Proverbs 31

*pic from pinterest

My small group bible study broke up into girls and guys tonight to discuss biblical woman(man)hood. We read Gensis 2 and focused on God creating a suitable helper in Eve. Yes women should submit but we are also co-heirs in Christ! We as much a princess in Heaven as men are princes!

Then we jumped to Proverbs 31. Just being honest here, I sometimes dread reading this. It seems like the perfect women doing impossibly perfect things. How in the world can I do all these things? Then we shifted into something I have never done before. We started talking about how we could actually do some of the tasks that a noble woman does according to Proverbs. We definitely put our own spin on it, but I'm really excited and impressed with our challenges! Maybe you might want to join???

 VS 15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
Challenge: Cook dinner 3 nights a week

VS 22: She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Challenge: Make your bed every morning for the week.

VS 24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
Challenge: Clean out our closests for a garage sale.

We aren't each doing all three challenges, but we each picked at least one challenge to complete during the week! I'm doing the bed making and possibly the closet! (It NEEDS to happen lol!)

We talked about how all these traits and qualities are great, but the real underlying quality that is above the rest is verse 30. If we grow at our relationship with the Lord then we will learn to respectfully fear the Lord and all the other qualities will fall into place!

 

VS 30: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

 

 

Hospital Bag

I recently saw a friend on Facebook ask what to pack in her hospital bag. I know there are alllll kinds of articles out there with their own opinions, so I figured I'd add mine! I'm pretty much a minimalist so if you need LOTS of details and stuff this might not be the list for you. Also, I'm not sure why it has taken me almost 8 months to decide to blog about all this baby stuff, but it is what it is!

For momma:

Fuzzy socks

Loose PJ pants
(You don't want anything "tight" these first few days)

Solid colored tops.
(Patterns may or may not be in style years from now,
and patterns aren't super flattering on swollen new mommas-just my opinion!)

Nursing snap tops.

 (I lived in these the first few weeks!)

Robe

 

Hair products.

(Chi, Blow dryer)

 

Make Up

 

Comfy presentable outfit for YOU to go home in.
(You'll be in pictures too!)

 

Bath products

 (Travel sized Shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, etc...)

Literally everything else I needed was provided by the hospital, and I was super comfortable.

For baby:

At least one comfy outfit

(Adelyn wore the hospital onesie the first day, and was in a gown the whole second day)
 

Going home outfit
 

Swaddle blanket
 

Pretty blanket
(We didn't bring this, but we had hospital pictures done
and she asked for a blanket which we didn't bring
and had to borrow from somewhere?)

 

Boppy
(We didn't bring this either, but I think it would have been super helpful to have!)

Baby Mittens

That's it! We brought lots of outfits and diapers and everything else you can think of, but we didn't use any of it. The hospital provided diapers, blankets, hats, pacifers, bathing supplies, pump, formula if needed,etc.

Again. This is a very minimal list. I had LOTS of other stuff packed, but really didn't touch much of it. It's also super helpful to have relatives to can bring you food and anything you might need but forgot!

Birth Story

Tonight at our small group/community group/bible study/whatever cool name you wanna call it, I found myself retelling Adelyn's birth story. It surprised me how much I enjoyed telling it, and I could have told every little detail, but I don't think my audience would have appreciated it. However, you, my dear audience, can choose to stop reading if you don't want the all details. Here we go...

Adelyn Mae's Birth Story...

On New Years Eve, the hubz came home from work early because his stomach hurt. He ended up having the stomach bug and allll the fun that comes with that. I was only a few hours away from my due date (Jan 1st) and HUGE. I stayed away from him all day. My mother-in-law brought over medicine and took care of anything the hubz needed that day. At around 5pm, I decided to make a run for some gatorade and dinner. I got a Sonic chilli cheese cony and maybe some tator tots. I started to feel really bad after I ate dinner (I can't imagine why with that wholesome meal?!) so I went to lay down in our bed room. Sure enough the bug symptoms hit me not long after.

Inbetween bouts of sickness I felt fine, so I called my mom to see what I should do. She encouraged me to call the doctor. So I called the nurse and she said to go straight to Labor and Delivery IF I was having contractions. Well a first time 40 week pregnant lady can't really tell the difference between labor contractions and stomach bug issues, so my mom thought it was a good idea to go ahead just to be safe and head to the hospital to at least get check out.

My mom and dad picked me up around 11:30pm on New Years Eve to bring me to the hospital. My hubz was still too sick to move and definitely too medicated to drive me. The whole way to the hospital I kept thinking inbetween sickness episodes that I can't believe this is how my delivery is going to start. All the while I was not fully convinced that I was actually going to have a baby soon.

