Friends and Family

Friends and family are so wonderful, and what really helps as you are going through the adoption period. Waiting can seem like it takes forever, and some days you just don't know what to do. Most times, it's easy to relax, and know that it's going to happen when it's going to happen. Having faith that everything happens for a reason, and w hen the timing is right really helps to keep us positive.

Things that friends and family do, to let them know they are thinking of you, mean more than they possibly can even know. A blog comment, a message board post, an email, lunch with friends (and their little ones - even when they are fussy!), a beautiful flower arrangement, getting to hold and play with little ones- y'all are so sweet to do this for us, and it means SO much to us to have your support. It's hard to even bring to words how much it means to us, and how y'all were so wonderful yesterday in particular, and our other days of waiting...

Our little ones are going to be well loved, not just by Mike and I as parents, but also by our wonderful network of support. They will have many aunts and uncles, be them traditional or honorary. And we can't wait to have y'all over to meet them.

Mike and I are already planning a big BBQ when our little one(s) arrive(s), we want to introduce him/her to all those who have touched our lives so much, and we want to thank those who have been so helpful, loving, and supportive to us as we've gone through this.

So stay tuned... someday the invite will be announced!

12 months, 1 year - it's all the same

Wow, this year has (kind of) flown by!

We're confident it's going to happen soon. When, we don't know. But it's going to happen for us when the timing is right.

Hapy thoughts today!

And we want to thank EVERYONE who has been thinking of us as we are going through this.

Teleconference

We had a teleconference earlier this week. It was interesting. It was a "pajama" conference, and the call was at 10PM our time for about 2 hours. Two families that had adopted through Lifetime were there to share their experiences. It was great to hear about how they adopted, and what they experienced, how much contact they have with birthparents, etc.

They also had suggestions as to what to do during the wait, books to read etc. Funny thing, they mentioned Mike and I on the call- when they were talking about keeping in contact with the office, listening to teleconferences, etc. It was nice to be acknowledged.

one year ago

This week has several anniversaries for us.

One year ago today we were accepted and found out we were on the wait list for Lifetime.

One year ago on the 29th (Friday) we were contracted out with Lifetime.

Also, four years ago on the 29th, Mike "winked" at me at Match.com, and our lives as we knew it then changed forever...


So today, I am going to focus on today's anniversary. We found out that we were accepted into the program, but that we'd be on a short "waitlist" because the program was full. Typically they don't do waitlists very long, but they really felt they could work with us, and wanted to work with us. So, on the waitlist we went. There were 4 families in front of us (that seems like a lot, but because of all the applications they receive daily- it's really only a very small percentage. At the time, they were receiving applications from some families they really wanted to work with, so they started the waitlist.)

They suggested that we go ahead and arrange for a home study, and start the things to get the process going, even start working on our profile if we wanted. See, they didn't know how long we'd be on the waitlist. It was typically a month, sometimes a bit shorter, sometimes a bit longer. There was just no way to know. Little did we know that we were on the waitlist the shortest amount of time they'd every had...

catching up

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days... I was in Chicago for a convention for Noah's Ark Animal Workshop. It was wonderful, a fantastic experience. I was really glad to go attend it, and learn about all the new products and developments going on. I have been working hard to help the Stuff A Friend Reps ease into their positions with Noah's Ark.

SO, back to reality and catching up. We heard back from our home study lady. To update our homestudy it's going to be $300. Well, I guess that is better than what we paid in the first place. It's hard to believe a year is coming up since we contracted out, did our home study, etc. Precious is due for her exam and shots next week!

practice

We were fortunate enough to have our 18 month old niece visit us for a few days. We had a wonderful time with her, did the typical toddler things with her, and really enjoyed her. She is a sweetheart. Seeing Mike with her and how he handled her- it made my heart melt. He's going to be an excellent Daddy. I just can't wait for that day....

Father's Day

We were really hoping that Mike would be celebrating his first Father's Day this year as a new dad. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that is going to happen. But he is going to celebrate as a father-in-waiting. Because that is what he is- a father-in-waiting (and a very good one at that!)

My sister and nephew made cookies Saturday night. Sunday at the church bookstore, they are passing the cookies out to all the men and boys. See, the philosophy is, even if they aren't a dad yet, they will be some day. So, celebrate them, and give them a special treat as well.

It makes sense. They are fathers-in-waiting too. Even if it'll be a while before my 4 year old nephew is a father ;)

Happy Father's Day to all the Fathers, Fathers-to-be, Fathers-in-waiting, and future Fathers!

Frosty Weekend

Celebrate Father's Day with Rockin' Frosty!
June 16 - 17, 2007

We invite you to celebrate Father's Day at Wendy's restaurants, where 50 cents from every Frosty purchased during Father's Day Frosty Weekend will be donated to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, in support of its signature program, Wendy's Wonderful Kids. The Wendy's Wonderful Kids program awards grants to adoption agencies across the nation to move children from foster care into permanent, loving adoptive homes. When you celebrate Father's Day, you celebrate family!

