Oh my! It must be fate...

Okay, I thought,even if it was for a micro-second, that I'd be practical, nay...frugal, and re-use Luci's crib bedding for Sweet Baby. I planned on slip-covering the bumper, adding new pillows...that sort of thing. Plans have changed my friends! Lookie, oh lookie what I found! I can hardly stand it! The bedding is from a brand-new company call Kukunest. Crib bedding will be available soon. The girls will eventually share a room, so this was clearly meant to be. I MUST purchase this bedding....sorry hubby!!!

Tagged Again

I've been tagged by BabyGirlSmith (April)! She'll have to tag again...hee hee! I've already done this one! Fortunately, I get the easy way out and have linked my answers from my other blog: Middle Name Mime

Hope everyone has a great Labor Day Weekend!

Baby + House = Remodeling!

We've been hard at work the last few days. We received our packet from our agency, so we have been busy filling out forms and getting appointments all lined up and ready to go. We are still waiting to hear from our social worker to set up appointments for our home study. In the meantime, we have started home projects to get ready for our new addition. First, a place for baby. This may sound odd, but we are putting baby in our closet! Our master bedroom closet is more like a bedroom. It has a window and is about the same size as Luci's room. So, with a little rearranging, we have turned our closet into "the baby suite". It will be beautiful! I've already begun to paint her room. I know, I know, we still are about a year out until we bring sweet baby home...BUT for those of you who know me, I never drop the opportunity to paint something in my house! Anyway, the color is beautiful and I can't wait until it's all put together. I'll post pictures of progress another time. We are also constructing a new main bathroom. Hubby and father-in-law tiled the floor this weekend. First tile project for both and it looks amazing! Again, I can't wait to see it completed!

As part of our adoption process, we have to complete adoption classes. Seems odd to do so since we have adopted before, but it's our agency's requirement. It hasn't been too bad...our agency is in Oregon, so our classes consist of reading a book written by the director--filling our summaries on each chapter, and listening to a set of 5 classes on cd and filling out summaries for that. So, pretty harmless--just time consuming.

Well, until the social worker calls, we will continue to push to get things done on our end. Oh, did I mention that our home phone line isn't working....nice. Thank goodness for cell phones and email---how did we live without technology? On the flip-side of that....I just took my oldest son's cell phone away--for now. Over 600 text messages (in six weeks) at 15 cents each---nope, we do not have unlimited text messaging! Kids...sigh.

Why Sweet, Sweet Baby?

I decided to name my blog "Sweet, Sweet Baby" when I recently found a website that specializes in adoption photography. They have a song by Michelle Featherstone that plays throughout their site. Since we started the process, I haven't been able to get the song out of my head. I've recently found a few blogs that have Sweet Baby playing on their site. It's such a beautiful lullabye. When I hear it, I think of my baby girl being placed in my arms for the first time. I also think of my other children...no matter how old they get, they're still my sweet, sweet babies! So, when you stop by and visit this blog, you'll hear the song playing. To stop it, scroll down to the end and hit pause!

Here is the site I mentioned: Celebrating Adoption lists professional photographers who lend their services (free or at discounted rates) to families who have recently adopted. Many are listed and I'm sure you'll be able to find one in your local area. We plan on doing this once our sweet baby is home.

Why ask why?

People who adopt internationally come from all walks of life, and we each have our own unique story. There will always be someone who will judge us and not agree with the decisions we make. This simple fact exists regardless of what your family looks like to the outside world, whether you are married or single, have biological children or not--or in our case a large family...which, by the way, we are QUITE AWARE that when this process is done, we'll have FIVE children! I'm sick of having to rationalize to people the reasons why we chose to adopt again. Isn't it reason enough to say that we felt led by God to adopt?

We all have a tremendous desire to complete our families. There is so much soul searching in making the decision to adopt. We all have different reasons and life experiences that bring us to the point of carrying through with the adoption process.

So, we're trying not to focus on what others think. There will always be an ever-present voice of disapproval, jealousy, prejudice, or just plain old not understanding. It is part of being human and living in this world of ours. You move forward and never look back. It is about us and completing our life with our family. Regardless what other people think or feel; we will welcome a precious child into our lives. The experience enriches us in ways we could not imagine and in the end we know we'll find unspeakable joy and happiness!

