The Armfield Family

The house that built me

2010-05-27T20:02:00.001-07:00

The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert Music Code

Dont you love when a song perfectly tells a story FOR you?

I dont know if I shared the story of when i returned home to attend my fathers funeral. Chris and I went for a run...theraputic for me. We ran by my old house...the house I lived in until I left to get married. The house I moved into when I was 6 months old. The house I lived my entire childhood in. Got dressed for prom...came home to show my dad my engagement ring...met my little brother when he came home from the hospital....spent christmas...birthdays...got my first dog...fought with my parents....pranked my siblings and swam at till my fingers were pruned on long summer days....brought my newborn daughter to family dinners...
I said "thats it....im going to knock on the door and ask If i can go in." (my parents sold the house about 6 years.)
The woman who answered the door ushered us in and gave us a tour...As i walked thru room by room thinking of my dad and all the memories the house holds....I began to tear up..but also to smile...and heal a little bit. I walked into my room remembering how I felt to pack it up for college...I walked into my parents room and remembered how the bathroom used to smell of my dads aftershave. I looked into the backyard at the beds I used to weed and the screenporch the dog sat on during hot florida summers....For a moment it felt like a movie..i could almost hear my dad reading family devotions and wished so much I could be there...just for 5 minutes....

Then driving a few weeks ago I heard this song....
listen here and if that dosnt work here are the lyrics....very meaningful...still miss dad everyday but can smile when i think of the years my family spent in that home.

I know they say you can’t go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam
But these handprints on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama’s dream

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

You leave home and you move on and you do the best you can
I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I walk around I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

Just a few things heard around our home.

2010-05-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

Thought Id take a minute and write some of the ordinary things I have happened over the last few days things that I have learned over the years to stop and laugh or appreciate...not so ordianry...always fun to look back on.

Upon seeing Baby A's banana on the floor that she was instructed to eat I told her she had to pick it up and throw it away. She responded "but ewww mom" I said yes it is gross but who put it on the floor in the first place? "Jack" she says. (the dog) Heirarchy is alive and well in our home.

A familiar childhood tune "whatever happened to pradictability..the milk man the paper boy the evening Tv..." or "when i wake up in the morning and the 'larm gives out a warning I dont think ill ever make it on time..." kids singing this all the time. I have recently realized there are really no shows out there for kids the ages of mine that I approve of. Its either yo gabba gabba (too young....and wierd) or Hannah Montana (dont get me started) so i have introduced them to full house, the cosby show and saved by the bell and find myself getting very into the deep plot lines.

After being unable to accomplish getting across the monket bars anabelle was disapointed and walked away asking her daddy "daddy...what makes me special? what makes me different? what am I good at?" phewwww big opportuity here...chris was able to talk to her about all her talents and special qulities and then had me do the same. I heard a quote i was able to repeat to her "you are a unique, one of a kind,never to be seen again,created in the image of God,miracle" I think im going to write that one on her wall so as she grows up she remembers she is EXACTLY who God made her to be and that ALONE is special and perfect.

Today after swimming for a ittle while the kids went upstairs and I didnt hear from them for about 2 hours when i decided to check on them.....They were dancing...I mean some serious moves....to justin bieber....hey they could have been dancing to lady gaga for all i care they were having fun...together....and it didnt involve a tv or a computer game.

Just before writing this liam came to me and said "mom can we talk?" i said "sure" he said...."i really need to know what i should name my kids...." i wasnt surpirsed by this dilemma because this is liam we are talking about...and if any of you know me...naming children is like a HOBBY to me....i would have 14 kids just so I can name them....it is a 9 MONTH conversation with my friends who get pregnant....i love it...so when Liam brought this up i was thrilled. I did not however, realize how seriously he was takig this....and we discussed it for about 45 minutes...i think he has settled on some but i assured him he has time.

Liam and I have a thing we say to eachother...I say "your my chocolate covered pumpkin pie" and he says "your my apple dumplin mama" (we saw it on an episode of recess years ago) so at night when i tuck him in he will be dead asleep! Chris will move him and re situate him and nothing. But all I have to do is whisper in his ear "your my chocolate covered pumpki pie...and out of a dead sleep he whispers...."apple...dumplin....mama" so sweet.

This afternoon anabelle said "last night mom i was reading my bible...(if the story ended there i would have been fine) :) "and i read that Jesus is preparing a place in heaven just special....just for me" I loved the joy she said it with you could tell she really felt loved.

Last but not least.. earlier this week I was struggling with foster care and the "system"..and my kids walked in in a deep discussion about their futures...and they both said "mom one thing we know is that when we grow up...we are definetley doing foster care" thank you Lord...HE KNEW I needed that.

