New Humphrey Men

It's official!!!!  Jeremy and Lucas are now Humphreys and we couldn't be happier to finally be able to introduce them!!!  I'm too tired and our computer is too slow to post more, but I plan to do lots of updating tomorrow.

Judge Daniels, Tom, Angela, Ian, Jeremy and Lucas

New Pets

These 3 lovely young ladies have been gracing our yard every day for awhile.  They don't seem to mind if we are outside with them and I've even had them walk toward me while I am snapping pictures on more than one occasion.  We all love having them around (especially the boys), although I would prefer they leave my hostas alone.  :-)

Changes

Until now, J and L have been in the same school since they began school, so today was a big change for them.  They started at Cole (where Ian attended last year) and although they've been there twice to see it and meet a few people, they were pretty nervous.  J was very quiet  and L kept asking me to just take him home, but my spies tell me they did great.  I have no doubt that they will love it, just like Ian did!  This community is so very blessed to have a small school like Cole, where the staff love on all the kids and the crazy, fun principal knows their names.  I wish I could post the traditional "first day of school" pictures of the boys but we have to wait a few more days.

Ian, on the other hand, was pumped and ready to go to school if it means he gets to ride the school bus!  He has also changed schools and is going to Wea Ridge Middle School.  Technically, he skipped 5th grade and moved right on to 6th grade!  :-)  We feel very blessed to have had his teacher work with him all summer so she is familiar with his communication device, how to motivate him, how to communicate with him, and she knows how ornery he can be! 

We are looking forward to a great school year for all 3 boys!

Waiting anxiously for the sound of the bus!

 There it is!!!

Going up.....See ya later, Mom and Dad!

Encouragement

I just had to write a quick post about the encouragement that our family has received over the last 2-3 months.  I'm really not sure we would have survived thus far without it.
 Some of the many ways that we have been encouraged:

• My mom calling to say she is coming to do whatever she can for the day (she ended up doing all my ironing and staying with the boys so I could have lunch with a friend)
• Both of our parents loving on the boys and taking them for boat/tractor/gator rides
• Our older kids listening patiently and offering encouragement, support and prayer
• Drew and Elizabeth coming on short notice more than once so we can get away when we thought we would pull our hair out
• Lindsay and Troy allowing us to invade their home and their dear neighbors allowing us to invade their backyard and pool
• Extended family who love on the boys, play games with them and send them hurling through the air into the water
• A dear friend who texts me scripture to encourage me - several times a day!
• That same dear friend who brought meals on two different occasions
• That same dear friend who came and stayed and even put the boys to bed so we could stay out extra late
• Another dear friend who showed up with kids to play, clothes to share, and a meal, too!
• Many wonderful friends and family who commit to pray for us daily.....and do it!
• The person who cuts my hair praying in the middle of a haircut because he saw firsthand what the typical chaos is like
• Our pastor and his wife bringing DQ blizzards after the kids are in bed, just to encourage us
• Our good friend/therapist taking time to come for a home visit, not to mention numerous phone calls, e-mails, etc.
• Young women volunteering their time to go with me to Ian's appointments for the purpose of watching J and L or playing with them for 3 hours while I attend a case conference
• Friends who send encouraging notes/cards out of the blue
• A pediatrician who let me call him at home to talk through medical issues
• A church family who has embraced all of our boys and make a point to draw them out
• Friends and family (some of whom the boys have never met) who remember their birthdays
• One of Ian's paras from Cole who entertained them for 4 hours and then asked if we would let her do it again!

OK, so this didn't end up as quick as I thought.  I could continue, but you get the picture.  We are being ministered to in amazing ways and feel blessed, humbled, thankful, encouraged and loved.  You all know who you are and we love and appreciate each of you!!!

Survival Mode

I have been reminded multiple times during the last few days that I haven't done a great job of updating the blog this summer.  So......I shall offer some excuses:

• Ian has been a busy guy this summer - Physical therapy every week, speech therapy most weeks (to learn to use his communication device), trips to Crossroads (to get and evaluate the communication device), Pete's Pals, Camp WACK, Camp Mephibosheth, ESY (extended school year), and doctor's appointments.
• We had our basement remodeled which has been a very big blessing, but we are still getting it all sorted out and put back together.
• Tom ended a job of 20 years and started a new one.
• We took a trip to KY and one to TN.
• We added two boys to the mix.  This one should be listed first but I left it for last so I could explain.  J and L moved in on June 4 and life hasn't been the same since.  We are all learning to be a family but to be honest, it's been a challenge.  God is stretching Tom and I in ways we didn't know were possible and humbling us greatly in the process.  We have complete faith that this is God's sovereign plan for our family and that He alone can give us the patience, wisdom and grace to endure and even enjoy what lies ahead.  Looking back over the last 2 months, we realize that God has allowed progress and also realize that we have a long way to go.  He is faithful!! 

So, I feel like we've been in "survival mode."  Just trying to get to the grocery every week, get 3 meals a day on the table, keep the laundry done, keep the house relatively straight (haha!), get everyone to all of Ian's appointments, etc.  Doesn't sound like anything out of the ordinary, but trust me, it's been a challenge.  School starts in 8 days and perhaps I will have more time to blog when that happens.  In the meantime, I have 3 case conferences to get through (we've already had one) and need to train the people who will be working with Ian. 

And....2 weeks from today, we will be able to post pictures of the new Humphrey men!

New Beginnings

Last Friday marked the end of 2 decades that Tom has worked as a Quality Manager (among several other titles) for IMMI in Westfield.  This company that was founded on Biblical values has been a blessing in our lives for these last 20 years.  Many of the wonderful folks there have watched our first 2 kids grow up through pictures and Tom's stories.  They cheered us on and supported us through Ian's adoption.  And even now, many of them continue to pray for our family as we add 2 more boys with "special needs" of their own.  So, it was with very mixed emotions that Tom told them all good-by last week.  We will both miss so many people from there.

And, this morning, marks the beginning of a new era for us.  Tom began work as a Quality Manager for Donaldson in Frankfort and his commute has gone from 39 miles to 9 miles.  I'm not sure what he's going to do without a 45 minute commute both ways and I seriously mean that.  Over the years, he has used the time to pray, prepare for the day ahead and decompress at the end of the day.  We feel very blessed that he has this new opportunity so close to home!

It should come as no surprise that I couldn't find a picture of Tom without someone else in it.  This one was taken shortly after Ian came home and boy, has he changed (Ian, that is!!!)  Tom is as handsome as always!!

Memphis

Last Monday, we loaded the car and car-top carrier and headed to Memphis with all 3 boys in tow.  The time with Olivia and her parents was way too short but oh, so fun!!!!  Since it was too hot to do much else, we spent lots of time in the neighbor's pool.  Lindsay and Troy have awesome, amazing neighbors on their cove!  Wish I could post pictures of all the boys (Tom included) in the pool, but that will still have to wait.  They had a blast and were thoroughly worn out.  Here are a few pictures from the trip.  They have taken 2 days to download and that is no joke!

Just love those curls!!!

Watching the crazy boys in the pool

The little queen (as J dubbed her)

Ian has gotten so much stronger in the water and was actually swimming

We can't go to Memphis without eating bar-b-q, which Olivia loves

and so does Ian!

Olivia and her special chair

 From the get-go, she was running to Pops with her arms up, tightening the string around her little finger

(That's a mosquito bite on her sweet, little cheek)

Thanks Lindsay, Troy and Olivia for letting us invade your home and spend time with you!!! 

 Love and miss you all!