Family

Brian and I had a great weekend with his parents. Every spring and fall they come through either on their way to or from Florida. It's always great to see them b/c we don't get to see them as often as we like. Especially the last few years. It seems like every time we have a visit planned it gets postponed due to, well, different things. But we did get to see them this weekend and it was a fun, relaxing visit for everyone I think. They were thoroughly entertained by the mischief of one dog named Grissom. He never slowed down, not once! Except at night when we'd put him away in his crate. But come morning he was full blast! It took him a few minutes to warm up to them but he soon realized he had new friends to lick (yuck!) and to play with! Shiloh was her normal sweet but quiet self. The weather was gorgeous too so we got outside with the dogs a little.

We are just so thankful to have such wonderful family on both sides. We both enjoy being with each other's family and I think that's a pretty rare thing. Both our parents have set examples of what marital commitment means and I KNOW that is a rare thing these days. So thank you, moms and dads, for that. It is nice to reflect on that as we just celebrated our 6Th anniversary. We're just startin' out but you've set us out on the right road.

So we are looking forward to seeing my family in a few weeks for a brief visit and then again at thanksgiving. Then we will get to see all of Brian's family in December during a long visit then...finally back to New York after what?...3 years for me I think. That's so weird that it's been that long! I look forward to it. Maybe I'll even see some snow which is an added bonus!

Until our next visits, everybody take care and we love you very much and thank you for loving us as you do!!

Need A Laugh?

This was so cute I had to share. He sings with much conviction! Remember that to turn off my blog music you need to scroll to the bottom of the blog and hit pause on the music songspot.

Our Special Evening

Thursday night, Brian had a special event to go to for work and he asked if I would be willing to go with him. Of course I told him I would. So we dressed up and headed out to Jonesboro for a not so fun reception for the Clayton county elected officials. It was one of those things you don't really want to do but you know you have to make an appearance, shake a few hands, yada yada yada. So we got to the place where they said they were holding the event and lo and behold, the doors were locked and everything was dark! Brian looks at me and says, "YES!!!" ! Then he thought maybe it was being held at the civic center so we drove over there and there were no lights on and no cars. There was no one we could call to figure out what was going on. Brian was so thrilled when he realized that we didn't have to go through with it. He yanked off his tie and said "now let's you and me go to a nice restaurant to eat since we're all dressed up. I'm so happy that you and I can have a nice evening out together!". So we went over to downtown McDonough and tried a restaurant we'd never been to before called Seasons. There weren't many people there so it was very quiet. They seated us in the back in these high back leather chairs close to the fireplace. We got fried risotto balls for appetizer along with bread. Then we ordered Autumn butternut squash soup---delicious. Brian had a Cornish game hen with the best mashed sweet potatoes I've ever tasted! The must have used a whole stick of butter! I ordered this great fish with vegetables. They took time bringing out each course so it wasn't rushed. It was incredibly relaxing. And what a treat---we thought we were headed out for a rather boring evening and it ended up being simply wonderful all the way around! That was a terrific birthday surprise for us both.

Brian

"There are no words to express the abyss between isolation and having one ally. It may be conceded to the mathematician that four is twice two. But two is not twice one; two is two thousand times one." GK Chesterton

When I read this quote in a book my sister recently gave me, I immediately put a heart next to it along with one word, "Brian". I am so blessed that God chose this man to be in my life. He is my ally and has fought with me and beside me through a lot. I can count on him stand along side me in life. These are a few things about Brian I love and that you may not know!