And life keeps moving

2010-05-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

I have not written for a while because I keep waiting for a quiet moment that I can really reflect and write from my heart. Well my last post was feb 3rd and Im done waiting for a quiet moment. As I write baby A (whos almost three so I may have to change her blog name) is taunting the older kids in everyway imaginable. She loves it because she gets SUCH a dramatic reaction fom Liam. I can honestly see the allure....he FREAKS out and ill give it to her...it can be entertaining. Regis and Kelly are discussing who knows what on my tv and the roofers are laying supplies in my driveway with a forklift...so...I write resolved to the fact that quiet moments are not a reality for me anytime soon.
I still really deal with the loss of my dad on a daily basis. If im ok about it its simply because Im not thinking about it. But when I do get time to myself (thank you chris) thoughts of my dad seem to be my default. A song comes on or I hear of a friend losing there father and it dosnt really get easier. It becomes more real and I get more "used to" the feelings but it dosnt get easier.
My family is on the go constantly and thats usually the way I like it. Not because I dont enjy quiet mornings or afternoons at home but...see above...it dosnt happen. So id rather be out and about.
The kids amaze me everyday as I think thats part of their job. I have loved every age they have been at.
Anabelle:
I love 9 yar old little girls. Dont get me wrong sometimes shes 9 going on 16 but its just amazing to watch. Its a struggle but amazing at the same time. To watch her begining to figure out who she is. She is a typical, to the T oldest child. I love watchng her be responsible with the other two. Watching her say and do the EXACT same things I would say and do. (not always a proud moment for me but reality none the less)
She has a heart that I have loved watching come out in her actions. She will have a typical dramatic sassy reaction to something completely insignificant...like when she ran away to the front yard a few weeks ago because I wouldnt let her play in the river DURING DINNER with the neighbors, or when she cries about her hair or her fingernails. You want to shake her say "really?" but i have to remember thats all part of growing up and being a girl. What im proud of is after her compelete out of balance reaction to whatever the "crisis" may be, she always sweetly and WITHOUT prompt approaches me to aplologize about 10 minutes later. I LOVE that about her. I love watching that battle between her hormones and her heart...its LIFE and good day or bad I am so proud of who she is becoming.
Liam:
Where do you even start? I saw a definition of a boy the other day "a noise with dirt on it" altho we believe hes more than that...its pretty accurate. He is also a GEM. One of my FAVORITE parts of the day is going in to kiss him after hes asleep and taking a bigg wiff in of his "smell". Even right after a bath he smells like a "boy". Combination of sweat..wet dog..dirt and a hint of shampoo. It make me tear up everytime because I know that one day he will be in college and I know his roomates wouldnt take too fondly to me sneaking in his dorm to smell his sweaty head.
He is all his own in his thoughts and We LOVE that about him. He is going to tell you what hes thinking wether or not its what you want to hear. You can imagine our dismay when he claimed the other day that he thinks there are many gods. I was driving....screetch....brakes applied "what liam?" "well mom we think our god is real but so does everyone else...what makes US right?" Well after sitting him down and deflecting most of his questions to chris I think he has changed his beliefs BUT the fact that he thought it and said it without being fearful of what his PASTOR father would think....i love it. I love that he will tell me if i look pretty and will also tell me if I DONT. You never wonder where liam stands. He will tell you. Its a refreshing quality when you are also dealing with a 9 yr old female. He is also our lover. I walked in the room a few evenings ago and he said "mom I feel like I havnt seen you all day..lets do something special just us tommorrow...". And of course...we did.
Baby A
Well if anyone has not seen the hand of god on someones life they just need to watch little A. She has been thru alot. alot. And you would never know. You would never know she has been in 4 different homes...that she has spent time in shelters and orphanages. You would never know that she has never had a real family. She is so happy and peaceful and its amazing to watch. She says hello to everyone she sees. She says goodbye to everyone she leaves. All you have to do is smile at her or give her a wink and she will burst into laughter. Dont get me wrong shes become very comfortable around here....very. She loves to set someone up and them tell on them. I will watch her feed the dog and then scream at the dog and tell that he stole her food. She also thinks that if she says please anything happens. "mom please?" "No baby you already had a cookie" "Please?" "no" "But mom ....PLEASE??" "NO" "PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Hilarious. We have been in contact with her mom and its been a real blessing. Please keep her and her mom in your prayers.
Chris:
well since this is supposed to be his blog too I wont go into too much about him other than to say that the Lord has blessed us. In the last few months he has changed our marriage to be even better than I thoguht it was. He has constantly been such an example of Gods love to me. I honestly feel like I understand Gods love more and more simply by being loved by chris and watching him love our family. We are so greatful for the church the Lord has placed him at the the people he is surrounded by there. So encouraging and supportive and wise. Thank you Lord.
As for now....He has blessed me with these.

