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| 3 Partying for New Year's, 1 Sicky for New Year's |
Happy New Year's!
Friday, December 30, 2011
2012 New Year!
So close! As of yesterday, we have had all of our paperwork noterized except the fingerprinting approval which has yet to come. It is the last thing we are waiting on until we get our papers sealed and ship all of our paperwork off to Bethany/Ethiopia. Yes, 2012 is going to be an exciting year.
Just this month, we babysat for Raylan-7 months. We had so much fun having a baby in our house again - it's been a few months since he has stayed with us. We spent Christmas Eve with Luke and Ashley. Having our dear friends and having our house filled with their children, Noah and Raylan, made the holiday all the more cheerful. We had Christmas with one of Bryan's bosses. It was very nice but I can't wait to trade in my bottles of wine for grape juice boxes and for quite evenings with Bach in the background to be filled with Veggie Tales. We also spent separate Christmas' on Skype with each our of families. We had a good time celebrating from afar. We wish you a great new year celebration's! Thank you for all your love, prayers, and well wishes!
Happy New Year's!
Happy New Year's!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Two Stockings in 2011
It's Christmas Season!
I so enjoy this time of year. We are all working feverishly to collect gifts for our loved ones and to stow them away from curious eyes. We love to give and share little (or big, in some cases) surprises, tokens of our relationship. Truth be told, I have yet to make a singular purchase for Bryan's spot under the tree. Still, as a look for gift what I would like to gift Bryan, I am surprised by how much Christmas has intensified the desire for my own bundle of joy. Maybe it is looking at sweet baby Jesus, laying in a manger or all the sweet babies wrapped up in their mother's arms as they go shopping for daddy's gifts. It strengthens my desire for this to be my last Christmas with just two stockings over the fireplace. As a comical side note: I literally have to tell Bryan "no" each time we go shopping together, you may not purchase the tu-tu, soccer ball, playmat, Barbie or G-I-Joe until we at least have a referral (a picture and information on the child(ren) matched to us).
We are excited to share a couple other bits of news.
1) We were accepted by Lifesong for Orphans. This means that they will give us an avenue to help direct funds. (More information to come)
2) Our floors that were damaged by the pipe bursting will begin the replacement process today!
3) Bryan is going to be taking two parts of the CPA. One part in January and one part in February. During busy season, this will be very stressful. Please pray for him!
4) We got our fingerprinting appointment. The 21st of December, 2011. Can't wait as this looks like it is the last step before our paperwork going to be sealed and then to Ethiopia!
I've included some fantastic photos of Bryan and I at my work's Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.
I am struggling to figure out how to rotate the photo for Bryan - he is wearing a Grinch shirt.
I so enjoy this time of year. We are all working feverishly to collect gifts for our loved ones and to stow them away from curious eyes. We love to give and share little (or big, in some cases) surprises, tokens of our relationship. Truth be told, I have yet to make a singular purchase for Bryan's spot under the tree. Still, as a look for gift what I would like to gift Bryan, I am surprised by how much Christmas has intensified the desire for my own bundle of joy. Maybe it is looking at sweet baby Jesus, laying in a manger or all the sweet babies wrapped up in their mother's arms as they go shopping for daddy's gifts. It strengthens my desire for this to be my last Christmas with just two stockings over the fireplace. As a comical side note: I literally have to tell Bryan "no" each time we go shopping together, you may not purchase the tu-tu, soccer ball, playmat, Barbie or G-I-Joe until we at least have a referral (a picture and information on the child(ren) matched to us).
We are excited to share a couple other bits of news.
1) We were accepted by Lifesong for Orphans. This means that they will give us an avenue to help direct funds. (More information to come)
2) Our floors that were damaged by the pipe bursting will begin the replacement process today!
3) Bryan is going to be taking two parts of the CPA. One part in January and one part in February. During busy season, this will be very stressful. Please pray for him!
4) We got our fingerprinting appointment. The 21st of December, 2011. Can't wait as this looks like it is the last step before our paperwork going to be sealed and then to Ethiopia!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Guidance from the Dashboard
Because God is great, I wanted to share what He recently did for Bryan and I.
Today is car shopping day. We were searching for a car that was exactly like what we had before the accident in order to leave the numbers already in our paperwork. We got such a good deal with the car that we knew it would be difficult to replace a like car with the amount the insurance gave us but we trusted God to guide us. We had a list of cars to test drive. We found one that we really liked and the salesman came down to meet us where it would be affordable for us. We felt like we should pray about it so we went to lunch with the car. Bryan prayed specifically for God, "to send warning lights" if we should not purchase the car. We spent some more time in prayer and then ate at good ole Chipotle. We went back out to the car and while we were not feeling one way or another about the car, we thought it was a good car so we would probably purchase the car when we brought it back to the dealership. Bryan turned on the car to drive the 3 miles back to the dealership and the check tires light popped on! We sat there stunned! The light had not been on while driving there but Bryan specifically asked for warning lights and, literally, the warning sensor in the car went off. The car might be a great car but God clearly had different plans for us. We returned the car - told the salesman that we couldn't purchase the car because we had prayed about it and the warning light came on but thanks him anyways. (He probably thought we were a bunch of loons but we know to listen when God tells you!)
