What is going on?!

If you are asking yourself where I have been (I am sure that isn't the case with more than 1 or 2 people) then let me answer your question. This is what we have been up to:

One of my best friends since 1st grade got married this last weekend! Steve and Maicy were waiting during picture time, so were Jackson and I.

And of course we needed to make time for mani's and pedi's! Our hands and feet really did need this! Especially after working to make a machine shed into a reception hall!

The beautiful couple, may God richly bless your lives together! We couldn't be more happy for you! (Unless of course you decided to move that dairy farm back here where you belong!)

So, between running the kids here and there between ball and everything else, and helping to get this wedding off without a hitch, it has been busy around here. A good busy though. And I did find myself feeling a little bit sorry for myself once in awhile since my friend is now living 3 hours away from me. You need to understand that neither of us have a sister, and God so firmly planted us into each other's lives to fill that space. So, it is bittersweet for me, I am soooo happy for her and have no doubts that this is the man God chose for her, yet I will miss my friend being a short 45 min drive away from me.

In other news. There is no news. I am finding myself wrestling with things right now. I feel so completely out of control as far as the future of our family that somedays I just don't know what I will do. My comfort is in knowing that while it feels out of control to me, God has us right in His palm and knows what comes next. But knowing that, doesn't make my insecurities go away. My lack of trust isn't in Him, but in myself. In the missing of a phone call from an agency, why can't they just leave a message so I don't have to wonder if I need to call back or what they really wanted!? Why don't they call my cell phone?! Don't they know I have caller ID and by saying nothing they are really ruining the rest of my day?! Do I call them back? Will I sound like a crazy person, "yeah, um, we aren't actually going through you for an adoption agency, but I see that you called at such an such a time and I was, uh, just wondering what that was in regards to?' I am crazy, its okay. I have come to grips with that a long time ago. (confirmed by the fact that I stayed up until 2am last night to make sure no tornados came through here while everyone else slept-- soundly-- because why wouldn't you sleep soundly, the tornados were over 75 miles away!) So anyway, now that you all can see how neurotic I really am, you know a little bit more what has been going on! Which is again, nothing. Just so we're clear.

So, maybe not...

I am sorry for the lack of updates, it has been a crazy few weeks around here. May usually is and all of a sudden, June is half over!! I don't have much to tell you.... the case in NC that we had submitted our homestudy to for review didn't turn out. I guess I had a feeling it wouldn't, they did want to keep them in the state. Understandable. The other case, the one that I have really felt that God has called us to and that I truly have had on my heart that it could be the one, I found out today that the chances are pretty slim. The Bio mom will more than likely regain custody-- I know that should be a good thing, but not if she really doesn't change. Prayers for that little guy are needed, as well as for his bio family and foster family. I did get to hear from others who took the PS-MAPP class with us this week, which was very fun! Sadly, I think everyone is feeling frustration also. It is hard when you are so ready to open up your hearts and homes to another child, or children, and God's answer is "wait." So we wait. I am reading and re-reading the verses from all of you, and I am finding comfort in them and finding new ones as well. I know the best thing to do now is to lean on Him and to wait on Him.

Jesus Calling

• I recently picked up a new devotional book entitled "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. Its my first week with it, and already I am moved. The entries are short and sweet and come with a few scripture references.... exactly what I need!
• I wanted to share what Monday's reading was:
• Come to me with your plans held in abeyance. Worship me in spirit and in truth, allowing My Glory to permeate your entire being. Trust Me enough to let Me guide you through this day, accomplishing My purposes in My timing. Subordinate your myriad plans to My Master Plan. I am sovereign over every aspect of your life!
• The challenge continually before you is to trust Me and search for My way through each day. Do not blindly follow your habitual route, or you will miss what I have prepared for you. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. John 4:24; Isaiah 55:8-9
• The timing of this devotional for me was amazing.
• This week has been interesting and involves patience. I can't go into detail right now, however there is a situation that looks hopefull for us, it requires more patience than I think I have. Although when I look at the timing of things really, I mean really with open eyes, I know that waiting for that said time, really would be ideal for our family. In fact, everything about the whole situation is quite ideal Steve will hopefully be home full time then and that would of course make life easier. But waiting is not an easy thing. If I knew it were a sure thing, I maybe could lie and say I can wait that long, however, I know that even then, I would not be as patient as He has called me to be.
• In the mean time, I am drawn to a more immediate situation. I am waiting for a phone call today to see what is happening with that. And then I read this devotional. I can't help but feel called to the wait. I don't want to miss God's plan for us. I don't want to let impatience screw up what He has orchestrated. And yet, I know, that His plan will come to pass. No matter what I may be doing.
• So, this is my prayer request: Patience for me, clarity for difficult decisions, patience for me, understanding for our children, the child(ren) no matter who or where they may be, patience. ( That is my struggle-- can you tell?!)
• Thanks for checking in!

