So I feel like I blinked and my Birthday is almost here. And my birthday being close (March 30) means that March is pretty much over. Where did the time go?!?
I've had some people ask how the fostering process is coming - we have progressed by leaps and bounds. All that is left is CPR/First Aid training and the house inspections. The person who volunteered to our CPR training has been in Israel for the last two weeks, and so I'm sure that will get taken care of some time in the next month after she and her husband have recovered from/ processed a little of that trip. Even though our certification will be complete, we are not going to accept a placement until after school is over. This has been a heart wrenching decision for me, but I know that it is the wisest and best course of action. We will do respite care from whenever we finish training until June 7th. Then it will just be a matter of waiting for a placement. CRAZY!
Birthday celebrations are beginning tomorrow. The goal of my party is to get a massive group picture of all of my favorite people in Tyler. There are going to be around 30 people there. I. Am. So. Excited. I have to submit a picture of the fostering family for my paperwork. I'm really tempted to the huge group picture in the packet, because the reality is that this baby's Tyler family will be that big. Instead I will settle for finally having a good picture of me and the roommate.
At school we have hit full fledged TAKS review. The next four weeks are not my favorite of the year. They are necessary, but it is going to seem rather long.
At church we are reading through the Bible in a year. I had gotten behind when I was sick right before Spring Break. I finally caught up today. It involved reading the entirety of Joshua in two sittings. And it was awesome. To see the whole story play out quickly instead of spreading it over weeks was inspiring. And showed me so much of who God is.
And that's the update. I'm off to do clean, run errands, and finish my school stuff since tomorrow is the super exciting party. At the rate this year is going, it's will be over before I know it and there will be a new little someone in my house!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
A Different Set of Glasses
Spring Break has begun. A week of rest and rejuvenation. I've been fighting a sinus infection for over a week now. I really should have gone to the doctor, but didn't put two and two together until my friend Amy said something at dinner last night. I'm going on Monday to get a general physical and if the doctor thinks I need it, some antibiotics.
My whole world is viewed so differently right now. Being sick for the past week made me think about how it would be to be sick and have a baby. A friend posted on his facebook that there are 13 Sundays until summer staffers come to training where I used to work. That means I could have a baby in less than 13 Sundays. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
Trips to the store now are viewed with, what would this be like with a baby. Lazy Saturdays of sleeping in are enjoyed before they become a distant memory. My time being my own is thought about and rested in and enjoyed. These days are coming to a close.
This whole process has gone so much faster and so much smoother than I thought it would. And I feel inadequate. Oh so inadequate. But then I stop and think - I'm not doing this on my own. I have amazing friends and family surrounding me. A roommate who is willing to join the insanity. But most of all, I have a God who is more than adequate. He is excellent. And I have a feeling I am going to learn so much more about who HE is through this than anything else.
So I'll accept these new lenses. This new world view. And embrace it. They may not be rose colored, but it should be fun to see where it all ends up.
My whole world is viewed so differently right now. Being sick for the past week made me think about how it would be to be sick and have a baby. A friend posted on his facebook that there are 13 Sundays until summer staffers come to training where I used to work. That means I could have a baby in less than 13 Sundays. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
Trips to the store now are viewed with, what would this be like with a baby. Lazy Saturdays of sleeping in are enjoyed before they become a distant memory. My time being my own is thought about and rested in and enjoyed. These days are coming to a close.
This whole process has gone so much faster and so much smoother than I thought it would. And I feel inadequate. Oh so inadequate. But then I stop and think - I'm not doing this on my own. I have amazing friends and family surrounding me. A roommate who is willing to join the insanity. But most of all, I have a God who is more than adequate. He is excellent. And I have a feeling I am going to learn so much more about who HE is through this than anything else.
So I'll accept these new lenses. This new world view. And embrace it. They may not be rose colored, but it should be fun to see where it all ends up.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
And it gets real...
Today I took a step in the fostering process:
Babies R Us is doing their exchange program. Turn in an old/expired car seat and get 25% off something new. A friend had an expired car seat for us to use and so tonight we went and purchased a crib!
It might have been a little bit more than I would have paid elsewhere, but I LOVE IT. It is simple and chocolate brown and wonderful.
