Dragons and Steamducks.

Finally getting a job and insurance means that we can finally move forward with the adoption.  I feel like this adoption is a full time job by itself since I've spent the last two weeks on paperwork and I'm still not done. However, planning my sister's baby shower, and buying my soon to be born nephew presents has me getting baby fever again. I'm so excited to finally meet the child God has picked out for us, and to see him/her grow! 

Thanks to PINTEREST (my new addiction), I've got so many wonderfully unique ideas! 

Please visit my kid inspiration board!

Below are some of the images:

God works in mysterious ways!

So, I shared how Jeremy and I moved back to GA and how we ended up not having jobs like we thought. One of the many things I did in my job search was sign on with a local staffing agency. They didn't call with anything until after Christmas, and even then it was a two day temp job. I really was relying on myself to find a job when they called me. The lady explained that it was an office/clerical/ management  job with a company located in the small town my grandparents and mom lived in, which is right next to my small town. Since it's so small, and we've been living there since my grandparents were born, I was curious as to the name, but when she responded, I was floored. As I was on the phone with her, I was sitting at my grandparents house. My papa built a house on the same land his parents owned. Next to him, his sister and her husband built a house and started a business. They do many things, but the main thing I know they do is build handlebars for Harley Davidson. I told the lady that I could walk to a window and see the business and that it was owned by family. She called them back and I was given the job! I started the next day, not really sure of the job specifics, just thankful for a paying full time job with benefits so we could get our home study for the adoption done. However, during the first day I realized that this job had been spiritually designed with me in mind. It's a very laid back, family oriented office that could really use an OCD overachiever like me. I'm very excited to see how it develops. I love how God works things out. If I could have designed my dream job, it would be something like I'm imagining this will turn out to be. One of the best parts, I get to go to my grandparents house for lunch each day, since they're right next door. Things sure have changed. When we were living in Florida, I had resigned myself to the fact that I would probably not be around my grandparents for their last years of life. Now, I get to see them daily! 

Life in Georgia

Jeremy and I have been living in Georgia, close to my family for almost two months. We both still don't have full time jobs, but God has provided. I'm cleaning a few houses and Jeremy's been able to work from home part time for the company he left in Florida. Next week he'll be going down to work in the office. I even had a two day temp job at some rubber making plant. That was an experience! Everyone there kept making fun of my because I wore gloves and used about a thousand Clorox cloths to clean my work area. Even though I was working in the offices, it still had that black rubber dust everywhere! The shoes I wore are sitting sole side up in my bedroom until I have time to wash the black off the bottom. Everyone that I worked with during those two days were so nice. I had a great time and the main guy even asked for my contact information in case a job opened up in the future. They described me as 'an interesting experience'. You know I kept them laughing. 


Since I haven't found a job yet, I've also been blessed to be able to help out my grandparents. I've worked diligently to get my grandmothers houses clean and have taken them all to the doctor several times. Someone asked me if it bothered me that I was doing so much for them. I responded that I honestly thought I would have to miss their last years on earth because I was living in Florida, and now that I'm not, I'm so happy that I will spend as much time with them as possible to make up for the last 5 years. One of my grandmothers had several mini strokes and now has short term memory problems. For example, she asked me six different times what my sisters and I were doing for New Years. I am praying that God works it out so that I'm able to only work a part time job just so I can spend more time with them. 


I can't remember if I've blogged before about how quickly God directed us to our church home in Florida, but it was literally within the first week. I was so worried about finding a new church family, because our last one played such a special part in our lives. I honestly didn't even pray about it, because I didn't have faith that God would do the same thing again. However, I think He did. I'm so undeserving of His love. I get excited about Sunday mornings, and everyone I've met there so far has been very nice. There are two Sunday school classes we are excited to try, and the church even does Discipleship University on Wednesday nights! I know there probably won't be a class that could replace my Fit In Christ Jesus Girls from FBCPC, but I know God will lead us to the right place. 


There's not much new going on with the adoption. I really don't feel like we can do a home study until at least one of us has a full time job with insurance. I know that God's timing is best, but my heart has started to grow heavy. I'm surrounded by friends who are pregnant, or who have babies, toddlers, and young children. I thank God for blessing them, and I'm genuinely happy for them. I hear of so many who are in my situation who struggle with jealousy and bitterness, and I'm thankful that I don't. However, my desire to be a mother is more and more at the forefront of my mind. I can't wait to hold my own child in my arms and know that I don't have to give him/her back. I can't wait to implement things I've learned, been taught, or researched. I can't wait to listen for their small cry, knowing they are totally dependent on Jeremy and I, for love, comfort, warmth, food,  etc. I can't wait to tell my child that Jeremy and I semi-patiently waited on God to bring just the right one to us. 

Life Changes

Life has changed so much. Jeremy and I have moved 'home' to Georgia and now live around the corner from one of my sisters. Neither of us have a job, but we are trusting God. How did this all come about?


About a month ago, Jeremy and I received a call from our adoption agency about a baby who had been born two days prior. We needed to give them an answer 'within the hour'. Three emotionally draining hours later, we called and told them no. I think both of our hearts broke a little that day and I know that as one of the hardest things I've ever gone through. It's hard to even explain to those who have never been through something like that how devastating it was. 
As a result, Jeremy and I hit our knees before God and prayed diligently. We realized our life needed to change if adoption was what we really wanted to do. 


