Just a lot of lovin' going on!

It's been a great week loving on Angel and helping her get to know her forever family. She's doing well, each day getting a little more familiar with us.

Yesterday our God-child came and spent the day and night with us. He's 3 1/2 and he is so amazing (he and his family live in FL). My family was also here for our Christmas. Grandma and Grandpa got to hold Angel for the first time and she did pretty well. She's still pretty fussy unless mommy, daddy or sister are holding her so we're taking it slow with other family and friends. We had quite the house full with all my family, the kids, our God-child, his brother and grandparents. It was so awesome. Even though it was exhausting I love having people over.

Today is me and Hubby's five-year anniversary. By the grace of God our marriage has grown stronger and every year has been better than the last. Even though he doesn't read this very often (where's the love?) I'll send this out into blog land: I LOVE YOU HUBBY! YOU ARE AMAZING AND I'M SO BLESSED TO BE MARRIED TO YOU! We were able to sneak away and go to a movie although it wasn't very romantic. We fed Angel and then she fell asleep. Princess was with her. We rushed to the theatre to catch a matinee (Alvin and the Chipmunks!) and rushed home, the whole while checking our phones and worrying about both our girls! Welcome to reality!

Here's a few pictures of the kids to enjoy. We pray you made great memories in 2007 and that 2008 brings you closer to the Lord and the ones you love.

Not very happy on her tummy

Hubby and God-child

God-child opening Christmas presents

Kind of a smile. I think I took about 40 pictures trying to capture her smiling. She really is smiling, it just goes away really quick!

Grama Susie and Angel

Mommy and Angel

Princess, Prince and Angel

Angel loves to sit up. She also loves her Christmas present from her foster family!

Big stretch!

Princess and our Allie dog

Prayer Request

Please pray for Tami, Prince's cousin and a friend of ours. Tami's husband Scott helped Hubby and I with Sunday school last year and I've often went to Tami for advice on adoption as they have two adopted children. We just found out a few months ago that Tami and Prince are cousins on his mom's side.

Anyway, Tami just found out she has thyroid cancer. Please pray for healing for Tami and peace and comfort for her, Scott and their two kids.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

A Different Kind of Day

Crying, burping, poopy baby - what else could we ask for! It's been a good day loving on Angel, helping her get to know us. She's already a mama's girl so I've been trying my hardest not to hog her so Hubby can get some good bonding time.

We'll be taking a bloggy break to have some much needed time with Angel. Thanks again for your prayers. We know it was a miracle that Angel is home with us already.

Have a very blessed Christmas.

Angel sleeping with Daddy

Princess meeting her little sister

Our three amazing kids! Prince, Angel and Princess

Angel meeting the doggies. They are doing very well, although Ed doesn't like it when Angel cries - he cries too. :-)

Home At Last...

What a journey this has been. I write this as Missy tends to a fussy baby girl needing a diaper change. Who would have thought that we would have a child so quickly, let alone by Christmas. These last 2 weeks have been such a whirlwind for us. The emails, the phone calls, hurry up and wait, she might make it home for Christmas, she might not....and now, our Angel is home. Missy and I have a new baby daughter. The Prince and Princess have a baby sister.

What a journey this has been? The journey is just beginning. This stage is ending but another has just begun. As our family moves forward we look to God to reveal what wonders He has in store for us. This blessing will forever change our lives. Thank you to everyone that has supported us through kind words, thoughts and prayers. Please continue to pray for us and that the initial transition to our home would be quick for our Angel.

May God bless you and Merry Christmas to all.

THANK YOU JESUS!

Our Angel is coming home! TOMORROW! We are so excited we can't even think straight. I have such little faith, I didn't think she would be home for Christmas, but once again God shows his amazing love and faithfulness and has given us the desires of our hearts. We are so unworthy.

We'll leave early tomorrow morning and should be home (with our baby in our arms) tomorrow night! Please continue to pray for her for a smooth transition, for the foster family who's had her since birth and for safety for us traveling.

