Tis the season to be....

As always, way to much time in between posts.  I keep making new promises to myself, kinda like the New Years ones, but I actually have the intention of keeping these...kinda like the New Years ones....hmmmm, kinda cliche.  Anyhow, I am attempting to school Grayson and we have made it through two weeks with some regularity and I have to say that he has climbed on board. (This is not to say that we haven't been learning each day throughout the school year)  Its not that he wasn't on board before, but it wasn't happening how I had imagined.  I have discovered something wonderful...consistency, that's not to say that we won't fall off the boat, but I am hopeful and prayerful that we will continue on this trend.  We are getting into some sort of school routine.  For the most part, it takes place in the morning for about an hour to an hour and a half.  We have a time of morning devotional (he has recently started to look up the verses with some help which is so cool...he is navigating through the Word)  We do some reading, he reads to me, I read to him, we have a grand old time with it.  We hang out and attempt some mathematics, which I am quickly discovering is his strong suite.  I truly believe that he is thinking in numbers...kinda like Keanu Reeves in the Matrix...what other child is so interested in mile markers and exit signs along the freeway.   Please let me know if yours is, I would be thrilled to have coffee with you.  We then spend some time crafting the art of writing.  At this time he is making letters and really having a wonderful time discovering just how many ways he can make the letter "m"  I am finding that it really does take some practice, but I am also figuring out that the practice can take place over a long period of time.  Like number writing for example...He loves math, as I have said, but crafting the numbers with a pencil takes practice and I could sense the frustration mounting daily as he would begin to practice a row of threes.  By the time the row was complete, he had no interest in completing the addition problems (which he knew the answers to) because his hand had had it.  His mind was able, but his hand was weak.  So we only write a couple of threes now and move onto the addition problems with excitement.  The reality is, he is going to write threes for the rest of his life...with practice over a longer period of time, he will get good at it. 

We also go on adventures throughout the week,  He has just completed his first set of swimming lessons.  It is nice to see his legs straight in the water instead of bicycling for dear life.  His teacher was incredible and I believe that he is looking forward to the next batch of lessons to begin in January.  He has also started ice skating with a home school group.  The first week led to many falls, but by week two, I am happy to report that his bottom met the ice half as many times.  We are also going to begin a theater type group in January.  They will be exploring African traditions, stories, and a few other things. 

So, for the time being, homeschooling is going well.  I never know what each day holds for us, but I have to say it has been an incredible gift to be able to spend this quality time with my son.  He is so animated, gifted, energetic, and hungry (for food and knowledge)  He is learning even when I am not teaching and continuously asking questions.  He retells stories that we have read in his own words, he has his own ideas about what would be good in ice cream, and he wonders how things work...all things.  He is joy to be with.

As for other things, we are gearing up to travel to Ohio for the holidays.  It is a much anticipated trip as Randy is really excited to have some time off to wind down and just relax from the rigors of the school year.  He is still chugging away at his thesis (draft number 11 is in the works)  I am planning to bake several batches of cookies tomorrow for the neighbors and all of those folks that help us from day to day.  I think I am attempting to live the Little House on the Prairie life style in a busy world, but I am OK with that. 

Take care friends.

6 months and a lifetime in the making

I have "How He Loves Us" turned up in the head phones as I write this.  There are days when a simple worship song can turn the entire day around.  Today is such a day as this.  Today marks six months since our Dossier touched ground in Rwanda.  Holy smokes...I wish I could say that it seems like just yesterday that this celebrated occasion took place, but to be honest, it feels like six months.  There are days when I don't notice, but then there are moments when I nearly feel like I am suffocating in this wait...dragging, discouraged, tearful, lonely.

It is in those moments that my heart calls out to worship our Maker and I begin to think about the way He loves us.  If I don't turn to Him but rather, I turn to myself instead, it is then that I know I am trouble.  Remember Peter, the one disciple that chose to get out of the boat (Matthew 14:28-33)  He had such great faith that he jumped on the opportunity to experience the impossible.  It wasn't a toe dipping, deep reflection, moment.  Peter asks, "Lord, if it is You, ask me to come." 

