Things Are Movin' Right Along..

Auntie (now also known as "Nantie" for Nanny-Auntie..LOL) has been contacted by her home study worker and already received some of her info (fingerprint cards, etc). She waits to hear back from a recruiter on the date of the training class this month (the big 2 day, 16 hour, mind numbing, heart wrenching training course). "D" (her home study worker) is one of the trainers and will be getting together with her for an hour or so (during breaks) to get a head start on her home study. A weee bit bass-ackwards (which is no surprise since that's pretty much we roll anyway).

Other than that, the phone is absolutely silent (especially now that the election is over.. thank the Good Lord above!).

The weather is cccccold and really starting to feel like winter is coming. It's crazy how fast time comes and goes.. a year ago right now I was playing out how I was going to present the adoption information to DH, hoping and praying I could get him on board. At that time my thoughts were consumed by both getting pregnant AND finding the perfect Plan B (adoption). By then I was thoroughly convinced fost/adopt was the road to take and fairly sure we were not going to get pregnant. How in the WORLD was I going to find the right words to express to my DH how right this type of adoption felt in my heart?

Obviously, the words came (and were Heaven Sent).

Now I sit here with training courses under my belt, books read (yet more on the nightstand), blogs scoured, back round searches completed, home study done and a thumbs up from The Board. A little blue card placed carefully in my wallet declares I've been certified since July. I stare at the phone, daring it to ring. My how time flies.

I wonder what we'll have under our belts this time NEXT year!

:o)



Hey now.. don't forget!! You only have a few days left to win one of TWO $25 gift cards to TARGET!!!

Home Study, Take 2

So, I left a message for J's supervisor on Monday but didn't hear back. I left a message again today.. this time, she called back fairly quickly. I told her about Auntie moving in and what a God Send she will be. At first I think she thought I was just saying that Auntie would be helping us out and just watching the kiddo(s). That equates to a fairly painless 10 minutes at a sheriff station getting fingerprints done and having a back round check done by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

THEN, it dawned on her I said Auntie was moving in.

That boils down to a whole new home study done for her, the training courses and CPR. She took Auntie's name, address and phone number and said she was assigning "D" (our former home study worker) to her case. "D" was totally nice so that's good. HOPEFULLY this can be put on the FAST TRACK and done quickly and painlessly. AH HA! There is no such thing in this system.

I did get a name of our new worker ("E") that is taking "J's" place. They are going to call soon and set up a time for all of us waiting families to get together with her and get to know each other over dinner. Hopefully no alcohol will be served.. it could get ugly (I'm kidding.. er, kind of).

We're still listed on "The Board" (not the Black List, so they say~after my glass of wine at the big shin ding I actually asked) and are considered for each case as it comes in.

REPEATING OVER AND OVER.. all.in.His.time. (why is it never in sync with OUR time!?). LOL



DON'T FORGET: You can post a daily guess and win one of two $25 gift cards from TARGET!!!! GO HERE NOW

More Answered Prayers

One of my big concerns once a child is placed with us is transportation. Since we are out of county, I am responsible for getting the kiddo(s) to and from visitations, doctors offices, etc. Had we been in county, they have people that do that for you (pick them up from day care, take them to their various appointments and bring them back). We have been told they would do their best to help but the bulk of the transports are on us.

There could very well be weekly court appointed visits which means I will have to take off a 1/2 day of work once maybe even twice a week. This could go on for a year. Oy. Thank the Good Lord I have wonderful bosses that are okay with that but it's still a monstrous bite out of the ole paycheck. Plus my lead foot and the gas gussling suv. On top of all that running, what if the little one gets sick and has to be picked up from day care pronto? We have family nearby but all have really busy lives. I'm sure they would be happy to help in a pinch BUT I needed a solid plan.

I had been trying not to stress about it and have been praying like never before. I know in my heart this is the path we're to be on and it would somehow work out. Have faith..

This weekend, my prayers were answered.

Matt's wonderful Auntie G has moved back to Colorado and is looking for a place to live. Her home here in town is rented out for a year. She needs to find a job to cover her own rent and a place where she has enough room for herself and her lovely Dalmation, Miss Oreo.

A few months back we had offered to have her come live with us. We have plenty of room for her, Miss O and all their stuff. This weekend we revisited that idea. Why not come live with us and, instead of looking for a place to rent and a job, watch baby during the day?!?? That would alleviate me having to miss work and wage, baby won't have to be in day care all day and Auntie's needs are covered as well.

Sweet relief.

I have a call in to J's supervisor (since I still don't know who our new placement worker is yet) as we need to get Auntie certified. Anyone that spends more than 3 hours a week with kids in foster care need to have a home study done, as well.

Once again, God Rocks!




DON'T FORGET: You can post a daily guess and win one of two $25 gift cards from TARGET!!!! GO HERE NOW

Vacation Planning 101

Our last family trip this past spring with My Kiwi and Sissy In Law was to Napa for a visit with their Auntie. We had (what I consider) a once in a lifetime opportunity to have a private tour and wine tasting in the caves at Caldwell Vineyard. Auntie has been widowed for several years now and rents a room out to people she meets through church. Currently it's Barbara.. a Sommelier and Director of Hospitality and Marketing for the vineyard. She was as enthusiastic to teach us as we were to learn and it was a relief she didn't look down her nose at the goofiness that is us. She adores DH's and Missy's Aunt and was excited to host our amazing morning. We laughed, learned and had a wonderful time.

I'm proud to say, we no longer chug a lug... we swirl, volatilizing the esters (or -- to help us remember-- "violating Aunt Ester".. she was our kinda gal), we smell, we slurp (trying not to gag) and we breathe... using our senses and taking in all that it embodies. There is so much that goes into a bottle of wine and we came away with a newly found appreciation for the art of its making (not to mention, a pretty nice buzz).

This past Saturday evening as we sat over delicioso Mexican food after 9 holes of golf (that's not quite what I did but hack is such a harsh word), the four of us contemplated where our next vacation will be. Rather than fly, why not jump in our motorhome and be tourists in our own state? Colorado is chock full of beauty, points of interest and wineries.

Um, hello?

Our next family trip will most likely involve lugging diaper bags, strollers, and all kinds of other baby unmentionables I can't even wrap my childless mind around. Gone are the vacations of sleeping in, catching up on the books I've collected and relaxing. We're ushering in a whole new era .. I'm not sure what it holds but I doubt a wine tour is on the agenda. More like picnics by rivers, hikes through national forests and s'mores by a campfire.

Bless their hearts.. My Kiwi and Sissy in Law are still up for it..