So Many Thoughts

So much has been running through my head this last week I don't even know where to start.  1st, we did get all our referral documents last week. We didn't get them from the ministry like expected, but from our agency instead.  It was all in French, but it was pretty easy to figure out what it said.  Which is impressive considering I only know a couple random phrases in French.

We are planning to travel in 2 weeks.  We still do not have set dates as our agency is confirming a few more things in country.  We have been busy here getting ready to go:  slowly packing what I can, getting together paperwork for travel, making lists for the amazing people in our life who will help out with our kids and stuff at the house, spending quality time with Kristin & Kade before we leave for 3+ weeks, etc.

Yesterday I spent a lot of time getting together another mountain of paperwork needed for traveling and bringing our son home.  Let me tell you this little guy is SO worth it and I would do this for any of my children.  But it made me think about how there are now 132 million orphans in the world, most who will remain orphans the rest of their lives.  You would think that knowing this huge need, international adoption would be much easier.  But instead I feel like we've had to jump through rings of fire to get our son.  And we aren't even finished, there will still be more hurdles once we get there.  I came across an interesting post last night about international adoption, the huge need, and how our government & UNICEF are just making it harder instead of helping these orphans like they think.  You should check it out: article.

Puppy Chow

I've decided that having a new grocery store only a mile from our house is definitely not a good thing.  It makes random trips for yummy food much easier, which is not good for our grocery budget.  Last week we make a random trip so we could make apple pie.  Last night was another random trip for puppy chow supplies.  On a more positive note, we do spend quality time together as a family making and eating these yummy treats. =)

Catching Up

Seems like this last couple weeks has been a blur and dream as we've learned about our new son and started to prepare for travel.  In the midst of all this, we've still been trying to live daily life.  Here are some hi-lights:

 we spent a day helping Luke make deer jerky

I took my 1st trip to IKEA, this is now my new favorite place to shop, the kids loved it too and keep asking when we get to go back, this is the new bag holder I found there

 Kristin was given this very special Strawberry Shortcake dress that she loves, 

it was her late Aunt Jenny's dress 

Luke taught me how to make apple pie from scratch, it was a fun night for all of us

Kade can now proudly wear this shirt, the kids are so excited about their baby brother, 

Kristin wanted to hang his picture in her room

IT'S A BOY

Yesterday we got to see pictures of our beautiful baby boy.  All I could do was just stare at his picture (which means nothing productive happened yesterday).  He is absolutely gorgeous and I am so in love.  Unfortunately I can't post pictures publicly or share many details until we pass court. We have tentative plans to travel in a few weeks, so stay tuned to follow our trip to bring home the newest member of our family.

For those of you wondering, we were referred one instead of two children.  I could give you many reasons as to why I think this happened.  But truly, I believe this was God's plan for our family all along.  Knowing we are having 1 baby is a bit of a relief, especially for bonding purposes.  We have been planning on having 2 babies for the last two years, so there is a bit of sadness as we all have a place in our hearts for a little girl as well.  We truly believe there's a little girl out there that God created to be in our family, she's just not ready yet, God's timing is always perfect.  In the mean time, this will give us some priceless quality time with our new little boy whom we cannot wait to meet!!!

Lessons Learned on the Farm

Last week we (the kids & I) helped with harvest on my parent's dairy, the book keeping end that is.  Here's what I learned:

- random farming/trucker terms like what it means to tare (I'm sure I can find some use for this in my daily life)

- corn/silage weighs more not based on height but on the number of ears

- 6am is really early, we struggle to be out of the house before 8am, so leaving by 6am is nearly impossible... bribing my children with Starbucks was super helpful

- if I were a truck driver, I wouldn't want to be a cross country one, I'd rather be a farm one, the routine doesn't seem as boring to me

- I swear some of these truck drivers have the heart of a race car driver & that is their true passion

- I love crunching numbers, this reminded me of my book keeping job I used to have, which I loved

- in a very greedy country there are still thoughtful people... the person ahead of us in the Starbucks drive thru paid for all 3 of our drinks

- in a perfect world cutting 4,600 tons of corn/silage with 3 choppers & 10 trucks would take no more than 1.5 consecutive days.  This of course doesn't factor in rain, break downs, flat tires, truck drivers who don't know how to show up to work on time, mud holes, etc.  Since clearly we don't live in a perferct world this took 5 days and cutting only happened 2 1/2 days randomly throughout those 5 days.

- I have the tendency to spend much more quality time with my children when I'm away... I always seem to find things to do at home... clearly I need to work on this

Answered Prayers

Today we found out our referral was signed!!!  This is such a huge answer to prayer, it's so amazing to see God work.  For those of you wondering, we don't know any details about our referral yet, praying we will soon.

What happens next?  We wait for our referral so the necessary paperwork can be filled out before we travel.

How can you be praying?  Pray that the ministry sends our referral soon so we can start making travel arrangements.  Pray also that our referral will be sent to the correct email address.  Pray for our hearts and the hearts of each of our children as we prepare to expand our family.

