Reasons why I am blessed:

1.  I have an amazing husband who has stuck by me through the hardest of times.  He is the best father a child could ask for and he treats me better than I deserve.

2.  My son...enough said.  He fills me with more joy than I thought I could know.

3.  My home.  Sure, it's nothing special, but it's clean, warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and simply...it's home.

4.  I have a job that pays the bills (most of the time haha!)

5.  My family in large.  From my parents to my sister to my in-laws, I could not have better.  They are some of my best friends and I can't imagine life without them.

6.  My country.  I'm free.

7.  My friends.   I have met some incredible people over the years.  Some in passing, some long-time friends. They have all taught me something and helped mold who I am.

Other things that bring me joy:

the smell of fresh air

the beauty of the mountains

taking pictures

listening to my son laugh

reading books

listening to the ocean

eating ice cream and cake :)

the colors of fall

traveling

fresh vegetables!

I have to remind myself to look at life through the eyes of a child sometimes.  They are so carefree and just enjoy what is put in front of them.  I see it everyday in Brayden.

Baby Bug!!

In my new-found photography obsession, I've started to look a lot at newborn photo shoots to get some ideas and learn positioning, lighting, etc...  I'm thinking that I need to stop.  The baby bug is kicking in pretty bad!  Every time I look at them I just want to grab one and squeeze it.  OK, well, not SQUEEZE, but I think you get what I mean :).  We are in such a lull with the adoption paperwork right now that my enthusiasm is dwindling and I'm getting antsy.  Jon continues to work on his autobiography, we need two papers notarized, and we need our FBI clearances...then we can finally send our home study packet in.

In the meantime, my surgery is scheduled for the middle of august and we're trying to come up with some new fund-raising ideas for the adoption.  I'm pretty stressed with now having the cost of surgery co-pays and deductibles on top of everything else, but,  I'm trying to remember that God has it all under control.  Such a hard concept to grasp at times.

My pushing is starting to pay off for Brayden and the Early Intervention team leader decided (after our long conversation on the phone today) to move up his 6 month review and get the whole team together in one room to discuss what may need to be changed.  We also got our referral paperwork in the mail for the developmental pediatrician consult.  Yet another 10-page packet of paperwork to fill out!  I should take out stock in an ink company.

Long Time no Post

I realize it's been quite some time since I've been around here!  Phewww...what a week!  At the beginning of July I looked at my calendar and it had about 3 things on it for the entire month.  If you were to come and look at it today you would see black marker everywhere!  It's filled with Dr's appointments, Brayden's therapy schedule, time with friends, my Tastefully Simple party, adoption meetings...I'm tired!

My Tastefully Simple fund raiser went very well!  Between online orders and my home party, it looks like we will have raised over $200 towards our adoption!  Thank you Kara for your big heart and generosity.  Friday night was a lot of fun and filled with tons of yummy food :).  Every day we get closer to our goal and it's so exciting!

I also had a great time on Saturday doing my first photo shoot for some friends of ours!  I had a blast and realized how much I love photography.  I'm lucky to have some fantastic people teaching me and hope I can continue taking pictures for others to enjoy.

Well, it's currently 10:00pm and I've been getting to bed WAY too late this past week.  So, I'm off to go sleep.  Think time it won't be another week until I check in here :).

Success!

Last night was my Tastefully Simple party, donated by my WONDERFUL  friend, Kara, to support our adoption.  It was such great fun!  We had neighbors, friends from church, and friends of friends there.  Between online orders and our home party, things were really a success.  We are truly blessed to have such wonderful friends and family to support us.  Every day we get closer and closer to our goal and it just gets even more exciting :).  Looking forward to the day we can post pictures of our new little bundle of joy!

Mom on a Mission

Sometimes going through adoption takes over you life.  It did for Jon and me for a little while...every night sitting and filling out paperwork, sending for background checks and writing papers that tell perfect strangers every detail of your personal life since you were 5.  Luckily we are getting towards the end!  We still have a few things left to do before sending in our packet to our home study social worker, but we're getting there!

The past few days have been more focused on Brayden, though.  I'm currently a mommy on a mission....big time.  The doctors ignored me 5 months ago (every every visit before that) when I was worried about his delayed development (especially since he was so premature), so I had to take it upon myself to get therapy in to see him...without the support of the doctor.  When early intervention came in to evaluate him, it proved I was right.  They very much agreed with me.  Now, 5 months later, he has PT, OT and ST and I'm once again fighting with the doctor.  

Brayden's occupational and speech therapists have been fantastic.  So good with him and very, very  supportive.  Unfortunately, his speech has not improved and his sensory processing issues have been bad the past week and a half so I decided it's time for me to call and make an appointment with a developmental pediatrician...except...I find out I need a referral.  Great.  So, once again Jon finds himself at the doctor with Brayden today, and what does she say?  She thinks it's all behavioral, aka...she thinks there is nothing wrong with him.  Of course.  She seems to be the only person who thinks that.  The only good thing we got out of that appointment was that she did give us the referral to the devel. ped. (likely just to appease us)...which has a 4-6 month waiting list.  So here we are again...waiting.  