This is when things start to run together, and I get fuzzy on the details...I went straight up to L&D and went to the triage room. (The nurse had a hard time with me because she would get sick when other people got sick? Strange for a nurse?) Eventually there was talk about possibly a c-section because something was happening everytime I had an episode to the baby. I made my mom call Ryan and tell him to get up here fast. His mom had to drive him. I was admitted to the hospital after some time, but just to monitor the baby. There were no real signs of impending delivery. I got pumped full of some drugs to take away my stomach issues and started to fall asleep. My parents left and Ryan slept on the couch and his mom stayed with us. I guess that was all around 3 AM.  At about 4, I  I felt a pop and a gush. I suddenly woke up and told my MIL I thought my water had broke. She called for the nurse, but the nurse wasn't really convinced it was my water. (Not sure why? It very clearly was). Ryan's mom called my parents back up and Ryan had to wake up. It was game time...

Things progressed fast. Once I painfully got dilated to 6cm, they called for the epidural. I have no idea how long it took, but it seemed like FOREVER for the doctor  to get there. Once he did they started to sit me up and I was in PAIN. The nurses check me again and there was no time for the epidural. It was time to push. AHHH!!!! (The doctor also said since I was previously sick he wouldn't have done the epidural anyway.)

Pushing was intense and super hard. I was exhausted and so very thirsty. I pushed for about an hour and half and at 8:26 AM on New Years Day our doctor announced It's a GIRL!!!!
Adelyn Mae was healthy and perfect.

The rest they say is history....

2 Years later

August 2011.

That is when we started this adoption process.

Wow! How things have changed! I would have never imagined we would still be so far away from a referral at this time, but I know God has a plan for our little family and specifically this little adoption. We are still in the waiting phase, and in the waiting comes expired documents. The last few weeks we have been renewing documents like crazzzzzzzy. It was very reminiscent of our first home study. We had to get updated physicals. Jovie up to date on her vaccines. The house in good shape. In home Home Study interview. These were all a little tricker with a 7 1/2 month old baby this time, but we got them accomplished! We are very grateful for our family members that helped us with appointments! Couldn't have done it with out their help.

So what's next?

Well we are currently holding strong at 47 on the wait list. I believe we are good on our paperwork until this time next year. *Hopefully* we will be close to a referral by this time next year!

Extraordinary

I read a lot of blogs, not near as many as I did before I had Adelyn, but you know that's usually how it goes. I love reading about people that say YES to God and to reading about people that make things happen. I like to read about people who live extraordinary lives being faithful to God.

 I love to read about Stephen Elder raise tons of money for water!
 I love to read about Jenn Verme partnering with Sweet Sleep and getting beds for Noel Orphanage.
 I LOVE to read about Rebekah and Will who adopted FIRST as plan A.

 I like to read about these people because I want to so badly BE these people! Now, let me tell you. I have tried. I have tried to be these people. Here are some of my attempts...

Charity: Water. In 2011 I was fired up about Charity: Water. I "gave up" my Christmas from some of my family and friends. I posted and campaigned on FB. Did I raise thousands of dollars? Nope.  I raised around $300.

Lifting Arms Ministries. I gave babysitting a shot. My first summer after working as a teacher I sent everyone I knew this awesome spreadsheet with prices and information on it. I was going to babysit to earn money to give to orphans. Did I earn thousands of dollars? Nope. I babysat for two families and raised about $300.

I started this blog. I thought I could turn it into one of those huge blogs that has advertisements that millions of moms read. On my best day I averaged about 200 views.  Lately, I average about 15 views a day.

I wanted to adopt my first child. Here I am writing this with a 7 month old biological child that I am sooo incredibly grateful for.

I don't share this for a pity party or for a look at what I've done! I share because I want people to know that sometimes you won't raise tons of money. Sometimes your plans won't match God's plans for your life. Sometimes you just have to try things and be OK with the way they turn out no matter how insignificant it feels. I'm proud of my small successes because at least I tried. Maybe one day I'll be featured on a blog for changing the world, but today. Being featured on my blog is enough :)

The Feet.

This week our church and my little family were granted the chance to serve with Beautiful Feet Minstries in Fort Worth, TX. I didn't participate to the fullest, but me and Adelyn did serve some! It was a little out of my comfort zone bringing my baby with me to this trip. I was nervous to expose her to the homeless people. However, I am so so glad I did. I want to be an example to my daughter that we are called to take care of the least of these. I want her to see me loving people the way Jesus loves people. I want her to want to do this when she has the ability to choose.

