Why blog???

Over the years, I've learned that the best form of therapy is to share life's experiences with others! I'm a craft ADDICT, my Cricut is my newest crafting toy, teaching is a passion and I love sharing my knowledge with others, Focused Ed, is a huge blessing and is the business my bestie and I started when we left the public school classroom in August of 2013, take more pictures than I can scrapbook, and most importantly....Bryan and I became parents to our sweet miracle baby, Cooper Kenneth, June 25th, 2014! Our journey for adoption was simply a God-story and we hope it gives you a glimpse into the power of prayer and real life miracles!!! As life after adoption has progressed I find myself steeped in our church, small groups, and living life for the Lord and having fun while doing it. I'm real, honest and am an open book, I believe there is power in sharing the good, the bad and the ugly, in celebrating victories and mourning loss and struggle.

I used to blog recipes, but...well, I have a 3 year old and much more important things to do than take time for new recipes, but the ones on my other blog are yummy - In all that is Good!

Friday, January 31, 2014

Abundant Blessings

Do you ever have one of those days where you are all blubbery and teary eyed?  Bryan and I have had a CRAZY fun week, our best friends, Brenna and Derek left us in charge of their two precious boys for 3 days and two nights while they played in Vegas...what fun we had!  LOVED every minute of being "mom and dad" together!  But man oh man is homework a beating!  We got a taste of what it was like to both be working full time, as I was subbing at their school, coming home doing homework, cooking dinner, prepping for the following day, trying to have some fun, spoiling them a little bit (ice cream at 7pm when bedtime is at 8pm is a BAD IDEA!!!), and just enjoying our time together!  All in all, no injuries, everyone was smiling in the end, and I learned (again) that I married an AMAZING MAN!  A truly loving, patient and Godly man!  I absolutely can't wait until we get to be parents, watching him with Austin and Landon for the past three days brought such a smile to my face!  

This morning I told myself I could sleep in a little bit, then I'd do some work, and begin packing our kitchen for our remodel job!  I sat down with my coffee, not for my quiet time (which is what I should have done) but to watch this week's episode of The Biggest Loser and to work on my computer getting a few things for Focused Ed done.  I found myself crying over the life changes of the contestants, feeling excited for them, and yet an overwhelmed sense of joy in our own lives.  Looking at our schedule for Focused Ed's STAAR tutoring and the abundance of kids that have registered and I kept thinking...this is OURS...this is OUR business...we are our OWN bosses...and man oh man do I have the best business partner ever....Brenna and I have been so blessed to have taken the leap of faith and resigned from teaching, to step out and try something new for our families!  And now to see....IT'S WORKING!!  TEARS!!!! 

Then I think about the overwhelming job of packing our kitchen....a remodel project...what?  I quit my job...thank you Lord for your blessings!  We are able to make things happen, things that we've wanted to do for awhile now...and even better.....we are paying someone to paint our enormous cabinets!  Even more TEARS!

And of course the baby news....TEARS!!!  We have finally picked an agency!  After the Lord closing doors and leaving us with a sense of unrest when it came to the original agency we thought we'd use, through the few road blocks he put up (Thanks Krista B. for that chat....you were right...road blocks they were), last week I was able to talk to the RIGHT person, at the  RIGHT agency, who said the RIGHT thing!  For once we were told....it's okay to be selfish, it's okay to want an infant and only an infant, it's okay to not want to be foster parents that kids come in and out of your home, it's okay to want a child who you will more than likely adopt...our needs/wants/desires to be parents were HEARD and understood!  That's huge!   Our first 19 pages of paperwork are almost complete and will be sent off to Covenant Kids, our training begins the end of February and will be done in two weekends...all 36 hours in two weekend!  Brutal, but no dragging them out...wham bam!  

I am anxiously awaiting the kitchen remodel to be finished so that I can plan the baby room...I promised Bryan I wouldn't attempt to start any new projects until that one was finished....but that doesn't mean I haven't been making Babies R Us wish lists and picking out themes...which I think I already have picked out....

All in all...overwhelmed with abundant blessings is my theme for this past week and upcoming weekend!  Thank you Lord for all you've given us, the peace that passes all understanding, our loving friends and family, those praying for us daily, the strength you give us, the love we have for one another, the growth spiritually and emotionally together and separate, YOU truly have a plan...and I'm liking where it's going!  
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Thursday, January 2, 2014

New location for recipes!

I decided to move all things not related to "Our Story" to a new blog. Follow all those goodies on my blog In all that is Good on blogspot. It's linked on this blog at the top and side. :) 

Happy New Year!!
Jess
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