Alicia

Tulip Festival!

Tulip Festival is here again! Yesterday we had a great day downtown! Jackson did some Dutch games-- he even had fun! Maicy and I scrubbed streets. We ate too much, but it was all so good! And we will do it all again today. The kids will ride floats in both parades today and we are looking forward to that. I can't believe how big he is!! She just hates to have her picture taken! ;) One pic of the 3 of us A trip down memory lane! I think this could be current, but evidently my kids are much older and bigger now ( and so am I) This was taken in 2005! Look at my babies! (Although we do still struggle with each us looking at the camera at the same time!) Enjoy your weekend!

Let's Get this blog rolling!

Okay, So I am not very good at updating. Mostly because as far as adoption goes, there is nothing to tell right now. So, since its my blog and I can do what I want as you hopelessly read along, or don't, I will start writing more. About whatever at all. Because after all, the blog is titled "life's a journey" and we are still on a journey. No matter how mundane those days may be, its our journey. So, stay tuned... soon... very soon.... I will bore you on a much more regular basis!! I would like to share a few things right now, some important, some not so much.

• It is National Foster Parent Month! How great really! So, (this was supposed to be up before Mother's Day) please take a moment to pray especially for Foster Moms. They are amazing people who are quite selfless. I don't know how they do it, but I do know that God upholds them each and every day. And a few more prayers on their behalf would be awesome.
• We did have our first official phone call to take someone in. Unfortunately it was just not a situation that would have been good in our home at all. Please know, we are not "picky" so to speak, but we have discussed at great lengths what is best for our family and those we would take in. We have ages and situations in our mind. Not that we aren't open to God's plans, it was just very clear to us both that this was not at all in His plan for us. I believe it was practice for me to say "no" What!? NO?! Yeah, new word for me. (my kids disagree!) But in all honesty it is so hard for me to say that. So, it was a good lesson, and I am relieved that I was able to be tested and I feel I passed.
• TULIP FESTIVAL in the OC!! Random, yup. What can I say. This is on my mind, its busy, its fun, and then, on Saturday night around 10:30, I will be done! Yeah! Tonight I was busy finishing up Maicy's lace accessories for her costume, which somehow I had forgotten about aaaallll year long. See, I made her(and mine) costume last year ( okay I had a little help) and then I got very angry at the lace from my costume, so I decided hers could wait til winter. Good winter project right? Yeah. I forgot. Until someone wanted to borrow her old costume and I realized she had been using the same lace since she was about 1. Now its done.
• Pictures will be posted after the festival, promise!!

Have a great day and God Bless!

Just a brief update

I mentioned in my last post that our homestudy had been submitted. I did hear back that those children have been placed in a permanent home now. It was disappointing, but, we know that God's plan is so much greater than we can imagine and we will continue to wait on Him. In the mean time.... I think I need a dog. I talk to myself a lot when I am home during the day!If that happens, we will be sure to let you know! Steve is ready to adopt as many kids as necessary, but doesn't like the thought of a dog!!

Instead of posting the last 2 weeks...

I went to school with Maicy to make Green Eggs and Ham. I love Green Eggs and ham, Sam I am!

Then I went to school with Jackson to make corn husk dolls and spool knit.

At this point I emailed those pics to Steve who replied that I was not adjusting to both kids being in school full time, so I needed to go along with them. There may be some truth to that... It's okay, I am not too proud to say it. And any mom who has been where I am now, would agree. ;)

We celebrated our baby turning 6 years old. She had a Gigi themed birthday. For those who don't know, Gigi is a character by Sheila Walsh, and she is God's little Princess. We love her books!

Before the birthday, we celebrated Easter. Here are the kids all dressed up in the morning, and then freezing searching for Easter eggs. Next year, we will get them fancy new winter coats and snowpants for Easter!

• I guess that's all. This has been a very busy month around here, not all of it caught on camera, and some is, just didn't get posted. So, I apologize for not updating more. The truth of the matter is, as far as the adoption process we really have nothing to update. I think our homestudy has been sent to an adoption worker, but, there is a communication gap with our agency, so I don't know for sure. I thank you for your prayers, and we will update as soon as anything happens!

• In the meantime, we really are doing well. The kids are adjusting to Steve working out of town, they are playing soccer-- in 30 mph winds which is just so much fun for me freezing my rear off! (if that really worked, oh, wouldn't that be great!) I am keeping busy-- albeit by following my kids to school--and we are experiencing nothing but peace right now.

• I know that we are in God's plan and that He hasn't forgotten about us. He knows our desires, and He knows our needs. We will wait on Him.

• Thanks for stopping in! I am now off to clean and organize the toy room! (see, I am very busy!)