June 26, 2008
Victory
I realize this morning that in my post yesterday, it seemed as if I were going to share pictures of the swollen knee. I really was thinking pictures of the new house, so I apologize up front for that offense. Because really? who wants to see pictures of my swollen knee? Nobody, that's who.
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I got an email very late last night from the birthmother. Her attorney states the day was a "victory for us" (the words the birthmother used in her email). Now, it's more waiting, to find out what she wants us to do next. Our tentative plan involves traveling to her state in two weeks to meet her face to face, if that is what she wants. My ability to travel is eliminated in 18 days, plus, 14 day-advance purchase tickets are cheaper - so, we hope to hear something today regarding that.
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Please continue to pray for peace for all involved and that the Lord will work out the details.
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Until next time, God Bless You!
June 25, 2008
Please Pray!
We should know more today about what's going on in Rita's life - and how it will affect our family's future. Please pray for a favorable outcome to the actions being taken today. And also please pray for peace for everyone involved.
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On the moving front, I am busy packing and trying to get things organized for the move this weekend. I can't believe we have only 3 more nights in this house. It hardly seems real. Please pray that the swelling in my knee abates and allows me to function for the next 10 days or so until we are settled in the new place. I'd share pictures if my camera hadn't died last year. ugh.
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Please pray!!!!
June 19, 2008
Things that make you go hmmm...
I promise this blog won't turn into a space where I blast different companies for their policies and lack of service. That being said, I'm going to voice a complaint about Netflix. Swistle brought this to my attention, since I hadn't actually read the email from Netflix that is in my inbox. .
Our family has subscribed to Netflix for 5 years. We have been exceedingly happy with the ease of service. We have registered 6 mailing addresses with them and our movies have been a constancy in our crazy lives.
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And now, they are eliminating the feature that makes us happiest, the one which ensures Husband has movies he wants to watch, while I am sometimes sitting on a movie for a few months weeks before watching it and getting it back in the mail.
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I lodged a formal complaint with their customer service department and was assured that they are eliminating this family-friendly feature in order to better serve their customers. I explained that this is one of the key features that has kept us with them all these years. I don't know how they think they can better serve us by removing these peace-keeping profiles, but we'll wait it out and see.
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If this is something you are also unhappy with, I encourage you to pick up the phone and call their customer service number - it's on the website and on the bottom of their emails. I figure if they have enough customers crying boo, maybe they'll listen to how they can truly better service the ones who rent their movies from Netflix.
June 16, 2008
Make that three this morning!
Vonage makes me crazy.
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When our cable/internet company increased their rates and it was cheaper for us to bundle our phone service with them and cancel Vonage, that's what I tried to do.
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The first insult, Vonage would not release our home telephone number, so we were forced to change phone numbers. Then, when I tried to cancel our Vonage account, I was made to feel guilty for leaving a service that had really been fine for the year we'd had it. The guy on the phone said they'd give me two months free, then reduce my rate in order to make it more affordable in light of the increase in my cable/internet costs. He really wouldn't take no for an answer and I suppose I should have just bitten his head off, because that is what it just took now to finally (5 months later) have the darn service cancelled.
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To add insult to injury, they are charging us a cancellation fee (because we hadn't had our service for 24 months). As if paying for service that we weren't using wasn't enough for them. I am absolutely furious. Nobody should call me with bad news this morning because I just might yell at you.
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Ah, the phone is ringing.... good luck to whoever is on the other end.
Two in a day!
Our move date is quickly approaching and I need to put a list someplace where I won't misplace it. So, unfortunately, you are going to see my list, that is, the four of you who I love so much and you check in here....
