were loved and important and that you mattered.
I don’t understand why things went the way they did for you. I could never really find the words when you would ask me. But, that is not for me to say, I guess. All I know is that God has a plan far greater than anything I can wrap my human brain around and I am confident it will make sense someday.
I am gonna miss you, Shane. I am gonna miss our talks. (we did a lot of talking—I might have done just a little more of the talking than you---but just a little! LOL) I am gonna miss hearing you ask me often when I would visit “Aren’t you bored sitting up here? I would be so bored if I were you!” I am gonna miss the way your face would light up when I would come into your hospital room with a grocery sack of Gardetos or candy or Little Debbie snack cakes and watching you tear into my “gift” like a kid on Christmas morning. I am gonna miss the way you would spout off with some random fun fact about some obscure animal you learned about from your hours of watching the Discovery Channel. I am gonna miss watching Cash Cab with you and being in awe of your ability to answer some random question about Madagascar. I am gonna miss the way you tried to BS me to do something for you that was usually not in your best interest and when I wouldn’t buy into it, that funny smirk you would get on your face when you realized I wasn’t as easily manipulated as you might have thought. I will never again be able to pull up to a Taco Bell drive thru window and not think of you and you love for the chili cheese burrito. You have touched my life Shane. You have made me appreciate my family, my children, my health, my life, and my God more than I ever had before knowing you. And for that I thank you. My last hope for you is that somehow thru all of this that God got a hold of your heart and that for the first time in a long time your suffering is finally over. Thank you for letting me be a part of your final months in this life.

With much love,
Amy

Shane's Memorial Slideshow

Updates and a rough week.....

Here I thought when I got this blog thing going I would be so good about writing w/ family updates and such and now it has been well over a month....ugh! Too much to do and too little time.
Don't even know where to begin....Kyle had a birthday the end of April and only has one more year before he becomes a teeny bopper making me officially old. Still have the foster girl. Enjoying the new job at the mental health facility---think it's a good niche for me. Kirk got "remoted" (is that a word?) back to his supervisor position since business is picking up and he's just that good...started doing a kickboxing class at 6 am 6 days a week and no I don't have a death wish....but it is kicking my butt! I was excited to slip into a pair of jeans that have been in the "skinny pile" in the closet that haven't on my butt in quite some time so that was encouraging. I am no where near "skinny" but feel like the class is helping and am hopeful that it will continue to assist in the life long battle of the bulge. Latest news is that I am a murderer. Was coming home from the city visiting the cousin in the hospital and I hit a stupid raccoon making a dangerous voyage across interstate 55. Put a nice dent in the front of the car that I am hoping that Kirk can knock out. It made a dreadful thump and when I looked in the rear view mirror, the raccoon was laid out in the right lane and sustained yet another blow from the car behind me. Poor thing! Not the only death we have sustained in the last couple days----we hatched some butterflies a couple weeks ago and let them go after the hatching except for one of the butterflies. It was born as a "special" butterfly (as Abby says). He only had one antennae, part of a leg was missing, and his wings were all slumped over and he wasn't able to fly. We affectionately named him Gimpy and he has been living in the butterfly case/net. (yeah, I get that you may find us weird always catching bugs and naming them and getting attached to them--we ARE weird and admitting there is a problem is the first step to recovery....they are teaching me well at my new job--aren't you impressed?) Abby has been taking him out to the flowered bushes daily to "pollinate" as she calls it...Anyways, we've been giving him cotton balls soaked w/ grape Gatorade, as the directions called for. Abby thought Gimpy might enjoy some fresh air and left him outside in his cage overnight since it was so nice out. Unfortunately, the following morning, there was a hole cut in the net, the Grape Gatorade soaked cotton balls were chewed up and apparently expectorated out right next to the cage, and our beloved Gimpy was no where to be found. Pretty sad. We think the neighbor cat may have gotten him. Besides poor Gimpy, the little blackbirds in our side yard bush that we have been watching, too, have likely succumb to the stupid neighbor cat's clutches. We found parts of the baby birds throughout the yard. Same fate as the baby bunny that was in our yard as well (Kirk luckily found that one and disposed of the evidence before my Abby saw and was devastated by it) Kirk is ready to set out some cat food spiked w/ antifreeze but is afraid of what else would eat it. (we do have some raccoon friends that frequent our trash cans). So, has been a week of loss around here I guess. Also a week of sickness, about 5 days to be exact...but hoping the next week will be a bit better.....So, that's my story---never a dull moment here! I am hopeful to top last week's events! Shouldn't be too difficult! (Just don't eat any cat food if you come across it in the backyard. LOL)

Yeah---it's been awhile.....

