It just keeps getting better!!

Tiona has just asked if Justin and I would like to come to her ultrasound appointment on November 9th @ 12:30 in Yakima!!! I can't believe it! I sort of accepted the fact that I would probably never get to see the ultrasound of any of our children, and Tiona has given us that opportunity!! We are soooo thrilled! I will definitely be heading up there for the appointment, and Justin will most likely go as well, as long as he can get the day off of work.

In addition to that, Tiona asked what we plan to name the baby so that she can start calling him by his name! I don't believe I have ever met a 15-year-old so selfless, brave, kind, sweet, and the list goes on... I would like to say that I would have handled this situation in the same way when I was a teenager, but I honestly don't think I would have. She is such an amazing young woman.

We can't stop smiling!!! :)

3 AM feedings- here we come!!!

Today's meeting with Tiona (pronounced Tee-yonna, not like Fiona :) ) was so great! We met Tiona, her parents, her counselor, and our caseworker at Applebee's in Yakima, WA at 12:30. We were sooooo incredibly nervous. I didn't even feel like it was real....on the wayt to lunch, I felt like I was in a dream or something.

Anyway, we got to know Tiona's interests a little more and hear about her and her family. She's a very sweet girl, and my heart goes out to her in this extremely hard decision she is making. She is so very brave. She is currently being home-schooled, is very involved in a Youth Group, and she is so down to earth. She told us that the baby is very active, although she has been a little sick lately :(

After lunch, we stuck around and chatted with Tiona's pregnancy counselor and our caseworker. We were told that Tiona picked us as soon as she saw our family profile book! We had no idea that she had picked us before our lunch meeting! It felt so good to hear the words :) Tiona will meet with her counselor each week until the baby is born. The counselor will be sure to let us know how she is feeling each week. Also, because Tiona is so young, her chances of delivering the baby early are quite high. She is due December 1st, but they expect she may deliver as early as two weeks before 12/1! We are SHOCKED at how quickly this has gone! Most people wait about 9-12 months once they are on the wait list and here we are....about to be parents just 3 months after being on the list!! We are ecstatic!! Praise God!

So, between now and mid-November/early-December, we will be getting all of the last minute baby boy items together and waiting!! Please continue to pray for Tiona and the baby. I can't imagine how hard this must be for Tiona, and I just pray that she feels peace during these next few weeks.

Please feel free to ask any questions you might have in the mean time. We are very open and want everyone to all questions, as we know this is a new experience for so many of us!!

We get to meet Tiona on...

Wednesday, October 21st! I just talked to our caseworker (who was very busy this weekend with 2 births within the agency!), and we will be meeting Tiona in Yakima, WA on 10/21 at 12:30. Our meeting place is yet to be determined, but we are beyond excited!!!!!

I am told that during the meeting, Tiona will be asking most of the questions, and we will be doing most of the talking. We're supposed to pretty much act like she's not pregnant and we're just getting to know one another. She can move the conversation to the adoption, but we are to steer clear of baby talk in the beginning. We are so anxious to meet her- this next week or so is going to be tough! Patience!!! We will be sure to keep you all posted as usual!

We really appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers! But again, please pray for us, Tiona, and the baby!

Newest Lead!!!

We have our newest lead, and our first lead from our adoption agency!! Last night, our caseworker called to let us know that there is a young girl who would like to meet Justin and I!! WOW!! Okay, so here are the details:

Her name is Tiona (sounds like Fiona from Shrek, but with a T) and she is 15 years old. She is due on December 1st and is pregnant with a baby boy! She is from Eastern Washington, and was actually adopted herself. Tiona has been getting great prenatal care, so her and the baby are both healthy. Susan (our caseworker) informed us that she would like to meet us the week of 10/19. We don't have a date set yet, as Susan will now work with the pregnancy counselor to set up a date for our meeting! Ohhh...what do I wear!?!

Some of you might be wondering how she picked us, who else will she be meeting, etc... Typically, when a BM is considering adoption, the agency will give her a handful of family profile books (like the one we created on picaboo.com and had printed). She then takes her time to go through the books and decides if she wants to meet with any of the families that were presented to her. If she doesn't want to meet any of the families, she can go on looking through more books until she finds a family that she is interested in. It's crazy to think that Tiona has been looking over our book for some time now!

And yes, we will be the only family she meets with. If she does not pick us as the adoptive parents after our meeting, then she will go back to square one- looking at books again.

If she DOES pick us, then she will create a birth plan in which she decides how involved we will be in the delivery of the baby. It's all very very very exciting!!!

Please pray for Tiona and the baby- that they stay healthy. Please pray for Tiona's peace of mind and that God leads her in the decision that is best for her and the baby (whether it is to place the baby for adoption, or keep the baby).

I will update you all as soon as we learn more!

Patiently & Joyfully Waiting

Anyone who knows anything about me, knows that I have always struggled with patience. If I want something done, I find a way to do it now. I have to be busy working toward that something, if I haven't already found a way to get it done.

Up until recently, we were working so hard on all of the paperwork and jumping through hoops....now we wait. I keep going back and forth thinking things like "the wait is fine, because it will give us more time to save money... the wait is fine, because it gives Justin and I more time to spend with just the two of us before our lives are turned upside-down...." and so on. Days like today, when I walk into our nursery and go through our baby clothes, make me wish the baby was here yesterday! I know that God's timing is perfect, and nothing can change that. The unknown is so exciting, but for someone like me, the patience required in waiting is hard. Justin and I are both working full time and going to school, yet I still find time to anxiously wonder when our baby will come, if it will be a boy or girl, what he/she will look like...

This week has also been big for me in finding joy in life again. I was stuck in this silly rut where I kept feeling inadequate for various minor reasons. I cannot change the cards that were dealt to me; all we can do is make the best of everything. Last Sunday, our Pastor delivered a great message on "JOY". Wow- it really spoke to me. He gave us a great definition of joy: "JOY is a gift from God, given to those who believe in Jesus, being produced in me by the Holy Spirit, as I receive and obey His word, being mixed with trials, as I set my hope on future glory." Does that not speak to you, or what? One "joy robber" he mentioned was lack of surrendering. Yes, that's the one I battle with!

I needed that message to wake me up, and realize all of the amazing things in my life that I am joyous about. I have an amazing husband that I can't imagine life without, wonderful & supportive friends & family, a job, a roof over my head, and the list goes on. How foolish of me to think I am missing out on anything in life. I am fortunate. And so, I am proud to say that I am a believer and I set my hope on future glory!

And so, we wait :)