Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Classes

Tonight starts our first class for foster care/ adoption through the state.  
I'm excited and nervous all at the same time!
God certainly is good...as always...Doug is going to be able to attend tonight with me!  I'm so thankful that I don't have to walk into a new class by myself, at least for the 1st one.  I'll update you all tomorrow on how it went!

Friday, February 24, 2017

Pretty sweet...

We sure our blessed...

...they aren't perfect, and yes they do fight sometimes.  90% of the time, they are each others best friends and I would want it any other way.  I'm so thankful for their hearts, their tenderness, and their love for each other!
P.S.  I was on the phone with Doug and heard Marissa and Madalyn reading out loud, taking turns, and wondered what was going on since John had left for the day already.  I walked into the Nursery/Playroom to find them like this! <3

Thursday, February 23, 2017

The aftermath...

For those of you wondering what the amazing fort looks like now...

Sunday morning when we woke up, the doorway was just barely standing still.  It had rained overnight and really did a number on it.  Throughout the week, the warm temps have taken it even further.  Honestly, the kids didn't really even get to enjoy it much, which is a bummer.  They aren't too upset though because the warm temps have made up for it!  They are ready for Spring as well.  
The robins and crows were at it this morning so here's hoping it isn't far off :)

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

A beautiful day outside!

With us all having spring fever, Saturday was such a teaser!  It was over 50 out and spending any length of time outside led to taking layers off.  The snow packed great and it made awesome conditions for building a fort.  So we got together with some friends and got to work ;)









I love this man ;)

Even though he kept trying to get me LOL


...but only when Jeremiah wasn't his target!  Run buddy, RUN!






WOW!






Their daddy's are pretty awesome!





It was a blast and I'm super glad that even though it has cooled off some, it is suppose to stay up there.  Next weekend is supposed to be warm as well.  I'm ready!

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

No matter how old the girls get...

...play dough never gets old!  Heck, I love to play with it too!  Thursday afternoon, we broke it out and the girls went to town creating!





Speaking of creating, don't you love Marissa's new headband she made???  So cute!  
I love her ability to come up with such neat things!



She was so proud of her cake!

Monday, February 20, 2017

So thankful...

...for a full freezer again!  

A couple weekends ago we headed up to my parents for a quick trip to pick up our 1/2 cow.  We were really getting down on meat and I'm so thankful to be stocked back up again!  

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

A special night at church...

Thursday I met a few people at church to decorate for our annual Valentines Dinner.  It was our first year up in the new addition and let me just say....it is soooo much easier to decorate with it being up there!  We had it knocked out in a few hours and I was really happy with it.  I like things pretty simple so that helped, but it turned out really beautiful!







I ended up going solo since Doug was caught at a farm, but I sat with another lady that goes to our church and was alone.  We played the "relationship" game together.  We have only known each other for a little over a year, but we had a blast anyhow!  Of course I missed Doug though and couldn't wait for us both to get home and start our weekend :)  

Monday, February 13, 2017

Field Trip for February

Last week we headed to a local meat market (Millers Meat Market in Lowville) to tour their new facility and watch how hot dogs are made.  I was wondering how the kids would do with the trip, but I was also excited/ interested to see it myself.  They did an amazing job with the trip!  They were informational, without being over the top, and kind of just made it matter of fact which I think helped the kids.  After touring the whole place, they got to watch them whip up a batch of hot dogs.  Honestly, it won't stop me from eating those hot dogs again anyhow!  It was really interesting and I know my girls loved it!    
(of course I spent too much time listening and not enough time taking pictures)
We even got to have a hot dog after the field trip was over to test them out.  
Thanks to Darrell Miller and Jeremy & Sarah Moser (along with the rest of the workers) for their hospitality and time.  I'm looking forward to coming back for some hot dogs soon!

Monday, February 6, 2017

An update on the adoption process....

It's been a while since we made our announcement that we were proceeding towards adopting a little one.  A lot has changed since then and we have been tossed many curve balls.  While it is extremely frustrating and heart wrenching in the midst of it, it is neat to see God's hand.

We have known we would adopt for a while now.  After having two private adoptions fall through, we decided to seek out an agency and work with them to kind of "guarantee" things a little more, even though it was going to mean more out of our pockets.  We attended our first class in January of 2016 and were really happy with our choice.  In July, it was clear that this was not a journey that we would be continuing.  It was a tough call....we were close to finishing, money was involved, our hearts were set... but it wasn't His plan.  We ended up putting our application on hold and walking away.  

God has really changed and softened our hearts during this time of waiting.  When we started this whole process, we really wanted to grow our family, and were looking to take in an infant.  As the process continued and we prayed more about it, our age bracket grew to under 2.  After making the final call to our agency stating that we wanted to put ourselves on the hold list, we realized that God had been working on us to prepare us for something we had started out saying we wouldn't ever do.  
As we prayed together and let things sit, Doug and I both realized that we needed to answer the prodding that was going on and call the county to start the Foster Care /Adoption classes.  I never dreamed this is where we would be today when we started this whole thing.  Through this whole process, there have been many tears and frustrations shared.  Doug and I have grown a lot, both closer to each other, but also in the Lord.   

Just like anything else, there have been those that offered their concerns about our step.  Doug and I both know that this is not a decision that will be an easy walk, nor will it be one without heartache, but it is the walk that we feel we are called to take.  It's not a path that everyone is meant to take, and honestly I didn't think it was one I was capable of taking.  When God gave us this burden, He also took away a lot of the fears.  We have faith that God is able to carry us through the times when we feel done...not only able, He will!  

How do the girls feel about it?  Let me just say, we have been blessed with two amazing girls that have the biggest hearts I have ever seen, especially in kids their ages.  I'm not bragging....I know it's not me.  In making this decision, we had to consider all of us...do we all have what it take.  We sat the girls down and explained what was going on and what this would potentially look like...good and bad.  They just want to provide a family for a child that is lacking in that....even if it's for a season.  

We are excited to begin this next part of our journey.  We are anxious to see God's hand work in each of our placements and be able to be used to make a difference where we are able.  Madalyn in particular, but Marissa as well, both continue to pray that God blesses our family with a little boy.  We would still love to adopt, and honestly that is our heart and prayer, but we do not want to limit God and what He has for us.  Above all, we want to be used.  There is so much need!  Please pray for us as we begin this next step.  We begin classes on February 28th!  

Thank you to everyone that has reached out to us over the past year letting us know that you are praying for us (some of you have joined Madalyn in the brother prayers).  We appreciate everyone of your support and thank the Lord that we have people in our lives that we know have our backs.