Little Boy and I went to sleep-away camp for 2 nights this past week.  I foolishly thought I could pack quickly, the morning we needed to leave.  

Yeah, all you experienced moms are laughing with me now, right?

So while we made it out the door and to camp on time, I realized that I would need to do some advance preparation for our upcoming vacations this summer (one to Austin - in two weeks!  Yippie!  and the shore later in August).

And where else would I come for help but here...

Like birth stories, I love hearing adoption stories. This one is beautiful. Thank you, Jen, for sharing. Happy anniversary and may you and your family share many, many more fond memories. -Elisa

So, yesterday was our 8th wedding anniversary.  

We're not really big party people for these occasions.  With the exception of our 1st anniversary, which we spent in NYC, I don't think I could tell you how we marked the others.  Probably dinner.  We do like to eat.  I may have a card or two around here that I strongarmed Pastor Dan into getting me (back when I had such powers).

I think it's going to be a long time, though, before I forget our 8th anniversary.

Cross posted at Street Prophets.

I thought I couldn't get any sadder over the story of Madeline Kara Neumann, the 11 year-old Wisconsin girl who died due to untreated diabetes.  

I was wrong.

Crossposted at Street Prophets

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported additional information in the death of Madeline Kara Neumann, which we discussed here on Friday.

The most damning information is that the girl, age 11, was last taken to the doctor at the age of 3.  Charges are now likely against her parents, Dale and Leilani Neumann, according to Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin.

Crossposted at Street Prophets

This sad story  was reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel yesterday.

Madeline Kara Neumann died of diabetic ketoacidosis, a treatable though serious condition of type 1 diabetes in which acid builds up in the blood.

Neumann's parents said they didn't know she had diabetes. They didn't take her to a doctor. They prayed for healing.

So, pastordan and I have been recently blessed with a 4yo and a 10yo.  It's a very different experience parenting in this manner.  You don't get to start out from the beginning doing things the way you want to.  And on top of it, we're the 4th foster placement (hopefully the last) so we have a lot of different parents and parenting styles influencing these kids.  Needless to say, we've had to decide really quickly our position on lots of things.