Sunny Skies Ahead

DH and I decided not to get each other gifts this Christmas.  Even though it was our first as husband and wife we are looking at the bigger picture.  We both want to adopt a child soooooooooo bad and we all know how expensive it is.  We have been saving our money and planning ways to be financially ready for the day we got THE CALL to come get our forever child. 

God has a way of working things out and he placed an opportunity for the adoption money in front of us.  Four months ago DH and I found an adoption agency we were both super excited about.  The wait time was short.  They housed all social workers AND legal admins in the same location.  It was pretty much a one stop shop.  With all that comes a higher cost and we went to the bank to borrow the ridiculous amount of money.  We were denied for the amount requested.  Afterwards we were both stressed.  We kept circulating ideas about how on earth we were going to get the money together to push our paperwork through to the marketing department of this agency we loved so much.  DH and I are both teachers so it's obvious we don't make tons of money.  We didn't choose our careers for the money.  We chose them because we both have a desire to teach children. 

To make a long story short, after we were denied we gave it a couple weeks and decided to search for a local adoption agency that suited us.  We found one.  We finished all our required paperwork (including home study) in only 3 weeks!!  (We are not joking around with this adoption business)  Three weeks ago we went to the SAME bank requesting the SAME amount in loans for adoption and we were APPROVED!!!!  There were no questions, no down payments, no nothing.  We were approved with flying colors!  Now, this told us a couple different things. 
1.  We obviously were not meant to go through the first agency for our forever family.
2.  God does have a hand in everything we do and we know it's all in His timing.

So now we wait for THAT call to say we have been matched.  In the meantime, now that most of the stress is now gone thanks to God and the people at the bank, DH and I decided to give each other a Christmas present and we booked a trip to Mexico!  We will be boarding Carnival Paradise in April (our spring break) heading towards Cozumel and Grand Cayman.  This will be our honeymoon/Christmas gift/de-stresser trip all in one and we are so looking forward to enjoying some time together...just the two of us :)

Day 66

I can't believe it's already been 66 days that DH and I have been waiting on our child to come home.  I keep trying to look at the cup half full.  66 is closer to 100 than to 0.  When I say it in months it seems shorter so I choose to count the days by just that.  Days.  As far as I know we've had 2 birth mothers view our profile, but we haven't been matched yet.  We're both just happy at this point that someone is interested enough to even consider us as parents to their precious baby.  We can't wait until we find that ONE birth mother who does choose us to raise her child.  We have so many plans for our future family.  We've talked about vacations, room decorations, baby names, family gatherings, events, etc. that we want our child to be a part of.  We are both very close to our families and bringing a new addition into our circle will only add to the love that already exists.  Our hope is that by next Christmas we will be able to celebrate with our new baby.

So far DH and I have had Christmas at work, Christmas with my mom and sisters and their families, Christmas with my dad and sisters and their families (my parents are divorced), and tomorrow we will have Christmas with DH's parents and his siblings and their families.  I've eaten so much food and candy that my diet has went out the door and up a flight of stairs!  I'm not complaining though because through all the food and candy there's been so many new memories made.  DH and I have spent our first Christmas together as a married couple.  I couldn't imagine making these memories with anyone else.

I hope that everyone continues to pray for the sweet children who lost their lives a little over a week ago.  Pray for the families who must make it through the holidays without the laughter of their babies.  Pray that God will be with each one as they struggle through such a difficult time.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas!  Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season :)

Day 55

Today makes 55 days since DH and I have officially been on the waiting list for adoption.  Yesterday, I received an email that our adoption worker received a phone call from a girl who was due in 3 weeks and had just decided to make an adoption plan for her baby.  Our adoption worker emailed all "waiting" families stating that that the birth mother had viewed all profiles that were online.  There are a total of 7 families online through our agency.  Our worker was going to meet with the birth mother in person yesterday and discuss the adoption plan.  I haven't heard anything since...

