We have now reached week number 22 of waiting. I am getting a little antsy. Who am I kidding...I have been antsy for the last 2 years about getting our referral! :) I emailed our adoption consultant this week to check what our number was for our exact request. I was pleased to find out that we are #13. The way things have been going I know we still have a wait in front of us but we are almost out of the teens. There was 6 referrals this week but none effected this count. There was also an adorable little guy put on the waiting list. But as I was sure would happen he was placed with a family quickly. He was just under 2.5 years. He was VERY cute! I am still praying for a referral and successful court date prior to the court closure the beginning of Aug.
This weekend I am headed to my sister's to celebrate her boys' birthdays. Cameron and Caleb are 11 today. Andrew was 17 on March 19th. My parents got 4 grandchildren in one yr. My sister had twins, we had Emilie and my brother had Haleigh all within months of each other. It was a lot of fun when we all got together. Anyway...as long as the weather doesn't get too bad Emilie and I are headed that way for the weekend. They are calling for snow!!
Randy and Dad are working on an Eagle scout project and on Sunday the youth is in charge of the Church service. Randy is doing the communion and offering meditations. I am so proud of him. I am hoping Don will video it for me.
SO...here's to another week of waiting!!
GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!
Blessings~
Tina
Friday, March 27, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
FREE TO BE REAL...
I must say that right now my spiritual cup is full! I returned this evening from an E-Women conference. I heard many speakers. Some I have heard speak before and others were new. I was able to hear from a young woman who was from Africa and was a child that was sponsored through COMPASSION. Her story was amazing! She certainly tugged at my heart strings!! I heard wonderful Christian music from some of my favorite artists! The theme was "Free to be Real". How often do we truly feel free to be our real selves? We feel like we need to be the "perfect" wife, mother, friend, teacher, worker...the list could go on forever! It is hard to allow someone to see us in a "real" state! To see us broken or hurting...maybe angry and frustrated...
I am a lot like this! It is hard for me to allow others to see that sometimes I fail at keeping my home tidy and organized. Sometimes I fail to be a good wife. Sometimes I fail to be a good mother! And yes even sometimes I fail to be a good Christian! But I am so thankful that God is a forgiving God! And He does not expect us to be perfect but He does want us to be real...to be ourselves and to give it all over to Him!
I was able to see God work this weekend in ways I am not sure I have ever really seen before. I watched my sister give support to a woman who's husband died on Christmas night without even knowing that last bit of info. She just felt this ladies heart and knew she needed support! AMAZING!! I watched almost 3000 women support one another in love and prayer! AMAZING!! Giving hugs to complete strangers just because...
The funnest part of the weekend was spending 2 nights in a Hotel with my sister, Mom, cousin, and aunt! We laughed...cried...tried to sleep...and laughed some more! So...my cup runneth over!
I was away from the computer for almost 3 days. I was able to think of more than just our adoption. It was still there in the back of mind BUT it was not the most important thing for those few days. I was able to be real and feel God filling me up!
To my Amazing sister...Thank you so much for taking me. I really needed this. You are amazing. To see you touch people that you don't even know. I was so moved this weekend but you truly showed me more than any of those speakers! I know that is what I was supposed to get out this trip. I can not wait for the day when you are the one standing before thousands of women giving your testimony! I promise to be sitting front row center! I pray for you my best friend! God has a purpose for you and I can't wait to see it unfold. YOU ARE P*R*E*T*T*Y!!!!
Mom...I had a great time this weekend. Thank you for sharing it with me. It is so great to be able to share our love of Christ together. I am so proud of you for how you are allowing God to work in your life to make yourself a better wife. Thank you for being an example to me and to others! I love you.
Aunt Carol...Thanks for helping Cindy get us all together. I so love being with you and sharing our love and passion for Christ together. I am thankful to have an Aunt who is like a second Mom to me. You have taught me so much about being a Mom and I am so blessed to have you in my life!
Rachel...Thanks for sharing our weekend with us. You are such a beautiful girl both inside and out! I can not wait to see what God has in store for you. Remember to be strong and keep on the path! I will be praying for you!!
I hope you all had a blessed weekend!
Tina
I am a lot like this! It is hard for me to allow others to see that sometimes I fail at keeping my home tidy and organized. Sometimes I fail to be a good wife. Sometimes I fail to be a good mother! And yes even sometimes I fail to be a good Christian! But I am so thankful that God is a forgiving God! And He does not expect us to be perfect but He does want us to be real...to be ourselves and to give it all over to Him!
I was able to see God work this weekend in ways I am not sure I have ever really seen before. I watched my sister give support to a woman who's husband died on Christmas night without even knowing that last bit of info. She just felt this ladies heart and knew she needed support! AMAZING!! I watched almost 3000 women support one another in love and prayer! AMAZING!! Giving hugs to complete strangers just because...
The funnest part of the weekend was spending 2 nights in a Hotel with my sister, Mom, cousin, and aunt! We laughed...cried...tried to sleep...and laughed some more! So...my cup runneth over!
