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.