HI!

Are we ready?????

We heard through our agency that our son is coming soon!  By the end of today we should know when labor will be induced! 

OOPS!  It didn't work out that way!   Soon!!!   :)

GRANT

Today its "Keeping it Real with -A" ( Aaron)  If I was Canadian it would be Keeping it Real With-Eh. Now you know why I dont write in the blog.

  Today we were told by an Adoption Grant Foundation that we were chosen for grant money.  We are thrilled and so thankful again for how God is providing. It is surreal. 

 If your wondering how I am doing with all of this, well I am intently trying to change all the "costly" light bulbs to those little swirly florescent jobbies.  Is that nesting?  I am also trying to find matching vans (shoes) for my son and I. Is that retail therapy?  For the most part I wait anxiously for the phone to ring, and chase, wrestle, and kiss my beautiful daughter. 

- Aaron  

P.S. Today, our friends Amy and Glenn are finally  holding their adopted baby girl. Congratulations!

Making Memories!

Aaliyah loves all outdoor activities.  Boating was no exception.  We had the opportunity to enjoy a family outing last Friday afternoon.  It was AWESOME.  Aaliyah spent most of the trip looking for dolphins.  (We can't figure out how she knows about dolphins!)  It was a great family memory- one we look forward to telling "baby brother" all about. 

KINGDOM KIDS!

So...about fundraising.  I have had a number of people ask about "helping."  We have partnered with Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministry.  Visit their website- get to know their philosophy and action plan.  We were encouraged and grateful that they accepted our application with SO LITTLE TIME TO work with.   Our account is open and ready to go.  THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW THIS AWESOME Adoption focused ministry!   It's changing the lives of kids WORLD WIDE!! 

*All donations made to them are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

Thirty Days....

I am watching the calendar...          I was shocked to count only 30 days to August 13th.  Time is literally slipping away.   We are excited and nervous and scared and still wondering how this is all going to work out.  

Mostly, we are in a state of AWE.  God is faithfully working HIS plan and our job is to do our best, and watch Him work.  

This photo actually represents a lot for me.  Kelsey and I had an opportunity to go for a little ride this weekend.  It was a physical experiment of an emotional and spiritual conviction that I have been focusing on.  "Let God drive."  I keep telling myself this over an over and over....   If you have never ridden back seat on a tandem bike, let me tell you! 

It's a trip.  I trust Kelsey and she did an excellent job of navigating, we were able to communicate while pedaling and given the chance I think that I would grow to really enjoy rides.                            (*Hint *Hint....see the life parallels?) 

Hope you are having a joyous ride today!  

SUNSHINE!

God's Schedule....

FUN NEWS!  

We won't be waiting for the paperwork from the FBI!  It's DONE!  What "could have (SHOULD HAVE)" taken six weeks is done.  We are so excited.  Not having to wait on the FBI clearance means being able to finish the Home Study- which means we can apply for grants in the coming weeks!  This is a BIG answer to our prayers. 

In other news...Sammy is doing well, so are our tomatoes.  The only issue to their growth seems to be that Aaliyah loves picking them!  This is fine by me, since i don't like tomatoes!  We planted them mainly because we know how much she loves to pick them!  

Fire Inspection...

YEAH!   It's done.  One more thing to cross off the "to-do" list!   The Inspector tested all the smoke detectors,  checked the fire extinguishers and admired the evacuation plan. (Evacuation plan by Kyle!)  He also commented on the paint in the nursery.  He really liked it.  What's not to love?  Here is a picture of the awesome multi-colored checkerboard in the baby's room.  We love it!  (Thanks to Karen and Kelsey!)  They are doing a fabulous job.  I never would have attempted such a daring pattern.  It looks like something out of a magazine!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

THERE has GOT to be a better way!!!!

This is a metaphorical picture of "our life."  This is my hastily produced HOME STUDY...."File" cabinet."   I KNOW that there is a better way- I can think of about twenty better ways....but there is NO time to implement my dream organizational system....let alone pay for it.  So, here it is.  This heap of paperwork is in a nut shell is the innards of our Home Study.  Not very glamorous.  :)  But VERY EFFECTIVE! 

Our case worker- the all important Social Worker came today!  We are on the home stretch.  Mostly, we wait on government paperwork to trickle in.  Today was a big day- now I can focus on fund raising. 

DUE date??  41 days!  (give or take a couple weeks!)  SO EXCTITNG!!!!!!!

UPDATE!! THE PATTERNS are SOLD!

What a relief!  God Blessed us with the bounty.....and blessed a woman with a fledgling business- who really wanted a GARAGE FULL of Patterns!  She paid us$200! and told me that she would have easily paid double!  She plans to sell them online for years to come!