Well, I'm long overdue for an update to this site. How is it that you blink and then a month has gone by? Mom was right---the older you get, the quicker time goes... Well, my baby girl Abby turned 8 on me this past Saturday. We had a good family day. We went and saw the movie "Monsters vs. Aliens" per her request, went to Mongolian BBQ in Naperville, put our leftover tortillas and crackers from lunch in our pockets and walked down to the Naperville Riverwalk and fed the ducks, and had Dairy Queen in the freezing cold. She seemed happy with her day and so were the rest of us, I think. We got her a MP3 player that has been in her hot little hand ever since, so I think I did pretty good on that one. She notified me that I "rule", so I think that is a good thing.
What else--that individual I spoke of in my last post is doing better that I could have imagined medically (and emotionally!) which I am so happy for! Please keep praying for him as I am hoping he comes to know the hope I have!
Next week me and my BFF will be getting away for a short trip to Ohio for the Midwest Homeschool Convention. I am on the hunt for some ideas for a middle school science curriculum and some sort of language program on the computer for the kiddies as the workbook thing is torture for them. They much prefer being on the computer so guess that is the way the world is headed and might as well not fight it. So, hopefully, I will be successful in my quest. I am looking forward to a little bit of BFF time kid-free.
Started the new job last week at Timberline Knolls and think it is going to be a good fit for me. I love the girls and am orienting w/ my mom--which makes the stress level pretty much absent. Psyche is an area that I haven't really had much experience in on a professional level (everyday life is another story! LOL)and I am really looking forward to learning a different aspect of nursing. Have been doing homecare for 12 years now and will be nice to spice things up a little bit w/ some new experiences.
We still have our foster daughter. She has become one of the crew. Looks like she'll be here awhile. Her little schedule is fuller than mine! She's always got somewhere to be, but she handles it like a champ.
Well, I think you've got the highlights since I last posted......Gotta go get the crew together so we can go to History and Science club today---we are learning about King Tut and Praying Mantises. We know all about the praying mantis given our friend Lloyd we had last fall. We are bringing her egg cases she left us to show everyone first hand. Will be a good day....
Until the next ramble.....

Updates and the Latest....

Things have been, well, NUTSO! We are crazy busy around here. So, that is my excuse for having not been on here to tell all our news. Really, there is a list of tasks I should be checking off today that I am not cuz I am determined to get some posts done on here. We continue to get to know our new foster daughter and she is adjusting well to Doty Family life. She's a spirited little thing who knows what she wants and we are working on lots of more effective ways of doing things. She's a resiliant little thing and I have enjoyed her. She's got spunk. Don't know how long she will be with us, but we will be sure to love her while she's here.
There is another person that has come into our lives recently. Really, we've always known of him but only becoming closer thru some unfortunate circumstances (medically related). Nurse Amy has made a point of getting to know him while he has been hospitalized and the hours spent have been great. I am so glad he is open to our offerings of support and love and I am excited about what I am praying will be his "come to Jesus" moment. The seeds have been planted I think and we plan to tend that seed over the coming months and expect to watch this life florish. I have never been much of a "green thumb" but am determined to become one here. I wish I could disclose more here but want to protect his privacy. I would love it if you would pray for strength and healing for this individual. Last week I had stepped out of the hospital room to check in at home. Kirk was reading with the kids at that time about the parable of the widow who persistantly came to a judge with a request and after numerous requests for the same thing, he granted her request because of her persistance. Jesus compares this with persistance in prayer and so I plan to be like that widow and continue to ask for God to change this young man's life around. There have been things already in this circumstance that have been "God-things" and confirmation that God is calling this kid. So, one day, I hope to be able to share his story here---all about how God took a life going no where and turned it all around. So, please pray!
Other news--is that my wonderful Pastor Eric has taken another position on the state level in the Church of God and read his letter of resignation this past Sunday. (I was gone and didn't hear it but I would have likely been a blubbering mess so it is just as well I suppose). I am confident that he is doing what he has been called to do---but I am genuinely sad about loosing him as our pastor. We will be getting an interim minister for awhile so lots of changes. I am confident it will all be okay, but there is gonna be some adjustments going on within the church family. When a pastor has been in one place for over 20 years, that is something that will take some time to smooth out. But we will miss our Pastor Eric!
This weekend the family (minus Kirk) is going to visit Grandpa VanTassel in Southern IL. He has agreed to let me borrow his box of family pictures. I am gonna "interview" him about alot of them this weekend and plan to do a digital scrapbook of some family stories and such (in all my spare time LOL). So, I am looking forward to spending that time w/ Gramps. I don't get down there as much as I would like to, but it is always meaningful when we do get down there.
Looks like I am going to be taking on yet another job (yes, I am Superwoman!). My mom works for a mental health facility called Timberline Knolls. She loves what she does and so I have the inkling to try my hand in that field. I would primarily be working with teen girls with various mental health related issues (eating disorders, addictions, and other various mental health issues). My hubby thinks I am crazy because my reason for working there is to get out of the house for a "mental health break". How ironic is it that my mental health break is going to work at a mental health facility? Guess different things rejuvinate people. For me, the thing that "fills" me up is to help other people. Looking back at this paragraph, that would explain how it is that I feel really blessed to be where I am at right now. It is not to say that things don't get crazy cuz they are pretty much every day, but I'm happy and wouldn't trade it for anything! So, that's my story for today....I'll shut up for now.
Until the next ramble....