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Pack:
My bedroom
My bathroom
Girls' bathroom
Girls' bedroom
Office/craft/disaster room
Dining Room
Living Room
Family Room - finish (Husband packed up the books on the bookshelves on Saturday)
Basement - finish (a friend and I spent two half days down there a couple weeks ago, so I don't have more than another half day of work down there)
Linen Closets
Kitchen
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Arrange for change of address:
Power
Cable
Bank
Credit Cards
Postcards - order
Postcards - mail
Mail
Cell Phone
Doctors offices
Water
Cleaning Whiz
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Cancel:
Newspaper
Lawn Service
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Things to Schedule:
Surgery Pre-op
Home Study
Trip to meet Rita
Carpet Cleaning
and Final Clean of old house
Moving Help
Movers for things like piano and appliances
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And yes, life continues for the next 12 days. I better get away from this desk....
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God Bless you!
No news
There's not more to tell at this point regarding the possible adoption, other than we have contacted an attorney and will begin the process of the home study. We both talked to Rita the other night and it was another good conversation, we feel like she's genuine and really trying to make a decision based on prayer and what is best for the baby. We'll know a bit more next week, we hope, when some things in her life are given at least temporary resolution and she feels more free to focus on a potential adoption. So, I suppose no news at this point is better than poor news.
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Please continue to keep Rita and the baby in your prayers.
June 10, 2008
On the Phone
Well, it turned out my anxiety over the upcoming phone call was unnecessary. Rita is a perfectly delightful girl, quite smart and very faith-filled and our mutual friend was right about the idea that we'd be friends if meeting under other circumstances. She was funny and honest and a long-winded. Those of you who know me well, probably will be surprised that she dominated the conversation and really talked my ear off (90+ minutes on the phone!).
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Strange of all strange, her (very esoteric) college major was exactly the same as Husband's. Weird. Her family is similar to Husband's, so their childhoods were rather parallel, particularly where faith is concerned. She's a bit self-deprecating (more like me than Husband), but really wants to do the right thing for the baby.
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So, I'm a bit more hopeful than before the call when I thought she was dragging her feet before contacting us. There are still obstacles, in particular regarding the father. She suggested we get an attorney (I think that means she likes us so far) and that we keep talking and getting to know one another.
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So, please continue to pray for Rita. For peace in her heart, that she would feel that God is calling her to a decision... She seems genuinely afraid of what is happening with the father, so I ask for specific prayers regarding that situation. And please pray for us too.
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I just can't explain how excited I am - and I'm really trying hard not to get my hopes up too much. But all these puzzle pieces seem to have God's fingerprints on them and I can't help feeling incredibly hopeful that this will be an answer to our prayers for another child.
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Until next time, God Bless you!
June 09, 2008
I think I might throw up
We got an email from Rita last night. Then, right after I had read it ten times, our power went out. So I couldn't do anything but go to bed and pray.
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I responded this morning, with most of an email that I'd composed throughout last week, hoping I'd have an opportunity to connect with her. Afraid of having the opportunity to connect with her.
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She responded this morning with two more emails, one enclosing a picture of herself.
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I burst into tears.
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Sheesh, you'd think I was the one with the pregnancy hormones coursing through my veins.
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We are going to talk on the phone this afternoon and I have no idea what I'm going to say, but I will certainly be a blathering fool and she will run screaming in the other direction and any hopes of us adopting her baby will be turned to dust and I just know she's not going to think we're the "right" family and we're not good enough and maybe she should start over..... And yes, I'm being a bit melodramatic, but part of that is because there isn't enough oxygen getting to my brain because I keep holding my breath waiting to implode from the excitement and disbelief that this may happen.
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So, please pray. Please continue to pray for Rita. And pray for us, too, that we might go where we're supposed to and that we would know which path that is.
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And selfishly, I pray that we might have another baby girl join our family in 3 months.
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Wow. I'm crying again. I'll keep you posted.
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Until next time, God Bless you.
June 07, 2008
Praying for Rita*
So, I wait on pins and needles. I suppose this is pretty normal when a family is potentially in the process of adopting. But for me, it is an awkward place to be. I find myself not praying for what I want, but for what God's will is in this entire situation.
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The birthmother hasn't contacted us yet, but our mutual friend told me that there are a multitude of crazy things happening this week in their lives, including a terrible car crash - thank God noone was hurt.
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I've been feeling a bit like I've had a positive pregnancy test. For me, I hope for the opportunity of an eventual baby, but a plus sign on the stick rarely leads to diapers and coos for us. It's merely a possibility.