Come. 

I see Peter full of focused ambition as he stands up and steps forward boldly onto the water.  Waves tickled his ankles, sea mist coaxed him to take the next step, and there he was, walking towards Christ, on water.  All was going great, until he began to doubt, he took his eyes off Christ and focused on himself, the task that was at hand and the world he was within. "It was then that he began to sink and he cried out, Lord save me."

I am sure that you have all felt that you were sinking at one time or another.  You may be sailing down the drain at this very moment.  Take heart and know that Christ loves you so much.  It's not that He loved you and then left you to fend for yourself.  It's not that He loved you so much that He created you and then turned from you and ran.  No He loves you, yesterday, today, always, and forever the same...no matter who you are, what you have done, how your hair looks, what you wear, what you think, how much money you make, what brand of cheese you purchase, whether you bite your nails, what you have accomplished, whether or not you choose to love Him...HE LOVES YOU. (I will not leave you or forsake you) YOU ARE HIS BELOVED.  How awesome is that!  The creator of all things LOVES you.  

So whether you are on a boat, on land, in a tree, at a desk, where ever you are, turn from yourself to Him.  He will wait...He stands at the door and knocks.  If anyone hears His voice and opens the door, He will come in. (Rev 3:20)  He will not beat down the door and take you by the collar and force His ways into your life, but He will wait at the door of your heart, gently knocking...it could be a song that taps, it could be a mountain view that opens your eyes to the truth, it could be a tear-filled, message soaked moment, but He is there waiting for your answer. 

Will you let Me into your life so that we can do this thing together, or would you rather go at it alone?  Grace awaits you on the other side. 

"It was then that he began to sink and he cried out, Lord save me."  Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him."

Number 62

Grayson Highlands Park, VA

We are a bit more settled now.  Gray and I took a spontaneous trip to Ohio about two weeks after moving to New Hampshire to visit a few family members that we don't get to see very often, his cousin Ava and Randy's sister and her husband were in from South Dakota.  So we made the trek south west, but this time it only took 13 hours instead of 19 because we are so much closer in New Hampshire.  We swung through PA to visit my brother and his family, continued through Cleveland to see my sister and her family, and then down to Dayton, Ohio to stay with Randy's parents.  It was actually one of my favorite trips so far and I am still trying to place my finger on why.  It was so filled with family, friends, hugs, and warmth...maybe that's it.  It is tough sometimes living away from everything that you are familiar with, even after four years of being "away" I still am filled with sense of being home every time I return to Ohio.  Sweet kinship I guess. 

Randy's folks then joined us for the ride back to New Hampshire so that they could visit our new home and hang out for a few days with the foliage.  It was a great visit.  We had some time at the farmer's market, a few dining establishments, and Randy and I even went out on a date, which was very nice.  We even held hands for a bit. 

So here we are on Monday...back to the riggers of real life.  Grayson is officially five today.  We did our time at Panera (schooling did take place), completed the grocery shopping, and finished up with the story hour at the local library.  He is now taking what I like to call the "no-nap" where he has some downtime on his own and I usually run around frantically trying to clean up.  But today is different, because we are getting some new kitchen cabinets, so here I am at the computer updating all of you on the happenings of our life while we wait to meet our little girl. 

You see, it is pretty much like all of your lives, routine moments making up entire days.  But, for me, while we wait, there is a longing.  It is similar in some ways to how I felt while I was pregnant with Grayson.  We were waiting for nine months, reading through books, studying how he was growing, what he was doing in there where I couldn't see him.  I would eat right, hike miles daily, and attempt to sleep comfortably.  I knew he was as safe as I could make him.  I prayed for him, for his health, for his future, for each moment as it presented itself. 

For our little one in Rwanda, there is this same longing to meet her, to know her, to hold her...but I can only eat right for me, I hike with Grayson daily, I sleep each night.  I have no idea what she is doing each day, who holds her, who feeds her.  I wonder if she is sleeping comfortably among the other children who are being waited for.  I read through books that talk about how our family will be, once she is with us.  I pray for her often, for her health, her future, and for each moment as it presents itself. 