Thanks for going along with us on this journey. We have felt your prayers and we praise God for his blessings.

A Child

I was sitting in the sanctuary the other day. Praying, listening, being still. As we've been experiencing the highs and lows of adoption I was feeling very overwhelmed. I had so much joy in my heart that this little child would, Lord willing, be coming into our home. That my husband and I would have a child together. But at the time I also had the knowledge that nothing was final yet and so at times that caused me to have fear.

As I sat there I looked at the beautiful blue banner on the alter. "For Unto Us A Child Is Born". Yes, that's true. For unto us (Pat and I) a child has been born that will be given to us as our own, to raise and love and guide and nuture. A child that I've longed and prayed for for many years.

And then Christ reminded me to not forget the real meaning of that verse. For unto us a Child has been born. Unto me. A sinner - many times I've thought the apostle Paul was crazy calling himself the "chief of sinners". I was the chief of sinners. And still the Child was born. I was reminded that as great and wonderful and amazing as it will be to have a child of our own - there is nothing more sweet than the love of the Christ child. Absolutely nothing - not marriage, not children, not health, not wealth. Nothing greater than sitting there with Jesus remembering all that He had done for me. Nothing greater than His forgiveness. Nothing greater than the hope and peace and joy He brings.

Perhaps you've allowed circumstances in your life, the busyness of Christmas or trials and fears to draw your thoughts away from the Christ child. Right now as you read this commit to that quiet time with Jesus. Turn off the tv and the computer. Turn off your radio or ipod. Turn off your phone (trust me, it'll be ok!). Sit in the silence of your living room, the sanctuary of a church or an office at work. Whether it be December or June, let us be reminded "For Unto Us A Child Is Born".

That's What Friends Are For!

Ok, I'm done whining! :-) Thanks friends for encouraging me to use this time to get some things done. Another friend also found this devotional and it was just perfect!

The Time Came For Her Baby
by Jon Walker

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. (Luke 2:6 NLT)

We manage time; we waste time. We spend time and we save time. We wish the time would come; we wish the time would pass. We see time fly, and we feel time drag. We watch clocks and carry calendars, creating the illusion that we somehow control time, yet all the while moments flow forward like a mighty river that cannot be stopped, harnessed, or re-routed.

Yet God controls time. He created time and we, his creations, are fenced by his time, directed and guided by his holy and loving hand. Do you think God was surprised that "while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born?"

We're often surprised by unexpected developments in our lives, yet the Bible teaches that God is never surprised, even in the most disastrous turn of events. How would your faith differ if you believed God was not surprised by your current circumstances and that he's working, at this moment, for a holy and healthy conclusion?

What does that mean? God is always on time, at just the right time. George Mueller, the great prayer warrior from the 19th century, once waited on a dock for a special chair to be delivered. He had a bad back and needed the chair for the ocean voyage ahead of him. When the departure time grew close and the chair still had not arrived, Mueller's friends offered to buy a substitute chair, but Mueller said no - "Either God will provide the chair, or he'll give grace to do without it." Like a Hollywood ending, the chair arrived just in time, right on time. Mueller noted, "If the chair had arrived earlier, we might have dismissed the provision of God." This Christmas, point out the provisions of God when you see them.

What if you were certain God would provide? How would you act, think, and live differently if you were absolutely certain God was at the end of the deadline? That is, even if there were mere seconds left, you still believed with certainty that God was working through your circumstances? Believing he's there and about to provide is the essence of faith. Tell God, "I believe; help my unbelief."

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Time cannot diminish Christ's love for you or his power to work within your life. He is there in the past; he is there in the now; and he is there in your future.

A thousand years are like a few hours to God (Psalm 90:4). God is working to bring you into eternity, not just to get you through the end of next week. Praise God for his grace and for a love so strong that he wants you to spend an eternity with him.

Worse Than Waiting?

