Craziness

Sorry for the lack of posts lately everybody! Life has just been so crazy around here. I feel like I can't catch my breath! Hopefully it will be better after the holidays are over. Anyhow, here's a little taste of what's been going on.

Remember how I got in a small car accident a few weeks ago? Well, I finally managed to get a hold of the right person at the guy's insurance agency 2 weeks later, and come to find out, he had admitted liability. The company hadn't bothered letting me know about it. I think they were hoping I would just let it go. Needless to say, I will never be doing business with Farm Bureau. So the lady sent me to a place to get an estimate. The estimate came out to be about $770.00. Even I think that's pretty ridiculous because it wasn't that much damage, but whatever. The car guy sent pictures and a copy of the estimate to the insurance lady that's working on this claim. Now I guess I just wait and see if they'll ever get a hold of me, or if I'll have to track them down again.

Also, there's been drama at work. Enough said.

The holidays. Enough said.

Working on the adoption stuff has been consuming a LOT of my precious few hours of free time. We're so close to finishing. Basically, all that's left to do is to upload 24 photos. That 24 photos thing is seeming insurmountable at this moment. Seriously, they don't want anything too pose-ey, they want it to show our personalities/hobbies, they want to see our smiling faces in about every picture without too many other people in the picture, and of course we have to accomplish all this without looking like hags. Did they ever realize that most of our activities involve just the two of us so it's hard to get pictures of both of us together, and that we don't usually lug our camera along to everything we do? Okay, that's enough venting. We had a day recently when my darling sister took a bunch of pictures of us. But that still doesn't amount to 24 pictures. I'll have to have you all vote on which ones are the best or something. When I get time. (HA!)

Okay, so here's the big whammy. My next piece of news makes all that previous stuff pale in comparison. My grandmother had a heart attack about a week and a half ago. She had to be life flighted to a nearby hospital. The doctors think she may have to have a quadrupal bypass surgery. There's a bunch of other medical mumbo-jumbo that complicates all of that previous stuff, but I don't really know how to explain it. Basically, they've done what they can for now, but they will not be able to perform the surgery for at least a month because of some medications she is taking. So she is at home, and my mom and grandpa are doing everything they can to help her gather her strength to prepare for surgery. I have been so worried about my grandma. Please, will you all pray for her? I don't care whether you're LDS (aka Mormon) like me, or some other religion. She needs all of your prayers.

So that's pretty much my life in a nutshell right now. I feel like my life is run run run run run, sleep, repeat, etc... So I have to apologize to all of you who haven't heard from me in a while. No I haven't disappeared, my life is just craziness.

Adoption Process Update

So we had our individual and joint interviews with our caseworker today. Everything went really well. Basically, we discussed what we've accomplished so far and talked about what the next steps are that we need to take. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that three out of four of our references have already returned their forms to LDSFS. Thank you three SO MUCH!!! Our caseworker was very impressed with the quick turnabout. Now all we have to do is wait for that fourth reference letter. (Wink wink, nudge nudge Dad!)

While we're waiting on that reference letter and our background check to come back, our caseworker and one of her interns are going to speed the paperwork portion of our home study along, and she'll be coming to do our home inspection soon. That way she can get everything to her director as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we'll be working on getting everything ready for the new website, so that as soon as we get that approval letter, our profile will be posted online. Long story short, we hope to be approved by mid-January at the latest. That means that in about 6 weeks we could start being considered by birth parents! And our caseworker reassured us that she thinks we won't have any problem getting chosen. But remember, we need all of you out there to help us! Don't worry, I'll be getting to you about that very soon. :)

It's amazing to me that this is all coming along so smoothly. But our miracle worker said that we're kind of like her little guinea pigs. You see, LDSFS is launching a new website and a revised program for adoption. We are one of the first couples in our area that are coming in entirely under the new program without having done the old program first. All I can say is, I've never been more grateful to be a test subject in my life.

So that's pretty much the sum of it. I can't describe my feelings adequately right now. I'm ecstatic that we're actually making progression towards receiving a child. I'm sick to my stomach nervous about whether or not we'll get chosen. I'm overwhelmed with the whirlwind process. I'm eagerly anticipating meeting the woman whom we hope will choose us. All of that and more seems to be jumbled up and swelling out inside of me. I hope I don't explode!

"Onward, Ever Onward..."

YAY! We are moving onward with our adoption process! We have scheduled our interview and joint interviews with our caseworker for Wednesday December 3rd at 3:00. This is one important step forward, and we are so excited about the fact that this is going so quickly. It's like I've been beating my head against a brick wall for the past year and a half. But then, when we finally realized we were heading down the wrong path (i.e. trying to have children biologically) and turned the other way (i.e. adoption) things just opened up! Every step we just feel a confirmation in our hearts that this is the way we are going to find the right baby for our family. Because, as we've said before, we don't want just any baby, we want to find our baby. I'm trying not to get too anxious though. I am fully aware that we might have to wait quite a while before we get chosen, and I'm prepared for the long haul. But, man, does it feel good to celebrate our progress!

