Failed

Well, we waited until the kiddos woke up from their naps today and attempted to take all the finished paper work to the adoption agency today. Failed. They were closed already. But, it provided Jaden and I a bit of a chance to chat with the kids quiet in the back seat, since they seem to be anything BUT quiet at home lately! :) Anyway, that's ok. Tomorrow, I will call our social worker first and find out how we go about scheduling our first visit for the home study! All in due time, right?!

Merry Christmas

  Wow! What a fun past couple of days. Yesterday morning, we were hit with some unexpected snow and cold temps. We thought we might not make it 'home' to Milwaukee after all. So, we went food shopping -- that always helps the blues, right?! Well, I got enough food to make two dinners. Then, we decided to try out the freeway one more time on our way home - sure enough, it was clear! So, we ran home, packed and left. We stopped in Delafield to have coffee with some great friends. It was super to visit with them. Wish it could have lasted longer!! Then, off we went to Jaden's sister's house. We ate delicious food, watched the kids open presents, opened our presents, talked, laughed... It was super! My kids were up super late, but had a BLAST hanging out with their cousins.
   We came home this afternoon and had our own - just the 4 of us - Christmas. I made a ham dinner and we ate lots and played with our new toys and watched a little Polar Express. It was super. Now, the kids are tucked in bed and I'm looking forward to (after we are both done on our computers) a little down time with the hubby before it's back to the grind tomorrow. :)
   On Thursday, we got the best Christmas Present I could hope for this year... We got a grant from Lutheran Social Services. They have the one grant you can apply for without first having had completed your home study. So, we applied and dropped our application off the first week of Dec. The paper work said they would be reviewed the last week of Dec. but they had mentioned, during our adoption classes, that they thought they were already reviewed and wouldn't be reviewed again until March. So, I thought we had a long wait for us to find out if we'd get a grant. Well, we got a letter on Thursday afternoon saying that we received one!! Between the grant money and money we've saved - we are READY to begin our homestudy (well, after Jaden turns in the remainder of his paperwork that is). Pretty cool!! So, Sunday and Monday will be spent finishing up the last of the paperwork and turning it in. Tuesday, I will call our adoption counselor and set up the beginnings of the next step!! Awesome! Truly awesome!!! I can't tell you how excited we are for this!!
   God's Blessings to you all. Merry Christmas to all and to all a GOOD NIGHT!!!

I'll Be Home For Christmas...

   Well, the weather looks good. It looks like we'll be headed 'home' for Christmas (Milwaukee). We are heading out tomorrow and coming home the following day. It should be fun. Jaden and I are both really looking forward to being around family on this holiday.
   Next Christmas, we for sure will not be headed out of town. Christmas Day is on a Sunday, and we will have church, so there will be no way. Also, I am hoping we have our new little one - so we will need to make it a quiet time around here. We learned, in our adoption classes, that these kids, no matter their age, come to you grieving. It makes sense, really. When you think about it, the orphanage is really the only home they've ever known! They've had a large variety of ladies taking care of them and trying to meet their needs. They are losing that to a brand new, totally unfamiliar world and they will never see that old world again. Even though we say 'Thank God for that,' this little one doesn't understand that. He/she is losing everything they've ever known. It's sad immediately, but in the long run, we all know that the life we are able to give this child is better than a life in an orphanage or worse, in Africa. :( Anyway, when you take the baby from the orphanage, this will probably most likely be the baby's first time in a car. Most get real, real sick since they are not used to it. Also, since there has been no ONE person (or TWO) meeting the needs of this child, they are lost. They don't know what to do or who to turn to next! We received tons of advice from multiple sources that for months, Jaden and I must be the only people to hold, feed, change, bathe, etc. our child. I know some of you are going to be hurt by this (not being allowed to hold your niece/nephew/grandchild/best friend's new baby is going to hurt). I know. But, it is the way it has to be until we are certain that our child is completely, 100% attached to us. Because in the long run, believe me, you want that child to be more attached to us than you. They say, when you walk away from your child and try to leave him/her with someone else and the child starts to cry, you know you are starting to be successful with having a securely attached child. Totally opposite of what we want to see from our biological children! :) And, they brought up in our classes, that our child will have never received a present, seen Christmas lights, been to Target or a grocery store... EVERYTHING is going to be new. Even his/her parents for a long time. So, we are going to need to take some time, as a family, to get to know each other and form close, almost over the top attachments with our child before we allow visitors or take any trips.
     I may be wishful thinking, but I'm really feeling like, maybe around Christmas next year (shortly before or shortly after) is when we will be traveling to Ethiopia and picking up our baby. I hope it's before, but we'll see!!! Anyway, I'm thinking of how different it will be next year, and while it may be difficult to not be around extended family at Christmas, it will be the best for our child and us and it will be for an excellent reason. And as soon as that child is extra attached to us, we'll have lots and lots of visits to make up for. :)

And THAT is Why I'll Never Teach Preschool

   We had Drew's 3-year-old Christmas Concert tonight. Watching those cute little 3 year olds lifting up their dresses, jump around, pick their noses, throw their jingle bells - I was reminded why I never chose to get certified in early education! Nope! I'll take a classroom full of 2nd-5th graders any day - but don't give me preschoolers! :) Super cute. It was a fun night and Drew actually needed less reminders about his behavior than I expected! :)
Here are some pictures of tonight's festivities!