We didn't think there was anything harder than waiting. We thought once Monday was past and the court hearing was over and everything was finally final our hearts wouldn't be so heavy. Unfortunately now we've discovered that there is something worse than waiting. It's knowing we have a daughter in another state, knowing she's ours, a part of our family, our daughter. And not being able to be with her. Feeling like we've abandoned her. Missing her so much and knowing there's nothing we can do to speed up this process.

Today I spent the day with my Father, my heavenly Father. I try to do this once a month. Actually I've already scheduled my "Daddy Tank Days", as they're called, through 2008 - making sure that one day a month is set aside. Each time is different - today I started out by reading my chronological bible. Then I spent a few hours praying through journaling. And then I spent about an hour singing Christmas hymns. My poor dogs weren't too thrilled about that. Then I read through the Gospels, actually more like skimmed, looking for times when Jesus built relationships and how he did it. And then I went back to the Old Testement and read through Judges and Ruth. And then finished up the day with more prayer time.

I'm so thankful my Daddy Tank Day fell on today. If I hadn't had my heart and mind on my Father it would have been a bad day. I won't lie, there were times I was tempted to crawl under my covers and cry and pray and beg Jesus to let us bring our Angel home. I guess I did do alot of praying and crying asking that our Angel could come home this week but my focus was on the Father and knowing that His will and timing is perfect puts my heart at ease.

I encourage you to set aside one day a month to spend with your heavenly Father. I wasn't too sure about a whole day either when my Pastor suggested this. But then I realized I owe my Father my entire life - isn't He important enough to me to give Him just one day a month? He so longs to spent that time with you, to fill you up and talk with you and encourage and challenge you.

Please continue to pray with us that the interstate compact paperwork would get completed soon, like tomorrow, so we can go get our Angel and bring her home.

Praising God for His Blessing

Missy,

The attorney called to let Deanne know that the court proceedings went as planned! That means everything is absolutely final! Praise God.... your Angel will be coming home soon! Will let you know progress of ICPC as it moves along.

Kim

ABSOLUTELY FINAL - Wow! That's the best thing we've heard in a long time! Thank you Jesus!

Not Much To Report

Today was the hearing for termination of parental rights for our Angel. We didn't hear anything from the social worker working with the birth mom. But our social worker said no news is good news. I guess the birth mom and social worker don't have to be present at the hearing so since we didn't hear anything that means everything went fine... I think that means then that we are legally able to adopt her. I know I should sound a little more excited, I guess we are just still being cautious until we get word we can go get her. Still not sure when that will be. I guess the state won't get our paperwork til tomorrow so then it's just more waiting for someone to call and say everything looks good.

We praise God...

as far as we know things went well at the court hearing today
for yellow paint - we painted the nursery and it looks really cute
that mail only takes 1 day to get from our agency to the state office
for the many family and friends that have given financially towards the adoption
that His mercies are new every morning

Celebrating

Today we had a party with family to celebrate Princess's birthday. Yes, I know the cake is lame. It would have been even lamer if it was up to me.

Princess wanted a "funfetti" cake - no problem! I was even planning on making a cake from scratch but if she wants funfetti, she gets funfetti. So the party's at 3:00 and I finally get around to making the cake at 1:30.

It's sitting there cooling and my sister sees the chocolate frosting on the counter.

She says, "so that's what Princess wants for her cake?"

"Yep! She wants funfetti."

"With chocolate frosting?"

"Well, that's all I have and I don't think I have what I need to make frosting from scratch."

Sister gives me a weird look.

So I call Princess (Yes, she is just downstairs but that's a long way to walk!). Low and behold she wants funfetti cake with white frosting (DUH!). My wonderful sister offers to run to the store to save the day!

It's still a lame cake but at least it's a lame cake with white frosting!

The Process

Sorry for 3 posts in one day. That's just a little neurotic but we wanted to share what's next.

We left our Angel today with her foster family. It was so hard to leave her. Even though she's not ours yet, our hearts have already convinced us she's our daughter but we're not able to take her across state lines because the paperwork is not final yet.