I was away from the computer for almost 3 days. I was able to think of more than just our adoption. It was still there in the back of mind BUT it was not the most important thing for those few days. I was able to be real and feel God filling me up!
To my Amazing sister...Thank you so much for taking me. I really needed this. You are amazing. To see you touch people that you don't even know. I was so moved this weekend but you truly showed me more than any of those speakers! I know that is what I was supposed to get out this trip. I can not wait for the day when you are the one standing before thousands of women giving your testimony! I promise to be sitting front row center! I pray for you my best friend! God has a purpose for you and I can't wait to see it unfold. YOU ARE P*R*E*T*T*Y!!!!
Mom...I had a great time this weekend. Thank you for sharing it with me. It is so great to be able to share our love of Christ together. I am so proud of you for how you are allowing God to work in your life to make yourself a better wife. Thank you for being an example to me and to others! I love you.
Aunt Carol...Thanks for helping Cindy get us all together. I so love being with you and sharing our love and passion for Christ together. I am thankful to have an Aunt who is like a second Mom to me. You have taught me so much about being a Mom and I am so blessed to have you in my life!
Rachel...Thanks for sharing our weekend with us. You are such a beautiful girl both inside and out! I can not wait to see what God has in store for you. Remember to be strong and keep on the path! I will be praying for you!!
I hope you all had a blessed weekend!
Tina
Thursday, March 19, 2009
21 WEEKS...
I am one day early in this post. I will not be on a computer tomorrow so I thought I would post a day early. WOW...21 weeks...HMMM...How am I feeling? Well somedays I am great...somedays I am anxious...somedays I am frustrated...and somedays I am just content. I am hoping for many referrals soon. It has been a little slow again this month. We are still hopeful that we will pass court before the closure but we will see. I am trying to not get my hopes up because as I have found throughout this entire process it doesn't always work out the way I want!
I am trying to stay busy on the weekends which will help to pass the time. This weekend I am going with my mom, sister, and aunt to an e-women conference in Tulsa, OK. I have really been looking forward to it. To just get away from things here and hand it over to Dad for the weekend. I am very thankful to be able to spend time with my aunt, sister and Mom. We usually have such a great time together.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Blessings~
Tina
I am trying to stay busy on the weekends which will help to pass the time. This weekend I am going with my mom, sister, and aunt to an e-women conference in Tulsa, OK. I have really been looking forward to it. To just get away from things here and hand it over to Dad for the weekend. I am very thankful to be able to spend time with my aunt, sister and Mom. We usually have such a great time together.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Blessings~
Tina
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
SECRET SISTER...
In our Church we have secret sisters. We reveal who we have in December. Yesterday I got the best thing in the mail from my secret sister. It was a small book called My Prayers Are With You. I read it last night and it fits so well with most of my feelings throughout this adoption process. I am hoping I can turn to it when I am really feeling discouraged!
One of the first scriptures was...For thou art my hope, O Lord God. Psalm 71:5
And the prayer...Thank you,Lord,for the great promises Your Word gives. You guide me always on this journey that You planned for me before I was born. Your design of life is perfect. Thank you for being ever faithful to me as I move along the path created for me to follow. You lead me,and even carry me when I am tired,Lord. You are so wonderful and faithful to me!
Have a blessed night!
Tina
One of the first scriptures was...For thou art my hope, O Lord God. Psalm 71:5
And the prayer...Thank you,Lord,for the great promises Your Word gives. You guide me always on this journey that You planned for me before I was born. Your design of life is perfect. Thank you for being ever faithful to me as I move along the path created for me to follow. You lead me,and even carry me when I am tired,Lord. You are so wonderful and faithful to me!
Have a blessed night!
Tina
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
20 WEEKS...
I am amazed that we have actually been waiting 20 weeks. There are days when I wonder where the time has gone and others that I think it is just dragging by. I had one of those pity me days this week. I was so sad that our time has not come and things seem to be moving slowly right now and I need to prepare myself for not making the court closure!
I began once again to pray for peace. I petitioned my prayer warriors for the same. And the next day I was ok again. I know that God is able to make the impossible possible!! So...I will continue to pray for a referral and successful court date before the closure and if that is not God's will then I will suck it up and wait!
I think it is getting much harder for the kids as well and that is what makes me even sadder. Somedays I wish we had never said anything and just said "SURPRISE" when it happened. BUT our family had never worked like that. Don and I have always tried to include them in on the BIG decisions. They were so excited when we first mentioned adopting. Throughout these past 2 years they have had the same range of emotions as we have had. Randy, who really wants a brother, said to me...you know another girl wouldn't be so bad if we could just get her NOW! :) TOO SWEET!!
I am also amazed at everyone around the US praying for referrals to come in. How awesome it is to know we are all praying for our "adoption buddies" to get court dates, referrals, paperwork, safe travels and many other things! I am sure God is listening and so excited that we are coming together to petition Him. I am very thankful for these people who without really knowing me can pray for me.
