HAPPY!!! Let's Celebrate!!

Like Jennifer said, this is a happy time for us and we want to celebrate with you. We have done everything that we can do and now we are just waiting for God to bring our blessing to us. I've heard that several people have been asking about our progress so Jennifer left an update on Monday. I only see one problem...how can we know that you are celebrating with us? ;) So I've included a ditty to let you know how you can tell us.

If your and you know it leave a comment.
If your and you know it leave a comment.
If your and you know it,
then your fingers will surely show it.
If your and you know it leave a comment.

Thanks for all of the love and prayers.
-David

We Passed!!!

We passed our home and safety visit today!!!

As many of you may know, David and I had our home and safety visit today with our very wonderful social worker, Carolyn, from Bethany Christian Services. It went absolutely perfect and Bella, Roxie and Ginger pretty much behaved. Ginger, our over-eager beaver, was on her best behavior today. She didn't knock Carolyn over with her excited tail wagging so that was a plus! She even refrained from barking excessively which was nice.

So now Carolyn will pull all of our "stuff" together for a final report and it will go for a final check. Our profile should be ready to be shown in a few weeks to a month. So we have entered the infamous waiting period and we could not be anymore excited! Unless of course - Ryleigh or Jacob was actually here.

We thank each and everyone of you for your prayers, your well wishes and your love and support. We have enjoyed sharing this process with you all and we look forward to sharing the rest of our journey with you as God continues to write our story.

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:2-3

We feel very much like the well watered tree tonight! :)

HOME VISIT!

Well folks...this is it.....our home visit is scheduled for MONDAY morning!
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

David's Last Interview

Well...tomorrow is David's final interview with Bethany. After that we should be ready for our home visit! I absolutely cannot wait!!!! David's been baby-proofing some outlets and we still have to do cabinets in some places. The outlet covers are somewhat adult proof, too! We have done some of the plug covers and some modified switch plate types where you put the plug in at an angle and have to physically turn it to make contact with the outlet. I like these as they are more fingernail friendly!

Speaking of David - he is outside at this late hour changing the oil in my car! What a good catch he is!!! I do so love him! :)

Please be praying for us as we make some final tough decisions regarding our level of openness in the adoption. We are trying hard not to get in the way of God's plan for our lives!

Birthmother's Gift

I have been thinking lately about what sort of gift we might present to our birthmother. What tribute can we devote to her? What is appropriate? What is right? What expresses our thanks and love for her and her decision?

So I have not totally figured out the answer to the question but I have decided about one thing that I will give her. You see...I think about her all the time. I wonder if our child has already been concieved. If so - what are her daily struggles? How is she feeling? Who is part of her life? Who is encouraging her? Discouraging her? Is she eating well? Is she lonely? Do she know God? Does she pray? What is her family like? Is the father involved? How does he feel? Does he even know?

So may questions...I wish there was a crystal ball that I could talk to her through sometimes. So as I have been thinking about her I have decided to start keeping a journal of letters to her. So that one day she will be able to look back and see that she was a part of my life and a part of my prayers before I had ever even caught a glimpse of her face or heard her name aloud.

I hope that if she struggles with her decision not to parent, worries about her birthchild or just thinks of them and there daily doings...well, I want her to read this journal and know that I have loved her and prayed for her when we didn't know each other. I want her to know that everytime I have rocked in Jacob/Ryleigh's room that I have thought about her. I want her to know that with every pacifier I have picked out and every pair of tiny socks I have folded I have thought of her immeasurable gift to my life. I want her to know that her child was loved for so long and wanted for so long. I want her to know that she was prayed for and loved daily long before we ever met. It is my hope that she will treasure my letters to her and I hope they will bring her comfort and reassurance if ever she should worry about her decision.

My "interview" with Carolyn

As many of you have read or heard, Carolyn is our social worker at Bethany Christian Services. From the first time I laid my eyes on her I liked her. I respected her instantly. Since then I have actually gotten to know this wonderful lady. I have talked with her in large groups, small groups, with David and alone. But my talk with her Wednesday was the best.

