What a difference a week makes. This time last week, Kev and I were in Philly at an adoption seminar. This weekend, we are excited about the possibility of receiving a little boy in November or a set of twins in January. We cannot wait! We have written our "Dear Birthmother" letter and found a social worker to do our homestudy. We are waiting for her to send us the paperwork. Next, we have to have a background check. Complete the homestudy survey and interview. All we can do after that is wait. I feel like I am in such a race against time. I don't know why.

When a couple is expecting to give birth to their child, they have most of nine months to prepare for it. You also know that as long as you continue to receive good reports from the doctor, you will be parents. When someone else is carrying your child, you don't have that luxery. You can't take that for granted. Things could happen to change the mother's mind. So, this is something we are trying to keep in perspective. At the same time though, we are thrilled. We just know that God is going to send us the baby he intends for us to raise. It will all work out in the end. I can't wait to decorate the room we have decided will be our nursery.

There are so many amazing emotions I'm feeling right now. Kevin will be a wonderful father. I can't wait to see him with our son or daughter. He's amazing with children. Christian and Katelyn absolutely adore him. His nephews and nieces who don't live nearby call regularly and check in, too.

Mom and Dad were thrilled when I told them. I knew they'd be happy for me, but I didn't realize just how excited they'd be. Amanda is expecting her first born, and Darrell already has two. They were as excited for us as if I were pregnant. You can't know how proud that makes me.

Biscuit & Birdie.

Aren't they precious?

Every child has been created for greater things, to love and to be loved, in the image of God. That's why people must decide beforehand if they really want to have a child. Once a child is conceived, there is life, God's life. That child has a right to live and to be cared for. Abortion destroys two lives, the life of the child and the conscience of the mother. It is a child of God, no? Created for greater things, just like you and me... Mother Teresa

In the words of our president, "It's hard work!"

You know, the first week of school with the kids is always demanding. Teaching children how to follow procedure, head their papers, and in my 3rd grade class which way to turn your paper. (They're accustomed to writing on "tablet" paper in 2nd grade.) Kevin has also been in Texas this week. So, needless to say, I was more than a little weary this afternoon. My little neice is in kindergarten this year. She and her 8-year-old brother stayed with me after school. He is used to the routine; she is not. I decided that it would be more fun to think about her fun-filled day than to consider how tiring mine had been. So the following are excerpts from our conversation while walking down the DPES hall hand in hand:

me: K, how was kindergarten today?
K: It was HARD WORK, hard, hard, hard, hard work!
me: Oh yeah? What all did you learn about today?
K: Well, we didn't learn how to write anything. We cut, cut, cutted; and we colored, colored, colored...and it rained, rained, rained, and stormed and lightened, and I got scared!
me: Yep, your day sounds much harder than mine. We didn't color.

me: So, how's your teacher? What's she like?
K: Awww...she's just a real old lady with gray hair and arms that hurt all the time. (Boy, I wonder what my kids tell their parents about me.)

another random kindergartener thought from K: "Ya'll can't just hold hands all the whole day long!"
me: huh? What are you talking about?
K: That's what my teacher said to me and my friend when we held hands all day today.

Amanda is 9 weeks pregnant in this photo. I'm amazed at how her belly has already grown! She has always had the flattest stomach...the widest hips, too...but the flattest stomach. She is so excited about the baby. She's due in March. She and Tony will be leaving the "mobile mansion" in October and moving into their first home together. I'll be excited to have her closer to town.

You know, kids are so interested in books when they can't read the words on the page. Are the words boring, or are the pictures just that much more interesting. I love this photo of Katelyn, because there are so many other things she could be doing and playing with in this room...but my very active niece chooses to sit down and "read" a book. 3rd graders, take note!