Praying for Baby

Hi, we have the family profile copied 15 times and I just came home from seeing my cousin's three month old baby and have baby fever!!!! Oh, she was the sweetest thing. It will be a waiting game once the agency gets the profiles into the hands of some potential birthmothers. Plus, we need the money yet. I've been thinking all along it will just appear one day but now that the time is near we need to come up with it. As soon as I have a copy of the home study I will be applying like crazy for grants. Please pray for God to work in this area of finances for us. Kevin keeps taking extra jobs but the money just seems to go to other things, like keeping up with bills. We know if it is His will it will happen but also I can't sit around expecting God to just drop it on us. I'm trying to cut out little things that aren't completely necessary and that is hard. We don't live on too many extras now. Our biggest expense is gas right now and the kids are in a few things and they aren't things we are willing to cut, is that wrong? Well, we will trust and keep praying for God to show us what is next in this journey. I have to remember it is not my timeframe that matters.

On a side note about Isaac: He had more blood tests run to see why he is anemic and they set up an appointment for a stomach specialist, the earliest we could get in is Jan. 22nd. On Sunday, some of the board members at church prayed over Isaac and he hasn't had any stomachaches or headaches since. He did have a rash under both arms this week though. He also started on some multivitamins. I'm am specifically praying for guidance on what to do next, what foods to start eliminating. I can't help thinking it is a food reaction he is having.

God Bless You all as you start the week a few pounds heavier:) I really want to start a small workout routine. Maybe Monday!

Home Study update

Our home study is done, minus the fingerprint checks. I was sent a copy via email and I didn't know what to expect. It was our biography, basically. I was surprised to read some of the things. "Did I say that?" It was nicely written with comments here and there of actual quotes of things we said and things from the reference letters. So now I know some things that were said about us!!!:) Kevin was described as a small build and me, well, I was average. I guess that means I have a few pounds on him. Well, at his last check-up he had gained 10 pounds since February so maybe I won't be married to a stick for long!:) I try to help that by feeding him lots of food but he has always stayed the same size since high school. No comment on how many sizes I gained since high school. We need to get her 15 copies of our family profile and she will get the word out that we are looking. It is so close and so exciting. Now, I feel like the pregnancy part of adoption, the anticipation and excitement of having a baby any moment!!!:) Just think, we might have a baby this year. Too wonderful for words.

On a more somber note, please continue to pray for our son Isaac. He has a doctor's appointment today to go over his last test results. The test for gluten allergy was negative but he is positive for being anemic. More tests will be run today to find out why. His stomach-aches and headaches have been bad this week and I'm so worried for him. Especially because I am so helpless when they are happening. I just don't know what to do, take him off milk, give him supplements, etc? I am praying for God's guidance and healing and strength. Thank you for praying too.

The Control Freak....

Greetings, I just had to share a book I am reading. The Control Freak by Les Parrot,III. I knew I had these tendencies but wow, when you can say yes to 9 out of 10 questions and the answer section says if you answer 5 or more with a yes you are this, it is an eye opener to how I take control and try to fit everyone around me into a certain box and when they go out of it I don't take it well and have to regroup and figure a new strategy to get them back in their box. My oldest read the book too and decided we all must have these characteristics sometimes or we wouldn't be able to get anything done. Mostly I need to stop making those around me feel like they can't ever measure up. I am quick to share when something is being done the "wrong" way. I know it has a lot to do with organizing a household of this size and getting it all done. The other big characteristic that is me is making goals that are pretty hard to accomplish. Then, I get down on myself when I can't make it. A quote: The soul of control is fueled by anxiety and nurtured by feelings of extreme vulnerability and a fragile self confidence. This book has made me much more aware of everything thing that comes out of my mouth and how it sounds. Also everything that comes out of my children's mouths that sounds just like it came out of mine. That's eating humble pie, I tell you.

How about some more teachable quotes:
Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered on anything short of God. Billy Graham

And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? Luke 12:25

If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want. Oscar Wilde

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Mother Teresa

Control Freaks are people who care more than you do about something and won't stop at being pushy to get their way. Les Parrot

"Kindly let me help you or you will drown." said the monkey, putting the fish safely up in the tree. Alan Watts

Please know if you have a control freak in your life they are probably not meaning to be that way. Circumstances may have brought them to this place. Just get them this book and pray they see themselves and not you in it!! (big smile)

Home Study is almost done!

I talked to our social worker on Saturday. She is working on making the study sound as positive as she can. Now, that doesn't sound real good does it? She means related to the fact that we home school, live in the country and have more than the norm for children. She, personally, is very positive about our family and is doing all she can to make sure this works for us. It sounds a bit like a cult. You know, we stay at home to stay away from all the bad influences out there!:) It is how many social workers and birthmothers may view us if they don't know anyone who lives like this. We live in the midwest so there are many people who don't homeschool but who "live like us" (in the country, more than 3 kids, gardeners and have animals). It is strange because I feel so normal. I feel like we are raising our children in the most normal environment possible. We need to pray for this world and their view of what a "normal" family is. I still believe no matter what worldview is prevalent, if God has it planned for us to adopt it will still happen and to God be the Glory.

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.John 15:18-20 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)

Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 1 John 3:13

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

It's All About You

Do you know the line to this song: "It's all about you, Jesus. As if I could do things my way." Do we not try so hard to do it our way. And we can say a big "As if". Well, I took Isaac to the doctor yesterday and told the doctor what I was concerned about, him being allergic to gluten and the doctor agreed it sounded like we should check it out. So, my very giggly 9 year old gets three vials of blood taken. I asked him if he was nervous, no, just wondering if it might hurt more than last time. He can be very silly and he was then. I will get a letter in mail. I forgot to ask when so now we will wait and see what happens. I still pray for healing but know it is not what I will to be done but what God has planned for us. I can live with the results anyway they come. I'll need an extra measure of strength but I know God will provide that too.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in percecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We also got the family profile to the printer and made one copy to give to the agency we are working with. One more step of many to be done yet. My youngest prays at lunch everyday for the baby to be cute. Now, this is so funny. We drove to Kevin's brother's to get a wagon of hay for the horses. The youngest says what are we doing? I tell her getting a wagon of hay. And she says, "For the baby?" What was going through her mind?!?! God Bless and may your days be filled with these lovely moments.

Not much new, but to keep praying!

There isn't much new to report. We received some more questions for the home study and it looks to be progressing just fine. We are working on the family profile. I just need to label and tape on the pictures. Then on to a copier for color prints. It was fun. I wish I could do something like that every 6 months to recap what we have been doing as a family. I could do away with photo albums. I haven't put any pictures in an album since Caleb was born back in 1999!!!!! So I guess that isn't a concern for me anyway.

Prayer concerns for our family at this time include:
For me to be able to sleep. I am going on just about forever of not being able to fall asleep until the wee, wee hours of the morning.
For our son Isaac. He is having stomach aches after meals and rashes on his hands. Anyway, he is going to the doctor Wednesday. We are hoping they will test for allergies to gluten. Please pray the test is read properly in the lab. That can be a difficult thing to have come back accurate. I would love for Isaac to be healed of whatever this is.
Praise that Kevin recently got two jobs through his side job to help the "get out of debt" campaign. We are working on that at the same time as saving for the adoption.