I've never had God pave a path so clearly as He did for Jeremy and I that next week. Within days, we had a place to live and possible jobs back home in Georgia and God confirmed His will for us through a sermon our pastor preached just three days after the big adoption decision. Now, even though neither of the jobs panned out for us, I look back and realize God knew we needed that bit of security in order to step out on faith and move. 


So here we are. We will hopefully hear next week from our new adoption agency office about starting a new home study, and then we can start the long process of waiting again. God is so amazing. 

Blessed Abundantly

What a busy few months we've had!

Jeremy and I are so loved! Our entire Sunday school class got together and helped us host a spaghetti lunch on September 18th. I, as usual, was so stressed. Would we run out of food, bread, sauce, etc? To help temper that, I asked my dad and sister to come down from Georgia to help out. Then, my uncle and aunt, and friends Bryan and Melanie also came. My sister described it perfectly when she commented on how many wonderful people we had who loved us enough to do all of that for us. We had the fellowship hall broken down and tables set up after Sunday school in no time flat. We enjoyed 'fellowshiping' (southern baptist word) with everyone while the sauce was bubbling on the stove and the bread was being baked.

Jeremy and I didn't really have any goal in mind as to how much we were hoping to raise. I think I was more focused on being worried about running out of food, or something not going right. So when my sister, who is a math guru, counted the money, I was BLOWN AWAY. We had raised $946! I didn't even know how to begin to say thank you- to God, to everyone who helped out, and to our wonderful church family. So many people stopped by after church just to donate towards our cause. I was overwhelmed at the love!

Then, right after that, Jeremy and I  started picking up yard sale donations. People far and wide donated items. I even had a lady who saw our yard sale listing on Craigslist come the night before and bring items for us to sell. We worked hard pricing all the items, and I had to live upstairs all week b/c of the yard sale 'mess' downstairs. But it was all worth it. Saturday, the people started arriving at 5am (yes- it was intense) and didn't stop until 1230pm. We sold almost all of the items and raised $850!! Once again, we had not thought about a particular goal, but we were so overwhelmed by God's provision!

Adoption Update

Well, I don't even know where to start. Jeremy and I have began our fundraising efforts, and, thanks mainly to my mother and sister, we have raised $2000. With this, we can finally do the last step in the adoption process. When we turn in our profile/portfolio, Bethany Christian Services will begin looking for our precious child. A dear friend of ours has agreed to help us get this portfolio done in a timely manner. I can't believe how easy it's going to be, especially after the nightmare Jeremy and I went through with our adoption website- which is still not done. 
I've been feeling very overwhelmed lately with trying to get several things done for the adoption at one time. This morning I started reading the book for my Sunday night bible study, "Too Busy Not to Pray". I have to say- the entire first chapter was such an encouragement to me. It reminded me to step away from the stress and spend time giving it to God- not just the first time, but each and every time I begin to feel overwhelmed. I'm so excited to get started! 

Adoption Adoption Adoption

It seems like all I think about lately is ADOPTION! Jeremy and I finally settled on a website! Even though its still under construction, most of the information is up there for all to see. 


EmbraceHope4.Us


I'm very pleased with it, and I really want to figure out how to direct traffic to it. There are so many people who have shown such an interest and willingness to help in any way possible that I have been overwhelmed!  As I've stated before, I'm not the most technology savvy person, but this is very important for me, so I'm trying to learn. 


My mother, who is very well known back home in Georgia for her cakes, and my sister Taylor came up with their own fundraising idea! They picked out 6 yummy cake recipes and started selling them for $25 each. Their goal was to sell 100 cakes, and be able to raise $1000 for our adoption. ($5 per cake goes to ingredients) I'm so HAPPY to say that they have already mailed me a check for $500 and have a total of 70 cakes ordered! That was just in a month!! God has been so good. I can't tell you how many people from my families' lives and our past that have come forward to help us out. One lady my mom mentioned was our old neighbor. I grew up in the same house for over 21 years, and she was our neighbor for most of that. She had recently found my mom on Facebook, and when she found out about the cake sale, she ordered three!! Once again, and I can't say it enough, God is so good!!


A friend on facebook was hosting a Thirty-One Gifts party to raise money for her adoption, but I didn't know any Thirty-One consultants here in PC. Several of my friends went through a phase (and still are I suppose) of hosting Premier Jewelry Parties. The same consultant did several of the ones I went to. She also attended church with another friend of mine, so I called her up and asked her if  she wouldn't mind donating part of my Jewelry Party proceeds to our adoption. She was so thrilled that I asked her! I have had two parties so far and have raised $400! 




Jeremy and I have planned a Spaghetti Lunch one Sunday after church, and a Yard sale in late September. I have to be honest and say that I often get discouraged and overwhelmed, but I know that just the devil. I have really had to focus this past month on not letting him get to me. He doesn't want us to give God the glory for all the amazing things He's done so far and all the amazing things He will do! So please, follow via our website all the exciting things going on, and most importantly, please continue to pray for us.