She called!

About thirty minutes after my post yesterday, I got the long awaited (as in, waited for 6 days - ha!) phone call from our social worker!!

It was so great to hear her voice - it brought tears to my eyes and made it finally feel real. This is HAPPENING! Monday we will have our orientation interview, and then get our fingerprints taken care of...

There are multiple adoption blogs I read that so encourage me - and I was reading one today of a family that is adopting a little girl from Ethiopia. Her friends had a shower for her, and this is what the invitation said...

I didnt give you the gift of life,
But in my heart I know.
The love I feel is deep and real,
As if it had been so.
For us to have each other,
Is like a dream come true!
No, I didnt give you the gift of life,
Life gave me the gift of you!

I just sat there and cried... what a joy, what a blessing this mom is about to experience!
Thank you Lord, that You choose to let us be a part of your plan for the orphan...

One step closer...

to having a baby in my arms!!!

We finally turned in our adoption paperwork this past Thursday, January 20th!

We are so very excited... but sadly, I am already getting impatient! We were told we would hear from our social worker and have an orientation interview this week, and I havent heard from them yet - and its killing me! Guess this too will be a good lesson in patience and waiting on the Lord - much like the last 3 years...

Its amazing that as soon as this summer we could finally have a sibling for Campbell... I just cant wait! If you will, join us in praying for the birth mom - that she will take care of herself during her pregnancy, and that the Lord will use our relationship to draw her to Himself if she does not know Him. Also, if you would pray for the Lord to prepare our hearts for what is to come... we were pretty open to anything in terms of race, sex, medical history - so I am still having moments of fear where I think "can I really do this?!?" The answer is no, I cant. But He can. And He will enable us to do it - because He has called us to it, and He will not leave us there...

Wow...

I just realized its been almost 3 months since I last posted... that is beyond sad. I'm sure no one even reads this blog anymore, if they ever did! Things have been a little hectic around here, and I will do my best to catch up.

FERTILITY: Right before Thanksgiving, I had endometreosis surgery where they actually found several problems and were able to correct them. Praise God! Surgery wasnt fun, but I am glad I did it - and we recently did our 5th IUI with high hopes after the surgery... please pray. We are finishing up on this long "fertility road", and might be willing to do one more procedure, but will then be done. We have also started/almost finished our adoption paperwork - and I am SO EXCITED about it!

JOB: We are moving to Auburn! Ben took a job in Auburn several weeks ago - he will be working with the hospitalist group there, and we are really thankful for such a great job opportunity. He will be working with a man that has mentored him (he used to live here) and it will be a huge blessing. We are hoping to put our house on the market this month, and will start looking at lots to build in Auburn - hopefully soon. (Bens dad is a homebuilder in Auburn) It is bittersweet - leaving Birmingham is going to be so very hard... (I have already been crying thinking about it)

HOLIDAYS: We spent Thanksgiving in Auburn with my family, since Brian (my brother) and Savannah were going to her family for Christmas. Ben actually worked Christmas, so we spent Christmas at our house for the first time - and it was wonderful. Ben's parents came up Christmas Eve and spent the day with us, then my parents came up that night and we all went to our church together and had dinner at our favorite mexican place afterwards. The meriachi band even sang jingle bells and feliz navidad! That might become a tradition :) My parents spent the night and we opened presents Christmas morning before Ben went to work. I cooked an early Christmas dinner for when Ben got home, and before my parents had to leave. We even got to spend a night in Atlanta for our anniversary! (Happy 7 years Ben!) While there though, Bens dad called him with chest pains, and Ben told him to go to the ER - we learned shortly after that he had a heart attack, and we left and headed straight to the hospital. He is doing better now, but is on a ton of medicine and is being watched closely since there are still more blockages that couldnt be corrected. We then spent New Years at the lake with my family, celebrating our Christmas with them a little late. It was a wonderful, very busy few weeks!

Campbell is about to turn four, which blows my mind... she is so fun at this age, and really acting more "grown up". She is still really wanting a baby sister or brother - as bad as mommy and daddy are! - and prays that "God, please promise to give us a baby... its taking so long! Only you know, and it might be a baby in mommys tummy, or an orphan baby!" Its really sweet, but hard at the same time. Its one thing to want something badly yourself, but to see it affect your child is much harder.

Maybe my New Years resolution should be to blog more... but I hate making resolutions and then not keeping them :) I will say, I need to at least TRY harder! Will try to get some pictures up soon...

Happy New Year everyone - and WAR EAGLE!

Uncertain

un·cer·tain/ˌənˈsərtn/Adjective
1. Not able to be relied on; not known or definite: "an uncertain future".
2. (of a person) Not completely confident or sure of something: "I was uncertain how to proceed".

