Goat showing practice

She loves to spend her time at this farm where the time she spends is so close to her heart. She learns the chores with pride and works hard to do it just right. 

 

 The competition of the battle of the will!

Practice makes better! My little goat showing babe!

children are an heritage of the Lord: Ps. 127:3

Love this quote!

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."


___Maya Angelou

summer fun

So much fun comes with summer! I got to go to girls camp this year with our young women! I love serving in our youth program at church...it takes a lot of time but it comes with the greatest rewards!

Recital time was wonderful fun! We are dancing at a new studio it brought new excitement and tons of stage time for my girls! They loved it and so did I!

Many more pictures to come...Blake and Andrew went on a scout trip fishing to FL and a 10 day intensive wrestling camp trip to Iowa.

I'm loving summer! It brings a whole new meaning to spend every minute with these kiddos and not have to worry about making picture appointments! I love working on the same schedule as them! Teaching has some of the greatest rewards!

No baby news we are on the waiting list for 1 month today!

 I never imagined we'd be waiting since everything happened so fast and furious. The promptings of what to do and how to do it were so strong I was sure there would be a child on the other side of the paperwork quickly. When we began this process there was a shortage of families willing to take  full African American children as we proceeded and saved and became paperwork ready many other families also stepped forward since so many changes with foreign adoptions. Where does that leave us? Waiting I guess for the right child that was meant for our family. I had hoped we would place quickly in June so that we could have the whole summer to adapt and adjust with me working having a new addition will take some adjustment plus the travel could take around 2 weeks to complete ICPC across state borders. We were told to plan to stay in another state from 10-14 days at placement. It would be so hard to do that starting a new school year at a new school with kindergarten so I am praying that it will either happen now or Christmas time and not in August or Sept!

This whole process has been like a puzzle but now it's like the puzzle pieces are at  a halt! 

So I guess we will keep waiting....waiting....waiting....!!!  The agency said it could take 6-9 months right now! I guess no news from them is considered good news! We actually have to start updating our home study paperwork so that should keep us busy!  We have fun things planned that keep us busy as well. ...more camping, swimming, scouting, eating, getting ready for kindergartening,  hiking, visiting, cousining, refinishing, picnicking, serving and friending but my favorite thing planned that is coming up is this!!!                

We will be doing this for a young women project and we will also be doing it for just our family project. If you want to join with us in making a dress or two we would love it.  Just think if hundreds of us made just one dress. Or if other youth groups made 15 each how many dresses we could all send! HOW FUN!!!

Here's the pattern....and how to video pattern for dresses 

If you or your organization wants to join with ours then email me murfreesboroyoungwomen@gmail.com  and I will send you my address so we can mail more than just a few! 

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalms 27:14

bitter sweet!

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."


It happened this year....I fell in love over and over with precious children of God. These little people taught me more than I think I taught them, I prayed for these babies-worried about them-cried over them(when they acted crazy during evaluations)  and rejoiced when they learned something new. I will never be the same. It's true you love those you serve. I will never forget my very first little class! 

Happiness!

Spotlight!

One of our sweet school friends and her little cuties are featuring us this week on their blog. She takes the time each week to feature a family that is adopting and raising funds. I love that she brings such an awareness to others!  She brought home this little angel not very long ago. She has been such an inspiration to me and her encouraging words have come at the exact time that I needed them. I feel certain that our daughters crossed paths for a reason and I'm so thankful they did!

  

Thank you Amy for sharing our excitement! 

As of late!

I loved this idea and linked up with them to share what we had going on as of late!
The link is here

As of late:

I have decided that this adoption journey is like a big puzzle. Each day another piece is added! 

I made it to the whole entire end of the school year without getting sick until this week. I got it....fever...sick....whining....the whole works and I couldn't stop because......

Our big news............................................................................................................................................

AS OF LATE....I got a new job at my kids school!!! YAY! I didn't have time to be sick because I had to put my best foot forward and be interview ready!!! Ha!!! Ha!!! 

I will be teaching kindergarten. 

I am so blessed. There are never jobs available at this school. It is a rare find. Well it just happens to have two spots this year. I was so nervous to interview because I had to get a paper signed from my current principal since it's in the same county. He was  soooo nice and understanding. I love it where I am but my heart is with my family. I got to see my new classroom today! No more juggling my girls in the afternoon begging people to help bring them home and arranging rides when I have late meetings or trainings. OH,  I AM SO EXCITED!!! (perfect for a new baby to arrive...less juggling).

AS of LATE: Our son Blake has rocked our world receiving 8 academic awards on awards day today and 3 sports awards at the awards banquet on Tuesday. We didn't even know. I am so impressed with his drive. Sometimes I look at him and just smile and wonder where I got such a good son!


AS of LATE:
We received a donation from a complete stranger. Our friend Christianne linked us up to her blog and along came another donation! WOW! I know...amazing! They have adopted 5 children from China. If you don't know them go read...they are so fun to read! It's amazing to read some of their adoption journeys. She has influenced me so much with more things than adoption.