In the meantime, I'm a mom on a mission to find out what is going on with her child.  And  I will fight....because he is worth it.  He deserves for someone to pay attention to what is going on.  He is just the best little boy and we couldn't ask for more.  

He fills our hearts with such joy...we owe it to him.  

Hiking

Prior to having Brayden, one of Jon and my favorite things to do was to go hiking.  As you can imagine, that hasn't occurred quite so frequently since then!  Today we were finally able to go again.  Those who know me well likely wonder why I love to hike so much when I HATE bugs and dirt.  Let's just say, I won't go "camping" unless it involves a camper, running water and electricity :), but hiking, that is my peace.  There is something about the smell of the air, the feel of the breeze on your skin, the colors surrounding you, and the way sunlight shines coming through the trees or reflecting off the water.  I feel like nothing else exists.  No sounds of cars or people.  No phones ringing or electrical appliances buzzing.  No one is telling you a deadline is due.  Time sort of stops and your blood pressure drops about 20 points.

Brayden ran some if it, but most of the time we had to carry him because the terrain was sort of rough and there was quite a bit of poison ivy around! (Although I had no clue what it looked like...Jon had to point it ALL out to me...see?  I wouldn't do good camping!).  What a great day it was!

Healing through tears

Things lately have gotten a little overwhelming.  We've been dealing really well with the normal stresses of adoption plus an almost two year old entering his terrible two's and my husband being in school full-time plus trying to do side jobs for extra income...but things seem to hit all at once, don't they?  First I found out I need surgery, then I found out I might need to look for a  new job, and then my husband found out about some additional problems he's facing.  I was proud of myself the past few days for being so calm and fairly upbeat...then I listened to this song tonight and sort of lost it:  

I really needed to hear this song.  I think I'll need to continuously listen to it over the next few weeks...or months...as we continue to try and raise money for the adoption, as I decide if a new job is needed, as I make a decision on if I should go through with surgery or not, and as Jon deals with healing himself.  Life has hit us hard right now.  But I know my problems are nothing compared to those of others.  I need see the blessings in the raindrops.

Reminder

Just wanted to put out a quick reminder for those of you who were planning on helping us fund the adoption by placing a TASTEFULLY SIMPLE order online!  My house party in July 8th, but for those who live too far away or can't make it, my friend Kara (TS consultant who is donating ALL HER PROFITS from the party!!) made it easy to order online!  Her website address is:

 www.tastefullysimple.com/web/kcoleman1 

and when you go to check out just sign in under my name as the "host".  Thank you so much!!!  If you have further questions please feel free to email me! 

Working on our family profile...

and I think it's what is going to be the death of me!  I bet some of you are saying, "Good grief!  What's the big deal?".  Yeah, I know.  But I feel like it's the biggest deal ever.  Ha I sound like an 8th grader talking about what to wear to school.  The fact is, I'm nervous that if I don't make it look and sound good enough that we will never get picked by a birth mom.

Typing that and then reading it back makes me feel a little dumb...

I'm sitting here trying to write some amazingly worded novel and pick out the best pictures to "showcase" our family...getting mad at myself for not being a better photographer and writer.  What is wrong with me?  I just sat in this same room talking with my aunt not more than 4 hours ago about how God has it all under control and He amazes us with His miraculous plans, and now I'm stressing out over how my smile is crooked in a picture.

OK Amanda, just finish it, press the print button, and be done with it.  Yup, that's what I need to do.

Is it what I'm GOING to do? Honestly, probably not.

Sharing the Crazy Life

It's amazing how many people I have come across lately that are also going through either the adoption process or becoming a foster parent.  Maybe it's that I just never paid attention before?  Was I walking through life with my eyes closed?  Very possible.  Very likely.  I've spent a large portion of my life with my eyes closed to most things...politics, finances, the difficulties of motherhood, poverty around the world, the orphan crisis.  All such heavy subjects, but I ignored even the basics.  I've been too indifferent.

I can't be indifferent anymore!  God can yell in your ear for quite some time, but at some point you just can't keep ignoring it without going nuts.  Well,  here I am.  My "indifference meter" has surged past the critical mark and now I'm trying to make up for lost time.  Sheesh...what a whirlwind.

So help me, OK?  Help me educate others on this crazy life called orphan care and adoption.  Most people admit they have no idea what is involved, what the costs are, what children need homes, where the children are from, how difficult the process is, how in NEED of families the world is.  I was one of those who had no idea.  I had SOME idea, just not enough.  I now want to be part of getting others as excited for adoption and foster care as I am.

Here is how you can help!
1.  Send this blog on to others!  Email it, post it to your FB, tweet it...whatever!
2.  Give my email to someone who may be battling with the fears or frustrations of adoption...or, someone who is interested but confused?
3.  Feel free to post comments with questions that everyone could benefit from!
4.  Help your church get excited about orphan care...it is vital.
OR...let me know what I can do for you!