Capturing the joy, love, and excitement we feel

          As a person who loves pictures I browsed pinterest and anywhere else to get adoption photo ideas. I knew I wanted photos to remember the joy and love we felt long before we knew our child. After all I dont know many pregnant woman who dont do belly photos or some sort of maternity shoot and just because im not pregnant im still a mother to be and I was not gonna miss out on the photos. The problem was I wanted professional photos without the price. We just couldnt spend money on something technically we could do ourselves not when we were fundraising for the adoption itsself. I was sad because I knew if we had to take our pictures ourselves the quality wouldnt be all that great ( theres only so much you can do with a timer and a tripod)

      Sometimes when we pray God answers with people we see everyday.  Thats what He did for us anyway.

 Ivy is not just our  pastors daughter, Ivy is not just our drummer at TFC,  Ivy is so much more than that because first and most importantly Ivy is our friend. When I asked Ivy if she would do a photo shoot for us I told her I didnt need a answer right away that she could think about it and let me know. She immediately said she would do it.  She did amazing!! I got every shot I wanted and more that I hadnt even thought of. I know that She was the answer  to my prayer. I am so thankful for her  and her servants heart.

   These photos capture the joy, love, and excitement we feel about our prayers for a child being answered after 6 long years. I am thankful God answers on His time and in His way.  Enjoy.....

Halloween 2014

    

We decided since this could possible be the last year of us being a family of two that we would have a couple themed halloween. No other than Batman and Cat Woman of course.  :)

New job, new car, and movement in our adoption......

     Hey guys sorry its been so long since I've written I have been so busy lately.

   Let me start out by saying things are going great!!! A new Job, A new Car, and movement in our adoption. :)

In my last post I spoke briefly about a new job. I went through training and started this past week. I am a dsp at Tri County Center. Tri-County Center is a non-profit agency providing a variety of services to individuals with developmental disabilities. I LOVE my job!!!! I am so thankful that I finally found my calling. It is my gift and joy to care for others. It makes such a big difference when you have a job where you enjoy going to work.   I am so thankful for this opportunity to use my gift and find a job that brings me such happiness.

  Its no secret that my car had some major issues. We begin discussing getting me another vehicle a few weeks ago. Then We found out all the tires  on my car needed replace. One had literally started coming apart and the others were showing wires. So we decided it was time to decide whether we wanted to buy new tires or buy another vehicle. Since the car had other issues ( transmission, oil leak, door sensor) on top of needing new tires we decided that we wanted to call it quits so to speak and find another vehicle.

   We knew we wanted a vehicle that allowed room for our family to grow. God sure provided that!!

  It would be perfectly fine with me if someday my family fills this van up, ( Jeremy would disagree hehe) Ok so maybe my kids and a few of there friends can fill it up. Whatever happens I trust that God will fill this van with love, happiness, and more joy than my heart can handle.  


I havent spoken about our adoption much but thats not because there hasnt been some movement! I cant make an official announcement just yet, but I can say that I have been sent paperwork to fill out for our next step. When my homestudy is in hand I will make the official announcement and then we will pick a date to let you all start guessing our boys name and will announce  his name shortly after.  :)

 With that being said we need to hit fundraising full force. If you have a idea or something you would like to do please let us know. We need and would greatly appreciate any help. 

If you would like to donate to our adoption account you can do that at this link
https://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/bringing-home-baby-c-/220667


Please continue to pray for our adoption ( funding, our son, paperwork). We appreciate your prayers and support.

My friends birth story

             When Carrie announced that her bundle of joy would be born at home, I know everyone thought she was nuts!!! However, she researched, prayed, and stuck to her decision and I have so much respect for her because of that. This is her amazing story, it may not be for everyone but it was perfect for her and her precious baby boy.

Click the link to read the story about how Carries first child made his grand entrance into this world.
http://canarycarrie.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-birth-of-jeremiah-oliver-kersey.html

Family photo 2014

Family photo 10/12/2014 Cannot wait for this family of three to be a family of four.  :) We love our Baby C!

Waiting is tough, let Him adopt you....