As of LATE:
WE ARE ACTIVE!  Today....we are active!!! What does that mean?  We could get a match at any time. Does that usually happen? No, but it could. The average wait is 6 months for African American adoptions so I am going to try not to get anxious. I have lots to do but feel so relieved to be finished with paper work!!!!!!!! YaY!

As of Late:
We are helping my mom move less than 2 miles from me  (Another puzzle piece to our puzzle).  I didn't ask her if I could share this fun part of our story so I better wait to make sure it's ok but it's been another miracle.   I can't wait for her to be walking distance. Although we've only been an hour apart for 14 years an hour apart with a  busy family takes planning and 2 miles does not! She is retiring in a few days and I am so excited for her to be so close.

As of Late: We are praying for our two missionaries: William and Spencer to find people that want to hear about Christ!

As of Late:  My boys are finishing up spring football practice,  working at the ball field to make extra money, mowing lawns to pay for summer camps, and finished the 9th and 10th grade today.

As of late:  My girls are preparing for a big dance recital in June and Leah Beth her first girls camp at church!

As of late: My husband is coping with my ADHD and laughing with me because I am so all over the place excited about my new job and going active the same day!!!! Never the less he has taken over the laundry completely (thank you Steve)

AS of LaTe: I am sewing away on our little cape fund raiser! They are turning out so cute!

I could go on but I'll stop with the AS of LATE!!!

I would love to hear what is going on AS of LaTe with you!

Psalms 28:7

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."


This adoption journey has left me daily in amazement. I mean seriously daily something happens that leaves me breathless. The last few days I am literally walking on sunshine.  I am spilling over with gratitude.

Saturday we received a donation that blew my socks off! Ha!  It is amazing how our Heavenly Father places the people right in our path and leads those to us right when we needed.  Right when more money is needed HE is providing for us.  It is also happening with mental support. I can feel like this is too big or too much to handle and someone will text or call or email and say just what I needed. It's not just happening to me but to Steve as well. He had a side job recently and the owners just adopted. He went to help a friend at her farm and the vet that came to help them had just adopted. He was given all kinds of support from those strangers.   I am not just thankful to my Heavenly Father but to those that listen to the spirit and lift us up!

Today our profile was complete 8 business days early. I can't help but think....and wonder....what does that mean. I keep telling myself that it will take awhile so I don't get over anxious about waiting.

Tomorrow we fed-Ex our last form in and 2000 more bucks and we should be active by next week. We are not quite funded but we will continue to work toward our goal (chick fa la night coming soon )but we have enough to move forward.

We have more exciting news that I can't share yet so....coming soon!

Yard Sale!

Our yard sale was very successful! The sale  brought in 1500 thanks to all of the wonderful donation. We even had stuff coming in Friday night. We are so thankful!

Yay! YIpee yay!

What's next:

We sent in a portion of the money and all the pictures. It takes them 3 weeks (give or take) to finish up their portion of our profile. At that point we will pay another 2000. Then hopefully go active-meaning we could get a match.  We aren't all the way funded so we are looking into chick fa la adoption fundraiser night. We sent in the paperwork and we are waiting to hear back.

For now I am in over my head with my young women's president calling-getting the girls ready for girls camp, Wednesday night activities and arranging rides to all the things coming up and end of the year evaluations (tomorrow-ugh)  and paperwork at work. Only 12 days school days left with my 2nd graders :( and Leah Beth and Caroline preparing for a dance recital.  I can't believe it's almost summer!!!!

Week in review and lesson learned

I love Amy's week in review link so I thought I'd do it again!



We have had many many highs this week!

HIGH

In my 2nd grade classroom we have lady butterflies. It has been an amazing thing to watch and learn and experience through the eyes of my 2nd graders. We are all so excited. 

Our family has been the recipients of so much service from others. I do not say this lightly. I mean so many have offered help in so many thoughtful ways. My load has been lightened all week by these gifts of others. I'm so thankful!

another high....I was able to attend an amazing writer's workshop this week on Thursday and Friday. I got to learn some really neat  techniques to be a better writing teacher. The schools in the area picked a few teachers and they are training from each school. I feel lucky to have gotten chosen and  I loved getting to go and can't wait to try what I've learned.

High

I was so worried it would rain on our yard sale date. This morning as I left for work it began to sprinkle! I prayed all the way to work that it would hold off till night or even tomorrow night! 

A big high-for no rain today and beautiful skies!

Low

having to go to work today while my mother-in-law and brother-in-law worked our yard sale!

It was hard for me to leave!

The chairs at the conference

were murder on my backside! I am so sore from sitting so long!

Seriously! They were children's chairs and they were hard as rocks!

Lesson learned!

#1-butterflies-don't take for granted the small and beautiful creations of God. It is amazing to watch and be a part of!

#2-Service-listen closely to the Spirit and when a little thought comes in your mind about how to help someone-that's what they need at that time...listen! I am so thankful for those that listened this week! 

#3-Writer's workshop-free training-take advantage of all I can!

#4-rain-pray over all things. 

#5-hard chairs-don't make my students sit in their chairs for too long at a time!