Well, hello everyone! It seems like forever since I've posted an actual note on here but to be honest I've thought of doing one for quite a while I just couldn't find the words. I'm not really sure I have the words now but I wanted to connect and share that God is indeed moving! Over the last couple months I have felt a pretty constant nudging from the Lord but I haven't been able to really put my finger on what He is trying to tell me. I know it sounds crazy but it's true. I know that He's prompting me to think "outside" the box on what He has in store. So many times I have put Him and what He could do through me in this nice shaped small pretty little box. If I am not really uncomfortable that is quite okay with me.....well, He's pushing me out of this thinking. Right now all of this revolves pretty much around adoption and what I "think" would be the best match for our family. Ohhh so not true for what He wants me to surrender to Him. I'm not sure if anything radical or different will happen but I know that I've been seeking His face, searching to hear His voice, and digging into the scripture like never before. Praise HIM!!! Maybe that's what He wanted all along who knows but I'm ready for this wild ride that He has in store and pray that I can bless His name through all of it.

International Star Wars Day!

I thought I'd post a pic of my Jedi Brodie in honor of today!
The boy does love him some Star Wars!!!

April Number

Check it out!

There is a blog that I follow that I have so much respect for the author. She is an adoptive mama and her latest post just reflects a lot of what I'm feeling lately. I hope she doesn't mind but please visit her post and see what God may  reveal to you. http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2012/04/whatever-god.html

Easter with the Bailey kids

 Look how happy my oldest is about smiling for this picture. Geesh!!

Spring Break

We had a nice little surprise over night trip to an awesome hotel nearby.

Then the next day we headed to Imagination Station!

March Number

My Elephant Pregnancy

I've been thinking about this post for awhile, sad but true. Today marks nine months since we went on our agency's wait list. Why is this significant you may ask? Well, whenever I've gotten to this point when I was waiting to meet one of my children I was always so relieved to be at this point. I KNEW I would be seeing this precious little one's face very very soon. For this next child I can't quite say that. Sure God could do anything he wanted and move us to the top of this list for no apparent reason and let our team of caseworkers know that this was the child He intended for us but I really don't see that happening at this point. We are waiting for a reason. Boy would I love to know that reason right now but I don't.
Okay what's with the elephant analogy? Well, upon very short inquiry on the web I found out that elephant's are pregnant for 22 months! Somewhere down the road I remember hearing this and feeling so much empathy for those elephant mothers. That is just a really long time to wait. Now I'm facing that same time frame myself. Realistically it could take us 22 months to see a picture of our daughter's face, to hear her birth name, to find out her age, to hear what history they have available of her and to start to fully attach to this little girl. Until then I just have to keep doing life.....meaning pour myself into my everyday routines, love on my kiddos at home, and pray for her and her birth family as much as possible. Sounds simple enough, right? I wish it was but the longing is always there and does not get easier with time. I must through all of that TRUST in my Lord. For some reason he has chosen Joel and I to parent this very special little girl, it's undeniable to us. There have been so many confirmations along the way that we can't deny that this is the path we are to take and He will complete this journey for us, no matter how long it takes. Someday we will cry over the first pictures we get of her, of hearing her name and eventually get to hold her in our arms for the very first time. I absolutely CAN'T wait to show you pictures of that!

So while we wait we humbly ask that you pray for the country of Ethiopia (that all adoptions go smoothly and happen in a timely manner), for our adoption agency and everyone that works for them (that they have Godly wisdom, walk in integrity, and give them strength to do their tasks), for our future daughter and her birth family (that she is healthy and doesn't go through any unnecessary trauma, that her parents are protected, that they have peace about every difficult decision that they must make, and that they come to know the Lord) finally for us as we wait that we would continue to learn all that God intends for us to along this journey.  Hopefully we will become some very happy "elephant" parents! :) 

This really touched my heart today. Please watch, it's powerful!

An awesome way to look at adoption and God!