"Bye-Bye Combine"

Busy times . . .

*We went to a farm this weekend with friends to pick a pumpkin, take a hay ride, eat apple cider donuts (very much worth the drive just for the food) and to let T-man experience a ride on a combine. Fun times! The combine ride went around the farm fields for about 15 minutes and did that make for one happy little boy! This was the conversation for most of the 30 minute ride home -

Back seat: "Bye-Bye Combine"

Front seat: "Yes, T-Man, Bye-Bye Combine. We'll come back and see you next year"

Back seat: "Bye-Bye Combine"
Front seat: "Yes, T-Man, Bye-Bye Combine. We'll come back and see you next year"

Back seat: "Bye-Bye Combine"
Front seat: "Yes, T-Man, Bye-Bye Combine. We'll come back and see you next year"

Until this happened:

"Nite-Nite T-Man"

*Three things said at church today hit home:

• Even though we live in trying, terrible, and difficult times, there is HOPE (this, of course, caught my attention immediately). It wasn't an "all you have to do is...." list of things you should be doing but are not, but a good review of our basic Gospel principles that I certainly needed to hear. The words hit home for me. There is hope!


• "Faith without works is dead" James 2:20 -- I have been struggling lately with our "waiting" for another child to join our family (but we're not supposed to be waiting - we're supposed to be finding). I always thought I was patient until I came face to face with adoption. I have looked at every adoption-related site, blog, agency, birth parent website, and book. I have stayed up waaaaay past my bedtime on far too many nights!! We have posted our family profile on-line with Adoption.com and LDS Family Services, I am having "Pass along cards" made of our family as we speak. We contact our case worker every three to four weeks just to keep our name on the tip of his tongue at all times. I have created this blog for the sole purpose of sharing our hope to adopt. I guess hearing the scripture, "Faith without works is dead" (read more on this topic) just reinforced that we ARE doing all that we can to find the other child that is supposed to join our family. We can't give up hope; we have to have faith, stay strong, and continue to do all that we can do to make another miracle happen for us. There is another child meant to be a part of our family, but in the Lord's time, not my "but I want it now!" time.

• Be Frugal (nudge, nudge, "Did you hear that Eric?") - Just because you have the money, doesn't mean you have use the money. I am terrible at saving. I do, but not like I/WE should be saving. It was just nice to hear this topic applied to all - not just those struggling with the crazy economic times that we are living in, but all should think twice about their spending and make wise choices.
  

The Hokey Pokey IS What it's All About

We actually got a night out together as a family and we went up to Wisconsin to visit with friends. Two of the kids there sang a song for the group called "The September Song" and T-Man led the group in a round of the "Hokey Pokey" and "If You're Happy and You Know It". Proud moments as parents! We got the Hokey Pokey on video - our hope is to one day show these cute moments to his future wife! (My video won't load -- I am hoping to figure out why and then I will upload the entertainment!)

Today was the Children's program at church -- Very cute, very emotional. I sort of had (okay, not sort of but really did have) a bad attitude about it all. I had to sit on the front row in front of the entire congregation with four - 5 year olds that can sometimes be a handful to manage. The front row is NEVER my favorite place to sit -- too tall -- I feel like others are looking at the back of my head. However, we didn't even get through the first song and most of the women had tears in their eyes already, myself included. There was just such a strong spirit to hear the children sing -- especially about the Savior. The second song was called I am a Child of God and if you were not crying after the first song, you were after this one; men included.

From where I was sitting, I could see Eric sitting with T-Man and they waved which started the water works even more. How blessed I am! I know I don't think or say it enough. I tend to let the little things get me down, but if I just take a minute and look into that little boys blue eyes, I see how the Lord has blessed me, how much He must trust me to put this child in our care, and how much He loves me. What a miracle T-Man is and what a miracle adoption is!

Parent Profile Link

Our Parent Profile is complete and posted. Take a peek....

Eric and Christy's Profile

Hopefully "Waiting"

The toddler has finally closed his eyes and given in to sleep.
The adoption paperwork is complete for LDS Family Services and we are approved to be "parents".
We hopefully "wait", yet actively tell all we know, we want to start the emotional process of trying to adopt a second child.
May our wait not be three years again.