Check!

Well today is the day for we've all been waiting for. Every time any of our adoption requirements are checked off our list feels like a very important day and today we (hopefully) get a big one checked off! Today is the fire inspection. I came into work extra early today so I could leave a few minutes early and make it home by 5:30 PM for our appointment with Inspector Prater. The check list we used to prepare had 23 items on it, but I will highlight a few.
1. No more than 6 children in the home - check (as if I'd have time to be writing this if I was the momma to 6 kids!)
2. Written evacuation plan and procedures for meeting potential disasters and emergencies, such as fire and severe weather - check
3. No more than 10 gallons of flammable liquids - check
4. Interconnected fire alarms - check
5. Gas pressure test - $250 down, but check
6. A/C and heater inspection - check
7. 2 working fire extinguishers - check
8. Matches and lighters kept out of the reach of children - check
9. At least one working flashlight - check

Bring it on, inspector lady! We're ready for you!

Current Contemplation

In a recent e-mail to a friend I tried to summarize my current feelings in anticipation of our son coming home.

" I am so excited to become a mommy in an unconventional way, but all my other mommy friends will be parenting babies and I'll be in a whole different stage with my kiddo. It's just a weird and kind of lonely feeling, but I don't question at all that it is what we are meant to do. Make sense?"

Any thoughts/encouragement are welcomed!

Home Sweet Home Study

In preparation for our up coming home study in a few weeks (hence the clever title), we have been making some changes to our home decor. I have been looking for curtains for our living room for several months now. I finally found an idea for curtain pairings at JC Penny and then recreated the look by purchasing the accent panels as a splurge at JC Penny and ordering the rest from Walmart.com. But after I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy the accent curtains at JC Penny, they put them on sale for half the price! YAY! I got a great deal and love the way the curtains transform the room!
Our bedroom furniture for our lil' guy was delivered Saturday. We arranged it just the way we wanted and Jeff did a great job putting together the book shelf for his toys! I helped by handing him tools and reading the directions. It will have those canvas drawers in it once lil' man picks out his bedding and tells us his favorite colors. The room is definitely coming together! Jeff and I need to put together the other bookshelf and my sister offered to make the letters for the scripture on the wall. After that we will have done all we can before we meet our little guy!
What do ya'll think!? I just can't wait to see him in there making the room his own!

In other news, we are scheduled for our fire inspection for Monday, May 18th. That is just one day before our 2nd Wedding anniversary! When the inspector called to schedule yesterday, I was so excited I nearly squealed!

Journey Journal

I wanted to blog this last night, but didn't have a chance.  Maybe I should have done it when I woke up at 3:45 AM and couldn't go back to sleep, but alas better late than never!  I have posted several updates on the adoption process, but not as much about my feelings during this process.  I don't really know why I haven't shared them other than I don't think I really understood some of them until recently.  I decided I want to do some more in depth documentation since this blog is the longest running "journal" I've kept in my life!  I hear right brained people tend to be great starters of things, but not as good at following through.   Anyway....

I have had a flood of weird contradicting emotions over the last few weeks.  There has been a lot going on as you can tell from my posts lately, but one thing is constantly on my mind, or should I say one person.  He's faceless, nameless, but so very real to my heart.  I've busied myself with everything I can possibly "do" to prepare for him, but so much is out of my control.  I am very grateful though that God is using this time to endear me to my child, His child.   He keeps drawing me to this scripture, which I pray often for our little man:

Isaiah 43:1

But now, this is what the LORD says— ...
       "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; 
       I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

God reminds me that our child is first and foremost His child and He has chosen us to have the privilege of helping him to understand and accept his ultimate worth as a chosen child of God.  It is my prayer that as our child begins to understand his adoption into our family, we will be able to point him to the ultimate adoption we have all experienced through the sacrifice of Christ.  The aforementioned scripture in a simpler form may end up on our child's bedroom wall.  I want him to know from the beginning when he is confused by the numerous people who have been "parents" in his life that He is Christ's kid.  I'm sorry if my thoughts are scrambled, but that is how it has been lately.   

Last week it struck me on my way home from work, just like a lightening bolt - intense sadness, perhaps grief.  I cried and cried, but I didn't know why.  I cried for the fact that we would not have a baby dedication for our child, or any baby pictures, nor experience many of the firsts that come in the toddler stage.  I became fearful that my tears meant this was not what we are supposed to do.  It wasn't until a day or two later that I began to understand.  I was grieving for the first few years of our child's life that we were not able to share with him.  I spoke to my friend who works with post adoption families and she said it was okay.  In fact she said that the kids grieve the years they have not shared with their adoptive families as well.  It was then I realized it was another way in which God is growing me and preparing me for being the momma to such a precious boy who has endured so many difficult circumstances.

We're here

Sorry it has been so long since we posted. I'm sure our 2 faithful readers were disappointed! Anyway, things are moving right along for us. This week is my 4th week at my new job at UCP. So far I really like it/ love it! I have been training this week and working with my supervisor to define my new role. I am the first behavioral therapist they have had. Though they are excited to have me, they don't seem quite sure how to utilize me yet. In the mean time I am doing a lot of observation and some consultation. I am also still taking my alternative teaching classes one evening a week and on Saturdays through the end of May.
Jeff started working extra for the quarter about a week ago so he too is staying busy. He has been trying to leave by 9:30 every night so we can see each other at least for half an hour or so. I go to bed early now that I'm up at 5:30 AM.
On the adoption front, we are anxiously awaiting our guy's furniture which should come any day now. We have also completed most of our requirements for the fire inspection and will be done after one more trip to Home Depot. Our application is in, our references are out and soon it will be a waiting game. I get more excited every day to meet him and am praying God will continue to prepare us for our new role as parents!

D-Town Fun!

We went to Dallas last weekend to visit with the Carpenter clan. We needed to get away and will find any excuse to go up there! We are anxiously awaiting this new addition to our drive: We definitely almost got run over while I was trying to get this picture before the sign changed again!
While we were in town we went to take family portraits with this lil' Texas beauty:
Jeff and I struggled, but we did get a couple good shots.  
I was trying to get a good picture for the cover of our family book for the adoption agency.
I captured this photo of Drew as he patiently waited for his family portrait.  What a cutie!
We also went to see the Herwecks while we were in town.  We enjoyed visiting them as well and Caleb is growing up so fast!  All in all it was a fabulous trip that ended with dinner at Jeff's parents on the way home.  Stay tuned for news about how my first week at my new job went!

Ariana arrives!

Thursday my BFF, Jenny and I met up for pedicures and a Sonic. I was worried about her driving around as she was feeling some pain. I literally pictured her pulled over on the side of the road to have the baby. She worked and drove around right up until the last minute. She's so independent!! Anyway, while I was waiting for her to arrive Thursday, I called her every 5 minutes to make sure she was okay. Well, Thursday night after the pedicure and Jenny's drive home, Jenny headed to the hospital! Friday, 4/3/09 at 6:15 am, sweet Ariana was born at 7 lbs. 7 oz!!! Jeff and I went to the hospital to visit Friday afternoon before heading to Dallas for the weekend. Ariana is quite a cutie and has a FULL head of dark hair! "Uncle" Jeff was instantly in love! Of course, "Aunt" Becca couldn't get enough!