We are on the cusp of month five of our wait and we were just notified that we're number 62.  I never thought that number would hold any meaning for us, just a six and a two hanging out numerically.  But what this means is that God is moving, that the ministry in Rwanda is moving, that they have thumbed through our dossier, (our papers that say who we are and how our family is waiting to meet our baby girl) and they have assigned us with number 62.  We continue to wait, with our hands raised with praise, knowing that even though I can't feel her growing within or read about where she is at this exact moment, I can be refreshed by turning to Him, who knows her already better than I ever will. 

In New Hampshire

So as many of you know, we had a big move coming up and I wanted to inform you that we have arrived safely.  Some of you may remember our move four years ago today, to Maine.  What a transition that was.  I found myself on my knees sobbing or hiding on the basement stairs asking God over and over again, "What am I doing here?"  The first few months were such a time of growth, spiritually, as a mom, as a wife, as a Maine-er.  I have never begged God or my husband so much to take me back to where I had been than I did in those first three months.  Call me an Israelite if you must, it was within those months that I found myself doing a lot of wandering.

I felt like I had my roots ripped out from underneath me even though I had voluntarily rode the twenty some hours north to our new home.  I remember arriving and meeting the landlord for the first time and stepping foot into an apartment that I had ordered on the Internet.  I can recall thinking, "It's not quite what it looked like online."  The tile was still being laid and the kitchen was shrouded in the original 1960's decor, including, but not limited to my very own in-wall oven, complete with dead bird carcass in the one and only cabinet drawer.  Those first few months were rough, probably some of the toughest I have ever experienced.  But you know what, God was there, seated beside me, stroking my hair and calling me His beloved.  I love when He calls me that.  In fact, I thirst for those moments because I am usually in one of those random valleys, lonely and reaching for Him.  He always meets me there and holds me as I weep.

New Hampshire has not been the same experience.  We arrived to an apartment that I did not have to paint on my own, (yes, that was just another one of the awesome surprises that awaited us in Maine) Randy has a job as a high school math teacher, (some of you may recall that he washed dishes for the first year in Maine while he was waiting to qualify for his graduate program), and Grayson talks now...a lot. (I no longer get the pleasure of making up and saying what I think he might be thinking, but rather he tells me, over and over again until I respond)

We have been here for nearly two weeks.  I get to stay at home with Gray and discover what New Hampshire has in store for us.  We have been busy reading, writing, hiking, playing, and wandering.  Just today we hiked on the Appalachian Trail and took homemade chocolate chip cookies to one of the shelters for the thru-hikers, hoping to touch the lives and fill the bellies of the folks that are heading North to Maine to complete their hike. 

It is a different feeling here than it was in Maine.  I don't know if it is age, or that we have already been through this type of thing, or if we have just finally come home.  We will keep you posted on any new developments in NH as well as within our adoption.  It has been four months since our wait began and many more are projected to follow.  What we do know is that God is at work and we can cling to the knowledge that He knows the plans that He has for us.

Summer slipping away

So much is taking place in our lives, that I have been less than efficient at keeping up with the posts.  I think I left off with purchasing a house, preparing for a visit with friends, and Randy was finishing up with his thesis work.  So let me breath some life into what has taken place over the past six weeks.  We had made an offer on a house in New Hampshire and it was accepted.  We proceeded with the inspection and that is where things got a bit sticky.  You see, it was an older house in much need of some TLC.  For example, the front sill of the foundation that is holding up the house was starting to rot through, which in turn was causing the house to sag a bit.  The chimney was not up to state standards...kinda a fire hazard, and the windows...all of them needed revamping.  These were the things that needed to take place right away.  Then there were the cosmetic pieces, knocking down walls to make the kitchen into a cooking paradise and adding a bathroom upstairs.  Sooooo...with that being said and after some wonderful advice from folks that are genuinely concerned for a our well being, we decided to pull out of the purchase, (our offer was contingent on a satisfactory home inspection) and stick to renting for at least this first year.  We have been on a few journeys to New Hampshire.  This past Saturday, we viewed four apartments, and I have to admit, I was a bit scared because not only were they a bit more expensive than what we are paying now, but they were smaller and not as well maintained as what we are currently in.  But, as we walked into the fourth and least expensive of the options, I was reminded that the Lord had gone ahead and prepared a place for us.  I cannot express the absolute thrill that I felt as we passed through the thresh hold of our new apartment.  Warmth, gratitude, hope...we stayed with the landlord and his wife for three hours enjoying conversation, lemonade, and a yummy lunch.  I will post photos once we get there.

