Ticker Time!

I finally got to add my adoption ticker to my blog! For ages and ages, I have been looking forward to the time when we would start our "official waiting" - the time when we would be put on the list waiting for a referral.

Today, I found out that we were actually put on the list A MONTH AGO!!! I did not realize it, but our home study was approved on August 19th and that is when we were put on the list! And our wait officially started.

I am so stinking excited!

So, I have added a ticker at the bottom of the blog (because I'm not sure that I will always be in the mood to see how long we have been waiting!). I know that time will go by and one day, not too far in the future, we will receive a call about a beautiful baby girl or boy who will be our child. I cannot wait!!!

For a long time now, I have not really felt like I could enjoy the excitement part of adopting. I think maybe I was still grieving, and was struggling with how far away it was...but now it is becoming real and I am ready to be a mommy! I feel like I have freedom now to dream and plan and look forward to it. I picked up my knitting tonight - a blanket that I started for our baby on the night that we decided to adopt. I had put it down for a long time, but now I am realizing that I'd better get busy on it because I am a SLOW knitter and I want it to be done before our baby arrives. Tonight I almost finished square number one (of 12).

Yes, my excitement sometimes shows itself in strange ways!!!

A Perfectly Lovely Saturday

It used to be a very well-known fact that Rachel did not get out of bed on a Saturday before noon FOR ANYTHING. The house could be on fire...and people would still be afraid to wake me up because I would be ridiculously cranky.

This morning (Saturday) I got up at 8am, had a piece of toast, strapped on my new running shoes (which by the way have almost completely cured my knee pain!) and headed out to a trail with a running buddy.

Anyone who has ever lived with me who is reading this post is gasping, I just know it.


It has been a good week as far as running goes. I ran 2 miles on Monday, 3 miles on Tuesday, 4 miles on Thursday, and 3 miles today. I think that is the most I have ever run in one week. I'm still loving it...but winter is approaching and I don't like cold, so we'll have to see what that does to my enthusiasm.

Today, Brad declared it "sweatpants day" (well, not officially, but he wore them all day long and kept saying how much he loves wearing sweatpants and how great it is that it is now Fall and he can sit watching football in his sweatpants all day...) and I spent some time scrapbooking and watching "I Love Lucy" (one of my favorites).

Around 4pm, I managed to persuade Brad to put on some real clothes (we have had the discussion many times about if sweatpants should be allowed out of the house...) and we headed to the park to take Daisie for a walk.

Next, it was on to Brad's parent's house where we watched more football and then had a bonfire. It was a perfect evening for it and his mom even brought home apple cider and donuts for us to enjoy!


After the walk in the park and playing with her "cousin", Dakota (Brad's parents also have a basset hound), poor Daisie was exhausted! We are looking forward to an uninterrupted night of sleep.


I was playing around with some of the features on my camera and managed to take this kind of interesting picture of the fire. I thought it was cool!

It's been a lovely day and now I must go to bed because Brad and I are helping in the Toddler room at church tomorrow and we are fearing for our lives :) Just kidding (sort of), but we will need our energy for sure!

Blessed by Another's Blogging!

Today I had an email from my Mom, reminding me of what lies ahead...that one day, the waiting will be behind us, and our little one will be home with us at last.

Tonight I talked with my mother-in-law, and heard the excitement in her voice as she talked about how wonderful it will be when our baby is finally with us.

Tonight I read an amazing post on an adoption blog that I have been following that made my heart soar and my eyes fill with tears. Yes, I borrowed her picture, and I hope you will take the time to read her post.

It is coming. The time is coming when we will hold our little one in our arms. It has felt like it is so far away, but I know now...it is coming. The Lord is so good, that in His mercy He is putting together our little family, in His own way, in His time. My heart is happy tonight, looking forward to that day. I am so blessed!

Attention Span

Has this ever happened to you?

You call up a business, and get their automated system. The voice begins to rattle off your options: "Press One for Customer Service, Press Two for Maintenance, Press Three for..." You know the routine.

It's at this point that I always give myself a pep talk. Okay, Rachel, listen carefully. You can do this. Don't get distracted - just listen to the options and find the one that you need. Just LISTEN.

It is usually around option four or five that I realize that my mind has drifted. I haven't heard any of the options so far! How does this always happen??? I hope against hope that the next option I hear is the one I'll need...but it never is.

What should I do? Should I press one or two and just hope it is right? Should I wait for the operator? But when I explain what I need, she might just tell me that I should have pressed option three, and then my secret will be out. I cannot pay attention to anything for more than 0.3 seconds. Should I explain to her that I tried really hard to listen but somehow just missed it?

I hang up and start again, promising myself that I'll pay closer attention this time.

And yes, this happened to me today. Again.

I Love How This Page Turned Out...

And I love this little girl!

(Niece Abbey when she was 4 months old)

So Encouraged

I am so thankful to be loved by some very wonderful people in my life. I could make a big long list of all of them, but that might take a while. Yes, I am that blessed. God is good!


Tonight was a wonderful night that really encouraged me. Brad and I went over to the house of a couple from our church who have two adopted children from Korea. Their girls are now in their twenties, but it was still so neat to hear their story and to see pictures of when they brought their children home. We found out that we have a lot in common with them and we laughed a lot. Plus the food was incredible!


Then I got home and checked the blog and my email, and I was reminded of a couple of things. I have some real friends in my life who will stick with me through the ups and downs and who are okay with me sharing or not sharing things with them. I know that they care and are there if (when) I need them. That is a rare and precious gift.


My Mom also wrote me a lovely email that lifted my heart. I am often very hard on myself and if I don't "have it all together" I feel like a failure. She is so good at gently reminding me that it is okay to not have it all together! It is good to come to the end of myself and to have to trust the Lord. What a relief that is to realize! I can sometimes get it together for like half a day, but after that... :) Thanks, Mom, for your loving words that really helped. You are the best mom ever and I hope that I will be like you when I am a mom.


Oh yes, and I must wish my Mom and my friend Kristy (aka Krispy!) a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You are loved :)