Happy Halloween

Good News

Sorry for the delay in my post. We didn't find out what happened yesterday until just this morning. They said that the meeting went really long. I prayed that at the meeting, everyone would see the "true colors" of the Birthmom and the Grandparents. It seems that is exactly what happened. The Birthmom got mad at what was being said in the meeting and she stormed out of the room a couple of times. The Grandparents have NOT been approved yet to take the baby. Their home has been approved but they haven't.



DCFS is going to recommend to the judge that the Grandparents have individual counceling, couples counceling, and parenting classes. The Grandma was not happy about that. She doesn't want parenting classes. The Grandparents also have like 9 fractions against them on record with DCFS. The Judge would have to dismiss all of them. (I think) They are recommending that all of that happens before they can get the baby. So that means the Judge would give them a couple of months to do that....or he can dismiss all of it and give them the baby.



All of that to say...we get her until November 7th. Matt is going to go to court to see what happens. Thank you for praying! Pray that the Judge does not give them custody on that day. Then....there will be more waiting. Also pray that the court will give us permission to take the baby to Washington for Christmas. God is good!
( I hope that this all makes sense.)

Ivy's 2nd "Gotcha" Day

Today was Ivy's 2nd "Gotcha" Day. That is the day we "Gotcha"...the day we went to court and Ivy officially became an Elliott. Friends stopped by with ice cream and balloons and Aunt Hollie came for dinner. The day started with a card from Grandma and Grandpa Elliott. She had a great day! God is so good in giving us such a treasure of a daughter.

Please pray for the meeting tomorrow between the DCFS social workers and Sissy's grandparents. Pray that she gets to stay in our home and they can see the Grandparents for who they really are. The Birthmom has already called , saying she will be at tomorrow's visit, so we will be making a trip to the valley for that. Thanks!

Date Night with Matt

Our wonderful friends, Chris and Kaci Metzger offered to watch the girls while Matt and I had a date night. It was so thoughtful of them and it was so great to get out alone with Matt. Our whole date cost $15 for the night because I had gift cards for every place we went. We went to the Americana in Glendale to The Cheesecake Factory and then window shopped. Thank You Chris and Kaci!!!! We love and appreciate you!

Getting Weak and Weary

I had a visit with the birthmom today. As I walked in the door, the DCFS social worker met me . She said that the Grandparent's home was approved and the DCFS wanted to take Sissy out of our home yesterday (we didn't know that that could happen.) This social worker told them not to do it because she has some concerns about the Grandparents. They are going to have a board metting with the grandparents this coming Tuesday to ask them questions and determine what to do (it is very possible that they could decide to take her on Tuesday.)



I also found out that the Grandma is now going to drive the Birthmom to all of her visits to see the baby. The birthmom said that she has a good relationship with her parents now. (My social worker thinks that they might have no intention of adopting Sissy but wants her out of our home and is going to help their daughter to "appear" to be back on track so that she can have her and they just be grandparents again. Poor Sissy.



Bottom line is that I am tired and weary. They are wearing me out and I feel like I am hitting bottom. It is so good to trust in the Lord knowing that He has everything in control and I don't have to try and run the show like this grandma is. Honestly, I am just getting tired of doing everything by the book, running Sissy everywhere she needs to go, having social workers in and out of my house, loving on her, making sure that I am taking care of Ivy, checking my heart to make sure that I am honoring the Lord....it is enough to wear a girl out.



The Lord brought to my mind Galatians 6:9 " And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Bottom line...I WILL NOT ALLOW SATAN TO BE VICTORIOUS IN MY HOME! He might think that he will ruin Matt and I and our family. HE IS NOT HAVING IT WHETHER IT IS MATT, I AND IVY OR IF SISSY IS WITH US TO. The End! ( I am feeling better already.)

Fost Adopt Update

We just found out that our new court date is November 7th. (That is 2 weeks from this Friday. Fast!) They are going to see if the grandparents are certified and they are also going to open up their old files to see if they are suitable to have her with their past allegations. We are praying that the Judge says that they are not a suitable couple to adopt her. ( They never looked into any of this before because the grandparents had said before that they didn't want to adopt her so there was no need.)

The lawyer told Matt that Sissy shouldn't be taken from us before November 4th. Then who knows after that. It sounds like it is going to all come down to the Judge. Please continue to pray.

Fat Mommy Returns

Ok...I have told this story to a couple of people and they keep telling me that I have to write this on my blog. Fat Mommy has returned. With everything going on in our lives I have let the gym and Weight Watchers go by the wasteside. Here is a perfect example....



Last week when we went to court, Aunt Hollie came over to babysit (Thank You Aunt Hollie!) She brought Ivy a donut ( my favorite donut to be exact.) When we got home the girls were sleeping. When Hollie left, I went in the kitchen and noticed that there was over half of Ivy's donut sitting there. I thought to myself that surely she didn't want the rest...really that's not what I thought but I did think that she would not remember the donut tomorrow for breakfast so I ate it.



I went to wake Ivy up from her nap. I said, "Ivy you can get up now." She jumps out of bed yelling,"Donut Donut. Ivy eat her donut!" I panicked and told her that I ate it. She started crying really hard. ( I felt terrible!) So I quickly added, "You know that fudge bar that Daddy has been saving in the freezer? (The ones that are so big that she never gets to eat one.) " Do you want to eat that all by yourself?" Of course she said yes through her tears. So...Matt was out a Fudgie Bar after his dinner all because Fat Mommy had no self control.



...I know...I am ashamed of myself...