more to the ensamble if you will....

I was out and about with my dear friend Mollie today "tique" shopping at some favorite antique stores downtown. When I went by to pick her up to go out there was a garage sale going on down her street. I saw a fun "jungle-gym" type thing that I have been wanting to get Bear for his b.day and so we stopped by to take a gander. I saw it and liked it but had read some "so-so" reviews about it and so was hesitant. We looked around a bit more and decided to leave. We went downtown to look around in the antique stores and found little ins and outs. We got to the last place and were looking forward to getting a drink and chatting over a sit down in the deli that they have. Or HAD rather.... It was no longer in there. So we left because we were thirsty and tried two other coffee/deli shops downtown one of which closed at 2P and the other had apparently CLOSED for good. Sad; it was a wonderful place to hang out and chat over deli style food and/or drinks. So needless to say we went back to her house to drop her off so I could come home.... I drove back by the garage sale and thought I didn't even see how much they wanted for the play gym so I stopped and checked it out... I talked to the lady about it and she seemed real honest and sincere and it was only $50 as opposed to $144 at the store. She said her son loved it and still loves playing on it (but they just moved here to live with relatives and have to downsize). It had been kept inside the whole time and it was like new so I called my husband to discuss it with him; but before I called him I saw a black coffee table that was cute but not to match my living room... I then thought "hmmmm that would be way cute as a bench at the foot of our bed. It looks way sturdy and I can make a cusion no problem". I looked at the price marked on it... also $50. Not a bad price at all for the condition it was in and the durability of it. So on to the phone call. Again we have been looking for something for Bear that would complete his b.day gifts. And we have been looking high and low for a foot of the bed bench. They are usually just way expensive and tiny. So I got the go ahead to purchase them and wanted to share the fun with you all.
I am going to make a cusion for the "bench" that matches the chair recovering... I think I am going to recover the chair in just plain white (off white) and use an accent pillow and throw... so many possibilities... and it all started with the paint!!!

First meeting...

Today Johnny and I met with our adoption attorney for the first time. We called him yesterday and today had a sit down, face-to-face, get to know you meeting. It was great. He is very simple, down to earth and kind. Not at all like I imagined it would be. We discussed what the case is looking like at this point and how it is all going to play out. We discussed all possibilities that could arise as well as what to say when.

All in all it does not seem that hard but it is a bit overwhelming when you still don't know for sure that you are the only one pursuing adopting him.

Close to the end of Oct we have a final termination hearing that will notify the judge that Bear has been officially released to be adopted and from that point, as I understand, there is a 30 day window in which anyone can file an appeal and drag this out longer. Once the 30 days is up then we get moved into the adoptions unit and we begin adoption proceedings. We will then have to wait on the paperwork from CPS to be processed and then we can legalize everything... It was explained that it can take anywhere from 30 days to 90 days to complete the adoption process. We did actually start some of the paperwork today so as to have as much out of the way as possible. It is almost seeming too good to be true. I am counting my blessings though and thanking God that it is going so peacefully. I am sure that not every adoption we pursue will be this easy (God willing it will be) but at least we will have been through it before and kind of have an idea of what it looks like.
We are so excited to continue our family on this road. So many possibilities. I am not saying that every moment is going to be easy... But I am saying that we are fully walking out the will of God in our lives and I am excited to see what He is doing next!!!

Yes another post... hehehe (there are more FUN posts below)

Just for all you movie goers... we watched FIREPROOF this weekend and it was AMAZING to say the least. Definitely a must see for couples. If your marriage is strong it will, in my opinion, make it stronger; if it is weak and experiencing trials (where ours is) it MAY rekindle it. I know I have a long way to go in our marriage ( we both do). There have been many hurts and regrets in our 4 1/2 years together but I also know that God has called me to be IN this marriage. A team player and not a quitter... And all that know me know that I am stubborn and will NOT give up no matter how hard the enemy pushes at me. I may sink back for a week or so but then I get the Spirit of the LORD and the ARMY is backing me 100% and I am ready to fight and fight to the death. I am in this marriage "TIL DEATH DO US PART". "For BETTER AND FOR WORSE"... sometimes that is definitely hard to swallow and it leaves a bitter taste but I believe that God has bigger plans that the enemy is out to destroy. I just need to be refreshed time and time and time and time again. I have been beat down and am still broken and wounded trying to climb back out of the pit. BUT I am in fact climbing. Hard as it may be... I am fighting... 'til death.