I seem to be sitting at airports often these days. Well at least two in the last five months or so. Rog and I have just had a wonderful 24 hours away to celebrate a good friends wedding. Lucky for us our eldest son is as game as we are and came down to the "farm" with his two kids to add to our 9 at home while we got some "r&r". As it would happen in these circumstances where you feel you are out on the free, but time clock pass, our plane is delayed.

So since I haven't written a blog in what seems like forever this is the perfect time to do so. It has been very hectic in our house hold fitting a new child in and getting him settled with relationships and with school. Everything to him looks and feels so overwhelming and an insurmountable struggle. But after 9 weeks at school he is doing very well, both scholastically, and emotionally. We were concerned because his older sister decided our rules were not falling into line with hers, so consequently moved out. We are still in touch, but it is a concern as she is very uneducated and in danger of falling into the trap of thinking she can only have babies and get a man. Now not that I think that is not good if it is the right timing, but for her it would be very hard, almost impossible, with no work skills and very little education. We pray for her each day and leave it in God's very capable hands. He brought her to us, I am sure He has a plan for her.

I was completely impressed with a new documentary that was talked about on the Opra show last week regarding the poverty, war and criminal activity in the form of rape with African women. I learned so much as to why these young girls and women grow up in abusive, poverty stricken circumstances where childbirth is exceedingly dangerous and food is scarce. It makes Isaiah's stories of being constantly hungry while he was back in Liberia very real. Also it made me sit up and realize that the life size poster I saw at the Atlanta airport, with an African woman on it, and the words "women, the most untapped natural resource in the world" was true. It made the quest to educate an "African girl" come right to my home and doorstep. I hope we are not too late with CeCe and she can overcome the poverty teachings of the past and continue on in her apprenticeship to educate her and not run away to the easiest out.

I have been having a wonderful time with drama and music both in community theater as well as at my children's school. I must be mad!! I took on the task of directing "Bah Humbug" the musical to 31 students at my kids school. We have five rehearsals before tech. I am wondering how it will all fall into place, knowing that it will. We are in the midst of costumes, props and set. Lighting to be plotted next week and sound sorted out. And my wonderful husband Rog flies out to London for a couple of days on Monday. Sometimes I wonder how it all happens. I know it is only by the grace of God. But thank goodness for the laughs and tears on the way.

Just had a wonderful "tech week" rehearsal for Wife Begins At Forty. This is sort of like a British "Sitcom" story, reminds me of "Fawlty Towers" for those who follow John Cleese. This is my first director spot for this great community theater I have been involved with for over a year now. It is up for the M.A.T. Awards (translated that is the Metropolitan Atlanta Theater Awards) so every detail has to be "just so". I have a brilliant or "brill" cast who have been a dream to direct, and the most amazing set designer who just "does" it.

I have been just impressed by friends of cast and cast members, who have turned up consistently to paint and help the designer build the set, which is just a hard job and not the set designers, but mine to do. My lighting guy, has a dad, who is dying of cancer in hospital, and we just didn't get things done today because they were deciding his next and last couple of months in this life. There is this little darling girl or young lady I should say, who is an intern at the theater where we are performing, who is coming in and running the sound effects (of which there are many) for most of each performance. I'm thinking she has a "curfew" of sorts because she disappears at the same time every night. And then, guess whose job it becomes. Not that I object, I am somewhat a perfectionist, and like to know exactly what happens and make sure it happens when it is supposed to.

Tonight, my eldest at home, was having a crisis, because Rog and I felt that something that she REALLY wanted to do, was just too "risky". She is 18 going on 30 but about 13 when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex. So, cutting a long story short, my amazing husband had stepped in a couple of months ago to fulfill the role of the "somewhat demented grandad" and we have been having this wonderful time together going to rehearsals, but tonight we not only went ourselves, but took nine kids with us to the quiet please "dry run" of performance. I can honestly say, I would rather not repeat that. Not that they were awful, in a house of our magnitude there has to be order and discipline, but wearing so many hats has it's disadvantages.

Might I add, that our "three legged" dog is also in the show. She is more needy than the kids. Oh, isn't life amazing and wonderful and full of surprises. It would be good though, if I could get notice on the next taking nine kids to rehearsal surprise.

Have you ever had so much to say you don't know where to begin? I can't believe how busy the last couple of weeks have been. Rog has had two business friends come to stay one leaving, and one coming within a couple days of each other, we "tried" to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, and as well, I felt that because of several circumstances, our twin nine year olds needed to come home to school this year.

Let me tell you just a little about our miraculous 9 year old twins. I first found out about them when they were still in hospital struggling for their life. When they came to us at 9 weeks of age, (they were born at 31 weeks addicted to cocaine and alcohol) they were on fetal heart monitors, and one of them was on oxygen. At nine and a half weeks of age, they weighed 4 whole pounds. They were on "minor" reflux medicine and looked so fragile I didn't know whether they would break when I picked them up.

The first night we had them, the "people" forgot to tell me about the monitors that told me when they stopped breathing. The heart rates and oxygen rates were set too low, so about every ten minutes after we went to bed at oh, around midnight, their monitors went off. Now this is not a little, nice, alarm, it is one of those sounds that brings you upright from a sound sleep of oh, around 10 minutes or so and you jump so violently out of bed because you think the baby or babies have stopped breathing. At three in the morning we found the monitor people and called. Well what do you know, the rates were set too low. So we reset everything, at three in the morning, and went back to sleep for a few minutes before they awoke again.

