I need some opinions...

Mike and I are going back and forth on a few things. We are starting to adjust our monthly budget now so that we can be prepared when our loan payments come due for the adoption. We know its going to be awhile...but might as well prepare ourselves now.

So we're trying to think of ways we can save money. A very very good friend of mine cloth diapers. I never thought I would cloth diaper. NEVER! SO NOT ME! However, I'm all about saving money...a lot of money! Since breastfeeding isn't an option for us, we will be spending A LOT of money on formula every month-we thought this would be a good way to save some money. We really like the bum genius. They are great! When we've taken care of our friends little peanut-she wears them-and they are GREAT!! "M" was the one who first got me thinking about it-and when her and I went baby shopping last Friday-we looked at them for awhile-and i started thinking more seriously about them. They aren't very cheap to start off with, but in the long run they will save money. And on top of all of that-its good for the enviornment-which is obviously a big plus as well.

So I want opinions...pros and cons for cloth diapering and not. Your experiences....is cloth diapering worth it? Not worth it? Easier? More work?

FINANCING APPROVED!!!

PRAISE THE LORD IN HEAVEN!!! ALL OF OUR FINANCING IS APPROVED!!!

WAHOOOOOO!!!!!!

I Have To Remember....

That God is in control here. Not me-but God. And let me tell you-right now, that is the hardest thing for me to do.

The application part-piece of cake, now we are heading to the finances part of this-I'm impatiently waiting for a phone call letting us know about the financial aspect of all of this. I've been telling myself, God is in control-God is in control, and I've been praying so hard for peace about this. Praying that he will calm my heart and help me to relax. Its so hard though. I have no control over this part of it right now and anyone who knows me-knows that I like being in control. I'm not a control freak-but this is a HUGE part of our life right now. HUGE. I know that Adoption is something that I really don't have a lot of control over-esp. the timing of it all. Anything could happen after our homestudy is completed. ANYTHING AT ANYTIME!!! But its hard for me to remember that God's timing is the most important. It will all happen when its supposed to happen.

The financial aspect of it is more stressful than most things I think-only because EVERYTHING hinges on this. We've already talked about different fundraisers we can do. And I'm looking into every grant imaginable. It's all just so overwhelming sometimes to think about.

But again...God is in control here...not me. I'm not in control of what is going to happen-but God is. God is in control of every step of this. I just have to keep reminding myself of that.

We're APPROVED!!!!

Just because this deserves it's own post....

We're APPROVED!!!

Our initial application with our agency has been approved!!!

Next step is the homestudy which will be in the next week to 2 weeks!!

EEEEKKKKK!!!!!! NO TURNING BACK NOW!! :)

Whew.....it's been awhile!!

WOW! I feel like its been FOREVER since I posted last. Well-it has been a long time-but it feels like FOREVER. Work should calm down a lot now. My major event for the year is done, and it went great!!! We raised a lot of money, broke a few records, and had a lot of fun! It was a great night!!!

The flooding here is insane. I've never seen anything like this in my life. The national gaurd has set up camp here in town and they are everywhere. They are patrolling the dikes, 24/7 and laying sandbags constantly. It's just so crazy to me. We've plugged our sewer drains in the basement hoping and praying we don't ever have to plug the toilet-but we bought that plug to-just in case. We're waiting to do the bathroom in the basement until we have to. Until then...we'll just hope and pray we don't need to.

Here are a few pictures....this is a local park...about 1.5 blocks away....

These pictures don't really do it justice, but let's just say this is very scary stuff. There is SO MUCH WATER HERE!!!! Say alot of prayers for everyone in this area!! It's only going to get worse before it gets better!!

Hmm...it's been awhile

Whew....a brief break in my life to blog. It seems like forever.

Not much is new here really-at least I don't feel like it is. Work is keeping me extremely busy-but in a few weeks that will all be over and my normal life can resume. The flooding is getting better, but we are still not out of the woods yet. I will spend most of the afternoon sandbagging and some of next week as well. Just say some prayers, that this water subsides!! It's going to be a scary few weeks.

In other news....we've MOVED!! YAY!!! We are all moved and settled and LOVING our new place. It's cozy, but much bigger than where we were at, with much more room! So much storage and the perfect room for a nursery. :) We are very excited to get going on that. We have the bassinet set up in there-and it made me kind of choked up when I looked at it full of baby clothes. Sigh....that will be our baby's room someday. SO EXCITING!!

On the adoption front, not much new. We are waiting on our application approval-then we will start the homestudy. We are now contemplating foster/adopt as well. But I think that will require a lot more thinking and praying....but we will see where God takes us. After all, it is HIS Plan that we have to follow. :)