Monday, January 26, 2009

Life

I realized it had been 2 weeks since I posted on our blog. Life flies by during tax season and wrestling. Last week was crazy as I was out of town for work, luckily home at night, but not until later. Both Grandma's and Grandpa's were a great help in picking up the boys and feeding us supper. What would I do without them!! This week is a little quieter; which I will enjoy as next week I am on the road (overnight) for work. Of course it is a really busy week for Stan as well so hopefully all goes well. Each one of us has had or has a cold as we seem to pass it from one to the other.

Nothing new on the adoption front. I stopped at Bethany last week to drop off almost all of our information needed for our update. Our social worker said that since they failed to send us our fingerprint forms on time they wouldn't hold up anything if they weren't back in time. One answer to prayer. Hopefully the fingerprints come back quickly. I and the boys will head to the clinic tomorrow morning to have our lab work done and that is the last thing we need to get done.

Nothing much else to report. Don't worry you would know if something happened:)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Home Study, etc

So yesterday I (Abby) made it back to the office around 11:30. After being gone since the Friday before things were hectic and I was so scatter brained. All I could think about was our home study update later that afternoon and the call we had received from Bethany on Monday night. I had to leave work by 2:30 to pick up the boys and get home in time to pick up the house. I wasn't sure how many toys would be out since I hadn't been home since Sunday:) I prayed for peace and contentment on my way home to try and calm myself down. I picked up the boys and rushed home to pick up the house. Stan did a wonderful job of keeping it clean so it didn't take too much work

Our social worker arrived around 3:45 p.m. Everything went well with the update and we were done in 30 minutes. The boys played nicely and behaved themselves, which I will have to say they do not act half bad all the time anyway. We went through our home study document and discussed what forms we needed to update. We discovered during our conversation that our social worker had mailed us finger printing forms and criminal background forms in December that we never received! As many of you know it takes 4 to 6 weeks to get the finger prints back. Hopefully that does not hold things up as our home study "expires" January 28ish. Hopefully we can get our hands on those forms soon to get them completed. With the weather being bad I didn't get a chance to get my blood work, etc done yesterday so I'll have to find another time soon for the medical forms.

Shortly after our social worker left, the phone rang. It was Bonnie. She informed us that we had not been chosen by the birth mom. Hard to hear yet I know the time will be right and it will happen when it is suppose to happen. While traveling Sunday I said a lot of prayers and just gave it to God. He is in control and knows what is best.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Update

So here I (Abby) am sitting in a hotel room in Council Bluffs because of the wonderful weather we are having! I spent the day in Red Oak and it took me 1 hour to get to Council Bluffs when it should have only taken me 20 minutes. Oh how I would love to be home but my life is more important at the moment.

In between calling home to Stan and calling the office, I received a phone call from a social worker in the Mason City office of Bethany. My heart jumped to my throat as I prepared for what she had to say. You just never know when you'll get "that call". She had a birth mom come in today wanting to go through the adoption process. She is due on the 17th. The baby is fully African American. Bonnie, the social worker, was wondering if she could show our profile. We said yes, so now we wait. No guarantees but encouraged that our profile is being shown.

Our home study update is scheduled for tomorrow, barring any weather problems.

I hope everyone is staying warm. I'm trying to decide if I want to venture out in the weather to find something to eat!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

What are the giants in your life?

Sunday we had a sermon in church with the title, “Slaying the Giants in Your Life” and the giant we discussed was Worry. So I have to admit that I worry way too much. I'm a good Dutchmen and isn't that in my genes?(smile)? One of the versus’ our pastor had selected was Matthew 6:34, which happens to be one of my favorite.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

God is always there and God is in control. If we focus on God, the giants will tumble.

Throughout this adoption process I have had to learn to let go and let God and realize I'm not in control. I'm definitely not all the way there yet. By nature I want control over situations and want to be able to plan. Well now I can't plan and it is so hard!

It has been a year since our home study was approved. I ask myself if this is the path God wants us on. I truly feel that God has called us to adopt, I just don't know the details. We are on the domestic path but is he calling us elsewhere? At times I get angry and frustrated. And then I get back to reality and realize I have been blessed with a wonderful husband and 2 wonderful healthy little boys who bring so much joy to my life. But I have a strong desire for another child for our family. I know God is in control, I just don’t know the details!

Traveling to and from work provides a lot of windshield time (1 hour round trip each day). Every day I listen to Life 96.5 and every day they have a Life verse. Friday’s verse was from Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Oh how fitting for me lately. We can trust that God will always meet our needs. Whatever we need on earth he will always supply.

We weren’t able to attend Katelyn’s Fund Thursday night because Stan had a wrestling meet. I miss the great time of fellowship and support. Hopefully we can make it next month.

Tuesday we have our Home Study update. Our interim social worker is coming to our house at 4 p.m. We covet your prayers that everything goes well.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Christmas, New Year's, etc....

Wow, hard to believe that 2009 has arrived. I (Abby) had to work today and let me tell you it sure felt like Monday. Tax season is in full swing and we begin working Saturday's tomorrow. Yuck! I thought I would post some pictures of the last few weeks of Christmas parties and other family gatherings. We have our home study update on January 13 and are working on getting our medical forms completed. Hopefully can wrap that up soon.


Aiden and Aunt Paige

Keegan and Aiden on Christmas Eve- Where did they learn to smile?

Grandpa and Keegan

New table and chairs from Grandpa and Grandma DZ


Keegan's new St Louis Cardinals shirt.
Mommy and Keegan


Mommy and Aiden

All of the grandkids.
Aiden's new race track.

Grandpa and Grandma S with the grandkids.

The nursery...

I wish everyone a blessed and Happy New Year!