One, Jada, could not suck so feeding her took around an hour or so. I would feed the other one, Alexis, and she would struggle to suck, swallow and breathe at the same time, and then throw the whole bottle up on the bed. We soon learned not to feed them without copious towels surrounding every area of the bed that we could find. Rog would take Jada, and would I feed Alexis once, then clean up, feed her again (because she had thrown up the whole bottle) then Rog would hand over Jada and I would put my finger on her cheek and my thumb on her jaw and emulate a sucking action so she would get her bottle. I think I averaged about two hours of sleep. I can only say that the Man upstairs was looking not only after them, but me as well.

I could tell you countless stories and miracles that we have been blessed to be part of with these two amazing and incredulous children, but that would take three pages, which I am sure you would not want to read in this blog. You can read that in my book "Is Eight Enough (God Knows and He ain't Telling) available from Amazon. But, in telling those short small things in their journey, I could not let them stay in their very wonderful school with a teacher that just was "not the right fit".

Jada has been "ticking" with a blink and a jerk of her head for some time but it had increased to not ever stopping, and Alexis, was very changed, grumpy, tearful and even rude at times which just is not these precious little girls. Then there was the "straw that broke the camels back" and Rog and I decided they would come home to be schooled. This is not the first we have done this with our children, but in every case that we have made this decision, it has worked beyond what we ever thought could happen.

So, along with the 30th, and the guests, and the school troubles, we have survived yet again. My schedule has changed, but I can honestly say my little wonders, are laughing, learning and such a joy in my life. (Oh, and Jada's tick is greatly diminished! And, Alexis is back to her happy, smiling little self.)

Well, here I am sitting here, at oh 11.00p.m. and the house is quiet. There is a reason for that. We are celebrating thirty years of marriage tonight and we sent all of the younger children to the older children. It was our actual anniversary last Monday, 28th September, but, well you know how that goes. Or maybe you don't.

Last Monday, our anniversary, we had planned to be in Scotland, digging up our ancestry and looking up distant cousins etc. But, there was a little fly in the ointment, oh and then another. We knew we could not leave Isaiah at this time, but on top of that, one of Rogers' long time friends, and business associate, was in town and stayed with us for a few days. So, on actual anniversary, I cooked, smiled, cleaned and looked on as Rog and his friend, talked all sorts of business things through, and waited, hoped and planned there would be a tonight.

We had the most wonderful, if somewhat expensive dinner, and talked or tried to talk about anything other than the kids. Well, we did talk about the play, just a little bit, but when you have ten kids, with needs that are all unusual, it inevitably comes back to "the kids". But, there was that moment when one of the older kids called, needing something, and hoping he wasn't interrupting anything, then, we get home, open a nice bottle of wine, and end up chatting on face book to a couple of the others. We must be demented or brainwashed or both.

I must say I love life. I am so looking forward to the comedy I am directing. Just worked out the curtain calls, sitcom style and laughing out loud as I picture it in my mind. Have been sitting here with Rog, as he chats and I chat online to our kids, having a glass of wine, appreciating the love, the laughter, the sad times and all that the last thirty years have brought us. I wouldn't change anything. I am so blessed.

It's one of those nights where I have a million things running through my brain, and so many great things happening, I sometimes wonder where to start, let alone finish. Today, was "drama" day and I started directing my little theater company I started at my kids school. "The Lighthouse Theater Company" presents!!! We have had auditions, and the read through, and today we got up on that stage and started "Bah Humbug" the musical.

I have not worked with a lot of kids in pretend drama, mostly kids in real dramas! I decided I would definitely get myself a microphone so I could be heard above the excited, visiting voices of thirty odd kids ranging from 6 to 16. So we blocked half of the first song in an hour, and I have decided that we need a little more time to achieve what we have planned. Of course, it will get boring for them at some time, not all of them have lines and in theater you do sit around waiting a lot of the time, unless you have a small cast.

At the same time I am directing a British comedy which has four rehearsals before tech week. That's the week where everything comes together in the theater and you add all the props, the lighting, the set, the sound effects and hope it all works! Today, before drama rehearsal, I had a production meeting in the morning and set out with my friend and leading lady to hunt for some "stuff" for our set. We bought the most AWFUL couch, which when I saw it I just knew we had to have it. It cost the whole of $38.93. I then found the worst looking curtains you could possible imagine to go with this loud red, blue, orange and green big flowered pattern couch. The play talks a lot about how dreadful the curtains are.

I have certainly tested my abilities in this play, I have sculpted a "roman girl carrying a bowl" and painted a canvas that can be likened to the couch. I have also written a "theme" song similar to those found accompanying British sitcoms. It has been so much fun and a definite break from the general hustle and bustle of raising ten kids at home and four on the perimeter with the grandchildren popping in as well here and there. Now, I will say, my artistic work has to be seen to be believed, but I think it will be popular at the auction to raise money for our company, as the best white elephants there! Or at least the "joke" items.

We had record floods last week, and needless to say I am glad that all is back to normal including the muddy pool, which is blue once more. The weather is turning cool, which I love, but with it comes dealing with how the change of season affects my children with bi-polar. The spring and the fall, always bring challenges as the light begins to change and moods begin to swing. During all the rain that fell, and mud that slid, my one really challenged child had the worst time I have seen her have in a long time. For a couple of days, it really looked like she would have to go to inpatient treatment, but thank God, we have avoided that and reverted to alternate plan B, which is Mr. Risperdal. (a common drug used for bi-polar and other similar disorders). I am often speechless when well meaning people come up and say, "Oh she'll get over it."

Isaiah is doing better with school work, but struggling in other areas. He is responding to a routine and structure along with boundaries, which he sometimes pushes to see whether he will get a "beating" or not. It brings back memories of our fostering days, when kids come into care from neglected and abusive situations, and try to re-create the very circumstances they came from. Harmony and peace do not come easily to ones who have lived with fighting, and uncertainty. What's that song? "It Takes Time". Yes it does, but when I look back to the end of July and where he was then, he has travelled a long way and I know he has not been saved from certain death in Africa, for no purpose.

