You've Got Mail

Many of you Dillon adoptive families out there understand what I mean when I say my heart skips when I open my email and see one from Tami, our director. It happened again today and although it was not the news that we had received NOC, there was a sweet new picture of our little guy. Totally unexpected but such a blessing, especially to see him sitting up somewhat!

We have been waiting on NOC for 6 weeks now and it has been 14 weeks since we first got the call. We were studying Mary this week in Bible study and the biggest thing I learned from her was her willingness to serve the Lord no matter the consequence. She made a choice to obey Him and a choice about her attitude in the process. Following her example, I am willing to wait on God, trust His plan to grow our family through adoption no matter how long it takes or what trials we endure to make it happen. He will provide, He will answer, He is good.

Thankful

Wow, what a week. It's been hard around here as I've been battling my selfishness in every area of my life. We've had some big disappointments and sad news and cancelled vacations.

This morning I dropped Lucy off at school and was in the parking lot ready to go to MOPS with Nate when he threw up all over himself before we even got out of the car. So I put the car in reverse and home we are. The car seat cover, jacket, clothes are in the washing machine, Barney is on the television, Nate is snuggled on the couch with water (he will not be having watermelon yogurt for a looooong time) and I opened my email to find....






Thank you, Lord, for blessing me when I do NOT deserve it. Seeing my boy in these valentine jammies makes me smile. And that's just what I needed! (And thanks to Anjali & family for taking these sweet pictures!)

Randomness

Some random things going on:

I have been following the Money Saving Mom blog for a few months now and had a great experience recently. I never thought to shop at Walgreens or CVS (we don't have one yet but our first store is being built just down the road) but thanks to her blog and others like it, I am beating the system!

For example, last week I got diapers, two boxes of toothpaste and deodorant for $10. The diapers alone were $9.99 so the rest was free! This is all from clipping coupons and watching weekly ads! We now have a wealth of toothpaste and deodorant (among other items) in our storage closet and didn't pay a penny for them! And we know that in today's economy, saving money is a huge benefit!

My in-laws were gracious enough to purchase matching beds for Nate & Cole and they arrived yesterday! Cole's bed will be stored since he'll start out in the crib but Nate's is up in their room. It is amazing to go in there now and see two beds for two boys! My mom is making baseball quilts for their beds so I will post pictures when it's all set up. (No pressure, Mom!)

I finally finished all my sewing orders and can now do things for Cole. Today I finished his lovey blanket and am going to start on a pillow for his bed. I am also making Lucy & Nate "Big Sister" & "Big Brother" t-shirts. It sure helps the time go by and we are hoping to receive our NOC soon!

Things with Arbonne are really going great. I started in late September and feel more determined and inspired even now. It has been such a blessing to see other families' benefit from the healthy products as well as earn income to help out in meager times.

Mark has been working a ton of hours (64 a week!) but is hopeful that by March he can at least stay home on Saturdays with us again. It's been rough for all of us but I can happily say we are trusting God and thankful that Mark still has a job and is gaining a lot of experience in the process. Needless to say, Sundays are our favorite day of the week since we all get to be together!

Mark also has started a biblical counseling ministry at our church on Wednesday nights. I'm so thankful to see God use him in this way and to provide solid, biblical truths to those who are in need.

I'm getting antsy for spring and should know better since this is my second St. Louis winter. I am really trying to stay content in our circumstances although I'd love to be wearing short sleeves and to see the sun shine! All in God's timing though!

Meanwhile, I can not express how blessed I feel. My heart, of course, aches for Cole, but I truly feel like the prayers of our friends & family are granting us such peace during this time. I know, we haven't even been waiting that long and haven't had major disappointments yet (I'm sure we will) but for now, I am going to latch on to these truths and thank the Lord!

Powerful Video

A Prayer for the President

It's not a secret I didn't vote for Obama. I vote on the issue of life, and he & I fervently disagree on that. I support and respect the office of President, no matter who it is. I'm thrilled with the historical breakthrough of the moment and understand what significance this day holds.

I found this prayer on Al Mohler's blog and thought it was excellent. The paragraphs in bold are something I'll continue to pray again and again. And as always, may God receive the glory. Only He is worthy. No man is righteous, not one.

Our Father, Lord of all creation, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: We pray today with a sense of special urgency and responsibility. We come before you to pray for our new President, Barack Obama, and for all those in this new administration who now assume roles of such high responsibility.

We know that you and you alone are sovereign; that you rule over all, and that you alone are able to keep and defend us. We know that our times are in your hands, and that "the king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord" [Proverbs 21:1]. Our confidence is in you and in you alone. We come before you as a people who acknowledge our constant need for your provision, wisdom, and protection.

Father, we pray today for Barack Obama as he takes office as President of the United States. We pray that you will show the glory of your name in our times and in these days, confounding the wisdom of the wise, thwarting the plans of the arrogant, and vindicating those who do justice and practice righteousness.

Father, we pray with thanksgiving for the gift of government and the grace of civic order. Thank you for giving us rulers and for knowing our need for laws and ordered life together. Thank you for this nation and the blessings we know as its citizens. Thank you for freedoms unprecedented in human history. We understand that these freedoms come with unprecedented opportunities.

