Thursday, March 28, 2013

7 Quick Takes



--- 1 ---

Ohhhh, my goodness, what a week!! We moved last weekend and I still exhausted. We are loving the new house. The girls have a back yard to play in now and it's glorious! Although, it has come with some necessary guidelines, like, no, you cannot go outside at 7:45 am because you are too stinking loud and neighbors don't need to hear that.

--- 2 ---

Yesterday, the kids in Lily's class did their version of Stations of the Cross. It was SO sweet. I love that they do and know the stations.

--- 3 ---

Getting paperwork done for the adoption has been so obnoxious. I don't understand most of these forms, and they are a total pain to get done. Our doctor won't fill out a form, and so far, I have been unsuccessful in finding one that will. Among everything else, I'm going to lose it.

--- 4 ---

Here's a pic of the littlest ones resting after playing outside for hours.


--- 5 ---


--- 6 ---

I saw "Stuck" last Friday. It was amazing. If you have not seen it, look at their tour schedule and go to one of the events. The event itself is worth it. If you can't get to an event, at least sign the petition and consider buying a copy.



--- 7 ---

Our BIG, HUGE, GIGANTIC giveaway starts Monday!! Be on the lookout!! You won't want to miss it.

Easter is my favorite time of year. I am so blessed to be in a Church that glorifies Jesus for what he did for us. Hope you all have a blessed Easter!


For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
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Thursday, March 21, 2013

7 Quick Takes Friday!



--- 1 ---

If you are in the Phoenix area, the Stuck Documentary is playing at Harkins Shea. Here is the Facebook event. Be there!!


If you are not in Phoenix, they are traveling the US and you can also buy it online to watch at home. 


--- 2 ---

We have a big weekend ahead. I don't want to share publicly yet, but we'll be busy and then have Palm Sunday, too!! Easter is almost here, can you believe it?!

--- 3 ---

Thursday was World Down syndrome Day. Here are my favorite little guys with Down syndrome:


What's not to love?
Did you know that 90% of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome in the womb are aborted? Even Eastern Europe doesn't do that, because they feel late term abortion is inhumane. I believe all abortion is inhumane, but still, interesting how they have no place in society for them, yet do, at very least, honor their right to life.



--- 4 ---

I had a very vivid dream last night about Nico and woke up very sad. I'm guessing this is all part of the grief process, but it's been really hard.


--- 5 ---

One of my sweet friends is having a Scentsy party and giveaway for us on her blog! Please check it out. We are seriously going to be going to meet sweet "Colton" in just a couple months, so we really have to get this fundraising back on track!

Heartbreak to Hope Fundraiser

--- 6 ---

Love, love, love!!!!

--- 7 ---

April 1st is my sweet Lily's 5th birthday. We will also launch our BIG giveaway, so check back for that info soon!


For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

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Monday, March 18, 2013

My heart hurts

The past few days have been really rough. We've had trouble with getting papers signed, trouble with family, and now it is looking like we will move soon, if we can find a place, that is...

I check the page with Nico's pictures every day. I knew there would be new pics soon. But today, after the weekend I had, oh it broke my heart. I cried off and on all day.




I am so glad he looks happy. He has a year or 2 left at the babyhouse, and for that I am grateful. But all I want is him in my arms. Or heck, for him to be with his biological parents. How I hope they see these new pictures and take him home.


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Saturday, March 16, 2013

7 Quick Takes - a day late

Holy cow, this has been one heck of a week!!!
1.
Last Friday we went and test drive a '99 Suburban and pretty much decided we'd buy it. Then Monday another guy Kyle works with says he's also selling a Suburban, only it's $1500 cheaper, 3 years newer, and has 20k less miles. So, we'll wait a couple weeks until he's ready to sell it and buy that one instead. It is *SO* pretty. God is SO good to us. I had been praying for a resolution to our car issue and finally decided to give it to Him. Lo and behold, 2 Suburbans to choose from? Amazing. Now we just need to sell our van, and we will have actually come out ahead on the deal. It's like a trade up for a profit!! More space?! AHHH!!

2.

Friday after the test drive we drove down to Ikea. We needed a bed badly, ours was 10 years old and so uncomfortable. It took us forever to get there due to traffic, we spent 2.5 hours inside, then it took us forever to get home because it was pouring rain. Then the truck we had borrowed got stuck in the mud. My poor husband...

3.

Saturday I took the girls for haircuts and we tried to cover Lily's self hack job. It didn't really work.

4.

Monday I got up and took Amelia to school then went over to a friend's house. While I was there, my phone kept going off and I reached down to turn it off. I glanced at the messages and I see that we were given the go ahead to commit to "Colton" on RR. Within minutes, he was on MFFM and our FSP. My message inbox started to explode and I could barely answer them because I didn't want to be a rude houseguest. It was total craziness. It was a whirlwind of a bittersweet day, and now I have lots of work to do!!!