Sureal

2010-02-03T12:49:00.000-08:00

So this whole experience with my father mostly feels like a dream. All the way back to September when we were told in the middle of the night that Dad was going to pass away..to the doctors telling us there was a divine intervention and he pulled through. Two more times in the following months we were given information that led us to believe he had mostly likely only days...to pull through everytime. Each time we wondered "why would God keep sparing him if He isnt going to heal him?" Fully believing the answer to the question was..."gods going to heal him". Well God chose not to heal him here on earth but to bring him home. There was still a part of me for days after hearing the news that expected ...like every other time...to get a call saying "doctors were wrong again...dad beat the odds and pulled through"..the call never came this time.
We had a very bittersweet week in Florida. My family brings me great joy and I really am so proud to be a part of it. Each of my siblings is so special to me and unique. Its rare because there are 7 kids and 18 grandkids that we are together all...not missing one. The service for dad was very very special..very God honoring and I had at least two people tell me afterwards that they wanted to go home and be a better parent and a better spouse because of dad....dad would LOVE that.
Each child shared and each child was so "them". Aram was sensitive but hilarious ...berdgette, bas and I cried....Bas wore a bowtie while his whole family sobbed....Stephan preached from scripture...antony struggled through but was sensitive....Tullian preached a 20 min sermon (which was very well done)...each personality that dad loved so much in each of us came through,,,again...dad would have loved that.
As the week passed I kept saying to chris.."I havnt processed this yet...I dont think ill begin to till we get home...i want to get home because im anxious to begin processing but I dont want to get home because then I know i have to begin processing.."
Driving home was also bittersweet. I began processing the fact that I was driving home from my dads funeral. That itself is such a complex thing to try to wrap your head around. I thought about people in my life who have gone through the loss of a parent..and then I thought about people who are over twice my age and they havnt gone through this experience. Someone told me once that no matter what age you are when you lose a parent you feel like youve been orphaned...I dont necessarily feel that way because i still have a fantastic healthy mom but I DREAD the day that I meet someone new and they ask "so do your parents live around here?" and I have to say the words. The experience has made me wonder on many occasions how does one ever get through losing a child....losing a parent is difficult but natural..an almost expected life experience. I have said extra prayers for those who have walked that road and hugged my kids a little tighter.
walking into my house was a more difficult experience than i expected. Our house was filled with food baskets and cards and flowers so I felt very loved and blessed. However I stepped on my porch and the first thing i saw was the two Adirondack chairs my dad and I sat on every day last summer...I saw the bag of clothes and toiletry bag that (in dad fashion) he forgot to pack. Dads sweet wife had given me some of dads things and i began to unpack them and then i just couldnt. I placed them all back in the suitcase and they still sit there. I guess putting them away or displaying them... either felt like it was too quick...Im not ready. I dont know when someone is "ready". Its not like a breakup when you look forward to the day you can move on....you dont WANT to move on...but you cant stay HERE forever. A sweet friend who lost her mother recently said it best when she said "someone told me things will never be normal again...ever....eventually you will experience things the way you used to but it will be a "new normal". This event in my life will forever be a turning point...i will mark things in life by before this event...or after this event. Through it all I have been so encouraged by my savior...by the peolpe who have fleshed Him out in service to me and my family...by he prayers he has heard and the comfort ive received from them. So we will take it day by day as we begin to discover what our "new" normal is and all the while feel NOTHING but blessed that I had dad for 31 years.

what do you say in 3-5 min?

2010-01-29T20:51:00.000-08:00

How do you choose what to say about your dad. There are so many different avenues I could go down but most of you know him and are here because you love him. Knowing him and loving him seemed to be one in the same.
My dad ad I had a very special relationship. In part I believe because my dad was just a unique man and every relationship he had, to him was very special. In part I think our relationship was special because we had the privilege of spending LOTS of time together. I have memories of spending many summer dinners just he and I ,for years where he would listen and advise and encourage me.
He was usually very gentle in his parenting with me. One memory I have is when dad pulled me aside as I was walking out of the house and kindly told me that either my shorts were too low or my shirt was too high but ONE of them needed to be fixed.

Another memory I have of dad is when I wanted to drink choloate milk in the family room and he said I had to leave it in the kitchen…I pleaded with him and he repeatedly told me the chocolate milk MUST stay in the kitchen….i pouted and dad left the room…just when I thought I had “won” dad returns with a hose and suggests that if I really want to drink the chocolate milk while in the family room I could use the hose as a straw…but whatever I decided…the chocolate milk was STAYING in the kitchen.

I do think we as a family were blessed that my dads health began to decline slowly as it gave us all time with him that we did not take for granted. Recently he came to visit my family and we had some conversations until early in the morning where we both were able to cry together and laugh together and say any and everything that was on our hearts. The visit was also a chaotic mess at times. Dad had strict diet restrictions and between me trying to remember them and him trying to sneak foods around me I would get very frustrated. We were in the grocery store and dad in his electric wheelchair kept leaving me to add things to his cart I didn’t approve of. In frustration I called chris and said “I don’t know what to do this is such a debacle” and chris kindly reminded me to “enjoy it jerushah….just enjoy it” and I did..and now that time at the store is a very fond memory of my sometimes stubborn dad.

The thing I will miss most about dad is his wisdom. There is literally not ONE decision I have made in 31 years that I have not first consulted my father. From choice of college to marrying chris to job offers to moving to buying a house to discerning gods spirit, EVERY one of these decisions was made with the help of my dad. I truly believe that my dad graciously embodied the verse in james “be slow to speak and quick to listen”
He encouraged me to weigh everything in the balance of prayer and ALWAYS pointed me toward my heavenly father.