Ok, well what a week or two. The first week I got some dreaded lurgy (Australian for bug, flu, cold, whatever) but not the swine flu, thank God and then before I really got better, Rog gets a loverly email from his work saying that, 'Oh gee, you need to be "somewhere" in a couple of days'. Well I am usually well and truly able to step up to the plate and said "you go honey" knowing that I cope, I am the anchor here, no worries, we'll manage". But, I did not expect what the second week had to bring. Rain, torrential rain, floods, roofs leaking, pools, full of mud, kids crying, scared about just driving home from school. And one, the special one, not coping at all, and doctor in charge saying "hospital" maybe residential hospital. Just a little much for one not quite better.

Of course, Rog just "knew" and never left the airport after the skyping and phone calls. Our new roof leaked about 3 gallons of water in a twelve hour period, the pond over the road from our house, spring fed just like ours, was overflowing torrents of water. Not that that in itself was frightening, but a couple of months ago, in another storm, a very big old tree came down dislodging a root and causing a slow trickle from the side of the dam wall that holds that particular pond. The drains were clogged, too much debris coming down, and between the children, the dogs, the horses and the water that was in waterfalls down the stairs beside our house, and the water gushing over the pond over the road and down the road, the river in the front yard, as well as our child possibly off to hospital, and having to look after the other nine, it was a little overwhelming for just one little me. I thought hospital looked good for me!

On top of that, Isaiah was having a big problem, which was a danger to him and to the others, so I was having to watch him like a hawk, and be the big "momma bear" as well. That, has turned out better than expected, but after sitting and talking and counseling and tearing my hair out, there was a lot revealed and a lot resolved. But, am I somewhere between mad and disillusioned with a system that I have always thought worked in at least our county? Through this "revelation" I am now wondering just what some parts of the Department of Children's services actually does work. Now, I have no complaints where we live, I have found the system of Department of Family and Children's Services to be very responsive and supportive. But, where he comes from previously, small county in Tennessee, I am not so sure any more.

He has revealed, as suspected by us, that his former "adoptive mother" has been inappropriate with him. If this was a father here, there would be cries of protest of abuse, but how far does this have to go before some one says "enough". We have discovered not only he, but his older sister, and all the others have been beaten with a rubber hose, that animals are treated cruelly, they are not schooled, they beat each other up when there are disagreements, and there is no respect, no manners, no knowledge of behavior that is socially accepted. And they are so called "christians". Not in my church. No wonder people think christians are strange.

After two months, he still eats like there is no food tomorrow and hopes his shirts are getting tighter because he is getting taller. We are working out how to let him down gently. I am sorry to say, that his protein intake for the most of his life in Africa, and certainly all of his previous life in the USA, is sadly lacking. That is because his previous adoptive family, have a "new way of eating". It's sad that this has resulted in all of their birth children being born with bad teeth from lack of nutrition in-utro. This family still sells videos of "how to eat nutritiously" on the internet and within their circles of influence. When, and how, does that stop. It's like hackers on the internet, that conn innocent people, looking for a miracle.

I am convinced he really has been somewhat brainwashed, and we are dealing with a "cult" mentality. Only youth is suckered into this thought process, because of their need to be accepted, recognized, praised and least of all, but most importantly, Loved. Their view of love, is distorted and performance orientated. I pray that I have the ability, and guidance from God to cope with this.

I am sitting here with the rain pouring down outside and even at 9.00a.m. it is still a little dark. I can't believe the kids are all still asleep. I can hear a footstep or two but no little faces have popped their heads around the corner yet. We should be off to church, but there is so much water outside, I think we would have to swim to the car! So I guess we are playing hooky this morning.

They will all appear soon, as they will wake up to the lovely smell of home made french toast casserole in the oven. On Sundays I try to prepare a little ahead of time, because getting ten kids out the door to church all dressed and presentable is no small effort.

Well tonight I have been extremely creative for the British comedy I am directing in October. In this hilarious play, Linda the wife, starts taking classes after kicking her husband out the door. Now the props call for "a sculpture of a roman girl with a bowl" and a novice painting. After looking around the antique mall and the thrift store, I decided that if such a sculpture and painting were to be authentic, then perhaps I should take up sculpting and remember art class from my youth.

The funny thing about the sculpture is, it is used as an ashtray, so it's not so good. We had the most riotous time in the kitchen tonight making a bake in the oven sculpture. It is definitely a "roman" girl because of the nose we gave her. The bowl is perhaps a tad large but who cares, we do have to use it for an ashtray and a deposit for some rather gross sandwiches. I can say I named the painting "passion" by Linda, the wife, and I don't think I will sign the sculpture. Perhaps I should, then it could become memorabilia of the most famous British play that won all the awards in 2009. Of course it would have to be signed by "Linda" to be authentic. I must add, it really is ugly.

We have had such an adventurous week I can't remember much of it! Isaiah is trying very hard at school and is doing very well. He so wants to be the very best he can, and does his homework, unless he can't understand it. Mostly that is math, he is learning his spelling quickly, and really practicing his writing skills of which there was not many. He tries so hard to please, which I understand, as he is the middle child the same as myself. His struggles just to be noticed and complimented are sad sometimes. I wonder how a child can get to 13 years of age, and be so uneducated in so many ways. But, God is good, and His mercy endures for ever, and His mercy is surely reigning down on Isaiah.

Just a short week ago, he decided to challenge or try out our methods of discipline. It was labor day weekend and Ce Ce our 18 year old (and his older sister) had friends drive over from North Carolina. She had known one of them from the orphanage in Liberia, where both of them came from, and his friend, who she had met briefly when she was living in N.C. She was very excited to see familiar faces as she has not made very many friends here her own age. Well our Isaiah, felt a little left out. It was like one of those episodes on TV where the central character realizes his name has not been mentioned or he has not been interviewed for a little time. He sat in the corner literally, and had a very pouty look. Upon reminding him these friends were his older sisters, and much older than him, he got even more pouty. As the day wore on into the next one, he realized that we were not going to tolerate his behavior. He, over a period of 12 hours, lost his beloved camera ( a gift from Dustin, one of our older twins), and all his technical rights (TV and computer).