 You should check out Beautiful Feet. They have an amazing thing going on!

http://www.thefeet.org/

 

 

forty eight

• Yall should totally check out my hubz awesome Father's Day sermon!

• We have FINALLY broke into the forties! We are 48 on the unofficial wait list.

• You should listen to Lorde. My BFF let me in on her!  I haven't listened to her whole EP yet, but what I've heard, I dig.

Two Chairs.

Community has been a big buzz word around our house for the past few months. Ryan has been enthralled with living our lives missionally right where we are. Engaging our neighbors. Committing to our church. Intentionally loving others as Jesus loves us.  He has been super inspired by Soma Communities.  At first I thought this was some weird compound living, hippy lifestyle thing, but it isn't. Check out their video.

 

So anyway. Back to our situation. We are starting small. We are just trying to be more intentional about talking to people. On Valentine's Day, Ryan bought us two chairs to put in our front yard. We choose to sit out there in the evenings so we can run into our neighbors more frequently.

 

I have been trying to open my home frequently to others. I have been putting my comfort level aside and saying YES to social opportunities with people I am not super close with. These are not mind blowing things. We do not go above and beyond. We are starting small. We haven't seen any insane things happen due to these things, but I believe this is the way we should be living. Missionally. Right here in our home.

I want to live out this verse...

"All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:44-47

 

 

 



Fingerprints: The Sequel

This story will keep you on the end of your seat! Our renewal biometrics appointment did not go anything like the first time. Lets start at the beginning.

We got an email from our Family Coordinator that we needed to have our fingerprints renewed. I finally got around to sending in our application (paperwork just is not as fun the second time around), and we got our appointment for a Friday in April. First problem. We already had plans the Friday before that to go see our friends adoption in a different city. Meaning Ryan already took of work, so we couldn't do the original date. No big deal right? Just call for a new appointment?...Nope. You have to mail back in the original form then wait for a new appointment. Awesome. So the wait begins...

A few weeks later I got a letter from USCIS with just *my* appointment. It was in the middle of the week in May in the middle of the day. All I could think was great. How am I going to pull that off with the baby and where the heck is Ryan appointment letter? I started second guessing if I even mailed off his reschedule form! Thankfully a few days later we got Ryan's form and his was the day AFTER my appointment! Uhhh...Two trips to Houston?? Well this is the first God moment. We remembered that Ryan had a work trip in May in Houston...Yes. It was the same week!! What a relief! Ryan doesn't have to miss work, and I don't have to go alone with Adelyn!

We head off to Houston and notice that our hotel is literally 1.5 miles from the biometrics place! Whatttt???? That was sooo God because obviously He knew how much I was dreading driving in Houston with Adelyn. (Ryan had to stay at his conference for my appointment). Here are the thoughts going on in my head...It really could not have been playing out any more perfectly. God must really want us to be doing the adoption! He couldn't possibly been more present in this situation...

Dunnn Dunnn Dunn...

Long story short: We get to the hotel, start to check in a realize we were at the WRONG hotel. OUR hotel is about 40 miles away. Awwwwwwwwwesome...

You would think the story ends there right? We just have to drive about 45 minutes to get to our appointment. Well that would be right, except when I get to my appointment after Adelyn screamed 90% of the way I forgot my ID...Yep.

You can't get your fingerprints without an ID. I cried. The super wonderful nice supervisor was so kind and told me to just come back the next day with Ryan and get them done together.

Very long story all to say that we got the fingerprints done together at Ryan's original appointment and it all worked out okay!

MOPS.

I have officially become the newest Steering Team Member of our local MOPS group. If you have a MOPS group near you, I highly suggest joining! (Mothers of Preschoolers...aka pregnancy-5th grade kids!) I am VERY new to the group, but I can already see so many benefits attached to the group. Being surrounded by a group of stay at home moms is the best part. I love that I can come in frazzled and late and they all understand. I can have a crying baby and need to nurse and they all understand. It is just nice to around like minded mommas! PLUS the crafts are super cute. I have actually only been to meetings that had crafts, but I am sure the speakers are equally as amazing. Anyway, like I said I am a Steering team member and I will be organizing the Moppets. Basically making sure we have enough volunteers to watch the kids, so moms can participate and their babies are being loved on! I know this is a big job with big responsibilities, but I can't be scared away because of the responsibilities. I know God has placed this in my heart to accomplish! He has given me the preschool background, the leadership background, and friendship with other Steering team members in my life! I know He will provide for me and I will be able to do this :) I'm excited to use my ability to stay home to advance His kingdom through this position!

