5 WEEKS...

Today we have been waiting 5 weeks! It is hard to believe it is the beginning of the Christmas season and so the next few weeks will fly by as well.

Today instead of doing the "crazy" shopping thing I opted to sleep in a little and just do some of our Christmas decorating. I put up the tree and we will decorate it tonight. We still have one more trip to the storage unit to get the rest of our Christmas decorations. I am hoping to get everything done by Monday evening then we will start preparing for all of the events we have in December!

Hope you are getting an early start to a Blessed Holiday!

Until later~
Tina

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

...Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is GOD'S will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

And so today I am thankful for everything we have done and will do on our journey to our little guy. I know that soon we will be looking into the precious face of our little one and all of these "circumstances" that we have gone through will just be a distant memory and worth it all.

I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday weekend.

Until later~
Tina

BEING THANKFUL! DAY #4

Thought I would make a silly thankful post today! I AM THANKFUL FOR A CLEAN HOUSE!!!

If any of you know me personally you know that I can get a little "crazy" about my house. I want it clean but of course it is not always clean. My goal at the end of a day is to go to bed with little mess and not much dirty laundry. I told you I am a bit crazy!! I love to be able to sit down and look around the house and see everything in order.

Ok...I have 2 teenagers and a 10 yr old plus a regular zoo (more animals than I can post about!) in my house! SO...how do I keep it clean?? :) Well...I pick up the youngest child's room most of the time. With the teenagers...I avoid the basement as much as possible to keep the cranky Mom away. (That is where the oldest resides!) Then for my middle one well...I try to pick up some of it BUT I usually get really CRAZED so I just shut the door and threaten to take his most prized possession away if it is not clean to my standards! (the cell phone :))

I know my life will change a lot with a young one here again. The toys and such but I am truly looking forward to it! REALLY!! There are more important things in life than a clean house. BUT right now I am thankful for a clean house and little laundry to do!

Until later~
Tina

BEING THANKFUL! DAY #3

I AM THANKFUL FOR MY EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

All of our family have been so wonderful during these last few years. We have a large family. I have 2 brothers and a sister. Don has a sister. I think being from a large family is great! I think that is why I want to have a large family. There was always a lot going on. We never had a lot but we always had enough. When we get together it is a madhouse but so much fun!

When we told our family and friends about adopting we were expecting some reservations. But thankfully EVERYONE was excited and ready to love him and accept him as part of their family.

My friends are great! They have helped me through a tough 2 years and they are always there to listen to my complaints or just my fears. I know that they are praying for us because I can feel their prayers working in our lives each step we get closer to our little guy! I am sure they are ready for him to be here so I will quit talking 24/7 "adoption talk". What they don't know is it will only get worse I am sure! :)

THANK YOU GOD FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Until later~
Tina

BEING THANKFUL! DAY #2

I AM THANKFUL FOR MY HUSBAND AND MY CHILDREN!!

My husband is my rock. He has always been so much stronger than I am. He loves me unconditionally, flaws, flab and all!! :) I still get butterflies when I see him walk into a room. (we've been married 19.5 years!!) He would do just about anything within his power to give me and our children whatever we want! I have to be careful when I say I would like to have something. He works very hard to take care of our family. He has stuck beside me through several illnesses, surgeries, and even when I had to quit my job due to health reasons. He is amazing and I know he was hand picked by God just for me. How blessed I am! I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be his wife!

Tifanie, is my first born. She made me a Mommy for the first time. She is an amazing young lady. She has taught me so much about motherhood and about giving unconditional love! She may try my patience at times but I see that she is going some place with her life and so ready to be there! I am so thankful that God let me be her Mom.

Randy, my tenderhearted boy. He taught me quickly all about being a Mommy to a boy! And it is different!! He is always saying he is sorry if he has upset me or he just knows when I need a hug. He is teaching me about parenting a teenage boy...I think I am thankful for that! :) I am thankful to be Randy's Mom.

Emilie, my wild and crazy girl! Em has taught me many things in her only 10 years! She has taught me how to deal with craziness! She is SO funny and brings so much joy to our home. She teaches me daily that you must be prepared for anything!! She loves with everything in her. She will be an amazing person when she grows up. I am VERY thankful that God has allowed me to be Em's Mom.

Little Guy, you are not here just yet but I am already thankful that I am on this journey for you. I know you will be a wonderful addition to our family. I am thankful that someday I will get to be your Mom.

Until later~
Tina

BEING THANKFUL! DAY # 1

I want to post for the next few days and tell everyone the things I am most thankful for. I know you may not really care but I want to do it for myself and for our little guy that will be here someday.

SO...to begin the week...I am thankful for God Above! I am thankful that HE knows me and HE loves me and HE protects me! I am thankful that He hears me when I call HIS name and HE picks me up and carries me when I am not sure I can bear another day of waiting!

We began our adoption journey praying for God's help and intervention as we needed. HE has been here each step of the way and yes HE has even carried us on those days we thought we couldn't stand it anymore.

I am thankful that HE will continue to be with us through every joy and every bump in the road.

Until tomorrow~
Tina

FOUR WEEKS AND MY BIRTHDAY!

Today we have been waiting for 4 weeks. WOW...a month has gone by so quickly really! I knew it would fly by during the Holidays and am thankful for that. There have been a lot of referrals lately as well which is ALWAYS a positive thing! This week there were some baby girl referrals! YEAH!!

