It's past 10 p.m. I just finished eating dinner 15 minutes ago. Taco Bell. In the last month I've come home—after a day of work, errands, church stuff, you name it—after 8 p.m. at least two-thirds of the time.
Life is about to change, itsn't it?
I can't wait!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
What Would We Do Without Friends?
One of my dearest friends came over tonight to assist me with going through some items in our garage in preparation for a yard sale. (Friday, October 22 and Saturday, October 23 - come support it if you can! Or let us know if you have items to donate.) I don't know what I would have done without her help! Well... yeah... I do. I'd most likely still be out there—probably shivering by now and keeping the moths from flying in my hair—sorting through random Little People toys, deciding which I should keep and which to sell. Thank goodness for my friend Sloane!
So many people have expressed their eagerness to help us. I wish I had more things I could ask people to do. Truly, I do. I have a "To Do" list a mile long (but really, who doesn't?), but I just don't know what to tell or ask of people.
Just pray for us. As cliche as that sounds, we definitely can use it. Those who know mewell at all know that I tend to worry and stress more than I probably should. With everything that needs to get done at work, in preparation for the trip and the yard sale and so much more, I'll admit, I've allowed myself to become overwhelmed. But, I keep telling myself each day, "Just do what you can do." As long as we have the necessities (passport, visa, clothes, etc.) it will be okay. I pray that when I get on that plane, I'm able to leave the stresses behind me and focus on the joys to come!
So many people have expressed their eagerness to help us. I wish I had more things I could ask people to do. Truly, I do. I have a "To Do" list a mile long (but really, who doesn't?), but I just don't know what to tell or ask of people.
Just pray for us. As cliche as that sounds, we definitely can use it. Those who know me
Monday, October 4, 2010
This Time Next Week Redux
This time next week... *deep breath* ...I'll be a mom. If not on paper nor biologically, definitely in my heart. I do feel that God has been preparing us for parenthood, but I also believe he has helped us guard our hearts until the right time. That time is soon.
Our path to parenthood has not been an easy one, as most of you know. For a short while, it had been filled partially with waiting, disappointment, helplessness, pain and uncertainty. But overshadowing all of that has been our very blessed journey that began when we followed God's call for us to adopt. I am honored that God has placed orphans upon our hearts and will form our family through adoption. "...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act." (Proverbs 24:12) However, adoption has its own uncertainties, and we are thankful to our Lord that He has protected our hearts during these beginning stages of the process when so much is up in the air. Now that we are nearing the day that we will finally see the beautiful faces of our children in person, I sense the peace of the Holy Spirit allowing me to experience the excitement of our upcoming trip. I've been hesitant to use the words "mom," "dad," "our son," "our daughter," but that hesitation is wearing off.
On my way out the door this morning I stopped and kissed my husband and said, "Do you realize this time next week we will have already met both of our children? You'll be a 'dad!'" Derek just looked at me. "Wow," he said. Wow indeed.
One of my closest friends recently gave birth to her first child. While I'm not experiencing all the physical things that come with being pregnant, I feel I might have some idea of what it's like to be less than a week from one's due date. Excitement. Overwhelming emotions. Nervousness. Anxiousness. You name it, I'm probably feeling it!
Can you imagine what my posts will be like one week from today...?
Our path to parenthood has not been an easy one, as most of you know. For a short while, it had been filled partially with waiting, disappointment, helplessness, pain and uncertainty. But overshadowing all of that has been our very blessed journey that began when we followed God's call for us to adopt. I am honored that God has placed orphans upon our hearts and will form our family through adoption. "...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act." (Proverbs 24:12) However, adoption has its own uncertainties, and we are thankful to our Lord that He has protected our hearts during these beginning stages of the process when so much is up in the air. Now that we are nearing the day that we will finally see the beautiful faces of our children in person, I sense the peace of the Holy Spirit allowing me to experience the excitement of our upcoming trip. I've been hesitant to use the words "mom," "dad," "our son," "our daughter," but that hesitation is wearing off.
On my way out the door this morning I stopped and kissed my husband and said, "Do you realize this time next week we will have already met both of our children? You'll be a 'dad!'" Derek just looked at me. "Wow," he said. Wow indeed.