Check out MOPS....http://www.mops.org/

Seasons.

* images from pinterest

 

Seasons is a word that has been resonating with me so much lately. I think it is because this season I am in is so new.

• New mom
• Stay at home mom
• Housewife

This season has actually been one of the hardest times of my life. It is a weird feeling not working anymore or having any obligations outside of my house. I have been struggling to find my identity in Christ and not in what I "do" or don't "do". However, as hard as it has been, it has also been showered with amazing moments.

 I want to embrace this season. I want to love on as many people as I can, I want to cherish the time I have with my baby being a baby. I want to embrace the little things and be satisfied with who I am. I want to make sure I am living my life and not just wasting away the days.

I was motivated today to start back on the blog train. I want to start sharing how I am going to make the most of this season of being out of the 'corporate world'. I want to share my adventures in living life missionally for Christ. I want to share so that maybe someone else will be motivated to live a life worth living!!

Chocolate and Marathons!

I was OBSESSED with babies before I became a mom. I thought this obsession would lighten once I had my own baby, but I was wrong! I am even more obsessed with these amazing little humans. I love seeing pictures and reading about babies. One thing I was not expecting was that I would become obsessed with the idea of motherhood. I now LOVE to read about other peoples perceptions of motherhood. This leads us to today's blog. I came across this guest blog post on Gussy Sews and it brought tears to my eyes. The lady described motherhood in the most perfect way!

"Being a mom for the first time feels like velvet, and chocolate, and running a marathon with no preparation. It feels like you can taste the Spirit on your lips and hear Him in your heart and like no one and everyone in the world understands you. It feels like a new era, a new club, and like you never lived before the day the baby was born. It feels like love."- Arianne Segerman

Jump on over to Gussy Sews and read the whole post!

One Year DTE!

Today we have been officially waiting ONE YEAR for our Ethiopian baby.

 

What a year it has been! We have lost a beloved family member (My Mawmaw) and we have gained an unexpected family member (Addie Mae). I would be lying if I didn't say the pregnancy and birth of Adelyn didn't take my mind away from the wait, but it definitely helped pass the time. We are still about a year away, maybe even a year and a half, from getting that much anticipated referral! For those not quite into the adoption lingo, that is the phone call saying we have been matched with our baby boy! Yes, I did say boy. Just incase you don't remember our specific details, we requested an infant boy 0-12 months. I can't imagine how our lives will change throughout this next year of waiting, but I know it will be worth it when we meet our little man!

 

We started on the "unofficial" wait list at #83.

 

Today we are at...

 

Duck Dynasty on adoption...

Fun!

Sponsoring.

If you have ever considered sponsoring a child through any organizations I highly recommend you do! We have chosen Project 61 and World Vision. We got updated pictures of both of our children this week! What a joy to see a new picture and read a sweet note! These kids are real and what you are doing (if you are...) is amazing to them.

 

If you are looking for a very real experience with your sponsorship, I would recommend you join Project 61. We get frequent messages via FB, letters, and pictures of our child.

 

 

 

Legasa - Project 61

Lucia- World Vision

 

Fifty Seven

 

Adoption Update:
We are currently at number 57 on the unofficial wait list. Slow is the name of this game, but I would be lying if I said I was ready to be at the top! We are still adjusting to life around here with a new baby.

 

We are rounding out the first year of waiting. What a year it turned out to be! In March we will be DTE for a year. That means we have some documents that are starting to expire and we need to update them. First on that list would be our Biometrics (AKA Fingerprints). We have to do lots of awesome paperwork to get a new appointment and get them redone. I have heard before that paperwork is no fun the second time around and now I understand. It was giddy and exciting a year ago, now...not so much. Oh well! It's what has to be done to get us to our Isaiah!

 

 

New Mom. New Life.

Being a mom is AMAZING. It really is as good as everyone makes it out to be. I was a hugggge critic. I thought there is no way you really can love something so much, but I was completely wrong. I love being a mom and I love just sitting and holding my baby all day long. It doesn't get old! With all that said, being a new mom is also very scary. Addie just turned 6 weeks today and the first few weeks I was constantly battling fear of everything! I was a worried wreck. Here are some verses that I kept on repeat to keep me calm. I had to remember to TRUST in the Lord. I had to trust in His promises. I'm not as crazy as I was the first few weeks, but I do still constantly rely on these few verses during the rough parts of the days with a newborn.



28“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.29“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.30“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11


Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:27


Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

Introducing...

Adelyn Mae!

01.01.13