The truly thankful person is a truly peaceful person. They have made a habit no matter what to notice, pause and choose. ~ Lysa TerKeurst

I've decided to procrastinate on what I should be doing and finally get around to making my Thanksgiving post before I completely miss the holiday.  I am currently impatiently awaiting the arrival of 2 more scenarios, so this may end up getting put on the back burner, but we will give it a shot.  Speaking of scenarios, I have made the executive decisions that not too much information will be given about the scenarios.  I have to remember that I could be potentially giving out very personal information about my, or any one's for that matter, child.  So you won't get all of the "juicy details," but you will know enough to understand what this process is like for us.

Also, I've been meaning to mention a story that was shared at the conference we went to that has really been on my mind since then.  I don't know if I have come right out and said in the blog yet, but Gus and I are open to adopting any race.  A lady at the conference said she and her husband had adopted an African American boy.  When he was a baby and younger, all of their friends and family thought he was so cute and just loved him.  However, her son grew up and at about the age of 13 became interested in the daughter of one of their friends.  She said she was so taken back by the fact that her friends suddenly had a problem with the race of her child.  I'm still coming to grips with how our journey is effecting so many people.  Not just the end result, but the actual journey itself.  How many people have become so much more aware of adoption and everything involved with it?  Obviously, the end result will not only impact our little family nucleus, but our extended families and all of our friends too.  We've been lucky enough to have loads of support through all of this.  People who love us for who we are not what we are.  Exactly how I want my child to be loved.

Okay, time to get down to the thankful list:

• First of all, I'm so thankful to have a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to put me in circumstances that are changing me into the person He wants me to be.  Ironic enough, those circumstances are responsible for a bulk of what will be on this list.
• The Springfield Fire Department - They were all so kind and respectful to us and our pets that day.  They are definitely some of my heroes.
• For everyone (the list is way too long) who also responded that day.  By either showing up at the house, calling, offering to take care of our pets, or offering to get us clothes and food and offering their homes as a place to stay.  And then all of the help afterwords - meals, working at the house, taking care of our cat, and listening to us complain. :)
• For our home and the security system that was installed last week.  I don't think I'm paranoid, but it is very good peace of mind.  I didn't think it was going to happen to us, but it did.  It is so good to be back!  And it is so good to curl up on my pillow top mattress every night, with everyone under the same roof.
• For our jobs, especially the fact that they have been so understanding about all of our circumstances of the past couple of years.  We couldn't ask for better employers, who understand that life outside of the office comes before life in the office.  And as much as I complain about it, I'm even thankful for the second jobs, to have the opportunity to help make our dream come true.  No pain, no gain, right?
• I'm thankful for our church and the wonderful people it has brought into our lives.  And for speaking the truth in relevant ways.
• For the wonderful support of our family and friends, who have given so selflessly of their time and resources.  Friends who have given hours of their time to help at the house, time they could have been sharing with their families.  All of the support through encouraging words, prayers and donations towards the adoption.  We have been blessed with so many people in our lives who stuck around through the tears as well as the laughter.  We are truly blessed with amazing family and friends!
• For the wonderful people we have met along this journey.  Our doctor and the staff at the IVF clinic will always have a special place in our hearts.  Their compassion and concern for us went above and beyond what we could have expected.  Regardless of the outcome, they have impacted and changed our lives.  For the wonderful people at the adoption agency who now know a lot more about us than most of you. :)  They helped us get this far, waiting to be matched!
• For our fur babies.  They are great companions and have been great distractions.  They are members of our family.  And they are so darn CUTE!
• And of course, last but not least, I'm thankful for Gus.  He has been my crutch through everything.  It's easy to lean on someone when you know with out a doubt that they aren't going to let you fall.  I'm thankful he provides for and protects me.  I'm thankful he listens and I'm thankful he speaks truth into my life.  I'm thankful he makes me laugh.  I'm thankful he lets me cry.  I'm thankful for every minute I get to spend with him, even though right now it doesn't feel like enough.  I'm thankful he is my best friend and I'm thankful that, for some reason, he seems to really like me too! 

Officially Waiting

Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We passed our home safety inspection last Friday, our home study was submitted on Monday, and we are officially a family in waiting!  I just put the finishing touches on our profile books and ordered them as well.  So hopefully, we will be ready when the opportunity knocks.  We did get another scenario yesterday for a young girl who is due at the end of the month.  It was the cleanest scenario we have seen (no drug/alcohol exposure, no major family medical issues), but the mom has already decided she is going to parent.  Of course, we had excited/panic mode for a couple of hours, but settled down rather quickly once we realized it was a long shot.  Our social worker told us she was leaning toward parenting, and with such a clean scenario, we figured she would have lots of profiles to choose from.  So now we can say we have lived through our first "mind change." 

It amazes me how perfectly orchestrated everything has to be to fall into place.  The scenario has to be appealing to us to tell the agency to show our profile.  Our short profile has to be appealing enough for the expectant mom to want to see our long profile.  And our long profile has to have something in it that makes her say, "That's the people who are supposed to raise my baby!"  I just have to keep reminding myself that every time we get "turned down" it is actually a good thing.  OUR perfect baby is out there.  And we are getting closer and closer to him/her.  And it will happen, just the way God intends it to.

What else is going on...we are still LOVING being HOME!!!  But that has brought a few issues as well.  Mr. Nigel has decided that it is more fun to pee on the new carpet than in his litter box.  So Mr. Nigel is now confined to the basement until Mr. Nigel can change his behavior.  I don't think he has a UTI, he will pee in the box when he is in the basement.  I think he is stressed/miffed about all of the moving/changes to the house and this is just his way of dealing with it.  Since I'm not a kitty psychologist, I don't know how to fix it, I'm hoping he can fix it himself.  Perhaps he should start a blog, it has worked wonders for me.  Speaking of which, with the holidays fast approaching, it is very easy for me to start getting a little blue.  So I have decided to do an annual Thanksgiving post of all of the wonderful blessings I do have to help direct my thoughts to happier places.  So stay tuned for that...

My hours have ramped up again at job #2, which means I'm back to being tired all of the time and having no life again.  And I think I'm starting to get sick.  Gus is still plugging away at projects at the house, and working his two jobs.  And Noah is mad that I put his toys in a box.  So that is the update on everyone at our house.  Oh, and by the way...I'm considering us expectant parents now.  And the coolest part is, it could happen at ANY time now.  Gus if you are reading this...just breath. :)