We were told when we started the whole process of adoption that the estimated wait time through a private agency is anywhere from 1.5-2 years.  I know we haven't been waiting that long, but this is the second time we have received word that our profile has been viewed by a birth mother.  Is it false hope?  Should we get excited?  Should we just be happy that our profile is being seen?  DH and I requested that our worker let us know when our profile is viewed.  We did this for several reasons.  For one, we wanted to make sure our agency was what they stated they were, an agency that truly lets the birth mother choose the family to place the baby with.  We didn't want to be #216 on a list.  Second, we wanted to see if we were viewed multiple times and still weren't chosen what was the cause.  Maybe change pictures?  Details?  New adoption book?  New online profile?  Obviously, those that have been down this road know where I'm coming from.  DH and I are learning this is quite a journey.  We just can't wait to get the call saying we've been matched!  We are even excited to adopt and keep our profile open for another child.  We are excited at the opportunity to raise a baby together :)

On the diet front, I've been at it for 2 weeks and 2 days and am down 7.6 pounds and holding steady.  I realize I've hit the point where exercise is going to have to come into play.  Have I mentioned how much I HATE exercising????  Well, I do!!!  I now have 39.4 pounds to lose until I reach my goal.  Prayers are much appreciated...

Weekend Wrap Up

My husband and I decided this weekend would be our "lazy" weekend.  We dropped my step son off on Friday evening after school so he could spend the weekend with his mother.  DH and I decided to have a nice dinner at Red Lobster...YUM!  We enjoyed our dinner together and drove home to spend the rest of the evening watching Christmas movies snuggled up in our favorite oversized chair.

Saturday we slept in late, which was super nice.  We ate some lunch, napped, and ate again.  On Friday before I left school 2 of our students (we are both teachers) invited us to come watch their Christmas play.  I was so touched and felt so honored that these girls thought enough of us to ask us to watch their special performance.  So DH and I headed out Saturday evening to watch the 2 hour event.  It was AMAZING!  I'm so proud of these 2 young ladies and the message they are involved in witnessing to others. 

Today, DH and I didn't make it to church.  I've been down in my back for 2 days now and it's been hard to move around as much as I'd like.  We spent the day today watching the rain, watching some football, and cooking some yummy food (thanks Pintrest)! 

Things with the diet have been going pretty well.  Tomorrow I will have my 2 week weigh in.  As of this morning I'm down 7.6 pounds!!!!!!  I'm excited to see some pounds gone!

I hope everyone has a blessed week! :)

Day 45

Almost daily I log onto this blog, a savior in so many ways, to read stories of those I've connected with about adoption and infertility.  I enjoy catching up on the blogs I follow and reading the day's events in the lives of each one.  Some are sharing stories and pictures of their little ones via adoption and some are sharing stories of the pain they still endure years later from choosing adoption.  As the Christmas season approaches I pray that each story is heard and that God helps those who are still in pain see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I pray that He continues to bless those whose families have been created by adoption.

By husband and I have been "waiting" for 45 days now.  We spent yesterday doing most of our Christmas shopping.  We walked around the mall and went into so many stores.  We bought for us and we bought for others.  We browsed shoes, accessories, clothes, and everything else imaginable.  Lucky for me DH is an awesome shopping buddy.  More then that, he just enjoys spending time with me, something I've wished for my whole adult life. 

We traveled in and out of different stores and had fun just holding hands and walking through the mall.  As we passed by baby items we would say "if it's a girl..." or "if it's a boy..."  I know we are only at day 45, but the final day where we are matched can't come soon enough!  We are going through a private agency (not an attorney) and our social worker has told us not to dwell on the wait time.  She clearly stated the average wait time was 1.5-2 years.  I do find moments of reading stories where I can't wait til I can share MY story of a happy ending, my chance to become a mommy.  DH and I are excited for what is to come.  We are excited to be parents together.  We are excited for a future of several children. 

I don't know what God's plan is for us, but he has blessed us beyond measure!  Even with the struggles of infertility and sometimes not knowing where I am supposed to be or what I'm supposed to do with my life, He places things in my path along the way to show me I'm heading in the right direction.  Please pray that the wait time continues to go smooth and painless.  I hope everyone enjoys their Sunday!