Happenings

Things have been so hectic lately with this job change I haven't had any time to sit down and blog. I've actually missed 2 1/2 days of work over the last couple of weeks because Cade has been sick (I'll have to post the sick story when I have a chance to do some involved storytelling). Those would've been perfect blogging days except that our internet was down. I kept thinking it would come back and after a week I knew we needed to call. Jay did the calling and all of a sudden I heard him say that he'd check to see if the cable was plugged in. That's when it hit me....I had unplugged the cable. I don't remember why I did that, I just did it. After much moaning, groaning and strecthcing our arms as far as possible behind the computer cabinet (while still on the phone with Centurytel) we got the cable plugged in.

I've had some questions about my job and about our adoption. Here's an update....

I'm still working in Carthage. I think my official last day will be April 3, but I'll be back and forth still for the month of April. I'm planning on working 2 days there and 3 days in Mt Vernon. I'm getting more and more exctied about the change. Actually it's more that I'm excited about the drive time rather than the job, but I'm not dreading the job by any means. Training Sandra has been very good for my outlook on what I do. I will admit I was getting bored with it, I needed more of a challenge. Training someone else has reminded me why I liked the job in the first place. Also, the fact that I have someone to laugh with has helped a great deal. I hope this renewed feeling towards my employer extends to my new position and location.

Things on the adoption front are going the same way they have for the last 17 months or should I say 27 months or 3 years 9 months. Which ever waiting time frame you want to use, it's still going the same. We've had several potential families looking at our profile since January, but we've not been picked. There are two other couples that have been waiting longer than we have on the Bethany website. There have been several couples who haven't waited nearly as long, get placements. I wonder if the other two couples are as discouraged as we are? At least with the job training I have not hardly thought about it. The distraction from the worry and wondering has been great.

I use to keep all the e-mails from our agency describing all the potential situations. I thought it would be neat to keep them. Maybe our future child would like to read them someday???? I don't keep them anymore. Since they could be published into a novel I've decided it's too much of a reminder. I would really, really like to get a placement this summer....so we keep praying.....

We have not mailed off the application to the other agency yet. We can't really describe why except we didn't feel that was the direction God was wanting us to take. That's the only reason why we could explain our behavior towards the application. This happened to both of us....we'd go to get the application to put in the mail and something would stop us. We'd get distracted or something. It would be hours later before we'd remember that we hadn't done anything with it. This happened numberous times to both of us. Finally we sat down one night and talked about it. We decided that something didn't feel right about it and that we would hold off. It doesn't mean that we won't ever do it, but for now God is telling us to wait on it. That was something I had struggled with when we started discussing the other agency - was I trying to push God along on my time schedule or was he leading us to this other agency? Considering how everything happened we think we were on our timeline rather than God's.

The longer this goes on I do worry that maybe we aren't meant to adopt. Maybe we aren't meant to have any more children. Jay is convinced that it will happen eventually and I hope, hope, hope he's right. I can't wait for the day I finally get to blog that we have a new son or daughter....I just hope that day comes before I'm too feeble to type! (ha, ha)

In a Galaxy Far Far Away

There was a boy who had a 7th birthday party....

Cade wanted this years theme to be Star Wars. I've never seen all the movies, just bits and pieces but he seems to be obsessed with it. We even carried the theme through his presents. Jay and I got him the Lego Star Wars game and two light sabers to use with the Wii. We let him open up the presents from us on Thursday (his actual birthday) and we waited on the rest until Sunday. Just an FYI for those thinking about purchasing the light sabers for the Wii....I took a vacation day on Friday. Since I was home alone I decided to try out the light sabers. I almost took out our fireplace doors. The light part doesn't attach real securely. Luckily no one was standing close to me and the saber hit the doors instead of a lamp or something else more breakable. I put them away after the incident.

We had a good time at the party - all the grandparents and great-grandparents made it along with Terry, Megan, Charity and Avery. Probably the most interesting present came from Jim and Sharon. I won't spoil the "surprise". I'll let you see for yourself in the pictures.