I hope you all have a blessed weekend. We have an event at Church on Saturday but otherwise a pretty quiet weekend. We get busy again next weekend!
Blessings~
Tina
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
I began once again to pray for peace. I petitioned my prayer warriors for the same. And the next day I was ok again. I know that God is able to make the impossible possible!! So...I will continue to pray for a referral and successful court date before the closure and if that is not God's will then I will suck it up and wait!
I think it is getting much harder for the kids as well and that is what makes me even sadder. Somedays I wish we had never said anything and just said "SURPRISE" when it happened. BUT our family had never worked like that. Don and I have always tried to include them in on the BIG decisions. They were so excited when we first mentioned adopting. Throughout these past 2 years they have had the same range of emotions as we have had. Randy, who really wants a brother, said to me...you know another girl wouldn't be so bad if we could just get her NOW! :) TOO SWEET!!
I am also amazed at everyone around the US praying for referrals to come in. How awesome it is to know we are all praying for our "adoption buddies" to get court dates, referrals, paperwork, safe travels and many other things! I am sure God is listening and so excited that we are coming together to petition Him. I am very thankful for these people who without really knowing me can pray for me.
I hope you all have a blessed weekend. We have an event at Church on Saturday but otherwise a pretty quiet weekend. We get busy again next weekend!
Blessings~
Tina
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
Friday, March 6, 2009
19 WEEKS...
Today marks 19 weeks of waiting. I am feeling well so far. We have a very busy March so I think that will help pass another 4 weeks. I am hopeful that we are about half way to our referral!
I am spending today making desserts for our annual Chili dinner fundraiser for our scouts. We have chili, baked potatoes, and homemade desserts! YUMMY...We also have a silent auction with baskets that we get donated. We have some great items and baskets this year! Tomorrow we will each take shifts working at the dinner. It runs from 11-7. Then we will help clean up. I have the late shift so that I can help clean up. Randy will work 2 shifts. So our Sat will be pretty full.
We have something every weekend in March and for the first 3 weekends in Apr. I think that will help pass time as we continue to wait for that phone call.
Well...Better get back to baking! I am making 2 apple crisps, a spice cake and a pineapple upside down cake. YUM
Have a blessed weekend!
Tina
I am spending today making desserts for our annual Chili dinner fundraiser for our scouts. We have chili, baked potatoes, and homemade desserts! YUMMY...We also have a silent auction with baskets that we get donated. We have some great items and baskets this year! Tomorrow we will each take shifts working at the dinner. It runs from 11-7. Then we will help clean up. I have the late shift so that I can help clean up. Randy will work 2 shifts. So our Sat will be pretty full.
We have something every weekend in March and for the first 3 weekends in Apr. I think that will help pass time as we continue to wait for that phone call.
Well...Better get back to baking! I am making 2 apple crisps, a spice cake and a pineapple upside down cake. YUM
Have a blessed weekend!
Tina
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
FAITH...
I guess for some it is hard to hear encouragement from others that are relying on their faith to see them to the end of their adoption. For me? I am so thankful for those people who can read my fear, sadness, brokenness, and heartache to hold my little guy and still encourage me with a faith builder.
I have never for one minute doubted that God would see us through this. If I had we would have given up a long time ago. I do get discouraged at times! This is hard!But we know this is God's will for our family. We have no idea how far adoptions will go in our family. But right now we know that God has a plan for us and we are doing our very best to follow that plan. It is hard...He never promised it would be easy!
I do know that this is all in God's timing and NOT in mine! I know that because had it been up to me we would have had our little guy a year ago BUT God had a better plan and we pray that we will soon see his little face. Until then I will continue to pray for him. And I will continue to pray for those still waiting...
I thought the "hurry up and wait" theory was only for the military! I am learning it can be a theme for adoption as well.
But I am reminded today of these scriptures:
For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all he does.
Psalm 33:4
When I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 56:3
If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Matthew 17:20
SO...I am so thankful for my faith that has helped me walk this path for the last 2+ years!
Blessings~
Tina
I have never for one minute doubted that God would see us through this. If I had we would have given up a long time ago. I do get discouraged at times! This is hard!But we know this is God's will for our family. We have no idea how far adoptions will go in our family. But right now we know that God has a plan for us and we are doing our very best to follow that plan. It is hard...He never promised it would be easy!
I do know that this is all in God's timing and NOT in mine! I know that because had it been up to me we would have had our little guy a year ago BUT God had a better plan and we pray that we will soon see his little face. Until then I will continue to pray for him. And I will continue to pray for those still waiting...
I thought the "hurry up and wait" theory was only for the military! I am learning it can be a theme for adoption as well.
But I am reminded today of these scriptures:
For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all he does.
Psalm 33:4
When I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 56:3
If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Matthew 17:20
SO...I am so thankful for my faith that has helped me walk this path for the last 2+ years!
Blessings~
Tina
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