Otherwise, I am slowly plodding my way through the fostering packet. I have answered a lot of the questions but I think they are multiplying. For every one I finish, four more appear. :) We have another training in a few weeks. Spring Break is going to be big. I have made some Dr appointments. (I'm actually going to have a general physician! For the first time since college.) And the plan is to finish questions and work my way through some of the self-paced training.
Buying the crib makes it all seem more real. And I'm excited. Onwards and upwards. Here we go!
It might have been a little bit more than I would have paid elsewhere, but I LOVE IT. It is simple and chocolate brown and wonderful.
Otherwise, I am slowly plodding my way through the fostering packet. I have answered a lot of the questions but I think they are multiplying. For every one I finish, four more appear. :) We have another training in a few weeks. Spring Break is going to be big. I have made some Dr appointments. (I'm actually going to have a general physician! For the first time since college.) And the plan is to finish questions and work my way through some of the self-paced training.
Buying the crib makes it all seem more real. And I'm excited. Onwards and upwards. Here we go!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
A Gentle Reminder
I haven't really intended on most of my posts since starting to blog again to be of such a serious note, but this is where I am right now. And it is the real me. So here we go.
The pile of paperwork in the last post is a couple of sheets smaller. I got a few done, but the big autobiography is daunting. And articulating answers to "Tell some pleasant and unpleasant memories from your childhood" is not exactly an easy thing to do. My goal is to do a question or two a night. It's not going well so far...
But I had a gentle reminder of my desire to do this on Friday night. One of my favorite families is currently fostering. They already had a sweet boy (in addition to their own two sons.). They felt like they might would be ready to take another placement. They said yes to their agency and on Friday came to our weekly Friday Night Fun dinner with an new little one. A sweet, beautiful 2 month old baby girl. She started to get fussy and they let me get her out of her car seat and cuddle her. My. Heart. Melted.
I'm getting tears in my eyes right now when I think about this little baby. God has used her to remind me of why I have to fill out the pile of paperwork. Of why I have to go through all of my stuff to get rid of things to make room for a baby in this apartment. I'm ready. Ready to have one in my house who needs love. And a parent who knows things like, don't put baby food in a 2 month old's bottle. Heck, don't give two month old babies baby food at all. A little munchkin to snuggle and love on.
Life would be so much easier to just continue as is. But it's time to be done with easy. It's time to walk these steps. And so I am thankful. Thankful for the gentle reminder of why this is where I am supposed to walk. And though the road may not be easy, He is faithful. And thankful for a little girl, who with her new foster family will get the care and attention she needs. And who will probably never know just how much she affected me. She will just know that Miss Joanna loves her. A Lot.
The pile of paperwork in the last post is a couple of sheets smaller. I got a few done, but the big autobiography is daunting. And articulating answers to "Tell some pleasant and unpleasant memories from your childhood" is not exactly an easy thing to do. My goal is to do a question or two a night. It's not going well so far...
But I had a gentle reminder of my desire to do this on Friday night. One of my favorite families is currently fostering. They already had a sweet boy (in addition to their own two sons.). They felt like they might would be ready to take another placement. They said yes to their agency and on Friday came to our weekly Friday Night Fun dinner with an new little one. A sweet, beautiful 2 month old baby girl. She started to get fussy and they let me get her out of her car seat and cuddle her. My. Heart. Melted.
I'm getting tears in my eyes right now when I think about this little baby. God has used her to remind me of why I have to fill out the pile of paperwork. Of why I have to go through all of my stuff to get rid of things to make room for a baby in this apartment. I'm ready. Ready to have one in my house who needs love. And a parent who knows things like, don't put baby food in a 2 month old's bottle. Heck, don't give two month old babies baby food at all. A little munchkin to snuggle and love on.
Life would be so much easier to just continue as is. But it's time to be done with easy. It's time to walk these steps. And so I am thankful. Thankful for the gentle reminder of why this is where I am supposed to walk. And though the road may not be easy, He is faithful. And thankful for a little girl, who with her new foster family will get the care and attention she needs. And who will probably never know just how much she affected me. She will just know that Miss Joanna loves her. A Lot.
