Happy Times

This is the first post I've written in a while that doesn't have anything to do with adoption.  Oh.
Wait . . .so maybe I'll just throw this little bit in here.  Our dossier is supposed to hit somebody's desk at the MOJ this week.  So.  That's its final destination.  Bring on the term 'patiently waiting'.  Whatever.  Have you MET me?

I just wanted to throw a few pics out there, just because I think they're cute.  Here goes . . .

Obviously I still can't NOT write about adoption stuff.  This was kind of a bummer, though.  We applied for 5 grants, we got one, and this was our first official rejection letter:

 

Don't get the impression that we expected to receive a resounding 'YES' to every organization we applied with.  It was just a little blow to the ego.  We'll move ahead and wait for others to respond, understanding that if we got all of the grants, then the love wouldn't be able to be spread around to all of the other orphans that are waiting in the wings.  God is absolutely giving us what we need, when we need it.  He's pretty awesome like that.

 

Moving on . . .

 

Aunt Laurie got married this past weekend.  The kids all had a special part in the wedding.  Most of them followed through.  Except Daisee.  She had a precious part, because she was the flower girl.  She had a pretty dress, and a pretty little headpiece to wear.  It was your classic little flower wreath, made of pretty white roses and pretty ribbon.  All was well . . . until the wreath went on the head.  You seriously would've though I had just placed a crown of thorns upon that sweet little brow.  She wasn't wearing it.  Not that day.  Probably not ever.  She had a serious meltdown just as the ceremony was beginning, and thank goodness my mom was there to take action.  For a brief moment, she got better, but then I think she realized she was actually wearing the wreath.  My mom says she snatched that thing off of her head and flung that sucker like a frisbee across the church grounds.  It wasn't a happy moment, and the kid never even made it down the aisle.  Poor Frank (the ring bearer, who did a fine job without her) walked down all by his lonesome self and never had a sweet little gal to help off the stage when it was time.  Bummer.  But, here she is in her princess dress . . .

 

 

. . . and what looks like a little flower halo around her head ISN'T.  We just happened to snap the pic with the flower arrangement behind her perfectly positioned.  I guess this can help you imagine what the headpiece might've looked like . . . sorta.

 

I thought this was a sweet pic of her and Laurie before the ceremony started.  Laurie was giving her a pretty pearl bracelet as a flower girl gift.  If only she'd have known . . .

 

 

Here's a pic of my man-child all dressed up in his suit.  You'll probably never see this again, so you might want to save it.  I mean, if you like Ryan and all . . .

 

 

 . . . and Gavin.  You probably will see this again on him.  In fact, he's had this tie on for three days straight now. A TIE.  For THREE days.   The precious kid can't get enough of it.  He says he loves wearing it, because the adults at church and WalMart (because he wanted to

 wear it to WalMart . . .???) talk to him when he's wearing it. 

 

 

Look at this next picture.  See the tie?  He wore this outfit (minus the tshirt...he had on his dress shirt and black knee socks and dress shoes) to AWANA Sunday night for nerd night.  This is Tuesday morning.  He STILL HAS ON THE TIE. 

 

 

Love these kids.

 

 . . . and I love Les Miserables.  I've seen it twice (most recently being last night, when Mr. Wonderful surprised me with a babysitter and said, "Let's go again."), and I intend to go back Thursday night and see it one more time.  Oh, yes I do.  Maya's middle name?  Cosette.  It comes from the movie.  Go watch it and you'll see why.  Just beautiful.

 

That's all I've got.  Go get a snack and enjoy the rest of the day!

 

Love, Paige

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of today...

Things are seriously creeping . . . or so it seems.  I think its the weather.  The sun has to come back out in full force at some point, right? 

Our dossier has reached Bulgaria.  Its currently in translation, and will be there for another few days before it will be legalized.  Once legalization is complete, it sits on somebody's desk until that somebody does what he or she needs to do tobe able to call us and say, "come on over". 

I'm getting impatient.  I knew that would happen at some point.  Right now, we have a daughter that doesn't live with us.  In fact, we don't really know where she lives, how she lives, or who she lives with.  We don't know how bad her conditions may be, but we don't know how much better off she may be than other orphans in her area.  As a parent, I REEEEALLY don't like unknowns.  Especially when we're talking about the welfare of one of my kids.  Maya is mine . . . she's ours.  We've claimed her, and I want her.  NOW.  I want to hold her, I want to give her a real bath and cover her in Baby Magic, and I want to talk to her and let her know how crazy her family is about her.  I want her to know what love feels like, because right now, she doesn't have a clue. I want her to know the love of a God that created her . . . perfectly.   She knows what the confines of a steel crib is like, but she doesn't know what the love of a mama and daddy can provide.  I want so badly to give her what basic humanity requires . . . what makes us thrive.  My heart sometimes hurts so badly for her.

If you haven't taken a look at this blog yet, www.nogreaterjoymom.blogspot.com, go take a peek at what's going on with this family.  Adeye is in Bulgaria, with her two oldest sons, right now on a trip to bring her two newest family additions home.  I've never met this woman face-to-face, but she's absolutely an incredible inspiration to me.  I've loved reading her updates, but it makes me long so badly for someone to call us and tell us that we can come and see our Maya.  Once that first trip is over, it will be so hard to leave and wait to go back.  But my heart needs that time with her.  I miss my daughter that I've never even met.

Hold tight, my sweet girl.  We're coming.


-Paige

God Showed Up

I know we're all excited about this football game.  Our eyes are glued to the tube, too.  BUT.  I've gotta tell you about how God showed up today.

Last Friday, we took our first withdrawal out of our 'emergency fund'.  This was our Dave Ramsey money . . . meaning he says to leave money in an untouched account that equals 3 or 6 months worth of expenses.  My hubby is all about Dave Ramsey, so our fund was fully funded.  Up until last Friday.  This was completely ok, though.  We know that God has called us to the purpose of adopting Maya, so we've been prepared to use that money.  Let me tell you, though.  God doesn't call you to a task without equipping you to do so.  Haven't I said that before?

Back in November, I spent HOURS preparing and sending out grant applications.  I had four organizations that I was going to send applications to, and I prayed hard over those things before I sent them out.  I had no idea what would happen.  I didn't really know how these people went about choosing who got what, but I knew that we could forego our applications and get absolutely nothing, or we could give it a shot and see what happened. 

Last Friday, we took $2000 out of our emergency fund.  It was the first time we had touched that fund.  Today, I went to the mailbox.  I saw an envelope from Families Outreach, one of the organizations that we had submitted a grant application to. 

I'll let you read it.

 

Sorry for the horrible image...something was wrong with the photo uploader so I had to use my webcam :).

 

I'm sure you get my point.  We've prayed and prayed for the Lord's provision with this, and just when it might start to hurt just a teeny bit, He shows up.  Not a minute too late, not a dollar short.  Do you see that we withdrew $2000, and we got a grant for $2000?  That's not coincidence!  He knows what we need, when we need it. 

 

We haven't yet heard from any of the other organizations, but even if we don't receive another dime, I believe He did this just to drive home His point.  The point that says, "TRUST ME".  We've been blessed with a few donations from others, and every time another dollar shows up, we hear Him. 

 

We hear you, sweet Father, and we're honored to fulfill your purpose, and to be your children.

 

If you ever doubt, call me.  Email me.  Facebook me.  Just do something.  God is something you don't want to miss out on.

 

Keep praying!

 

Much love,

 

Paige