A GREAT DAY!!!!!!!

wow! I can't believe I am writing this! We have a referral! a referral! a referral! (if i say it enough, maybe it will really sink in!) I really wasn't expecting one for at least 3 more weeks. The majority of the families working with AGCI received a referral after waiting 2 months. (we only waited about 6 weeks!)

Last Thursday, I was reading Rachel some books, trying to get her to take a nap. The phone rang, and I decided I wouldn't answer it, but just try to continue to put Rachel down. Then I heard my cell phone ring. I figured it was Jesse just checking in. But when the main phone rang again, I realized it had to be more. I quickly tucked Rachel in, and ran to check caller id. The first number was Jesse's cell, the second one was AGCI! I immediately started to cry & shake. I then tried calling Jesse's cell, but got the answering machine right away. I hung up & check my messages. Listened to the one from Jesse..."Julie just called me, It's a good day! I'm on my way home!" I continued to cry (I don't think i have to specify that these were tears of complete joy & excitement!) I finally got a hold of Jesse, and he said he was on his way home and then we'll call Julie, and she'll give us the information. It takes Jesse about 20 minutes to get home, but I was completely beside myself! I called my sister, and she listened while I cried some more. I just could not believe that OUR DAY was here! I took some time before Jesse got home to pray. I thanked God that we have this opportunity, and I also prayed that this was the right child for us. It's very nerve wracking, to just be waiting and waiting to see who is going to join your family....i think especially since our options were very open. We didn't know if we were going to end up with siblings or not, or if we would have a girl or a boy. We just couldn't wait to find out!

Jesse finally got home, and we called Julie. She told us that there was a 3 month old little boy for us! This came to us a little of a surprise, b/c we kind of expected to be getting a sibling group, or figured that the child would be older (since we were willing to take an older child) But once Julie started telling us about him, peace just came over me. We are going to have a son! a little tiny baby son! Unfortunately I can't post his picture (not until he's legally ours).... but you'll have to take my word on it... he is just precious!

So now we have to send in all the paperwork accepting the referral, and then we wait some more. :) It usually takes about 2 months between referral and travel. But the courts are still closed, and once they reopen we don't know how this will effect us, but I am just so happy to have this little one! God is so good!

Waiting

We are still waiting. & I must admit it's starting to get hard. I know I shouldn't complain, b/c our agency actually has one of the shortest wait times for a referral, but it's getting hard. & we've only been waiting for about a month. Julie, our caseworker has said that a referral can take anywhere from 2-6 months, although most haven't taken that long. So please pray that Jesse & I can be patient, and wait on God's perfect timing.

Habakkuk 2:3 (NLT)
"This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."

Happy New Millennium

Ethiopia is celebrating their millennium today. To find out why they celebrate 7 years later then the rest of the world click here.

Wish we were there to join in with the celebration!

How to Pay for an Adoption

First Day of School

I can't believe it....my daughter is in preschool! This past Wednesday they had kind of like an open house, so that the kids could check out their rooms/teachers with their parents. Of course they do this, so the separation is easier for the kids & let's be realistic it's really for the parents. For those of you who know Rachel you know this is not an issue at all for her. She went right in, and started looking around, and after being there for an hour was giving her teacher a hug. It was fun seeing the classroom. She only goes for 2 1/2 hours, but they seem to do so much.





So today was her official first day. I didn't think I would be really sad when I dropped her off, but everyone would laugh when I would tell them this, and they would say "we'll see". Well I didn't cry...does this make me a bad mom? I thought it was so cute to see my little girl walk into the school & act like such a big kid. Of course she loved it, and is so excited to go back.

The Wedding

I'm one of those people that once I stop doing something regularly it's hard for me to get back into it.... exercising for example, i do great until something happens where i can't excerise for a day or two, and then it takes me about a month to start up again...reading the Bible, emailing, cleaning...same thing. I can now add to the list...blogging. :) So sorry about my shortcomings...but I don't see things getting any better any time soon. But hey I can't be great at everything right!?

So I'm back tracking a bit and filling you in on the last two weeks. Erik & Lauren's wedding was great. We stayed at Hidden Hollow, a retreat/campground. I was actually not really looking forward to staying in cabins & trying to get ready for a wedding with three bathrooms and 14 people...but it actually was great. It was so much fun hanging out with everyone, and really having time to talk with people we otherwise wouldn't have time to talk with.

Here's a picture of our Cabin. There were 3 rooms, 3 bathrooms, 4 beds, 2 fold out couches, 1 air mattress, 14 people....Good Times!


Rachel & her friend Lulu swimming in the lake.


Lauren getting ready to marry my little brother.


Yes that's my dad in the kilt. You can kind of see Tamara (my sis) & I in the back.


Rachel was a great flower girl. She was acting a little off that day, and was definitely tired of pictures & other boring stuff, so we weren't sure how she'd do. But I do have to say she did great! She definitely thought she was hot stuff. I'm telling you if any of you ever need a flower girl...Rachel's your girl! :) (okay I know I'm her mom, but I still think she did good!)


My Brother & my new Sister-in-law! Yea!


& on a side note, we got to eat at Krystal Burger....Jesse loved it. Okay just kidding, it was awful. If you haven't ever tried it, DON'T! well actually you should, just so you can see how bad it is.



okay, so i've caught you all up with at least something...hopefully more to come soon :)