The Journey Begins

The beginning of this journey began in 2012...
We had just celebrated our 6 year anniversary.  We had planned to go out for dinner as usual and didn't really have anything else planned for the evening.  We were delighted to find out that the Lord has given our family a little miracle.  We are expecting a BABY!  

The timing of all of that was quite interesting.  

We had started with the adoption agency in January of 2012 eager to answer a burden that the Lord had placed on our heart for growing our family and serving the Lord with our whole family via Adoption.  The meeting didn't go tremendously well and we were told that because of some specific circumstances it might be a bit tough to have our home study approved.  We left the meeting feeling disappointed, and confused.  

With the adoption processing needing to be delayed for at least a year, we were asking ourselves the question "are we doing everything we can do to "grow" our family."  After prayer and deliberation we decided just 2 weeks prior to the pregnancy announcement that we should see a reproductive endocrinologist.  

Well, we no longer needed that appointment, as the Lord saw fit to have answered our prayers for a baby long before ever stepping into that office!  

We were super excited, a little nervous, and very hopeful that we will actually get to meet our baby.  The Lord more than answered our prayers to have our little Isaac get a good long time to grow in my womb, and a repetitively easy pregnancy and miraculously quick and sneaky delivery.  

When Isaac turned one in October or 2013 the adoption thoughts began again. 

We knew we would adopt an older child (this was Jonathan's thought back when we started in January of 2012, but I wasn't ready from the losses, I felt I emotionally needed an infant) November brought lots of research into countries that would fit our "profile".  We Registered on the Rainbow kids website and Reece's rainbow... 2 very "dangerous" sites, as all the kiddos just melt your heart.

The Lord was really showing our family that every child deserves a loving family where they can be known and know others intimately. We are so fortunate to have been adopted into the family of God, and know the acceptance that comes with that adoption. We were thinking through what country profile might work best...

In December we were set on the Ukraine.  The needs of the orphans there were great, and we were more comfortable at the time with a child that looked similar to us.  We researched agencies, and picked one, and started the process of paperwork and finding a home study agency.  All seemed to be moving along with such ease, we even received amzing  news that a car accident I had been in was going to be "paying" for our home study fee from the settlement. All things were going well...

From the end of December till the middle of January our family was so sick it was tough to make progress on anything adoption related.  We were all frustrated that we weren't able to make any progress, and regularly prayed that the Lord would bring healing so we could pursue the adoption.

While we were praying and deliberating, the photos of little kiddos just kept coming into my email (I warned you those sites are dangerous), and I really started to fall for the adorable children from China, even though I knew we didn't meet the requirements...

It seemed the illness was purposeful, and the Lord used the time to make it clear that we weren't going to be going to the Ukraine after all. The Lord was going to use the "yes" we had for the orphans who looked like us in the Ukraine, and the "yes" we had for the orphans for little to no special needs, and transform it to a "yes" for all his orphaned children.

On January 27th (my birthday) we decided to contact Great Wall of China Adoption Agency to find out if China ever makes exemptions to their requirements. We were still uncertain if we would abandon our Ukraine process, and praying for a clear yes, if we were supposed to go to China.  We were told we could fill out an eligibility check and specific exemption form and they would review it and send it to China on our behalf to see if an exemption could be obtained.

We submitted our paperwork on Feb. 5th to China.

We finalized our paperwork on February 6th and were told it could be a little while.  We were praying for a clear yes, and on Monday Februray 10th we got our official exemption granted from China, allowing us to pursue an adoption there. We felt the Lord confirmed this was were he wanted us.

Februray 10th we got the profile of the little boy we heard all about on January 27th, David.

February 11th, I sent emails to 6 different "friends" from varying points in life asking them for help with his file review.  Every single one of them replied and one amazing lady offered to have it viewed by a pediatric internal specialist, and a neurological specialist, free of charge!  And another amazing friend's husband who is a PA extraordinaire offered to review David's file as well...  We were in love.. But the Journey gets much rockier from there... 

Lessons Learned

Learning and growing comes in many forms. Noah is a wonderful source of revelation for me, not just in my own sanctifcation, but in showing me greater "misbeliefs" in my head. I think because Noah and I spend the whole day together every day, I have more of an opportunity to have my heart displayed in my responses to my son, weather in delight or displeasure. My need to love and have a joy filled heart for my child is easy to understand, and easy to see when I am not.

Some how, I approached my son with the utmost patience (or the knowledge that I need to have utmost patience, love, and joy), and my husband, with the utmost inpatience (and feeling justified, afterall, he is a grown-up, and grown-ups are perfect:) ). I expect way more from my husband, as far as perfection is concerned, than I would ever expect from Noah or anyone else. I expect my husband to just do XY or Z. When he fails to met my expectations, I have little to no patience for him.

