Be Still

and know that I am God…Psalm 46:10 A look into our family, faith, and passions

Goodbye Be Still March 8, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Renee Robinson @ 10:05 am

5 1/2 years I have written on this blog.  It started as a way for me to keep our friends and family updated on our lives as we prepared to move away from our hometown.

We are entering a new phase of life.  Our boys are getting older.  This means we are busier than ever!  I thought the baby and toddler years would be the hardest.  Not so!  The problems get bigger as they get bigger.  And the activities ramp up in a big way.

Over the last several years God has been working in my heart, growing my passion for not only my family, but for all families.  The family unit.  And in the last several months, God has expanded my passions for the ones in this world who are hurting, who are in need, the children orphaned, the starving babies in need of food.  I want to take my passion and move outside of myself.  But I know my limits.

So here is where we are.  I’m first and foremost a wife and a mom.  When I’m with my family, I’m with them.  All of me.  I write on 2 blogs, occasional articles, and I’m working on 3 books (I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true).  I’m a volunteer assistant coordinator for New Horizons for Children.  And I wish I had 5 extra hours in the day to do all the other things that need to get done.  My house stays a wreck these days, but I have a choice…clean my house or love on my kids.

I will miss Be Still.  But it is time to close this chapter and move on to our next.  Please sign up to follow me on www.barefootwalks.com.  And thank you for following along with us here the last several years.  I hope you will continue to follow us on Barefoot Walks!

Blessings!!

Renee

 

Back to Life Summary February 21, 2013

Filed under: Family Life — Renee Robinson @ 1:28 pm

We are more than a month past Viktors leaving and I am just now feeling caught up.  I wouldn’t say I’m totally healed, but I’m getting there.  I don’t know if I will ever be “healed”, but I don’t know that I’m supposed to.  So much I could write about this, but I won’t.  Instead, I will catch you up on what life has looked life since we resumed our normal family life.

karate

Andrew begged us to take Karate.  He has spent 4 years being dragged to everything his brothers participated in, so we thought it would be fun to let him have an activity.  Especially since he was so excited about it.  As it goes with 3 boys, once the other 2 heard about this new venture, they wanted to take part as well.

After the first class, Andrew decided “maybe another day he would do karate.”  Jacob and Zachary were a different story.  They loved it more than anything to date they have tried.  So much so that they have gone to class every time it’s been offered.  We believe Andrew thought Karate was actually gymnastics.  He was more interested in learning flips then kicks.  And he didn’t like the “itchy” uniforms.  He is only 4 after all!

jacob reading

All the boys had eye exams.  Jacob and Zachary needed reading glasses.  Jacob was very sad, but Zachary was ecstatic.  Jacob has only worn his once.  Zachary swears he is a better reader now.  And he just might be.  Since getting his glasses, he has decided to read his first chapter book completely on his own.  Every chance he gets he is curled up with glasses, book, and a word search.  I think they are adorable in their little glasses.

zachary

Andrew, as usual, feels he was left out.  He wants his own glasses.  We explained that his eyes were fine for now.  I’ve mentioned before, he will be in sales one day.  He doesn’t quit.  We will see how long he asks for glasses before he finally wears us down and we get some type of glasses.

I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I will anyway.  I almost never buy clothes for the boys.  We usually buy a load of hand-me-downs for Jacob from a friend.  These are passed to Zachary then to Andrew.  I can’t remember the last time I’ve bought clothes for any of them.  I’ve never bought shoes for Andrew.  And in August grandma and grandpa bought Jacob and Zachary a new pair of tennis shoes for school.  The boys never complain about shoes and clothes, so I never think to really take an inventory or check into how they are holding up.  Until last week when the smell of Zachary’s shoes was so pungent, we realized it was time to replace.  When I checked Jacob’s, they had holes all in them.  When I checked Andrew’s the linings were worn out completely.

So we did a little Zappo’s shoe shopping.  Jacob and Zachary took about 1 minute scrolling through the shoes, picked a pair, done.  Andrew came into the room, saw the sea of shoes on the computer screen, and that was it.  One pair captured his heart.  ”Ohhhh, I want those.  Those are so awesome.  I love those!!”

shoes

My reaction?  ”Those?  Really?  Those?”

“Yes, mommy, those are so awesome!”

Not my style at all, but Andrew is just different like that.  He wanted them badly enough to use his money to pay for 1/2 of them because they were over the shoe budget.  He is convinced he can run faster and jump higher.  Maybe he can.

We took a trip to VA over winter break.  Steve had to work in VA for a couple of days, so we accompanied him and while he worked, the boys and I took some time to visit with our dearest friends, the Bailey’s, Rooker’s, and Parlee’s.  It was a sweet, sweet time of catching up.   The highlight for Jacob took place at the Bailey’s when he caught a chicken.  3 chickens escaped the farmer neighbor’s coop, so the boys caught all 3 chickens.  It was an experience that went down as one of his all time favorites.

chickens

The funniest part of the trip was when I checked my phone and saw that Charlotte was blanketed in snow….and VA was dry!  Since we have moved to NC I have told the boys we would likely never see snow in Charlotte.  We were certain we would have snow in VA.  We returned home to a pocket of snow in the backyard that had not yet melted and Zachary and Andrew had a mini snowball fight.  It’s really all they needed.

macy

Macy is getting so big.  She is the perfect puppy still.  So sweet, fairly obedient, and a little cuddlebug.  The boys adore working on training her to do tricks.  They have actually done an amazing job.  I never work with her on sitting, laying, staying, etc.  They’ve done all the work.  Now they are teaching her shake and dance.  She can stay on her hind legs a good long while.  She provides unlimited entertainment and has been a great source of added responsibility for the boys.  Steve and I really love her too :)

And that’s pretty much it.  Baseball starts in a couple of weeks and we will be back on that train again.  We cherished a sports break over the winter.  Lots of great time together.  We slowed way down.