I am blessed beyond measure that I was given for 31 years an earthly father
That taught me by word and by example to love the Lord.

I love you dad. thank you for your love..your humor.. your wisdom..your constant encouragement to me. Your legacy and your example will be a part of me forever and I am filled with the hope that only jesus brings that together one day we will enjoy our eternal reward as father and daughter.

Stephan Tchividjian July 23 1939- January 23 2010

2010-01-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

My brother reminded me in his blog this morning of these sweet words....

It is not death to die
To leave this weary road
And join the saints who dwell on high
Who’ve found their home with God

It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears
And wake in joy before Your throne
Delivered from our fears

It is not death to fling
Aside this earthly dust
And rise with strong and noble wing
To live among the just

It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years
To praise You evermore

Original words by Henri Malan (1787–1864).

I was reminded as well this afternoon as I read through the Pslams and listened to Aaron Keyes that "my king has crushed the curse of death"

Tha last few days have been difficult as I start to navigate life without a parent..a sureal feeling as many of you reading know first hand. Although it is natural to lose a parent, living without them is a feeling youve never experienced...they have been a part of your world as long as you have been in it.
However knowing my dad is in the presence of his eternal father definetley takes some of the "sting" away. I was blessed beyond words to have the earthly father I had and blessed as well to have the relationship I had with him. Dad was without a doubt one of my biggest cheerleaders and supporters. I wrote below more about my sweet dad and hoped he would read it as he recovered. He never did but he is now complete. My heart deeply hurts and my soul deeply rejoices. To God be the glory forever.

wedding

2009-12-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

well anabelle made the guest list for her wedding and here it is
Mom (phew)
dad
liam
emma
olivia and josh
bear
stella
ansley
allison
breanne
ruthie
mandy tommy
araiana
eliza
adam
nikki
eden
adam 2 (hahahaha)
grandmommy
grandaddy
mama g
papa t
alayia
merrick
jan
maria
mickey
minne

sorry to all my family...brothers and sisters brothers and sister in laws...neices and nephews....what can i say its her wedding not mine.

Shes home...for now.

2009-12-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

I wanted to quickly write about the new addition to our family and how the Lord made it happen. In an earlier blog i wrote about a foster child we had over the summer (I have chosen to be careful about names and details about our foster children on our blog so if details are missing that is why) We had her for only 3 weeks but we loved her and she loved us..well she loved chris. Well we have been awaiting a new placement which has seemed like forever. It is unusual that we await a placement for so long. Usually we get multiple calls. We were specific though and said we wanted only 1yr or younger. Well last monday i took liam to the mall while anabelle and chris were home. While i was gone chris got a phone call from the childs current foster mom asking if she could meet us to pay us for our respite from the summer time (dss requires foster family to pay respite family for the care). Chris agreed and at the end of the call asked how she was doing....she said well and that she was going to be moved. The foster mom was a military wife who has children of her own and just wanted a break and some family time. Well thats all chris needed to hear. He said to her "we want her then" the foster mom said "well why dont you talk to your family" chris said "nope dont need to..we want her". So...after he filled me in on his exciting news....I called Dss and asked them if this was indeed true and if we could have her. DSS said they were surprised and hadnt called us because the child is 2.5 and we had been so specific about only wanting a baby. I explained that we felt like we needed to make this exception that we felt the Lord wanted her in our home. So after some more phone calls and a few days she came to live with us. She has adjusted well so far and is just the cutest thing. She calls chris daddy...wants him all to herself..calls liam big brother..calls anabelle ,anabelle and tries not to call me anything if she can help it. Wants very little to do with me but will tolerate me if chris isnt around. Of course....chris loves it. Anabelle is a great mommy..liam a great brother. Im enjoying that she is old enough for us to teach her about the Lord and his love and hopefully she will remember it throughout her little life. Keep us and this precious girl in your prayers.

Thank you

2009-12-04T10:59:00.000-08:00

Well im such a bad blogger. Im sure I have deeply disappointed our 3 followers.

Moving on....
Things in the armfield family are going well. We are very busy but for some reason Im really enjoying it for now. Most of you know about my dad and his health and the journey we were all on about 2 months ago. Well my dad is still with us and we are just so grateful. His health is still not great his body is very very week but most the time his mind id sharp. My sister and I did a road trip to see him in late october and had a blast. For one we were excited to go on a road together for many reasons 1. Us florida girls were going to get some sun if it killed us! 2. both of us being avid runners and exercisers loved that we didnt do it once! 3. road trip to us health nuts meant...junk food! So after the 12 hour drive together in which we ACTUALLY STOPPED at the outlets everyone passes on every road trip and after eating our weight (which by the way was creeping up by the hour) in junk food, we got to florida to see my dad. It was a great visit that the Lord had his hand all over. The 4 days we were able to be there ended up being some of the days in which his mind was the clearest. We were able to really sit and catch up on life with him. It meant so much to us because nearly a month earlier we didnt think we would ever have that chance again. When I told my dad the "story" of the day of the transplant (which im sure greys anatomy would pay big bucks for being it was straight out of hollywood) and after I told him of all the people who came to visit him, he cried. Saying it was a miracle he was alive..he wasnt supposed to live but the Lord isnt finished with him yet. My dad is blessed to have a very loving nurturing wife, a very loyal sister and amazing friends down there. His bedside has a loved one by it at all times. Thank you for all of your prayers...the love poured out to our family was so touching. The body of Christ was seen and the prayers were felt. I even got an email from a boy in my 4th grade class telling me he and his wife had been praying that morning for my dad. (thank you facebook)
We are blessed and grateful that for today...the Lord has given us more time with dad and such great godly loved ones...from the bottom of our hearts..thank you.

