Patience is a virtue!

Patience has never been my favorite virtue! I hate waiting for anything and I a planner. I have found patience is harder when you like to plan for things. I am really trying to take this time that we are waiting to work on my patience. Hebrews 6:12 says "Through faith and patience we inherit the promises" It doesn't say "Have faith and you'll get what you want!" Those of you who are in the process of adopting or have gone through it previously know that adoption is a HUGE walk of faith. Many times Ryan and I have often felt like we were in the dark not knowing what is happening. At the beginning of the process you are busy with paperwork, getting things done. Then comes the home study and all goes well and you are approved. After that you begin the wait and that's where faith and patience really come into play. Not that you don't need them before hand you do! Our agency and our social worker are wonderful. We get updates every month and they always have trainings and classes that we can go to that are very helpful. Our social worker is truly the best she is always there to answer questions and is so patient with me. Even with the amazing support we have there are many times when we still feel in the dark not knowing what is happening or when it will.

Patience and faith go hand in hand. To have faith you have to have patience. Lest you think I am trying to sound like I am perfect (so wrong) I have to diligently work on this every day. Some days are better than others. There are times when I am out shopping at Target or Wal-Mart if I feel brave and adventurous and I swear babies are coming out of the wood work. It's like everywhere I turn I see a pregnant woman or a baby. On those days my patience takes a serious nose dive.  And then there are the days when I feel God's peace and I feel so reassured and calmed. I have found a verse that gives me tremendous peace and comfort. I hope that it helps al of you as well!

1 Corinthians 10:13 (The Message)

 ¹³No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

Best Baby Products

Right after our homestudy was done and we were given the go ahead to adopt I started a baby registry. Some women that adopt wait until they have the baby to register and I totally understand that too. I started it because doing it made it all feel more real to me and lets face it it is fun! I had so much fun doing one at Babies R Us that I did one at Target too. Once we have received "the call" I'm sure I will go back and register for more specific items for a boy or a girl depending on what we have. Now I am obsessed with baby products. Because this is my first child I am sure I will be roped into buying things that I really don't need and I'm ok with that. I know all of the basic things that I need but I wonder what some of you mothers and fellow waiting to be mothers think are really great must haves. Is there something you have seen or used that made life easier or made baby happier?

Kids are hilarious!

So it has been almost 2 weeks now with no pop at all. I honestly thought it would be harder than it is. It hasn't been an issue at all. It wasn't a resolution to stop drinking it I just decided that it wasn't good for me and I haven't had it at all since then. Last week we had our niece Aby and our nephew Patrick stay with us. Pat is 3 and Aby is 2 they are adorable and so much fun. One afternoon while playing with Play Doh (I still love Play Doh) Patrick said to me "My new name is Patrick Star when I grow up I'm going to be a dragon." I didn't dash his dreams and tell him that was impossible on so many levels. I just asked him to make sure he was a good dragon and would he fly me and uncle Ryan around when we need to travel? It made me think of when I was younger (much younger) and I had a huge crush on Speed Racer. It never dawned on me that he didn't really exist or that he was a cartoon! Then there was my Monkee period. I was obsessed with The Monkees. I would watch them anytime they were on and would tell anyone that would listen or pretend they were listening that I was going to marry Micky Dolenz the drummer. I even carved "I Love Micky" into my parents brand new oak dining room table. That did not go over well!

I want my kids to have the same kind of dreams (well not about marrying a 25 year old drummer of a fictional TV band). I can't wait to hear the things that they say. I love spending time with our nieces and nephews and watching how they interact with life. Seeing the world through a child's eye is the best way to see. Patrick prayed at dinner one night and said "Dear Jesus, thank you for fruit snacks and Popsicles they are so good." We were at Target and I told them we would go look at the toys. Now I don't think I'm the only one who does this but I have a route that I follow when I go to stores and I rarely detour from that route.  So he's walking next to me (because he is a big boy now) and his sister is in the cart. I'm looking through the baby section checking out what is on clearance and Patrick looks at me exasperated and says "Ugh, if I we don't get to the toys soon I'm going to puke I'm so excited, look they are right there!" I wish I would have taken a video of it. Just typing about it doesn't do it justice it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen and heard from him.

Patrick

Aby

These are the things I look forward to and so much more. I can't wait to hear the funny things our kids say and do. Ryan tells me I'm pretty hilarious so I hope that rubs off on my children. But I can't wait to get to know their unique personality and see the world the way they see it.