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I've been praying fervently for the birthmother and her family, especially the precious baby in her womb. I pray that she finds the peace and knowledge she seeks, the strength to do whatever is right, whatever is God's will. I pray that she can forgive herself for her mistakes, that she and her husband can heal their marriage, that their family would heal and remain intact, stronger than ever. I pray that she obtains all the forgiveness she needs, the perserverence to weather this storm and the faith to help her through.
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I don't know what will happen, but I do know that whether I become the mom of this baby, she will forever have a place in my heart, even though I've only known of her existence for 3 days. And while I do hope, in a very selfish way, that we will welcome this baby girl into our family this fall, I am willing to accept the Lord's will and continue to pray for these precious children of God.
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In the meantime, I'm hitting refresh on my email every 15 minutes. I just hope to get a message soon.
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Please pray for Rita.
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*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the birthmother and her family.
June 03, 2008
And another month gone by....
Not quite, but certainly close. Not that anyone is really reading anymore these days. I certainly don't blame you.
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I finally did find the router (it was in a box! in the basement!) yesterday, so maybe I'll actually bring it upstairs and get the laptop running and online, which might mean more frequent posting. We'll see. There are lots of things I'd like to post about, but words seem to fail me these days.
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I'm in chronic pain from my knee. The soonest I could have surgery is June 23, but since we are moving July 1 we've pushed the surgery to July 14. The surgeon and the physical therapist both insisted I'm getting around much better than they'd expect for such a severe knee injury - and they both rolled their eyes when I mentioned it must be the power of prayer. Because stairs will be a near impossibility directly after the surgery (I can make it up and down them now slowly and gingerly, but pretty easily otherwise), it made most sense to do the surgery after the move. It means extended time of pain, but to not have the stress of moving while trying to recover from surgery... like I said, it makes the most sense.
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Tonight, we got a call from a most excellent friend of the family who invited herself over for a visit. This was rather unusual for her, particularly considering she wouldn't arrive til after 7:45 and she doesn't live terribly close - and she's not really one to just show up on someone's doorstep. It was a pleasant surprise and we always enjoy being with her. The girls played their piano pieces (they have a recital coming up on Saturday) for her and told her all about their day. We prayed a rosary together and then sent the girls to bed. And the reason for the visit was put on the table.
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I'm about to talk about something that is sensitive in nature, so if you know us or our families, please keep your lips sealed. We don't know if this is going to go anywhere, but seeing as how I'm not going to sleep tonight, I might as well write about it. If you cannot keep quiet, please do not read further, but if you can and want to know why I won't be able to sleep, then read on.
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A good friend of our friend has a daughter in a crisis pregnancy. It was recommended by their adoption attorney that the daughter travel to a different state to give birth and proceed with an adoption (this is due to the adoption laws in their home state, I suppose). Our friend suggested that her house would be available if the daughter chose to come to our state for the birth. After playing phone tag with the daughter all weekend, they finally got on the phone today and the daughter asked our (mutual) friend if she knew of a Catholic couple who would be a good option to parent her daughter. And we came to mind.
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I don't know a lot of details yet, other than this woman has been talking to an attorney already and is convinced that this is the right thing to do for her second child, as the situation is truly a crisis. But we do know that it is a baby girl that is due in the early fall. Nothing is certain - and the mother can change her mind up to 30 days after terminating her rights. But I would like to ask for prayers. We will be contacting them tomorrow and then proceeding to find an attorney and get the ball rolling on our end.
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This would be a direct answer to my own prayers and while the timing isn't perfect for us (2 months post-surgery, I will still have some limited mobility), I can't imagine how awesome it would be to have a newborn girl again. My heart literally aches when I think of it.
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So, please. Pray for me. Pray for us. Pray for the birthmother and darling baby girl.
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And maybe I'll have to blog through this entire crazy process this summer - as if moving and surgery weren't enough on our plates! The blessing! Oh, I do hope that this is the one God has in mind for us.
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sigh
