Prayers Please

This means we've got some serious fundraising to do!!!!!

Risk Takers.

risk

noun: risk; plural noun: risks

1.

a situation involving exposure to danger.

"flouting the law was too much of a risk"

verb: risk; 3rd person present: risks; past tense: risked; past participle: risked; gerund or present participle: risking

1.      expose (someone or something valued) to danger, harm, or loss.

      
         "he risked his life to save his dog"

There are risks associated with everything we do here in this life, on this earth. Sometimes what we know to be possible we hide from our minds and then it's as if it "surprises" us when we're made to face them. Other times we know, but we run from the truth until we can't run any longer. We risk when we hope. We risk when we love. We even face a risk in the waiting.

Our possible birth mother, as of last week, was still undecided on a family, however due to circumstances we are unaware of she has had a miscarriage. I feel very sad for her, not for us - as I felt from the very beginning that God was safe guarding my heart this time around (not hardening it, He just gave me a certain feeling that this baby wasn't meant to be ours). Please, if you read this send a prayer up for M & J. I cannot imagine what they must be going through right now. I'm sure there are some that would argue, "But they were putting the baby up for adoption... and so on..." True, they were, but here's my BUT for you, through adoption they could have still been a part of this beautiful child's life; they could have still been able to see their child, talk with their child, hug their child. Now their precious baby is in God's arms and they are suffering the loss of never knowing him/her. 

As for us, we will continue pushing forward. God has a very special child (or children if twins become an option) out there for us. 

I'll end this with the last three wreaths I've made and sold. Please get with us if you would like one!

Every good thing.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day and weekend! We stayed in this year and celebrated what will hopefully be our last Valentine's Day without a child. I made a dinner of Chris' favorite foods and we ate by candle light for most of the meal - it eventually got too dark for no lights!I even got all dressed up AND found a zebra for Chris. haha.

Saturday we took the munchkins hiking at a preserve not too far from where we live. What started out as a hike turned into a swim about 3 miles in. Frankie loved it, the little ones got carried and we got soaked.

We got home to a wonderful surprise. A package from my one set of my paternal grandparents. Baby "G" got his/her first gift in the mail. A beautiful afghan made by his/her great-grandmother!! It goes perfectly with the nursery. I also put up some cards we've gotten over the last few weeks concerning baby "G". I painted a backboard and frame and made baby "G" his/her very own card DIY cork board lol.

Yesterday after church and lunch with Chris' mom and dad we went on our weekly bike ride. All-in-all we had a very wonderful-love-filled weekend!

Now - onto the adoption front. Our book was given to another birth/first mommie and daddy Friday. It's the waiting game again, but we're just grateful to be here!

I wanted to give a break down of the money we've raised so far and where it's been used so that all of you beautiful loving people will know exactly where and how much you're helping us! First of all, you may have noticed that the ending amount over to the right has changed some. This is because every situation is different and if the current birth/first mommie chooses us we will need to pay more than the last quoted amount. Why? This birth/first mommie will be working one on one with a therapist that will help her get through this process - which we believe is awesome.

We have raised $2,040 at this point, however we're still waiting on our Chrome Buffalo money, so it's actually $1,974. Out of that $2,040 we have used $1,192.70.

•  We used $192.70 to buy safety items for the house - outlet plugs, cabinet locks, ext - as well as other items we needed to get us ready for the home study!  
• Our home study fee had to be paid a few weeks ago. Rather than cause ourselves any debt to pay it we used $1,000 of our raised funds. *The remaining $500 won't be due until post placement.

Our goal is to try and get through this adoption without any debt. We know that raising a child is expensive and we're trying to do the best that we can to not start our journey off with such a huge debt from the get go. You gals & guys are AMAZING for all that you've done to help us so far. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!

Roots.

Roots, we're born with them, though they might not always seems important to us. I've always been drawn to learn all that I can about mine. I love knowing where "I come from". It's a big deal in my opinion. I've been wondering what the best ways will be to gather this type of information for our child if it is at all possible. I know the best way would be to talk to our child's first mommie, but realistically I also know that this may not happen, his/her first mommie may not want that contact. We're new to this thing called adoption, so we don't know what to completely expect. Obviously for our child's health and safety we will want to know medical histories, but if it's possible I'd love to know more than that. I'd love to know my child's first roots. One day this may arise as a question from our child to us and I want to be able to give as much as I can when this does. I know I may not be able to, but if that's the case it's a bridge we'll cross when we get there.

I found a list of 60+ Ways to Prepare for Adoption. Among this list I found this section:

Honoring Your Child's Story, Including First Family and Past Connections
20. Make a plan for honoring your child's past. (Where can important photos be placed? How can the first family be honored, thanked, prayed for within your family rituals? Will you make a lifebook?)
21. Read Before You Were Mine: Discovering Your Adopted Child's Lifestory by Susan TeBos and Carissa Woodwyk
22. View (and discuss) Closure. 
23. Watch (and discuss) "Listen" by Carissa Woodwyk (an adoptee).

I'm writing this post not only as a reminder for myself, but to share with anyone else going through adoption that may be interested!

"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are and where we came from."-Alex Haley

Loving every moment.

I got online to check facebook yesterday morning and see this as Chris' status:

"So I woke up today full of life, full of joy, full of hope. Just the mere idea that I will soon be a Dad is amazing. I never wanted anything so much in my entire life."

*swoon*  I felt like my heart was going to explode. Tomorrow, if all goes well, my mom will be driving down and she, my mother-in-law and I are going shopping for the baby's room! I'm so excited that things are falling into place. Praise GOD in all His glory! 

Psalm 150; vs. 1-6
Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.  Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,  praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,  praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Chris' mom stopped by today to see the crib all set up and brought a gift, one of the items we had on baby Williams' amazon wish list. It's Sophie La Girafe!

Tomorrow Chris' mom, my mom (who's driving down in the morning) and I are going shopping for baby items! I'm so excited I could burst! Our baby is so loved already and he/she isn't even here yet! I do believe we will be ready to begin the home study by the end of the month if all continues and we get everything we need!