DAD

2009-09-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

I thought being that my father is in the hospital fighting for his life that it would be fitting to take a minute and write a little about him. For those of you who know him you know that he has never met a person who dosnt love him.

Growing up as a young girl I have many memories of my sweet dad that stand out. For one his silly dad jokes (in his deep Armenian accent). I have memories of him coming home from work and breaking out the family devotional bible after dinner to read to the family. Usually this just resulted in his getting mad that one of the seven of us wasnt listening or was goofing off...but the effort didnt go unnoticed. It was quite a task to get a majority of seven children to sit and listen I guess. One day as I tried to leave the house as a teenager my usually quiet dad stopped me and said, "jerushah either your shorts are too low or your shirt is too high." I got the point and went back to my room to dress more appropriately. As I got older I have my sweetest memories. Often in my high school and early college years my mom would travel to north carolina during summers to be with her parents. When I started working summers I stopped going with her and was left at home with dad. Sometimes one of my brothers would be around but more often than not it was just me and dad. We would go out to dinner every night and talk for hours. My friends would usually beg to go with us because they loved my dad so much. He took such an interest in them and would ask them questions about their lives. He would help them direct the path they wanted to take in life and encourage them in their gifts. He was sooo genuine and such an incredible listener. These summers really defined my relationship with my dad. He was my biggest fan always encouraging me and telling me how much he thought of me. My confidence to this day I believe is largely in part to my sweet dad and those summer dinners. When chris decided he wanted to ask my dad for my hand in marriage only my dad could make it the debacle it became. By the end of the week chris wasnt sure if he even had permission and my poor dad was so confused he wasnt sure if he had even given it.

What I love most about my dad is his wisdom. My brother stated earlier this week and I echo the statement completely..there is not ONE major decision I have made in my 31 one yrs of life that I havnt first sought counsel from my dad. From choice of college to marrying chris, to job offers, to moving, from buying a house, to discerning Gods spirit every one of these decisions was made with the help of dad. My dad loves the Lord with all of his heart. He loves people around him with the love of the Lord and people notice it. They want to be around him and spend time with him. Recently as my dads health began to decline we made special efforts to be with him. He was able to come up to visit our family for a week recently and a special time it was! A chaotic mess it was as well! My sweet dad is stubborn as a mule. He roamed the house through the night searching for treats he probably shouldnt eat and didnt understand that the half gallon of coffee ice cream he ate in the middle of the night may have kept him awake. As much as this stubbornness frustrated me just weeks ago its that same stubbornness that hes fighting with right now! Praise God for that stubborn man!!

I dont write this as though my dad is a thing of the past. I write this as a tribute to him. There is sooo much more that can be said of my dad but this was just a piece of how hes affected my life and helped build who I am today. I have no doubt that 100s of people could write similar blogs about dad because when you were with him YOU were the most important person in the world. My hope is that in a few weeks my dad will pull this blog up and read it for himself and feel loved.

Dad I love you with all my heart. I am so thankful for each day the Lord has given me with you. You are one of my heros.

Pee is like a hurricane.