Rain, Rain DON"T Go Away....

A couple weeks ago, we got ALOT of rain around these parts. In addition to the rain, the spring thaw was also going and and before we knew it we has lots of water around. So much, in fact, that the drainage systems were not really able to keep up and we had some roads that were even flooded. We've got that big drainage ditch in the back yard and it was really FULL! (it was at least 3 feet deep!) My kids seem to think that it's there for the sole purpose for God to give them an intermittent swimming pool. Our good friend Isaiah was over to spend the night and the 3 boys got the brilliant idea to take a swim. They didn't really care that it was the beginning of March. Why should that stop them? So, they went puddle splashing and playing in the rain and Kirk popped off a couple pictures. It was a total boy moment! They even rode the zipline into the water. Good times! Hopefully Isaiah's mom won't see these pictures and forbid me from having her son here again---he didn't get pneumonia or anything (LUCKILY!) so it's all good, right BFF? We were glad to have Isaiah over! To see what Isaiah (and his family) is up to, you can check out their blog by clicking here.

All those kids....

Well, we took a Thursday afternoon and went and visited our friends the Larsons to meet their newest kids....their baby goats that is. The boys took a particular fondness to these little guys. Amy even taught them how to milk a goat--a first for both boys. It is always a treat to go to the Larson farm and see what critters they happen to have at the moment. They recently got new baby chicks so guess we are gonna have to get out there soon! Always a fun "field trip".....Thanks for having us guys! If you want to see what else the Larson's are up to, you can check out Amy's blog by clicking here.

Our Oklahoma Trip....

Mom, the girls, and I packed up and went on a road trip this past weekend. We went and saw my Aunt Heather (who is really more like a cousin considering she is only a year older than me) and her hubby Phillip (a.k.a "Dr. Phil"--not because he's a psychologist but cuz he's a scientist who is someday gonna discover something BIG!)and two of the cutest kiddies you will ever meet, Bob and Grace. We took our time and went part way on Thursday and stopped off in a hotel and then finished the trip on Friday. We got to Heather's and loved on those two kiddies. We also made a couple chocolate birthday cakes as Grace turned ONE! She is such a little miracle. She had a rough start in life but has proven to be such a trooper! She is proof of a God who answers prayer--that is for sure! She still has another surgery in the future but I am confident God will see her thru that one too! So, besides eating chocolate cake, we had plenty of time for visiting, playing at the park, and doing a little shopping as well. One of the highlights (especially for Mom) was getting Chick-Fil-A ice cream. (okay--for some of you, you wouldn't get it. But, for Mom, that is a BIG deal--thus the reason why there are so many pics of the occasion. Again--we are low maintenance gals. The little things make us happy!) It was a relaxing trip and I am glad we were able to go. Got home late on Monday and am finally getting back into my rhythm I think.
So, check out the slideshow to see our trip and see how big my girls are getting! Abby tolerates my phototaking(about half the time). Alexa lives to pose for my pictures...as the pictures will prove. Her mother's daughter....

Fun Mommy Online Tool....