Teddy Monster & Village of Hope Orphanage in Haiti

Noah's Ark Animal Workshop (the company I am an Independent Crew member for) just introduced this new product, for a good cause.

Teddy Monster

This loveable green monster was designed by the 2006 "Design-Your-Own" Teddy Bear Contest Winner, Alison Price of MI in age category 6-8.

*A portion of the proceeds will go towards the Village of Hope Orphanage in Haiti to help aid orphans.

Random Acts of Kindness

A little over two years ago, when it first was started, I joined a board called Babytalkbio. I have found the message boards to be wonderful, full of supportive, friendly, and knowledgeable women (and now a few men). It was very helpful as we were trying to conceive, and as we were having infertility problems. The folks there have so much to share, and it's a great environment. There are so many different folks there, different ages, some who are not at the point of thinking about babies yet, some who are trying to conceive, some who are pregnant, some who have little ones, and everyone is all over the US, and now the world. I really enjoy the folks I have gotten to know there. I even moderate one of the boards (business and finance).

Recently several different levels of membership were set up, including a free version, a $2/mo version and a $5/mo version.

One "perk" of participating in the $5 level is Random Acts Of Kindness. With this, each participant sends out a RAOK at least once a month or so to someone else participating in RAOK (there is a list). There are no major requirements, basically, just send at least one package once a month. There is no dollar amount, no criteria, you just send something to someone to let them know you are thinking of them. You play "Fairy Godmother" to them.

Mike and I appreciate what we've been sent from our Fairy Godmothers. Today, we received two very generous ROAK that really meant a lot to us. One was eight coupons for Nestle Good Start formula. This is the formula that we are planning on using with our little one, and we are starting to stock up. We purchase a little bit each month, with grocery shopping, so that we will have a stash when our baby is here.



The other contained six Veggie Tales cds. We got: Have We Got A Show For You, Bob & Larry's Toddler Songs, Junior's Playtime Songs, Bob & Larry Sing the 70s, Boyz in the Sink, and Bob & Larry's Backyard Party. We both really like Veggies Tales, and their messages. And we know from experience with our nieces and nephews that this music is a hit with the little ones. We already had Rock a Bye Veggie (from a fairy godmother last month!) and VeggieTales Worship Songs (from my nephew and Godson, Blake)

It was such a wonderful feeling to receive those gifts today. And to know that someone took the time to think of us, and send them to us was spectacular.

mixed feelings

We don't know what to think, about weekends like this. Nice, relaxing, nothing to do. We should be enjoying them (and we are), but we wish we had a little one or two with us to keep us busy.

It's not to say we aren't enjoying the staying up late, watching tv together, sleeping in, lunch at 3PM. We are enjoying it, relaxing, not doing too much but watch tv, reading magazines, and a little bit of preparing for a workshop tomorrow. But we'd also enjoy getting up early when a little one cries- or watching kid videos, playing outside, keeping busy with our family.

We know we should be enjoying these free moments while we can, and we are. But there is always that little bit of wanting... of wishing... of knowing someday days like this will be few and far between....

to wait

wait
–verb (used without object)
1. to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often fol. by for, till, or until) : to wait for the phone to ring
2. (of things) to be available or in readiness: the nursery is waiting for a child
3. to look forward to eagerly: we are just waiting for the day we get the phone call


rest·less
-adjective
1. characterized by or showing inability to remain at rest: sometimes we are in a restless mood.
2. unquiet or uneasy, as a person, the mind, or the heart.
3. without rest; without restful sleep: a sometimes we have a restless night


pa·tient
-adjective
1. bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.
2. characterized by or expressing such a quality: we always try to have a patient smile.
3. quietly and steadily persevering or diligent, esp. in detail or exactness: patient parents to be


That pretty much sums it up. We are waiting patiently for the day that we get the phone call that we are matched. Somes days we are more restless than patient as we wait. But we know eventually the call is going to come.

celebrate adoption bracelet

So, in the effort to keep faith, I found a bracelet. I need to order it. It's a "celebrate adoption" bracelet and it comes with a card that has bible verses on it.

The card says: God creates families in every way shape and size. He tells us ‘like cold water to a weary soul is good news from distant lands’ (Prov. 25:25). He tells us he ‘sets the lonely in families’ (Psalm 68:6). He tells us that ‘whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers of mine you do for me’ (Matthew 25:40). He tells us that loving a child and making a family is a good and holy thing. Thank God for the gift of adoption.

The back of the heart charm is engraved with "Adoption", and the bracelet is made of sterling silver and glass. I think I am going to buy it, and wear it to remind myself to keep the faith.

check in, keep the faith

We got our check in email back today. Basically, it says - Thanks for checking in, we are good on profiles. We hope to call you soon with a great situation- stay faithful, we are working for you!

Keeping faith, that is what is important. It's natural to feel a little down every now and then. But it's important to keep the faith, and stay positive. We know eventually we will be getting the call, we just need to wait patiently for it.