  Its no secret that we are thrilled, anxious, and already in love with our Baby C. Waiting is hard really hard. Knowing that God has chosen a son all for us, but we have to wait and convince everyone else ( I dont mean anything bad by that, I just mean we have to prove we are fit to be parents, and fill out lots of paperwork.)  I have thought so much lately about how I know that I will love Him for the rest of my life, and how I would do anything to protect him. Proving that to someone else is really tough though. It reminds me of how God tries to win us over. God knows that He is the best thing for us. He knows our lives will be better with Him in it. He tries to send us blessings to prove to us that He loves us and has our best interest at heart. Sadly so many reject Him when all He wants to do is love us for the rest of our lives. Its a deep love that we cannot even comprehend.  He is waiting for us to realize that He is the answer. Waiting is tough. He is trying to show us that He is fit to be our King, yet we think we need more and more proof its never enough.
Let Him in today, Let Him love you for the rest of your life, Let your King adopt you....


God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5

Whats so special about 10/28/13???

    10 months ago I walked into a animal shelter and after lots of looking and tons of snuggling  I looked at Jeremy and said what do you think about her? Of course he said it was my pick, since its was my Christmas present, and  I said Ok She is the one.

   Then I thought and thought about a name for my new puppy. I picked so many but Jeremy didnt like any of them. I really wanted to name her Shasta, but Jeremy was absolutely not on board so then I suggested Nala and although deep down I know He didnt like it either, he liked it better than everything else I had picked so Nala She was. :)

 

Since I babysat at the time I was home with her 24/7. So She was my shadow and caught onto potty training so quickly. I like to think its because she is a genius but I know it was because I was home and very consistent. Either way im thankful!!!

  I am happy that I got to spend the first couple months home with her, and since I babysat and She was around children it made her very comfortable with kids, and that is a HUGE blessed ( I couldnt keep her if She didnt like kids)

   She has grown up from that tiny puppy into a fiesty dog, and we wouldnt have it any other way.

 

Happy First Birthday Nala!!!( October 28th)   I  love you to the moon and back!!!!

God was watching out for us. . . . . .

      So I start my job tomorrow. I will be in training for two weeks. I am so excited/ nervous. We spoke with our social worker today and redid some paperwork ( pertaining to my job). Then it hit me  What if this is why the home study is so far behind. I talk and talk about trusting God and it all being for a reason. Maybe this is the reason. Its extremely important that our home study info completely matches our dossier info. If our home study had been approved then we would be working on our dossier right now and the info would not have matched. This would have been a red flag. Thankfully we do not have to worry about this because God was watching out for us long before we knew I would be changing jobs. :)


        And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

When one chapter closes. . . . .

         Its no secret that I have struggled with my sense of purpose since moving home 15 months ago. Its not that I have been sad, I mean I was in the beginning, but I have been perfectly happy. However I could never shake the feeling that everything wasnt exactly how it should be. Obviously I had no idea what I needed to be doing, but I didnt feel like I was doing the right thing. I babysat for awhile, and I wanted that to be it. I wanted it so badly, I love kids I love to care for others that was perfect, but still it didnt feel right. So I got a job at Polar Freeze Yogurt and I loved it and I absolutely loved my co workers. Then we moved to Sweetwater and I got a job at Kmart and I knew within weeks that I was not suppose to be there. So I went back to Polar Freeze.

Recently  I got a second job at E K Baker school as a cafeteria monitor. I absolutely love it . Just 2 and 1/2 hours a day, but I love it. I love seeing the kids and helping the little guys open their ketchup and milk. It may not seem like much to some and I realize its a small job, but its still a important job.  I then began to think about being so happy even on my way to that job, and I couldnt shake the feeling that I still wasnt where I needed to be. But where am I suppose to be?? What am I suppose to be doing??

 Today was my last day at Polar Freeze

     I start a new job soon and I hope that this is it. After so many prayers and this job just completely falling into place I feel like this is it, but cant know for sure. I will be keeping my job at the school as well. I hope that this is finally where I belong and is what I am suppose to be doing.

Please pray that this is it and that I can finally settle and start living instead of searching for my place.
 Also please continue to pray for our adoption.

A sleepover with my favorite baby girl. . . .

 Last week Kinlee had her first sleep over at my house.

 

  I just love spending time with her and loved every second. We even went to the park which was a huge hit   ( I think)

 

 

 

 

Swinging

Of course She mostly liked playing with things that arent even toys

 

'

 

Because Stephs Water bottle is soooo cool

Torturing the dog was fun too

Then it came (past) bedtime can you say delirious, which in Kinlees case means laughter at EVERYTHING

Best laughing picture I could get

 

 

 And then the next morning at 7am She was up and ready for the day

I often wonder what we ever did without this sweet girl. I am thrilled to be apart of her life and am honored that I was trusted to care for her over night. I love her to the moon and back!

