Moving Forward

     It’s official!  We’ve moved a very small step forward in bringing our child(ren) home.  Many of you prayed with us as we faced some crossroads with plans to adopt from Ethiopia.  After much discussion and prayer, we feel directed to continue our journey with this special country.  Once our home study was completed, we mailed it along with a few legal documents to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  While a home study considers parenting aspects, this next document is adoption pre-approval based on our standing in the eyes of government (good thing we’ve paid all our taxes!). 

     At exactly 1:27AM today, I awoke to the beep of a text message stating our paperwork was safely in hands of government officials.  For those in the adoption world, you know it means we’re still way out in the process, but every stage builds on the one before so it’s worth celebrating.  I found a few things funny about the text message confirming the papers were safely in the right office:  1). The government is now texting.  Really??      2).  My kiddos are all out of town, and I still woke up in the middle of the night for something child-related.  I can vividly remember being kicked in the ribs by a stretching baby, or having to go to the bathroom several times a night during pregnancy.  Bringing a child into our family through adoption is still waking me up at all hours too – and I LOVE IT!

     Speaking of the kids being out of town, I’m enjoying a very rare 48 hours of solace.  It’s not often (and I mean really not often) over the past 11 years that I’ve found myself home alone.  A few days ago, Brian came home and suggested he take the kids to visit family in NC while I have a little quiet time for myself.  Have I ever mentioned that I am blessed with the best husband ever?  While I slightly resisted the idea of everyone leaving me, I must admit it’s been a really sweet gift that I needed.  So what’s a woman to do by herself?  Well, shopping, beach bumming, lunch dates, Barnes & Noble, gym time, chick flicks, quiet time with God, and reading!  Thank goodness I’ve got some precious pics from Easter to gaze at while I await their return. . .

Spring Fever

     Spring fever is setting in big time.  I see the light at the end of the tunnel. . . school tunnel, that is.  We are about four weeks away from wrapping up the school year.  23 math lessons left to be exact, but who's counting?  

     Thankfully, I've learned to schedule our school year according to my style -- an early start in August when we're excited about clean notebooks and sharpened pencils, and an early finish in May when the sunshine is beckoning us to abandon it all for whatever whimsy we can find.  Seasons are a beautiful thing, and I think this one is my favorite.  Just as Thanksgiving holds anticipation of Christmas, spring means summer is coming!  

     We operate similar to a college schedule, which means we also take spring break a little earlier.  We enjoyed a great week together embracing all the local hot spots (aka: a staycation).  Since we're rubbing pennies together for adoption expenses, we got a little creative and still had a good time on a smaller budget than other years.  

     We searched the house for items to list on Craigslist and a week before the spring break adventure, our wares made a great virtual yard sale.  It's amazing what people will buy, and it's more amazing what the kids were willing to part with! With money they earned, they chose the activity.  When all was said and done, we had some nice pocket change to live it up in Hampton Roads. We certainly accomplished the daily schedule our "planner children" set.  

     So if a picture is worth a thousand words, here are some to re-cap our time.  For everyone else on spring break during the next little bit, enjoy every minute.  It's a great taste of summer comin'!

Paddle boating and picnic at Newport News  Park

Lots of pizza was consumed this week!

A few nights on the VA Beach oceanfront
(thanks to the hook-up of a great friend!)

Sam LOVED the coffee bar!

Jake lost his first tooth!  Thankfully the tooth fairy doesn't take vacations! 

Family art night with lots of fun creations