Before this, when he had been punished he had been beaten, or if something was taken from him, he never saw it again. In fact, I know that when he was sent back to Africa, he had bought a camera with his own money and it was taken from him before he left. He considers himself a photographer so taking this particular item hits hard. Anyway, he thought very hard about his behavior and within 48 hours decided that he would change it.

What was the saddest thing was, when I gave him back his camera and his privileges for changing, he looked at the camera, looked back at me, looked again at his camera, and then with almost tears in his eyes said, "I never thought you would give this back". Needless to say, since then, I have had a child who is listening and trying to behave just as we need him too.

Just came off the front porch with my amazing 18 year old Ce Ce. She had her first date last week-end which was somewhat fun and confusing. Ce Ce may be 18 but she's really going on 30. Isaiah is her younger brother and from about the age of 9 she raised not only him, but a younger sister( who at that time was only about 12 months of age) until they were adopted into a family here in the U.S.A. She has sacrificed as only a mother can do, she has defended, as only a mother can do, and protected, as only a mother can do, for her younger brother and sister. She thinks much older, but wants to have what is rightfully hers, some fun, and attention, as a beautiful young woman.

In saying that, she is somewhat not familiar with the dating game as it is today, and not prepared either. Two of her friends came from North Carolina, one who she knew in the orphanage in Liberia, and another she had met when she was abandoned by her first family and forced to go and live in N.C. She was looking forward to a couple of days of catching up and having some fun, going to a movie etc., but found her ideas were somewhat different from theirs. Luckily she has a Mum and a Dad she could turn to, who could explain some of the facts of our time. She is working out keeping those friendships without hurting feelings.

Isaiah, in recognizing he did not have any privileges left, decided, quite rightly that maybe he should change his tune. What was sad in all of this, was when I gave him back his camera (which is never off his person) he looked at it and back at me and said very quietly, "I didn't think you would give that back". I have since found out that his previous U.S. family, took away but never gave back. That is not discipline, it is mean. Discipline and structure is " the carrot and the stick" meaning the stick is not a big rubber hose, or whipping belt, but something you "pray" or "think" about, not use in anger because you can't think of anything else. I am glad he has learned this lesson for this time, I fear we "will" go here again several times before he gets it.

Today I posted "casting" for my play at the Christian School where 6 of my kids attend. This is an exciting adventure for all of us. We are doing a musical version of "Scrooge" and I will keep you posted on what happens as all of this unfolds. From day one (two weeks ago) to now, more and more of them seem to want to join the ranks with Mum and become an actor, singer or dancer, whichever fits, and be part of a new adventure that I seem to have stumbled upon.

Since starting this blog and finishing it, Rog and I have had a wonderful and funny conversation with Isaiah, who still is trying to figure it all out. How can we love him, in spite of him doing annoying things on a regular basis, not getting the eating (not with our hands) thing, the manners thing, the sharing thing, the being one of family thing, the just being yourself thing. It takes time; that we have (hopefully) a lot of. Tonight I feel I have imparted so much of the things I have learned into two young lives. Whether they realize what we have offered is probably the same time frame as all of our others. Suddenly they got to about 22, and said "Gee, Mum and Dad, you learned a lot in the last year!"

Well today brought many things to deal with, both easy, fun and the tough ones as well. Our beautiful 18 year old had her first sort of "date" today. Her "friend" drove all the way from North Carolina with his friend to see her. They knew each other back in Liberia in the orphanage days and both were lucky enough to find their way out of that mess and into families here to make new lives. It was wonderful to see her smile and be a normal teenager enjoying the company of friends the same age.

We cooked a big BBQ dinner as well as African food to go along with the usual fare. I am still somewhat amused that my little ones will eat this "hot! Hot! HOT!" African food and say yum yum! We had some of our older kids and grandkids join us along with their extended families to just share good times and make memories. I am always tired at the end of these sort of days, but am never sorry that we had them. In the midst of this, our newest addition Isaiah is having the end of the very short, brief honeymoon period that all new kids to the family have.

Unfortunately, along with no schooling, the family he came from believed in beating their children. In fact, there is no other form of discipline other than the children are put outside the house (whether it is winter or summer) to fend for themselves. They sleep in the car when this happens and I am surprised that no-one has frozen to death or died from the heat that builds up in the car during summer. So having that sort of environment for the last few years, topped off with Africa, where people are hungry and homeless and will do anything for food or clothing, he is having a struggle with how life works in our family.

Obviously, in his young mind, he has to fight to be the top dog otherwise he dies or has no food or no privileges. Well we have "labradors" for our older twins who just want to please, wag their tails and obey. They have never been anything else. But, they do understand respect, which he does not, and they are quite fierce in demanding it from him. As my Rog says, who is a second dan black belt, it's like a naturally stronger lower belt challenging a higher rank. It's not about strength, or experiences of life, but about the pecking order. You respect your elders, have manners, and obey the rules of the house or else you lose your rank and privileges.

He lost them today. We have never had a physical fight in the family between any of the 60 odd children who have passed through it or in the children who have become ours. Today, he had the second of his "challenges" to try to upset the order and found himself not being beaten, which is a quick sting that has no lasting effect other than to teach a child to beat someone else, but deprived of every privilege he was granted, along with our trust, when he came to live with us. He lost TV, computer (other than school work) and his beloved camera which he "convinced" one of the twins to give over just shortly after he arrived. He has little reading skills, so guess what, he now reads instead of all these fun things. As well, I explained to him, that if you want to give "sh*t" to everyone, then we have two horses that you can pick up after on a regular basis until you want to change your mind. By the way, he is not the first to get this punishment. I believe, very strongly, that children need to respect each other as well as their parents. The family is sacred, and too many people treat their friends better than their family. What's wrong with that?