Lord, we pray with thanksgiving for the joy and celebration reflected on millions of faces who never expected to look to the President of the United States and see a person who looks like themselves. Father, thank you for preserving this nation to the moment when an African-American citizen will take the oath of office and become our President. Thank you for the hope this has given to so many, the pride emerging in hearts that had known no such hope, and the pride that comes to a people who have experienced such pain at the hands of fellow citizens, simply because of the color of their skin. Father, we rejoice in every elderly face that reflects such long-sought satisfaction and in every young face that expresses such unrestrained joy. May this become an open door for a vision of race and human dignity that reflects your glory in our differences, and not our corruption of your gift.

Father, protect this president, we pray. We pray that you will surround this president and his family, along with all our leaders, with your protection and sustenance. May he be protected from evil acts and evil intentions, and may his family be protected from all evil and harm.

We pray that the Obama family will be drawn together as they move into the White House, and that they will know great joy in their family life. We are thankful for the example Barack and Michelle Obama have set as parents. Father, protect those precious girls in every way -- including the protection of their hearts as they see their father often criticized and as he is away from them on business of state. May their years in the White House bring them all even closer together.

Father, we pray for the safety and security of this nation, even as our new president settles into his role as Commander in Chief. We know that you and you alone can be our defense. We do not place our trust in horses or chariots, and we pray that you will give this president wisdom as he fulfills this vital responsibility.

Father, grant him wisdom in every dimension of his vast responsibility. Grant him wisdom to deal with a global financial crisis and with the swirling complex of vexing problems and challenges at home and abroad. May he inspire this nation to a higher vision for our common life together, to a higher standard of justice, righteousness, unity, and the tasks of citizenship.

Father, we pray that you will change this president's heart and mind on issues of urgent concern. We are so thankful for his gifts and talents, for his intellect and power of influence. Father, bend his heart to see the dignity and sanctity of every single human life, from the moment of conception until natural death. Father, lead him to see abortion, not as a matter of misconstrued rights, but as a murderous violation of the right to life. May he come to see every aborted life as a violation of human dignity and every abortion as an abhorrent blight upon this nation's moral witness. May he pledge himself to protect every human life at every stage of development. He has declared himself as an energetic defender of abortion rights, and we fear that his election will lead directly to the deaths of countless unborn human beings. Protect us from this unspeakable evil, we pray. Most urgently, we pray that you will bring the reign of abortion to an end, even as you are the defender of the defenseless.

Father, may this new president see that human dignity is undermined when human embryos are destroyed in the name of medical progress, and may he see marriage as an institution that is vital to the very survival of civilization. May he protect all that is right and good. Father, change his heart where it must be changed, and give him resolve where his heart is right before you.

Father, when we face hard days ahead -- when we find ourselves required by conscience to oppose this president within the bounds of our roles as citizens -- may we be granted your guidance to do so with a proper spirit, with a proper demeanor, and with persuasive arguments. May we learn anew how to confront without demonizing, and to oppose without abandoning hope.

Father, we are aware that our future is in your hands, and we are fully aware that you and you alone will judge the nations. Much responsibility is now invested in President Barack Obama, and much will be required. May we, as Christian citizens, also fulfill what you would require of us. Even as we pray for you to protect this president and change his heart, we also pray that your church will be protected and that you will conform our hearts to your perfect will.

Father, we pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, the ever-reigning once and future King, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He and he alone can save, and his kingdom is forever. Above all, may your great name be praised. Amen.

Today

Cole is 7 months old! So much closer to one and hopefully that much closer to joining our family! I had my first dream about going to pick him up (well the first one I remember the next day anyways) and I have had to battle hard not to let the pity party overtake me. (Many of my friends here had babies last summer so I am reminded often of what I am missing!) God's timing is best and I trust Him to watch over and protect Cole in the meantime.

I'm privileged to spend this day praying for a little girl I've never met, a family I will probably never know. But I believe in the power of prayer and so do they. Will you join us?

Pray for Abby.

Feeling Blah...

It's only January 7th and my New Year's attitude of being inspired and motivated has already crashed & burned! On New Year's Day I purged every room in the house and proceeded to lock all the give-aways in the guest room where they wait to be delivered to Goodwill. Earlier this week I cooked all day to have dinners ready to go so I just have to reheat in the evening. I've made tons of contacts for my business and am now just waiting for that to take off. We don't expect any news regarding Cole for a long while and my plan to keep busy and to keep time moving along is slowly backfiring. I need a project...

Meanwhile, Nate amuses us more every day. This is such a fun age. During my marathon cooking event, I noticed it had gotten really quiet (never a good sign) and looked around the corner to see Nate consuming cereal by the handful:

Now I know why the previous owners of our house (who also had small kids) had a lock on the pantry door. We are now using it regularly!

He has also mastered the stairs so we can put away the baby gate for a little bit (until Cole arrives). He cracks us up with his methods of going down - sliding down so fast on his tummy or bumping along on his bottom.

Lucy has quickly caught on to her influence over her brother. I casually mentioned the other day how she had a copycat and she just loves that phrase - it's all I hear now! We have had many talks about how God made her the big sister on purpose, so she could be a good example for her brothers and teach them how to obey...

We are going to start a little homeschooling next week. She will go to public school Kindergarten next year but I really want to get a jumpstart on her reading. (I used to teach so I know how difficult it is to learn later rather than sooner). Mark has already been teaching her the Bible using his awesome curriculum he wrote. They just finished studying the minor prophets and are on to the writings!

I'm busy praying for all the other adoptive families - hopefully things will start moving soon with referrals and other news! 2009 is going to be great...eventually. :)