As for friends, we had our close friends from Ohio visit about two weeks ago and I am pleased to say that seven people (four adults and three children) can fit comfortably into a two bed apartment, but you have to be willing.  I cannot express to you how much joy was experienced while they were here.  We went to the beach, we relaxed, we ate two full pints of homemade ice cream, two blueberry pies, and probably three pounds of butter.  We went blueberry picking, we relaxed some more, we watched a movie, we had memorable conversations, and we just enjoyed the time that we were blessed to share with one another.

So Randy's thesis is finally finished.  He defended a little over a week ago and I had the opportunity to attend the defense, which I was really excited about for two reasons.  One: I knew that there would be delicious food there because Randy had done the baking.  Two:  I thought that I would finally understand what a derivative is.  The food was super and yummy, the presentation was enlightening, and derivatives still remain a mystery.  Randy put his finishing touches on the written portion and is still waiting for a response from his committee.  As you can see, he is a new man.

Last, but not lease, we are moving in less than two weeks.  Peaberry is a bit sad, but we are pretty sure that she is going to sleep through it. We have been busy packing, working, parenting, and playing and will continue to do so until the task is complete.  I am pretty sure the packing will be the first item checked off of our list and the other three, we will spend the rest of our lives taking part in.  So for now, I say God bless and good night.

Been a while

We have been off the radar for a little while, not intentionally of course.  We have been very busy making plans for the upcoming move.  Randy has taken a teaching position in New Hampshire and we will be moving to the area in about six weeks.  We have put an offer in on a house and after the inspection we should have a better idea if this house in right for our family.  We are excited and hopeful that all will go well. 

We hosted a yardsale yesterday for the adoption and after about five hours, we had to call it quits because of the rain.  But we made $600 toward the adoption which we are thrilled about.  We still have about half of the items donated so next Saturday, we will be hosting part two. 

Summer has been a bit warm, but not without adventure.  I believe I left you in Vermont after visiting with Randy's folks.  I also had the chance to journey out west and visit my folks.  What made this trip special is that my sister Kelly and brother Kevin were there as well.  We had plenty of adventure.  We saw some wonderful shows, not the typical Vegas shows mind you.  We saw the Titanic, Sharks, and Bodies.  Pretty diverse, but all in all, they were pretty neat.  We also stayed at the Bellagio for a couple of nights.  I can't remember a time when housekeeping was so wonderful.  We would leave for a bit and return to find smooth jazz playing, pillows fluffed, and a piece of chocolate waiting for us.  This is the way to guarentee a return visit.  Thankyou Kevin for booking this experience for us. 

While I was away, Randy continued work on his thesis and still is chugging away even now.  He plans to submit it for review by the end of this week and defend it at the end of this month. He also recently found out that he gets to take one more Praxis exam in order to be certified in New Hampshire.  This is to take place in a little under two weeks.  I think we are both looking forward to his school year finally coming to a close.

We are also expecting visitors in about a week.  My girlfriend from highschool, Bridgette and her family will be joining us in Maine for a little over a week. Yeah...finally someone to share all of these trees with.  I am looking forward to visiting the coast and sharing our digs for the past four years with them.  Grayson is looking forward to showing Adah, Beidgette's daughter, the playground, the children's museum, and his kitties.

Well, I need to tend to Gray.  He should be getting up from nap soon and I believe we have an appointment to cuddle.  I will do my best to keep you all better informed.  I will post after the house inspection on Tuesday to let you know if we will be moving forward with the home. 

