Love is Patient...

Ok, I am going to own it: That first part of 1 Corinthians 13:4 always gets me. Every time that scripture is read at a wedding, I cringe. No, not because I think it isn't true and not because it is such a common wedding scripture. I cringe because I always strike out right away...Love is patient...but boy do I struggle with that one! I regularly pray for patience and there are days when it seems to be effortless. Then, there are days were I don't know how much longer I can wait! With that said, we are still waiting to schedule our home study. I was resolved when the agency offices closed for the long weekend, knowing that no e-mails or calls would be coming. We were really productive this weekend too! We got many things cleaned out and packed up, and we enjoyed having time to spend together. Today, because I know the agency offices will be opening up again tomorrow, I am building with anxiety and hope.

I am looking forward to finishing up the school year on Thursday though. I already have a date scheduled with a girlfriend on Friday! Yay, shopping! Oh, and we get to shop for us and little baby girl clothes, because she is expecting a little girl in August. Yippee!!!!! 


A shout-out to TME! Thanks for the wonderful and uplifting card! xoxo -I will keep everyone posted if there is news in the coming week. Have a beautiful week!

Found this Interesting...

I read a blog written by a family who has biological children and 5 adopted children. 2 of those kiddos are from Guatemala, 1 from Ethiopia and 2 from the US Foster Care System. Can you say, amazing people?! I have struggled some with the question of, "Why don't you just adopt one of the children in need from the US foster system? They are in desperate need and the process is practically free." I don't have a clear-cut answer to that question. I just know that God has pulled our hearts to Ethiopia. We are not closed off to the foster care system. As a school counselor, you bet I know that there are kids in need. I work with and against the system every week, and maybe that's why I am not compelled to dive into it at this time. Again, I don't have a fabulous answer (sure wish I did), all I know is that I know with my whole heart that Ethiopia is where we are suppose to go. I don't know how I know, I just do... Without further ado, here is the post (she explains it much more eloquently than I): http://buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/2010/05/normally-i-dont-do-this.html

Enjoy the long weekend!!!!!!!!

Pieces of the Puzzle

There isn't much to update, but I am trying to get on here at least once a week. We have received many of the books about Ethiopia and adoption that we ordered, so more reading ensues. Good thing summer vacation is near so I can get engrossed in all of them! 

We have been packing a box here and there preparing for the move. Excited to get that taken care of! 

Also, this weekend we were able to put another piece of the puzzle in place. This journey feels much like an engaging puzzle, and we know that the finished picture will be beyond amazing and wonderful, because we will finally be able to embark on a new journey of parenthood. We suffered a setback a couple of weeks ago because we had to go back to square one of the background check saga by filling out paperwork for NoDak and MN. Hopefully, they don't take too long so that we can complete the home study as soon as we are in the new house. We cannot schedule the home study until we pay for it, and we thought they wouldn't send the bill until all of our background checks were back. Now, we know that the last piece of the home study puzzle will be the background checks because the money and the rest of the paperwork is in place. Whew...did you get all that?

I think one of the difficult things about this process is patience. Patience is really not one of my strengths. I think my other half is a little better at taking it day by day. I know this process is a marathon, not a sprint (but I hate running anyway:)-- I pray each day for strength and patience...we and our baby can always use prayers lifted up too! 

Back to summer vacation...If I could ask just one thing, it would be the opportunity to see as many of you as possible and spend some quality time. It will get me ready and energized for another busy school year. Love to you all!

Case of the Mondays?

Yes, I think I do have a case of the Mondays (living in crabbytown, population 1, Me)...but I only have 1 actual Monday of work until SUMMER VACATION!

Well, here is the rundown...

There was an oversight from our original application that has affected being able to schedule the last 2 visits of our home study. We are hoping it proves to be a minor thing. We have lived in Iowa for 4 1/2 years, and since it isn't 5 years, we have to have child abuse and neglect checks done in the previous states we have lived (ND for Kevin and ND and MN for Lindsey). We submitted our forms for the state of IA weeks ago (9). We have been told that these others could take anywhere from 1-6 weeks. Really hoping it is just 1! We can't schedule anything until they come back clean. Feeling hopeful that it will go quickly, but would always appreciate prayers and positive thoughts! Will keep you posted...
In the meantime, we are working on paperwork for the dossier fast and furious so that it is nearly complete by the time the home study is complete. 

