Do not be anxious but in everything give thanks

I'm what you would call a recovering worry addict.  I worried about EVERYTHING!  Ask my husband, ask my kids, ask me!
typical day: will the car make it to work?
 Will I get a flat tire?
Will a deer run out in front of me?
Will a student's parents call me b/c of something I said to their child?
Will I have broccoli stuck between my teeth?
How long will I teach before I realize my fly is down.... (ok, that one might have happened before.... )

I refuse to be a deer in the headlights.... (this guy's been visiting lately, I think he's on acorn cleanup duty - PTL!)

So when we were called to adopt I knew we didn't have a large enough bank account... in fact, I don't think we had a bank account, but we did have Dave Ramsey to set us straight.... and I'm not going to idolize him, but I will say he really helped us get a handle on the finances gifted to us by God.

I watched people work real hard to get people on board to help fund adoptions, and thought, "Wow! God is BIG!" and people sure do work hard!

Did I worry?  well, can I refrain from answering that by telling you that I didn't really want to work as hard as I saw others working, and I was worried that I couldn't get the job done..... and that the adoption(s) was probably going to go on a credit card.....

but, then there's God, getting me to get that job done.
Getting me to work hard without me realizing it
He plopped a job in my lap
(one that's fun - for me)
He tossed an opportunity to the husband for a little work
(one that makes him feel good, and uses his muscles as well as his ability to get along with difficult people)
and so, it seems, that slowly, but surely, the adoption is being funded....
and is it hard work? OH YEA it is!  I'm exhausted, yet efficient!  I have to be packed in the morning as I leave with my lunch, snacks, coaching clothes, meeting materials, and oh ya, my regular work responsibilities.  (which include a total re-do of our curriculum - that the whole department has to be on board and, um, they're not, yet....)  add in traveling this year with a 6-8 week FML (family medical leave) and I can have a true case of the stress! - but for some reason, I don't.

So I'm not going to worry - I'm going to enjoy the time together as a family in the warm October day.... as we, along with so many others, like yourselves, are doing.

HOW TO PICK OUT A PUMPKIN:

First: Never pick up a pumpkin by it's stem....  

 Make sure you love the way it feels in your hands

 Check for soft spots

 Does it look honest? Will it last a few weeks?

 Allow the littlest one to push the wagon, even if you know you won't need the wagon - it keeps her busy and involved

 Remind the big one that the perfect pumpkin has a stem
Contemplate his question.... "Why?"

 Pretend that it doesn't bother you when some people don't match their clothes

 or intentionally avoid the camera - little stinker

 Affirm the right thing to do - look and smile when mommy asks....

 act casual, not deperate - it's only a pumpkin

 look it in the eye... well, look at it

 any soft spots?

 blemishes?

 (notice the short fat one in the wagon, family voted that one out and the taller leaner one in)

 Give it the test....
Is it well balanced?

snap a few photos

allow the littlest one to carry the 13 pounder to the car