December 30, 2013

2013 - In Review and Pictures from the year

First I need to apologize for the delay in posting on our blog.  I will try to be better next year with our posts and pictures.

What a roller coaster of a year for us as a family.  I suspect that it will continue to be that way from year to year as long as we are fostering children.

The last post was from Ruth's 5th Birthday so let me pick up from there from month to month!  Hope you find this fun!  Come along with me on this road to memories, hard times and tears.

May-  This month changed our lives in so many ways.  God clearly told both Rollie and me that I needed to quit my job and be a stay at home mom.  Something that I NEVER thought would happen.  God provided for all of this to happen and by His hands and our faith I quit my job of almost 8 years.  This has been a hard transition for me.  At first, I was lost.  What is my purpose?  Why did I do this?  Can I do this?  Those are some things that ran through my mind daily.  I asked God those questions too!  The same day that I asked God those questions Rollie came up to me and said that I was doing a good job and that he appreciated my work at home...WOW God thanks!

I admit that I still struggle because I do not use my brain the way I used to and I miss that.  I also admit that I am not the best stay at home mom!  I am not organized, patient all the time, have a plan for every day, or get all the cleaning done for the day...but I am working towards being a better wife and mom.  With this new year plan to do things differently here in the Olson home.

Also in May we amended our Foster license to have an additional child.  They told us that it would take awhile so we forgot about it lol.  Then one day shortly after I left my job we got a call about a newborn baby that needed a home.  We thought it would be a boy because that is what they told me, but it was a girl.  She was the most precious little girl and her and I bonded QUICKLY.  Love little M.

June/July-  These two months went fast and were fun!  Filled with VBS and friends over daily to play!!!  Oh swim lessons and Ruth's first baseball game!







Aug-  RUTH is in Kindergarten!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  What where did the time go?







It also was one of the hardest months of the year!  We had been praying about adopting our first sibling placement.  God told us that we would not be there forever family and after meeting the family that God found for them we got confirmation from God through Jeremiah 29:11 that they were to be there forever family.  P and A started having visits with them on the weekends and spending the night over there.  During this time we learned that Little M would be leaving too.  She had a family member that could take her.  With in 3 days we lost all our foster children.  First Little M left us.  That was one of the hardest days of my life.  I thought she would be forever mine and my heart desired that.   Then after having P and A here for a year we dropped them off with there new family.  Such a hard day for us as P didn't understand why.

Well, I think that this year in review just will have to be two posts because I am a little long winded.  So check back in 2 days for the rest of the year.

June 5, 2013

Ruth is 5 (Can you Believe it)

We planned Ruth's party at the park this year and WOW was that so much easier!  We are sold!  We planned on the party being smaller than last year and well that didn't happen!  Loved everyone that could come!!!  Ruth had a blast!

  Here are some pictures!!
 **Thanks Melissa!!!



 Stylin in their shades!













May 4, 2013

Jersey


May 3, 2013

Annual Trip to Build A Bear

Ruth and Lincoln have such a close birthday that they started last year to go to Build A Bear together.  Since we get their Bday coupons it makes it more affordable (well if you dont get the outfits too).





May 2, 2013

Happy Birthday Ruth






Ruth had a birthday party with all her friends and family on the 20th of April and those pictures are to come!!!  Stay tuned!

On her actual birthday we started out the day by heading out to have her 5 year pictures taken by Mrs Shawn with Shawn Duncan Photography.  This is her 3rd year taking her pictures and they are always amazing!
Then we came home and napped :)  Later in the evening I had promised the girls that we could get Sonic Slushys.  So we headed out at 7pm to get those.  Needless to say that their bedtime was a bit delayed with the sugar rush they were on!  It was very entertaining, but not before bed again lol!
Ruth's new bed from US and new comforter from Gma Beth and Gpa Ron!

Our sonic adventure :)

Beautiful

Sweetie!






May 1, 2013

Last Day at TCPS

Ruth has been at TCPS since 1 year.  It has been a GREAT school!  Ruth has learned so much about God and basic pre-k stuff!! 

April 13, 2013

Update on Ruth

Since it has been some time I thought I would update on our amazing little girl!

Ruth is doing great at her daycare and since moving into the 4's class has learned so much.  She is very smart and I think will do GREAT in kindergarten this year.  YES, I said this year!  She is very excited that this week is her last week at school and already has plans for us.

Ruth really enjoys AWANA on Wed nights.  She looks forward to that.  This week she has Cubbie Bear and he has been sleeping in her bed and we have to log his adventures while he is with us!  Pics to come!

She also loves dance class that she attends at daycare and looks forward to that every week as well.  We are going to look into some city programs for her to be in once she is out of daycare.  The city programs are great cause they are discounted!

Along with those things, Ruth, loves CHURCH!  She is like a sponge right now.  Taking it all in and asking many questions!  Oh how I love that she loves Jesus!

Since we have had our foster children in our home we have seen Ruth blossom into this amazing girl.  She loves with her whole heart.  God has given her such a wonderful heart.



April 12, 2013

Hello where are you!

You are probably thinking...where have you been and why aren't you posting!  Well, business gets in the way of all that!

We have some major changes going on in the Olson household and one of them should allow me time to update this blog on a regular basis, but not going to promise that yet!  LOL

I started my own business!!!  I am now a Pampered Chef Consultant!  AND LOVING IT!  I have had 4 parties and having one tomorrow!  They are so fun and the products are amazing!  Here is my website:  http://www.pamperedchef.biz/mindyolson  check it out! 

Let me know if you would like to:

Host a Cooking Show (best benefits)
Host a Catalog Show or Facebook Show
Register for your wedding or shower with me
Become a Pampered Chef Consultant under me :)
Or have any fundraising that you need to do

My email is:  mindy.pamperedchef@ymail.com

Picture from my Pampered Chef show at Melissa's!!!

The next and most important exciting news that We have is!!!!!!!!!!!

Starting Wed (April 17th, 2013) I am going to be a Stay At Home Mom!  Rollie and I have been praying about this and feel that God is leading us in this direction!  I put in my notice a little over 2 weeks ago and my last day was to be today, but they asked me to stay and train some more so I am.  I have to say that after working for 18 years and 7.5 of them at this job that this has been harder than I expected.  It is not about trusting God because after me doubting and God showing me and Rollie over and over how He will provide for us that trusting thing is resolved! :)  It is the fact that I LOVE MY JOB so to leave it is hard.

We also Moved!!!!!!!!!!  To a bigger home with another bedroom and a small office!  We are loving it.  Due to illness and such we have yet to completely unpack, but we are making our way through all that! 

We have more exciting news to come...stay tuned!



January 20, 2013

Christmas Morning!



Christmas was so fun and new for us this year.  Having 3 kids is a blast!  I am sad that I can't post pics of our foster children, but they had a blast too!

January 19, 2013

My Birthday

My birthday this year was one of the best ones yet!  I had some me time in the morning and got my hair done!  Then my mom came over to watch the foster kiddos.  Ruth, Rollie and I went to see the Nutcracker!  It was amazing!  Ruth loved it!  Then my family (not all due to illness) came over to my house for the best Chicken Tortilla Soup ever!

January 18, 2013

Bye Coys



Our close friends moved to Florida in Dec. Jake is going to attend school there!  We are missing them already!  Praying that they come back to us in a year!

January 16, 2013

Mary Kay Facials!


My friend Katie just started her new business as a Mary Kay Consultant!  She came over and Ruth and I had facials!  Ruth had so much fun!