So, I was online today and looking for a fun way to encourage the kiddies to get motivated around the house. I came across a really fun website I thought I would share with all you other "domestic engineers" out there that seems to be pretty neat. It's a website called "Handipoints" and there are FREE components to the website worth mentioning. (of course, like everything in life, there are options to upgrade for a fee but I was impressed w/ the FREE parts and thought they were worth signing up for). Basically, this site is a tool that encourages your kid to do their responsibilities/chores (set up by you) and it tracks them online. You, as the parent, can make goals for them and assign fantastic prizes and cash (depending on how much you want to fork out....your kid can work to earn a certain number of gold stars to achieve earn whatever bribery you choose to offer. I went with good old fashion cash. Cha-Ching!) There is also a feature that I just used that allows you to print off the chore chart you customize for the fridge. Pretty neat! You can check it out by clicking here. There is also a feature where you (or your computer savvy kid) can then go on the site and "check off" that they have done that task. You do have to register your kids each individually and assign them a user name and password, which takes just a couple minutes. They even get to pick out a cat to use on the site that has clothes and furniture can be "purchased" with BONUS points they can earn. I haven't really explored that feature yet but it appears to be very similar to the webkinz type of play. Just something kinda fun I thought I would jot here. I always get excited when I find something for FREE online that I can use in everyday life....doesn't take much to make me happy. Enjoy!

Alexa Turns 4.....

Well, my baby is officially four. That is hard to believe. Time goes so quickly, doesn't it? Kirk finally got home from storm work Sunday and it just so happened he was off work on Monday when we had Alexa's Birthday Bash. We went to Bouncetown. You can check it out here. It really was alot of fun! (as the pictures will testify). Their party deal allows for up to 25 children and unlimited adults. They have two different "bounce rooms" and you spend about 40 minutes in each room. There were about 5 or 6 different inflatables in each room. There was a particular favorite of mine that was a basketball court and we had gotten into a game of "tackle basketball". Ever played? Didn't think so cuz I think we just made it up on the spot but basically there were two teams and who ever had the ball tried to get the ball into their basket....and pretty much that was the only rule. To get the ball, you could use any means necessary (including tackling and blunt trauma). At one point my sister, brother, and I were playing with the kiddies and let's just say we were able to come together as siblings and play the way we always wanted to as children. Trish and I ganged up on Jim and it was great fun. The three of us almost fell thru the netting at one point, but we were able to recover from that episode. After the big bounce fest, we all went to a party room for cupcakes and ice cream and watched Lex open her gifts. We then caravaned over to CiCi's Pizza for a yummy pizza buffet lunch. Fun was had by all. For having a 9:45 am party on a Monday, we really had a great turn out! Among those on Alexa's guest list were Grandma Pat, Uncle Jim, Aunt Shoosh and Uncle Corbie and Katy and Will, Auntie Pam and Ellie, our whole crew, and several close family friends (the Felicianos, the Larsons, the Ackermans, the Koenigs,Kayla, and the Masokas bunch). I think we succeeded in celebrating her birthday in a very fun (and EXHAUSTING!) way! Happy Birthday Midge! Love ya Babe!

Valentine's wishes and other stuff.....

Happy Valentine's Day to all! We've got a new valentine this year--a sweet little eight year old girl that came to stay with us Thursday night. Wish I could post a photo of her--she's a cutie. We spent yesterday making a pancake breakfast, registering for school, shopping for new school clothes, going to a Valentine's Party, having lunch w/ Grandma Pat, and then hanging out at the house. She's fitting in really well. Abby now has a new BFF. Was cute listening to their little girl chatter in the dark at bedtime. So, things are going well with our newest family member. Wish Kirk was here to be a part, but I am not sure he is ever coming home. He just informed me last night their hotel rooms were renewed for yet another week. Hard to believe there is still that much work left. It has been almost 3 weeks since the ice storms. Oh, well.... guess we will see how that story ends soon enough.

Got a little mental health break last night. Mom had bought some season tickets to Drury Lane in Oakbrook for their theatre productions and we went and saw "Miss Saigon". I had heard of the title but had no idea what the story line was about. I should have learned my lesson when I went and saw "RENT" blindly (that one was MESSED UP! Don't get me going on that one! And, brilliant me, had thought it a wonderful idea to "treat" the youth minister's wife (of my former church) to that show--UGH! We were all MORTIFIED!). Anyways, the opening scene was gyrating oriental girls in a bar scene which was a bit scary and almost cause for leaving but it did improve after that lovely song. Left a little depressed and left glad I have never had to serve in a war. Thinking maybe the next time I go to a live theatre performance that I may want to do my homework....since I've been surprised twice now. (I'm slow sometimes, okay?)