Hmmmm

I realized that I haven't posted in a while and don't have much to say.

We just finished up with our small group from church and I WILL say that we have THE BEST small group. It is super how much we can share in life together. I love it. When people miss a week - they are so truly missed by the other members and it just makes me giddy how much I love my small group. It's awesome!

Other than that, not much to report. A bit bogged down by the holiday stress -- presents, wrapping, money, uncertainty of if we will make it through the snow to Milwaukee or not... blah blah but it will be a wonderful holiday either way, so... Don't worry about it, right?

We are getting close to paying for and thus moving forward with our home study. This makes me super excited because, well, it's a HUGE step. And, then we can apply for (and hopefully receive) grant money. That will be really exciting. Plus, that's like getting through the first tri-mester of pregnancy. Some of you aren't going to enjoy these comparisons, but I do. :) So, there you go -- those of you who have had a biological child and adopted -- did you find lots of parallels between pregnancy and adoption?

I Got A Pay Check!

Yep, got a pay check! Adding some money to the adoption account!!! Whew! Nice to see that number increase!

Also, we got our Christmas Pictures! Must share...

Slowly but Surely...

   We finished day two of our adoption classes yesterday. Day two was not nearly as fun - especially without the two adorable visitors! But it was still so awesome to keep dreaming and learning about our future child. I can't wait to begin our home study. It's such a neat experience and such a privilege to be asked to do it. :)

   Today is a snow day. I'm getting caught up from being gone in classes all day the past two days. I really don't know how full-time working moms do it!! I sure couldn't! Plus, I missed the kids lots. So, today has been full of cleaning, laundry, and dancing with the kids. :) I'm grateful for a day at home with my kiddos! Oh oh - by the way - time to pull out another baby gate!! This girl is crawling up the stairs!! Yikes!

One PIP Class In

  Today was a wonderful day. We had our first PIP (Parents in Process) Class to learn all about adoption. It was really neat to spend the full day with 2 other couples who are in the process of adopting. One other couple was adoption from Ethiopia as well and the other from Russia. They had a guest speaker come in who has adopted NINE children from Ethiopia!! Yep - NINE!! She brought two of them in - 3 year old girls... Can I say I totally fell in love with them. Oh boy!!! They were adorable and soooo sweet!!! And gorgeous. I can't even tell you how much my heart broke watching those girls. I just CAN'T WAIT to meet our little baby!!! :)
  Also, one of the couples there told me about this organization that helps families fundraise for adoption travel expenses... They sell coffee for $12.95 per bag plus $5.00 shipping (for one or two bags) and then, you get $5.00 per bag to help with adoption costs!! What an awesome idea. We just ordered our first two bags! Here is the link to our ordering site. I know a lot of you who read our blog are BIG coffee drinkers, so feel free to order away!! :) We appreciate it! Every little bit helps so much - especially with the two trips to Ethiopia.
http://www.justlovecoffee.com/TheThomas

Blown Away

We continue to be blown away by the encouragement and support of people we know. Every day we receive an encouraging phone call or email from a friend or relative telling us how awesome it is that we are adopting a baby. Two friends from high school that I haven't talked to in a long time (and have connected with via facebook) have donated money through our 'Chip-In' site. Many people have ordered Tastefully Simple products to help with our first fundraiser. Last week, at church, a member of Watermarx walked up to Jaden and gave him cash toward the adoption. I had a former student (who would now be a 7th, 8th, or 9th grader) send me cash, anonymously, in the mail. Two friends of our who are both awesome photographers with their own businesses are setting up and organizing two fundraisers for us and donating their time, talents, and cost of supplies all to us. It's just unbelievable to us how much people love us and support us. It means the world to us. I pray about this new child every day and just can't wait to meet him or her. My heart breaks when I think of how long this process could take, but everyone's encouragement and support helps so much!! It all brings us one step closer to our little one!!!