Steph and Kinlee 9/24/14

Not according to my plan

  Ok whose anxious and drained while waiting to hear back form this home study?? I know I am. Who thought we would be long past this point right now and would have moved onto the next step?? I know I did. Who has felt 1000 different emotions and is just  plain overwhelmed?? I maybe the only one on that one          ( besides Jeremy). When we announced God had called us to adopt. I was excited and I think for weeks I ran on adrenaline alone. I was floored I was stoked I was so many things. I was ready and I knew it would be hard, I knew I would struggle, I knew all this (Plus so many who had been there had told me). But until its you, you cannot fully comprehend what those feelings actually feel like surging through your body. You dont realize how exhausted you will feel from the waiting , praying, and agonizing over why you havent heard anything yet. You cannot fathom how your arms will ach to hold them and your heart will hurt knowing that your still so far away from that moment. I never realized I would feel all this before I actually had a picture in my hand, before those two little  eyes  were staring back at me, before their was my "boy. "

             To my knowledge on average a home study  would take 4-6 weeks to be completed.  We are on week 11 and still no news. Do not be fooled I have been angry, I have been crushed, I have felt defeated.
 Each time no matter how I felt this verse popped into my mind.
Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
 Joshua 1:9

  God knew when we started this journey that our home study would take longer than we thought. He has a reason, obviously I have no idea what that reason is. All I know is that things are not going  according to plan and since Im only human that makes me unhappy. Mostly because its scary, its unknown and it makes us afraid. then im reminded of this verse......
 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

We have no reason to be afraid because this is all according to Gods plan, and isnt that the plan that will work out for our good?

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

God has a plan for our adoption. He always has even long before we realized He was calling us to adopt He knew that was His plan for us. He knew the hurts, He knew the pain, He knew the triumphs, He knew the joy. He knew it all. Nothing is a surprise to Him, He knows the trials we have still yet to face, but He also sees the end of this long journey and he sees this family of two become a family of three. 

I know that things are not going according to my plan, but thats ok because I want my life to go according to HIS plan. After all He sees my family of three, He knows who my son is and His plan will lead us to him. It maybe long with unexpected delays and set backs, but I know were right where were suppose to be because were where He wants us to be and its all according to His greater plan.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

 

Be yourself. . . .

Jeremy wanted to grow his hair for one year. He made it 14 months. Some hated it, Some loved it.  Some loved to hate it, but one day last week when Jeremy decided how he felt about it thats when the hair came off.

Be yourself no matter how unpopular.
Trust your opinion and dont seek approval.

Delays. . . . . .:(

I apologize for being gone for so long I have just been collecting myself. Everythings ok. We just hit a small delay due to some paperwork that had not been sent in ( no ones fault), Delays are hard no matter what the circumstance and maybe im a tad bit bias but I think they are 100 million times worse when they involve you bringing home a missing piece of your family. I wont lie I was sad, mad, and just about  every other emotion there is. I want so badly to hear our home study is approved and move on to the next step.  In these times I am reminded of Exodus 14:14

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Its then that the emotions go away and I am left with the peace only God can give. I know without a doubt that if God didnt want these delays, there would be no delays. Therefore we are waiting for a reason, there is a purpose and none of this is in vain.  

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

Yep, We have hit a small delay, but we have nothing to worry about because this is all apart of His plan  :)

a little more private, a bit more secure

In a effort to keep things more secure  this blog is now private and can only be accessed by those given permission. However I am in no way trying to keep anyone out and if you have a friend or family member who you know enjoys reading please send me their email address and I will add them. I appreciate everyones patience and understanding as time goes on and we become deeper in the adoption process this will just keep everyone safer and I can still share ( some things) with it still being somewhat private.
Please keep praying.......

No stipulations. . . .

 You make me new, you are making me new. You make me new, you are making me new........