Last time I looked, when you get into real trouble, if you have a faithful committed family, they are ones who pick up after you and stand by you, no matter what. So what is it these days, that it seems that it is accepted to treat your own family badly, let out all your abuse and anger and whatever, and treat your friends like they were royalty. It's the wrong way round. And I don't know and can't imagine or judge what has happened before in Isaiah's life, but he needs to know that this family does not attack itself, but is a strong unit that trusts and respects each other.

I also have many questions as to why this family that he has come from do not have to answer to anyone for lack of education and the obvious abuse to children. He is burdened with "secrets and lies" which is obviously eating him up and stopping him from moving on. How can people get away with this? I can only hope that he can sometime soon be able to rid himself of all the "weight" he is carrying around for the sake of these parents who are hiding from the current century and living in a "fairy tale" existence, that they regularly preach in seminars, to unsuspecting people who are looking for a better way to live. They didn't give it to him, or five other African teenagers who left or who were deemed by Social Services not to return, so how come they are experts who receive "donations" for giving information they don't follow themselves.

Isn't it common knowledge in our country that there is "no child left behind". Maybe we need to increase the pay for social workers so they can do their job and get to all of the children who are not only being left behind, but are being abused in the process.

Tonight, I have a son who is confused and sad, but knows that I love him, expecting that he does not have to love me. But, expecting that he respect the family and lose the attitude.

Catch me tomorrow, today was a blast but hectic.

Well today was one of those days where you seem to just turn in circles. Way down the back of our property there is a creek which runs from and to a line of spring fed ponds, two of which are on our land. We are lucky enough to have large mouth? (so I am told) bass, which the children catch and throw back. So they are often down there and exploring. Now along the creek there is a lot of overgrown stuff, blackberries, and thorns, lots of poison ivy and just a lot of branches and sticks which our previous rather eccentric neighbor put there trying to dissuade anyone from entering over the boundaries.

Our neighbor, who thank goodness has been gone for about three months, seemed to have an irrational fear that someone would put one step across the boundary between her property and ours. We would wake up, go for a stroll down to the pond with our morning coffee and find that somewhere in the night, there had appeared ugly and quite extensive barriers with at least three or four "Keep Out Private Property" signs plastered up at the "line" between them and us. She was a little grey haired, quite nosy lady who we nickname the "Grey Harpie". Of course when we saw them on occasion together (she did have a husband but I don't think he had much to say) Rog would exclaim, "There's the grey harpie and her consort!" I wondered why she would think we would want to put a foot over the boundary. There certainly wasn't a friendly face or afternoon tea.

When we were extending our place and almost at move in (the kitchen stuff was all there) I rolled up one Sunday afternoon to see just how close we were to moving in, and she was parked in the driveway. She had actually somehow found entrance and could tell me all about how lovely my kitchen appliances were. I thought she was just a friendly old neighbor and took her for a tour of the house. I don't think she spoke or did a neighborly thing after that. So we came to the conclusion she was just "the grey harpie" with her own set of "unusual" issues.

So getting back to the creek, since they have abandoned the property which is for sale, my kids had ventured to the creek through the branches and sticks and found a cute little bridge that went across the creek and entered into their side of the property line. Unfortunately, the two little friendly horses who follow them around also found the cute little bridge and lots of long grass on the other side. So today was spent building yet another fence to keep them in. There are no fences on the other side so not wise to let them roam, although they would munch their way through the very long and unkept pasture on that side. On reflection, maybe we would be doing the real estate agent and the bank a favor in letting them eat the grass back to a reasonable state.

So we built a fence. Rog is getting to be quite the "farmer Joe" these days between his veggie garden and building fences for the horses. He even looked the part in his up to the thighs waders so he could build it into the pond. He did that not for the horses but the goats he wants! Haven't got them or the chickens yet. Thought I would get used to the horses first. My little girls just had a wonderful time. They put the bridles on the horses, Lady Bug and Angel, and them led them back to our place. They really are very friendly and love those little girls. They followed obediently without any fuss and loved being led around the pasture while Rog quickly put a temporary barrier in place and raced to the hardware and got the materials he needed. I really didn't know he had any sort of "handyman" in him before this farm.

He did regale to me with much merriment how he had waded into the pond (which has a lot of silt around the edges) and when he went to lift his leg he felt his foot come out of the wader and nearly fell on his backside into the pond. That would have been such a wonderful fate for his blackberry which I must say is never off his person. Now I often wonder why, because he keeps it on silent, and I have to call him at least three times before he feels it vibrate and knows to answer it. But it has all of everything on it. His emails, which of course if he did not read immediately the sky would fall and he would be out of contact with anything anywhere technical in a flash. Mmmmmmm.... maybe next time I could give him a little nudge, not that I mind his blackberry being everywhere we are, I would just love to see the expression on his face when he went for a mud bath!

My goodness, it has been such a week. So much so, that I haven't had a minute to do or say anything outside my usual routine. Wow, reading that I sound so formal. Let me back up and try to remember where I left off. Rog, my sweetheart, left for the west coast last week to do some filming for his company and we managed here and life went on. He came home last Thursday at about 6.00a.m. and I left for Nashville at around 9.00a.m.

