And here she is!

Lorelei Prentice Stumpf arrived yesterday morning at 8:13 am. The delivery was uneventful, and she's been a delight for the past 36 hours. We are so thankful to God for this beautiful blessing!

Birthday Time for Sweet Girls!

This past weekend we celebrated Meghan's 12th birthday and Brigitta's 7th. These are two of the sweetest, happiest girls any mom could wish for! We had a wonderful time going out to eat and enjoying an ice cream cake.

Meet the yard crew

Bryan took some time last week to try to tame the wilds that is our yard. He enlisted quite a bit of help, and the place really shaped up!

And some did more goofing around than actual helping, but I think we'll keep them anyway!

Update on the new & improved Stumpf Family

Here’s the long-overdue, much-asked-for update on how things are going around here.

The children arrive last Monday (April 2, 2012) at around 7pm. Tuesday morning started before 6am! Fortunately, everyone is waking at a much more acceptable (in my mind) time now!

Last week was a tough one for me, not because of anything the new children were doing, but the stress and anxiety going on in my head. I stopped sleeping and was an emotional wreck. It reminded me of bringing my first few babies home. The overwhelming “what have I done?” feeling.

Once I was able to get a few nights of quality sleep, things started looking up. Not crying over green beans was a blessing to everyone.

Bringing home a 12 and 14-year-old and integrating them into the family is not without adjustment! Bryan equated it with having foreign exchange students with the bonus that they speak English.

There is a learning curve as they try to fit into the culture of our family. We’ve been blessed with two children that are very anxious to please. They are trying very hard to learn how we do things. Emelie says that she’s noticed that they are even beginning to talk like Stumpfs!

Because of state law, the new children will need to be in public school until the adoption is finalized, about six months. Trying to enroll children this close to the end of the school year has not been a speedy process. By the time they finally get into school (looking like next Tuesday), they will have only about 28 days left until summer break.

I’ll admit that venturing into the public school system has been one of the things that was stressing me out. Things like gym clothes, proper school supplies, and lunch money are things I’ve never had to think about before. God has resolved many of these issues. I should have let Him handle things from the beginning! Shocker!

For the fall, we’re looking into an on-line public charter school to plug the gap until we can officially homeschool them.

I cannot express how much I appreciate all the prayers and support from my family, near-to-home friends and my on-line friends. Knowing that our family is being lifted up to the Father has gotten be through my days. This adventure is just beginning, and in four weeks we will get to meet the newest member of our family.

Our double blessing arrived today!

As I posted on Facebook earlier today, a change in the placement plan resulted in the our two children coming home to us this evening!

Last Friday, as Bryan and I pulled into the parking lot of a Japanese restaurant, we received a phone call telling us that the placement might need to be moved up. We were attending the state homeschool convention and suddenly we had a hard time keeping focus!

This morning we had a meeting and knew it would likely happen this week. We found out at 1 o'clock that confirmed that tonight would be the night.

So now it's 10 p.m., exactly one month after we received a phone call asking if we would be interested in these children, and 8 of our 10 children are settled in bed. Not sure that anyone is actually sleeping yet!

On tomorrow's agenda will be getting things unpacked, trying to figure out how to handle the rest of the school year, and loving on two children that have just entered their forever home. I'm thinking that making Easter clothes might have to wait for a while!

Don't I look good for carrying triplets?

Over the past couple weeks, Bryan and I have been blessed to be part of an adventure that will hopefully end in the adoption of two young people that have been "children of our hearts" since last summer. Within weeks of having our ninth little one, we will be blessed to be the parents of eleven! Sounds unreal, even to us!

Here's the timeline of how this has come about:
June 2011 - We were given information on a boy and girl that might be available for adoption. For much of last summer we pictured these children becoming part of our family.

Fall 2011 - Communication on the siblings dwindled to nothing. I assumed the plan had changed and they were no longer available. But we had a new pregnancy to focus on!