          When we started our adoption journey just 4 months ago we had our minds set on a few things. First off I had in my mind that I wanted a healthy baby. Healthy. Yep I was that shallow. We knew without a doubt God was telling us Hong Kong was the country our baby was in. When we realized Hong Kong was a special needs only orphanage  we were confused. After all God wanted us to have a healthy baby. Right??  So we decided we were open to moderate special needs for our baby.  Did you catch that baby part. Ok so a two or three year old is a baby right?? Deep in my heart I wanted a baby and I refused to think that my child was that age.  Then we began to pray not my will but your will Lord and oh how He has changed my heart in only 4 months. Also when you are open to His way and His plan for you, He will reveal so much more about that plan to you. I cannot explain how I knew we would have a boy. Its like God said over and over you will have a son. I felt it when I woke up, I felt it throughout my day, I felt it at night. God revealed that to me. I still do not know my sons age, but when I imagine him, When I dream about the day He is placed in my arm, I no longer see a tiny baby. My mind is drawn to the age two or three. Although I could be completely wrong about that I am now at peace with whatever age my son is. As a human I worry and think about the special needs our son has. I am fearful for many reasons, but I am ready to face them head on because I know that God will equip us for whatever our future holds. We saved our special needs paperwork ( paperwork that states what special needs you are open to, willing to discuss, and are not open to) for the very last piece of paperwork we did for our home study. We did this because we felt unready to complete it. I believe we felt that way because we were both being very convicted. We wanna talk about trusting God, but then we had this wall up and even though God was fulfilling a huge prayer we had prayed for six year we wanted to put  stipulations on what we thought we could handle. The truth is without God we can handle nothing. We need Him to help us through life. He is giving us a gift, and who are we to say we will accept the gift if.......By the time we sat down to complete the special needs paperwork our hearts had done a 180 not from anything we had done, but because we had let God have control, we had surrendered to Him. I cannot tell you what special needs my son has, but I can tell you I will open my heart and life to this precious boy regardless. I cannot tell you that life will be easy or that things wont be hard, but I can tell you that God will never leave us. I cant say that im not fearful, but I can tell you that Gods holding me everyday, every minute. God is using this adoption to change me. He is making me new and   With absolutely no stipulations I open my heart to this gift, the gift of my son. He knows him, He loves him, and He has chosen him for us.  Who are we to question His plan.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

Please continue to pray for our adoption, for our son, and for us..

I can't wait to meet our little boy......

I have a better plan. . . .

Did you know that you have to pray with a right heart??

Seriously if we want our prayers answered we need to come before God with a right heart.  Ever heard the saying its all in how you ask...Yep I have found that to be true with God as well.


My prayers for four years sounded the same. I begged to become pregnant. I cannot tell you how many times I sobbed because the words wouldnt come out, but God knew what those sobs meant. I asked, I begged, I sobbed, I whined, but each time I asked the same thing Lord would you please allow me to get pregnant. Would you let this be the month that my dreams come true.

For four years I waited and God didnt answer. I didnt understand I was crushed, I was confused, I was ANGRY. I asked Why??!!! Why Lord are you allowing  single woman to conceive, woman out of wedlock.....

Time went on and I was still praying. We then felt the call to move to Montana. While we were there I began changing. In serving the Lord I became closer to Him. I began to seek His will for my life and not my own. I begin to want to surrender to His plans for my life whatever they maybe.

I wasnt anger anymore. Then I met Mandi ( Alayahs Mom) who some of you may know is a single mom. Oops...Kinda hard to admit that you questioned why God would give single woman babies when your new friend is a single mom. Mandi told me her story one night. I wont share because its her story to tell, but I will never forget when the words come out of her mouth. I have never told her this, but It felt like after so many years God answered my question. "Alayah saved my life".

 All at once I understood. I knew that my God is faithful and who are we to question His ways. He has a plan and purpose for EVERYTHING He does. Even giving single moms babies.


From that point on my prayers began to change. I still asked, I still prayed, I still sobbed, but my heart was different and the words were different. "Lord would you give Jeremy and I a family."   My heart was finally right with Him. After that I didnt pray to get pregnant. I just prayed for a child to love and care for.

Then last year our family received a huge blessing when Kinlee  came into this world. I cannot tell you how She has changed our family.

 I cannot explain to you the way we all perk up when she is carried into the room,  but I can tell you that once again my question was answered and my God reminded me not to question His ways.  I know that I can speak for ALL of us when I say She is loved to the moon and back :) 

 Time went by and Still I prayed and asked for a family. Next thing you know its your turn

  So really all those years when I prayed and thought God hadnt answered He really was saying No thats not my plan for your life,  I have a better plan for you.



I encourage you to seek Gods will and to strive to pray with a right heart and be able to sincerely say not my will but your will be done.

I assure you God is faithful and will answer those prayers  just sometimes his answer is I have a better plan......

I completed the ice bucket challenge!!

  You have probably heard by now about the ALS Ice bucket challenge right??