We are s l o w l y packing up stuff around the condo. Kevin did a little cleaning out while I was in NoDak for the weekend. Don't worry--he didn't work too hard (he also went out to dinner with friends and golfing!) I had fun celebrating birthdays and the coming of Baby O in NoDak. So fun to see my fave girlfriends! Love you ladies!!!!

Still learning this blogger thing, but here are a few from the last few weeks...

CJV and my new boyfriend! Born 5/7/2010

 

The tissue poms I made for AMO's shower. Quiet you...I'm very proud...

 

Some of my favorite ladies...Can't wait to meet you Baby O! (This made me feel all "The Girls from Ames"--read it! That book solidified that these women will always be in my heart and life. Thanks for the recommendation CLC!)

Face to Face

Kevin and I are big on telling our news face to face as much as we can, but it grows more difficult each day. I have a hard time not posting things about the process on Facebook, etc. We have told our friends and loved ones that we talk to regularly, and hated having to do most of that over the phone. We decided we would wait until we would be together with more of our family to tell all of our aunts, uncles and grandparents. Sometimes, I feel guilty for keeping the "secret," because it has been such a beautiful process, and nothing would honor us more than having all of those people praying with us on this journey! We got an opportunity to Skype with Kevin's Nana and Grampa, so it felt a little more like being able to share face to face, but like Nana said, "I still want to be able to hug you!" We want that too.


I am traveling to NoDak this coming weekend for AMO's baby shower, and am looking forward to sharing with my girlfriends about our journey! We went home for Easter, but ended up only being able to see family members that already know. Let's not even mention how badly my mother wants to talk with people about it! :) --Not sure if I will be able to make it until July 4th without sharing with the rest of our families! The blog traffic ought to increase once they all know :)


I am glad miss CMW encouraged me to start this blog. It gives me an outlet to share some of what I am thinking and feeling. Trust me, only sharing some is good thing! 

Just a quick note about the actual process! We took our "Parents in Process" class this weekend. It  was really nice to have some questions answered. It was also an experience that really got us thinking and talking about the many facets of this process we will encounter. What an awesome think to have for people on this journey. So thankful. Our conversations in the car on the way home were awesome. We always thought we were pretty good about communicating with each other, but this process has moved us to a whole new level and it leaves me wondering how we got along the first 10 years of our relationship. We pray together more than ever before. What a beautiful thing! 

We enjoyed meeting the other 2 couples that are on this journey as well, and they are both going to Ethiopia too. How cool is that?! We look forward to sharing with them in the months/years ahead. 


So, the education piece of the homestudy is complete, and we were able to send in all of the homestudy paperwork because we have our new address! Hopefully 6-8 weeks and the homestudy process will be complete and we can focus more on the Dossier paperwork! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!


Have a blessed week!

1 Step Closer...

We bought a new house!!! To answer your questions, we move in June 15th (same day we hand over possession of the condo, eek), yes, that was really fast, we are very excited, and of course we would love love love to have you come for a visit. Some of you are in trouble because you have not visited me in Iowa yet. Oh, in case you were wondering...we have lived here for 4 1/2 years and are questioning if you really do love us since you won't come see us. I will take you anywhere you want to go (Field of Dreams Movie Site, Waterpark, Amana Colonies, Iowa City Hawkeye land, etc. PLEASE COME!

We are reminded of "divine timing," because we were really hoping to be able to tell our Social Worker the address of the new house before we started our "Parenting in Process" class. Well, we start Friday and can tell them where to come for our home study! Let's get this show on the road! Talking to AMO this week and we decided that I am definitely feeling the effects from 1st tri-mester "paper pregnancy." I have ALL the symptoms. :)-- Once we share the news with more people, it was nice of AMO to confirm that I can empathize with all of those beautiful pregnant women in my life and know that besides the physical stuff, all of my feelings and emotions are exactly the same! 

All my Love to All of You!