Needs & Niceties

I feel incredible blessed by all the caring friends around us who have been giving freely. We have a car seat, bassinet and bouncer on loan from various friends. We have been given a large bag of newborn, 0-3, and 3-6 Month clothes, diaper bags, baby socks and blankets. I was able to pick up a New Native Baby Carrier at a sale for only $10. and it doesn't show any signs of wear. (They are normally $40-$50, so I was totally thrilled.)I really don't mind doing without lots of equipment and extras. But there are still a few things that we need or would be very nice to have. We loved pre-owned things, stuff doesn't have to be new to bring us joy. :-)

As requested, here is a list of our needs and a few niceties, too:
- Cloth Diapers I don't mind an assortment of styles. I will need some flats for the winter months, since I have no dryer. These dry much faster than the prefolds or all-in-one diapers.
- Covers/Vinyl Pants This is covered now, thanks to another great friend. PTL!
- Natural Baby Wash, Shampoo, Oils and Salves
(stuff like Dr. Bronner's, Burt'Bees, Avalon, Bentley Organic, Weleda, etc)
- Several 3-6 month sleepers (Preferably 100% Cotton)
- Crib - second hand would be perfect
- Two Waterproof Crib Mattress Covers
- Lact-Aid Supplemental Feeding System
I am planning to breastfeed and will use this system until my milk supply is full (indefinitely, if needed). I currently have the Medela SNS but have read lots of negatives and probably will have to upgrade to the Lact-Aid nearly immediately. I wish I would have spent more time on research before I ordered the other one, since they won't accept returns at all. Grr!
- Boppy Pillow
- Rocking Chair (preferably used, an old wooden one would be lovely.
- Baby Stroller - something with good solid wheels for use on dirt roads and flea market gravel areas.
- Several Small Toys made from Natural fibers. i.e cotton, wool, and wooden toys.
If I think of some other things, I may come back and update this list.
Thank you again for all your support and prayer, we feel very loved.

Hopeful Days

I know some of you are dying to hear more information about my short update, and our hopeful adoption.

In July we began working on updating all the necessary paperwork in preparation to hopefully adopt a baby girl. All the necessary background checks: Criminal, sex offender, and child abuse. Plus a home-study update, physical assessments...
Steady progress was being made and I expected to have everything complete within eight weeks, making the date about Sept. 15.

On Sept. 2nd we got a phone call about a baby girl, bi-racial (Caucasian/African American) and within the state. The birth mother is now somewhere between 37-39 weeks pregnant, and has been hospitalized twice with preterm labor during the last three weeks.
We could have placement any day or not for another two weeks. As with any adoption, nothing is for sure until you hold the baby in your arms, though this scenario is extremely positive for several reasons.

Needless to say, life has been a flurry of activity as we try to tie up all the loose ends with paperwork and make baby preparations.

From our previous experience we had expected to finish our paperwork and make contact with several sources, and attorneys and begin the waiting process. During this waiting period we planned to prepare for a baby and continue saving each month toward the expenses involved with adoption. Plus, work on getting a second vehicle that would actually accommodate six people. (currently we only own a truck, which seats five).

We really were not ready, in the physical sense. It has been five years since we had a baby and all our baby things have been passed on to other people who needed them. So I had next to nothing by way of baby things and furniture. We just didn't expect it to happen this fast.

It has been an amazing experience to see God putting things together for us. Many generous friends have blessed us with baby items, clothes and even financial aid. We still do not have another vehicle and the finances for the adoption aren't all together. It has been another faith venture, a bit stretching and exciting and crazy. Through it all, I have a peace that things will continue to work out and fall into place as we have need.

Though this has been exciting it has also been stressful, and busy. We expect that the initial weeks after placement could prove to be a bit rough also. She has had some drug exposure and may have withdrawal issues in relation to this, along with nicotine withdrawal.

Keep us all in your prayers, the mother, the baby and our family too.

Great Happenings

We are off to another adventure, and though it has been a dream for several years we didn't see things happening so quickly.

One moment things are going quite as usual. You move through daily routines and activities and there is no thought that one small shift could completely alter your life . But a phone call has shifted our lives dramatically.

It looks like we will have a newborn baby girl joining our family within the month. Unborn as yet.

I will write more about all that has happened, and is happening soon. I am presently engulfed in a whirlwind of a activity and preparation.

We need your prayers, there are so many details that only God can work out. When we come to your mind please lift all of us up in prayer.

Joy

My Quote for today:

"Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are. "

-Marianne Williamson

No explanations needed, simply profound.... and thought provoking, too.

A New School Year/A New Blog

It has been months since I wrote my last blog entry, February to be exact. I miss blogging, and I know I am ready to pick it up again.

I suppose my blog address is rather descriptive of my ideals for our lives.
In the 8 1/2 years that I have been married life has certainly been an adventure. I can't say that I have always enjoyed the adventure or have been joyful in it all. But I can say that I have learned (and intend to keep learning) to be more joyous and to embrace life as an adventure. I want my kids to grow up remembering their childhood as a joyous time. Not because everything was perfect but because there was an atmosphere of joy and thanks, and it was okay for things to turn out in unexpected ways.

But like I said, it hasn't always been this way in my life.
Reminds me of this line from the beginning of the Hobbit where Bilbo was talking to Gandalf and says. :
"[We] have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!"... and then, after the dwarves sing their song, something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.
Sometimes it is just like that. We rather suddenly discover that we need to break away and be more daring and more adventure-some. For me it was partly because I finally realized that I am married to a visionary guy and the life with him will be so much more fun if I can allow myself to go ahead and enjoy all the unexpected things and changes that daily life brings.

This week the changes aren't so drastic really. Just the discovery for everyone that summer vacation is over, we have begun our new school year in earnest. The three brothers are now all "officially" being educated. It is rewarding and exhausting. I am so glad for everything that I have learned from Charlotte Mason. After a tentative trial year, I find that I am totally sold with this method of education even though it takes a good deal of planning and coordination to pull it all off.

All of us are learning our new daily rhythm and within a few weeks we should find it all a bit easier than the last several days have been. Still I expect it to be somewhat of a juggling act, after all they are only 7 1/2, 6, & 5 (next month).

Last Thursday morning (5 days ago now) we met with a CM Cottage School Co-op for introductions and to discuss our plans for this coming term. This Co-op meets every week but we will only be able to do every other week, because of the commuting distance.
Plans are to meet from 9AM-1PM for shared learning experiences centered around Nature Studies and the Arts. Music Appreciation, Artist and Composer Studies, Handicraft Times, Nature Walks and Nature Journal keeping. The boys are thrilled and honestly, so am I.

Thursday evening also marked the beginning of my venture to start a book club specifically centered on understanding and implementing Charlotte Mason's philosophy in our homes and schools. I was surprised with a turn out of 13 people but a bit overwhelmed to discover that I am the only one with any background in Charlotte Mason.

.... oh, but time has gotten away from me and I must start dinner this very moment. TTFN!