Who's Loosing Their Marbles?

We have been thinking of ways to encourage the kids to make good choices and discourage some of the behaviors we'd like them to leave alone. What we came up with is a marble system. Each child has their name on a cup and a happy face and in the middle is a tub full of marbles with a big sad face on it. Whenever one is kind or shows obedience or makes a good choice they get a marble and if they make a bad choice or disobey they loose a happy marble to the sad bucket. At the end of the day which ever 2 kids have the most happy marbles get to pick a prize out of the prize basket. They LOVE going to the basket! Brian has had a rough couple days and is bummed he has not earned a trip to the basket of blessings. It is fun to encourage the kids to earn marbles and hopefully will help them learn some good character traits.

It rained most of the day today keeping us inside most of the day and that is super tough as these kids have more energy than FPL! They were able to swim for a couple hours tonight which helped them get to sleep.  Bed time is running smoother and tonight we hit the goal of in by 8pm, yaaaaaaaa! There was much whining and tears from Brianna who didn't get to go to blessing basket tonight, but hopefully a lesson learned.

The hardest thing right now is really the noise level. These kids scream at each other and us all day. It is very trying at times. I don't understand why they yell, I mean even when they sing and pray they yell. Will need to get creative on a way to quiet them some. Maybe play a whisper game. Any ideas?

My favorite part of each day with the kids has become morning when ALL the kids that are awake pile into my bed and snuggle and love on each other. It is semi quiet as all aren't awake and all are so sweet. It is fun to watch 7 or 8 kids pack into my bed with me:-)

In the van we listen to Bible verse songs A - Z and they are doing great at memorizing God's Word. We have also spent a lot of time, especially with the girls, talking about Jesus and salvation. Briasia asked Jesus into her heart at Bash at church and Brianna has asked many questions. They are working through confusion as they have been raised Jahova's Witnesses for 1 1/2 years. Please pray for them.

So interesting watching the kids get to know each other and start to mesh into 1 family. It is going to take time for these beautiful babies to fully settle in. They still ask almost daily if, when and where we are going to drop them off. That breaks my heart. They ask why we want them or love them. I heart aches for them to fully believe I and accept our love. I am soooo stressed at some moments but I must admit, I regret nothing and love my life and this opportunity so much. It is teaching me and all of us as a family so much.

If any of you have any good creative ideas, please post them:-)