Was reminded yesterday why I don't like the public school system. It still comes as a shock to me just how ugly people can be sometimes. I am not sure if the "attitude" I have encountered from my dealings with a certain school office staff is a result of their dislike for me because I am homeschooling my children and they take offense to that or if they are "put out" by our choice of doing foster care and the fact that this creates some work for them in tracking down records on the kids we have registered. (by law, they cannot refuse to take them based on not having all the appropriate paperwork). Either way, I have come to dread school registration as a whole as a result of my not-so-pleasant experiences. I don't get it and all I can say is that some people should just not be permitted to be the face of a facility that boasts of working with children. It all the more confirms for me that my kids are right where they belong--at home!

Dorothy had it right---"There's no place like home."

Wish the state would permit me to homeschool my new little lady cuz the thought of putting her on that bus everyday only to deal with God knows what makes my stomach turn. But, nothing can be done so I will buck up and deal with it.

Guess that's about it....
Until next time.....

Here we go again.....

So, here's the latest from the Doty camp....

Kirk is still working in Missouri--has been now for 2 LONG weeks. Still unsure of an end date on that one. I packed up the kids Saturday morning and drove 7 hours to go and see him at the job. We were very fortunate to have found a hotel room. This was my first time trying something that brave--4 kids, 410 miles, 7 hours in the car being the only ADULT! I made it alive. We hung at the hotel from Saturday til Monday morning and then ventured home. We got the evenings with Kirk, which was good. The hotel had a nice pool and a computer in the hall right outside our room, so we just hung out for the rest of the time. Not much in Popular Bluff, MO. Voyaged home yesterday and got home in the 4 p.m. hour. I went back on-call at 5 p.m. so I officially had like 18 minutes to put my feet up.

On the way home from MO, got a call from our agency and we are going to be getting our second official placement. An eight year old girl will be coming to stay with us later this week. Got a little more info this time around, so that is nice. We are pretty excited about it. We hadn't even gotten a call since November and were beginning to wonder if we would be getting another placement, but it has happened. Kyle is still fighting off a sickness (we all got it last week) so I am thinking he should be good by tomorrow. Gotta get groceries and my house together but should have no problem getting it all done by the time she arrives. Please keep us in your prayers during the adjustment time. We will see what unfolds.....

Last drama is that I was served court papers on Saturday from the City. We've got a drainage ditch in our backyard that the city has always maintained and they have now decided we should be responsible to clean it out (it drains the whole south side of our street and we are on the "bottom" of the hill--thus causing dirt and yard run-off from all the neighbors to pool in our part of the ditch). So, we get to tell the judge our sad story and see if he is going to require us to now maintain it. What is annoying is that the drainage ditch is functioning just fine, but some anal neighbor doesn't like the looks of having some leaves and dirt in the concrete drainage alley and felt the need to call the city rather than talk to us about it. Someone needs to get a life! How sad to have nothing else to worry about than whether or not we have leaves in our drainage ditch. Pretty pathetic! Oh, well. Kirk will hopefully be home before that court day cuz I know that I will likely end up wearing orange by the time the day is out cuz the whole thing makes me mad and I may not be able to control myself. That would not be good! Although, the idea of someone making my meals and lying around on a bunk doesn't sound half bad. Hmmmmm..... might have to rethink that one.

I guess that's it for my ramblings today. Should be an exciting week....or interesting if nothing else.

And you think your day was bad?

From the looks of this slideshow--if you've got power and there are trees standing in your backyard, you haven't got much to complain about....
Kirk is finishing up with his first week of work in Missouri. His company, Intren, is one of several companies that have been called out to assist in restoring power to thousands. After seeing these pictures and hearing from Kirk about the conditions, I really have nothing to complain about as I see it. My house is warm and I am able to look out my back door at numerous full grown trees. I've got it pretty good! Kirk and crew are working hard, "bonding" as they are sleeping in triple decker bunkbeds in some sort of a trailer ALL IN THE SAME ROOM! (Imagine that craziness! I am sure there is a certain "locker room" feel --and smell--to that situation! UGH!). Don't know when they will be finished, but we anxiously await our Daddy's return! Love ya babe! Be safe!

New Year's Resolutions and other stuff...