Lately I have been overwelmed by the uncertainty that is this current season of our life... uncertain how to proceed with fertility treatment, uncertain how to proceed with adoption, uncertain where Ben will take a job... but then I heard the following songs - and I read this definition, and YES - our future is uncertain, BUT... I know Who's hands our future lies in and I know He wants to give us hope. HE ALONE is "able to be relied on" - HE ALONE can I be "confident and sure of", even when "I was uncertain how to proceed..."

Walk on the Water by Britt Nicole



Your Hands by JJ Heller



Thank you Lord, for being our Rock, even when things seem uncertain...

The Wedding

Sept. 11 my little brother got married - and it was a WONDERFUL weekend... it was in Greensboro, GA at my grandparents old church and the reception was at the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation. I am sorry that the pictures are in random order - I am still not good at posting slide shows :) The pictures range from a few of their engagement parties, to the bachelorette party, to all the other events from the wedding weekend.

Ben and I were both in it, and Campbell was the flower girl - but dont tell her... because she called herself a bridesmaid. :) There were so many sweet moments that weekend - and so many more came flashing back from mine and Brians childhood... it was so fun growing up with a brother (i didn't always think that) and now he is so much more like my friend. I cried a good portion of the weekend, including the whole time i walked down the aisle - but it was so overwelming walking toward my little brother and feeling so proud of him and thankful that God had given him this amazing girl. I don't know if anyone could even hear me over my tears during my rehersal dinner speech, but I did my best to get it out :) My family was kidding me about winning the award for most sniffles in a speech!

We stayed in a villa on the lake with my parents and Brian - and I was so thankful I got a little extra time with him before he started his own family. Something I will remember forever is Campbell laying in Brian's lap watching cartoons the morning of the wedding... I guess she (along with Mickey Mouse) was calming the wedding nerves :) Campbell even got to pray for Savannah and all the bridesmaids before the ceremony - it was a really special moment. Savannah was a beautiful bride - her dress was one of my favorites of all times... and her shoes were amazing too. (thats why i had to include a picture!) they were covered in bling! Ms.Campbell even got to try them on since you know she loves some shoes :) Campbell did okay - but was all over the place during the ceremony. She walked up to the front okay and stood with the maid and matron of honor, right by Savannah. Which she thought was great considering Savannah is one of her favorite people AND she was wearing the most amazing princess dress and veil. :) Too bad she got curious and started playing with the veil during the ceremony, then proceded to come find me, then go sit with my mom, then go back up on stage, then go back to my mom... crazy. Oh well - guess she did pretty good for a three year old.
We all danced the night away to the best band ever and Campbell was still up for the big send off with sparklers at 11:45....

Campbell was just on cloud nine the whole weekend... she has been talking about this wedding longer than Brian and Savannah have - and she can't wait until her own! (her daddy and i are more than willing to wait...and wait...and wait) Just the other day on the way to church she said "Mommy and Daddy - what was your favorite part of the wedding? Mine was Vanny's dress!" Hilarious. She even fell asleep in the car on the way home from the weekend with her bow bouquet from the rehersal in her hands... priceless.

Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Brian Boyd! We love you...

Still Here

Yes, we are still here! After not posting in two whole months, I figured it was time... a lot has been going on, and blogging was low on the priority list. First of all, my brother got married this past weekend! We have been having lots of parties and celebrating the last few months, and this weekend the main event took place on Lake Oconee outside Atlanta. It was beautiful, sweet, and perfect. I cried most of the weekend (I know you are surprised) but I just adore and respect my little brother so much and could not be happier that Savannah is now an official part of the family... Ben and I were both in it, and so was Ms.Campbell. Pictures to come soon...

On a not so fun note, the fertility process (a full time job in itself) has kept me pretty busy the last few months. We have had 2 IuI's done, and still no pregnancy. This is becoming a real battle for me and my faith - and for the first time in the two and a half years that we have been traveling this road, I am really feeling the doubt and fear creeping in. I am just so hurt and angry - and just dont understand.
Its hard to know what to do next, where to go from here - and just how many more fertility treatments to do. My heart is still so hoping to adopt - even though Ben and I are still hoping for one more of our own.

Last night when I knew the second IuI did not work, I hit a very low point and today has been a real battle. Then I saw that a friend sent me the video of a friend of hers that had adopted from Ethiopia (a place I am interested in). At the end of the video, the mother said "Following God's plan for your life will.always.be.worth.it."
Those were exactly the words I needed for today... even though I am HURTING like I never have in all my life and am more BROKEN than I have ever been, this.will.all.be.worth.it. And if God shows me "why" by giving Ben, Campbell, and I a beautiful dark skinned baby boy like this one - I would be so very thankful for every bit of this pain...