Black Bear on the prowl

So we encountered a bear in Vermont, on one of those windy country roads, that passes through the mountains..a perfect little habitat for a bear to dig up some grub, which is just what this little guy was doing.  I am just so thankful that we were driving in the car and not out for a jog...even if they are herbivores.  We had a wonderful visit with Randy's folks in Vermont over this past week.  Both Randy and Grayson were very surprised when we walked into the condo and out of the bedroom popped grandma and grandpa.  It was so wonderful just to relax and spend some quality time together as a family.  In fact, I think that I could get used to this lifestyle.  Our journey southwest allowed us to visit with Ben and Jerry, and even though they were not there, their ice cream was happy to have us over for a visit.  We did some hiking in the green mountains, went swimming, played at the FunZone, visited Burlington, hung out at Echo Aquarium, and ate yummy food daily.  We also had the chance to visit a few places that were hosting interviews for Randy.  We drove up and down Rt 91 on Thursday as Randy was called back to two schools in one day.  On Friday morning, he received a call from one offering him a full time teaching position.  The board meets on June 8th and the superintendent of the district will present the request to hire Randy to them.  He has accepted the position, but technically it will not be 100% until he signs the contract, so please keep this in prayer as we both really liked the area, the school, the community, and believe that we have already found a possible church to attend.  As many of you remember, our church searching in Maine was a most arduous task.  It took a little over two years until we found the perfect fit for our family.  We also received some incredible news on Friday afternoon.  Our family was selected to receive an adoption grant from Shaohannah's Hope.  We feel so incredibly blessed and look forward to the day when we can give back to this organization that is helping to make it possible to bring our little girl home.  Not much else to report.  I will be heading back to work tomorrow and Randy will continue the grueling task of writing his thesis.  Happy Memorial Day!

Graduated...So now what?

What a joyful day this was.  We have finally done it and the smell is sweet!!  The ceremony was a couple of hours, but I am really happy that we chose to attend.  I mean, how many other opportunities will we have to attend our own graduation ceremony.  We then headed home where I was greeted with the most beautiful dress that I have ever been presented with.  It is completely me, natural, earthy, organic, original.  This was a graduation gift from my sweet husband and I am looking forward to wearing it this summer.  The night ended at a friends house, where we shared a yummy meal and wonderful conversation. 

So now what...Randy has his first interview on Tuesday in New Hampshire.  It is a one year secondary mathematics position, but we are still really excited about the opportunity to interview.  He has put out about twenty applications so far and each week a couple more positions open up all around New England.

Mother's Day has been really sweet so far.  We went to church this morning and had the opportunity to serve on the worship team.  This is my favorite place to serve in the church.  I just get so giddy when I have the chance praise the Lord and lead others in a time of praise and worship.  It is also so nice to look over and see Randy keeping the beat on the drum set.  We then did a little shopping and now we are at home.  I am running through interview questions with Randy while typing this.  It is so neat to see how he views teaching, discipline in the classroom, assessment, and particular teaching methods.  This evening we are planning a bottle walk and hoping that the students left behind a slew of recyclables and other bits and bobs for our upcoming yard sale.  We will then conclude our evening with some delicious homemade beef stew and buttermilk biscuits.  I hope that all you mother's and mother's-to-be have wonderful day.  You are beautiful.

Here is a little something for you...

Handprint

anonymous

Sometimes you get discouraged

Because I am so small

And always leave my fingerprints

On furniture and walls

But everyday I am growing up

And soon I'll be so tall,

That all those little handprints

Will be hard to recall.

So here's a special handprint

Just so that you can say

This is how my fingers looked

When I placed them here today.

One Year Anniversary

It has been a few weeks since we checked in blog wise.  I am very pleased to say that our dossier arrived in Rwanda on April 26th.  So now we pray...often.  Little breath prayers lifted up throughout each day that the parcel stays in tact and that the review process would be a smooth one, for the sisters that comfort each child day in and day out, for plenty of supplies, for God's mighty hand to protect hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits. 