Temp Job

Look at that tall corn.  This week we are helping with the harvest of it.  No, the kids and I won't be driving large farm equipment, that just wouldn't be safe.  Me driving anything massive is just not safe for anyone else.  We are helping with the book keeping end.  Could be a fun adventure. =)

2 Samuel 22:2-4
"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation.  He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior - from violent men you save me.  I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies."

Isaiah 40: 28-31
"Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

God is Good

This last week I've found myself in complete awe of God.  I can't explain it other than I've had this amazing desire to praise and worship Him constantly.  He is so amazing and even in tough times He does amazing things in our lives beyond what you can imagine if you just allow Him to work.  That's what this adoption has been to me, just amazing and as tough as it has been at times I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world.

For those of you wondering, no, we haven't had any good news about our referral, but I believe we will get our referral in the next couple weeks.  So maybe this is where part of this rejoicing comes from.  I was also reminded this week that God has already won the battle, which for me that's a huge reason to praise Him.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

1 Corinthians 2:9

First Day of School

We survived our first day of school today and both children have already surpassed many of my expectations.  Kristin is going to fly through this Kindergarten material, and Kade sat longer than I expected.  My goal with Kade is minimal, just practicing ABCs, colors, shapes, etc.  He was super excited to do school with Kristin today and he blew me away with his longer than normal attention span.  As sad as I am about summer being over, I love routine and it was nice to have a schedule today.

Good Bye Summer

This last 2 weeks we have tried to enjoy summer to its fullest since we start school next week.  Well, we certainly had so much fun enjoying the last bit of summer, but I have to say I'm now completely exhausted and looking forward to slowing down a bit and getting back into a school routine.  Enjoy the highlights of the last 2 weeks.

Unknown

Nothing new here...still waiting...still trusting that we will have our referral soon.  Completely exhausted right now... a bit from the heat... and from our busyness as we've tried to enjoy this last week of summer to its fullest... and from my husbands random absence during elk season... and emotionally drained from waiting.

I was just reminded by another adoptive momma that this adoption is SO much bigger than we are.  It's much more than us just bringing our new babies home.  It's about a plan God has that I can still honestly tell you I don't completely understand and maybe never will.  It's about us obeying God and trusting Him even though we can't fully see the road ahead.  So on we go trusting and not knowing.

We know we will meet our new babies soon but haven't the slightest clue when.  In the mean time, we are still planning to travel soon.  Still preparing for two new babies to join us.  Preparing to leave our other babies here at grandma's for a month.  And really preparing the best we can for the unknown.  That's what every bit of this is, unknown.  And in the unknown all there is to do is trust God and rely on Him.

Kisses in the Wind

(The Waiting Child's Lullaby)
I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.

© Pamela Durkota

Puzzle

This is Kristin's newest obsession:

With a little encouragement she has discovered that she can do this 100 piece puzzle by herself.  So, now she does it daily, it takes a while, but she's so proud once it's complete, everyday. =)

Still Hot

It has been unusually warm here for late August, but that's okay because its given us a chance to enjoy the last little bit of summer by getting wet.  Last week we took another trip to our favorite splash park.  My kids love this place, and I love that it's free!!!

not sure what this face is all about

Kade liked shooting people with this

Trust

Trusting God is a hard thing because even though we may know He has led us somewhere in life it's hard to trust the unknown and the hardship that comes with going outside our comfort zone.  God has led us down the road of adoption and we know we have 2 beautiful babies waiting for us.  This I do not doubt.  But it's amazing how you can trust God in one area and another area of little trust resurfaces.  God totally convicted me last night that I am not trusting His timing.  While I'm trusting Him to move mountains and bring our babies home I've been obsessively checking my email and praying that we will have our referral soon.  But the reality is I have no control over when we get our referral, this is in God's hands and I need to trust this.  So once again God continues to teach me every step of this journey.  The road God leads us down is always tough but the blessings are well worth it.

6 Months

Today marks 6 months since we've been approved.  I was so hoping to have some good news to share with you by now, but I've got nothing.   Even though we've reached 6 months, we are not concerned about getting rejected.  On the contrary, we are confident we will get our referral but don't know when.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.  I have really seen the power of your prayers in the last couple weeks, it has really helped us to stay strong and continue to trust God through this very trying wait.  It's amazing how God just carries you through what should be some of the toughest situations.  And we are so blessed with all the amazing people and prayer warriors God has surrounded us with.

Please join us in praying for our referral soon.  My mommy heart is really aching today for our babies.

Mission Accomplished

Somewhere between toddlerhood and preschool my children developed a fear of getting water in their face.  So my husband and I have made it our personal goal this summer to help them get used to water in there face.  This has included only taking showers (not bathes), also lots of visits to our favorite splash park, and other swimming destinations.  Well, last week our goal was accomplished.  When we took them swimming they went through the water and onto the slides with no problem.  Mission accomplished. =)