Things To Do While We Wait!

So...the question I get asked the most these days is "What do you do now?" My answer, "Wait." Most people look at me perplexed as if to say "Isn't that what you have been doing." Well, yes and no. Like I said, we are officially on the waiting list. All the stuff we have done so far have gotten us to this point "Officially Waiting."

Sure we still have things to do like reading books about adoption, taking on-line courses, taking a CPR class, attending a child care class, completing more paperwork, getting fingerprinted. As you can see, it is not idle waiting.

Here is Nathan's plan (please note this is a modified version of his plan for the waiting that occurred between the time he "popped the question" and the time we could put a wedding together) - we need to clean an organize. I suppose if it were my idea people would call it nesting. I am not sure of the term used for when a Dad to be does this. His thought (which I have to say is right) is that we have to fit another person, who comes with a lot of stuff into this house, we need to get better organized. So...for the last few weeks, we have been going through every room, drawer by drawer, closet by closet and cleaning and reorganizing. Before I get all kinds of post suggesting this, let me make this clear...we are not coming to your house next.

I have let Nathan take the lead and let me tell you it is going great! I am pleased with our progress. I am also taking full advantage of this time, I know it won't be long until Nathan is spending every free weekend moment in our yard. He has already mowed our lawn once this year! He loves yard work. Good thing because I don't like it.

I do have one question, "How do two people accumulate so much junk?" Needless to say, we are having a huge garage sale the first weekend in May. Sad thing is, it hasn't been that long since we had a garage sale!

Have a great week!

Thank You For the Cross!

Ephesians 1:5 - God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Thank you for the cross Lord that makes it possible for us to be adopted into the family of God.

My prayer is that if you don't know the Savior that you will come to know Him very soon. If you do know Him, I pray that you enjoy this Easter weekend as we celebrate His resurrection.

Matthew 28:6 - He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.

I600a Fingerprinting Appointment

Today we received notification that we have an appointment with Immigration to have our fingerprints taken. Whew Hew! Just another step in our journey.

We are thrilled that Amy and the kids have come for a visit! They came in tonight and we went for dinner and a short visit. Those kids are too stinkin' cute! We have lots of big plans for the week...cake making, birthday celebrating, playing dinosaurs, book reading...I can hardly wait.

If this is your Spring Break - Enjoy!

John Piper on Adoption

My husband is a huge John Piper fan. He actually came across this video and suggested I put this on our blog. In this video John Piper states that Adoption is Greater than the Universe. He makes a great case for why as Christians, we should consider adoption. He says it way better than I ever could.

Please watch this video - I think you will enjoy it.

Officially Waiting

So...we got our good news today! Our home study has been approved and we have received it in the mail. We are on the official waiting list. Wooo Hoo! Needless to say we are thrilled as are our families!

We have been on the waiting list with about 15 other families since February 25. We could wait for up to a year, but we are praying that the wait is about 6-9 months because referrals seem to be coming much faster these days.

We can now complete grant paperwork and immigration paperwork. My Mom asked "Ok, then what do you do?" My response, "We wait." Her response "I thought we were already waiting!" My niece, Brittni, thought that possibly waiting until Christmas seemed like "forever." We don't want to wish our lives away or miss one thing that God has in store for us, but we do look forward to having our baby with us.

Two weekends ago Mom and I went to a lady's conference in Northwest Arkansas. It was over at noon so, this gave us a great opportunity to go baby shopping. I remember thinking that it doesn't even seem real that I am having/getting a baby. I think it is different for adoptive parents versus biological parents since there is no baby growing inside of me, some days, it doesn't seem real.

Well, today it felt real! It was kind of like what I imagine it would be like to go to the doctor to confirm you are pregnant, you know, the time you hear the heart beat? You may have taken a home test, but something about hearing the heart beat makes it seem more real. That is how it felt today, "yes, you have been approved and you are officially waiting" - hit us with both a sense of excitement and awe at the fact we are going to be parents.

Mom and I picked out a baby bed, so Nathan's first question was, "Did your Mom get that bed ordered?" I assured her that yes she did, but we would have plenty of time before the baby got here. It is odd to think that this "baby" will probably be about 8 months old. I think it hit my niece, Brooklyn for the first time while we were shopping. "What do you mean this baby won't need a swing! Don't all babies need a swing?"

I am so happy that are families are excited for us...what a blessing.

Well, I must come down off cloud nine and get some things done around here. I hope you all have a great week.