You'd think we'd be relaxing after we spent the entire spring paper chasing:
Relaxing? Umm....not so much.
We are in the midst of the LONG and unpredictable wait for our letter of approval (LOA). I admit it. THIS is when I officially become a psychotic stalker. I check "statistics" on other adoption websites and Facebook groups of the current waiting timeframes. I obsessively check the "My Adoption" page on our agency's website to see if there's even been a teeny-tiny change. I stare at the phone and muster up all sorts of unimaginable self-control to NOT call the agency and check in. Daily.
Relaxing? Umm....not so much.
We are in the midst of the LONG and unpredictable wait for our letter of approval (LOA). I admit it. THIS is when I officially become a psychotic stalker. I check "statistics" on other adoption websites and Facebook groups of the current waiting timeframes. I obsessively check the "My Adoption" page on our agency's website to see if there's even been a teeny-tiny change. I stare at the phone and muster up all sorts of unimaginable self-control to NOT call the agency and check in. Daily.
I read other adoptive family's blogs, message others who are waiting, and sob uncontrollably at the videos and pictures of those who are there already across the world meeting their child for the first time. I dream of the welcome home party and when we come down off that escalator at the airport with a little girl in our arms. Ahhhh...can't you picture it??
So..... about that Letter of Approval that we need so desperately: There's NO rhyme or reason on when this little precious nugget will arrive. No scientific method on what they do over there to approve it and it's completely out of my control. Yet still, I find that this is exactly how I drain my mental energy each day. This Type-A planning girl will be likely to spend a week in a nice, comfy padded cell somewhere if things don't line up.
Other than upping my anxiety meds, I thought it would be healthier and more enjoyable to all those around me to STOP! PRAY! LET IT GO! AND....somehow enjoy theexcruciating painful wait.
So, what's a girl do?
*Standing back-to-back with Maddie as she seems to grow an inch each week. Then she brags that she's taller than me and runs off wearing a pair of my favorite shoes. Ugh. Not fair, my dear teenager. Not fair.
*Plant our little garden and taking time to actually remember to weed and water it. Last year it.....well...it died. Like all of it.
*Rubbing Audrey's soft little arm until she turns to mush (she begs me to do it everyday and I sadly never do it long enough). And BOY let me tell you....just the mere thought of not having the kids with me in China for TWO solid weeks brings me to tears. Yes, it will go fast, and YES, they'll be fine, and YES we can Facetime.....yadda, yadda, yadda. If you read one of my prior blogs with Liam, I was very clear and I quote myself saying, "having the girls here with me was wonderful- they are the air I breathe". Um... serious attachment issues. See, there I go again. Tearing up over the thought of saying good-bye to them. Lots of prayers, friends. We need them as God prepares our hearts!
* Freezer Meal Workshops with my Pampered Chef business. As my life gets crazier, I know I sure could use easy dinnertime solutions and I'm pretty confident that others can, too. It's been a great distraction as we "wait". I'm TOTALLY digging these workshops! Each of you reading this needs to participate in one. You come to my house, bring the groceries, you bag them up based on the "recipes" using the pantry items you've already pre-paid for, and then VOILA! You'll walk out the door with TEN dinners done! No clean up, just 10 dinners ready to get cozy in your freezer. The best part - it's TOALLY affordable! The one that I'm doing this month is $2.91 per person per meal for our later family of 5 - and it only takes 15-30 min max to whip them up! Can you say FABULOUS?? See, that got my mind off the wait for almost 5 minutes while I typed that. Whew, that felt nice.
*Organizing! Everything! De-cluttering and purging!Most everything! If it's not nailed down to the floor, it's probably not safe... No trash bag will be empty around here and our garbage men will soon dread visiting us. With soon to be 4 - did you read that????!!! With FOUR!!!!!!- kids running around my house, there has GOT to be no clutter and everything must be in it's place (especially for busy school mornings trying to get all of them out of the house with matching shoes, hairbows, and lunches packed... oiy!! ) Oh my gosh. Four.
*Sharing a pint of Ben and Jerry's more often with my hormonal teenage daughter. She needs mother/daughter time. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
*Making "me" time a priority for once in a LONG while and especially focusing on getting healthy and losing all the weight I've gained over the past stressful year. Guess I shouldn't load up on that Ben and Jerry's ice cream after all, 'huh? Boo.
*Taking the kids out for 1:1 mommy time as often as possible. It may be just a trip to Kroger together, but it's alone time when they have my full attention. And I'll be sure to sing 80's music as loudly as I can with the car windows open at each stop sign in our small town as the girls hunker down praying that nobody they know sees them. It's my favorite mommy game to play.
*Ticking Liam more often. His little laugh is contagious and makes me smile every time!
*Going on date nights with my hubby, even if it just involves ordering a pizza and renting a Redbox movie after the kids go to bed! When this little girl gets home, it will upset our apple cart again just like it did when Liam arrived into the family "routine". We are trying to get in some good "together time" before our lives are turned upside down once again.
*I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually going to do some canning and freezing this summer. It's a pain in the grits, but we sure enjoy the results over the winter. Love me some homemade pasta sauce and canned green beans!
*FUNDRAISING! (I know, I know...you're totally shocked!) We have to raise another $11,000. Like within the next 2 months. NO stress or anything. I have been assured over and over the the Lord is ABLE to provide all that we need and MORE! We are standing firm on that promise as we remain faithful, prayerful, obedient and trudge on! God brought us to this, surely He will bring us though it!