For those who don't know me well, my number four child, Ben and I wrote a song that won the CMT/NSAI song competition this year. We wrote this oh, about four years ago, but all songs have their moment and this one did this year. He has since moved in a different direction, brilliant I must say, (takes after his Mum) and is writing cartoons, and film series with "people" on the west coast. Now of course, like his Mum, this is after hours as he has to earn a living whilst trying to become something else. This is something I relate to as I seem to have done this forever.

Anyway back to the song, I had a "loverly" time in Nashville, got to sing the scratch vocal with the "cats" and was there when my wonderful and talented country singer put down the real vocal. Now, I am not ashamed to say that I am a "sanger" but a country? singer, well let's say I wasn't raised in the south and I sure don't sound like that on recording. I haven't heard the final mix yet but am waiting. I know it will arrive (probably by mp3 in email) in the next couple of days.

After much deliberation, I finally began a class at my kids (or most of my kids) school teaching drama. We are doing a musical version of a Christmas carol called "Bah Humbug" and I auditioned kids today for various roles and dancers etc. Wow, were they talented and am I the lucky one to be their director. My daughter, Bri, auditioned and three of the others looked on in amazement as these kids did their stuff. Life is good.

Isaiah is settling in, if not a little overwhelmed with the schoolwork. More and more every day he is becoming a part of the family. Dustin (eldest twin at home) asked for his form to be signed for the school dance tonight. Now younger twin Devin didn't want to go. Under the fire from Mum, it was discovered (with some merriment) that Dustin has a "girlfriend" and Devin is still looking. Aah, I remember those days. In fact I still remember going to my first ever "high school dance" at this old hall with my sister Margaret. I was in ninth grade so had to be around 13. I do remember having "first loves" at that age. Part of growing up. Where did all the years disappear.

So directing my British comedy, has become very interesting and quite a challenging adventure for me. We are up for the Atlanta awards, so have been honing my director skills. My children, ever amazing, have once again earned my respect and love for stepping up to the plate. It turns out that my "grandfather" in this comedy, has some health issues which arose and needed immediate attention. I auditioned "six" other actors who could have all been wonderful and none could fit the schedule. So what did I do? What I did about mmmm????years ago when in the same position. My husband, Rog, is a great and wonderfully entertaining speaker, and when in a 24hour pickle such as this a few years ago, I set my big green eyes on him,and vowed him many favors. He was so amazing he deserved an "Oscar". So what did I do this time? Vowed many favors again and he is stepping up. Now he will probably win an award for this having such a brilliant director!!

What can I say? I luv em all. They are crazy, unpredictable, let secrets out when they think no one's listening, cry with you, laugh with you, make you cry, make you laugh, slip the kids through the door (or the dog depending on which kid) but they are all mine. I wouldn't change a thing. This is family.

Well , what a week. Have been home by myself, Rog is on the west coast doing some business stuff and I have held the helm with 10 kids at three different schools, and one working to transport. I am looking forward to him coming home even if I am leaving for Nashville just after that. Just a flying (meaning fast) trip to record one song then back to the always eventful Cressbrook Creek.

Cooked up a storm for dinner tonight and Isaiah has finally started to only have two helpings instead of three. I suggested he would be better off with some more lunch so he wouldn't be so hungry as he is away for eight hours in the day. He is beginning to realize how much of his learning he has missed. He has tired and dry eyes, probably the air conditioning which he is not used to, and his brain is just about worn out. He is also beginning to understand the rules of the house, which are not many, mainly respect to each other, tidy your room, bring your dirty clothes (of which their are piles and piles) down to the laundry, and have manners at all times. Also chewing with your mouth closed is a biggie in this house!! Munch, munch and slurp, slurp is not a sound I relish.

One of my precious daughter in laws had to go to court for a traffic thingo yesterday. I surely felt for her. I am very intimidated by anything that looks like a judge or policeman who wants to pull you over. She is just about three months pregnant with my seventh grandchild and their second child. So, anything like being pulled over is like major emotional meltdown at this stage of the pregnancy. She is also an Australian, adjusting as I did many years ago, to Southern American life. At least she wasn't chucking up yesterday in court, but managed to do that all day today. As they already have a precious little boy, but they would love a little sister, so in my travels to "Wally World" (Walmart for those of you who don't know the slang) I found the most precious little pink sleeper and one of those extremely hard to find pink sleeping bags with no feet to cheer her up. I left the tags on just in case, but let's face it five to one in the boy to girl ratio must mean we are due for another granddaughter!

I am also in a tizz about the play I am directing. It seems I just can't find a "grandfather". They have all left home, gone out of town, or are going out of town, or have just plain fell of the face of the earth. The one I had has some health issues, which I know are going to be fine, but are a priority over a silly little (not to me mind you) British comedy. I am looking sideways at hubby who is used to being before many audiences (speaking mind you) with a comedic flair. Pity he still has his teeth. I really would have loved a "gummy" grand-dad. Sort of like my youngest grandchild, who just has one tooth, and smiles his big "gummy" smile. You know the one I mean, and it comes with the big bald head with no hair yet. But oh, so precious, wish I could bottle it and bring it out on the tough days, just to remind me that somehow it all works for good in the end.

My toughest twins have had a week too. These are my nine year olds who weren't supposed to do anything at all including live, but are simply amazing and continue to astound me every day as they show all the doctors and pessimists that love and nurture and early intervention does count. They have just started the third grade (a year behind because of their incredible struggles) and the math in their lovely private school just isn't right for them. Well after realizing that the "new teacher" was not comfortable with trying something different for them in the class room, I didn't know whether to be angry, laugh or cry. But I am so incredibly blessed by those around them who have poured into them believing in them as much as I, that their teacher from last year (organized by their tutor for dyslexia and my wonderful friend who is the principal) is going to teach them their own course of math. Dyslexics have a very hard time with math and not because they can't learn it, but because they learn in an entirely different way.