Yes, we could all argue, our husbands are more mature, and should be less of a challenge in our day than our children. But the fact remains, that my husband or your husband isn't perfect, they never will be, and we are always struggling to remain one with them. Since it is oneness we are struggling to maintain, perfection (because we of course are perfect:)) can be more of an annoyance to me, than loving my child, who isn't one with me.

Noah was haveing a particuarly rough couple of days, and I found myself struggling to have joy and love him, but in the process, was deeply aware of the fact that I was struggling. Now translate the same circumstance when Jonathan and I are having a "tough" week, and I some how don't realize that I am struggling, I always want to point out why he is "wrong" or "making our week hard" instead of thinking where I am struggling to love my husband right now, whether he is right or wrong.

Why are our husbands less deserving of our love and patience? They aren't! But somehow I have a hard time remembering that. I need to love my husband and my child, not Love my child, and if I have energy left over, love my husband. The effort put into Noah, should be the energy put into my husband, if not even more.

For the Nutrition Followers

Some of you are here for the purpose of reading my thoughts on Health, nutrition, wellness etc. I am no longer posting these blogs here.

This blog is being reclaimed as the family blog. I will still post stuff at is applies to Noah and our family, but not just in general terms any longer. If you are interested in still receiving information about said topics, you will need to update your feed.

Visit me at my new location! And sign up to receive your RSS feeds!
I would love to continue to inspire, shock, and annoy you!

Honey and Oil salve....dry skin

Okay, So I have gotten some emails about how to "make" this supposed honey oil lotion. Well, it isn't a fine science...sorry engineers:)

What I did:
For a one time use, put a small dab of "Really Raw Honey" on your finger tip. Drop 4 drops of almond oil (if for a face) or avocado oil(also okay for faces) or olive oil (better for hands and other dry areas) and rub between fingers until well combined. lightly massage into affected area and then spray or dab with some water.
It will be slightly sticky....it is just the nature of honey:) I recommend this for a night time treatment and leave it on overnight and you will be baby smooth in the morning.

In a small Jar: I mixed honey and oil together....and equal parts in a small baby food jar. This is good for moisturizing larger areas of the body. Then you dip in either a wooden stick to the mixture and stir it and then lift some out of the jar. Apple as necessary and follow the water instructions above.

Why a wooden stick? You don't need one, but it just helps from continually introducing the little things you are hosting on your hands into the mix.... it isn't necessary:)

I wouldn't store the mixture for more than a week! Make sure it stays covered.

If you are really struggling with dry skin, I highly, highly recommend placing a cool mist humidifier in the room where you sleep, it is an economic purchase! (you can get a bedroom size on for about $25 at Bed Bath and Beyond...and with your 20% off coupon it is even cheaper:) ) It does wonders for your skin and dry nasal cavities this time of year! You will be amazed at how much less oil or lotion you will go through!

Also consider adding more Omega-3's (which take about 1 month to see some improvement from)from an animal source to your diet....although in this climate...we all could use a little external help right now! But Dry skin in general is indicative of some sort of a nutritional deficiency!

Remember health is from the inside out...

Hope that helps!

Mom's of Western NY

I wanted to share with you all, that as of this upcoming Tuesday, I will have my own blog "Alternative Ally" on a Western New York Mom's Blog. If you are in Western NY please feel free to join!

The group mostly has information pertaining to play groups, things to do with your children, mommy ideas/advice and an opportunity to meet more mom's in your area. If that sounds like something you would be interested in, come join us!

Happy Friday!

I have a toddler

If we weren't sure before this week, we are definitely sure now...we have a toddler. It is like overnight our nice sweet little boy had a transformation to a tantrum throwing 2 year old who throws himself on the ground and screams when he doesn't get his way.
While I have had my moments of frustration with him when, for example, he decided that he wasn't going to bend his body when I was trying to put him in his car seat after story hour, while screaming, it has been enjoyable to really see "him."
Noah was an excellent listener through his 1's, and while I enjoyed it, it was tougher to see who he really was. Now it is easier to see his personality. He has gotten quite good and letting us know what he wants. While, at times, this transition can be "inconvenient or frustrating" it is also nice when instead of crying, he can simply tell me "mommy foot stuck." Ah ha, now I know how I can help him, no more guess:)
I guess this week I have been challenged to see my child as a true joy in stead of an inconvenience. I decided I was going to thank God every time he threw a tantrum for creating my child with likes, dislikes, and uniquely as his, and I have been amazed to see the Lord change my mind about the circumstance!
There is always hope and Joy in Jesus, I don't know why I am surprised by this when I see it displayed. Like the little things Noah does...his new thing is coming into the kitchen and telling me "dance mommy, dance, up please." When I pick him up he says "Shaaaallllll Weeeeeeeee, Dance" and giggles wildly as we spin around. How precious! How could I not be thankful for such a jewel?

New Home for Recipes

I know some of you come here looking for my recipes! I wanted to let you know that as of today, I have launched a new Alternative Cooking blog! I hope to inspire and help you all cook for your families. Please visit us and let me know what you think!