On Monday (2 days!) the court hearing will take place to terminate the rights of the birth parents. This is considered a "high risk" adoption because we've asked to proceed with the processing before termination of rights. So yes, it's possible that the birth parents could change their minds. Although from what we've been told it sounds like there's not a very likely chance of that happening. If all goes well on Monday then we just wait for the interstate compact paperwork to get completed. This allows us to take her home and although the adoption isn't finalized for 6 months the birth parents rights will have been terminated so they could not come back and reclaim her.

There's really no way to know how long it will take for the interstate compact paperwork to get done. Basically it depends on whether someones on vacation or not. We are pretty optimistic it will happen next week - but it's possible it could be the next week or the next. Our agency is so amazing and they are doing all they can to make it happen as quickly as possible.

Please pray:

For our Angel. That she would continue to be healthy, that she would eat well and when she does come home, would attach to us quickly.

For me, Hubby and Princess. That we would be patient and trust in God's timing. That we would not worry about what tomorrow brings but hold tight to the promises of God's word.

For court on Monday. That God's will would be done. That the birth parents would have peace.

For the interstate compact. That the paperwork would get done in record time and we could bring our Angel home next week. Let's pray specific - bring her home Monday or Tuesday.

For finances. That we would have what we need for the adoption fee. That we would be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us and know what supplies we should buy and when. That when our Angel comes home and my maternity leave is up it would be possible for me to stay home, if not full time at least part time.

Thanks so much. We appreciate your prayers and encouragement!

Just In Case You Didn't Get Enough

Any thoughts on a nickname?

"pumpkin"
"shortcake"
"sweetie pie"
I'm sorry, but it will not be "red"

And the Sure Sign That I'm A Mom

My uneaten sandwich from supper. :-) All you moms out there, you probably didn't realize this part of being a mom (eating last or not eating at all) was a blessing. But for those of us that have never had the priviledge of not being able to eat because of kids it's a really cool thing. Yes, I know I won't be saying that in a week!

More Pictures of Our Angel

There's a smile!

Trying to take it all in. She loves to lift her head and look around.

Please, no more pictures!

Wrestling match with Angel's baby. Looks like Angel is giving up!

Just hanging out - trying to smile.

Mommy and Angel

Daddy and Angel

Angel's first baby from Grandma Susie.

Our Angel

Here she is, neon orange hair and all! She's so precious and we're having fun getting to know her and love on her. We'll post more pictures later. Please pray with us that she would bond quickly. She does have some eating troubles - not every feeding but will be something we'll need the doctor to check out. Pray for that too and her overall health.

Happy Birthday Princess!

Our sweet Princess is 17 today. I've had the pleasure of being her step-mom for 5 years and it has been such a joy. We've had our ups and downs, that's for sure, but God has seen us through it all.

Princess you truly are a gift from God. I couldn't love you more if I had given birth to you. You are that ray of sunshine that brightens our day everytime we see you. We love your silly faces and goofy laugh. You amaze us with the wisdom God has given you. You have such an insight into the heart of God and into the heart of His people. You love deeply and that means sometimes you get hurt deeply. But through it all, through the questions, the joy and sorrow, the good days and bad you have kept your feet walking in the way of the Lord

It's not always easy having 4 parents but you do your best to be respectful and honoring of all 4 of us and that is amazing! We know that going back and forth between our home and your moms is not easy and some days it's just down right annoying. But again, your attitude has always been one of gratitude and you let Christ shine through you.

Princess, your determination through cross-country amazed us. Most everyone else would have given up after the struggles you endured but not you. "Give up" is not a word you will probably ever utter. You are strong and persistant and have a heart of perserverance. I know because I not only saw it in cross-country but with the wrestling matches with your dad!

You are an amazing little sister. Prince is so blessed to have your love and encouragement. You are also an amazing big sister. Although Omarea wasn't with us for long you loved him like he was our own and we know he'll never forget that.

The other night you said to me, "The princess is turning into a queen!". It was pretty funny but I know it's true, as much as we'd like to stop it from happening. You are growing into a beautiful young lady and soon will spread your wings and fly. We love you sweet girl. We pray for you every day and ask that God protect you and speak to you and make Himself known to you. We pray that you will always seek the wisdom of God before the wisdom of man. And we hope you will never ever forget that we are here for you no matter what life brings.