2009-08-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

I know you have all been waiting anxiously for the newest armfield post ..sorry I have dissapointed you and become an inconsistent blogger. However my reasons are simply because we are busy busy busy!
School has started and is in full swing. It has been a great year so far! This is the first year where both kids are home so that has presented different challenges. Anabelle wants to finish before Liam but since shes in third grade her work has really picked up this year. Liam wants to finish before anabelle (and usually does) simply for bragging rights. I found him doing math in his room this morning singing the sweetest song about Jesus. He later told me his whole purpose in singing was in the hopes that he would distract his sister so he would finish first. Hmmmmm
Liam continues to entertain us as a one man show. Yesterday he explained how his..how do I put this...his bathroom "types" can be compared to weather patterns...."ok liam you've peaked my interest"
"Well pee is like a hurricane..you know its coming and can prepare. Poo is like a tornado...it just shows up without notice." I thought that was a very good well thought out comparison. His experience could have to do with our recent discovery that he has a milk allergy..so hopefully he'll be adequately "prepared" for everything in the bathroom from here on out.
Anabelle continues to be a gem. She is a mommy's girl but is slowly beginning to think friends are cooler than mommy. We have always had a very unusually close relationship and I now face the struggle of balancing friend/mom. Both of which I think have a place. She is growing up so fast and is such a good student. I had the privilege of chaperoning her first church camp retreat a few weeks ago and I really enjoyed seeing her with her friends. She wouldn't go unless I went (and I wouldn't have let her...come on shes my oldest, go away without me at 8? no way.) However within the first few hours she was off with her friends not even looking back. Although I loved this.. now I was stuck eating camp food and barely sleeping, for what? (I am half joking- if nothing else the bible teaching was incredible!)
Foster care has still proved to be such an adventure! When else can you wake up thinking your day will look one way and after one phone call you have a third child in your house that night? Every time a child goes home I think "ok thats it for a while", then I hear about a child in need and want to jump right back in. We had a little boy for no more than 24 hours last week who came from the saddest situation we have seen yet. I felt honored that the Lord involved us in his story, honored that we were able to love on him for even a short time. We have our merr bear back for a week right now and Im loving it. Hes a stinker with a CAPITAL S but it makes him that much more fun! (of course I can say this because hes not mine )
I continue to thanks the Lord for my sweet husband who loves me despite all my quirks. He has actually slowed down just a little from the summer but that was very needed. We both continue to LOVE his job and the people the Lord has allowed us to work along side with. To be backstage at a church and see exactly what you see on stage is so refreshing. God is working in that place and again feel honored to be there.
My dad is still not doing well so I would appreciate prayers from anyone who reads these words.
Whats next in the armfield family? Well its september almost which for us means lots of things that I enjoy (in fact giddy is the best word to describe my relationship with the fall)....the feeling that fall is approaching.. cute fall clothes in all the store windows...shorter days..new tv shows...and best of all DISNEY! This year we are doing 2 days at the park and then the disney cruise! Most likely my next post will be filling you all in on our trip! Booking a cruise during hurricane season will hopefully be a risk that pays off.

Mid Summer..school..alayia

2009-07-06T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well the Armfield summer has been in full swing and I havnt even had time to post. We have been busy with swim team, missions trips, visitors and Alayia.

Chris took a team from church to new orleans in june to work with Samaritans Purse in rebuilding some abandoned homes. He came home so refreshed and encouraged about everything they took part in. He had so many wonderful things to say about Samaritans Purse as an orginization.

Meanwhile.....on the home front I was blessed enough to have my mom my sister and my niece come stay with me. We had a great time. I was lazy and drank coffee in my PJ's till about 11 everyday just talking with the girls. We then shopped more than any of our wallets could handle but had a great time. I ended chris's time away with a trip to asheville to stay with my mom and visit some more family that had come in. While I was there I recieved a call about a little girl named Alayia who needed a home for about 3 weeks give or take. I agreed to take her and left Asheville although I was nervous to be taking it on while Chris was gone. He would now come home after a long 10 day trip to even more kids at home. Alayia came to us on fathers Day and has been a doll. She is 2 years old and very complient. For the first few days she wanted nothing to do with me which only got worse when her Knight in shining armor (chris) came home. After only knowing him for less than 12 hours she would run to him screaming "daddy" everytime he came around. Chris of course LOVED this. She has decided since then that Im not all that bad but she would prefer to be with her prince daddy than me anyday. We are not sure when Alayia will be going home but expect it to be soon.

The kids are so eager and excited to start school. This morning they were actually begging to start! This is liams first year home so he is so excited!

Ok well im sorry this post was so boring but there are only so many ways you can describe the life of a stay at home mom! :)

And the summer begins

2009-06-11T05:52:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and for a family who for the most part grew up in sunny Florida we are glad its here! Days consist of swim team, lunch at the pool, naps and grilling out! Although some days it seems swim team is ALL we do. For those of you reading this who dont live in SC let me explain because when I lived in Florida I was oblivious to this whole "swim team" culture. Here in the south summer means swim team. Most neighborhoods have a swim team and anyone living in the neighborhood can join. The kids practice everyday and their teams are made up by age. Liam is a GUPPY (altho the coach said he can move up..making him the youngest kid who will be on the big team which delights him greatly as he has goals of being "an olympic swimmer".) Anabelle is a Piranah. She is doing so well. The coach entered her in 2 events last swim meet and she did so well that in tonights meet she is swimming 5 events. The swim teams compete against other neighborhoods but its not all just for fun. This is taken very seriously by most people. Neighborhood swim meets even have state finals and some even qualify for the olympics! Pretty fun stuff but VERY time consuming. Chris said hes be thrilled if the kids wanted to quit. I think its fun....what else will we do?

