Life is Crazy and God is good!

This has become my mantra.  Because I simply am having problems keeping up  with the crazyness of it.  Which is part of the reason I have not been very good about keeping this blog.  Yes, I am being vague.  Sorry, I am going to be that way a bit longer.  The dust needs to settle a bit.  Because have changed on a daily to almost hourly basis.  Also we should let out family know what is going on.

I have been blown away by God's provision and grace. We are resting in his hand and he has many good plans for us.  There are some major parts that I am not a huge fan of...but I am resting in the promises that God has given.   He is Good.

Life has been good.  Adam is enjoying class and he is trying to work ahead to get some of the major papers done.  Naomi is growing like crazy!  Her current favorite word is "Stuch"which means stuck.  last night she was up in the middle of the night.  Adam was changing her diaper and she kept rubbing her eyes saying "Stuch,stuch."  He responded, "Maybe your eyes are stuck because you are supposed to be sleeping."

Very cute!  I am doing well I am trying to get the newsletter put together for our MOPS group.  our third meeting is tomorrow!  YEA!

We go to the park almost daily which Naomi LOVES!  She has started figuring our how to play onm the equipment.  It is amazing to see her learn.

Fingerprint Friday

 Just as I helped Naomi up when she fell down off the path.  So the Father helps us when we stray from His path and fall. 

but those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

To find out how to join "Fingerprint Friday" and see links to other posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.

Slippery Slope

My little girl continues to grow up.  I am daily amazed at the things she learns.  She "picks up" at least a word a day.  She is learning parts of the body and animal sounds.  She can now say the cat's and dog's names.   But "puppy" and "baby" are her favorite words right now.

Her latest major accomplishment has been the slide.  She has always enjoyed the slide.  While in Independence, Adam would climb to the top and I would catch her at the bottom.  The other day we went to a near by park.

(I am pretty sure you can't throw a stone without it landing in a park.  They are all over! It is great!)

Naomi took her usual warm up and observing time. (Usually about 5-30 minutes) This particular day she "warmed up" while sitting in a dinosaur.

Then she took off for the stairs. (This is something she usually does.)

But before I could get to the slide to help her...

This happened




By the bottom she was on her belly.  She got up smiling and laughing.
Then she took off for the stairs again and again and again.

She took one short break to check out the rest of the play structure.
She then decided the slide was the most fun.

Then she was back at it.  By the time we left she had mastered it. 

She made it all the way to the bottom sitting.  I have been told by the nursery a church that the slide is her favorite.  Then some friends watched Naomi for us and they went to the park.  They were amazed at how well she went down the slide. She is getting so big!

Home Study update

Today we had our home study updated. We also got to meet our Adoption Facilitator. I guess our agency has had a revamp lately. I am so glad to have met her. We met for about two hours. It was quite the experience.

She updated EVERYTHING and Got a lot more in depth. She also clarified a few things on our original profile that was not clear. I am really excited to work with the Adoption Facilitator. I already feel like I know her better than the caseworker we had for almost two years and I have only talked with her for 2 hours. It also feels like she has a good grip on what we want. It is CRAZY!

She also gave us some information about the little boy we are being considered for. I guess 5 families were selected and two families have backed out. That leaves three families, including us, who are being considered. However one of the families have to have a full home study done. This takes a TON of time and it has not even been scheduled yet! The little boy's birthday is in the beginning of October. It is my prayer that he will begin placement before his birthday. (The possibility of this is very slim knowing that news. But I will continue to pray because nothing is impossible with God.)

So now we wait... and pray...

And walk the dog.

MOPS

A friend of mine was in on starting a MOPS Group.  MOPS is Mothers Of PreSchoolers.  (No your child does not have to be in preschool.)  The age range for the children is birth to 5 years old.  It is time where moms can come together to relax and learn from each other about motherhood. This is done without worrying about their children.  Because they are being cared for in a structured classroom like setting.  MOPS' position statement is a follows:

MOPS International exists to encourage, equip and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman, mother and leader in the name of Jesus Christ.

 
Well my friend roped me in.  As soon as we moved in to the area she began inviting me to the planning meetings. It has been an answered prayer!  I had been desiring to join a group like this for quite some time.  However I was not around many stay at home moms.  The I was moving all around the state.  However God answered my prayers.  He knew the desires of my heart and gave me a group of women to grow with.

Before I knew I I was a discussion group leader.  Then the day of our first meeting came.  I was told the woman who was doing the publicity was stepping down.  the only thing that had to be done ws the news letter.  This is right down my ally!  So I volunteered to be the Publicity Chair.

