Merry Christmas 2009

CHRISTMAS 2009

GO TO MY FACEBOOK PHOTO ALBUM

The Nursery is ready ... but still waiting on our baby

Facebook Album of Nursery Pictures

Check out our yard

We did some major yard work last weekend!

Facebook Photo Album: Yard Project June 2009

Social Security Info, in case you're interested

Recent news media stories are highlighting information from the Congressional Budget Office that projects beneficiaries may not see COLA increases for the next three years because of the current economic slump. This coverage is causing a spike in inquiries. Furthermore, the Social Security Trustees will issue a report this week mentioning the potential likelihood of no COLA this year.

However, Social Security will not have information available about the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2010 until October 2009. By law, we generally adjust benefits payable each January based on the increase in inflation from one year to the next. Specifically, the Bureau of Labor Statistics measures the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the 3^rd quarter of one year to the 3^rd quarter of the next year. If there is no CPI increase, there is no COLA. Until the CPI data is available in mid-October 2009, we cannot determine if there will be an automatic COLA this year.

If there is no COLA:

• The Social Security contribution and benefit base (maximum taxable earnings) will not increase.
• The retirement earnings exempt amounts will not increase.
• The law will protect most current Medicare beneficiaries from seeing decreases in their Social Security benefits from any increase in the 2010 Medicare Part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) premium.

Job Hunting

Nope, not me.  I suppose I'll retire from SSA, and I do really appreciate how fortunate I am to have a great government job! (-:

Ben found out a few weeks ago on a Monday that he was losing his job effective that Friday.  So, he's in full time job hunting mode now.  He's a financial analyst with a MBA from Emory and some great job experience.  

We're really grateful for Dave Ramsey's plan, and feel quite fortunate that when Ben got laid off, we were already debt free except the house and pretty close to getting to our emergency fund goal.  So, we've redone the budget and made some cuts, but we think we'll be ok for a good while.  In the meantime, though, feel free to let Ben or I know of any job leads for him! (-:

Our Bethany online portfolio is posted...

Check out our Online Portfolio

It isn't as fancy as our printed portfolio (see link below), but all of Bethany's online portfolios follow the same strict format.   Feel free to look around the Bethany site to learn more about the nonprofit Christian agency we are using.

We are officially approved and waiting, so if you know anyone interested, the easiest way for them to contact Bethany about us would be to use this online link.   Even if they haven't talked to anyone about an adoption plan yet, Bethany Christian Services has wonderful counselors to help the birth mothers make the right decision for them and to aid them in any way that may be needed.   

Also, yes, we are approved for interstate adoptions, so anywhere in the US is just fine! (-:

The Portfolio is finished!

CHECK OUT OUR ADOPTION PROFILE

I've made a few minor corrections, but this is pretty close to the final one.

We're Official

Ben and I are officially an approved, waiting family with Bethany Chistian Services.

Beautiful

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER 
By Maya Angelou 

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ 
That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living,' 
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.' 

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride. 
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. 

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong. 
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on. 

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success. 
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. 

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect, 
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it. 

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain... 
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name. 

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou, 
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow! 

HOME VISIT COMPLETE

Well, our house is ready to show for selling on the market.  But it isn't for sale....  Just got it ready for Linda and Louis' visit as well our adoption home visit.  Looks great, if you ask me.  I'd buy it!  (-:

We had our home visit with Stacy, our Bethany Adoption Counselor this afternoon.  It lasted a little less than an hour and a half.  Mostly we went through forms and she asked questions to finish the interview process.  She stated she expects to have the approval finalized in the next few weeks.  Apparently Elizabeth, our prior adoption counselor, had done a lot of work on our case before moving to a different office and that will help Stacy move things right along.  Thanks so much for your prayers of support both for the home visit and for expeditious processing of our approval!  Stacy also seemed to think our openness options were pretty open, and the plus side of that is that could mean a little less wait for a baby as our profile can be shown to more prospective birth mothers.

So, overall, it was a very positive experience!  Thanks again for your prayers and we'll keep you updated on what's going on.

Georgia Snow

We got some great snow today, and I had fun taking some outside pictures....

click here to see my facebook photo album

Adoption & Burglary Updates

Well, the Child Protective Services Check from Maryland FINALLY came back!!!  Looks like our home visit will be during the first week of March.  Our adoption profile draft is done and we are just waiting on any feedback from our adoption counselor, so once we're approved, we'll be ready to get it "out there" asap!

We replaced all we are going to replace and documented the proof several weeks ago.   The burglary was at the end of August, so we're relieved that our part should finally be DONE!  Just waiting on the last payment once the adjuster looks over all of our stuff....  they would only pay us a certain amount called the actual cash value until we had proof of spending over and above that amount with actual replacements for stolen items.  You can imagine we're anxious to get that last check.... but it shouldn't be too long now.

