Waiting Patiently (or not so much)

It's been 13 years since Tyler asked me to marry him. I pretty much knew it was coming. So when Christmas season began in 2001 I eagerly anticipated him asking me at any moment.

Then Christmas Eve came and went.

Then Christmas Day came and went.

I thought maybe I'd missed something... isn't the Christmas season a romantic time for proposing???

Then New Years Eve came and went.

New Years Day 2002. Tyler and I drove to the beach to spend the day. And that's when he FINALLY proposed. On the beach. That was pretty romantic too. ;)


Fast forward 13 years... I spent this past Christmas season eagerly anticipating hearing from our adoption agency that our home study was finalized.

Then Christmas Eve came and went.

Then Christmas Day came and went.

What more did they need from us to complete it? More paperwork I'd missed? More training? Oh how I wished every day that they would call and tell us we were finalized.

Then New Years Eve came and went.

The New Year began and I just kept wondering when we'd find out. It's so hard to be patient! To find the balance between being diligent and working towards bringing our kids home and being patient is definitely a struggle for me. I don't know how I would have handled it before cell phones- I'd never leave my house in anticipation that ANY DAY we could get a phone call from our agency! I guess even with my cell phone I worried that they would call when I wasn't able to answer. :)

I've spent the past 16 days trying to focus on my kids and Tyler, friendships, eating better and exercising more, my relationship with Christ and my time spent in prayer, reading new books, etc. But so often I found myself checking my email and the ringer volume on my phone.

Then today we got some great news! We are officially approved to adopt two children (siblings)!!!  I am so incredibly happy!!! We have never wavered from feeling that God has called us to adopt two children and so now to have that made more possible now is such a relief and blessing.

My sweet friend and fellow adoptive momma in process made this bracelet for me. It says: "For these children I have prayed" and so for these children I will continue to pray!!