As I crossed over the Alabama state line into Florida, fields of green space on either side, I couldn't help but burst into tears.
Read moreJune Adoption Update
Ready. Set. Reset.
It's been a while since we've sent an email. Partly this has been because we haven't had an update and partly because we've been praying that things would change and we'd have an update to give. Well, I'm happy to say that day has come, but we certainly couldn't have guessed that this is what God has in store for us. We are using this email as a kind of reset for us all - for you and for us.
Read moreDear Judah, You made me a mom
Dear Judah,
Sometimes I dream about opening my email. This is task that I do literally 500 times a day and typically doesn't seem like that big of a deal. There will be a day, though, that it's the biggest deal of all. I dream of getting a call, being instructed to open my email, and then I dream of seeing your sweet face.
Read morePsalm 63
Source
Six summers ago I traveled to a camp in Alabama as a 'leader' for youth group camp. I was in college and thought I was going to be teaching middle schoolers and high schoolers about the bible. I don't know what kind of impact I had on them, but God surly used that week to grow me and prepare me for the life that lay ahead of me.
Read moreUgh, I hate waiting!
I realize that's an unconventional title, but if I had to describe my mood for the last three months, this would be it: I HATE WAITING. I've had a bad attitude, I'll admit, but I haven't been able to kick it. Ever since we got the news about the new waiting list and the delay, I've had a bad attitude. My heart hurts, and my heart is tired of waiting.
Read moreMissing Our Child
Yesterday I was listening to my favorite podcast and the host was interviewing a mom who is waiting for a referral from the Philippines and who has been in the process for four years. Sometimes it's hard to listen to people talk about their experiences because every adoption experience is different and it's difficult to not compare our experience to someone else's.
Read moreAdoption Update: January 2016
Happy New Year! We probably shouldn't say this, but we;re not too sad to see 2015 behind us! It was a good year for the most part, but God really stretched us as He worked in our hearts through new mercies that were completely unforeseen to us. We look forward to 2016, hoping and praying that maybe this is the year. We doubt we'll be able to travel to Ethiopia twice and bring home Judah in the next 361 days, but we are hopeful that we will have a referral by 2017. Of course, that's definitely a hope, and as we have learned over the past few years, nothing is guaranteed or set in stone in the world of adoption.
Read moreTwo Less
It would seem that everything in the world is trying to prevent me from getting this blog post out into the world of cyber space and into the hearts and minds of you, our friends. I began this post three times this morning, and all three times my post was deleted as an unexpected "refresh" occurred. After a few minutes chatting with the help desk of SquareSpace, I ended up downloading Google Chrome, abandoning Safari, and beginning again only to be called away a few minutes later by a barking dog. Because of this, you're welcome to use the words "morning" and "night" interchangeably in the next few paragraphs, as I am finally sitting down to write at 11:27pm, with clothes in the wash and a timer set to switch them over in half an hour. Oh, and my alarm clock is set for 5:00am. I will surely be jacked up on coffee this weekend!
Read moreAdoption Update: Christmas 2015
A Hole of Hope
Merry Christmas! We must admit, this is one of the more difficult updates that we've written for our adoption. Today marks the two year anniversary of beginning the process of adopting from Ethiopia. We had high hopes that this would be the year we were able to announce that we're bringing our son home, or that we have a referral, or something. But this is not that update, and this is not that year.
Read moreOne Heart: A Guest Post by my Mom
God is so gracious. He continues to provide in the details of our lives and we are so undeserving. Yesterday we found out that there were no referrals this month, so we are still #12 on the waiting list. I have to admit that I felt a little like I'd been been kicked in the gut. We've been praying for a referral by the end of the year, and yesterday made that previously seemingly achievable hope seem less likely. Well, boo. Of course we know that God is not bound by a waiting list, and that all things work together in His timing. We know this, but it's hard.
Read moreDaddy Dates
I'm as much of a daddy's girl as I am a mommy's girl. And I'm as much of a mommy's girl as I am a daddy's girl. I have fantastic parents. As an adult, I look back on my childhood and I have so much respect and admiration for how they raised my sisters and me. But if I'm honest, I had the same opinion growing up (except for a few times here and there as a teenager when I thought I knew more than they did). I've always known my parents were good at their job, and I've always looked forward to trying to emulate their parenting skills.
Read moreWaiting List Update: October 2015
Happy Fall!
We are now #12 on the waiting list!!
We are beyond thrilled for the movement that happened in September - TWO referrals, which means two children have been matched with their forever families. As we get closer to receiving our referral, it has begun to feel much more real.
Waiting List Update: August 2015
Get a paper bag, I'm starting to hyperventilate. We. Are. So. Close.
We are now #14 on the waiting list.
Read moreSometimes I Stare
I'm currently reading a book called, Everything You've Ever Wanted. I highly recommend reading it if you're adopting, know someone who's adopting, or maybe want to adopt someday. It's very real - the pretty and the not-so-pretty. I love the honesty.
Read moreWaiting List Update: June 2015
With every passing month, these updates get more and more fun to write.
We are now #17 on the waiting list.
Read morePregnancy Dreams
A few nights ago I had what can only be described as a 'pregnancy' dream.
And for all of you who are now wondering, no, I am not pregnant.
Read moreGiving Away my Birthday
You guys, the waiting list is moving FAST! We just found out that we are now #21!!!! That's literally insane! I don't even know what to do with myself. I just called my mom and she said, "Jessica, you're about to be a MOM and I'm about to be a GRANDMA!" Wow, things are getting real.
Read moreWorking in our Waiting
It has been 470 days since we turned in our application for adoption.
It has been 258 days since our home study was finalized.
It has been 167 days since we officially got on the waiting list.
In case you're curious, a pregnancy is somewhere in the 270-ish day range.
Waiting List Update
We are so excited to update everyone and tell you that we've officially moved to #24 on the waiting list! YAY!
Read moreDo you have children?
This morning I went to the post office to mail off a Mary Kay order. I usually go to the post office in the area where I work, which is a more urban area of Birmingham. I love it there. There's a man who sits outside and opens the door for me and everyone who walks inside. The guy who works the morning window knows my name and that I work at Grace House. It's got a small town feeling, but yet, it's not. Also, I love that they'll tape up my boxes for me without charging me extra! I used to go to the Homewood Post Office and they'd always make me either buy tape for $4, or use the Priority tape, then I'd have to pay extra postage. Anywhoo...
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