*Getting a head start on Halloween costumes and Christmas shopping. I have to. Don't judge.
*Setting up a daily chore list for the kids...all 4 of them. This OCD momma is gonna need some serious help around the house more than ever!
*Unsubscribing to all unnecessary marketing emails. Every time the computer "bings" at me with a new email, I have a mini-panic attack inside that it may be some important message from our adoption agency. So, my thought is: Less emails = less heart attacks. Problem solved.
Oh, and I can't forget....we've started working on Emmajane's sweet little bedroom. Wanna see a quick peek?
Many of you have asked when we are going. The simple answer is: We don't know. It all depends on when that crazy important LOA (letter of approval) arrives. We could travel as early as September and as late as November. Who knows. This is the stuff that drives me crazy! Off to take a deep breath and chip away at that "to-do" list.....
So..... about that Letter of Approval that we need so desperately: There's NO rhyme or reason on when this little precious nugget will arrive. No scientific method on what they do over there to approve it and it's completely out of my control. Yet still, I find that this is exactly how I drain my mental energy each day. This Type-A planning girl will be likely to spend a week in a nice, comfy padded cell somewhere if things don't line up.
Other than upping my anxiety meds, I thought it would be healthier and more enjoyable to all those around me to STOP! PRAY! LET IT GO! AND....somehow enjoy the
So, what's a girl do?
*Standing back-to-back with Maddie as she seems to grow an inch each week. Then she brags that she's taller than me and runs off wearing a pair of my favorite shoes. Ugh. Not fair, my dear teenager. Not fair.
*Plant our little garden and taking time to actually remember to weed and water it. Last year it.....well...it died. Like all of it.
*Rubbing Audrey's soft little arm until she turns to mush (she begs me to do it everyday and I sadly never do it long enough). And BOY let me tell you....just the mere thought of not having the kids with me in China for TWO solid weeks brings me to tears. Yes, it will go fast, and YES, they'll be fine, and YES we can Facetime.....yadda, yadda, yadda. If you read one of my prior blogs with Liam, I was very clear and I quote myself saying, "having the girls here with me was wonderful- they are the air I breathe". Um... serious attachment issues. See, there I go again. Tearing up over the thought of saying good-bye to them. Lots of prayers, friends. We need them as God prepares our hearts!
* Freezer Meal Workshops with my Pampered Chef business. As my life gets crazier, I know I sure could use easy dinnertime solutions and I'm pretty confident that others can, too. It's been a great distraction as we "wait". I'm TOTALLY digging these workshops! Each of you reading this needs to participate in one. You come to my house, bring the groceries, you bag them up based on the "recipes" using the pantry items you've already pre-paid for, and then VOILA! You'll walk out the door with TEN dinners done! No clean up, just 10 dinners ready to get cozy in your freezer. The best part - it's TOALLY affordable! The one that I'm doing this month is $2.91 per person per meal for our later family of 5 - and it only takes 15-30 min max to whip them up! Can you say FABULOUS?? See, that got my mind off the wait for almost 5 minutes while I typed that. Whew, that felt nice.
*Organizing! Everything! De-cluttering and purging!
*Sharing a pint of Ben and Jerry's more often with my hormonal teenage daughter. She needs mother/daughter time. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
*Making "me" time a priority for once in a LONG while and especially focusing on getting healthy and losing all the weight I've gained over the past stressful year. Guess I shouldn't load up on that Ben and Jerry's ice cream after all, 'huh? Boo.
*Taking the kids out for 1:1 mommy time as often as possible. It may be just a trip to Kroger together, but it's alone time when they have my full attention. And I'll be sure to sing 80's music as loudly as I can with the car windows open at each stop sign in our small town as the girls hunker down praying that nobody they know sees them. It's my favorite mommy game to play.
*Ticking Liam more often. His little laugh is contagious and makes me smile every time!
*Going on date nights with my hubby, even if it just involves ordering a pizza and renting a Redbox movie after the kids go to bed! When this little girl gets home, it will upset our apple cart again just like it did when Liam arrived into the family "routine". We are trying to get in some good "together time" before our lives are turned upside down once again.
*I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually going to do some canning and freezing this summer. It's a pain in the grits, but we sure enjoy the results over the winter. Love me some homemade pasta sauce and canned green beans!
*FUNDRAISING! (I know, I know...you're totally shocked!) We have to raise another $11,000. Like within the next 2 months. NO stress or anything. I have been assured over and over the the Lord is ABLE to provide all that we need and MORE! We are standing firm on that promise as we remain faithful, prayerful, obedient and trudge on! God brought us to this, surely He will bring us though it!
*Getting a head start on Halloween costumes and Christmas shopping. I have to. Don't judge.
*Setting up a daily chore list for the kids...all 4 of them. This OCD momma is gonna need some serious help around the house more than ever!
*Unsubscribing to all unnecessary marketing emails. Every time the computer "bings" at me with a new email, I have a mini-panic attack inside that it may be some important message from our adoption agency. So, my thought is: Less emails = less heart attacks. Problem solved.
Oh, and I can't forget....we've started working on Emmajane's sweet little bedroom. Wanna see a quick peek?
Many of you have asked when we are going. The simple answer is: We don't know. It all depends on when that crazy important LOA (letter of approval) arrives. We could travel as early as September and as late as November. Who knows. This is the stuff that drives me crazy! Off to take a deep breath and chip away at that "to-do" list.....