We love you so so so so much! We pray you have a wonderful day today on your birthday and that God blesses you with many more. Happy Birthday Princess!

Pray for Kate

Please pray for a blogger friend Kate. She had brain surgery today for cancer. This was her second surgery although this one was much more invasive. She's a young mom with three boys. You can read more about her story here.

Roller Coaster of Emotions

(Can you even see this picture? It's Hubby, Prince, Me and Princess on a roller coaster at Disney World. Check out Princess making a funny face - what a goof! Anyway...)

Up, down, all around. Feeling excited, nervous, queasy, laughing, crying and sometimes screaming at the top of our lungs. No, it's not the world's scariest roller coaster - it's adoption!

Today was one of those days. I praise God for our social worker. She is so amazing and quick to remind us of God's timing. It's official, I've memorized this verse:

"Let not your heart be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me." John 14:1

1. Plans were made yesterday for us to go see the baby. We'll get to go see her on Friday at noon, take her with us to a hotel and stay with her overnight. We'd bring her back to the foster family at noon on Saturday.

2. That won't work for the foster family. We have to go for the entire weekend (Friday-Sunday).

3. That won't work for us. We're having a dinner party birthday bash for Princess on Saturday night and we need to be back by 4:00 or 5:00.

4. Ok, we'll try to schedule something for next weekend. NEXT weekend? Like in 9 days which really translates into a millennium? Wow, that makes me really sad.

5. How about this week. Wednesday or Thursday?

6. Ok, that will work. Thursday from noon-5:00. We'll have to be at the foster home, no big deal. It's not as much time with her, we'll take what we can get.

7. Wait, God has heard our cries! We're back to the original plan. Friday noon - Saturday noon. Yippee!!

Hold on to your hats. Lord willing on Friday evening we'll email a picture of our Angel!

Please keep praying for the finances we need to come in. Still about $2000-3000 short.

Just a few more days!

That's right, in just a few more days we get to see and hold and hug and kiss our Angel. We've heard lots of news today from our social worker - here's an update:

1. Everything is right on track. Just waiting on Holly's fingerprints and we realized today our TB tests. Our agency is doing what they can to expedite everything.

2. We get to see her on Friday! We'll meet her at noon, spend time time at the foster home and then get to take her with us! And we get to stay over night with her. Oh the joy! Unfortunately we then will have to leave her and come back home without her.

3. Best case scenario we'll be able to take her home for final final final on Monday, Dec 17th. We are hoping and praying for that but being realistic too that it could be later.

4. I shared earlier how family had given us $8000 towards the adoption. Well $4000 of that was some jewelry someone gave us that we thought we could easily sell. The jewelry is appraised at $7000 approximately so we figure we could easily get $4k. But now we're being told it's not likely we can get that much, and in this short of time it will be difficult too. So we are still hoping this will work out. If we can get some funds by selling the jewelry we're just a few thousand short. If we can't get the funds for the jewelry we're more like $5-6 thousand short.

This week we'll be busy getting the nursery ready. Right now it's a disastrous storage room. I guess I shouldn't say disastrous - I worked on it this weekend and made some progress but we have a long ways to go. I have no idea how we get so much junk. We have a crib, 2 packs of newborn diapers and that's it. I just can't let myself buy too much until we have all the funds raised for the fee so for now we're going to just hold off on any major shopping.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I'm still in shock, not really believing that this dream will be coming true. In fact, papers aren't signed yet, there's always a chance, although slight, that something would happen. We do feel at peace though and are trusting God for each decision and each step we take.

Please continue to pray for me, Hubby, Princess, our Angel, her foster family, our two social workers, Kim and Deanne, who are amazing and for all the paperwork and funds we are still waiting.