On a spiritual level, God has a plan for us. So many of us think we know or try to convince or will ourselves to form a plan that's "God-Like", but to be still and truly listen to God and His will is a difficult task. We heard His call. It's hard for us to explain that to some people...but maybe that's part of our journey-- helping others understand Christ.

Adoption is not for the faint of heart. It is truly a difficult and emotional journey...a journey that is welcomed with an open heart and an opened mind--and a softened heart (mine) learning to be patient.

“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness.... Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23

App, App, and Away!

Well, we finally picked an agency and sent out our application to get things underway. I feel it's so OFFICIAL! We are adopting...YIPPEE!!! I sent the app. out via Priority Mail. Leaving the Post Office, I got in my car and this song came on! Not a typical wishy-washy sentimental song--but a feel good, Let's Get This Weekend Started song. Feeling celebratory, I cranked it up--and rocked out. Yeah, I'm one cool mama! :o)

**Amanda, we don't have a Sonic to cruise around in, but I'm sure a mighty fine Chick-Fil-A will do! Tee Hee***

Who can resist Toby Mac...gotta love him! Have a good weekend!

(*Note: You'll have to pause the music at the bottom of this blog before you play the video...unless you like the sound of utter chaos!)

We Are Blessed...

This week has been filled with so many blessings. Sometimes I sit back and think, "Okay, how much of this was me being persistent, how much of this is because of God's good graces?". Of course, I know the answer. It sometimes seems hard to decipher our influences over His when you are making important decisions in life. With this adoption, we have questioned timing, being able to handle this financially, providing for the family we have now--all the while feeling the pull from God to bring another child into our lives. There's no question in our minds, we will adopt again. Over the course of the last three weeks, we have waited, prayed, planned, researched--all the things most adoptive parents go through in this process.

Within the past few days, we were given the green light to proceed with this adoption. We've had a few HUGE examples of God saying it's time. First, we were offered financial help from a family member that we just can't turn down. I count my blessings daily for the love and support of my family. Second, our Pastor has agreed to allow us and another family to host a benefit concert/adoption fair at our church. We are completely thrilled with this! All proceeds with be divided between our families to help with adoption expenses. A popular local christian band will preform at our event. We also plan to contact various adoption agencies and foster programs to raise adoption awareness. We hope to make this a community event, which is something I've always wanted to do. God has blessed our church through adoption. We have so many families that have felt the need to save a child. It'll be a great day to celebrate and hopefully lead a family to a child in need.

So with that, it's time to get to work. I'm amazed that this is moving quicker than we anticipated. We are currently deciding on an agency to use. It's been a difficult process. You hear good and bad with every agency. I guess it's better to sometimes go with your instincts and keep outside influences at bay. It can be overwhelming.

I look forward to journaling through this process. It's an adventure of a lifetime and God has chosen us to walk this path, yet again! What an Awesome God!

And so it begins...

(Entry taken from our family blog, Green Grass Grass, July 28, 2007)

Well, I'm sure to some of our friends and family this may come as a surprise that we are adopting again. After bringing Luci Bella home from China, we were fairly certain that she would be it...plus our three sons, of course. As time went on, we would bring up the subject of adoption, sit on the fence about it for a little while, and then put the notion back in the closet for another day. I struggled with the idea of Luci being the "only" child--meaning, the boys are so much older than her...our youngest son is 12. Luci would be 8 by the time Tyler graduated from high school. With that, I couldn't lay to rest that fact that she didn't have a close sibling--in particular, a sister. I know the importance on having a sister...I have two. I'm by no means bashing all you singleton/only children out there-- knowing Luci has someone to share her childhood is comforting to us. So partly, our decision to adopt again is to give Luci Bella a little sister.The main reason? God. We feel He has led us to do this. He has shown us the blessings that adoption brings. Within the last few months, there have been "God Moments" that have made us stop and realize that this is something that we are supposed to do. Our hearts and our faith are completely behind this. Financially--well, that's another story. But as most folks realize, sometimes things like this can't be completely "planned". You take a leap of faith and know that God has got your back. He always provides and will continue to hold this family up, as He always has. We have plenty of time to fund raise, save money, pay off bills, etc. The typical wait for a child is around 2 years, which seems like such a long time--we realize that it's really God's time and it's completely in His hands as to when our daughter comes home.So with that, another journey begins. Our family continues to grow and we feel so blessed that we've been given this mission. Brian and I never thought we'd be here, with the family we have. God is good!Thanks to all for your love and support and please keep our family in prayer.