The Ice Bucket Challenge, sometimes called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, is an activity involving dumping a bucket of ice water on one's head or donating to the ALS Association in the United States. It went viral throughout social media during the Northern Hemisphere Summer of 2014.^[1][2]

The challenge dares nominated participants to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured on their heads. A common stipulation is that nominated people have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation. 

What is ALS??

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed

You may be saying doing the challenge  is awful why not just donate, but the ice bucket challenge has raised 42 Million so far. All the videos and the challenge have raised so much awareness as well as funding. If your reading this then I challenge you :)

Youcaring

   Hey after more research we have decided to use a new fundraising site called You caring. It works much like go fund me except they do not take 10% of our donations. Here is the link to give on our you caring site.
https://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/bringing-home-baby-c-/220667

Sorry for the confusion hopefully now we will not have to change again. We will not take down our go fund me account since we advertised it alot of places so its ok to still donate there also if you would rather. Thanks for your patience as we are just learning ourselves.

Have a happy tuesday!!!

You are our hope. . .

    Dear Baby C,
           I know  people are gonna tell you lots of things, obviously not when your a baby but when your older they will.  They will tell you we tried for "our own" baby but could never have one so we adopted you. Well maybe not that rude, but possibly. They might say we couldnt have "our own" so God sent us you. Even though thats nicer its still not true. Baby C. you are our own. You are our son. You were always meant to be our son. No I didnt give birth to you. I wasnt there for your first cry. I didnt get the privilege of hearing your first laugh or seeing your first smile. I may or maybe not be there cheering you on as you take your first steps. I missed alot of milestones and nothing can change that. However  I will be there for all the important milestones in your future. I will be there ( bawling) when your caregiver places you in my arms. I will be there the day we carry you out of the only place you have ever known as home :/ It will be the best day of mine and your Daddys life but it will hurt knowing it will be terrifying for you. I will be there for the LOOONNNNGGGG plane ride home, holding you, rocking you, playing with you, doing my best to help you understand I am here to protect you and you have nothing to fear. I will be there when we walk into the airport with our family all around. I will be there when you meet your grandparents and all your family and friends. I will be there when you enter our home for the first time. I will be there when you sleep in your room for the first time and for the first time in months ( possibly years) I will breathe a sigh of relief knowing finally we are under the same roof. On down the road  ( good Lord willing)  I will be there ( crying like a baby) on your first day of school. I will be there when you have your first heartbreak. I will be there when you go to prom ( Ill be the one taking 2000 pictures :)  I will be there when you graduate high school.   I will be there for all your future milestones.
     So when people say hurtful things hold your head high and know that You are our son. You are not here by chance or because we couldnt get what we actually wanted, you are here because Gods plan for all three of our lives. You are here because you are OUR SON. You are loved, you are wanted, you are ours. :) We love you Baby C.  We are all waiting for you, we are all excited, we are all praying, We are all in love with you....You are our hope little man :) You are what we want.....You are ours :)

  

A challenge. . . .

   We are challenging all of our friends  and family to give $35 to raise funding for our adoption. If everyone would we could exceed that $5000 and see Jeremy cut his hair and beard!!!!  The hair and beard getting cut is just for fun but  the money is a need. The next step will cost $4650.
 You can donate at this link http://www.gofundme.com/8q2v58
I know $5000 seems unreachable trust me I really do,but $35 doesnt seem that bad?? Cant give the whole $35 no problem, any amount will help us reach this next goal. Cant give at all? We absolutely understand, but please pray for our funding. We know that God has a plan and will supply for this need.

My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Bye Bye Hair

    If we can raise $5000 Jeremy has agreed to cut his hair and beard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We all know how much needed this is.....

 All the money raised will go towards our adoption. The next step is almost $5000 alone, so yes this fundraiser may be funny but the money is not just for fun its NEEDED.

If you would like to donate and say bye bye hair you can do so a couple different ways.
 To donate online you can use our paypal account jeremymalone@gmail.com

You can also donate online at our go fund me account http://www.gofundme.com/8q2v58.

If you would like to write a check or send cash you can send me a email at stephaniehmalone@gmail.com and I will send you our mailing address.

Please write bye bye hair in the memo.

Thank you for all that you do. Please remember our adoption in your prayers

I want to be His mother.....

