Is this cute or what?  "Superman was adopted"

I finally feel like my feet are coming back down to the ground! We have been floating for days. The outpouring of love and encouragement has been overwhelming.  I told Moody on Tuesday that I wanted everyday to be like this- it just felt like a huge group hug!  He quickly reminded me that days like that weren't exactly "reality"!! 

God has blessed us with two precious kids! 

It is different from how we have pictured it from the beginning of this whole process. It didn't come via a referral from Wide Horizons, but through a different agencies waiting child list.  We are now in the process of adopting a beautiful little girl and her baby brother.  

The tomb is empty! He has risen, just as He said!

Ok, I give! The "keep the hair" outnumbered the "lose the hair". I am hoping he will smell the sweet taste of victory, and then shave in a ceremonial-peace-treaty-sort-of-way! I can still hope. :)

Please watch this short video that shows the difference that Hallmark and (RED) are making in the lives of these women in Mali. The wrapping paper and greeting cards that you purchase from Hallmark's product (RED) are literally changing lives. Good stuff!

This is my beloved, Moody.  The man of my dreams, and this is what he has looked like most of our married life. :)

This is Moody now.  We went to Colorado and he didn't shave, great by me, we were in the mountains!  He said he wanted to keep the scruff for a few extra days, again, fine by me.

Clearly there is nothing new on the adoption front, or I wouldn't be filling my time with opinion polls of Moody's facial hair. Praying this is the week!! :)

I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, and out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40: 1-3

This psalm begins with patient waiting and ends with a new song. There are many examples of waiting in Scripture. Simeon was one such man; he is described as "waiting for the Messiah." The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that "he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ." His waiting consisted of eager expectation. In Hebrew, the root word for wait is tiqvah which means hope or expectancy. Wait or qavah expresses the idea of "waiting hopefully." Simeon was waiting for the Messiah; we are waiting for the Messiah's return. Simeon is blessed after his long wait with the privilege of being able to hold and embrace Jesus in his arms. We have also been given that privilege as we receive Him as Lord.

Have you been crying out to the Lord for something? Have you been waiting for a long time for deliverance? Look up today and find hope in your God. Trust that He will come to you. May you be filled today with renewed hope and eager expectation in the Lord. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him (Lamentations 3:25). May you be filled with a new song of praise today!

My friend Gwen just sent this to me. She has a HUGE heart for orphans, and has been a rock to me through this process.  Take a moment to watch and let me know what you think.

This picture has little to do with this post. It was taken after the boys black belt test last spring, but I think a post looks better with a picture. :) Karate is mentioned below.

I was eating dinner at Tony's (local, family-friendly Italian restaurant) tonight with Hill, Avery, Issy and Jess (Moody is in Atlanta and Wick was at a birthday party--just in case you were keeping tabs) and a couple walked in carrying a precious little boy that I thought was probably adopted.

We started talking about karate because his son was wearing his Gi and my kids all go to the same studio. blah, blah, blah.....I asked them about their son as I was playing with his chubby little hands. He is 9 months old, from Guatemala and they have been home for three weeks.

I then did what any normal person would do in the middle of a crowded eating establishment after hearing that wonderful news---I BURST INTO TEARS- honest.

Michelle, (we exchanged names after my breakdown) :) sweet thing, gave me the biggest hug! When I finally pulled myself together and only half of the restaurant was staring at us, I told them that we were in the middle of an adoption from Ethiopia.

For all you Gladney families-- they live next door to Scott Brown. Their 5 year old son plays with the Brown's Ethiopian daughter all of the time. Isn't that cool? I apologized several times and they kept saying that it was ok and they knew how I felt. They were very encouraging and kind, but I'm sure questioned my sanity somewhat.......come on, who wouldn't?

I am a creature of habit and tend to not love change, but I am just plain giddy about my new blog make-over!  As we are quickly approaching 7 months of waiting for a referral (that originally we were told to expect a 1-6 mo wait), I am beginning to realize that my little rituals aren't working! 

Tomorrow marks a new chapter in the lives of those that attend Alexander Academy! Our dear Miss Stacy has left us. Actually her husband got a great job in New York and they moved last week. The kids are very sad, and we will all miss her dearly. She was such a blessing to us. She helped me t.r.e.m.e.n.d.o.u.l.y with our schooling. I will now take on the full responsibility of teaching a Kindergartener, 3rd grader, 4th grader and 5th grader! Oh, I'm having an anxiety attack just typing that now. :)

I am definitely feeling like my plate is full, but I am clinging to "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." I Cor 12:9-10....continuing to trust in Him for all things......school, referrals, schedules..........



We will miss you SAM!!!

I am also sorry to report that we have run out of paper chains:( My husband had the last guess of Feb. 26th. I laughed when he picked that date and unfortunately, I am not laughing now! So we had a fun little guessing game with no winner. BUMMER.