We found another car in fantastic condition with all the features that we wanted and even more. Again, we prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide us. While we waited, we decided that if they came back with something higher than our God-promised number, we wouldn't purchase the car. They came back with a price thousands more than our God-promised number. We knew this would probably be the case as all the sites showed pricing for a car such as this as much higher and there was no "earthly" reason to come back with anything else. We thanked them for their time but we knew God had called us to spend only a certain amount. We stood to leave when our sales woman asked us for one more moment. She went back to her manager and brought back a new price. They dropped the price to exactly our God-promised number! We are the proud new owners of God's beautiful blue car! Thank you for your prayers. Praise God for He is good!
Today is car shopping day. We were searching for a car that was exactly like what we had before the accident in order to leave the numbers already in our paperwork. We got such a good deal with the car that we knew it would be difficult to replace a like car with the amount the insurance gave us but we trusted God to guide us. We had a list of cars to test drive. We found one that we really liked and the salesman came down to meet us where it would be affordable for us. We felt like we should pray about it so we went to lunch with the car. Bryan prayed specifically for God, "to send warning lights" if we should not purchase the car. We spent some more time in prayer and then ate at good ole Chipotle. We went back out to the car and while we were not feeling one way or another about the car, we thought it was a good car so we would probably purchase the car when we brought it back to the dealership. Bryan turned on the car to drive the 3 miles back to the dealership and the check tires light popped on! We sat there stunned! The light had not been on while driving there but Bryan specifically asked for warning lights and, literally, the warning sensor in the car went off. The car might be a great car but God clearly had different plans for us. We returned the car - told the salesman that we couldn't purchase the car because we had prayed about it and the warning light came on but thanks him anyways. (He probably thought we were a bunch of loons but we know to listen when God tells you!)
We found another car in fantastic condition with all the features that we wanted and even more. Again, we prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide us. While we waited, we decided that if they came back with something higher than our God-promised number, we wouldn't purchase the car. They came back with a price thousands more than our God-promised number. We knew this would probably be the case as all the sites showed pricing for a car such as this as much higher and there was no "earthly" reason to come back with anything else. We thanked them for their time but we knew God had called us to spend only a certain amount. We stood to leave when our sales woman asked us for one more moment. She went back to her manager and brought back a new price. They dropped the price to exactly our God-promised number! We are the proud new owners of God's beautiful blue car! Thank you for your prayers. Praise God for He is good!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
It's time to Dossier!
We put the finishing touches on our home study tonight and now Generations Adoptions will be sending our home study to Bethany for final approval. We couldn't be more pleased. Everything is taking a bit longer than we expected but it is coming along. Our friends in Uganda have been busy with their chicklins and I am somewhat anxious to be in their situation - finalizing paperwork with kids in hand. I can't wait to get to Ethiopia and see our precious child(ren). The next step is to finish the dossier and send it to Bethany who sends it to Ethiopia.
On a different front, we have been quite busy at our house. We assisted in planning and executing a program event on the national Orphan Sunday day for our church. It was a lot of work and while I enjoyed it, we had a lot going on. Two weeks ago, a water pipe burst in our house. We need to replace the wood floors damaged by the water. Additionally, we were in a car accident - everybody is fine! - last week so we are looking for new flooring, paint colours, moulding... and a new car. All this while finishing up our side of the home study edits. We have been very busy and yet so blessed. Thank you for all your prayers, calls, and love.
On a different front, we have been quite busy at our house. We assisted in planning and executing a program event on the national Orphan Sunday day for our church. It was a lot of work and while I enjoyed it, we had a lot going on. Two weeks ago, a water pipe burst in our house. We need to replace the wood floors damaged by the water. Additionally, we were in a car accident - everybody is fine! - last week so we are looking for new flooring, paint colours, moulding... and a new car. All this while finishing up our side of the home study edits. We have been very busy and yet so blessed. Thank you for all your prayers, calls, and love.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Home Study Work Completed!
Hello All!
Our interviews went well and our fire and environment checks passed with flying colours. What that means; our home study is completed and we just need to review the write-up! Let me ask you out there who have somebody like your mother-in-law visit for the first time; did you completely clean out the pantry, bathroom closets, scrub grout with a toothbrush, make your husband rearrange the rooms' furniture, wash walls...? I should've guessed because I did the same thing for when my mother-in-law made her first visit to my apartment. (Disclaimer: I unnecessarily panicked because of me, not because of anything to do with sweet and unassuming Gloria Kamp.) Thanks to assistance from the Klein (TX) and VandeKamp (IL) families, we were very prepared for the home study.