So, January is almost gone and yet I am still working on the New Year's resolutions I made. I think this is some kind of a record for me. I think the last 22 years worth of New Year's resolutions have been to eat healthier, lose weight, and get on a workout routine regularly. With the exception of having gone on vacation for 5 days, I am actually finding a rhythm! Whoo Hoo! And I can honestly say it feels pretty good. My sis and mom have been very encouraging, which is nice. My sister (who is a twig and doesn't need to lose an ounce but is trying to lose a few more pounds) has turned me on to a great online tool that I have been using to track what I am eating. It's called "The Daily Plate" and it's FREE to use! To check it out you can click here. I was really quite impressed with how it works. Basically, after you create an account (which is totally free--you can upgrade for a price to gain more features but I have been completely happy with just using the free features) just type in what you have eaten and it gives you options to choose to add to your "plate". It has a very large data base I have found and even has a lot of restaurant listings as well. If you eat something that is not in their data base, you have the option of adding that item along with whatever nutritional information you might have on it. There are also suggestions made on alternate healthier options you could have chosen in lieu of what you did eat. You can also track how much water you are drinking and enter what activities you have done. There is a menu that give you an estimation on how many calories you have burned, depending on the type of activity you have performed and for how long. Pretty neat-o. If ya haven't checked it out, you might want to when you get a minute. I am liking it. Down about 7 1/2 lbs so far, so maybe 2009 will be the year! Time will tell....

Another thing I am determined to do this year is to read thru the Bible. Always start the year with good intentions and then life gets in the way. A friend of mine sent me a great link that is a daily prompting of my heart's desire...via email! (What a technological world we live in!) It is thru CBN and you can sign up here. Basically, it sends you a link to go to and read a daily Old Testament Passage and a New Testament Passage and if you complete all 365 readings sent to you via email, you will have read thru the Bible in a year. If you miss a day or two getting on the computer, no worries. You can "catch up" because the readings are available beyond the day you receive them. So, that is something I have been doing too. How did I ever do life before getting a computer?

What else? Kirk is off saving the world again and I am a single mother for who knows how long. All those ice storms that are happening down south has once again taken a toll on the power lines. So, Kirk's company has been called out to assist getting the power back on. They are expecting more outages as some winds are suppose to be sweeping thru those areas in the near future which will likely break the lines that are still currently intact but are sporting big ice on the lines. So, we will see how that story ends too.... Kirk is suppose to send me some pics of what he is doing so if he does, I will post them here. But he has gotten reports that he is working in Missouri (which is where he currently is) and will likely move east--potentially working in Ohio and maybe New York. Such the world traveler!

Guess that about sums up what is currently floating around in this brain of mine. Things are unusually quite upstairs which can only mean one thing....either the kids have gotten into the Nyquil again or something is about to implode. So, I am going to go and check on them....

Until next time....

Just for Fun.....

Okay--I am officially addicted to Facebook. I admit it. Anyways, there is this thing circulating on there that you type out 25 random things about yourself and then share it with your friends. So, naturally, I felt the need to follow the trend. Figured I would post it on here for those who do not have a facebook but follow my blog. It's just kinda fun.... so, here goes.....Enjoy!

25 Random Things about Me:

1. I wear many hats: Wife (to my honey Kirk for almost 14 yrs.), Mother (to four fantastic whipper snappers and very likely more in the future--no, I am not pregnant), Teacher (We homeschool those previously mentioned whipper snappers), Nurse (have been a RN by trade for the last 14 years), Friend (have alot of REALLY AWESOME ones! my BFF Jess ROCKS! Love ya Girl!), Sister (have a brother--what up J Fizzle? and a sister--Shoosh-as my kids affectionately call her), Daughter (my mom is the best!), Member of the Greatest Family on the Planet (in my humble opinion), and most importantly Child of the KING!

2. I don't have much spare time, but when I get some I enjoy scrapbooking and shopping---especially if I have a coupon or there is a really good sale in which I can save alot of money! I usually get so excited when I find a good deal that I call every one of my fellow "deal-loving" friends (often from my cell phone in the store!) so they can share in the excitement and perhaps even get the same deal for themselves. (You friends know who you are and can vouch for the truth of this one!). Kirk fails to see the value as he says it is much cheaper to not buy anything at all--but he has come to accept my sport shopping.

3. I enjoy singing and sing on the worship team at my awesome church Shorewood Church of God. But to hear the real "rockstar" in me unleashed, you would have to come over and play Guitar Hero World Hero. (I have been putting alot of hours on that crazy game!)

4. I graduated as the Salutatorian of my high school class. Impressive, huh? I can put that one on the resume. (but I don't mention that there were only 7 in my graduating class--good ole' Bible Baptist Christian Academy--home of the mighty Kingsmen.)

5. I was a cheerleader in high school. (again-- a small school and 87% of the enrolled girls were on the squad and our cheerleading skirts were down to our mid calf. Those uniforms were HOT baby!)

