Buttons, Bows & Prayers for Sonja

I'm shocked! I'm speechless! That is the way I have felt the last couple of weeks. A friend of ours approached me in church last Sunday and said that she was thinking about us and Sonja and couldn't pass up buying for her a little dress and hat. Today, she brought it in. How adorable! I can't wait to put it on her. Both Sundays while driving home, I was brought to tears thinking about the amazing gesture on their part. Not only do I have a dress and hat to hang up, stare at and dream with, but we have a great memory of friends who gave it.
We have been so blessed throughout this adoption. Two other couples in our church have approached us and given us money for the adoption. One couple, at the time, didn't have work and a steady income. Others have paid for Youth events and given in other ways, so that Joel and I can set aside what is needed to complete the adoption. Others have prayed and given encouraging words to help us get through the tough times of waiting and wondering. Another friend talked with her doctor and asked if she could get a backpack style diaper bag for me and all of the coupons and goodies that you get when you physically have a child. Thank you seems so little and just not enough! Thank you Margaret and "Gang" for the very adorable outfit! Thank you to all the others for your gifts of money, words of encouragement and prayers. I thank my God every time I remember you!! Philippians 1:3 (NIV) Thank you God for blessing us through our friends and family!

When you least expect it.....

Tonight, I ran to the convenience store to pick something up. I picked out what I needed and headed to the checkout. The person helping me, asked what my shirt meant. My shirt is a shirt that I have had for approximately a year now. It is faded, stained and on it's way out the door. I like this shirt though, and so I haven't been able to let it go yet. When I first bought this shirt, I bought it because of the saying on it and hoped that someone would ask me what it meant. It has a picture of a pair of sandals and says, "Not all who wander are lost." For almost a year, not a single soul has asked me that question, until tonight! My reply? "For me personally it means that there are several lost people running around in this world and there are people wandering around this world who are not lost, because they have Jesus Christ as their Personal Savior." (I think I'll hang onto the shirt for a little bit longer!)

Having knowledge is one thing, but to live it out, is another!

Do you have a meeting?

My son, 6 yr. old Nico, my husband and myself were having dinner together last night when my father walked in the door. Upon seeing my father, Nico turned to me and asked, "Do you and Daddy have a meeting?" All we could do was laugh! To most people that isn't funny, but to our son, seeing Grandpa or Grandma walk in the door usually means that Mom and Dad are leaving and most likely they have a meeting! (We weren't going anywhere, we had a surprise visit from my Dad) Poor kid! That tells me we must have a large number of meetings that we attend. We do have our fair share of meetings, but they are usually all for a good purpose!

Never too busy!

- Painting is half done, I have more to do. The wood trim and doors are here, ready to stain and varnish - hopefully I can get to it soon. They need to be installed next week. Carpet comes the 27th.

- No updates regarding the adoption! Done with all paperwork. I continue to take medication for TB and have blood drawn on a monthly basis to have my liver checked.

- Business is a roller coaster as usual - change is happening again. I'm done with sitting behind a desk as of June 1st. I will still have book work to do in the evenings.

- Church is good, always lots to do! Youth is gearing up for their first, of hopefully more, lunch fund raisers following the Sunday morning service. Raising funds to get to CHIC. / I need to get in gear and sign up more people to greet at our children's ministry table.

- I'm having another scrap booking party! April 28th, 12 Noon to 12 Midnight. Same as last time, just a different Friday! If interested email me and if you need product email with an order on or before Tuesday, April 18th.

- Piano is still on. I'm practicing "The Entertainer". I have it memorized and ready for my recital.

- My personal trainer class is done, whew! Still have more work to do. -9, -6"!!

- Never too busy to remember the great sacrifice that Jesus endured for all of us. Spread the good news. Jesus is alive!

When?

My son walked in the door from getting off of the bus this afternoon and posed the question to me, "Mom, When am I going to get my baby sister? Can you just tell me when, what month, huh? Just tell me a month!" Joel and I have not talked much about Sonja in front of Nico, mainly to avoid a long list of questions from him. Today, his question was from his heart, without any promptings. As I turned away to keep him from seeing my tear filled eyes, I stated, "Honey, I don't know! I don't have the answer to that question." (I know God does, I trust that He does, I'm hopeful to know soon...We all are!)

Still painting......

One room down, one more to go, a hallway and a stairway! :| Oh well - it will be nice when it is done.



-8

Happy Birthday to the one I love!

Today is my husbands birthday. I asked my husband what he would like to do on his special day and he replied with, "I think I might have to work and we have to paint the basement because carpet is coming April 27th." He and I really dislike painting, it's probably on the bottom of the list, if on the list at all, of things to do. My husband insisted on doing the painting today, regardless of his birthday or not. (Nico is having a blast, of course!) So we will be painting today and then tonight we are going out to celebrate his birthday together. Happy Birthday Babe! I love you very much and thank God for bringing you into my life.

Waiting, wanting and wishful!

"How are you?". These days, that is a loaded question. I usually just answer, "I'm doing ok". Which partially means, I'm tired of waiting for information regarding Sonja, I want to know right now and I am wishing that we can travel to get her before August 2006. Why August?, it's sooner then September! This month marks one year since we started the process to adopt Sonja. We have gotten all of the necessary paperwork done and now we sit and wait. We wait for our social worker to call and say that we have a referral. A referral has information about who Sonja is and what she looks like. Is she born? Is she healthy? What's her personality like? What does she look like? Will she bond with me? When can we become a physical family of four? We are already a family of four, we just are missing a physical piece to our little puzzle. Is her mother scared? Did she get the proper nutrients and doctor checks that are needed during a pregnancy? Has she been properly loved and cared for? What's her environment like? In the whole scope of things, I'm doing great. I live a cushy life. I have a loving environment and I don't NEED anything. I have a wonderful husband and son. Thank you for those of you who do ask how I'm doing and don't just settle for, "I'm ok", but ask further. It encourages me and let's me know that you are praying for all of us and the process to move forward. Don't be afraid to ask. If I answer, "I'm ok", it simply means I don't want to burden you with my petty issues, but as a whole.......Life is good, I just need to re-learn patience. I think I have the perseverance piece, I just need the patience. Thanks for your prayers.

Count with me...1,2,3,4,5,6...

I received this bit of information from my mother-in law this week...Interesting!
On Wednesday of THIS week, at 2 minutes and
three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time
and date will be: 01:02:03 04/05/06

That won't ever happen again.

FUN, FUN, FUN!!

The ladies and I had a fun evening of scrap booking and chatting. There were eleven of us that came and went throughout the day. This Friday I get to have another fun filled evening at my home...........you guessed it, scrap booking! My QSM Youth Group Girls are going to be coming over to scrap with me. I am currently working on a book for my wonderful husband. Growing up, he had a fun time and working hard to achieve the title of Eagle Scout. As most of you know, trying to get Eagle before the required age, is a tough thing to do. He is proud of that achievement, as he should be. So I am memoralizing the pictures and items that he received during that time. I hope to be able to work on it Friday a little bit, but don't anticipate getting too much done. My goal Friday, is to teach these girls one of my favorite past times and hope that they can continue it for themselves and for their families in the future. I anticipate a great time. I hope the same for them!