May 3rd also marked one year since we first submitted our application to our agency in Virginia.  I can hardly believe this as in all actuality, the time has gone quickly.  I had one of those surreal moments last night as I was praying for her.  Maybe it was just finally clicking that I am soon to be a mama of a little girl.  Each day I grow more giddy with delight that one day I will be able to hug her, coo over her, and watch her grow.  For now, I can pray for her and imagine those moments folding out before me.

On a side note, Randy and I are finally graduating.  We have the commencement this Friday afternoon.  Three and a half years ago, we moved to Maine so that Randy could pursue his masters degree.  He worked for a year a dishwasher at the university.  He never complained one day about this line of work, as he was thrilled just to be in Maine, pursuing his dream to be a teacher. 

On the other hand, for me that first year was tough, especially those first six months.  I spent a heap of time on the basement stairs just crying out to God, asking Him to take the pain away of being so far from everyone and everything that I knew and loved.  I never want to forget what it felt like in that valley, because although I felt broken each day, it was those moments where I could feel and see God at work all around me and within me, filling me with the strength to greet each day.  So here I am now, taking in the mountain view of seeing something through to the end when the beginning seemed so hopeless.  The Lord has blessed our family so much during our time in Maine.  Can I share a few details:

We paid off my school debt from my undergraduate degree, nearly $14,000 in just twelve months time while bringing in less income than ever before.  Thank you Dave Ramsey for inspiring us to live like nobody else so that we could eventually LIVE like nobody else.

After searching long and hard, we finally have found a church family, a genuine community of believers serving and loving their neighbors and loving God with all their heart, mind, and soul. 

Both of us have pursued and completed our masters degree without gaining any debt.  I had the opportunity to take two classes each semester for free while working for the university.  Randy has a graduate assistantship which has aided in shaping him into an even more resourceful educator.  Thank you University of Maine!

Grayson has learned to talk, run, blueberry pick, ride his bike, and appreciate God's creation since moving to Maine.  He has grown so much and warms my heart daily as he continues to learn and love.

We have been called to adopt a little one from Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills, and prayerfully have sought out the resources to fund the process of adoption.  So far, every step has been fully funded.

God has continued to disciple our family through His word, His church, and His creation.

Take a moment to think about and remember what this past year has been for you.  I am sure that there have been some trying time, some smiling times, and some growing times.  How has each moment shaped you for the next? 

Dossier taking the scenic view

Ok, so it's not in the middle of the desert, but it has been on quite the journey since it has left Virginia.  It went to Indianapolis to take in a race, back to Tennessee to do a bit of hiking and take in a few mountain views, then it made its way over the ocean to France to get a bit more cultured and now it is resting in London before it makes its final leg of the journey to Rwanda.  In the mean time, while our little packet of documents has been sight seeing we have been busy taking in Spring!!!  Grayson has learned how to ride his bike without training wheels, Randy has finished his portfolio for his class, and I have just today finished my final paper for my final class and am seriously looking forward to my hooding ceremony in a couple of weeks.  Randy to will be graduating and finishing up his thesis over the summer.  YEAH!!  Keep our next steps lifted friends.  Until our dossier lands, we will be seeking refuge in His word. 

Today

Today

We found out today that our dossier has begun its final leg of the journey. The bundle has been mailed to Rwanda. It is expected to land in Kigali in a little over a week. How very excited we are. It feels so surreal. Randy was funny, "So what's the next thing that we need to fill out?" Oh...

I have gotten pretty good at waiting for things. Here are a few things that I have waited for this week...

Grayson to finish wiping so that I could do a double check.
The gentleman to turn in his thirty five lottery tickets so that I could pay for my gas.
The women on the other end of the line to stop talking so that I could transfer her to someone who could answer her question.
My toast to brown in the toaster.
Grayson's raincoat to arrive from the store.
The computer to finish loading a file.
The sun to shine.
The teapot to boil.
Grayson to listen to my words.
Randy to see my side of the story.
My second to last class to be dismissed.
My final paper to begin writing itself...probably not going to happen.
Randy's thesis to be finished...hopefully going to happen.