Fast forward to March 2, 2012 - I get a call from my adoption worker saying that the case worker for these children was anxious to interview us as soon as possible.  We inform her we are interested, but that we are pregnant: a scenario our home study said would impact our ability to adopt.

March 8 - During the interview, God's hand in the process and timeline becomes very apparent to all of us.  When the children were asked in what type of home would they like live, the girl answered she hoped they would have a baby.  The interview went fabulously and the review team voted unanimously to match us with the children.

March 14 - The case workers told the children about us and showed them our scrapbook. The girl said, "I would be blessed to be part of this family."

March 16 - We met them in person for the first time. I can't remember ever being so nervous. It went great!

March 18 - We introduced them to the whole family at a park. We started counting to ten when counting noses.

March 24 - The children were able to spend the day here at the farm and see our house.

Moving forward, we'll have more visits during their Spring Break and on weekends. Shortly after they wrap up their school year at the end of May, they'll be joining our family forever!

It's only been a couple weeks, but we feel these children have been in our lives forever! I guess God knew that all along!

We came, we saw, we bought large quantities of food

This morning was one of the coldest so far this winter. About 14 degrees. What better time to do our grocery shopping for the next 9 weeks?

Actually, it turned out to be a time to great to go. The crowds were so light, we rocked through Aldi and Walmart in two hours. Home and unloaded in 3. And we're done until April!

For the first time in 16 years, we didn't need to buy diapers. Hunter has done amazing with potty training. It was like he was just waiting for me to give him the chance to be a big guy. Of course, diapers go back in the cart next shopping trip - newborn ones!

So this is pretty cool...

A couple weeks ago I was approached to have one of my past posts included in a soon-to-be-released ebook, That Works for Me: Tried and True Tips from Works for Me Wednesday. It will be full of tips from the popular blog carnaval, Works for Me Wednesday. That Works for Me will be organized, categorized, and highly useful with hot links to 1,001 of the best tips.

I'll post more information when the book is released this spring. In addition, a portion of all proceeds will be used to bless Mercy House.

Happy Birthday, Heidi!

Our little Adelaide Kathleen turned one whole hand this past Sunday. How is that possible?


As the youngest Stumpf girl, she regularly plays the part of half-imp, half-dictator. She's so charming that the other children don't really mind being bossed around (most of the time!).


Grandma Nan surprised Heidi and Brigitta by taking them to Disney on Ice on Saturday. Thanks to a tip from Jamers, I busted out their princess dresses and enough hair glitter to clog our septic system.

These two are only about a 1.5 years
apart and the best of friends.

After church on Sunday, we had lunch at "Little Red Robin Hood" a.k.a. Red Robin. It's a favorite birthday destination because the birthday girl gets an ice cream sundae and no one makes her share (but she usually does!). The we came home for presents and cake.

Heidi had picked a "Tangled" sheet cake from Walmart. (Gasp - a store bought cake!) Bryan was happy to take a break from his usual cake artistry. But Meghan really wanted to make some creative cupcakes. Heidi chose monsters!? The one without 3D eyeballs is for Ted and his braces. I think Meg got some of her Daddy's talent!

 

'Tis the Season!

This past weekend was of the "Crazy Christmas" variety. Bryan's company Christmas party, wrapping up decorating the house (finally!), attending a live nativity, cyber shopping into the wee hours. I prefer to enjoy the season under a fuzzy blanket with hot coca and Christmas carols, but try as I might, it's hard to keep nutty out of the season.

Last week I wasn't able to blog because I was frantically working to finish crocheting a shawl to wear to Bryan's party (totally self-inflicted crazy, I admit!). My mommy said no blogging until it was done. Thirty minutes before we walked out the door to the party, I wrapped up the last stitch. Plus I managed to give myself a manicure on the way to the party. (Note: nail polish fumes + riding in a small car with a stick-shift + pregnancy = rather car sick!)