10 Things You'll Find In Iowa

1. Mike Huckabee taking the state by storm!

2. Postcard arrives 39 years later

3. Thieves targeting Christmas trees

4. Oprah

5. Acts of courage

6. Mourning

7. Bad burgers

8. Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins

9. Freezing fog

10. Our Angel

Allie, Princess, Charlie, Me and Edward...with our tall, skinny, very naked Christmas tree. It actually looks better in person. We have a tradition in our family that every year for Princess's birthday (coming up soon!) we get her a tree ornament. Hubby has been doing this since she was 4 years old so she has a pretty cool collection. Usually it's an ornament that has to do with what she's into or what sport she's in or what she likes. And then when we were married almost 5 years ago we started the tradition for ourselves too, that we get an ornament every year.

No news is just no news, right? We haven't heard a word from our social worker. Hubby won't let me call. Yes, she did say she'd call as soon as she made contact with the foster family but arrgghh! I was so hoping to hear more today. And then my crazy brain starts going wacko. If you're wondering what I'm talking about read here.

I've spent alot of today reading the promises of the Psalms. Here's one of my favorites:

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? Ho long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I will trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13

It's A Girl!

Ok folks, hope you're sitting down!

We are soon to become the parents of a baby girl. She's 5 weeks old and we'll call her Angel. We are so excited, yet still a little in shock and still a little cautious since it's not final yet.

Things that need to happen before baby Angel comes home:

1. Finalize our home study. Our social worker is finishing it up this weekend so that's no problem.

2. Background check and fingerprints. This is also part of the home study, but it's the part that takes the longest. Ok, so you remember how we were thinking it took 4-8 weeks. Well either we were wrong or God worked an amazing miracle. Me and Hubby's already came back after only 2 weeks. So we're just waiting on Princess's.

3. Adoption Fee. Huge praise here! We originally thought our fee was $11800 and then were told we didn't make it in time before their fees increased so the fees were actually $14800. But now today we were told that they are in fact $11800! YAHOO! We're still keeping our goal at $14000 because we owe $1000 more for the home study and we have yet to buy anything for the nursery plus a $500 post placement fee.

So what does that mean? We have $3-4000 that has been raised or donated. So that leaves us with $10-11000 yet to raise. And we have, we're guessing 2-4 weeks. I'm so excited because we serve an AMAZING God.

SO AMAZING that we have within the last 10 minutes since I've typed the last paragraph we have gotten 2 phone calls from family members that want to give us approximately $8000. I can hardly talk, I'm so overwhelmed by God's blessing. All we can do is sit here and weep.

We love you Jesus. Thank you for this blessing and this new adventure you've called us to. Thank you for our family and friends that are so encouraging and supportive. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

It's a Souper Duper Friday!

BooMama is hosting a Soup-Tacular today! Ya, I love recipes! I was hoping to share one of Hubby's amazing recipes but he thinks he's so special he doesn't use recipes. What's up with that anyway? So you get to enjoy my broccoli cheese soup. It's amazing too!

Check out more recipes on BooMama's blog.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 stick butter
3 chicken bouillon cubes
3 cups water
3 cups medium egg noodles
1/2 head broccoli, chopped
3 cups milk
1 small box Velveeta cheese

Saute onion and butter. Add chicken bouillon cubes and water. Stir until cubes dissolve. Add noodles and broccoli. Cook until broccoli is tender. Add milk and Velveeta. Stir until cheese is melted. Do not boil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Ok, it's your lucky day! I'm going to share another amazing recipe for mini bread bowls. They are so easy to make and so fun for whatever soup you have!

Mini Bread Bowls
1 package refrigerated jumbo biscuits
1 package tin foil

Separate biscuits. Roll out on cutting board until discuit is 6-8 inches in diameter. (I just use my hands to roll out) Take handful of tin foil and scrunch into a ball. Make foil balls that are approximately softball size. Lay rolled out biscuits on top of tin foil ball and place on baking sheet (so "bowls" are upside down). Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let cool. Remove from tin foil. Flip over and fill with your favorite soup!

