Licensure!!

I'm so excited... I thought I was going to have to get the dogs to the vet today or tomorrow to finish my foster parent licensure... but they just needed the rabies proof (which lasts until 2011 for my dogs). So, they went ahead and are licencing me today!!!!

WOOOHOOOO!

I'm so excited!!!!!!

It will be awhile, maybe, who knows... to get a referral or to be asked to foster a child, but the licensure is complete today!!!! :D I guess I'm now a Foster (hoping foster/adoptive) Parent in waiting for this agency.

Now, onto figuring out this Kazakhstan thing. One thing at a time, right? ;-)

Happy, happy dance!

Peace.

Grocery Challenge Finale

Ok, I went over my $100 budget for groceries this month. I spent $184.

Now, before we all think I just completely bagged it, $50 of that was for a prescription not counted toward my flex account because I've hit that limit. Ugh. So that brings it to $134.

I did not really add dog food, cat food and cat litter into my original calculation. And, boy, does this you perspective on what you spend for 3 animals in a month! I spent $20 (dog food) + $12 (cat litter) and $0 for cat food, 'cause I had enough for the month. So, that's $32.

I'm down to $102. Not too bad. Right? ;-)

Next time, I'll see if I can figure out the other stuff. You know, the dinners out. I didn't add that in. But overall, it was probably about $200 for the month. And, frankly, for the two of us... for 3 meals a day for me, 2 meals a day for her, and snacks... plus the 3 animals. I guess I can live with that! :D

Go see how the other challengers did!






Peace.

WFMW - less meat

People who know me know that I have not eaten beef or pork for probably 15 years or so. There were reasons for this, but suffice to say, I don't care for either of them, and I don't eat them. This works for me.

When Lil M came into the picture, I made the decision to follow this same rule, principal for the both of us. It is what I want. So, what does this mean for her? Well, it means that she doesn't eat crap like bologna or hot dogs or meatloaf or hamburgers, unless they are made of Turkey. And she eats more beans. We eat a lot of beans. In a lot of different things. We just don't eat beef or pork.

For example, take spaghetti. Use your regular sauce and add one can of black beans to it. Yum.

Same thing with goulash (made with ground turkey). Add a can of beans. We use a lot of chicken, turkey and fish in our diet. Oh, and the same this with stir-fry... I add a can of red beans. It doesn't have to be all beans, or a ton of them to add the benefits. Sometimes we don't eat meat at all.

Last night I cooked a can of Lentil soup, put that on top of noodles. Then I added hot sauce and grated sharp cheddar cheese. Sort of a 3-way as it is known around here. :) Just a vegetarian 3-way. YUM.

I am having a little difficulty with daycare. They have given Lil M beef or pork in the past month. Yesterday, they gave her bologna. Thankfully, I found out that it is actually turkey bologna. Or, I would have been really mad. I just want them to abide by my dietary wishes. I've made my requirements/wishes known since day 1, so let's see if it continues. (it better not)

That's what works for me. Go check out the other great ideas.

Peace.

Weekend

It's been a pretty crappy weekend. I mean, the good news from Thursday is still awesome and that has been on my mind... but otherwise, the rain and some personal things have gotten in the way of having a decent weekend.

Looks like the rain is gone for now, though, so maybe the week will be better.

Lil M did like the little trip we took out to an Alpaca farm. We'll do more things like that this fall.

Peace.

The Decision is Final and Posted

I'm so thankful it is Friday.

We finally got the news yesterday that Sis' divorce decisions have been made by the Judge. All that is left is to wait for the actual decree, but according to the decision document, the divorce is final. It's finally over. (breathing sigh of relief over here)

Wow.

This really long, depressing, difficult, awful journey started in February of 2007. Yep, 2.5 years ago. It started with EX-bil's 2nd drunk driving offense.

Sis did not want this divorce, but apparently he did. And he lied and lied and lied to everyone about everything for that entire time, trying to ruin Sis. That was his one and only ultimate goal. To ruin her. (oh, and to shack up with some skanky bitch, but that's a different story).

But he did NOT ruin her!

We finally won. God prevailed.

It is so hard to explain to people who don't know the situation just how rough it's been. It's really hard to explain to people who are close to us even... But it is a HUGE relief that she was finally heard and believed. That not just one judge, but two (another issue involving jackass' girlfriend) judges came to the same conclusion - JAKE IS A LIAR. He is required to go to alcohol counseling. His girlfriend has aggravated menacing charges against her for threatening Sis' life. Sis was awarded the protection order she needed. whew.

But the biggie - My sister was granted full custody, with support and all. She finally won. SHE WON. OMG. It still feels surreal, but it is real. :D We have waited for this day for 2.5 years. Years.

I am so glad we didn't give up. Even in the darkest days, we fought for the truth. We fought for Chase. We fought for Sis. And we finally overcame the evil that is Jason or Jake or whatever he wants to go by.

I can't tell you just how overwhelmingly happy I am right now. And relieved. It is finally over. This is the day we've been waiting for. Chase will be safe. Sis will get restitution or Jake will be in even more trouble. Christina (the psycho girlfriend) will have to stay away, or she will go to jail.

It is a good day. Thank you God.

I want to thank all of our close friends for their undying support and prayers. We love you all.

Peace.