Here's to 2008!

Obviously, 2007 was not our year to become a family of four. Well, raise your glasses, friends. Here's to 2008!

Let's start off the year fervently praying for Pi and Pi's biological mother and father. They have some pretty important and life changing decisions to make in the coming year, and they may need our prayers for God's comfort and strength.

Thank you to all of you faithful readers who have been wondering about our progress, praying for us through 2007, and/or keeping up just because you care about our family. Happy New Year, all!

All I Want For Christmas...

I've been thinking about how AWESOME it would be if Pi could come home around Christmas. I've also been thinking of how horrible that would be for Pi's birthmother. How horrible to celebrate Christmas having given birth, but not bringing the baby to your own home. So, this Christmas season, I am praying for all the birthmothers who have to go through the holidays without their children. I know how difficult it is to go through the many holidays knowing I will never be pregnant nor give birth. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to go through the holidays knowing you handed your own flesh and blood to another family. What a lonely place.

Birthmothers, first mothers, natural mothers, biological mothers (whatever your term of choice is), you are in my thoughts and prayers this season.

Final Three

Oh well. That is my current thought. Oh well. Let me fill you in a little...

For the past two weeks, we have known of a birthmother who had narrowed her selection down to three families, and we were one of the three. She gave birth right after Thanksgiving, and decided to come up with an adoption plan after giving birth. This was a little difficult for me because there was already a newborn baby girl involved. Anytime we are given a bunch of information on a birthmother or expectant mother, I start to pray for her and even feel a little connection to her. This time, I felt a connection with the birthmother, and I started dreaming of the little baby girl awaiting a forever family. Well, I found out today, after two weeks of waiting, wondering, and praying, that she has chosen to not go with us. I won't lie, I am disappointed. Yet, at the same time, I am encouraged that this young lady has had people from all over praying for her. I was guarded in who I told about this potential situation (as not to get a lot of people overly excited), but I did call on some praying friends from a web forum. With all of those prayers, I am confident that this young lady made the best decision possible for who will be the parents of her daughter. So, I am left saying "Oh well."

When we look at Factor and all of the joy and love he brings into our family, we are reminded of God's hand in the forming of our family. God knows the exact child(ren) He has chosen for this family, and who are we to question that?

Stroller - - Check

I may be jumping the gun a little, but I already got the double stroller. You know that post below about Kizoodle? Well, I got the stroller from there. That means it did not cost me any money. Isn't that awesome?? I'm so excited that I am going to recruit somebody else's child to go for a ride in it! Factor already loves it and wants to ride in it and bring a friend. He's pretty cute, you know.

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving! We went to Factor's Grandma and Grandpa's house. I must say, Factor LOVES the attention he gets over there! He woke up everyday saying "Grandpa, come play with me!" I won't be surprised if he wakes up tomorrow and says the same thing.

Another time away from home with no phone call regarding Pi. I think we have proven the whole "people are chosen when they are away" theory to be incorrect. Oh well. Maybe we can start a new theory of people get chosen right after the holidays.

8, Eight, Ocho

Eight months. It has been eight months since we turned in our application. That means in four months, we will meet the year mark for turning in our application. Soon after that, we will run into the year mark for everything else, and all will need to be updated. Unless, of course, Pi is born before then. I shall take it one day at a time, or else I get a little anxious. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we wait for and pray for Factor's baby brother or baby sister.

Factor is learning how to be a big brother, as I try to have him interact with younger children on a regular basis. He understands (though he does not appreciate) the concepts of sharing and being kind. I am truly glad we have been able to have this time with him to help him grow into the almost preschooler that he is. If we had a baby before now, I imagine it would be rather difficult to devote the time and energy toward Factor that he sometimes requires. God's timing is perfect :-)

Pondering

No news. The way it looks right now, I don't think we will hear anything about being chosen to adopt in 2007. I'm learning how to be fine with that.

Anybody watch the movie Bella? It's a great glimpse into adoption.

Do You Kizoodle?

I am hooked! There is a place called Kizoodle where I go to "swap" items with other people. It is fantastic!! I have gotten shirts for Factor and sheets for Pi's cradle. How does it work? Well, you pay for everything in credits. No money is exchanged. You pay for the shipping costs of anything you are shipping out, otherwise it is all done in credits. When you register, you automatically receive 5 credits. If you use a referral code, you get an extra 2 credits. So, you start out with 7 credits and earn more when people "buy" the items you list. Didn't sell something at a garage sale? Try listing it on Kizoodle. Thinking about taking some stuff to the second hand store? Try listing it on Kizoodle. I am so excited about it because there are so many things out there that we may need once Pi comes along (of course we'd have to know a gender for some items). Want to know more? Go to http://www.kizoodle.com and enter WCHM7G as your referral code when you register!

Start "Kizoodling" today!