Fun Wedding News...

Guess who is getting married today at the SAME place as my brother and Savannah??
CARRIE UNDERWOOD! There was a rumor it might happen - but I thought it was just maybe a decoy destination... but then they officially announced it yesterday. How fun! The girl that is doing her hair for the wedding is cutting my Aunts hair next week and I have put in a request for her to do my hair for Brian's wedding... maybe she can make me look like Carrie Underwood... Ha! I heard she rented out the entire Ritz Carlton lodge (where the wedding is) for $286,000 per day! Crazy...

I know I am the worst blogger ever... an update with pictures is way overdue - please forgive me and check back soon...

Congrats from Campbell

 

Dear Vanny,
Even though I love having my Brian to myself, you are the only one I would ever share him with...
I love you so much and cannot wait to have you in my family! I might even let you dance with Brian
at the wedding when I finish :) I cannot wait for September to get here so I can wear my pretty dress.
Thank you for always loving me like I was your own...

Hugs and kisses,
Campbell Grace

The Future Mrs. Brian Boyd...

 

 

 

 

Yes, my brother is engaged! This post is quite late, but better late than never! I love my brother to pieces, and have always wondered who would be lucky enough to one day be his bride... We are only 2 years apart, and have always been quite close so I am a little protective of him - but man, did he snag the most wonderful girl! Her name is Savannah Duncan, whom Campbell fondly calls "Vanny". (you would have thought Campbell was born to them - she is OBSESSED with Uncle Brian and Vanny)

We love Vanny as if she had always been part of our family - and I could not be more thankful that the Lord has brought her into Brian's life. They balance each other, and through ups and downs have sought to honor the Lord. The big day is September 11, and will be on Lake Oconee outside of Atlanta. They are getting married in my grandparents old church there, the same place he proposed! Ms. Campbell is beside herself that she is in the wedding since she is really into weddings lately... wants to know who is married to who, if we danced, etc. But when I told her she was going to get to be the flower girl, she was not so excited... she wanted to be a bridesmaid! :) So we are telling her that she is (since the church wont let her throw flowers anyway) Lets hope all goes smoothly...

Campbell knew the day that Brian was going to propose, and she told everyone that "Brian has a question for Vanny!"
But them when she saw Brian that day she got a little jealous and said "Brian, I want you to ask ME Vanny's question! I want to marry you!" Don't know if she is willing to give him up yet... Now if I can just start working on a rehersal dinner speech that I can actually make it through - Ben swears he is going to make me record it ahead of time and just play it that night... he knows me too well. :)

Brian and Savannah - we are so excited for y'all! We love you to pieces and cannot wait to see what God has in store for you guys...

America Rising

If you haven't seen this video clip, you must. I used to not be very political, and I am still not if you compare me to my husband. But I do love and care about our country - and I am scared to see where it is headed. This video is not entirely true of me, because I did not vote for the people in this video. But we still trusted them - and they have proved those of us who didn't vote for them right... I pray that God will save and bless America - and am thankful that He is in control even if those in office are choosing not to obey Him...

My Princess Girl

Today my friend Hannah told me that her son Winston (who is in Campbells class at school) told her that Campbell played football with him and another boy in their class. The thought of Campbell playing football is hilarious - so I asked her about it when she woke up from her nap.

Me:Campbell, Winson said that you played football with him and Mark today. Was that fun?
Campbell: MOMMY! I am NOT a FOOTBALL girl... I am a PRINCESS girl.

Priceless. No tomboys at our house! (she was probably wearing a tutu, heels, and jewelry while telling me this...)

Happy Tuesday!

One more thing...

I knew I left something out - and this was too funny...

My mom had Campbell for the weekend, and I called to check on her. My mom said she had gotten her a new baby doll and that Campbell was loving it. Then my mom told me what she named it... CARLOS JESUS. yes, thats right - carlos jesus.

So now everytime we play with her/him? I have to say that - and I laugh out loud everytime. "Mommy, Carlos Jesus is ready for a nap." "Mommy, Carlos Jesus is hungry!"
Its just too much... She gets the award for creativity! (Maybe it came from a mix of her love of mexican food and her love of God?) :)

From the mouth of babes....

...comes trouble!

I always wondered when Campbell would start saying blunt things in front of others that would be rude/hurtful - even though she didn't mean it... you know, those kids that yell "He's FAT mommy!" or "Is she having a baby?" Well, the day has finally come for me to join those horrified mothers...

We were at a funeral not long ago, and Campbell had to go potty so we were waiting in line outside the bathroom door. A family member walked up behind us with her mother and I was introducing Campbell to them. She was being shy, and as we started to walk away when it was our turn for the restroom she yelled "Momma, is she a WITCH?" I would love to have seen how red my face actually got - but I ducked into the bathroom as fast as I could. I proceded to have a heated conversation with Campbell about how witches are not real, but pretend - and that we do NOT call people that. I still can't figure out why she thought that - it was a very sweet lady around 60 or 65, but who knows... no more Wizard of Oz for Campbell!