We celebrated Liams 6 th birthday which was great and of course sad. I dont like watching my little ones grow up. He now wants to be called william and not liam. There is no reason. Anabelle is enjoying seeing her neighborhood friends everyday unlike during the school year. Its a little hard for me because many times I do not feel like she is the leader I know she can be when shes with her friends. Why is it that the little girl who used to be able to boss everyone around and enter a room exclaiming "dont worry everyone...IM here!", now wants to just do what her friends are doing. This for me is a huge benefit of homeschooling her. I get to see HER for who she really is and who she really wants to be without the influence of others. She still loves minnie mouse...if she was in school I bet they would have teased her out of that already. Anabelle has also started her own blog. You need to check it out its priceless.
Well Im sorry Im babbling but I felt the need to post. THIS BLOG IS TOO MUCH PRESSURE! I dont want to dissapoint all my readers! (sarcasm) I will add pictures tomorrow to help illustrate this blog entry but for now goodnight.

Running the Race

2009-05-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

So for those of you who know me well you know Im a runner. I have run for the better part of the last 20 years of my life. By design I think runners all have something in their personality that those who dont run just dont understand. We have a weird kind of discipline and drive. Yes many people have discipline and drive but it takes a different variety of drive to be motivated to run 10 miles when you could just drive. Why would someone like my neighbor choose to do permanent damage to his knee but what bothers him is he cant run for 2 months? I think we run because we have something in us that likes the challenge..something in us that wants to do what not everyone else can or wants to do..even if we hate it while we are doing it..the reward is sooo worth it. Well thats the same trait in me is what kept me fostering even when it was hard....when I wanted my old life back. I had to say to myself "buck up jerushah what more important thing is their to give your life to than the bigger picture of GODS STORY not mine". I have to say being part of Gods story was more exciting more exhilarating and alot harder that I could imagine..and definitely harder than a long run.

Since our last post Merrick has left our home. The reasons are complicated and not something I want to write about all over the world wide web for just anyone to read. The bottom line is that it wasnt our choice but we do believe it was Gods doing. He is not home but with a family that would love to call themselves home if thats the Lords will. The family had no children and have already fallen in love with him. He is changing their lives and blessing them as they are him. They love the Lord, which is the biggest answer to prayer in all of this! They have very sweetly emailed us updates almost daily along with pictures to keep us on top of the little doll. We miss him... More than we thought was possible. I find myself wanting to go to sleep at night just so I wont think about him anymore because chris and I's hurt for losing him is actually physical. However as I stated earlier God has a bigger plan for merricks life and God loves him more than we do. I have also been able to establish a relationship with his birth mom and now that merrick is gone I feel more free to minister to her without as many limits. So for that, God is so good. She asked to come to church and sat with our family last sunday..she brought her bible and took about 4 pages of notes. She needs Him in her life and has told me so. So what the Lord is doing we arent sure but He is working and we see it! But in the words of will ferrel...."man that was rough" (if youve seen the skit that will make sense :).....

It was hard and we are apprehensive to do it again but like the runner I am. ..The run is hard but the feeling of accomplishment after is unbeatable....As fostering is hard but the feeling of being right in the middle of God changing lives is unbeatable!

Being streched and blessed

2009-05-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since we updated on our life but weve been BUSY. Someone yesterday described may as a second december in terms of business and I agree. We have finished school for the year which is so exciting! Two years of homeschooling under our belt and we will begin with Liam as well in July! Although We havnt written it dosnt mean the Lord isnt doing alot in our life...quite the contrary...some wonderful some difficult but all are growing us closer to Him.
Anabelle is going to be baptized on memorial day day weekend and she is so excited. She is such an amazing light in our lives. She is so responsible and loves the Lord and we are just so proud of her.
Liam is graduating from K-5 next week and I cant belive my youngest is going to be in first grade. You moms know what I mean when I say it honestly feels like yesterday when I looked down on him laying on my tummy in the delivery room thinking he resembled Conan Obrien. And now almost six years later (and much more handsome..sorry Conan) He is about to graduate and celebrate his sixth birthday.
We went to court for little Merrick last Thursday and found out some information that basically is causing us to have to make some very tough decisions. Watching him has been so rewarding. He is what I like to call the new "refined" Merrick. Yes he is still 22 months old and acts accordingly. BUT he talks and uses manners and feeds himself. I even tear up as I write this watching even the spiritual growth of a 22 month old who new nothing about the God who loves him so much just 3 months ago. Merrick now breaks into "Jesus loves me" more than once a day and loves to fold his hands and pray to "jesus" (one of his few new words). He has a joy in his eyes that wasnt there three months ago and regardless of what happend in the next few weeks/months with Merrick we know that Jesus loves him even more than we do. Please keep us in your prayers as we desperately try to hear from the Lord about Merrick.
We have some extended family that need prayer too as my father is very sick and my brother in law is filing for divorce which breaks our hearts.
Chris is fantastic...he always is. So many people are blessed by Him and Im blessed enough to be married to Him.
As you see I wasnt kidding when I said the Lord is teaching us alot right now again...some so wonderful and some so hard but if it is bringing us closer to Him Ill take it!