Today is also my birthday! I can't believe I am another year older!! UUGH!! So...how did I spend my birthday? Well...this morning I did the weigh in thing and I had not lost anything but didn't gain either so that is a good thing really. Then we went to the DMV and I got my license renewed. Oh joy!! Then Don and I went and got groceries and went to Red Robin for my free burger for my birthday. Now we are just relaxing at home. We are going to watch movies and eat homemade pizza for dinner. YUM!! My birthday wish is that our little guy will be here to celebrate with me next year!!

Next week I will post about all we have to be thankful for this year!

Until later~
Tina

3 WEEKS AND COUNTING...

We have been waiting 3 weeks today! This week has been a great week of waiting!! We have seen some great movement on referrals. I believe we are now #33 for a "little guy". I am trying to keep track as close as possible.

We did hit a small bump in the road this week but nothing that God can not handle as long as we give it to HIM.

I had my first "weird" comment on my last post so I decided to delete it. I do have it saved as I still have some questions about it that I want to ask. I asked my Dad for his opinion and after I got it I decided to delete it! The strange thing is that it had NOTHING to do with adoption which is what my blog is mostly about. Sometimes I get a bit off track but I want it to mostly be about our journey to our "little guy" and the adventures of having him home!

I guess what floored me is that I would never post on a blog something mean or negative. I may not agree with what you have said but would never set out to harm someone or question or attack!!

I love getting the good comments. It makes me feel like someone cares enough to follow us on this journey. Anyway...I think I am giving this individual too much power to make me feel bad and make me second guess what I post!! SO...I am done giving him that power!!!

My verse for today is...

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
Proverbs 29:25

Until later~
Tina

BUMPS IN THE ROAD...

We have met many bumps in the road as we take this adoption journey. With each bump I am reminded that God alone will be the one to get us to our "little guy". Today as I checked out another blog and was reminded that God's grace is amazing I came across a Bible verse that just said it all to me today...

Malachi 3:10 ...Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Now this scripture has to do with tithing but I really believe it can mean several things. Such as lately many people have been waiting and praying for their referrals and some have waited as long as 11+ months. We began praying very hard for sibling groups last week and the agency has received 2 in a weeks time along with 4 baby boy referrals!

SO...as we have hit another bump I am testing God and awaiting HIS amazing blessings in anticipation! And...by the way...I am so thankful for the blessings that HE has already rained down on me!

Until later~
Tina

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY TO THREE OF MY FAVORITE MEN!

My dad and father-in-law both served in Vietnam and my husband has been several different places including Germany, US, Somalia, Cuba, and Iraq. He is currently still in the National Guard and has served 20+ years so far. I am very proud of all of these men. And I am thankful that they were willing to fight for our freedom! HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE AND ARE CURRENTLY SERVING OUR COUNTRY! THANK YOU!!!!

Until later~
Tina

TWO WEEKS AND GOING STRONG!!

We have waited 2 weeks tomorrow. I had to post early as I am going out of town in the morning. I am spending a weekend away from my family and with my only sister. We used to go every year to the Women of Faith conference with my mother and usually an aunt or two. BUT do to busy lives and expense and adoption unknowns we have been unable to do this for a few years. SO...

My sister and I are due for a getaway. We are looking forward to just hanging out and chatting all weekend! 10+ years ago we lived about 45 minutes to an hour away from each other and we had babies within 4 months of each other at that time and so each week one of us would load up and travel for a day trip to visit and let the kiddos hang out. I miss that time.

There were a few more referrals this week but none that dropped us down any lower. Yet it is still movement which we are thankful for.

Until later~
Tina

SORRY IF I HURT ANYONES FEELINGS!!!!!!

Tina says I must tell everyone up front that this isn't her speaking. This is not an attack on anyone who said anything earlier. I just would like to get something off my chest. This is her loving husband. I have served my country straight out of high school for the last twenty years. I have always been proud of my country. Is an African American man being elected president a big step forward for our country? Yes, it is. We should elect our president on his morals and ethics not the color of his skin and yes that did play a big part in it. I heard him speak and he is a very well spoken and charismatic speaker. Do I agree with what he wants to do to my country? No, but we will weather this storm. Did McCain have an affair before he was married? Technically yes but if you would have researched it a little you would know that after spending seven years being tortured and imprisoned he returned home. He and his wife had drifted apart and were separated when he met his current wife "at a bar". Is it morally wrong? Yes. Can you compare it to abortion or supporting gay marriage? I don't think so, but that is my opinion. It is not my place to judge. In the end we only answer to God.

THE NEXT DAY...

So...I began to post last night and then I deleted it because I felt like I may get some mean comments and that is not what our blog is about! All I can say is I am not happy about the way the elections went. I worry about our country and I worry about my children. BUT...I do have faith and I know that God is in control of EVERYTHING! I do not agree with many things Obama wants or stands for but I will pray for peace and understanding. God is still God yesterday today and tomorrow! Please note for me this had nothing to do with race! This had everything to do with morals and what I believe in. I want ALL of my children to dream big and to fulfill their dreams regardless of the color of their skin or their gender!!

Hope this makes sense and if not SORRY!

Until later~
Tina

I VOTED TODAY...DID YOU???

"Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election"
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.
.....and GOD approves this message!

An added comment: It looks as if God is going to be extremely busy for the next few years, but just remember He has all the time in the world to help each and every one of us, if we just ask.