Summertime!

I love that being a teacher allows me summers off with my kids.  I get time for slower mornings, fun adventures and even the chance to check some things off the "to do" list.  Yesterday we had a wonderful trip to the zoo, just us girls.  We ate lunch while waiting for the Sparky Show, checked out the animals and ended the trip with a nice surprise that it was Free Monday for the carousel - I happened upon it yesterday, but found out it happens every 3rd Monday in June, July and August so we will probably making a return appearance :)  Here are a few pictures of our much welcomed stress-free day:

I am so blessed by these two sweeties and am also continuously amazed by all the new things they are learning.  Shannon spends her days making art projects as gifts for the rest of the family, reading books to ME, and just yesterday I taught her how to tie her shoes.  Today she woke up begging to tie shoes again today and promptly borrowed one of her daddy's shoes, slipped her foot inside and tied the shoe all on her own with no help or reminders from me.  Amelia has decided she is too big for me to dress her anymore and insists on putting all her clothes on herself - including her big girl underwear since she is now potty trained.  She wakes up with a smile and a snuggle almost everyday and loves to copy her big sister.  I love how much they love each other and play so well together (that's not to say they always get along). 

I'm also dreaming about what future summers will be like as our family grows and the adventures they will have together :)

A change of events

After the news Monday about the bank wanting more for the Chaparral house in Apple Valley than we originally wanted to pay we spent the next few days looking at several other houses on the market.  None of them felt like "home" and the next best option was one that would take a significant amount of elbow grease and money.  We came home a bit discouraged, and decided to ask our mortgage lender to run the numbers on the new bank offer for the Chaparral house.  Turns out with interest rates as low as they are now, it really wasn't a huge increase from the monthly amount we had planned for. 

We still weren't 100% sure if we wanted to go back to it with the increased price so Ben and I dressed the girls in their jammies after dinner, hopped in the car and drove by about 5 or 6 houses that were "possibilities" ending at the Chaparral house - many of which we had already been inside earlier with our realtor.  We prayed for God to give us direction and peace about which house should be home, or possibly to wait for one we hadn't seen yet.  Some houses we were able to rule out immediately without getting out of the car, others we walked around the property.  When we finished at the Chaparral house, we each took turns walking around it.  As we drove away we asked how we each felt.  Ben went first and said exactly how I was feeling as well: "That is home, and it gave me a great sense of peace when we pulled up to it."

While it isn't the price we planned on, it is within our budget.  I can't help but think back to the Sunday we announced in church the sellers had accepted our offer and a woman in front of us (who we'd never talked to before that Sunday) found us after church.  She gave us the bag of coins and said she felt like God wanted her to give them to us to remind us that saving for the adoption process, including purchasing a new home, won't be easy but God will always provide.

This decision just feels right and both Ben and I are at peace with God's timing and plan.  Currently we are looking at a possible closing date in August and then we can move forward with the home study process to bring our future children home someday.  I look forward to seeing how the rest of this adventure unfolds :)

And the search continues...

So, things have not exactly gone according to our plans recently.  We found out two days ago we are not getting the Chaparral house in Apple Valley - the bank for the short sale came back and wants 32K more than the listing price, even though we already offered 15K above asking price.  It was difficult news to hear, especially after 4 months of waiting and dreaming up decorating ideas, but we are reminding ourselves that must not be the house God wants us to be in. 

In addition to the news about losing the house we wanted, we've also been dealing with major issues in our rental property in Sleepy Eye involving completely gutting the basement from 8 inches of sewage backup.  Long story short, it has been a stressful last 2 weeks and we are ready for some good news.  I am trying my best to trust in God's plan and timing and remember He sees the bigger picture. 

My "silver lining" has been my summer days home with my sweet girls.  Whenever I've been close to tears Shannon or Amelia, or both, have somehow managed to do something that makes me smile.  They are definitely two amazing blessings in my life, as well as my handy hubby who is plugging away at all the repairs for the Sleepy Eye house.

I could, and honestly have been tempted to, sit and wallow in our bad news streak.  My heart aches for our future children and I am eager to officially start the adoption process so we can bring them home.  This past couple of weeks feels like we are moving backwards.  Fortunately, though, there are also so many wonderful things surrounding my life and I am choosing to focus on the countless blessings God has given this family and cast my cares upon Him.

So for now, we continue the hunt for the right house and wait to see what adventures God has in store for us as we look to grow our family.  We are praying for wisdom and guidance in this process and for protection and care for whoever it is that our future children will be.