So with all of that going on, the ear infection, the temperature which I was hoping was not Swine flu, the cuts and scrapes that come with ten kids running around, the poison ivy that one of the twins managed to get on his leg from somewhere (why does all this happen when Rog is away), I think we managed pretty well. The washing is all done, the house is tidy (mostly) the kitchen is clean (except for those last minute before bed 14 year old snack remnants) and the sounds from above are abating into the quiet that I hope is my night.

Saturday Life with 14 kids

Did I ever tell you that Ben, my youngest biological, thinks his dog Roxie, cannot stay home by herself. If they ever leave the house she seems to be put through the door and even sometimes picked up without a word. I think because we have six dogs they think we don't notice. Well Roxie was with us today for a while along with our two wonderful grandchildren while I picked up constantly (I must have OCD about cleaning and tidying) because we had guests for a BBQ.

Not that my wonderful friends who also have a large extended family would notice, but I am somewhat house proud. I don't think I was always like this, because in Australia, where I grew up, we are used to being spontaneous. Here a lot of the time, I have to consult my agenda sometimes weeks ahead, but in Aus., or with my Brit. friends. we seem to have the same colonial thing going on.

It may also have to do with the fact that back then I only had four children and now I have fourteen. But, having said that, when you have a lot of children, you are either tidy and structured or messy and chaotic. I am the former. So, today, because we have guests, I am more paranoid about presenting the house and the food. Crazy, I know, but it's a fine line between OCD and OCB (if don't know look it up) and I like to think that other people don't view us as being crazy and disorganized. Crazy, yes I accept that, but I am an organized on time person and want to be perceived as such. I fail on several occasions. I think I being tested.

Now my hubby, was late for our wedding. Need I say more. This is what I contend with on a daily basis. Does he make up for this in other ways? Thank goodness he does. He loves the vacuum cleaner, but does leave it in the middle of the floor where somehow I constantly trip over it. Oh, and did I mention that his computer has a home on my kitchen counter where I cook. He also has at least two other offices in the house, but prefers my kitchen. Of course, I don't have to cook much, so it isn't a real problem, and he is wonderful company.

Mentioning company, he invites people around, and then there's an emergency, where he just has to disappear for hours on end and leaves me with company I sometimes don't know. I remember once, admittedly a long time ago, he invited some persons known or unknown for a BBQ, and decided when they wouldn't leave (they did come at 3p.m and now it was 11p.m) that he was adjourning to the bathroom. After about half an hour or so, and they were still there, I decided to join him. We sat in there until they left. I guess they must have liked something about us or my cooking. We can't remember who they were. But that was thirty odd years ago.

Speaking of which, we will have been married thirty years this coming September. The one positive thing we have learned through the years, is that don't invite people you don't know, unless they are coming with friends you do know. Well all jokes aside, we love to entertain, and our children, all fourteen of them love a party, lots of food, and fun.

So, in the morning, which is coming all too soon, we will get up and clean up, breakfast twelve children (oh did I mention the grandchildren are sleeping over) get them dressed, combed, fed and out the door for church. I really love church. It is a two hour break where we get to get fed, receive and replenish while they are doing the same. Tomorrow, Ben and his family (and I am sure Roxie) are coming for lunch after service. Seeing that Ben really loves Nathan hot dogs, we might feed him the left overs from tonight and cook something different for those who care, before I go to my first rehearsal for the British comedy.

Now, I am going to spend some quality time with my better half before we hit the sack and start again.

Another day, another dollar. At least I hope so. It costs a fortune just to feed everybody here. I had forgotten just how much 14 year old boys eat and I have three of them! They seem to inhale everything in sight, I wonder if they really taste it at the rate the consume it. They were really keen to go to the high school football game tonight, but after they just heard the big rumble of thunder overhead, I think they are glad to be inside.

My eldest boys at home are identical twins, with Isaiah just four months younger. He is suffering from a sore thumb tonight from writing so much this week. Devin, one of the twins, was proud of his 100% on his Math test and when I asked Dustin his twin brother, he said "which math test?" I think and I hope they are in different classes. He just came in and said "oh! that one" when he saw his brother's little white sheet. Their voices are changing just now and sometimes they are really funny. At least they have a great sense of humor! I am not sure I am going to see his test. I may have to sneak peak in his book bag.

CeCe my 18 year old was a little sad tonight. She has been an apprentice for a hairdresser (her dream) for the last couple of months and just found out that while she can still work there, she will have to apprentice for Cosmetology, which will give her another skill, while she gets her GED at night. When she realized that she would be extremely talented and skilled at the end of all this, she was happier.

My hubby Rog is trying hard to catch a muskrat who lives down at our pond. We have two fishing ponds where the kids catch large mouth bass on a regular basis. We don't keep them; we put them back so we will keep the pond stocked. He has this rather big silver cage that looks like an elaborate rodent trap. Of course the muskrat is too smart to be caught. He has lived there for a long time and has lots of big holes (or burrows I guess) all around the edge of the pond. Funny thing happened on the way to catching him though, one of the kids left a fishing rod, with hook etc on it, lying near one of the holes he comes and goes from. When we went to pick it up we found the line (with the hook on) was down the hole. Upon trying to retrieve it we found it wouldn't budge. Rog tugged and tugged just like when you have a really big fish on the line, and it did just what it does in the ocean when the big one got away. It snapped. So we think the muskrat now is running around with a hook in him somewhere! Tough little critter!

Bri, my aspergers child, was much better today with a tweak to her medication. Sometimes I think I am a lobster, swimming around thinking it is all well, then realizing the water is boiling. At least I can do something about it and jump out. With all the furore of the last couple of weeks, Isaiah coming home, getting all the kids to three different schools, organizing the British Comedy, which is going to be a riot by the way, and getting Rog ready for the west coast and me ready for Nashville, I should have predicted that Bri would have a hic up. But she is back to her sweet, if somewhat unique self with a minor adjustment.

