Happy 2007!

I am such a random blogger. Guys, my life really isn’t that interesting. One post every month or two really should take care of it! We were very busy over the recent holiday season, but then again, who wasn’t? We really had a wonderful time with friends and family. What a time to reflect on the blessings we enjoy!

To update you on previous posts…no, I haven’t finished our adoption profile. However, I am closer now than I have ever been! When I get it completed, I will e-mail it to those of you who would like a copy. We are adopting through a private attorney. He has suggested that we first of all, notify all of our friends and family of our desire to adopt. Frequently, adoptive parents are matched up with a birth mother simply by a third party of mutual friends. So, here is a way that you may be able to help us. If you happen to come in contact with someone who is pregnant and considering placing her child for adoption, please let her know that we are interested in talking with her. In addition to “word of mouth,” our attorney will keep our profile in his office for anyone to look at who may be considering adoption locally. He is THE best adoption attorney within a 100 mile radius. Because of our age, he doesn’t think that this process should take very long for us. Let's be honest...because of our good looks, too! I am SO just kidding!!!

We would like to ask that you keep us in your prayers. As strong as we are, this is definitely emotional! We met with a prospective birth mother two weeks ago. That was the first time we have actually come face to face with someone who possibly holds our future in her hands. After our meeting, both Eric and I felt that she would ultimately keep the child. The Lord has definitely prepared us for that. Her mind is still not made up, but we know in our hearts what the outcome will be. Who can fault her? In addition to praying for us, we also ask that you keep the birth mother of our child in your prayers. We are praying now, wherever she may be, that God will prepare her heart for this excruciating decision she will be faced with. We have a perfect peace in our hearts knowing that God has led us to this place. We feel confident that he is choosing this path for us.

Thank you all for your friendship and support.

Hectic months...

It has been quite a while since my last post. Yes, I am still here, just a little more busy than usual. When I started blogging, Eric was out of town for work. Needless to say, he is home now and I have had very little time to catch up. Those of you who have kept in touch know that Eric is a police officer in the city where we live. He was recently promoted and then out of town for five weeks of training to become a K-9 officer. We now have another dog to add to our line-up of Baxters! Unfortunately, I am not helping out the cause of being called the “Crazy Aunt with Dogs.” I am trying to convince my family that “Basco” is Eric’s dog, not mine. I cannot accept any relation. How can you be an owner of a dog that you will not even pat on the head? He really is a good dog, just intimidating to say the least. He is also very well traveled, being born in the Czech Republic and obedience-trained in Holland. You should hear my Tennessee husband speaking Dutch. I guess the dog understands “Southern” as he responds appropriately. I’ll try to post a picture soon.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I must mention how thankful I am for my good life. God has been so faithful and has blessed me in so many ways that I cannot begin to comprehend the fullness of it all. If I dwell on the gifts He has given me I am completely overwhelmed. I have a husband who truly completes me, an extended family with support that engulfs me, a job that supplies well over my needs, a church family that upholds me and more friends than I truly deserve. How blessed in fact I am! Happy Thanksgiving!

Sticking My Head in the Sand

The purpose of this blog was to journal for our friends, our long, lengthy, and even emotional process of adoption. Many ask where we are on this journey, so my intention is to keep everyone posted through this medium. Those of you who know me know that I thrive on a plan. In a nutshell, surprise birthday parties make me want to sit down and cry. Most of you have seen one of my many day-timers….I do have a weak spot for Franklin-Covey planning systems. The one consistent thing about adoption is that there is little predictability. Let me just say how much that scares me. Our proofs have been ready for seven weeks but I still haven’t scheduled time to meet with our photographer to order the pictures. I have yet to print our profile, which I have edited at least fifty-two times. I’ll be really honest and let you know that my sister even wrote the majority of it. She is very aware of this problem I have, known as sticking my head in the sand. If I ignore it, it will either go away or someone else will do it for me. Those who have been down this path before assure me that this is the hardest part. Creating a profile complete with photos and actually handing it over to the attorney will be the most difficult step of this whole process, I am told. At this point I would tend to agree. Eric is so patient and puts up with my dragging this out. What a good man. I am setting a goal to have it completed by Thanksgiving. That will give me one month to take control of myself and do this! I’m forcing myself to get over the ostrich syndrome.

How To Make Dave Ramsey Proud

Please allow me to rant for a little while....
Several days ago, after balancing our checkbook, I discovered that someone so geniously stole our checking account number and printed several checks with false names on them. This obviously takes technique in order to clear two banks without even drawing attention. One would think that with this level of intelligence that this person would be contributing to finding the cure for common diseases, but no, not this individual. They would rather spend their valuable time shopping and spending someone else's hard-earned money at gas stations, quick marts, grocery stores and Wal-Mart. Fast forward to approximately $900 in fraudulent checks deducted from our account. What a mess! We closed our account as soon as possible and transferred our balance to a new account. I never realized how much I depend on plastic! I am now waiting 5 to 7 business days for my new check card to arrive and possibly up to an additional four for the PIN to follow. Today I found myself in the front of the checkout line at a store before I realized that I didn't have any money; of course, I never carry cash! After stopping by the ATM on the way home to take out my weekly allowance, I decided that there is no better time than the present to begin Dave Ramsey's cash only policy. Wish me luck!

Taking a picture of ourselves on vacation!

Well, I guess that if I have to keep up with everyone else, I might as well enter the world of blogging. I'm not too sure how productive I will be...we will have to see! Our life isn't too terribly exciting, but our life is good!