She said many things that stood out to me and I am amazed how God used our time together to minister to me. One of the things we discussed was my lack of a relationship with God when I was "growing up." We didn't go to church and we were not a very religious or spiritual family. Carolyn and I talked about "my story." We talked about huge turning points for me, losses I have experienced and the road that has lead me to here. We talked about where God was at those times. In my mind - He was absent - I didn't know Him or have a relationship with Him then.

Then Carolyn said a few things that I won't soon forget. One of the things she said was "God never wastes anything." Profound at this point in my life as I sit back and look at all the things I have lost, things that were horrible, things I should not have to experience, and things I never thought would serve a purpose for my life. At times I remember feeling like God was punishing me. But she's right...every experience has a place in my life and shaped me for today. "God never waste's anything." I like that...so simple but oh so profound for me. Ponder that one - would you?

She also said to me that "God has always been faithful" to me even though I didn't know Him at the time. God was everywhere with me always - shaping me, teaching me...not wasting one moment. I've been thinking about this every since she said it.

Lastly, she said that my story inspired her. To that...I am humbled. I don't think of my life as "my story" but I guess it is just that...a story. I humbly and anxiously await for God as He continues writing the next chapter.

Thanks,Carolyn for ministering to me through our interview. Thanks to Bethany for this whole process...long though it may be.

Adoption Update

So...for those of you who read regularly...you might have noticed I have been absent in posting lately. Life has been super hectic! Between being overwhelmed at work, Grandmother's illness and the general business of life I haven't had much time to write.

The last few weeks have been strange. I took on my new role at work about two weeks ago and that's been - well, interesting! Let me not venture into the details except to say that last week was not good at all! By the end of the week I felt beat down, fussed at and trampled on.

In the middle of the week I had my final interview with Carolyn at Bethany Christian Services - our adoption agency. So let me set the stage for you - my Wednesday went like this...

1. Woke up late
2. Got to work
3. Got fussed at
4. Felt beat down
5. Felt trampled on
6. Had read that a couple that started this journey with us in February have had their child for a month (Hit me like a ton of bricks)
7. Tried to finish a million things before I left to meet with Carolyn
8. Didn't give myself as much time as I would have liked to in order to get there with time to spare
9. Leaving work feeling frazzled
10. Car dies on me in the middle of 8th Ave.
11. I panic
12. I'm sweating
13. Car starts after several attempts
14. Pull into Bethany with 1.5 minutes to spare
15. Don't have time to process...trying to be in the moment so I can talk with Carolyn
16. Need to go to restroom but don't have time
17. Greet Ms. Judy warmly and with a big smile
18. Collapse into the couch in the family room
19. Greet Carolyn and move to chair across from her
20. We talk
21. I answer lots of questions
22. Here comes the big question... "Tell me what it was like for you when your mom died...."
23. I suddenly feel the whole day on my shoulders
24. I wonder...how do I answer this....
25. I wonder..."do I have to talk about this..."
26. For those of you who don't know my story...well you may not understand - it is just so difficult to talk about
27. We make it through
28. I leave feeling like I'm still trying to back up and start the day again with not so many wrong things happening
29. I have to work late - going to a public hearing - not over til' 9 pm.
30. I get Chinese from my favorite place on the way home - THANKS DAVID!
31. At the end of the day I decide Wednesday is the worst day I have had in a very long time but my fortune cookie said that 3 months from that date something fantastic will happen!
32. I'm interested to see what October 16th has in store for me!

David's last interview is this week then Carolyn comes to our home for our safety check. I'll keep you posted on that.

IT"S OFFICIAL!

Well folks....I finally signed my contract for my new job yesterday! I interviewed for the Project Coordinator of the Davidson County Child Care Resource & Referral a few weeks ago and I got the job. It's a promotion for me and I think it's a great family move and a career move. We are growing and it's a great time to lead the project! I'm excited and I've got lots of great ideas! :)

Atlanta - Day One - Night Out

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Atlanta - New World of Coca Cola

Our Atlanta Trip - Georgia Aquarium

David and I went to Atlanta last weekend! We had never been and we had quite a fun time! It was a neat city. We went to the Georgia Aquarium, the New World of Coca-Cola, Olympic Park, Atalanta Botanical Gardens, Zoo Atlanta, Atlantic Station and the Ikea store!!!! We ate and sleep some too! Below are various pictures from our trip! The aquarium was fantastic! You should go!!! Enjoy!