Thankful for a Trial

Today I was in a small car accident.

Now don't freak out, it was just a fender bender. To make a long story short, I was turning left out of my apartment complex, and a guy who was parked on the same side of the street as I was pulling out from started backing up without looking. He didn't see that I was pulling out and so he just kind of plowed right into the front passenger side of my car. The car is still driveable and it didn't affect the door of the car. There is a pretty good dent, a bunch of flaking paint, and some scrapes. Anyhow, I spent the morning hassling with insurance claims and whatnot so my day was pretty crazy. We have recently been considering purchasing a new car, and now it seems like we might have to get serious about the idea.

However, as I sit contemplating the events of my day, I just have to be so thankful for the blessings I have. My husband and I are healthy and safe, and although we aren't rich by any stretch of the imagination, we have sufficient for our needs and even some of our wants. We are progressing towards adoption, my husband is practically receiving a free PhD, and we have great family and friends. Most of all, we are so thankful for the gospel in our lives.

So, it might sound funny, but today I am thankful for a car accident that made me pause in my busy life and put things in perspective.

Very Touching

I found this poem on my friend's blog. Her name is Erin and her husband is adopted. Her post really reminded me that adoption is not just a blessing in the life of the adoptive family, but also in the life of the adopted child. Anyhow, I thought this poem was so touching that I wanted to share it with you all.

He Is Mine by Valerie Kay Gwin

I tiptoed into your room one night.
I watched you sleeping there.
Your tiny body looked so snug
Wrapped in peaceful slumber's care.

I thought of how you came to be
The child we'd longed to know.
I wondered at the sight of you:
"How could she let you go?"

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I
Felt the pain she must have known.
For I will have to let you go
Some day when you are grown.

A mother I might never meet
Had given me her son.
Yet, surely as you've filled my heart,
A piece of hers you'd won.

"How could she let you go?"
The question kept returning.
And in the depths of my own heart.
A question kept on burning.

"How can I ever let you go
When years have come and gone?"
I stood there by your crib until
The nighttime turned to dawn.

And as the sun peeked through the shades,
The voice of God broke through.
"I trusted her to give him life
And now I'm trusting him to you.

"To show him what is right and wrong,
to love him and to be
The one who teaches him the way
To come back home to me.

"He wasn't hers to give, you know.
And he's not yours to own.
I've placed him in your life to love
But he is mine … on loan."

Help Save My Hubby!

So.... each week I find myself making the same exact meals over and over and over again. I think it just might kill my husband if I don't come up with something different. :) So I'm wondering what dishes you guys make that I could try. Thanks in advance!!!

November is National Adoption Month!!!

So, my friend posted this on her blog, and I thought I would too. Thanks friend!!!

In 1976, Governor Mike Dukakis of Massachusetts proclaimed Adoption Week to bring awareness to the need for adoptive families for children in the foster care system. President Ford followed this proclamation by announcing the first National Adoption Week. In 1990, this one-week was extended to the full month of November. Throughout the Nation, different states and organizations have a plethora of activities, campaigns, and observances. Amidst the month long celebrations there is an actual National Adoption Day (this year it is November 15, 2008).

Each year there is a specific theme and focused promotion of a particular need or topic in adoption. One year it may be a focus on Special Needs adoption, or adopting teenagers, or domestic adoption, or foster parenting, or intercountry adoption, etc.. This year's theme is: "Answering the Call - You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent. There are thousands of teens in foster care who would love to put up with you."

This month is a month to get active in educating ourselves and others about adoption and about issues surrounding adoption. It is also a time to get active in advocating and promoting laws that will help adoption (ex: a friendly adoption workplace, etc). It is a month to collect donations, volunteer, sponser children who need to be adopted or support a family who is currently in the process of adopting. It is a time to celebrate multicultural families, develop new traditions, and give thanks for our families. For a month full of activites to celebrate National Adoption Awareness go here. For more information on the history of this month, activites, resources, and ideas go to adoption.com or google National Adoption Awareness month. I would encourage each of you to be aware of the adoption scene.

There are millions and millions of children - more than 130 million - both domestically and internationally, who need a home, security, and love. All of us can help in some way, some form, some how. Let's give a hand to adoption.

Voting Day!

Tomorrow is voting day, and I want to personally encourage ALL of you to get out and vote! Regardless of which party you choose to affiliate yourself with, it is a privilege to live in a country where we have the freedom to make these decisions for ourselves.

Plus, this is my opinion...

IF YOU DON'T VOTE, YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS!!!

All I can say is, I'm proud to be an American. Sure our country has its problems, just like any other country. But I'll be doing what I can to take care of those problems by voting. Will you?