To help another waiting family.

Over at Pitter Patter Art, she's hosting a giveaway. She makes a piece for each month that they've been waiting. I enjoy following their journey and her artwork is amazing!

I love you yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

My husband and I are not Valentine's Day people. At all. Yeah, some years he comes home with something, most years not. One year, he did come home with a beautiful painting, that I had been drooling over for a year. That was our fist Valentine's Day in 2002. My husband shows me he loves me every day. Every day! Whether is be a simple, I love you, bringing home a chocolate bar or pepsi, sending me away on vacations, or even taking out the trash first thing in the morning. I love him, all the time. I find this day so trivial. Of course, if you celebrate, more power to you. I get that some people thing it's important. When my husband asked if I'd like flowers, I said "Sure, but wait until Friday, when prices go back to normal." I love our relationship! In the words of Matthew West "It's perfect imperfect, so crazy, but it's worth it. I'm wrapped around you like this ring, and something tells me, even if I could, I wouldn't change a thing."

Instead of pouting!

I'm sick. I'm nauseous. I have strep. I have to take Jackson for the doctor for strep. So instead of whining about all that (hehehe)
1. Though Jackson might have strep, he's acting fine. (after puking in my friends expensive Suburban)
2. I was able to see my favorite Dr. quickly yesterday and could afford my meds.
3. We're sending out our family bios this week to social services around the state.
4. Got pictures of Little Miss yesterday and she's looks fantastic!
5. The weather is edging towards spring!
6. One more month until the daffodils explode!
7. My husband left me a love poem this morning!
8. State refunds are not on the same delayed schedule as federal, so we get them soon!
9. My best friend is pregnant, and I've heard news of lots more. It's going to be a busy fall!!!
10. A lady from church gave us a beautiful girls bedroom set for our new little lady!

Fundraiser!!!

My personalized tree!

We are having our first fundraiser to cover adoption costs! My crazy talented friend at The Abstract Bedouin is donating a 12 x 24 personalized family tree painting. I have one and I love and treasure it! The winner of the raffle will get to pick from her pretty much endless designs. To see a few of the painting she's done, check out Hattire, her Etsy.com page. The painting is a $50.00 value, but mine is priceless to me :) I will be choosing the winner, via a drawing on March 31st. If you want to get tickets, they are $1.00 for one or 6 for $5.00. I will accept cash or Paypal. If you want to use paypal, leave your email address and I'll get you the information.

For an extra bonus! If you buy $5.00 worth the tickets you can earn more tickets, by sharing this blog link. If you leave a comment telling you posting in your blog or on facebook, you'll earn another ticket for the drawing!

Thanks so much for helping us bring home our forever child. For those interested, yes, the state will cover most of the fees involved in adopting from the system, but there will be unforeseen fees. Also when the child(ren) comes to our home, they will most likely have many needs, such a new bedding and clothes. This fundraiser is to cover all this costs.

 Follow my journey God from the mundane to the miraculous!

I'm Pregnant

Sort of! I was searching adoption items on Etsy.com. There are tons and it's a dangerous place. I kept seeing "I'm Pregnant" things. I thought this was weird since I searched "adoption". When I looked closer it said "I'm Pregnant on Paper" or "I'm Paper Pregnant". I really like that idea. I'm still waiting for a child, still surrounded in the unknown, still dreaming of the future they may have, still praying for their safety. I'm just not physically pregnant, I'm Paper Pregnant!

This is the strangest pregnancy I've ever had :) I didn't find out what my first child was, so this is kind of similar. However, when I was pregnant, I knew a baby of some sort was coming sometime within 40-42 weeks. This paper pregnancy has a lot of unknowns. I don't don't if I'm having a boy or a girl, their weight may be from 8-60 pounds. They may have hair down to their backs or be bald. They might be short or very tall. There might even be more than one. It's a pretty amazing pregnancy for sure!

The journey of a thousand miles....

Begins with a single step. We took the first step. We had the talk with the social worker. Today I finished step two. Our social worker suggested we send a letter to local agencies, telling them about ourselves. I found a list of agencies. 32 to be exact. We decided to send them to areas surrounding us, and the area around my parents. I wrote the bio letter and stuffed the envelopes. We just have to take a family photo to add to them and send them off. And wait.