Heart Strings

            One week later, after the young pros ministry, a big group decides to go eat at IHOP.  My sweet friend, Megan and I are excited to finally be getting plugged in and meeting new people.   We sit down, order our food and enjoy getting to know the people around us.  About 30 minutes in to the meal walks that guy from the pumpkin carving party.  He squeezes in just one seat away from me.  We all eat and laugh and have a good time.  As we leave, that guy asks us what our plans are for the weekend.  Megan and I shrug and he invites us to a party.  He asks for one of our numbers so that he can send details and I blurt out mine is xxx-xxxx.  (sidenote: I am not a bold person, not at all). 

            Friday rolls around and Megan and I attend a benefit event she has tickets for and decide to head over to the party after.  We socialize with everyone and have a good time.  That guy and I have a good conversation, but it’s short and sweet.  Then we all play that guy’s favorite game; the question game.  It’s a game where you sit in a circle and ask hypothetical questions and everyone goes around and answers. Questions like “what’s your biggest regret.”  Turns out that guy wants to play this game so he can get to know me better and ask deep questions fast without seeming like a creeper.  Before we leave the party, that guy asks what I am up to tomorrow and invites me to a going away party for one of his friends.  I feel a little hesitant to go to a going away party for a person I don’t know, but he assures me there will be lots of people there, so I reluctantly say yes.  I ask my friend Katie if she’d like to come along.  At this point in the game, I think he is cute and funny, but I’m not sure if he’s in to me or is just being friendly.

            Saturday night rolls around and Katie and I head to the party.  I bring along my “book of questions” because I really think that guy will like it.  The party is fun and there is lots of yummy food.  There are some awkward moments, like when they ask everyone to gather and tell their favorite memories of Matt (the man of honor for the going away party).  Umm… I don’t know Matt?  But luckily it never comes around to me.  What I do notice is what a strong community there is here.  People who really love, support, and push each other.  I’ve been looking for a community like this and I am excited to see it here. 

I have some really good conversations with that guy and tell him I brought this book I have called, “the book of questions.”  Since I left it in the car, we decide to go grab it.  Once we get to the car he says, want to go for a walk?  I say yes and off we go.  We spend the next 2 hours walking and talking about the Lord, our plans for the future, our dreams.  We even lay in the road (don’t worry, we were in a quiet neighborhood) and gaze at the stars and dream.  It’s crazy and it’s magical and I have butterflies.  Our dreams and goals are so similar and my mind is racing thinking, is this guy really who he says he is?  Because I’ve met some guys who seem to say all the right things are turn out to be real jerks.  It’s such a great conversation and I wish we could just talk all night, but I am feeling really guilty for leaving my friend Katie behind and so we decide to head back to the party.  Just before we reach the door, he stops and asks if I’d like to go on a date with him sometime?!?  I am taken back big time!  I am definitely super interested, but I just didn’t expect him to ask so soon.  Turns out he has planned to ask me out the whole night and even had some guys pray with him before we go for a walk… all details I am oblivious to, but find out about later.  We agree to go out Monday night. 

            I go home on cloud 9.  Did he seriously just ask me out?  Is this “the one”?  I mean it could be?  My mind is racing and I am freaking out… what am I going to wear?!?

Series disclaimer:  You are getting the highlight reel.  Our love story was truly special and such a sweet time.  But, let’s get real… We don’t always get along.  In fact, right now I may or may not be glaring at that guy across the living room because of an earlier argument.  Just want to keep it real :) 

Adoption Update 

The past few weeks have been filled with lots of excitement and movement forward!  We received our profile books and sent them off to several agencies last week.  This means we could get matched at any time!!

You may be wondering how the process works...  The agencies that receive our profile will contact us with available adoption situations. In the email, they attach information about the expectant mom, her due date, medical/social history and her preferences for the level of openness for the adoption.  It also contains a breakdown of fees.  We are able to review the information and pray about whether or not we would like to have her view our profile. The expectant mom will then review several profiles and choose which family she would like to parent her baby. 

Also, because we are working with an adoption consultant, she sends us several situations weekly to consider.  We have already received situations in the last few weeks.  However, most fees were more than what we have in savings at this time.  

Fees vary anywhere from $20,000-$40,000.   You might wonder why there can be such a big range in fees and I had that same question myself.  The fees for situations vary depending upon the state the adoption takes place in and what the agency working with the expectant mom charges.  Fees go toward things like the expectant mother’s medical expenses, to counseling she receives before and after birth, to the lawyers who work to finalize the adoption.  There so many people involved in the process and each deserves reimbursement for their services.  

We are so excited to finally be at this place in the process and ask for your prayers and we consider situations and continue presenting.  This stage of the process is an emotional roller coaster, as we read about potential situations and decide whether to present.  We recently presented to a situation over the weekend and just found out we were not chosen.  It’s tough y’all.  Like really tough.  And I am sure there will be many more no’s before we hear that YES.  It's just hard not to get emotionally attached to potential situations.  Pray for our hearts during this time!

We are so thankful for your continued prayers and support and we move forward to this new stage in the process!  We are getting closer!!! 

After ending a relationship, finishing graduate school and starting my first big girl job, the crazy whirlwind of life changes were finally settling

and I was adjusting to my new ‘normal’

It’s October, and I’m feeling settled.  I’m meeting new people at my new church and I’m starting to make a few friends

One of these friends is connected in the young professionals ministry and I tell him I’m looking to get plugged in.  He invites me to a pumpkin carving party

I meet a bunch of new people and sit down to start carving my pumpkin

then this loud, funny guy catches my attention

I’m secretly laughing at his jokes in my head

And might be crushing a little bit from afar

A few minutes later, he is looking for a corn hole partner and I boldly volunteer myself

I single handedly lose the game

But, turns out he’s crushing a little too

I head back over to finish carving my pumpkin and end up getting stuck

in an awkward conversation

I don’t know how to get out of the conversation, so I smile and nod

I’m feeling a little bummed that I didn’t get to chat with that funny guy some more

But, I’m excited about all the new people I’ve met

Later that night, I go home and facebook stalk that cute guy

Turns out, he’s facebook stalking me too  

October is my favorite month

i love the weather, changing leaves, layered clothing, chilly nights, football, and everything pumpkin

it’s also the month that I met the love of my life

then one year later (almost to the day) married

in honor of my favorite month I am going start a little mini series called,

Our Love Story

you see, I love our love story

from the day we met

to the day we said I do

it was such a precious time

a true gift from the God

and so in honor of my favorite month I figured I’d share our love story with whoever reads our little corner of the internet 

Stay tunned…

This last season of life has certainly had its ups and downs.  Our adoption journey has been an emotional roller coaster and in the moments when we are in a valley it’s easy to question God’s goodness. Over the last year, we’ve faced a lot of trials and there have been days when I’ve wondered if He was even hearing my prayers. It’s so easy when things aren’t going the way we think they should to doubt.

But, what I’m being reminded of is...

even though I don’t have all the answers

even when things aren’t happening in my timing

that HE is still good

So if...

this adoption process never ends

or we never have the funds

or the long list of “ifs”

I can trust that HE is still good

The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. – Lamentations 3:25