Shannon is turning FIVE!

With all the dreaming about our future children, I am also loving my life with Shannon and Amelia and this weekend is all about Miss Nannon Bug (aka Shannon) who is turning five on Monday.   It feels like just yesterday I was at Abbott Hospital on bedrest before she entered this world when I was 35 weeks pregnant.  I cannot believe the amazingly curious, faithful, beautiful, loving, and precocious girl she has become.  She is a GREAT big sister and I am so proud to be her Momma.  Her excitement and curiousity about the idea of adopting more siblings has been one of many confirmations I've had about adopting.  I love watching her grow in her child-like faith and look forward to witnessing her grow up into confident young woman someday.  For now though, I'm celebrating these five years of her life and am blessed to have her in our lives.  Happy Birthday to my sweet Shannon!!!

Finally, an answer

Well, after applying in January for Shannon to attend Adams Spanish Immersion this fall we finally have an answer to one of our unknowns. Today, on 5 de mayo, we got the official letter telling us she got in! It feels great to have an answer to SOMETHING. Now we will continue to wait to hear about the house and my job schedule next year. I am so excited she got in and am hopeful it will give her a jump start on her Spanish before we go live in the DR for up to 8+ months. Honestly, I've wanted to send her there before we started thinking about adopting from the DR, but I figure it can't hurt for her to be comfortable with the Spanish language before we move down there temporarily either. :) We will continue to pray for the house and my job. The biggest one being the house. I know I have a job next year, I just don't know what my schedule willl look like yet and full time would help to save for the adoption, but I'd miss the extra time I have with the girls. I am thankful God continues to bless our family and we will continue to trust in His timing!

Hurry up and wait

It seems we are in the no man's land of waiting right now.  Waiting to hear from Wells Fargo about the short sale on the house.  Waiting to hear about where Shannon will go to kindergarten (if she gets into Adam's Spanish Immersion or not).  Waiting to hear if I will be full or part-time next school year and if part-time what my schedule will be.  Waiting to move forward with the house so we can move forward with the adoption home study.  Overall, a lot of waiting.

But, waiting can also allow for dreaming.  As we wait I can't help but dream about what it will be like to temporarily move to the Dominican Republic as we adopt two or more additional blessings into our family.  With the spring weather here, I've enjoyed watching the girls play at the park many an afternoon.  As they play and interact I dream of what life will be like when we come home with a larger family.  I love the sisterly bond Shannon and Amelia have and pray that will grow to include their future siblings as well.

More than dreaming, waiting allows for trusting - putting my trust in God that HE has a plan for our family and HIS plan is far greater than any plan I could dream up on my own.

What a week

This has certainly been quite the week, but through it all God is good.  We've had quite a few "bumps in the road" this week, but tonight I am thankful for my family and how blessed we are.

Ben has been doing a TON of side work on cars as a means to save for international adoption.  However, apparently at least one of our neighbors is not too thrilled about this idea.  Late last week we were notified by the city we were in violation of code for having a disabled vehicle in plain sight (ie: not hidden in our garage, but instead in our driveway).  A few days later we received another letter stating one of our neighbors suspects we are running a repair shop.  Ben has been working tirelessly on the repairs, but unfortunately is just has not been going so smooth with lots of unforseen complications.  He has been out in that driveway working what feels like non-stop to finish the repairs and meet code with the city.  The girls and I miss him.  I am, however, so thankful for what a dedicated husband he is and the blessing he is to our family.

Another "bump in the road" we are praying for has to do with our renter situation which has gotten complicated.  While I do not know what the outcome will be with this situation, I am choosing to cast my cares on God and know that HE sees the big picture and has great plans for our family.

On the upside, we had the inspection on the new house on Thursday.  Overall, the inspection went very well and we removed our inspection contigency so we are now officially just waiting to hear if the bank accepts the offer.  During the inspection, we also got to show the girls the inside of the house for the first time.

While stress has been high this week, we're still on this adventure as a family together.  Shannon has been having some great questions and conversations about adopting and has enjoyed feeling "grown up" by going out and watching her dad work on cars and spending time with him.  Amelia has been an amazing blessing to me this week in particular with her overall joy.  She will often randomly break out into laughter and, no matter what else is going on, it is impossible not to smile along with her. 

We are continuing on this Reilly adventure and our family will praise God in the good times and in the rough times as well.