Through all of it, God has been on the move, one step ahead of me, all the while holding onto me at the same time. It is so nice to be in His grip, especially during those moments where there is time to reflect...those moments filled with waiting. Please join our family as we wait to hear about our little one, the baby in Rwanda as Gray calls her. It will be a little while,several months in fact, but luckily we get to wait together.

Dossier has landed in Virginia

So, last weekend we shared that we had done some running around and that Saturday, I sorted through the several copies that we had made and carefully created four piles of identical paperwork.



Here, you can see one of the piles all laid out.

We then made a pilgrimage to the local post office. I was being semi ridiculous as Randy wanted to walk, but I wanted to drive, because I just didn't want anything to happen to all of these papers. He convinced me to walk and here we are holding and packaging the "baby" upon arrival.







Eventually after several goodbyes, we mailed our dossier to Virginia. I followed that little package online for three days and mid week, we received an email from our family coordinator stating that the package had arrived. Praise the Lord!!!! Our dossier will now be reviewed by two folks within the agency and then it will be reviewed by the United States Embassy and then the Rwandan Embassy in Washington DC. After that, it will fly to Rwanda and I will track it's progress on the Internet once again. We are feeling so incredibly blessed as the adoption has been fully funded so far because of help from the Lord, family, and friends. We are so appreciative of your prayers and funding.

The next few months will be filled with so much activity so the wait shouldn't be to excruciating. We both graduate at the beginning of May. Randy will continue to craft his thesis on puppies...ok, so it's not on puppies, but I know he wishes that it was. About mid May we will be hosting a dessert reception fundraiser at our church. I still don't have the details of this event laid out, but I am really excited that our pastor has granted us access to the church for an evening and that we have already had quite a few friends step up to the plate to help with this event. I have begun to construct a letter for local businesses with the hope of securing a few donated items for a raffle. We hope to share our story through song and narration with all those that attend.

Randy is also applying for a few teaching positions this month throughout New England...mostly Vermont so far and I have found a few in New Hampshire that might be greeted with his resume within the next couple of weeks...so we'll just wait and see. I believe that is all for now. I must continue to read for my class on Monday. Only four more class sessions to endure and then I will be done and officially on break from academia for a while. Hope this finds you all well and thanks for reading. It is so nice to share with you all. Have a blustery spring day.

To Augusta and beyond

So we went on a journey south yesterday to the city of Augusta. It is a land that flows with Panera and state buildings. It was a beautiful day for a drive and even a better one for getting our dossier documents certified. We dropped them off at the Secretary of State's office and wandered around for about 20 minutes while they were stamped.

We saw the Maine seal.


We saw the rooms where the Maine House of Representatives and the Senate battle it out.


We saw the inside of the capital dome which I thought was quite beautiful.

After that we headed back to the Secretary of States Office and found our documents sealed. Of course it wouldn't be a true experience without drama. I expected to pay $10 per notarized document and I thought we had 19 in total, so when the secretary behind the double glass windows said that is would be $310, my heart sank. Surely, I am not that bad at math, but I submitted the payment any how. I then sat down and began to look through the prized documents to see where I had gone wrong. AHA...I brought five copies of each of the police reports, for a total of 12 notary signatures that did not need to be certified, but rather kept for the additional copies of our home study that were provided for grant applications. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know about you, but I always get red in the face when I have done something foolish, so thank goodness Randy was there. He gently shared the news with the lady behind the glass and if you can believe this, we received a refund for $120.00 instantly. Praise the Lord for grace. So we broke bread a Panera and traveled back north to make our 222 photo copies. I will share the tale of sending the dossier on in my next post. For now, I leave you with a thankful heart and a restful spirit.

