Sanctification

On Wednesday we welcomed two sisters, ages 7 and 9, into our home, officially doubling the number of children in our house in less than a week. Sissy went from being the oldest to having 3 big sisters. Budders now has 3 girls he really doesn't know trying to lug him around (and running him to me every time he cries! Yikes!). And Bubba and Sissy are both having to adjust to older kids with different senses of humor and pet peeves. They are altogether adjusting very well, and I am proud of the love that they are showing their new sisters.

The big girls are adjusting to life in a new house, new authority figures and rules, new younger siblings who {sometimes} annoy them. They are learning new routines, attending new schools, making new friends, and missing friends and family.

I won't try to pretend that this is easy. Foster care is definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am adjusting to a {much} high noise and chaos level. I am learning trying to figure out which fights to pick. I am struggling a bit watching Sissy and Bubba get exposed to things I have tried so hard to shelter them from. I hate watching them feel left out or picked on or talked down to. I am having to draw the line regarding what words, music, et cetera we will allow in this house, resulting in disappointed girls (and losing some of my fun-mom-ness). I have had moments when I miss "just us." I have thought What are we doing? But I have also watched these girls come a long way in this short time that we have had them. And I am {learning} to love like Christ. Sanctification. It's what this is all about anyway.




16. FG's first prayer!
17. family worship on a full bed
18. a hug from my 9 yr. old {this is a BIG deal!}
19. 7 yr. old's {first} prayers
20. FG asking to be baptized!
21. my awesome mother-in-law-- HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAREN!!
22. hours of giggles
23. not having to worry about dinner after school this week--thanks to my awesome MOPS friends!

Baked Chimichangas

Since I have an abundance of chicken in my freezer, I filled up our meal plan with poultry dishes! On the menu tonight: baked chimichangas. I've adapted a recipe I found awhile back at Or so she says for a little more convenience on my part. I also adapted it to feed my larger family (we've doubled the number of children in our house in less than a week!). If you have a smaller family, just half the recipe. (I will update tomorrow with pictures.)

Baked Chimichangas

2 chicken breasts

1 1/2 c. salsa 

2 t. ground cumin

1 1/2 c. shredded cheese

12 flour tortillas

olive oil

any toppings you want (we use more cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, &-if I'm lucky-guacamole)

1. Place your chicken in the crockpot and cook on low for about 8 hours.

2. About half an hour before dinnertime, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

3. Shred your chicken or let your kids go at it with kid-safe knives.

4. Add salsa, cumin, and cheese. 

5. Place about 1/2 c. of mixture on a tortilla and roll up. Place seam-side down on a baking sheet and continue with the rest of your tortillas. Brush with olive oil.

6. Bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes.

7. Garnish with your favorite toppings & enjoy!

Linking up to Slow Cooking Thursday.

11. tough teachers

12. bonding with FG over hours of homework

13. 2 new sisters who joined our family last night

14. sharing a meal with friends

15. my sweet baby's voice