We were able to decorate the tree that had been standing in our living room unadorned for a week. All the Christmas rubbermaid totes have even found their way back down to the basement! No outside lights this year. Ready for a mini-tirade? Three years ago, at an after-Christmas sale, I bought LED lights for the front of our house. Even on sale the cost of those babies warranted a phone call to Bryan for approval. After two years of use 3 of the 5 strands are dead. Not replace-a-bulb dead, but feel-bad-for-the-landfill-as-you-chuck-them dead. In this case "going green" meant that the green is just "going" from our wallets!

Now were going to begin enjoying all our family traditions that really do make Christmas our favorite time of year. I'm always on the lookout for new ideas to make the season even more special. So I'm going to post a few of our "favorite things" to hopefully spark your Christmas Spirit. But for now....a cup of cocoa is calling my name!

Oh Baby! It's a Stumpf!

I have been a bad, bad blogger. Almost two months and not a single post. Would you forgive me if I have a good excuse?

I've spent my prime blogging hours over the past several weeks alternately curled up in the fetal position feeling disgusting and fantasizing about hamburgers (preferably loaded with jalapenos). Par for the course for me during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Our "baby," Hunter, was about to turn three when Bryan and I were delighted to find out that we were going to have another blessing. God willing, our ninth child will arrive mid-May 2012!

I think this one looks like Bryan

It's a little surreal to us to be working on driver's ed and college with our oldest two, while getting ready to start the journey over again. Hunter is almost potty trained so we might be a zero diaper home for a couple months. That hasn't happened in almost 16 years! Nevertheless, we are over the moon that God has blessed us again - even at our "mature' age.

I'm starting to feel better, so hopefully I can remember all the post ideas that have floated through my head in the past few weeks. As I always say, it's never dull around here!

Emelie's on the road to D.C.

If you could read the time stamp of this post, you would see that it's just after 4am. I woke up thinking of my girl who is currently on a Purdue University bus somewhere around the Pennsylvania/Ohio line. Better than last night when I had nightmares of lost money and cell phones!

About a month ago Emelie was offered a 4-H achievement trip to Washington D.C. because of winning the State Horse Judging Contest. At first Bryan and I dismissed it. We are very much NOT in the habit of letting our children go 14 hours away with people we don't know!

But I kept thinking about the trip that she had earned.

We looked into it further. The other young adults from all over the state had achieved similar honors (like Crops Judging Champ and Dairy Foods Judging Champ). The itinerary was crazy, but they'd see everything there is to see in D.C. in just three days. Our cost is minimal. It seemed like such a great opportunity, especially for a girl with her head on straight like Em.

So last evening she boarded a bus with 34 of her new best friends (actually she's hoping to find someone who doesn't talk who wants to go to the bookstore during the 2 hour allotted shopping time - someone just like her!)

Emelie getting on the bus. How can she look so
grown-up and still like my little girl at the same time?

When they arrive at the National 4-H Center later this morning they have just enough time to change before heading to Capitol Hill for Congressional visits, tour of Capitol, tour of Supreme Court and Library of Congress. Tonight it will be a night view of Washington with stops at the Jefferson, Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean Memorials. Whew!

On the homefront, we're all counting the minutes until her return. And mama will be overflowing the throne room of heaven with prayers for her safety (and hoping for a little sleep!)

Happy Birthday, Mr. C!

Today my handsome, steady man turns the big 1-0. The decade has flown by and I'm the proud mama to a boy that is always looking out for me. He's the one to always put others first. Sweet guy!

No baby picture for this one since he was born in the dark ages - before digital! I could always take a photo out of an album and scan it, but you'll just have to trust me that he was a cute little baby!

Opening a book about Star Wars LEGO - with
exclusive Hans Solo Mini-Fig! Be still my heart!

Happy Birthday, Mr. McGakers

Today my redheaded firecracker turns eight. Jacob is a freckle-faced bundle of energy with a flair for the dramatic, but he still loves to cuddle with mama (he'll kill me for saying that!)

