Dreaming....

Last night I had my first adoption dream since we started the new adoption. I dreamt that we were being considered by an expectant mom who was also considering another family. It had a very "game-show" feel to it and I remember actively campaigning for our family. The bizzare part was that the family that was chosen would have to live in the expectant mom's house....which was haunted....and filled with lizards....

Hmmmm....I'm pretty sure there is something wrong with my brain.

On that note - here is the latest adoption update. We submitted our formal application which was approved and have moved on to the ginormus stack of pre-home study homework! I had forgotten how much of it there was! We are working our way through it but before you ask, because I know you want to, no - I have no idea how long it is going to take.

I'm still relatively calm about it, but I know at some point that will fall apart and I will become a blubbering bundle of nerves. Can't wait for that!! Mainly I'm just really excited. I can't wait to bring another little person into the house. Tiny little fingers and toes - just makes my heart melt.

Just.
Can't.
Wait...

Post again soon ~ Jeny

Notice anything different????

::Hint:: check out our adoption timeline ;-)

Deatils (and by details I mean obsessive details intersperesed with neurotic rambilings) to follow....

~Jeny

Created for Care Recap!

I've been putting off this post, partly because I don't think that there are enough words to cover everything that I experienced and partly because I'm tired of crying. Like seriously 3 straight days of it - I went through an entire cube of travel tissues. I don't know why I cry so much I just do...it's my gift I guess.

To go through everything that happened last weekend would probably be way too long here so I will try to just hit the highlights :)

We went up on Thursday which was a day early and I am SOOO glad that we did because it was great to have an extra day to relax. The resort was absolutely gorgeous (and really cold!!) and I got to spend some really sweet time Friday morning sitting on our little patio (in flannel pajamas and wrapped in a quilt) overlooking the lake and watching the sun rise. Friday night was check-in and our first main session which was amazing. Let me tell you - worshipping in a room with 450 mommas all with a heart for adoption was incredible....and we got to do it several times!!!

The breakout sessions on Saturday were amazing also. I did one on fundraising, marriage and haircare. I could probably write an entire post on each of these sessions. Another great experience was the date with God which I did Saturday morning. What a moving experience that was! God really used that experience to reassure me to rest in His calling for me. What was amazing moment it was to hear those same words repeated from stage the next morning and AGAIN in church this very morning!!!

Let me tell you, I am so incredibly blessed to be called to this ministry to support domestic adoptive families. Everyone that we talked to commented on the fact that there are just not enough resources and grants for domestic adoption and I totally agree - that's what started us on this journey in the first place. Can't wait to see what the next few months have in store for Called to Adopt!! :)

Post again soon!!
~Jeny

Created for Care

So excited about heading to the Created for Care retreat this coming weekend!! I've talked to several people who have gone and they said it is AMAZING!! I'm really looking forward to spending some time with other adoptive mommas and learning better how to serve other adoptive families.

The other awesome thing is that Called to Adopt will have an exhibitor table there. It's such a big step for "our little" organization!! I probably won't have any time to blog while I'm there, but I will be updating our facebook page www.facebook.com/calledtoadopt and trying to update twitter also @Called_to_adopt.

I'm also looking forward to meeting so many of the mommas that I've "met" through the blog-world. Post a comment if I should be looking for you!!
Post again soon!
~Jeny

The wrong path...

Sometimes you have to go down the wrong path to realize you're going in the wrong direction...

Our foster care classes have come to an abrupt end. After much discussion and prayer we have decided that foster care is not the direction that our family needs to be heading right now. There was a lot that went into this decision, but we are 100% confident in our decision.

That being said...

since we aren't done expanding our family...

We're adopting again!!

Well, my newsbox is now empty...post again soon!!
~Jeny :-)

Big Family News!!!

The next big step for our family happens tomorrow. We start our classes to become a certified foster care family!!! Excited doesn't even begin to cover it!!! We've been talking about our next step for a few months....well at least I have....DJ has kind of been listening. We'd said a couple different times that when it was time we would know what our next step was. Over the last couple months it's become pretty clear that we are being called to foster care to grow our family.

We talked to Mackenzie about it a few weeks ago and explained to her (in a 6-year-old appropriate discussion) that we were taking classes to become a foster family. She seems to understand and sounds super excited. Our biggest concern will be guarding her heart through this process becuase she has such a tender heart.

So excited to start this next chapter in our story!

Post again soon!
~Jeny

Camping!!!

We went camping this weekend - first time in a LOOOOOONG time. I think Mackenzie was still a baby the last time I camped. Mackenzie doesn't remember camping so the whole new experience for her. We got a tent for Chirstmas and we finally had a weekend to try it out. Luckily there are tons of campgrounds within a short drive of Central Florida. DJ went and got our campsite set up and I joined him with the girls after work on Friday.

Here's what I learned from our expereience:

1. People who say it doesn't get cold in Florida are lying
2. There are very few people raising their children with manners :(
3. A family of 4 can fit (if not comfortably) on a queen size air bed

Friday night was WAY colder than I expected and the night was VERY long! But we survived. Luckily we were close enough to home that I could run home Saturday morning and grab some more blankets (and take a shower :-) Luckily Saturday turned out to be a gorgeous day!! Saturday night was just about as cold but at least we got more sleep...until the kids joined us.

Mackenzie had a blast especially since she was joined on Saturday by a couple of her friends. Avery was less sure of camping but hopefully she will warm up to it the more we go. I think she'll like it better when it isn't quite so cold.

I love being able to pass down these traditions to my girls :-)

Post again soon!
~Jeny