I continue to favor Facebook to blogger these days.  Sorry about that for my friends and family who aren't on Facebook.  It's a lot of fun, so you should give it a try!  I've been walking with a friend from elementary and high school (as it turns out, I moved into her neighborhood!).  I had lunch with another friend from Elementary school yesterday, and I am looking forward to a CHS band mini-reunion in about a month.  I've also found a few friends who have gone through or are going through adoption also.  What fun to reconnect with dear friends and people from so long ago!

Added a few pictures just for fun.  Our kitties are just adorable, aren't they?  And below is a picture of my family from my birthday dinner a few weeks ago... Ben took the picture, so he's not in it. (-:

Calphalon for Sale - GREAT DEALS!

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/hsh/1025237944.html (household items)

Anyone interested in some Calphalon at a great price?

Kitty Cat Photos

I took some cute photos of Lucy and Baxter:

facebook album: Lucy & Baxter

Wow! They caught OUR burglar!

We were broken into at the end of August, and figured we'd never see our stuff again.  But the Dekalb County Police apprehended our guy!  We were going to meet the detective tonight to retrieve what's left of our stuff, however he had to reschedule for tomorrow.  But we recognized some of things in this video.....  you guys thought I was kidding about the rubbermaid containers?  Both blue and gold colored ones right there... also think I saw some missing remotes, Ben's super old Mac, and a TiVo unit that was ours. ... 

here's the link to the TV News Stories

WSBTV SERIAL BURGLAR

CBS 46

Adoption Waiting

Ben and I met with our adoption counselor last week, and we have FINALLY turned in EVERY last bit of paperwork needed, as well as complied with the requested "hoops" that we were asked to jump through.  It was hard stuff to hear, but they are steps to help us have the happiest, healthiest home possible for our future baby, so it has been good in the long run.  I had hoped that we'd have our home visit before Christmas, but Bethany is waiting on some background check stuff from Maryland which might take a bit longer.  At any rate, we're ALMOST ready for that home visit and it's time to get our profile ready (again -- it was lost on the computer the burglars took!) so we're starting to see a little light for the end of the approval stage.  Once the counselor comes out for our home visit, she's supposed to have us officially approved for adoption within a month and at that point we will be officially waiting.

Waiting, of course, will be a whole new kind of experience.  It's not quite the same as being pregnant and knowing a due date, because it is a guarded anticipation.   But we'll be waiting for a birth Mom to choose our profile, then for the baby to be born, and then for the 10 day period she has to change her mind to pass.... and then, if that baby doesn't work out, waiting for it to happen all over again.  And if we happen to be chosen by a birth Mom that didn't make her adoption plan and suddenly has a baby to give up then I suppose it could all be pretty surprising and sudden.  Just never know what God will have in store for us.  Might take a few months, might take a few years.  At any rate, I'm getting excited at the anticipation of getting to a new stage of beginning our family.  And I'm going to try to leave the timing to God, as I know His plan is a perfect one, but sometimes that is easier said than done. (-:

Where did 2008 go?

HOW is 2008 already drawing to a close?  Wow, that one went super fast!  Guess we stayed busy with changing jobs, selling a house, buying a house, moving, adoption process, and a burglary.  But, gosh.   It's like I woke up after missing months of time, yet I was here for all of it!  Am I alone here?  Anyone else wondering what happened to 2008?

The Ride

When I talk about being on "The Ride", people always ask me what it is.  It's hard to sum up, but I'd say that it is an amazing small group experience, where we get to be a part of a safe community while discovering our own individual journey on our path toward a closer, more intimate relationship with God.  A place where we explore, discuss, and learn all about what "Christ in me" looks and feels like.  Where we learn about our flesh, learn to accept it for what it is, and practice loving others who are working through their own stories while we work through our own.  There is amazing, biblical, grace-filled teaching.  We have mentors to help us figure out the confusing parts.  We share a weekly meal, get to know one another, and learn to love ourselves through loving one another.  We are real, we are open, and we are vulnerable.  Yet, we are safe.  We get to be creative, even when some of us don't see ourselves as creative.  "The Ride" has changed my life.  Not just my church life, but my life.  My marriage is better, I appreciate each day more, I appreciate other people more, and I am learning not to expect too much from myself.  Life is not about what I accomplish or what I do and don't do.  Instead, I'm learning that it is a lot less work, but a lot more rewarding, to just sit back and watch God do His thing through me.  Moment by moment, decision by decision, day by day.

Reflections from The Ride

Dear God,

I offer myself to you.  Help me to be aware of my flesh, and instead choose you.  Help me to remember that my flesh is NOT me.  I am merely a battleground, except I get to pick sides.  Help me to let you live through me, moment by moment.

GAL 5: 9 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

GAL 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. 

GAL 5: 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his flesh, from that nature^[a^]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

ROM6  11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

How amazing is it that acts of the flesh are hard work, and not fun but allowing you to live in me is not work?  It’s a done deal and I don’t have to keep working on earning my salvation.  I became a new creation all at once, and that is that!  Help me to move away from performance based acceptance of my myself and others, and instead to know my identity in you.

God, help me see others and myself as you see us: PERFECT AND BLAMELESS.  There is no condemnation, but there is a way to live in grace.

Thanks be to God!  You rock!