We're home!

We really enjoyed our visit with Linda and Louie, and we got to see our niece Taylor, our nephews Zachary and Brandon, as well as Ben's brother John and his wife Amy. I'll post a few pics soon.

We're home now. Kinda weird to come home to our new house.... but didn't take too long to get used to the idea. (-:

I got lots of my half of our adoption paperwork done on the plane ride home. Maybe I'll feel up to typing it all into the computer tomorrow. Maybe not, but I'm ready to be done with our part and into the waiting phase.

Well, even though my body thinks it's just 9:30, I still feel tired so off to bed for me!

BORING BABBLE...

Our cats really like their new house, I think. They have lots of room, not to mention stairs, where they can run and chase each other. And last night, Ben and I were watching TV and they just snuggled and snuggled with one another. They hadn't been snuggling as much once we got our old house de-cluttered and on the market. Maybe they could sense the stress and impending change. So happy they seem happy! They also have (at least) two random cats that show up at our sliding glass doors to peer in. Hysterical to watch them all try to sniff through the glass!

In the morning, we have our CPR certification class. One of those things potential adoptive parents have to do. Once that is done, we will have to work on our paperwork. There are lots of introspective questions to answer on long, individual questionnaires. I'm thinking I might take mine with us on our trip to Iowa over Memorial Day weekend to try to get a running start on it all. Then we'll have individual interviews with our adoption counselor, and then the last step before "just waiting" is to put together the profile all the prospective birth Moms will view.

Our house got cleaned today, and we had worked on getting boxes more in order earlier this week. We still have a long way to go, but it's starting to feel more comfortable. A lot of the boxes are books and files that just need to be put in their place in the office. I'm hoping to make progress on that and hanging all the towel bars, hooks, etc over my long weekend. I'm really hoping we won't move for at least 15 years... I'm not such a fan of this moving thing.

I only have to work 3 days next week and 3 days the week after. Monday is my regular off day, and then we leave for Iowa on Friday and fly back Monday evening. I took Tuesday off as well because I do lots better when I have a day at home after a vacation.

I'm looking forward to our trip to Iowa. We'll be visiting Ben's parents, and hopefully get to see a niece and nephews as well. Hadn't realized it, but I had only been to Iowa in the cold months. It should be neat to see it this time of year.

My new job is going very well. I had a performance review today that was very positive. In comparison to the office from whence I came, the new office is better managed, we (the claims representatives) have more time to work our work, and the overall positive morale in the office are all great improvements! Interesting news.... my prior boss (whom I did NOT particularly
like working under or with or around... ) announced her retirement. Sure hope they get someone positive and good down there in Morrow!

Talk at you later! Enjoy the weekend, y'all!

Mothers Day

Isn't it great that Mothers' Day celebrates all the awesome Moms out there? I know both my Mom and mother in law are incredible Moms, and deserve all the celebration, appreciation, and gifts they can get. And I have lots of girlfriends who are awesome Mothers. It's fun to watch friends learn to be Moms. You know, you knew them before they were ever married, then they got married, and now they have little ones....

It is a difficult day for a lot of people, though. Yesterday I was at Costco with about half of Atlanta. It was a zoo- especially in the flower section (the reason I personally was there). I saw a middle aged lady driving down the isle crying. I wanted to go to her and give her a hug, but resisted because I didn't know her from Eve and thought I should not invade her privacy. I understand, though. Mother's Day is really hard if you've lost your Mom recently, or if you've always hoped to be a Mom, only to find out that you aren't going to be able to have any kids. Worse yet, think about the almost Moms. Women who are mothers, but lost their babies before they were ever born.

In adoption class last Monday, they reminded us about an entirely different group of people to remember on Mother's Day. There are many, many birth Moms out there that chose life for their babies and then, out of love and graciousness, gave their babies up for adoption. No one gets to give them a card, a hug, or a even a thank you. They probably aren't comfortable standing up or getting a rose at church. But they are some of the best and least selfish Moms around.

I thank God today and everyday for the birth Mom of our future child or children. I pray that God loves her and takes care of her, and helps her know just how special she is. And I thank God in advance for the sacrifice she will have to make in a time of crisis in her life in order to chose life for her unborn baby.

Happy Mothers Day.... to all of the mothers, birth mothers, and adoptive mothers!

Settling In ... at least a little

Hi everyone.

I have finally been catching up on my sleep, so I am feeling much more myself. Our bed continues to be AWESOME and comfy, even in its new home. And we no longer have airplane noises to put us to sleep.

We got our new washer and dryer today. They're the neat new high energy front loading kind. We used consumer reports to decide which ones to get. We're already doing our first load. Also, the DISH network is here setting that up for us. Dad very generously gave us another of his HD flat screen TVs, so we're looking forward to some great TV viewing. No worries, Dad upgraded at his house, so he is not doing without. (-;

My computer is all hooked up now, and our office is coming together a little at a time. It is nice to have my desk in place and mostly set up. I can relax here! (-:

Thanks so much to our Lifegroup who came and helped us for a few hours on Wednesday evening... they unpacked some of our boxes for us.

Yesterday, Erika and my sister came by. My Mom has been helping a ton-- which included yesterday. We got my kitchen underway. I have so much kitchen stuff, though. It fit in my prior kitchen, but that was new construction. Having some issues in this 1970's house, but I expect to get some additional furniture to use as a pantry, so that will help a lot.

We'll get our kitty cats this evening.... Baxter is such a crazy and curious cat that it just hasn't been safe for him yet! We'll do a bit more kitty proofing and then go get them from Grammy and Grampy Julyan's!

communication breakdown

I haven't checked e-mail in days. Feels like an eternity! Ben got our Internet up last night, but I haven't set up my computer yet.

Also, our cell phones barely work at our new house -- oh, btw, we did close, move in, and finally got our power on. We slept here last night for the first time. Anyway, if you try our cell numbers and miss us, you can leave voicemail, but you may also want to try our new home phone! (-:

Well I am typing this on my iPhone, so I think that is as much updating as my Ambien influenced right pointer finger can take...

Call or come by! We have plenty of unpacking left should you find yourself with nothing to do...