Brian...
1. ..is a truly kind person
2. ..is a very witty person that makes me laugh till I am gasping for air!
3. ..is a risk taker ( a little scary for me since I like consistency. "no changes please!")
4. ..is an independent thinker. He doesn't just go with the crowd (this a really challenged me to think independently too)
5. ..is optimistic--the glass is always half full (we are really different in this area since I tend to be a pessimist. I choose to think of it as being realistic! I love that he stops me and reminds me to think positively.)
6. ..is a hard worker. And he enjoys working.
7. ..enjoys taking care of his family and does not resent it.
8. ..enjoys being home. I like that he enjoys being here.
9. ..encourages me to try new things. I need a push in order to do this. And b/c he does this I have learned that it is good to take risks, and that good things can come from it. Although it still does not come naturally to me.
10. ..is intelligent and so good at thinking through issues and ideas
11. ..is a good singer and I love to hear him singing beside me at church. It makes me feel happy.
12. ..thinks I'm pretty okay too and lets me know this consistently
13. ..does great voice impressions (not many people know this!)
14. ..compliments me sincerely on a regular basis (ladies, you know we need this!)
15. ..loves kids and is so good at talking with them in a way that makes them know that what they think is important and interesting to him.
16. ..makes awesome lasagna
17. ..does not love Disneyworld like I do but he still got us annual passes and has been with me at least 6 times now!
18. ..wants to make me happy.
19. ..is great at picking out the perfect gift for people.
20. ..likes to be spontaneous.
21. ..LOVES his pets, uhhhh, a whole lot!!
22. ..is a wonderful employer and looks for ways to encourage his employees.
23. ..had his own "business" in highschool. He sold chips and candy out of his locker at school! He has quite an entrepeneurial spirit!
24. ..is my best friend EVER.

HAPPY 35th BIRTHDAY BRIAN!!!!! I LOVE YOU.

On the List

The agency received all of our papers (minus the one we're waiting on from California) this week and as of yesterday we are officially on the waiting list!! Yeehaw!! So, if there is a 3-6 month waiting period for the referral, and we travel a couple of months after we get the referral, then it's around 9 months until we get the baby---sort of like we're pregnant!! This time, it will really happen. No crazy emotional roller coasters. As I said before in an earlier post, it's still surreal. But we're getting closer and that feels good.

I was thinking about something the other day. There is a woman out there right now, living in Vietnam and pregnant. And she is carrying the child that we will one day hold, and love and kiss goodnight. There will be a delivery and there will be tears (sad or happy, I don't know). What about the mom? Is she worried, sad, alone? Does she wish that she could keep her child or is she already wishing for the day she can let it go? What are her living conditions like? Is she able to eat healthy things and get medical attention? Is she younger or older? I'm so curious, but I will never know these things. But I do know that God sees her and He knows her heart. And he knows the baby that she is carrying, our baby. Will you please pray for her and for the baby? Pray for her protection and that the baby will be healthy and safe wherever she may choose to leave her. Pray for the delivery of the baby that it goes smoothly and that she has a good doctor. Pray that our baby will be cared for well during that short but important part of her life. Strange to think of those things isn't it? I feel so out of control and that's not easy for me. But I trust the One who is in control. He sees it all. Thank you God for all you've already done, and all you are doing and will do for us. What grace you have given us.

D-O-N-E!!

....well, almost. I went to Atlanta this week and got the extra document state sealed and then mailed it off to California. I was a little bummed that I have to wait an additional 2 weeks for that to come back. But my coordinator at the agency emailed me yesterday and let me know that I could mail in my dossier without the document and just mail it to her as soon as it comes back from California. Once she gets the dossier she will go ahead and put us on the referral waiting list. So I went to the post office today and mailed our dossier to her and she should get it by 3 o'clock tomorrow---Yippee!!! And by the way, just to give everyone an idea on how much paperwork there was to mail off, the shipping was almost $30.00! That's a lot of paper! So we will be "officially" on the waiting list. I asked if the wait time is still 3-6 months and she said it was but that she does expect it be go up b/c so many people are wanting girls. So we may end up waiting a little longer than we initially thought but you never know, we may not. I'm trying to remain flexible! No expectations. It is weird though, not having a set date on when we'll go to Vietnam. It definitely makes this whole thing seem not so real. I don't feel rushed to get things done b/c part of me figures I'll have plenty of time and it all seems like an illusion of sorts. But I should really be kicking things into gear NOW b/c it will probably all sneak up on me!
So, it's a little strange having the paperwork all in the mail. It's surreal! I keep thinking, "Did I get everything in there and is it all correct?". I feel like something is missing! We'll find out if so. So there it is, the big light at the end of the tunnel, and it's shining brighter than ever.