Dreams

I don't usually have dreams that I remember in the morning, but I've had two very clear ones in the past week. The first involved watching a weather forecast that said we'd be in the 70s this week- I know that dream just came from wishful thinking in my subconscious! We do have some days in the 40s coming our way- surely that means the snow will melt!

The other dream involved getting a phone call from our case manager asking if we'd foster-to-adopt a Hispanic baby girl. I was excited and woke up somewhat thinking it had been real. However, I am under no illusion that the system works this way. I completely understand that you never know when a child is placed with you if they will be up for adoption at some point, and we are not even sure if we want to adopt through foster care. I just thought it was interesting how God changes the desires of our hearts. I've always heard that, prayed that, believed that, but this "dream" reminded me how He's done that for me. As a young married couple, we dreamed about starting a family and having a little child that would be the combination of the two of us- blonde, big eyes and slightly OCD (how could a child with our DNA avoid that? Poor Samuel is even learning!). Slowly, God has changed the desire of my heart. Of course we'd love to get pregnant, but we would also be excited about expanding our family by adoption. And we are cautiously optimistic about the chance to foster precious little ones in our home as well. Don't you love how God works like that? How He says His ways and thoughts are not always ours (Isaiah 55:8-9)?

I do still have a husband.

When our case worker for foster care asked if I could give her a family picture, I assured her that was no problem because I take copious amounts of pictures. Then I started looking for one. I have great pics that Erin took in November of 2008 when we got home from Guatemala. I have great pics that my sister-in-law took of Samuel last August, but zero family pictures from 2009. So we went to a Valentine's fancy dinner (no kids!) at our friends' and I made a point of taking my camera. Too bad I hit myself in the head with the car door on the way there and had a bump on my head. I wish there was a better story, but I was basically looking down and not paying attention and banged my head so hard I cried. Maybe this great coordination and depth perception contributed to me almost getting my only B in high school in PE! Can you find the bump? :)


So last week I forced a family photo shoot that would have disappointed my photographer friends. We posed in our bedroom (why not?) and set the timer just to have a family shot. Not too bad considering the circumstances!

A Samuel Story (and another reason I love my husband)

So Samuel's had a recent obsession with Diego. Jimmy felt it his fatherly duty to memorize the lyrics to the songs on the Diego show. I'm pretty sure he googled the lyrics to make sure he got them "right". If you aren't familiar with Diego, there's a song played every time Diego needs his camera (whose name is Click). The song goes something like "It's Click... Take a pic." Jimmy has been singing this song with Samuel and yesterday Samuel busts out in song on his own, but with a small twist to the lyrics. He said "It's Click... Take a crap." I promise that Jimmy and I don't say "take a crap", so I'm sure it was just a pronunciation issue, but it was pretty comical!

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

Yes, he chose the socks. Actually stole them from me and wanted to wear them. :)

Our Extreme Home Makeover

BEFORE



AFTER...




Ignore the couple of boxes sitting around and the fact that there is only one thing up on the walls... and we're done with our remodel project. Thanks to LOTS of help from my Dad and brother, we got it done relatively quickly. As you can see, Samuel's first breakfast at our island/bar went well. That's what happens when you turn your back and leave the box of cereal out!

D.O.N.E!!

As of today we are DONE with our STARS (foster care) classes! We have the initial 27 hours of training behind us. Now we have one more meeting with our case worker, then she writes our homestudy and does some paperwork. Hopefully we'll be licensed by mid-March and then we just wait. I started to have some "cold feet" this week about foster care. OK, more than just cold feet. I was seriously feeling a bit crazy. Then I was reminded of Esther...

You know the story? "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" and "If I perish, I perish."? Recently I've had a couple of discussions with friends about our purpose/identity and what Biblical character we most relate to. Esther was my choice because I feel like I've seen a pattern of God blessing me with leadership opportunities and along with that, opportunities to step out in faith. Esther's story always reminds me that God has a purpose for the place and time where He has us. AND that He invites us to step out in faith and see what He has for us. So anyways, this week I returned to Esther's story and am holding on to her story as encouragement and confirmation as we continue to pursue foster parenting.

And on a lighter note... so today Samuel is sitting on the toilet clutching his new Diego toothbrush (because who doesn't need a toothbrush while on the toilet!?) and I glance down and have to say "Samuel, no brushing your pee-pee with your toothbrush!" That is my newest entry on my list of "Things I Never Thought I'd Have To Say."

The Elmo Dancing Show

The highlight of last weekend for Samuel was a trip to see Sesame Street Live, which Samuel dubbed "The Elmo Dancing Show." The show itself wasn't exactly the highlight of MY weekend, but watching his excitement was!

Things around here are pretty calm this week. We have our LAST STARS class this Saturday and one more meeting with our case worker and then should be on our way to being licensed as foster parents. We are finishing up the paperchase (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.) which is a flashback to Samuel's adoption.

Speaking of flashbacks.... Samuel and I made banana bread yesterday and as I was eating it I kept thinking about Guatemala. I think I single handedly kept Dona Luisa in business with all of the banana bread I ate.... wonder if that contributed to the weight I gained down there!?