One of my closest friends recently gave birth to her first child. While I'm not experiencing all the physical things that come with being pregnant, I feel I might have some idea of what it's like to be less than a week from one's due date. Excitement. Overwhelming emotions. Nervousness. Anxiousness. You name it, I'm probably feeling it!
Can you imagine what my posts will be like one week from today...?
Sunday, October 3, 2010
A Week From Today
A week from today, we will be in St. Petersburg! We will be in the same city as our kiddos! We will be breathing the same air! We will be (I'm guessing here) a short 30 minute drive away from either of them! Oh my goodness!
Our plane will land around 3 p.m. St.Petersburg time, which is about 6 a.m. Central Time. So by the time most of you are out of bed next Sunday, we'll be on our way to our hotel! We'll spend the first day adjusting to the time difference. We'll be greeted at the airport by our driver, who will be with us the rest of the week. He'll most likely take us to a store and help us pick out some snacks and bottled water for us to keep at the hotel. (Still not being 100 percent familiar with the Russian alphabet, who knows what we would pick up if we were on our own!) We have been advised NOT to drink the water in Russia. After we get settled into our hotel, our in-country coordinator will come to visit us and brief us on our wonderful and exciting week to come.
Most likely, we will go to the Ministry of Education (a governmental body in Russia) first thing on Monday morning and will OFFICIALLY receive our referrals. From there, we will be off with our driver and translator to the baby homes to meet the kiddos!
We still need to finish packing!!!
Our plane will land around 3 p.m. St.Petersburg time, which is about 6 a.m. Central Time. So by the time most of you are out of bed next Sunday, we'll be on our way to our hotel! We'll spend the first day adjusting to the time difference. We'll be greeted at the airport by our driver, who will be with us the rest of the week. He'll most likely take us to a store and help us pick out some snacks and bottled water for us to keep at the hotel. (Still not being 100 percent familiar with the Russian alphabet, who knows what we would pick up if we were on our own!) We have been advised NOT to drink the water in Russia. After we get settled into our hotel, our in-country coordinator will come to visit us and brief us on our wonderful and exciting week to come.
Most likely, we will go to the Ministry of Education (a governmental body in Russia) first thing on Monday morning and will OFFICIALLY receive our referrals. From there, we will be off with our driver and translator to the baby homes to meet the kiddos!
We still need to finish packing!!!
Friday, October 1, 2010
New Friends, Continued Blessings
I just continue to be amazed at the blessings our Lord has poured upon us! While the adoption process is not for the faint of heart—as it can be a difficult and frustrating road—God has blessed us with such amazing supporters. There is no doubt that He has used our friends and family as vehicles for sharing His love.
This past week I had the honor of being invited to a local adoptive families group. I say "honor" because it truly was so wonderful being among bright and sincere women who have either already experienced the blessing of adoption or are right in the thick of the process, as we are. There is so much for me to learn from these women and so much to share. I can't wait!
The friends and family the Lord has blessed me with to this point have just blown me away. Truth be told, I was never one to have a bunch of good, genuine friends growing up. The love you all have shown me and Derek, particularly during this process, has been almost overwhelming. Words can't express how grateful I am of all of your support. We are so blessed to be able to share this journey with such amazing people. And our children will be all the more blessed to have you in their lives.
I'd say I can't wait for you all to meet them, but I can't wait to meet them myself! A little over a week!!!
This past week I had the honor of being invited to a local adoptive families group. I say "honor" because it truly was so wonderful being among bright and sincere women who have either already experienced the blessing of adoption or are right in the thick of the process, as we are. There is so much for me to learn from these women and so much to share. I can't wait!
The friends and family the Lord has blessed me with to this point have just blown me away. Truth be told, I was never one to have a bunch of good, genuine friends growing up. The love you all have shown me and Derek, particularly during this process, has been almost overwhelming. Words can't express how grateful I am of all of your support. We are so blessed to be able to share this journey with such amazing people. And our children will be all the more blessed to have you in their lives.
I'd say I can't wait for you all to meet them, but I can't wait to meet them myself! A little over a week!!!
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