Spring in Maine

So we're all pretty excited here! Not only is is Spring in Maine, but we received out I-171H form. Funny little form this is. It is a document that is generated from the Department of Homeland Security that you receive after you file your I-600A. Before you receive this document, you receive a receipt, which is posted on beautiful paper, then you receive your fingerprint appointment, which is also on beautiful paper, and then a few weeks after your fingerprinting, you receive the I-171H...a plain looking piece of paper. It exhibits the look of a tax document and I had to look it over a couple of times to verify that it was in fact the document that we had been waiting for. Down on the bottom right hand corner, in smaller than average print, it is posted for the near sighted individual with a hawk like sense of sight, I-171H.

So now what...well a funny little thing happened. I am pretty sure that the wrong expiration date has been posted on this here form and we are currently waiting to hear back from our local office. By the way, trying to get a hold of someone in the Department of Homeland Security is a complicated matter in and of itself. The automated system is circular, but after about fifteen minutes of pushing various numerals on my phone, I finally discovered the correct combination and was put through to a real person who then instructed me to email my local office...not call, because they don't have phone lines that go into the place, only secret lines that dial out. So, the email is in and I have been notified that in three short business days, they will be in touch. What's three days...after all, it was on the third day that Christ rose again and that, my friends, was totally worth the wait.

Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Relaxing in my Maker's grip.

Rain in Maine

Just a quick check in, they seem like they are all quick lately. We are being rained on in Maine. It is lovely weather. Grayson prayed to Jesus this morning asking for the rain to go away so that he could play outside. Someone else must have needed the rain because it is still misting.

We had a wonderful weekend. Last Thursday we headed to Portland for the fingerprinting. It was a wonderful experience. I think I was expecting cranky state workers, but then we were pleasantly surprised with how kind everyone was. The officer that wands you down came down eye to eye with Gray and shook his hand and was just so sweet. It was these people that helped make this visit such a nice one. The fingerprinting itself was fast and then we were off to the beach. It was a beautiful sunny day, mid 40's, and we were able to spend quality time together as a family. We went hiking, climbing, and grocery shopping at the Whole Foods.

We went for our second physical appointment today. We had originally had our physicals in August because they were needed for the home study. Well, the only downside to that was that this document needs to be less than three months of age by the time it heads to Rwanda. So, today was the update day and all went smoothly at the office. Again, pleasant people were abounding.

So now what...well more prayer for sure. We are excited that this leg of the journey is nearly fully funded and feel so blessed as God has provided for each step so generously and graciously. We still have the hope that our paperwork will be complete in the near future...sometime between March and April is the goal. We continue to trudge through this semester, the final semester of our graduate work, and will soon proudly display our diplomas. Randy is looking for secondary math teaching positions in the northeast, with the main focus being in Vermont. So if you know anybody, please let us know.

We'll keep you posted as things progress.

Fingers to be dipped in ink!

Another step to happen very soon. We will be heading to Portland in a little under two weeks to dip our fingers into ink. It will be nice to have an extra long weekend with amenities. I can already taste my cinnamon crunch bagel from Panera. I know this was short and I promise to give a life update later, but we are heading out on a winter bottle walk. Speak soon.

on the other side of the world

It's amazing how I already find myself thinking about her, wondering who she'll become, praying for the choices that she will make, imagining what our routines will be, picturing her face lighting up at new discoveries, and yet I haven't even met her. Who's eyes will she have, what will her laughter sound like, will her crying tear at my heart with each boo boo, will she love butterflies or dust bunnies. These are the thoughts of a mothers heart and yet I haven't met her. Is she safe, is she comfortable, is she cared for...yes because her Father is there even while I cannot be.

Just some thoughts as I sit and wonder. We have made a movement in the land of adoption which is such a blessing. We have sent our I-600A application this past Monday. This document, though I have to admit, I don't fully understand it, is used to approve our family for adoption. So with that said, even though we have prayed about it, prayed over it, we invite you to join us as we continue to pray for it. We should have some more information within the next 6-12 weeks.

Within the next couple of weeks I am planning to take some candid photos of our family and home for our dossier photo pages. I feel like the adoption process is a giant puzzle and I am still working on putting together the edge pieces before digging into the big picture.

Well, Candyland is calling and Princess Frosty awaits.