Also, super new -- Jaden successfully completed his Pastor Licensing interview yesterday! He is officially a Licensed Pastor now!!! He worked so hard for his and it's just super that he passed with flying colors! He and I are both excited that this process is over with (or at least resting for a bit) so that he can work on adoption paperwork and we can keep moving forward in the process!! Congrats, Dear! You ROCK! :)

A Day of Santa

Yesterday, we had a Santa day. All of the most fun activities in town -- all going on in one day! First, we went to Breakfast with Santa at the mall. Here, Drew asked for a PingPong Table. He must have heard daddy saying how much he wants one the day before! :) Funny. Santa loved Drew almost as much as Drew loves Santa, so he even sat down and ate his breakfast with Drew. Drew didn't eat a bite!! He just stared at the old man the whole time!! :)

Then, we went straight from there to a parking lot downtown where we waited and played in the snow for Santa and The Mrs. to arrive. Then, Santa walked us over to the Rivoli where we got to tell him what we want for Christmas once again... This time, it was a BIG jingle bell and a drum set. There we go!! That's more like it!! :)

Came home, did a little sledding (very little - wipe out first try) and the kids took a very, very quick nap. That night, Drew and I headed down to the Amtrack Station for some dancing, hot chocolate, and to board the Polar Express Bus (train was very delayed so we took 3 buses to the North Pole) to see Santa ONE MORE TIME. This time, he wanted a sled that wouldn't make him wipe out. Good choice! :) Drew fell asleep about 3 minutes before arriving home. We were ALL beat at the end of the day. What a day. We spent much time focusing on all the secular aspects of Christmas. Great. Today, we are off to church to teach him the real reason for the season, although yesterday was fun too. We all need to OD on Santa at least once during our life time, right?! :) Ha. Fun day I thought I'd share.

Christmas Shopping

Just did a little Christmas Window Shopping for myself. Here is my wish list...

 An ornament that, if I had to guess, I will also be wanting (even more) next Christmas as well. :)

I'm thinking I will buy myself this tshirt after our home study is completed. Pretty neat!

 I'm thinking this wall decal for baby's room. It would work well for a boy or a girl. Super cool.

And that's my post for tonight - very deep. A little online window shopping for myself. Now time to finish the list of things I need to actually shop for for the others on my list!!! 

Can You Not Have Any More Children?

I've been asked twice in the past two days if we are choosing to adopt because we can't have any more children? First of all, we ARE planning on having more children - just in a different way than our previous two children. This child is already in our hearts, just not 'in my belly.' :)

As many of you know, our previous two children were born with very serious health issues. Both of them were not genetic or anything, and chances of anything going wrong a third time would be very few, but we both just are a bit scared and not ready to have biological children again at this point. I'm not ready to make that decision permanent yet, but feeling like that is not what we are supposed to do right now.

We were really struggling with what to do because both of us always wanted 4 children and we were feeling 'ready' (if one ever really is ready) for another baby soon, but neither one of us were thrilled with the idea of going down the pregnancy, birth, and stress that comes with that process. Jaden went to a work conference and I was at home crying and praying because my heart was longing for another baby but I was feeling like it just isn't the right time. That next day, I saw the word 'adoption' many, many times throughout the day. Something inside of me felt it right away. That's what we were supposed to do. Then, Jaden comes home from the conference and was all nervous to tell me that he's been feeling this call to adopt a little black baby and it was totally confirmed at this conference. He was nervous to tell me because he thought I wouldn't understand... Ahhh, yep. I did understand. Two days later, I made an appointment with Lutheran Social Services and well, here we are!! :)

We really feel like adoption is the right choice for us right now. Not to say that the adoption process is easy or stress free (and it's only been a little over a month)!! But, boy - what a super opportunity it is to add a child to your family that will be able to provide a whole new energy around here! It will be wonderful to add the Ethiopian culture to our life and educate all of our children about their culture and heritage. I can't wait to love on this child and introduce him/her to all of you!!!

James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." We consider this being a commandment to us, from God. Adoption is NOT for everyone, and I don't think that is what this scripture is saying (since there are other ways to look after besides adoption). But, since we were both open to it, and then felt the weight on our hearts to follow through, I believe Jaden and I (and our family) ARE being called to adopt. Also, Ethiopia counts one of the largest populations of orphans in the world: 13% of children throughout the country are missing one or both parents. This represents an estimated 4.6 million children – 800,000 of whom were orphaned by HIV/AIDS. If I can offer just one of these children (although the thought of adopting a sibling group has crossed my mind...) a better chance of a life and a follower of Christ, it is a privilege!!

Anyway, though we had trouble conceiving Drew and were told we'd have troubles conceiving Carissa (though we didn't), I have not looked in to the Doctors thoughts on conceiving another biological child. But I can tell you that our next baby has already been 'conceived' in my heart with no trouble at all!