6. I once belched the alphabet in front of 800 people in a microphone. Apparently that is a trait men find attractive because afterwards I was proposed marriage to by two different guys. I politely declined.

7. I have been an auctioneer "on the side" for various events. I have done (and continue to yearly) auctioning for our church youth's annual auction fundraiser (which is the first Saturday of March this year if you are interested in going...). I also did an auction for a high school prom night fundraiser a few years ago that brought in more than $20,000 and have also did a couple auctions for some socials at the retirement community Carrillon in Plainfield. (Those people are the cutest! They even gifted me with a gavel with my name inscribed on it!). Who knows? Maybe I will give up being a nurse and become an auctioneer.

8. I HAVE to have at least 8 hours of sleep or I simply cannot function. Luckily, my kids are very good sleepers and I almost always get that much--sometime more. Jealous?

9. My family (myself included) are kinda....how to delicately put it....well, gross. We find farts and belches funny and rarely get thru a family meal without one. I simply refuse to acknowledge that I am not still in jr. high. Sue me.

10. I am addicted to reality TV. (Kirk calls it "Crap TV"). I watch American Idol, The Biggest Loser, Extreme House Makeover, and all those A&E Crime shows that tell you all about those people who snap and kill their loved ones in their sleep. I'm warped. I admit it. Admitting your problem is the first step, right?

11. I am fascinated by "weird medical" stuff. I also put some time in on the Discovery Health Channel (you know the shows--the ones about people who have their twin inside of them, the documentaries on "The Tallest Person in the World" etc. )

12. Kirk and I are licensed foster parents. We both have a real calling on our lives to make a difference for this population of kids. We had our first placement this past fall and are looking forward to whomever God brings into our lives. We plan to pursue adoption from this broken system in the future as well....we have 2 vacancies right now if you know of anyone in need.

13. I LOVE food but HATE to cook.

14. I didn't realize how much I didn't know til I started homeschooling the kids. Who would have thought there was so much covered in the third grade? I didn't remember half of the stuff I was teaching. Has been very enlightening.

15. My idea of an ideal vacation does not include warm weather and beaches. I don't like to sweat and wearing bathing suits makes me depressed.

16. I have recently gotten obsessed with Facebook and blogging. My BFF Jess hooked me up with pimping out my blog. Check it out sometime and subscribe! The address is www.homeschoolmom2four.blogspot.com.

17. I enjoy photography and make a point of taking pictures of the kids, nieces, and friend's kids. Children are my favorite subjects. I've been told I'm pretty good at it....I think it's because the subjects of my pictures are so darn cute!

18. I am a Republican to the bone. So, yeah, this latest election was a BLOW to my household. The next four years are going to be interesting.....to say the least. The moral decline of our society is scary...yet another reason to homeschool the kiddies...don't get me started!

19. Each of my children have a REAL rifle--thanks to Daddy. You should see the girls' rifles! They are so cute! They are pink. (don't stress--we are VERY SAFETY ORIENTED! Kirk is very involved. The boys have been to hunter safety classes too. They are all locked up in a big safe in my living room...which leads me to my next random fact...

20. Kirk and I have only one secret (that I am aware of ) in our marriage....he is the only one who has the combination to our gun safe. No one else on the planet has it. I asked him how I was suppose to get in it if he died. He said "Call a locksmith. I don't care really what you do. I'll be dead".

21. I took my first pee in the woods last year. (Am I a city girl or what?)

22. We had a praying mantis that was given to us in September. We had her 3 months and she died a few days before Christmas. Abby cried when she died. So did I. (Rest in peace Lloyd!)

23. The best concerts I have ever been to were performed by The Transiberian Orchestra, DC Talk, and Weird Al. (yes--Weird Al. I LOVE HIM! I think he is brilliant!)

24. I have never been drunk but accused of it many times.

25. I cry when I'm really angry and it drives me crazy! So, don't tick me off or I may blubber in your presence!

Just when you thought you knew a person...and then you learn all this!!!

The Annual Family Ski Run....

Well, we headed to Bessemer, MI again this year for the annual Family Ski Run and we really have had a great time these past few days. We brought along our friends the Ackermans (Perry, Lori, Jaycie, and Kyle), my mom, and Kirk's four siblings (Delle, Caleb, Josh, and Hannah) in addition to our own crew. We rented two units side by side (with a handy dandy adjoining door) which worked out perfectly. There was always a place to go and hide when things got crazy. There was also more room to get silly. Lots of fun happenings...



