Fost- Adopt Update

Here is the lastest. We thought that we were all done but they found out that we need to have an extra set of finger prints done for the FBI. It is a pain! This step takes the longest so I have no idea how long it is going to take to get certified.

I was going to get frustrated but then it occured to me that my baby isn't ready for my yet. If they were, I would be certified. It is so reasuring to know that God already knows who my children are. I just have to rely on His Providential control of our situation.

Here is Jerry Bridges definition of God's Providence. "God's orchestrating all cirumstances and events in His universe for His glory and the good of His people." So basically, He is in control of it all. That gives me comfort.

One thing that makes me sad is that with fost-adopt, something bad needs to happen for the court to take the child away. I don't want any of my kids to go through that....but again God is in control! I will keep you posted!

Top 5

I was tagged by Tracy. Here it goes.....

5 things under $5 that I couldn't live without: (this is hard!)

lip moisterizer
nail file
Diet Coke
Deodorant
gum

5 favorite movies:(this is hard too!)
A Walk to Remember
Pride and Predjudice (new one)
Save the Last Dance (hee hee)
....I'm stumped......

5 baby names I love but wouldn't use:
Gavin
Ruby
Ava
Jesse (boy)
Jillian

5 songs that I could listen to over and over again:
His Eye is on the Sparrow (my favorite song)
In Christ Alone
How Great is our God
One World (Toby Mac)
More Than Anyone (Gavin DeGraw)

5 people who have influenced me in a positive way

Matt (my honey buns)
Terry Pagach
My Pops (dad)
My friends
Tom Patton

5 things always in my purse

gum
wallet
lip gloss
hand sanatizer
sugar free candy for Ivy

5 moments that have changed my life forever:

my salvation
moving out to go to TMC (Iowa to California)
my wedding day
seeing Ivy for the 1st time
being done with infertility

5 obsessions I have now

blogging
Ivy
Carmel Frapachinno Light at Starbucks
biographies
adopting

5 places I would like to go

New York City
Isreal
Hawaii
Savannah, Georgia
Nashville,Tennesse

5 kitchen tools I can't live without

knives
cups
silverware
microwave
fridge

Happy Birthday Wendy!

Happy Birthday my dear and faithful friend. You are one of my favorite people in the whole world! Thank you for always being caring, giving, loving, loyal and fun to me and my family. I love you! See you tonight! Kelli

My New Canon Camera!

I tried to do a slideshow but it wasn't working so here are a few pictures from last night. Mike Penberthy's home. Yeah! Let the summer fun begin!

It finally happened

Well......we have been having some trying days. My sweet little girl has ....let me put this nicely....expressing her opinion alot more (especailly with her mom, doing what she wants alot more....etc.)

Whenever we go to church, the nursery workers are all excited to see Ivy and they can't wait for her to get there. I feel like they are really excited to see her.

Well...I went to pick her up after church and they said, "Can we talk to you?" Then they proceeded to tell me all of the problems they had with her. I could tell they were ready for her to get outta there! I told them that it would be addressed and be taken care of. (as she was throwing a fit while I was talking to them.)

So...we have been in what the bible says"Traing your child". I like to call it boot camp. Bootcamp has never been more painful as it is right now for my sweet, energetic little Ivy!

(As I'm writing this, she just managed to pull my Southern Living tile off the wall and broke it. Gotta run!......more Boot Camp!)

Tagged By Jenny

I got a shout out on Jenny's blog to answer some questions. I guess any chance to talk about myself...... (just kidding). Here I go....



4 jobs I've had:

clothing store (retail), Preschool teacher, summer camp councelor,
Music teacher (current job)



4 places I've lived:

Clinton, Iowa Newhall, Ca. Castaic,Ca. ( I guess I've only lived in 3 places)



4 shows I watch:

I don't really like TV all that much.......just kidding.

The Biggest Loser, The Hills, The Office, One Tree Hill ( I am 35 years old but watch TV like a teenie bopper)



4blogs I read regularly:

Ashley K., Tracy D., Wendy P., Hollie, and Kelli I.....not Stacy because she quit writing on hers!



4 favorite foods:

pizza, salads, crispy tacos (only at a restaraunt), Starbucks Carmel Light Frappacino.....that is why I am "Fat Mommy"



4 places I'd rather be right now:

Beverly Hills/West Hollywood (My favorite), Iowa seeing the family, having Sunday lunch with Kirk Cameron and his wife ( I am reading his book right now), Hawaii with Matt and Ivy.



4 friends likely to respond:

Kelli I. (come on it will give you something to write about.), Wendy (ditto), Ruth ( I think she already did it), Stacy ( if she would actually look at her blog.)



4 things I look forward to this next year:

Hopefully becoming a mom for the 2nd time, Seaworld with the Penberthy's this summer., My parents visiting, My 11th anniversary with My cute honey bunny.

Here We Go Again Part 2

Matt and I went to Thousand Oaks to the informational meeting for the Fost/ Adopt program. I will try to explain it. These kids are not given up for adoption by their parents. They were taken away from their parents by the court. Whether it is because of abuse, drugs, neglect....whatever. When a child is a newborn, the court gives parents 18 months to get "their act together". There are 2 types of kids. "High Risk" which means that the child will likely be given back to the birthparents or "low risk" meaning that we will proubly get to adopt them. Matt and I give them a list of ages which we would take and what kind of situations we would take. When we are certified they call us with the child/children and we say yes or no to the situation. Just because they call us with a child, that doesn't mean that we say yes to the child.

Before I go any further, let me explain what Matt and I think is best for our family. I know there are people out there that think this way of adopting is scary and .....I agree! I never want the risk of my child being taken away. We said that we would take a boy or girl (although we hear that boys are more common.) We are strict on what we would take on the physical/mental background. We have a couple different races that we would take. We would take a child ages0-2years. We also said that we would consider siblings. ( I know...we are crazy!)

Here is the risk. Even if they tell me that the situation looks good, you can never be sure what the judge is going to rule. There have been many times that a child has gone back to a birthparent that still looks a mess. A lot of times though, the birthparent is so messed up that they don't even try to see their child.
Matt and I are not interested in being foster parents so we will take a situation that looks like it is low risk( a child 0-3 yrs. they label them all high risk) we have been praying and talking about what we feel like we would want to have. We keep thinking and praying about what is best for Ivy and would be a great experience for her. Please keep us in your prayers. This is a huge step in trusting the Lord and it is a long process .....longer and more drawn out than with Ivy.
Matt and I believe that God has a child out there for us. I don't NOT want to do this experience because I am afraid of what jounrey the Lord is going to take us on. I am scared however. I don't want to love a child for half a year or a year and then he/she be taken away. (We know people who have done this and loved it and their child was never taken away.) I am just trusing that the Lord knows what is best for Matt ,Ivy and I.
I also think about these kids....what terrible homes they come from. They were proubly terriblelong before they were found out by the police and courts. I would love to be that child's mom!

I will write more about what hoops we have had to go through later...just pray for the Elliott's!