Little liam

2009-04-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

Liam is definetley worthy of his own post. Liam is worthy of his own BLOG. For those of you who know Liam or have met him you know what I mean when I say he is a special little man. Yes all children are special and unique of course, and especially so in the eyes of their parents. But there is something about Liam that even as his mom I have a hard time putting my finger on. He smiles almost non stop and its not just a smile..its as if his whole body is smiling. His mind is CONSTANTLY running and his mouth in CONSTANTLY telling you what he thinks. If you dont allow yourself to get frustrated and listen to what he is saying he is the most entertaining person in my world. He has an intelligence that comes very naturally and he thinks is very normal. When he was four he got a hold of anabelles first grade math book and quietly took it to his room. Emerging about 30 minutes later he had done the first two lessons...and every answer was correct. I illustrated my amazement to him and he shrugged his shoulders and said "it was fun"..and walked past me as if he had other things on his mind. He is also extremely comical but unintentionally. He takes himself very very seriously which to me is one of the most endearing things about him. He is very literal which make one have to be careful what they say to him and how they say it. If I ask him to run to the store with me he sweetly asks if we could drive. And for those of you who have met him you know one cannot describe liam without mentioning THE VOICE. Liam has a voice that sounds like he has been smoking since he was born. To hear such a scruffy voice come from such a sweet freckle covered face will put a smile on any ones face. A dear friends daughter asked last time we saw him "mom whats wrong with liams voice". I cannot go anywhere without people in public either commenting on his voice or on his adorable disposition. I am confident that Liam has put more smiles on more strangers faces than He or I will ever know. He will make a mark on this world that will not surprise anyone wo knows him..least of all liam. So Little liam when you read this one day just know I am sooo proud to be your mommy and think the world of who you are, your heart and the absolutely remarkably unique package the Lord put together the day he formed you.

Anabelles first movie review

2009-04-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

The following post has been written entirely by 8 yr old anabelle who wanted to review the movie EARTH by Disney that we saw as a pre screening last week.
I was lucky enough to go see a screening of the new movie EARTH it was so much fun. The movie took 5 whole years to film. they filmed a year in the life of three different animals, the humpback whale, polar bears and elephants.
The humpback wale migrates 40,ooo miles a year. That is half way around the world.
Polarbears hibernate until spring. Then they must search for food.
Elephants, during the dry season must travel far distances to find food and water. Sometimes they want to give up.
I loved the movie. It was really sad to see some animals get eaten. but my mom says that is the circle of life. My favorite animal was the elephants the babys were so cute. Well I hope you like the review.

A quick word about Merrick

2009-04-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

So as some of you know we have been fostering for about 3 months and it has been very rewarding and very challenging. People always have so many questions about the situation so I thought some may be interested in a post about our experiences. I wanted to write a few neat things the Lord has done in the life of our current little man merrick. We were asked in the begining of march if we would take an 8 month old named merrick. Chris and I agreed excited to have such a little one around. I installed the infant carrier..washed all Liams old 12 month and under clothes, had a friend bring buy an exersaucer...I was prepared. About an hour later DSS pulled up in the driveway with little merrick only he got out of the car and walked to me. "wow this is a big 8 month old" I said (sarcastically) "yes he is big" said the case worker (very seriously). I looked at her puzzled and somewhat tickled that she really thought he was 8 months old and said "no I need a birth certificate..this child is not 8 months old" To make a long story short about an hour later they realized they had his birthday wrong and little/big merrick was 20 months old. The Lord knew what He was doing even in this crazziness as chris and I agreed we wouldnt take a child older than 18 month old. However once we had merrick in our home we werent going to turn him away. The misunderstanding actually is what brought merrick to us. The first few days were very challenging. Merrick did not have any vocabulary and SHREIKED when he wanted something. Merrick also could not feed himself and would do ANYTHING for attention...yes I mean anything. The Lord has done so many things in his life over the last 5 weeks and it is soo rewarding to watch. He says "love you", "please" and "thank you" in sign language. Merrick also speaks so many words now..He says "mommy" "cracker" "jack" (probably because he hears me scream that word all day...its out dog) and about 10 other words. And he can feed himself. Yes still behind for a 21 month old but growing so much! I also got a chance to meet merricks mom and The Lord really opened her heart enough to not see me as a threat but to cry and embrace me and thank me....Praise the Lord! So... heres to little merrick!

I said I would

2009-04-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

I said I would never let my babies wear only their diaper..I said I would never homeschool..I said I would never own a small yippety dog and the list goes on and on. Well I said I would never blog..I mean how narcissistic is that right? Well I have once again broken another one of my statements I foolishly made while standing on my soap box and... Im blogging. In my defense I have what I believe to be two pretty good reasons. One, in this day and age with all thats going on in our life I would like to have a record....something to look back on and remember what life was like when....Second, we homeschool our two children and they will be involved in every aspect of "publishing" this blog. I want them to have as much access to what the computer can do for them as I can..and since they have a pretty good grasp on webkins I figured time to move on and up. So....the result being.....the Armfield blog. Reading over my two reasons I have concluded that both reasons will be satisfied if no one ever reads out blog..which is very possibly the case. I will write however as though someone is reading aside from me when Im 60 looking back at my life raising children, running a ministry, homeschooling and fostering. ENJOY!