Monday, January 10, 2011
A Big Day Indeed
Well friends, it turned out to be a wonderful big day. We had some crazy weather that we thought would make us miss our big meeting, but the roads were clear and my sickness manageable. We had a group orientation which was wonderful. There were a lot of families there and they asked some great questions that I don't think I would have though of. So we are one step closer on our journey. We have a half day of training at the end of January. I am beyond excited. I want to get everything done and a kid in my house NOW, but I know before the end of may would be unwise. So here we go:
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Snow!
Some observations of a snow day:
1) One of the benefits of living on the second story of the apartment complex is how beautiful the snow looks from my window.
2) It is a lot more fun to listen to "Let it Snow" and "Winter Wonderland" when it's actually snowing. (I made an exception to my Thanksgiving-Christmas rule for today)
3) Snow is way more fun when you don't have to go anywhere and it isn't interfering with anything that needs to get done. (Yet - we'll see how tomorrow goes.)
4) It's really fun to watch your neighbors from India see snow for the first time. I walked over to my window to watch the snow and had the fun of watching them take pictures with the snow. (In shorts and sandals none the less). Fun times.
5) (There are more verses if you wish to google them. :))
1) One of the benefits of living on the second story of the apartment complex is how beautiful the snow looks from my window.
2) It is a lot more fun to listen to "Let it Snow" and "Winter Wonderland" when it's actually snowing. (I made an exception to my Thanksgiving-Christmas rule for today)
3) Snow is way more fun when you don't have to go anywhere and it isn't interfering with anything that needs to get done. (Yet - we'll see how tomorrow goes.)
4) It's really fun to watch your neighbors from India see snow for the first time. I walked over to my window to watch the snow and had the fun of watching them take pictures with the snow. (In shorts and sandals none the less). Fun times.
5) (There are more verses if you wish to google them. :))
- Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;I want Thee forever to live in my soul;Break down every idol, cast out every foe—Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- Refrain:Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow,Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,Apply Thine own blood and extract every stain;To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego—Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- Amen and Amen
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Big Day
I can't think about big days without thinking of my dear friend, Suzanne. Suzanne is currently living out her dream overseas with the journeyman program. She walked through a crazy time while she was living with me (and a rotating crew of other roommates) for two years. I got to see her pursue her dream and she saw me pursue mine. I love you Suzanne!
On to the big day mentioned in the title... Monday is a big day. Elizabeth and I are going to our orientation meeting to get the wheels really rolling on our foster parenting plan. I am overwhelmed and overjoyed at the same time. I am ready to move forward in the process, but I feel like I hit a wall on Friday. A wall of sickness that is. I have junk in my lungs and my head is full of crud. My voice disappeared by the time 4th block was over.
I'm just praying that two days of rest, movies, the first season of Glee, and TONS of water will keep from having to reschedule. I'm ready to get the ball rolling. To see action towards the goal that God has placed so clearly on my heart. But if not, He is in control. He is faithful and trust Him is what I will do.
"But I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing unto the Lord for He has been good to me." Psalm 13:5-6
As a side note - Monday was our first day back at school. A kid walked up to my last period (and hardest class) and said "It's my favorite class and I've had to wait ALL day!" Small moments of joy, my friends. Small moments. :)
On to the big day mentioned in the title... Monday is a big day. Elizabeth and I are going to our orientation meeting to get the wheels really rolling on our foster parenting plan. I am overwhelmed and overjoyed at the same time. I am ready to move forward in the process, but I feel like I hit a wall on Friday. A wall of sickness that is. I have junk in my lungs and my head is full of crud. My voice disappeared by the time 4th block was over.
I'm just praying that two days of rest, movies, the first season of Glee, and TONS of water will keep from having to reschedule. I'm ready to get the ball rolling. To see action towards the goal that God has placed so clearly on my heart. But if not, He is in control. He is faithful and trust Him is what I will do.
"But I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing unto the Lord for He has been good to me." Psalm 13:5-6
As a side note - Monday was our first day back at school. A kid walked up to my last period (and hardest class) and said "It's my favorite class and I've had to wait ALL day!" Small moments of joy, my friends. Small moments. :)
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