Six of my kids at home are at a private home schooling academy with teachers. I am very fortunate to have found it as they have small classes and a very loving Christian environment in which they thrive. The good thing is they have Fridays off. The bad thing is they have Fridays off. So today was much about them, homework for the weekend (they don't really get Fridays off - I am the teacher), swimming, playing tea parties and watching favorite TV shows. I have just picked up the ten or so towels and tidied up for the night. They are watching the last of a disney movie and then it will be time for the blanket show.

Tomorrow, I get my two of my grandchildren (I told you we swap off) as my son and his wife are off watching the tennis somewhere for a few days, and Rog has asked an army of British people we know and their friends for a BBQ. Ah! Never a dull moment at Cressbrook Creek.

Oh P.S. He also has offered the "ranch" for yet another wedding!!

Well what a day. Seemed like it really was life in the fast lane today. This week has been filled with dentists, doctors, cleaning (which I love and hate) and topped off with the first run through of a British Comedy that I am directing. Yes I do another life other than children. It keeps me sane.

One of my special needs kids just had such a hard day. She is my Aspburger's Bi-Polar etc one. We were just a little up and stuck so needed to make a quick trip to our wonderful Physch. and are crossing our fingers for the morning. Isaiah was frantically trying to study for his "first" ever test tomorrow on local Geography and was struggling with the spelling of such long words. It sort of seemed like everyone was talking at once and the phone didn't stop either. And to top that off they all couldn't seem to understand that swimming in a thunderstorm was just a little dangerous. Maybe it's the heat that is making them all a little crazier than usual. Oh, and the first run through of the play was at my home so of course I was trying to make dinner, keep the house tidy, do the homework, keep them all away from Dad who just happens to be filming on the west coast next week and needed to get his script right. Whew!

At least the six dogs and two horses were being friendly. Did I mention them before? We seem to collect animals as well. We have a three legged poodle, (her leg was chewed off by another dog years ago) and have rescued two miniature horses, Lady Bug and Angel. They eat the grass on the three acres. Keeps the mowing down just a little. They also poop a lot, but that makes great fertilizer for the small vege gardens we have begun to experiment with. The kids adore the horses and spoil them and the dogs rotten. We have toy poodles and English Cocker Spaniels.

Cooked 30 chicken legs in their favorite fake fry in the oven, three pounds of potatoes into sour cream and cheese mashed potatoes and a big old dish of mixed veggies. A couple of french loaves were also demolished and then they lined up for apple pie and ice cream. The older boys just came back around 9.00p.m. for the leftovers (of which there was not much). Finally they are all (hopefully) asleep. I must admit they are a lot of work but the reward and joy of seeing them grow into wonderful kids makes it worth while.

Looking forward to a small break in Nashville for me when my better half gets back from the west coast. Off to do some recording (I write and sing too) and a breather to get recharged. That is something that is really important when you dare to have this many kids with needs. It is not always easy to get away together, but we do make an effort and grab a day or two where we both recharge our batteries and get to think without being interrupted every 30 seconds or so.

We have discovered that hotels and getaways are not so good for us together. Our older kids are gracious enough to swap babysitting and when we need time out together we spend it at our wonderful home "Cressbrook Creek" and stay in, cook a couple of steaks with seafood and buy an excellent bottle of wine to relax and talk without interruptions.

In fact, my sweetheart has just cooked up some coconut shrimp and I am going to join him and review the day and what we were blessed with.

I realize that I am in the minority having fourteen children, ten of whom live at home. This is a journey I did not think I would ever participate in, but now that I experience this everyday, tired as I am at the end of it, I am glad I didn't miss any little bit.

I am prompted to start a blog because our tenth child at home and number fourteen in total, has only been with us for three weeks. He is a native Liberian child, raised in poverty and war in an orphanage in Monrovia. He is also the product of a "busted adoption" where he was sent back to this war torn, chaotic environment.

Because his older sister came to us in similar circumstances we couldn't leave him there. He is a green carded Resident Alien, with all the privileges of a citizen other than voting. He is also only 13 years old. He is totally unschooled (testing to grade 1.8) even though he has lived in the USA for the last four years, was homeless for much of the time back in Liberia from March to July until part of his birth family came to find him, suffered Malaria, and was exposed to TB.

He lived with no electricity, no fresh or running water, no phones, no toilets and a cup of rice per day. If he has survived that he deserves a chance at what life at the Thompson home can give him.

He has started middle school this week in IEL (Intensive English Language) although he speaks and understands English well. But, he cannot spell, write, do anything other than basic math, has no understanding of history or geography, and wonders why he has not discovered school before last Monday. I thought we had a policy of no child left behind, so how come he was dumped? And how many other children are there in schooling systems that seem to have no accountability.

He has not had a medical check up for four years, nor dental, no shots and a belief that most foods seem to be "bad" for you. Fortunately, hunger over rules the last one. After adopting eight children through a very carefully monitored system, I do not know why there was not more care in placing this child in a home that failed him miserably. Not only failed to educate, provide medical and dental, but failed to parent in the basic necessities.

I believe, he is smart, willing and eager to learn, waking up every minute to the fact that he has a chance in this life and is running with both hands and mind outstretched to receive all that is poured in.

Tune in for his progress and life at the Thompsons, with ten kids at home, including three sets of twins, four with mild cerebral palsy, four with dyslexia, four with expressive/receptive language disorder (mmm. and maybe five; haven't got the results yet) four with mood disorder/bipolar, one who has Tourette's, bipolar, Aspergers, and I can't count the ADHD kids, that seems normal to me, six dogs and two horses and six (and counting) grandchildren who all seem to love being on the ranch at Cressbrook Creek situated in the heart of suburbia.