5.

Tuesday was pretty low-key, thank goodness!! But Wednesday?! We have a new pope!! This is my first conclave since my conversion, and it was so exciting to watch. My eyes were glued to my phone watching a live stream of EWTN. When the smoke started they were like, "here's the smoke, it looks gray. Looks like it's going to be black...Gray.. It's WHITE!!" I started crying as the white smoke poured out and the tens of thousands of people started cheering. Oh, it was glorious. The guards, the band, and then the 45 or so minute wait, and out he came. I am so in love with our Church. How beautiful it is to see the successor of Peter thousands of years later, speaking humbly in Vatican city to so many faithful believers? *chills*

Adorable

6.

Thursday I got to meet my good friend Becki!! Man, I just adore her and her beautiful boys. I don't know why we didn't get pictures after spending two days together. They are still here, but I'm not sure I'll see them today and I'm bummed! I really wanted a pic. :( They leave for home tomorrow.

7.

We have a TON of fundraisers going on right now, so I'm going to plug my own orphans for #7 this week. :)

An auction



Plus, we still have our Amazon link, our bracelets, and lots of other things which you can find up on our "current fundraisers" tab.

Please pray for "Colton" and us, as we get all of the paperwork ready to rush over there! Pray for sweet Nico who deserves a family and is suffering due to stupid laws in his country. 

Happy weekend!

For more Quick Takes, check out Jen at www.conversiondiary.com 




Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Want Cute Pics of Colton?

I've got them!

But, I also have a grant that needs a little love after almost 3 months of being ignored.

So, here we go!

As I type this we are at $4,781.

I will reveal this picture when we reach $4,800:


Goal met!



I will reveal this one when we reach $4,900:


Goal met!!



And this one when we reach $5,000!



GOAL MET!!



Believe me, you want to see these precious pics!


Thank you all so much. Isn't he perfect?




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Monday, March 11, 2013

Bittersweet News

As much as this breaks my heart, there is another little love across the ocean that has spoken to our hearts and we are moving forward with his adoption. We will forever pray for and honor Nico as our son, and hopefully we will be able to bring him home someday, but right now, it is not possible.

Please check out our updated FSP. Expect a super awesome fundraiser and a few little ones coming your way. We are crunching numbers, but it looks like we will be very close to fully funded after our big fundraiser, so that's a big load off our shoulders.

http://reecesrainbow.org/46526/sponsormcintee

Prayers are always appreciated for Colton, Nico, and for all of us!

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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Pouring my Heart out

This week has been a rough on the adoption roller coaster. I want to put this all out there so that you all can understand what is going on with us.

News coming out of Nico's country does not look good. Even families who have met their kids are thus far not being allowed to continue. We are not even registered in his country yet, so I feel like we have to be done.

This breaks my heart in so many ways. We prayed for months about this, took the leap, and then all of this happened. I was told he was my son. That I was to stop being afraid and do it. But then sin prevailed in his country and he was used as a pawn. I'm not sure what else I can do.

We have 14 months until our homestudy expires, but waiting is getting to me. Patience is a virtue, yes, but how long do you hold on when your life needs to go on?

I love Nico with every fiber of my being. No matter what, we will still pray for him, and love him, and if in the future his country reopens and we can finally rush to him, we will.

We have not made any definitive choices yet. We are confused and heartbroken and scared and we are seeking council from our pastor.

I feel like we were so blessed with a supportive "Team Nico" that I fear that if we switch countries we will lose all of that.

Pray for us. For clarity. We need to know our path, what God is asking of us. Pray always for sweet Nico.


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Friday, March 1, 2013

7 Quick Takes Friday


--- 1 ---

This week was bittersweet, since we received our homestudy approval. Now we are sitting around trying to decide whether or not to get USCIS out of the way (almost $900), or just wait. Up until this point, the ban hadn't really been delaying our process. Now it is, and it hurts. Pray for us, for clarity.

--- 2 ---


--- 3 ---




--- 4 ---

Lily is convinced she will marry Robin from the 1966 movie. Haven't had the heart to break it to her that he hasn't aged well. Haha...



--- 5 ---

My husband is convinced that tomorrow would be a good day to IKEA to get our new mattress. Ours is super old and small, but IKEA on a Saturday... really? Pray for us. I'm not sure we'll make it out alive. Or married. ;)


--- 6 ---

I am finishing this up then going to make some waffles for my lovies. Which do you prefer? Waffles or pancakes? I love both, but waffles are my favorite for sure.

--- 7 ---

I'm getting irritated that this little love is still waiting. Is the world going to wait until he's on the brink of transfer and then finally snatch him up? Why not get him now so that he doesn't have to continue living a life of hell?

http://reecesrainbow.org/17838/dennis511

He's in an easy, fast, cheap country and is in a main city, so very easy travel. Are you his momma?

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
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