The next part of the process is to get fingerprinting appointments with the FBI. We can finish filling out our dossier paperwork and have it noterized. Once all papers are noterized, Bryan will drive it to Austin and have the state seal put on each page. When completed, we can send it to Ethiopia and then we wait... I am a fairly impatient woman and I already feel like asking, "Are we there yet?" We are in the "hurry up" phase of the "hurry up so we can wait" process. At least this part is exciting because we can still do things in this phase.
Tuesday, we came in late to find that our entry way, bathroom and family room had taken on a much glossier profile. The pipe the runs water from the street to the house burst. Thank goodness for home owner's and Pablo! Pablo is our insurance man and he has been fantastic, taking great care of us. Some of our friends recommended Ryan at Buffaloe Floors for us and they were right, they have been giving us great customer care. We feel that, in the midst of this, that God has been taking such great care of us.
As a side note, my brother, David has asked the most lovely woman to marry him and she said yes! Miss Tanya Leet is to marry my brother March 2012.
Thank you for all your prayers. Especially for our friends in Uganda and their two children. If you like to see how they are follow this link - at least check out the pictures! http://www.thebrowntree.blogspot.com/
Our interviews went well and our fire and environment checks passed with flying colours. What that means; our home study is completed and we just need to review the write-up! Let me ask you out there who have somebody like your mother-in-law visit for the first time; did you completely clean out the pantry, bathroom closets, scrub grout with a toothbrush, make your husband rearrange the rooms' furniture, wash walls...? I should've guessed because I did the same thing for when my mother-in-law made her first visit to my apartment. (Disclaimer: I unnecessarily panicked because of me, not because of anything to do with sweet and unassuming Gloria Kamp.) Thanks to assistance from the Klein (TX) and VandeKamp (IL) families, we were very prepared for the home study.
The next part of the process is to get fingerprinting appointments with the FBI. We can finish filling out our dossier paperwork and have it noterized. Once all papers are noterized, Bryan will drive it to Austin and have the state seal put on each page. When completed, we can send it to Ethiopia and then we wait... I am a fairly impatient woman and I already feel like asking, "Are we there yet?" We are in the "hurry up" phase of the "hurry up so we can wait" process. At least this part is exciting because we can still do things in this phase.
Tuesday, we came in late to find that our entry way, bathroom and family room had taken on a much glossier profile. The pipe the runs water from the street to the house burst. Thank goodness for home owner's and Pablo! Pablo is our insurance man and he has been fantastic, taking great care of us. Some of our friends recommended Ryan at Buffaloe Floors for us and they were right, they have been giving us great customer care. We feel that, in the midst of this, that God has been taking such great care of us.
As a side note, my brother, David has asked the most lovely woman to marry him and she said yes! Miss Tanya Leet is to marry my brother March 2012.
Thank you for all your prayers. Especially for our friends in Uganda and their two children. If you like to see how they are follow this link - at least check out the pictures! http://www.thebrowntree.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Their Trip
We have friends leaving on Sunday for 6 weeks to pick up their two. We just ask for prayers for them. They are picking up two kiddos and are going to be gone until the end of November. They found out that they were leaving 8 days before they are to fly out. One week from today, they will have their court date which means, one week from today this family with finally be united!
~Meg
~Meg
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The Oh-Ah Effect
We are excitable people but we reached a new level of excited when we finally have the home study sessions scheduled. We are working on the dossier paperwork where EVERYTHING must be notarized. October 7th, we head to Waco, TX for the first part of our home study!
I had a friend take me to a mom’s sale, a consignment sale for mothers. The prices there were unbelievable and my friend, Ashley, was there to show me the good deals. It was a fun way to think about getting ready for Kid Kamp. I had a full dose of infant parenthood on our trip to the sale. Ashley’s son, Raylan, received his immunization shots just a few days beforehand and he was… “fussy” as in, he decided to scream for pretty much the entire afternoon. The only way he would settle is if I held him high over my head (airplane-style) or if I tucked him along my arm horizontally. I found that either way left drool dripping down on my face or down my arm and onto my sandals/feet. I am sure it must have been frustrating and tiresome but I loved it! I loved watching what a good mother Ashley was to her very cranky baby boy, splitting our time between shopping and soothing, and having to schedule our trip around him in some degree or another. I believe this is the “oh-ah effect.”
The oh-ah effect blocks the bad and makes you swoon over the good. It is like falling in love but not with a soul mate. All you know is that everything you see relates to the one you love. I have new understanding of the Jeremiah 1:5a, “"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you…” I don’t know my child, I don’t know if they are a boy or girl; if they are here on earth or haven’t even been conceived. It doesn’t matter. I know them as, the one I love, my child. I dream about them, pray for them, I am planning and preparing my home for them and in my heart, I love them. Jeremiah’s “holy plans” were to be a prophet unto the nations. What has God set aside for my child? I know we will struggle but currently, the oh-ah effect presides.
Thank you for all your prayers.
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