This year's theme is "Life Together on Planet Mom."  Here are some pictures from our first meeting!

Iron Mom Competition

 

Diaper and dress the baby

Stroller course 

(The women in the pink shirts are mentor moms)

And finally putting up the pack-and-play

(the mentor moms had to do this one on their own.  

They could only be told what to do.  No physical help.  

One of the mentos picked up the pack and play (almost over her head) and shook it.)

Having a snack

And our craft was to make a name tag.

We also broke up in to discussion groups.  So we can have more in depth discussions.  Mostly we just chatted and got to know each other.

For where two or three come together ... there am I with them.

Matthew 18:20

Cousins

Over labor day we went out to Adam's home town for a family cook out! They typically do this for Memorial Day, The Forth, and Labor day.  It is always a good time.  I know Adam enjoys the time to be outside and catch up with his family.   It is impressive that we can get so many people together.  I think the count for this gathering was 22.  I am usually the only one taking of pictures.  Oh, well, I am an in-law I suppose.  We did receive awesome news that Adam's aunt is pregnant!  They just recently got married and adopted a boy from China.  Now Adam will have two cousins around the age of Naomi. Fun, fun!

This pretty girl has gotten so big since we saw her last.

Here is "Adam's Dad's wife" and Adam's Grandma

 

This little guy really wanted to help cook.

(The grill was off)

 

And how about this handsome devil? 

Remember when...

Many are telling their stories from 8 years ago. Here is mine...

I was a freshman at Kansas State, I awoke to the typical Tuesday routine. Drag myself out of bed for my 8:05 Communications class. I had been up late studying for the test in that class. After grabbing a quick breakfast I headed to class. When I got there I was reading over my notes one last time. I overhear some students mention a plane crash but I just brush it off and continue to look over my notes. Class begins, the professor says we will not continue class after the test (weird).

So I take the test and start my walk home to Smurthwaite. Here I find the TV on, blaring. Then I notice that half of the house is watching. I walked over to see and there I stayed. I stared in disbelief!

The Smurthwaite bible study pulled together and had an intense prayer meeting.  My 11:30 class was canceled.  My 1:30 was not.  I made it to class somehow and listened to the GTA go on and on about political unrest and a whole bunch of conspiracy theories. Finaly he let us out.

That night I went to a prayer service at church.  I talked with family and friends a lot that day. 

On Friday a friend and I ran away.  We first went to the state fair.  Which turned in to a trip home to see my parents.  

The passage that I focused on during this time was Psalm 40.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
       out of the mud and mire;
       he set my feet on a rock
       and gave me a firm place to stand.

 He put a new song in my mouth,
       a hymn of praise to our God.
       Many will see and fear
       and put their trust in the LORD.

 Blessed is the man
       who makes the LORD his trust,
       who does not look to the proud,
       to those who turn aside to false gods.

Psalm 40:2-4

So big!

We were at a friends for a play date. Naomi obviously is having some spacial definition (IS that really the term?) issues. Well it was halarious watching Naomi try to fit in to the toy truck! She tried for about 10 minutes. Silly girl!




Side note: I hope to at some point in the near future to get back in the swing of posting more than just pictures. We just have SO much going on it is hard for me to find the time and energy. Until then I hope you enjoy the pictures!

My Town:memory lane...

This post is a little bitter sweet.  I went back to my roots.  Naomi and I took a drive.  (Mostly, so I could get a baring navigating KC.)  I soon found myself in the area of my elementary school. 

I knew that it had closed.  (Many did a few years back.) I also knew it had been turned in to a Children's museum of sorts. 

Honestly, it was a bit weird for me.  The front entrance where my father dropped me off was now the backdoor bus entrance. The back entrance was now the main entrance.  It took a bit to get my brain wrapped around that concept.  Otherwise it looked similar to what it did so many years ago.

 

Here is the rest of the now front of the building.  I love the signs!

 

And this mural!

 

They have put in a garden too!

 

Can you see the handicap parking signs?

It was a parking area. This was also the door we exited from lunch for recess.

Ahh memories.  I wish I would have taken more pictures, like of the tennis courts that are now a water park. The field that is now a parking lot.  We will probably try to go sometime so I can see the inside. 

My girl!

girl stuff

While at a wedding Naomi made some friends. I was amazed at how perfectly girlie they were together. It helped that it was a beautiful outdoor wedding with flowers galore!