Adoption Update

So hopefully I will be able to keep this quick and short. We got a phone call today from the agency that we are going through to adopt and they said that while they would normally have their social workers do the home study for us, since Jeral's sister works at the agency they feel it would be best to contract the home study out to another adoption agency based in Kelowna and then transfer the home study to Sunrise when it is finished. This is to avoid any conflict of interest and to protect some of our family privacy. Not that there is anything private about the adoption process. The Sunrise worker said that hopefully we will have everything figure out by Monday, and then Jeral and I are hoping that by the end of the week we will have had one home study visit. Here is hoping!

I must admit that I had some trouble this past week. I began to let worry get the best of me. I was sitting with Joy and I started crying because I am afraid that a complete stranger may decide that we will not be good parents, and then our journey to parenthood is over. At least from my perspective. I think if we had one child already I would not think about this as much. We just want to grow our family of two to a family of 3 or 4, and this whole journey is one in which we have to hand over control to others. I am glad that Joy was there she was a great source of comfort and a reminder that no mater what future I might be tempted to predict God is still going to be holding us.

The Things He Says

So tonight Jeral and I went out on a cheap date as we like to call dates like this. We shared a sub at Subway, and then we went and had coffee at Starbucks and played to games of crib at Starbucks. He won the first game and I won the second. I am not accustomed to loosing crib games to Jeral so he was rather smiley when he won!!!!

After we came home and just relaxed. Jeral began reading the guide his sister gave us to our Home study that will be starting hopefully soon. The guide basically out lines all the questions we will be asked and the topics we will need to think about and discuss a head of time.

When Jeral got to question that dealt with how he would describe his spouse he at first struggled with the wording of the question, so I asked him what about me did he like? What did he find attractive in me and why did he want to go out with me?

So first answer and bare with me my husband is older (43 to be exact and yet very cute)! He said I was young and he did not want to be alone anymore so that is why he asked me out. Okay now how would you respond to that if you were the wife hearing that. I just laughed, because I know the truth is my being younger was something he liked, and secondly I knew he was lonely. So I let the answer slide and took it for what it was.

About 10 minutes later Jeral said, "Okay you want to know why I asked you out?" I said yes, and Jeral said,"because you are beautiful and that is why I asked you out!" I do not think I will ever grow tired of hearing Jeral tell me I am beautiful. For me this was a reminder that sometimes when we feel least beautiful others see a beauty that we cannot see. I am so thankful to have such a fantastic husband, who yes sometimes says stupid things, and yet a few minutes later will say something that melts my heart all over again, and I am reminded of how blessed I am!

My Nephew

This is Sophia, Tyson, and me! When I sat down to hold Tyson, and Sophia would have nothing to do with me holding another child, so she climbed right up into my lap and wanted in on the action. She was adorable with Tyson, and I felt just like a mom holding both of them! One day!!!!

So here is a picture of my amazing little nephew with his amazing uncle Jeral. Jeral looked like a natural holding Tyson. I know my hubby will make a great Father in the future!

Just Wondering

So tonight Jeral came in from the barns/shop and asked how my day was?

I was very proud of myself for all I seemed to accomplish. I had done some laundry, done the dishes, put up all the pictures on the new fridge, worked on the online education course for the adoption process, written thank you cards for those who are going to be our references etc, and I also went to the gym and worked out for an hour, plus made a super yummy supper.

Yet despite my being proud there was almost this look of that is all you did today? Yeah and I am super excited that I got all that done despite not feeling motivated to do anything except read for my own pleasure!!!!! Anyways just wondering if any other wives sometimes feel as though compared to their husbands they do not do a s much.

Please hear me I have an amazing husband, who loves and values everything I do, and I love and appreciate everything he does for me! None the less I am still curious!

A Step Closer

So Jeral and I were in Vancouver this past week and we have filled out the application form to adopt a child. So a new journey begins. We are excited about this next step of the journey. We know that this is all in God's hand and we are learning a lot about trust.

I am also embarking on something new, and that is Spiritual Direction. I am still seeing my counsellor and have no plans on stopping that journey anytime soon. In many ways Joy is a Spiritual Director because she is always pointing me back to Jesus/God etc. Yet with where I am at I looking forward to embarking on this journey with the direction of another Godly woman. It looks like we will meet every 3 to 4 weeks. She is here in Armstrong and free so that is an added bonus because Spiritual Directors often charge about $60 an hour. With all the adoptions fees we are not in a place to add to many extra expenses. Especially since we had to replace our Fridge and Dishwasher today! However I am excited to have a new fridge and dishwasher, they are stainless steel.

BELOVED

So this is my new tattoo! It is a little bigger than I originally planned for it to be, and it cost a whole lot more than we originally planned for. Oiy! However with that being said I love my new tattoo. I love it because there is so much meaning behind me getting this tattoo.

So this was my reward for loosing 50 pounds, however I only did it after loosing just over 60 pounds. I was waiting with the hopes of getting pregnant and yet to no avail, so I decided I could wait my whole life for something that may never happen, or I can just do it! So I went and got it.

What I love the most is how the word BELOVED stands out. It is way bigger than I originally planned and yet Jesus reminded me that I am not just His beloved a little bit, I am his beloved A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The whole journey that God has had me and Jeral on for the last two years, has been so I would understand and get that I am His BELOVED, and that is really what matters.

So yeah once again I am inked!!!!!!

I have a New Nephew

So last night at 11:50 pm my sister gave birth to a little boy. They named him Tyson Mark MacVoy. We are waiting to go see them until we go on holidays to Vancouver. I will take pictures and post them when we get home.

DOCTORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So once again I called to schedule a test that was supposed to be done back in September when I had surgery and once again the Doctor is away, and the hospital only allows the test to be done on one specific day during the week. Just frustrated and wondering when I will finally get the answers we have been looking to find.

On other news Jeral and I are going to Vancouver next week. We are filling out the application forms to begin the adoption process. More to come after we get back in a week!

Blessings, Leanne