We are starting our countdown to summer break already.  2 1/2 months will fly by!!  I’m ready for my boys to be home!!!

 

Find Your "Just One" January 28, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Renee Robinson @ 2:28 pm

Reblogged from Barefoot Walks:

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If you have ever looked at the problems of the world and felt that you are only one person against a mountain of problems and wondered how you could make a difference,  I encourage you to listen to this message from Andy Stanley.  If you have ever heard someone say, "You can't save them all," this message addresses that theory.  If you've ever thought that the little bit you can do will not solve the world's problems, I challenge you to try.

Read more… 164 more words

 

Andrew’s Trip to Latvia January 23, 2013

Filed under: Boys — Renee Robinson @ 5:20 pm

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I was sitting at my laptop the afternoon before Viktors left.  My little Drew said he would be right back, and I listened as his little footsteps pitter-pattered up the stairs.

10 minutes later he stood at the doorway of my office. “I’m ready to go to my Latvia.”

My fingers stopped typing.  I turned to face this free-spirited, strong-willed, 4-year-old.  He had packed a bag.  All by himself.  To go to Latvia with Viktors.  We had no choice but to play along.  Because this little boy was serious.  He wasn’t kidding.  In his mind, he was leaving for Latvia with Viktors.

“You can’t leave me. I’ll miss you too much.”

“I have to go.  I’ve never been there before.  I need to do this.”  Is this a dress rehearsal, I wondered silently.

And this is what he packed:  a pair of pajamas, a pair of pants with his GA Bulldog jersey, 2 pairs of underwear ( in case one got wet he said), a pair of socks, his watch, and one entertainment toy.  He even remembered his toothbrush, a warm coat, and a snow coat.  All his bases were covered.

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For the remainder of the evening we allowed him to believe he was getting on a plane the next day heading to the other side of the world.  We asked if he would be nervous traveling without us.  Nope.  That didn’t surprise us.  Andrew has never been afraid to leave us from the time he was born.  He loves to experience new things and people.

Viktors suitcase and backpack were piled at the top of the stairs.  As I made my way to bed that night, I noticed Andrew’s little backpack on top of the stack.  When Steve loaded the van with Viktors luggage the morning he left, Andrew called out, “Hold on!” He ran and grabbed his bag and coat and threw them in the trunk.

The plan was to take Andrew to the ticket counter where Steve would give a wink of the ticket lady about giving Andrew a ticket.  Hopefully, she wouldn’t think he was flirting and would say something like, “Oh sweetie, all our seats are sold out.  I’m sorry you can’t go to Latvia today.”  Well, Steve winked.  And the ticket lady wrote up a special ticket so he could go to Latvia!  Not cool.  Meltdown would shortly follow.

Viktors went through security and Andrew fussed the entire time that he needed to go.  We kept repeating, “Wait just a minute.  Not yet.”  Somehow we managed to get him out of the airport and broke the news in the car that he couldn’t go to Latvia.  His cries were the saddest cries.  He was devastated.

He hasn’t forgotten about Latvia.  He still plans to go one day.  Andrew is different like that.  He is different in a lot of ways.  A personality like none I’ve ever seen.  A passionate child.  I pray God takes the passion and uses it for His glory one day!  And I pray God gives me the patience I need to parent this child wisely.

 

The Journey Continues....Meet the Sloans! January 21, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Renee Robinson @ 2:27 pm

Reblogged from Barefoot Walks:

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The night before Viktors left, Paula contacted me about Viktors.  I was crying too hard that night to have a conversation and promised her I would call the next day.  I had no idea this was a divine appointment.

After taking Viktors to the airport and recovering slightly, I called Paula to discuss Viktors.  God had laid Viktors on her heart in a big way, but as you will read, she thought it was the role of an advocate or to pray for our road to adoption.

Read more… 411 more words

 

Post Viktors January 17, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Renee Robinson @ 11:55 am

Reblogged from Barefoot Walks:

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If you are new to Barefoot Walks, I need to explain something.  Our family took a 4 week detour from our normal life so we could create moments, memories, and experiences for an orphan who would not normally  have such.  If you haven't been on this journey with us, start here.  If you have been on this journey with us, thank you.

Read more… 426 more words

 

He's Gone January 13, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Renee Robinson @ 2:08 pm

Reblogged from Barefoot Walks:

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We said goodbye.  The pain was excruciating for me.  I can't remember a time in my life I have cried harder or longer.  I cried for days leading up to his departure.  The thought of possibly never seeing this beautiful child again felt more than my heart could bear.  Would I wonder every day what he was doing?  Is he standing strong against temptations.  

Read more… 996 more words

 

 
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