Equipped

  Today  I am going over all our home study paperwork . I have a checklist of things that need to be done and scheduled in order for us to move forward.
    Background checks and finger prints
     Physicals and doctors appointment for all of us, so our Dr's can sign off that were all healthy enough to bring another child into our home !
    Save lots of money.
     And then we can have a social worker come out to our home and make sure we are fit parents. On this day I will bathe my children and mop my floors.  Who am I kidding?

 We have begun this kitchen remodel that has no end in sight. But I'm OK with it actually I feel content about it not being finished.
We have done enough work for our cups and bowls to be accessible - if I was being really motivated I would like to at least get one drawer installed for silverware, but it's manageable .

Instead of focusing on my kitchen not being completed I'm focusing on how rad it is that we finally own our own home. This home is going to be where our children grow and look to as their safe haven. I remember my first home as a child and all the memories that little room I occupied  blessed me with . That amazing pink carpeting and Koala bed spread.
    My girlfriends and I putting on endless dance routines for my family, and all the holidays and family get togethers. Those years in my  first home I don't recall the projects my parents took on. I'm sure there were many but my focus as a child was the joy and fun that filled that house .

  So when I look at my outdated /unfinished kitchen I'm looking at it through a new lens. A lens that shows me how blessed I am to have tons of counter space to cook meals for friends  to gather around. A lens that shows me that I'm equipped to sift through these thoughts of
being "unprepared " to adopt and move forward because I have an unfinished kitchen . Dumb I know. But real thoughts I have had.

 So we're filling out paper work . Signing papers . We're asked things like " tell me about your child hood " and we are given three lines to fill that question . Ughhhhh ..Good ? Ha no.."amazing " my childhood was amazing my parents are amazing .. Please let us adopt a child ! Not quite what we said but that's what it feels like.

All of our Dr's appointments are scheduled  for early September . Apparently if your not sick your doctors won't let you schedule appointments for the following day . Things you learn at 27 years old.
     So were just moving right along on this path God has carved out for us and know that he will equip us with every good thing to do His will ,for His glory.

We could also use prayer. Nora has begun second grade and has  taken on an extra layer of "spunk"

 Rush has become a full fledge walker and climber ( this is safe ?)

And we always need prayer for our adoption - God loves adoption but the adversary does not and is strong but our God is stronger !!! 

 If your looking for a way to help us , please pray for us and our family. Also,Our adoption fundraising page can be found here - Fundraising page

We're adopting

   

Wow I just ripped that off like a bandaid. I have been coming up with catchy (corny) phrases on how I wanted to announce this news, but none of them were right. Now that it's out in the open I will explain how this has all begun and where we are heading.

  It was a really hard decision
 11 hour car ride to Northern California
 Me "remember how we were talking about adoption , well I have been thinking about it a lot lately ..
 Like constantly .! I am having dreams about going to Africa and stealing all the orphans. I have     prayed on it and I think it might be the time ."

Ross  "alright let's do it !"

  Alright, well maybe it wasn't that complicated at all. There is so much I want to share with you about the "why" we made this decision. My home is filled with a lot of love and were all buzzing with this new idea of bringing a new family member into our home .

Truthfully,  Nora was not thrilled right away . She has gone through a lot of change in her life and I think she was ready for life to just stay the same for a bit . I was praying her heart would change
 With the more we talked about this adoption . One night she came out of her bedroom for the thousandth time like she always does.
"Mom I want to adopt now "
   Me - "what  oh hunny that is so great , what made you change your mind ?"
" I really want a little sister and I want to name her ."
Me " wow that's super special Nora that would be so great ,what would you want to name her "
"Annie "
Me " oh WOW! Like little orphan Annie ? "
"Ya I love that movie"

From that point on Nora has been on board (Rushy too) I crushed her dreams and let her know that name is off limits ( I can hear the people talking now - " could she really not come up with a better name ")


There's so much that is still unknown but what we do know is God is in this adoption. He loves orphans and will prepare us for whatever our future babe needs.


Love you all and appreciate all the prayers and guidance in this journey.
If you have it on your heart to Financially help us we have created a fundraising page to help bring our child home .Fundraising page