Updates, updates, and more updates!

Well, if it weren't for the peer pressure coming from close friends and family, I would wait a little while longer before I update this, but for the sake of needing prayers, I will submit to their pressure :)

Home Study updates:
Michael and I are almost finished! Thank goodness. We have our fire inspection on Monday, our DHEC inspection in a couple of weeks and then we are done! I cannot tell you how much of a weight off of our shoulders this will be.

Thames child update:
Well, this is where my hesitation comes in. Several weeks ago a good friend of mine (from my women's group at church) told me that she happened to meet a family who was in the process of looking for a home for a baby (to be born in April). Of course there is so much to this and God's timing can never be explained, but I will spare you all of that!
Anyways, after praying about it and talking to each other, Michael and I decided to contact this family. After exchanging emails and meeting, we all decided that this is truly what God has planned for us. We can never really understand the reasoning behind everything, but Michael and I have full confidence that our trust in the Lord has given us the opportunity to be parents to this precious baby. We are incredibly excited about this! However, as our lawyer has suggested, we are maintaining a "realistic optimism". We understand that there are many variables that may change from now until April (including the birth mother's decision). But, again, we are trusting in the plans God has for us.
This family we have met is incredible! They are so kind and though their hearts must be heavy over this situation, they see how excited Michael and I are and that makes them happy as well. I am very fortunate to also be able to go to her doctor's appointments, have copies of the ultrasounds, and even be there when we find out the baby's gender!

With all of this being said, please pray for us and for this family who is offering us such a selfless gift. Please also pray that financial worries and burdens may be lifted. We are planning on doing some fundraisers (including selling cute t-shirts!) to help remove some of the costs of this process.

We are so thankful for all of the support, encouragement, and prayers we have received so far! We love you guys!

And the name of the game is "Keep Waiting"

Well, there have not been many new and exciting updates lately. Basically, being in the "wait and watch" mode is pretty tough on me. I have been so thankful for all of the friends and family who have been supportive and encouraging. In fact, these are the same people who help remind me that I should be making this fun and not seeing it as a burden. After all, if I was really pregnant, I would have to wait 9 months anyway! Even though I have no "due date", I am going to do my best to prepare myself as if we are adopting tomorrow or next year! God is really trying to teach me to trust in His timing! 

Right now we are waiting on DHEC to come and check our well water. This is a LONG waiting list and can be up to a few months. But, until then we are expecting the fire marshall to come out in a week or two and then DSS to come and do their final walk-through. Nothing can be finalized until DHEC gets their show on the road. *Sigh* So, it looks like I am on hold until then.

To help pass the time, I have been attempting to find ways to prepare our child's room in a gender neutral and age neutral way. It is SO tough preparing for a child who could be a new born or a 10 year old! But I know that we won't have much time to decorate or prepare once we get the news (maybe just a week or two)! I have been scouring the internet for ideas and I have found a few good ones! Aside from furniture, here are some of the "themes" I am thinking of that could grow with our child.

Basically, I am sticking with light greens, yellows, and reds. I am pretty positive that I will paint the walls an "off-white" color. The room we are going to use is currently pink... I foresee lots of paint being needed. Furniture will have to come last once we have a more specific age in mind. Night stands and book shelves can be used at all ages, but the bed (of course) is the final piece.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please throw them my way! I might be having a painting party soon :D

Watching the plan unfold...

     Well, after some coaxing by close friends and some family, Michael and I have decided to share some events that are happening in our life right now. As of today we have completed our training courses on adopting children out of foster care. We are planning on adopting a child (yes, a child--not necessarily a baby) or children (yes, plural) who are currently in foster care in our state. Just like with any adoption, the time line is a little unpredictable and will require a lot of prayer and patience on our part. I ask that you please pray for not only us as we prepare our hearts and our home, but also for the children who are currently in search of a "forever home". This desire for us goes back a long time. In fact, as far as we can both remember we have always had this tugging on our heart to adopt.  This blog will be my earnest attempt to keep everyone aware of updates in this incredible (and exhausting) journey.

    Though I can never see God's plan for mine and Michael's lives, we are clearly feeling His presence in our decision, and His comfort in this difficult process. I once read that adoptive parents may not necessarily feel the labor pains of a birth mother, but we feel our own type of labor pains of love as we endure the waiting and unknowing. I pray that this waiting is brief, but mostly, I know that this whole process is simply a labor of love for a child who deserves more.