We're Pregnant!!!!

Yep, we're pregnant....well at least in the paper adoption world we are pregnant. Basically, this means that our agency accepted us as clients and will represent us in the adoption process!!!! This is HUGE news for us. We are beyond thrilled. It's been a long few weeks but God has been faithful in working things out on our behalf. I'm oh so grateful to have a supportive husband who when I got nervous, he continued to have great faith that we would be approved! So here's to good news!!!

Always Asking for Confirmation (Part 2)

So here's the piece from Joel Osteen's Book Your Best Life Now for Moms that encouraged me and made me feel as if God just kissed me from Heaven:

God Is On Your Side

As a woman, perhaps you've considered what the Virgin Mary must have felt like when the angel told her that she would conceive without knowing a man.  In other words, God was saying it would happen through supernatural means.  The power of the Most High God would come upon her and cause it to happen by His Spirit.  And the reassurance given was profoundly simple:  "For nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37)

Similarly, God is constantly trying to plant new seeds in your heart.  He's constantly trying to get you to conceive, to give up antiquated ideas, and spark new bursts of creativity within.  He's trying to fill you with so much ope and expectancy that the seed will grow and bring forth a tremendous harvest.

Will you allow that seed to take root?  It starts by being willing to change your thinking and start believing for something bigger.  Interestingly, when Jesus wanted to encourage His followers to enlarge their visions, He reminded them, "You can't put new wine into old wineskins"  (Matthew 9:17).  He was saying that you cannot have a larger life with restricted attitudes.  Will you stretch your faith and vision and get rid of those old negative mind-sets that hold you back?

Get beyond the barriers of the past and expect God to do great things in your life.  Start making room in your thinking for what God has in store for you and your family.  You must conceive it in your heart and mind before you can receive it.  The key is to believe, to let the seeds God is placing in your life to take root so they can grow.  Expect God's favor, just as Mary did, to help you break out of the ruts and rise to new heights.  Expect to excel inwhatever you do.

This is your time for increase.  You may have been sick for a long time, but this is your time to get well.  You may have a child who is bound by addictions or bad habits, but this is the time to be set free.  You may be struggling financially, but God is not limitied to bank loans or having the right education.  It can happen in spite of your past and what the critics are telling you.  Will you believe?

Eliminate a barely-get-by mentality and let God's seed take root.  Remember:  With God, all things are possible.

Consider God's Word In Light Of Motherhood

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary.  You have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus."  ~Luke 1:30-31

"It shall be done to you according to your faith."  ~Matthew 9:29 NASB

Always Asking for Confirmation (Part 1)

Time after time after time again, I've asked God for confirmation on this adoption. Mostly, because it's so huge and many times I feel so unworthy of such a beautiful blessing. Yet, in spite of all my imperfections, I'm so thrilled that God loves me in spite of my shortcomings.

With the adoption, it's sort of like a rollercoaster ride. Some days I'm up and just know it's going to happen and then other days, I'm a little scared, nervous, and apprehensive. Most days though, I'm excited.

On Wednesday, October 14th after a long and exhausting meeting at work, I headed to pick up my honey from work but had a little time to spare. Because of this, I decided to waste some time wandering around the stores near his job. As I'm walking through the store (and truly, I'm walking through leisurely because I don't want to spend any money), I stumbled across a book by Joel Osteen called Your Best Life Now for Moms. It was a cute, small book but for some reason I was drawn to it. As I cracked it open, here's the entry that held me captivated and made me feel as if God had something to say to me just at that very moment in my life....

Pregnancy Test!

So in adoption world, I would comparatively say this is the week that we find out if we're pregnant!  What?  Huh?  Well, in essence, what I mean is that this is the week that we'll find out if the agency where we submitted our adoption application will take us on as clients.  They'll weigh their criteria against our information to find out if we're match.  Beyond 'their' plans, we are looking for God's Will in the process.  Our will, our choice is that we get a big fat YES yet we are yielding to the will of God to allow Him to have His way.  Just like parents who are trying to 'plan their pregnancy', we are so excited and really hope that we're PREGNANT, so to speak.   We'll see!!!  Stay tuned!

Our Prayer and How You Can Partner in Prayer With Us:  Lord, you know what we want but allow us to continue to keep our minds and most of all, our hearts stayed and focused on You so that You will receive the glory.  It's nothing that we can 'do' to 'deserve' any of this.  We just ask that you would use us through all of this.  May Your Will be done.  Amen

We Submitted Our Application

We did it!!!  We submitted our preliminary application to the adoption agency last Saturday.  I have to tell you that I was very apprehensive about posting this information.  It's not because we're not excited but it's been more so, what if we are rejected?  I have really appreciated the words of encouragement and your prayers.  Right now, it's in God's hands to walk us through this process and truly, I couldn't imagine anyone else I'd prefer to hold this in their hands.  So, until then...we're just hangin' out in the waiting room!

Opened up the Adoption Checking Account!

So SUPER excited because we opened up the adoption checking account which will hold all of the funds we use to pay for our adoption expenses.  To get things going, we've also started collecting 'spare change and dollars' at home.  Whenever we have leftover change, find money, or before we spend on anything frivolous, we have to put money into the baby bottle banks.  There are two of them in our house so far.  One is for the boys and it says "Our Sister" and the other is for Tony and me and it says "Our Daughter".  The boys also add money to the bottle from their allowance to help bring their sister home. Hopefully, we'll be able to go to the new bank account each week to deposit money into the account.  As we save and receive love gifts from others, we'll increase our savings gauge that you'll see on the right side of the blog.  It's so tough spending now because every time I think about spending a dollar on something other than the adoption, I think "This is one dollar taken away from bringing my daughter home."  That definitely helps me to keep things in perspective. Here's to saving!!!

It's Been a While...Met With Someone Really Cool Yesterday

It's definitely been a while since I was able to post.  Life has been pretty full at home and work but yesterday , I was able to take a pause from it all to talk to someone who was a real blessing.  Yesterday, I met with a really cool mom in my local area who is also adopting from Ethiopia.  (Can't mention her name just yet because I forgot to ask her if I could.)  It was so BEAUTIFUL talking to her because she put so many of my fears to rest.  Her family just recently accepted a referral for a beautiful baby girl.  She shared a wealth of information with me including what to do and what not to do.  In talking to her, I learned or was reminded of a valuable lesson.  No matter what you're doing in life, it's always great to walk alongside someone who you can lean on or who has 'been there, done that and has the t-shirt to prove it'.  They'll be there to celebrate with you and cry with you.  And sometimes, just sometimes, everybody is entitled to have a pitty party where they can share the rawness of their fears and anxieties without being judged or told 'Don't cry.'  The great thing about that person who walks alongside you is that when the pity party is over, they'll help you put away the party hats and cheer you on as you walk through the valley of your storm.  I know without fail that God is my rock but it means so much to have someone here on this earth that I can lean on as I move through the various chapters and challenges of my life.  For whatever challenges you face in your life right now, who do you have walking alongside you? 

Many thanks to my new special friend.  Your words, smile, laughter, and listening ear meant more to me than you'll ever know.