My baby took her first run down the big kid's ski slope yesterday. I was grateful to see that she has inherited her father's NO-FEAR gene and jumped on those skis like she's done it many times before. It's official. She's as crazy as the rest of the fam. Kirk was impressed too. She did quite well.



Tonight we are spending our last evening in the ski lodge. As I sit and write this, there is the calming sounds of the entire family coming together to save the universe. (they are playing Halo on Xbox). Such a special way to close out what has been a good vacation. (Note to reader: I am being a little sarcastic---) Has been a great family time with intermittent need for shooting stuff. Not only have they done some time on the Xbox, but there was a big Nerf war last night as well. I am sure the owners of this unit would rethink renting to us if they saw this place last evening--that is unless they have the understanding for the need to have "base" and shelter and the only way to effectively do that would be to turn the coffee tables on their sides. Really, any reasonable person can understand that one, right?



The skiing was good I am told and I watched a lot of snow fall. There was no complaining about the snow here, unlike at home where it seemed almost EVERYONE complained about it. Was very pretty and wonderful to watch the big fluffy flakes come down for the first two days we were here. Nothin' like sitting by the fireplace toasty warm and looking out on a snowy mountain...I'd take that any day over being in the Caribbean.

More enjoyable than the nerf wars, the skiing, the road trip, the Guitar Hero.... was just hanging with the fam and friends and being together. Life is too hectic and not too often we take a day and just chill out. Was a very pleasant trip and am already looking forward to next year's vacation here--that is if the lodge does not get their hands on our pictures and see just how much fun was had around here!

Little Drummer Boy....

Had to take a second to brag on my baby. Keaton has been taking drum lessons since September and really has a natural ability on those noisemakers. Yesterday was his debut! He played for worship service at church and did a "bang-up" job. (no pun intended---well, maybe it was intended!) He did very well and Pastor Eric took a second to pull him up front afterwards and acknowledge his efforts. It was a proud Mommy moment. Nothing more heartwarming that to see your baby using his talents for the Lord. He plans to attend Worship Team practices with me from here on out to learn from Jeff--who is our main drummer. So, we will see what comes with that...

Just had to take a second to brag on my kid...I think he's pretty great!

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better...

Okay--it's official. My blog pages are JUST the way I want them. After about 4 and a half hours watching (and attempting to learn a couple things from ) Jessica do her magic, we are up and running! I am crazy about how it turned out. (Thanks again J!)

So, my goal is to be better about sharing (with whoever cares to read this!) about what we do day in and out in relation to Faith, Family, Homeschooling, and whatever else happens to flow from this brain. 2009 is the year! Whoo Hoo! (can you hear me pumping myself up about it?) I have gotten alot from other blogs that I read in the way of encouragement, inspiration, and entertainment and figured I might have something to contribute as well. It's also a great way to keep in touch with the family as to what we are up to here in the Midwest. So, those reasons are the driving force here. Now I will shut up about my BEAUTIFUL STUPENDOUS WONDERFUL blog site and let that one rest....

Other than my latest obsession with getting this all up and running, I have also become addicted to facebook. Have ya been on there? I don't know if it is the New Year that makes people want to do better in the way of touching base with old friends and acquaintances or what, but I caught the bug. It has been fun getting on there and reading about all the news of those from yesteryear. It's pretty fun. You should check it out by clicking here.
I've been able to catch up with former school chums, friends and acquaintances from my old church, and I think I have even talked more to my siblings on the instant messaging thingy more than I've talked to them in person lately! (what has this world come to?) It is also forcing me to learn how to work this computer (which I have a love and hate relationship with!). So, if ya got some time, check it out! Never know who you will run into online....

Gonna run for now. I only have two kids at home so I should make the most of a half empty house. Until next time....

Whew! Arent' we fancy?

So, ya like it? If you have visited my blog in times past you see that it has undergone a face lift. I am thrilled w/ the end product! You may be wondering--"How did Amy get so computer savvy overnight?" Well, I must confess, this is not my work. I tapped into the talented Judi at Doodlebug Designs (on the recommendation of my BFF Jessica whose blog also is pimped out! Check her out at A Path with Promise!). Got lots of New Year's Resolutions to keep--one of them is to do better w/ the whole blogging thing so this Extreme Blog Makeover is very inspiring! (Look out Ty Pennington! Your TV show has nothing on me!) So, you will likely see alot more antics from us posted here this year. I am excited for what is to come in 2009 and sharing those things with whoever takes a second to read about it....