Hormones

I swear my body knows a child is coming. I feel like I am riding an emotional rollercoaster. Regularly, I am pretty even keel, but once I have a baby inside me - it's watch out! I get weepy all the time. My poor husband can't say anything without me ending up in tears. Well, I may not physically be carrying a child this time around, but I sure am emotionally. I think J thought he would get to skip all the emotional stuff since we were adopting. Little did he know. May God continue to grant him patience as he deals with a very excited and very emotional wife!

My love/hate relationship with the phone

I have never liked the phone. It is too impersonal to me. I have such a hard time having long conversations with people when I can't see their face and read their emotions. Now for long distance friendships, there is no other way to go. Anyway, I hate when the phone rings and lots of times I don't answer it. Now everything is different. I want the phone to ring and it has been, but Christy is never on the other end. I swear my phone has never rung so much as it did Friday and today.

No news : ( but right now I am at peace. My friends took me out to dinner tonight to celebrate being #1. Check with me in a few days though and it might be another matter. I have a new respect for Autumn and being #1.

P.S. I NEVER carry my cell phone anywhere. It is just in the car for emergencies. I have to carry it EVERYWHERE now. It is so bad, I changed my pants this morning, because I didn't have a pocket to put it in!

I made it nice and big, so you would be sure that it is the #1 you are seeing.

We are unofficially number ...

I think I may have a heart attack before all this is over. The anticipation is more than I can bare. Being this close is soooo exciting and soooo scary all wrapped up together. I am so excited and want to meet our little girl more than anything. I am so scared, because I feel unprepared. What bottles do I use? How much formula do babies eat? (Neither of my kiddos would EVER take a bottle!) What kind of formula do I get? Should I start buying diapers? What size do I get? Is there anything else I can do to get my kiddos ready for their new sister? What else should I read to help prepare? Is my sling the right one for us? I need a new diaper bag because ours won't be big enough for three kids and their stuff. I feel like my head is about to explode...but in a good way! How am I ever going to sleep with all these questions swirling around in my brain? How am I ever going to sleep again with three kids?

I also wanted to congratulate another family on their referral today. The Meade family were introduced to their 10 week old daughter today.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. John 14:27

But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day. Habakkuk 2:3

Congratulations...

to brand new parents Autumn and Brian. They just received a referral for an 8 week old boy! Head on over and congratulate them.


Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5

Almaz

Today was such an exciting day, because we had an opportunity to meet the amazing Almaz. She is just as wonderful as everyone says she is. The woman has a beautiful, caring heart and is truly a servant of our Lord. She KNOWS these children. Ask her about any of them at Hannah's Hope and she can give you details to their personalities and hearts that only someone who truly cared about them would be able to observe and know. She genuinely cares about each of them as individuals. I can't imagine anyone that has more of a genuine love for each of these children and it warms my heart to know that she will be in charge of the care of my daughter until I can come get her. Her care for them does not end when they leave Hannah's Hope and arrive into their families arms. She was literally thrilled to see each of the children there and spent a lot of her time taking pictures of them all. It was obvious that she was still very interested in each child and enjoyed catching up with each family. (There were a lot of picture taken, as you can see from all the cameras in this one!)

She also spent time with families like ours who are waiting to meet their children. She also seemed to know the names of the families waiting, at least those that are pretty close.

Sorry this one is so dark, but here are all the families with children home who attended the picnic. Lots of fun trying to get that many people to stay together.

Here we are with Christy. I sure think it is a privilege that we live so close to AGCI and that we get to see and meet all these people. This is the third time I have had a face-to-face conversation with Christy in 9 months.

They had a pinata and bubbles to help keep the kids entertained.

What an amazing day! Not only did I get to meet Almaz, but Ron & Jan Beazley were there along with Doug & Hollen Frazier and Hannah!!

Now for all of you waiting out there, nothing specific was said, but you sure got the impression that once the courts reopen things will really get moving again. I got the distinct impression that we shouldn't still be waiting for a referral in December (that will be 8 months for us and within their 6-8 month waiting guideline)! Praise God!

20 weeks on the wait list

There are so many reasons to be tired of waiting. Some of us may be tired of waiting because you know your children and just ache to hold them. Some of us are tired of waiting because it seems like it is taking F-O-R-E-V-E-R just to meet our children and the anticipation is more than we can bare. Some of us may be tired of being #1 (love ya Autumn)! Being tired of waiting, just means we are all invested in these relationships we are creating with our children. Just because we have not met our child through photos or been able to hold them in our arms, does not mean that our love for them is not growing each day in this wait. May God continue to strengthen each of us on the days when it is hard. May He remind us that He has loved our children since creation and that although we may not be able to hold them, they are in His arms now and forever.

"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day." Habakkuk 2:3