Jacob's first Christmas
(about 3 months old)



Hamming it up as usual!



Boy Birthday Bash 2011!

Yesterday we celebrated our annual cake-fest for our three boys whose birthdays are within 5 days of each other. In case anyone thinks they're being slighted by having a one day celebration, the boys ask to do it this way.


They'd picked out their presents while we were at Disney World (LEGO store - need I say more?). They requested the local Chinese Buffet for lunch, and we had LOTS of cake and ice cream for dinner. And yet we still have cakes all over the counter.

Jacob requested cake for breakfast on his actual birthday (tomorrow). I'm thinking we just might start our day with one huge sugar buzz!


In the "Stumpf Room" at the Chinese Buffet



Caleb requested a "pizza" instead of cake -
shocker!  I used this recipe and loved how it
turned out!

Bryan showed his amazing skills as a frosting
artist again this year. This is Hunter's Toy
Story Alien cake.

 

Jacob requested a "Gronkle" from
How to Train Your Dragon.



Our Birthday Boys during round #2 of 3
of "Happy Birthday" singing.



On this day 18 Years Ago...

I married my friend
With whom I share
My dreams, my life, my love


Happy 18th Anniversary, Sweetheart!

When Hunter puts himself to bed...

After we finished the movie last night, when we walked into the living room and found Hunter on the floor. The best part was that he had put his Pooh Bear to bed before he fell asleep!

Celebrating the aniversary of my 29th birthday

Happy Birthday to me!! We're watching Mars Needs Moms and about to have my favorite - Dairy Queen ice cream cake. My husband had them make it all blue (my favorite color). I can't wait to see the mouths of some very happy children smeared with blue frosting!

Later, the older children, Bryan, and I will watch Soul Surfer. I've been wanting to see it for months. Redbox is awsome!

I have to sing the praises of my oldest boy for a moment, was able to connect my netbook to the Switched-On Schoolhouse to the main database. That's something we haven't been able to do since we bought a new router 6 months ago. We were even planning to call a "geek" to get it fixes. Our own "geek" saved us some cash!

4-H Fair Recap #2 - Meggie Edition

As our crazy 4-H Fair weekend was winding down, Meghan learned some exciting news. She had earned the award for Rabbit Herdsmanship for her age division. Since this award is concerned with the care of one's animals and barn area, 4-H makes a pretty big deal of it with a special awards ceremony for all the Herdsmanship recipients.

She was also selected as first alternate Rabbit Ambassador for her age group. Pretty impressive considering she didn't prepare at all for the tests because she had no intention of participating. She just took the tests on a whim. And since the first place representative couldn't fulfill the commitments, she'll be representing our county at the State Fair this Sunday. Now she's cramming for those tests!

We all entered several exhibits in the Open Show portion of the fair. Meg stole the show again by earning Sweepstakes for her potted plant!

Such an amazing turnout for a girl with a sweet, humble spirit!

4-H Fair Recap #1

Here is a photo (lots of photos!!) round-up of the first few days of our local 4-H fair. The children's hard work was rewarded with a lot of blue and some purple! The fair closes tomorrow, and there are a couple more highlights to come....

Ted's Electric Poster - Reserve Champion

Caleb's Rocketry - Blue
In the poster behind, you can see this
rocket launching and a photo of Ted.

Ted's Rocketry - Blue

Meghan's Floracutlure - Blue

Emelie's Horse & Pony Poster  - Champion
Third year in a row!

Emelie's Photography - Honor Group
She also entered three salon prints
which all earned blue

Emelie's Photography - Champion

Meghan's Sewing - Blue

Emelie's Misc. Crafts - Blue

Emelie's Self Determined - Reserve Champion

Meghan showing Dove - 2nd place
Ghirardelli - 1st place
Cadbury - 2nd place

Emelie showing Ripley in English Halter
She showed in 12 classes and placed in 6.

Emelie, with some of the Horse & Pony Judging Team,
being recognized as State Champion.