Yes, that is a donkey. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess there won't be too many 7 year olds in the world getting donkey's for their birthday's. Do you remember the scene from Christmas Vacation where Clark has the family outside to plug in the Christmas lights? His daughter says "I hope no one I know drives by and sees me standing in the yawhat someone would think driving by the house seeing a bunch of us snapping pictures of two donkeys with red ribbons around their necks. I didn't fight Jim when he loaded them back on the trailer to return them back to their permanent home at their house. By the way, if you're wondering, their names are Jerry and Jenny.

The day was good. Cade's birthdays are bittersweet days for us. We are so thankful for Cade and for each year that he grows and is healthy....but it's still a little sad. Our little short chubby baby has grown into a long legged boy.

A Birthday Retrospect in Cakes

Happy Birthday Cade!!!! Can't believe that he's 7 today.

Since Cade's big birthday party isn't until this weekend I thought I'd celebrate it by looking back at all of his wonderful birthday cakes. I'm not a cake decorator. I'd like to be able to do it, but since I have 0 patience it doesn't work so well for me. Instead we have Janella, the same person who made our wedding cake, make Cade's birthday cakes. We always give her our theme and tell her to do what she wants. So far she's never let us down. Jay called to order this years cake and after he got off the phone he did a mock phone call for my benefit. "Janella, this is Jay." "Cade is turning 35 this year".....

Enjoy!!!!

Skyler the Celebrity

Having someone else in the office is really cutting into my blogging time! Skyler and his parents were featured on a local TV station last Thursday. I'm just now getting around to posting it on the blog, but better late then never right???? KY3 did a great job on the story. I think Ryan told me the TV crew followed them around for at least 4 hours to produce this 3 minute piece. I've mentioned Skyler a few times on this blog so I wanted everyone to have a chance to get to know him and Ryan and Melissa a little better.

Skyler on KY3

End of an Era

Last Friday was a significant day in my life. It was the last day that I'd sit alone in my chair in this office. I knew that on Monday Sandra would start and the countdown to my departure would really begin. I don't know why, but I had a huge feeling of a chapter closing in my life. I don't remember feeling this way when I transferred to this office, but I have been here 7 years. It's the longest I've ever worked in one place in my life. It's hard to believe that I've been here 7 years....well at least it is until you sit in my chair. I pulled up a newer less sat in chair Monday and discovered that I've really flattened out my regular chair.

I don't know if I feel so much like a chapter is closing because I've experienced a lot while working here. I transferred here 6 weeks before Cade was born and I came to work while in labor. I'll never forget two of the customers I worked with that day. I got all my parenting advice from Sandra when Cade was a baby in this office. She had a boy 6 weeks older than Cade so we talked through a lot of things. I spent many days trying to keep from falling asleep at my desk because Cade didn't sleep the night before. I spent some time on the computer researching various infertility things once it was apparent we had a problem. Then I switched to reading about adoption. It was at the office that it first hit me that I wanted to adopt. I've fielded phone calls of all kinds here from the person who wanted to buy miniature Herefords to the one from my mom saying Mamma was being taken from home to the hospital by ambulance. She never got to come back home.

I've enjoyed my time here, but it is time for a change. I am a little nervous about the new job because it will be different than what I've done the last 7 years, but I'm ready for it. I will have to get used to the quirks of new co-workers and new customers but I'm sure I can handle it. The fact that the drive home will be less than 10 minutes will make up for just about anything else.

Jay and I aren't the only ones who is excited, so is Cade. On Sunday Jay and I were talking about Sandra starting on Monday and Cade wanted to know what we were talking about. I explained that Sandra would take my job so I could move to Mt Vernon. Cade got really excited, actually more excited than I expected. I asked him if he was glad I was getting to move and he said "yes, now when we go out to eat we'll be able to go quicker." I can see where his priorities are.