I don't think...

I don't think I have mentioned lately how EXCITED I am about the future of my family!!!

*Two* babies are really coming!

 This fall is going to be the best ever! Football season, Holidays, and Baby!!!

 We are so blessed :)

Belly in Times Square!

Pregnant and Adopting...

How does the pregnancy affect the adoption?? I have got this question a lot, which I love!! I love that people care to know about our adoption, so feel free to ask anything about it!

When we first started the adoption process we had to sign a waiver with our agency that stated if we got pregnant, we would withdraw from the adoption process. This scared us off and we both decided to focus only on growing our family through adoption. After a couple of months we felt like God would be the ultimate decider in how our family was grown so we left all options open again. A few days before we became DTE we got an update from our agency saying that due to the increased wait time they were allowing concurrent family building plans (CFB plan). This meant that you were allowed to pursue multiple adoptions or grow your family via pregnancy. Lucky for us! At the time, I was excited at the possibility of whatever foster care would bring at us. Little did I know...

After we found out about being pregnant, I waited to tell our agency until we heard the baby's heartbeat. Once we had the ultrasound done, I sent away our updated CFB plan.

Back the original question. How does this affect the adoption? We are placed on "hold" for any referrals until our bio baby is 6 months old. However, we still move up on the wait list like normal. We just cannot receive a referral until he/she is 6 months old.
(A referral is being matched with our Ethiopian baby!)

This doesn't really change anything for us! This bio baby will be 6 months around the time we will have been waiting for 15-16 months. If you remember the current wait time for the adoption is 18-24 months. Looks like perfect timing if you ask me!!

After we receive the referral we will have to go to Ethiopia to meet the baby and appear in court to become his legal parents :) Yah! Then we will return home and wait for him to get his visa to travel legally to the USA! After he receives his updated visa we will return to Ethiopia and bring him home to join our family!!

  If all goes according the the current time lines we could be a family of four around March 2014!

*Eleven weeks!* 

*80 on the wait list!*

Triggers

This morning I had a brunch date with some awesome friends :)  We just shared what was going on in our hearts and how our relationship with the Lord is going. I haven't felt this refreshed in a long time! It was a great way to start my day! One of the things we talked about were triggers.

We all have different traits that rear up when we are falling away from God. I, for example, am very aware that when I stop focusing on God and finding my fulfillment in Him, I tend to start knit picking my home decor. I start putting my focus on how to make my house look a certain way and my materialism issue starts to just bubble over! It is very obvious and is never fulfilling and I'm never happy with any of the decisions I make for the house. My friends each had totally different unwanted tendencies that are heighten when their relationship is not focused on God.

Instead of wallowing in our negative tendencies, we started talking about what triggers us in the opposite direction. What things really get us in the mood for a good solid quiet time with the Lord? Or what makes us really feel alive in worship? I was trying to think of what my trigger is. I left the brunch feeling so happy and relaxed. I think that might be a trigger. Good fellowship with christian friends talking about God. I also really like to have a big glass of chocolate milk along with some yummy breakfast, open the curtains in the morning, and read with the sunlight shining in.

We talked about how when we start noticing our negative triggers, we should try and replace them with our positive triggers. Instead of giving into our sinful desires of things that leave us feeling empty, we should lean into the things that make us happy and focused on Christ.

Another First Step

Around this time last year, Ryan felt like it was time for him to enroll in seminary. Obviously, a miracle from God, I was totally okay and on board with this decision.

Ryan told me about his calling on the way to our friends wedding!

He decided on Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He toured the Dallas campus and I got to join him at the Houston campus. He is currently only taking online classes though! Once he started classes we thought "This is the first step!"

Houston Campus

I already talked about here, how Ryan had to get endorsed by our church to enroll at SWBT. Again, we thought this is the first step!

Fall and Spring semester passed by and Ryan has been busy, busy, busy! He not only does seminary, engineers full time, but also leads a college bible study every week.

We have had several opportunities were we know God is working on a path for our family. We have had doors open and doors close. We don’t know what his future looks like as a pastor at the moment, but we are trusting that God has the perfect place for us!

I am one super proud and thankful wife!!

Last night, Ryan was recognized at our church as a licensed minister.
Another first step :)

 

Licensed Minister-

“Licensing is a way for the local church to give recognition, authorization and affirmation of a person's gifts and skills for ministry. Licensing is looked on favorably by other churches, which adds further evidence of the person's gifts and abilities throughout the Covenanting Transformation Ministries Churches.
Licensing is usually granted through the recommendation of a church board to the membership of the church. Licensing is recognition of a number of different ministry specialties and does not need to be limited just to preaching pastors. Like ordination, it is the local church that grants the license, not Transformation Ministries.
A license is typically provided to lay persons who have the gift and ability to preach, teach or minister as defined by the church that grants the license. The license may either be a step toward ordination or an endorsement of a gifted lay person for ministry within the church. “- Licensing and Ordination
 
 

So we have had several first steps along the way of becoming a pastor. Can’t wait for the next first step!!

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Baby Surprise!

Introducing the newest member of our growing family.....

Baby Thompson!

Due January 1st, 2013.

I am just about 10 1/2 weeks pregnant :)

God is good!

We are still waiting for our Ethiopian adoption! This just adds a blessing to the family :)

Waiting Update!

We have been DTE for over 2 months now and have moved just a bit on the unofficial wait list. We are now at #81! I have been seeing lots of changes over the last few weeks of people requesting a larger age range. I think it is wonderful that these families are opening their hearts and homes to slightly older children! Here are some of my favorite blogs of families who have adopted "older" children.

Dreaming Big Dreams- Jamie Ivey's parenting journey through childbirth, domestic adoption, and international adoption! She is married to Aaron Ivey from The Austin Stone!

Rage Against the Mini Van- Kristen Howerton's story of fostering to adopt, international adopting, and child birthing of four kids in four years!

Jen Hatmaker- I don't actually follow her blog much, but I did love her book 7. She has adopted two children from Ethiopia along with her 3 biological children!

Change the World for One- If this story doesn't give you chills or tears, I'm not sure what could! This boy's smile is just precious!! You HAVE to watch the video at the bottom!!

Pure and Lasting- This is a bit of a different story! Instead of adopting an older child, this couple is "hosting" a Rwandan teenager!! I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I know he lives with them and they are his American parents!

BEST. PROPOSAL. EVER.

Aside from my own of course :)