Attention Pat.....

Attention Pat!!!
To my faithful reader and friend...could you send me your email address?
Thanks!

But while we wait....we have joy!

While Sophie grows in our hearts, Sarah grows before our eyes!!!
This is her at the Easter Egg hunt last weekend. She cared nothing about the egg hunt, her goal was to jump in the "jumpy thing". If you were there and saw a mom throw her child into the egg hunt arena and heard her say "now go get some eggs and enjoy it!"....um, that might have been me. Not really, but I think that's how it played out in my head.
She's so much fun right now. Her latest craze is "excercising". Let me explain. Daddy has "running shoes" and "tennis shoes". His "tennis shoes" are his every day whatever shoes. His "running shoes" are just that...only for running or excercising. Mommy has a specific pair for walking too...or um, excercising. So, when I took Sarah to Academy Sports to get a new pair of shoes that looked more comfortable to run in (because she REALLY likes to run...like Forrest Gump) she decided it was time to add excercising to the daily routine. And she's good at it! She's able to walk Katy (the dog) on a leash now (which is a feat in itself because Katy is in serious consideration for an episode of the Dog Whisperer)...they both like to run. So there is my baby running waaaaaay up ahead of me with the dog. It's surreal. Like the umbilical cord holding us together stretched too far and snapped back and hit me in the gut! But the upside is that we walk/run a mile almost every day.
She is also the youngest lawyer I know! The girl will argue a case for anything!!! Anything to wiggle 5 more minutes out of whatever she's doing.
She's given up her "baby" car seat, any form of a booster seat at meal time, rails on her bed, baby toothpaste, "baby" bicycle (aka a tricycle), and 2 naps a week.
But she has started counting to 100, writing her name, doing mazes, going to "big" church, drawing people, doing lots of chores, climbing trees, packing her lunch, leaving looooong messages for Daddy at work, doing simple math, and can tell you who any kids' mama is and her name if she's ever stepped foot in Sarah's room!
But more than any of that...She knows that we love Jesus, that He lives in her heart, and that every day we wake up is a day the Lord has made! And despite all the woes of spending all day with a 3 yr old...there is sure a lot to rejoice about!
Blessings!

16 months and counting and counting and ....

As a refresher, we waited for Sarah (DTC to referral) SIX MONTHS TO THE DAY. It went fast. Even as a first timer, it went fast. This time I knew would be longer. I was ok with that. Just thankful we were even going back.
In 4 days we will mark of SIXTEEN MONTHS OF WAITING for precious Sophie. I've been a good "waiter" too. I've sort of got my hands full here. At times I've been thankful that God knew we needed a little longer before Sophie joined us. :) But last month it hit...hard. My heart feels actual pain and longing for Sophie. Fear and concern. Comfort and peace. And God has begun collecting the tears I've cried for her in a bottle. And while I believe with my whole heart in God's timing. While I wouldn't want anything but God's timing. While I know that our sweet Sophie is safe in the arms of a loving God who has not forsaken her for a second, nor will He abandon her. While I know there is nothing to do but pray and wait...I am a mom seperated from her baby girl and I want her home!!!
We got news today that referrals are on the way. Somewhere between here and there. We thought at the very least they would break into November (they matched through Oct 24th last time so expecting them to do at least 7 days didn't seem to be overly optimistic). Today we hear that maybe they only matched through the 26th. Yeah, 2 whopping days...not even finishing October! This is insane!
But you know what? I'm going to hold out hope. I'm going to pray they at least get into November. God is not too small. He can shove an extra 100 referrals in that packet if He wants to. Lord, please want to. But, even if you don't...yet I will praise you.
So that's where we are. I'll let you know something more on Monday or Tuesday.
Keep praying for Sophie. Pray that arms are holding her. Eyes are looking at her. And that somehow she knows He is holding her safe in His arms...and her mommy is longing for her.
Sleep sweet in Him Sophie! I love you!