Not like we're keeping track or anything

So our home study is real close to being done and now we just wait, as opposed to waiting and filling out all the paperwork and meetings and such.

You may have noticed a new little icon on the right side of our blog. Well, it's not little I guess. Yesterday it said we need to raise $11000 to bring baby home and we are up to $6000. Well today we found out we actually need $14000. Our agency recently raised their fees but we were hoping to get in under their last fee schedule. Doesn't look like that's going to happen.

So please please please please pray that the funds would be raised. We are scrimping pennys and filling out grant applications. However, we can't send the applications in until the home study is final final. Many of them only give grants quarterly and it's possible we could get a referral sooner than that. Most of them also say they give grants for "extreme financial hardship". Well, I wouldn't exactly say we are in extreme financial hardship but we certainly don't have $10K laying around.

I know, STOP WORRYING! We are trusting that it will all come together as God's timing is perfect. Thanks for praying with us.

God Knows

Earlier this week I talked to our doctor's nurse about the tests results from last week. She said there was nothing to be concerned about and I should come back in 6 months. Uh, WHAT!! So if everything looks fine, why am I having all this pain? And why am I waiting 6 months to come back? We talked to another nurse we've been working with and she said that was ridiculous, that we should reschedule to go back in 2 months. It still bothers me that if there's nothing of concern why am I having the pain but we meet with her again on Tuesday so we'll ask some more questions.

We were able to get Princess fingerprinted last night. And praise the Lord we got in the mail the letter from our insurance we've been waiting for. Our social worker told us today she is finishing up the last of our home study so now we just have to wait for the background check and fingerprint check to come back. Pray with us that they will come back quickly!

I received this note from one of our Pastors today:

I am praying for you. One thing that is always a blessing for me to remember is this, my Godly heart's desires are always on God's mind, therefore I don't need my mind to always be pre-occupied by them. When they come to my mind I say to myself, "God knows!"

Wow, God's timing is amazing. That was just what I needed to hear. Going back to the doctor has brought up all sort of questions (should we be going to the doctor, how far do we go, do I have surgery if that's what they suggest, etc, etc). I've been worried about the finances for the adoption too. I so long to stay home, at least part time when the baby comes and if we have to take out a loan to cover the rest of the adoption fee I'll have to go back to work outside the home. It was so good to be reminded that God knows my hearts' desire. He knows.

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:20-22

Happy Birthday Jim!

Today is my brother Jim's birthday. He's 29 years young! Here are some things about Jim that make him the coolest little brother in the world...

His nickname was "boo boo" when he was little
He has an amazing girlfriend and she's from South Africa (see picture above)
He has an adventurous spirit!
We've bungie jumped together. Not together together - he went first, then me!
He's a gifted bar and restaurant manager
He can do amazing wake boarding tricks
He's been a dedicated Chicago Bears fan since he was little (not sure how cool that is)

Happy birthday Jim! We love you!

No Fingerprints for Princess!

Hubby and I have already been fingerprinted for our adoption but we still needed to get Princess done. We found out that even though our state doesn't require minors in the home to get fingerprinted at this time, the law could change before we get our baby so our social worker thought it was important.

So we have her fingerprint form, $12.50 in EXACT change (Why? That's all I'd like to know) and get there just before they close. We sign in, get our special pass and head upstairs to the Sheriff's office.

And then I remembered. Uh, Princess, do you have your id? Nope!

Since they have the craziest hours we didn't have time to go home to get her id and make it back in time. So tomorrow we'll try again.

The night wasn't all bad though. It was family night and we pigged out at an all you can eat pizza place. Nothing like a pizza induced coma to make you forget all your adoption frustrations!

First Snow Day!

We were blessed to get our first snow fall on Saturday! Hubby and Princess love the snow, snow ball fights, white washing, etc. I have a horrible snow phobia (maybe someday I'll share why) so I was in charge of picture taking. Although at one point Princess was hiding behind me and knocked me in the snow. It was horrible and I barely survived!

Enjoy our pictures as we enjoy the snow and frigid temps!