 I know its hard to understand when your not in our shoes hearing God whisper adoption and point us in that direction day after day. Thats ok its our calling to answer we know everyone wont agree with it. I want people to know that I want to be his mother.  I know you think im talking crazy and you think what I mean is I want to get pregnant, but nope I want to be "His" mother. God has changed my heart in so many ways that sometimes I feel like im a different person, and I now understand so many things that never made sense before. Others will say that we adopted because we had tried so long to have our own to no avail. I however 100% believe we never got pregnant because  we were suppose to adopt. Im not saying that no one adopts who has biological children we have several friends who have, and oh what a blessing ALL of their children are. I know this is how God has chosen to grow our family. Will we have biological children in the future?? Only God knows the answer to that, I know that if we do others will say that we gave up to soon. Nope wrong again. Baby C was meant to be our first child I believe that with all thats within me. Seriously I am meant to be His mother. And I love Him. How do you love someone you have never met and know nothing about?? I dont know ya'll I cant explain it. I dont know why all I wanna do is protect him and keep him safe. I cant tell you how I long to read him bedtime stories and tuck him in each night. I cant understand myself the feeling that its time for me  to grow up and put myself second. I dont comprehend the way my heart flutters when I simply open the door to the room that will one day be his. All I know is God has placed a desire in my heart to be " His" mother. Not a mother like before, but "His" mother.


I can remember while leaving in Montana feeling God speak to me about adoption. I remember around the same time everytime I turned around someone was preaching about psalm 37:4  (Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.) I thought to myself God is gonna allow me to be a mother I just knew it. Of course at the time I assumed that would mean conceiving . All along I had it all wrong. God wants us to desire what He desires. He wants us to surrender our lives and desire his will for us. Then He will give us those wonderful blessings that end up being exactly the desires of our heart even if we didnt always realize it. He has placed a desire in my heart to love, protect, and care for a little boy in Hong Kong, China. I dont know his age, I dont know his birth given name, I dont know his medical needs, but I know one thing for absolute certain......I want to be His mother.

A update and some answered questions.

           Hey guys just a little update to let you know all is well. We are still waiting to hear back from our home study so no new news there.  We had an amazing photo shoot and cannot wait to share the pictures with you!!! Ivy did a fantastic job and She absolutely captured the joy we feel in  knowing that God chose us to  be our little mans parents. The joy in knowing that our prayers have been answered and although the process will be long and we will have struggles and hurts and in no way will it be easy at the end of this journey is a precious baby boy.  Our precious baby boy. How overwhelming is that?!?!?

         We also have some name reveal photos that we are so excited about. We love the name we have chosen for our son. Some are confused in how we have a name or even know its a boy when we do not yet know our son so here are the answers to those important questions :)

            Obviously Jeremy always wanted a son. I absolutely did not care either way. We were asked by our social worker if we wanted to specify the gender and we both sit there silent not knowing the answer. We had always thought we would just leave it open and be surprised. Obviously knowing that we had no definite answer She told us we didnt have to tell her right then we could talk about it and let her know later. I prayed and prayed because I was dead set on not specifying that was our plan that was always the plan, but I could feel God speaking to me about a son. I dont know why , but I knew in my heart that I would have a son. We decided to specify the gender. That is how we know " its a boy" :) !!!!

   We always wanted to pick a name. When we moved into the house we are renting in Sweetwater (that is a " God story" all in itself ) We moved the refrigerator and found one alphabet magnet. The letter "C" We had already been brain storming names and at the moment we both knew. So we looked at baby names and books and talked and discussed and after many weeks we picked a name.  The decision to not share the name was just something we wanted to do. We wanted that one special secret that just the two of us shared. It has been so special for us to share that with only each other. Making it that much more special when we do share his name with family and friends.

 Why change his name??
Its not because we "wont like His birth given name"  Its just what we have chosen to do. So much will be up in the air until we know Him. Know his name, his age. Then we will be able to make actual decisions, but for now I will let you in on the plan. It all depends on so many things, but we do plan to keep his name. Will it be his first name or his middle name we cant answer that because we dont know. The name we have chosen will be in there somewhere first name, middle name  we will know in time.

He will always have his birth given name in his name, I never ever wanna take that away from him. His past will always be apart of him, we never wanna hide or cover up any of it. We want to celebrate who he is and would never want to change him.I feel  strongly about this and pray that I will always do my best to help him understand the beauty of adoption and the story of how God brought Him to us.

We plan to reveal his name ( the one we have chosen) sometime after we hear back from the home study.    

So keep those prayers coming. Pray that all paperwork will be acceptable and that all is there and accounted for.  Pray that if it be Gods will we would hear "Your home study has been approved "

Thank you for your continued prayer and support.