Then another day we were in publix and a very masculine lady that worked there stopped to say hi to Campbell as we were shopping. She had a very deep voice, and before she walked away Campbell yelled "Is that a boy or a girl?" Again, we had to have a talk about how you only ask those questions AFTER they have walked away!!

We saw a sweet friend-of-a-friend at Moes the other night, and she had just come from running. She had on cute running clothes, and her hair in a pony tail. When she said hi to Campbell, Campbell responded "You must be a cheerleader!" Hilarious.

One of my best friends from high school was spending the night with me while her husband was out of town, and Campbell woke up in the middle of the night. I went to check on her, and told her we had to be quiet because Aunt Joy had to sleep since she had to go to work the next day. Campbell looked really confused as she looked at me and said, "Silly mommy... girls don't go to work - boys do! Girls go to the store..." Wow, did Ben love that one...

Easter pictures and more updates to come as soon as I can get our SLOW computer to cooperate!

Happy Thursday!

Campbells 3rd Birthday!

Well sweet girl, here is your birthday post - although its over a month late. I cannot believe that it has been 3 years since God brought you into our lives - what a blessing you have been... You are such a fun little girl - so full of energy and imagination. You are so thoughtful and compassionate - the Lord is developing some great qualities in you that I hope never change. You make us laugh every single day, and you never meet a stranger - kind of like your mommy. :)Thank you for adding so much to our family over the past 3 years - we love you so much - plus even more. :)

Campbell's birthday was very eventful for us - she got the stomach virus right before her birthday, which mean I had the stomach virus ON her birthday. It was very sad since I missed her party at school (but at least she got to make "3" cupcakes to take and share - pictures of the baking are in the slideshow) and we had to settle for McAlisters for her long awaited birthday dinner (since all I could stomach at the time was soup) - though she didn't seem to mind. She even got to bring her doll Fancy Nancy (also included in the pictures).

Thankfully we were all well by the time her "pink" Cooking Party rolled around, and although it was a little chaotic, it was so very fun! I made a cooking utensil chandalier for above the food table and Ben made her a 3 to hang on the front door out of cooking spoons. We had pink cupcakes and a pink cake just for Campbell. (plus pink lemonade, etc - you get the picture) The kids got to decorate their own aprons and had chef hats to match. They also baked their own lunch of pizza and cupcakes. Campbell had a blast since cooking is her favorite thing to do - and she had lots of help from friends opening all those presents. :) Plus the kids got to take home a goody bag filled with fun cooking things!

Some of our favorite people came in town to help us celebrate - Honey, Uncle Brian, Pop Pop and Doll, Uncle Gavin, Aunt Alissa and Daniel, and Mimi and Big Daddy. They were so sweet to drive all that way! Not to mention the many friends who have become our family here that came to celebrate as well... Campbell even convinced Uncle Brian to try out some of her new presents - Cinderella slippers and the tea set!

Happy Third sweet Campbell - can't wait to celebrate many more with you!

Perfectly Right

A friend just gave me the devotional called Streams in the Desert - and I started it today... this entry brought me much comfort (and tears) after a rough week in my walk with the Lord...


Consider what God has done, Who can straighten what He has made crooked?
Ecclesiastes 7:13

Your situation is filled with uncertainty and is very serious, but it is so PERFECTLY RIGHT. The reason behind it will more than justify Him who brought you here, for it is a platform from which God will display His almighty grace and power.

He not only will deliver you but in doing so will impart a lesson that you will never forget. And in days to come, you will return to the truth of it through singing. You will be unable to ever thank Him enough for doing exactly what He has done:

"We may wait till He explains,
because we know that Jesus reigns.

It puzzles me; but, Lord, You understandest,
and will one day explain this crooked thing.
Meanwhile, I know that it has worked out Your best -
its very crookedness taught me to cling.

You have fenced up my ways, made my paths crooked,
To keep my wandering eyes fixed on You,
To make me what I was not, humble, patient;
To draw my heart from earthly love to You.

So I will thank and praise You for this puzzle,
and trust where I cannot understand.
Rejoicing You do hold me worth such a testing,
I cling the closer to Your guiding hand."


We are still waiting - and it is painful, but SO PERFECTLY RIGHT. This past week was a tough one in this fertility battle - and I was so angry and wanted to give up. But God is patient with me - and I know that this crookedness is working out His best, and is teaching me to cling... So I am thanking Him for the puzzle - and trusting where I cannot understand.